July 2002

Ear Protocol Clarified

Yada, Yada, Yada

The Road

We added two new Territory Managers (TM) to handle the West Coast and NorthEast. LISA LORENZINI will handle the West Coast market and MICHELLE BEZJAK in the NorthEast will round out our team. We assembled in Myrtle Beach at the SEVC for a training session/thinktank on 6/12.

Dermatogossip

This column was nicknamed "Dermato-gossip" by a prominent and influential veterinary dermatologist who this column has agreed not to refer to as the "Dick Clark" or even "George Hamilton" of veterinary dermatology anymore. :)

SEVC, MYRTLE BEACH, SC

GARY BOUGE ran a training seminar non-stop for our TMs which included mock sessions, progress reports, educational seminars and substantial partying.

This meeting is quietly getting to be known as the "best little show in the vet business". Unlike almost every other meeting, virtually all attendees are practitioners, and they come to learn and buy. RALPH, MARTHA and HOWIE LEE ran a top-notch show with RON WHITFORD, program chair, who invites top international speakers. ROD ROSYCHUK and LOU GOTTHELF did the derm and ears while yours truly did a section on ears and shampoo therapy for the techs. PETER EMILY celebrated a MAJOR unspecified birthday with close friend BOB WIGGS who also lectured. Rumor has it that Peter once consulted on a dinosaur. The sharks (one appeared to be 6 to 8 feet) off the pier again were a key attraction even if they were not much of a deterrent to swimmers.

National Zoo, Washington DC

PETER GLASSMAN hosted the Annual Family Picnic on June 30 at the National Zoo for Friendship Hospital for Animals, The Animal Cancer Institute, TanTech Labs and VetInsite Pet Portals. Peter reminded me that I could have done better investing in VetInsite than in the stock market. All the best to VetInsite, but, being just outside the Ape House, I pondered that most of it's occupants could have invested better than most humans in the last year.

The baby elephant WAS quite adorable. Most intriguing was the large mass of tooth from the Hippo, which was passed around by volunteers; it looked quite like ivory. When asked how they obtained it, dentists will be envious to know that the Hippo just stayed still with its mouth open while someone SAWED it off. Now that is behavioral modification at it's best although I am not sure what they were throwing IN the open mouth.

MICHELE BEZJAK, GLORIA and I attended. Thanks to JENNIFER TRUJILLO, Glassman's right hand person, the event went well. The tent, booze and food were top shelf and they even paid for the parking.

The POTOMAC office was visited by Texas A&M student rep, JAY GRIFFIN, on July 3. Jay is working at the AVMA headquarters this summer and is on his way to Mongolia to teach vet students English. How this will occur is unclear since Jay doesn't speak Mongolian and they don't speak English but Jay remains optimistic.

TrizEDTA is Aqueous

Aqueous TrizEDTA, our ready to use, USP only, preservative-free, stable liquid form of our "crystal" TrizEDTA is on the market and selling briskly. We have a comparison chart which we can either send you or can be viewed on the internet.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Rumor has it that an attempt has been made to copy our TrizEDTA. The merits of our USP pure version speak for themselves. For a highlighted comprehensive comparison chart, people should go to our web page, request one by email or fax.

TrizEDTA, with a shelf life of 3 years, uses USP only ingredients and is aqueous; it contains no alcohol, a substance that is considered ototoxic in cases where there is a ruptured tympanum. It is not suggested you 'taint' our Crystal TrizEDTA with alcohol. Research does not support alcohol as an addiditive; all research published over the last 20 years was based on the aqueous form. It is preservative free, with a stable three-year expiration date. The pH is 8.0 (7.5 to 8.0 is ideal for efficacy). It only contains de-ionized, demineralized water, which is key since minerals from water will deactivate it's efficacy; one mechanism of action is to chelate minerals in the cell wall of bacteria. This product is safe to use in cases with ruptured tympanum, which is most often the case with Pseudomonas Otitis (the #1 indication) since it "secretes" enzymes, which virtually eat away tissue.
Practice Tip

Many dermatologists are recommending that Baytril not be placed in ears unless it or another fluoroquinolone is used systemically. The argument is based on the fact that fluoroquinolones are one of the easiest drugs for bacteria to develop resistance. Experts are seeing increased numbers of fluoroquinolone resistant Pseudomonas and other organisms which they say is largely due to overuse of Baytril topically.

Prozac Replacement?

Peptide Technology Ltd. has developed a contraceptive implant for male dogs that also calms them down. The company has applied to Australia's National Registration Authority this week to register its canine contraceptive, which operates through a single hormone implant under the skin between a dog's shoulder blades. Trials are underway to develop a similar product for cats and female dogs. Ed note: The potential in the cat market is astronomical. Imagine a world ...where dogs and cats would leave each other alone, cats wouldn't chase each other much less mice or birds and dogs wouldn't bother the mailman?

"What are your favorite ear cleansing agents"
Otology Roundtable, Comp CE, 24, 3(A), 2002

Rod Rosychuk: ..As a mild cleansing agent with apparently superior germicidal effects to acetic acid, we also use a 2% acetic acid/2% boric acid cleanser (DermaPet). This product appears to work well for ears complicated by Malassezia colonization/infection, and we use it for chronic maintenance regimens (i.e., once or twice weekly flushing) in allergic patients prone to Malassezia infections.
Believe it or not. German lawmakers in the Bundestag, the country's lower legislative body, voted to add the phrase "and animals" to a clause in its constitution that obligates the state to respect and protect the dignity of humans, according to news reports. The main impact of the measure, which still requires approval this summer in the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament, would mainly restrict the use of animals in medical and scientific experiments. Germany is the first European nation to guarantee animal rights. With the new measure, the federal constitutional court would have to weigh animals' rights against other rights, such as the right to conduct research or practice religion.

Pets on Boats (excerpt below) Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29325-2002Jul5.html

The Scoop on Poop o Cats have two options: an anchored litter box or using the "head" (the toilet on a boat). Don't laugh. Training a cat to straddle a toilet seat requires tremendous patience, but it can be done. o For dogs, a box of sod or a piece of AstroTurf may work as a substitute when land is not possible. Some people simply train their dogs to go on the bow, giving a whole new meaning to the term "poop deck," but this practice is hazardous in rough water. Whatever method you choose, be sure your pet understands what is expected before setting out.
MEETINGS

DermaPet will be at the CVC meeting in KC on August 17-19. While Gary and Jack cover that I will be heading for AUSTRALIA for a meeting in DARWIN where RALPH MUELLER and SONJA BETTENAY-MUELLER will be presenting. I should also be doing seminars on Otology and Topical Therapy in SYDNEY August 15 or 16 and MELBOURNE August 25 or 26.

MedRx is offering CE with their EAR Seminars and Dr. LOU GOTTHELF on the road next in MILWAUKEE on July 21 and HOUSTON on July 28 (JACK WHITE will be celebrating his birthday.) Call 888-392-1234 to register or find out when one is coming near you. "Small Animal Ear Diseases: An Illustrated Guide" by Lou Gotthelf at http://www.harcourthealth.com/fcgi-bin/displaypage.pl?isbn=0721677509

"10th Anniversary" SPECIALS

Buy One Get one FREE: Allay Oatmeal, DermaHypoCs, DermaSebs, DermaBenSs shampoos and Allay Oatmeal Conditioner. MalAcetic Shampoo and Conditioner are Buy 9 get 3 FREE.

Call your DermaPet Distributor or 800 755 4738 for ordering information.

Trivia

A veterinarian who thinks pet owners want more convenience is opening a clinic with a drive-through window and door for picking up and dropping off dogs and cats. The clinic's owner got the idea after seeing it once in a trade magazine. The clinic also has standard entrances for dogs and cats.

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Steve Melman VMD
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