China Earthquake Relief

This morning, I read an article in my local newspaper that mentioned pharmacy students at Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy have started a relief fund for victims of the recent earthquake in China. These students are raising money for food, medicine, potable water, blankets and temporary shelter for those who have been affected by the quake. These students will be working with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine to coordinate the relief efforts.

Doctor of Pharmacy students at Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy are required to perform 8 clinical rotations during the last year of their six year education. Four of these rotations are required and four are elective. 1-800-PetMeds serves as one of the elective sites and offers a rotation in Veterinary Pharmacy. I am a preceptor for those students wishing to take this elective rotation, and as such, serve as Clinical Affiliate Faculty at NSU College of Pharmacy.

I am proud to be affiliated with this university and equally proud of these students efforts. I know these future pharmacists will be assets to the profession.

1-800-PetMeds Supports Jacksonville, Florida "Fur Ball Gala"

On May 3, 2008, 1-800-PetMeds issued a press release that it will be supporting the Ninth Annual "Fur Ball Gala" in association with the Jacksonville, Florida Humane Society.

The gala event scheduled for May 31 at the University Center Ballroom will host 350 people and their more than 150 pets.

Angels' Eyes Tear Stain Remover at 1-800-PetMeds

1-800-PetMeds has recently added Angels' Eyes tear stain remover to the list of products offered for sale by the company. An eye care product composed of pure beef liver with Tylosin Tartrate as a preservative, Angels' Eyes is a unique product that helps eliminate tear stains from the inside out. As the stained fur around the eyes is trimmed, the newly grown coat will be totally clear.

Angels' Eyes is given as a dose based on the weight of the pet every day for the first 3 months. After 3 months the product is given 4 times a week, and after 6 months Angels' Eyes is given twice a week.

Angels' Eyes should be given to dogs 8 weeks of age or older. When giving Angels' Eyes, shake the powder container first, then sprinkle the dose onto an amount of food the pet will totally eat. In rare cases, where the pet does not like changes to their food, Angels' Eyes can be put into their drinking water. When mixing, always add water to the Angels' Eyes, do not pour the powder into the water.

ProMeris at 1-800-PetMeds

Fort Dodge Animal Health has introduced a new over-the-counter (OTC) product called ProMeris. This product is available as Promeris For Cats, for flea prevention in cats 8 weeks of age or older, and ProMeris For Dogs, for flea and tick prevention in dogs 8 weeks of age or older.

ProMeris For Cats and ProMeris For Dogs both contain the chemical metaflumizone. Metaflumizone blocks nerve impulses in the flea by targeting voltage dependent sodium channels on both sides of the nerve synapse. This new approach to flea control acts by blocking the influx of sodium which is required to allow nerve impulses to occur.

ProMeris For Dogs also contains the chemical amitraz to control ticks. Amitraz is classified as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOi). The manufacturer states that ProMeris For Dogs "contains a patent-protected formulation, which is designed to prevent absorption through the skin, It should not be compared with other amitraz formulations". Be that as it may, if your dog is using an MAOi such as Anipryl, selegiline, Mitaban Dip, or Preventic Collar, you should first consult your veterinarian before applying ProMeris For Dogs. People taking MAOi's (such as Parnate, Nardil, Eldepryl, and selegiline) should use particular care when applying this product and until the product is completely dry.

Tapeworms

This being the end of April, it's safe to assume that even the "colder" states are now beginning to warm up. This means that pets that were not treated with flea prevention products during the winter months should now be treated monthly. Flea prevention products that should be used include Advantage, Frontline and Program.

Why is flea prevention necessary? Fleas can transmit tapeworms which can cause symptoms in animals that include intense itching around the anus, causing dogs to "scoot" along the floor. They can also cause weight loss due to robbing nutrients from the intestinal tract, and they can also enter the stomach from the intestines causing stomach irritation. Fleas can also cause tapeworms in humans. Therefore, keeping our pets flea free and maintaining good hygiene, is necessary to prevent human contamination.

There are a number of interesting links I suggest you follow for more information. These include:
1. A tapeworms press release issued by 1-800 PetMeds on April 8, 2008

2. Articles on flea prevention including flea FAQ's and

flea control FAQ's

National Pet Dental Health Month

Of all the wonderful things we do for our pets, the one thing many of us do not do is take proper care of our pets teeth. It's not that we are lazy, or uncaring, it's just that it's not the most convenient, or easiest thing to do. After all, brushing or rinsing your pets teeth does take work.

However, dental care is not just about brushing. It's also about regular veterinarian visits to check on the dental health of our pet. It's about using products such as C.E.T. Chews, C.E.T. Toothpaste, and C.E.T. Rinse in a three stp process that is vital to the dental health of our pets.

This is National Pet Dental Health Month. Let's remind ourselvesthat it's just as important to take care of our pets teeth, as it is to give them their monthly heartworm preventative.

For more information regarding National Pet Dental Health Month please read our Press Release

Visit 1-800-PetMeds for more information regarding Dental Products

After I give the medication, then what?

How a medication works and how it is excreted from the body is a complicated topic. However, I believe consumers need to be informed and, therefore, I'm going to try and explain the process as simply as I can.


Medications undergo a process called biotransformation. For example:

• An active drug such as phenobarbital is converted, prior to excretion, to an inactive metabolite: hydroxyphenobarbital.


• An active drug such as primidone is converted, prior to excretion, to an active metabolite: phenobarbital.


• An inactive drug such as codeine is converted, prior to excretion, to an active metabolite: morphine.

It is either the active drug, or the active metabolite of the drug, that actually does the job it was intended to do, in the body.

Drugs eventually need to leave the body and the majority do so through the kidneys in urine. However, other drugs are excreted by the liver in bile .

Water soluble drugs are excreted through the kidneys either unchanged (ampicillin), or having been changed in the liver first (Rimadyl, Novox).

Other drugs pass through the liver and are excreted from the liver in bile. Bile enters the digestive tract and the drugs are eliminated via the feces. Examples are: ketoconazole (Nizoral).

As you can see the liver and kidneys play a major role. That's why it's important to make sure that these organs are functioning properly. In some cases, blood tests need to be performed before beginning drug therapy, and depending on the drug, during therapy to make sure there is no damage being done to the liver or kidney. When giving the pet more than one medication, kidney and liver health becomes even more important.

I'll try and expand on this subject in future entries.