Palm Beach Veterinary Society NEWS Palm Beach Veterinary Society, Inc c/o Animal Wellness Center 137 S. State Road 7, Suite 305 Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414 Phone: 561-790-3555 Fax: 561-790-3059 Email: secretary@pbvs.info Summer 2016 President Dr. Steve Simmons Vice President Dr. Randall Dugal Tresasurer Dr. Scott Miller Secretary Dr. Leanne Browne-Feldman Inside the Issue 2 PBVS Information 2 CE Schedule 4 Relief Veterinarians 5 Description of Pythiosis 11 Application NEXT MEETING DATE November 3rd Location Mayacoo Lakes Country Club August 11, 2016 Topic: Critical Care Neurology 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Cocktails President s Letter Dear Colleagues, A season of change is upon us. The weather is starting to cool down and the leaves are changing colors. In a few short weeks, we are about to elect a new U.S. President, new members of Congress and appoint a new Supreme Court Justice, which will surely bring about change in the way our government works. Undoubtedly, this will have a trickle-down effect on how we as veterinarians practice medicine. This year has brought about changes in our profession already. Some pharmaceutical companies have divested, some have entered the market and some are merging. NAVC, one of our largest national conventions, will be changing its location and name next year. Even our own group, has seen its own changes this year. We have new leadership, said farewell to colleagues and welcomed new members to our group. Whether we like it or not, change is inevitable. It can be a welcome thing or a cause of anxiety and fear of the unknown. But one thing is for certain, that if we pull together as a strong united group, we can survive any change that may come our way. I want to thank each one of you for being members of the Palm Beach Veterinary Society and hope that you will continue your membership into next year. Please join me and my fellow board members on Friday December 9th for our annual Holiday party at Nick & Johnnie s Restaurant on Palm Beach. I look forward to sharing good food, a drink and a laugh with each of you! Sincerely, Dr. Steve Simmons President Steve Simmons, DVM 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Speaker
President Steve Simmons, DVM Phone: 561-790-3555 president@pbvs.info Palm Beach Veterinary Society, Inc. 2016 Board of Directors FVMA District 5 Rep Susan Carastro DVM, DACVO Phone: 561-967-5966 FVMArep@pbvs.info Vice President Randall S. Dugal, DVM Phone: 561-798-5508 Fax: 561-798-1901 Treasurer Scott Miller, DVM Phone: 561-689-7900 Fax: 561-689-8433 Jupvet@aol.com Secretary Leanne Browne-Feldman, DVM Phone: 561-745-0224 secretary@pbvs.info Dr. Steve Simmons Dr. Scott Miller Dr. Randall Dugal Dr. Leanne Browne-Feldman AC&C Rep to PBVS Patricia Forsythe VMD Phone: 561 790-9225 Fax: 561-790-9227 pdoggiedoc@aol.com Membership Leanne Browne-Feldman, DVM Phone: 561-745-0224 secretary@pbvs.info MEETING SCHEDULE - MARK YOUR CALENDAR November 3 Critical Care/Neurology sponsored by Veterinary Specialty Hospital and MWI Animal Health Mayacoo Lakes Country Club 9697 Mayacoo Club Drive West Palm Beach, FL This newsletter is published bimonthly by Palm Beach Veterinary Society, Inc. 137 S. State Road 7, Suite 305 Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414 The PBVS newsletter is provided to PBVS members free of charge. Membership is $150.00 per calendar year. For more information about membership please contact: Dr. Leanne Browne-Feldman at secretary@pbvs.info To advertise in this newsletter, please contact Dr. Randy Dugal at rsddugal@yahoo.com Editorial Guidelines: Letters and articles are welcomed. All submissions must be signed and author s name will be published. Please submit entries via e-mail by the first of the month prior to the publication date to rsddugal@yahoo. com. Ad Guidelines: Please send to rsddugal@yahoo.com 30 days prior to publishing and payment to Dr. Scott Miller Display ads should be submitted in high resolution (300 dpi).jpeg,.psd or.pdf format. PBVS Holiday Party December 9th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Nick and Johnnies in Palm Beach Members free. Guests are $30. each. RSVP to Scott Miller DVM with checks for guests. Join Us Today and Become A Member! Thank you for taking an interest in our organization. At Palm Beach Veterinary Society, we strive to help and unite veterinarians who are dedicated in providing the best Animal care. As a society, we provide a forum for veterinarians to further assist in the exchange of professional business relations and promote the exchange of professional information. If you are a veterinarian and are interested in joining our society, please fill out the 2016 membership form on the last page. Membership cost for the year is $150.00 Membership begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st Page 2 Palm Beach Veterinary Society News - Fall 2016
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RELIEF VETERINARIANS Dr. Diana Drogan, relief/part time 954-854-9426 dr.diana.dvm@gmail.com general practice and ER Dr. Bob Elsner, small animal 561-736-1362 rjelsner@aol.com Dr. Natalie Fayman 561-414-0366 vampyrvet@mac.com small animal medicine and surgery Dr. Stu Gross, small animal 561-434-2600 or drstugross@aol.com 516-633-5000 cell Dr. Karen Illel, small animal 561-603-7177 illelk@gmail.com Dr. William Laughlin, small animal 561-596-2911 wlaug11144@aol.com Dr. Jack Liggett, small animal 561-762-7777 jliggett@bellsouth.net Dr. Sid Lehr, small animal 561-302-0230 s.d.lehr@comcast.net Dr. John Pacy, small animal 561-909-7953 drjohnpacy@yahoo.com Dr. MD Steele 964-942-7193 mdsteele@bellsouth.net Welcomes Dr. Barry Brower! We are pleased to announce the arrival of Dr. Barry E. Brower to our team of dedicated surgeons at Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists! DVM from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Internships (rotating and surgical) at the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, California and Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas, respectively. Dr. Brower joins us after recently completing a surgical residency at Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island in New York. Dr. Brower s professional interests include oncologic, soft tissue, and orthopedic surgery as well as reconstructive and corrective surgery. He also performs Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques to include arthroscopy and laparoscopy. Available for appointments now! Visit us at PalmBeachVetSpecialists.com 561.434.5700 Welcomes Dr. Laura Lee Sartor! We are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Laura Lee Sartor to our Internal Medicine Team! She received her veterinary degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island. Internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan. Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Board CertiJied in Internal Medicine in 2004. Dr. Sartor joins PBVS after working in private practice since 2003 at the renowned and very busy Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey. Professional interests include the management of liver disease, autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease, and gastrointestinal disease. She is also very adept at abdominal ultrasound. Available now for appointments Monday - Thursday! Visit us at PalmBeachVetSpecialists.com 561.434.5700 Page 4 Palm Beach Veterinary Society News - Fall 2016
DESCRIPTION OF PYTHIOSIS Here is a reprint about Pythiosis. Please note this was taken from Pythiosis.com and not to be a complete scientific article. Pythium is a genus of parasitic oomycetes. They are commonly called water moulds. The genus Pythium consists of about 200 species and are common pathogens causing disease in plants and fish. Pythium insidiosum is the only species which causes infection in animals. Pythium insidiosum, the etiological agent of pythiosis insidiosii, causes lifethreatening infections in animals. The disease most commonly infects horses and dogs, but can also infect cats, cattle, equines, captive polar bears and humans. Pythiosis has frequently been reported in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In the United States, the disease is more common in states along the Gulf of Mexico and East coastal areas, but can also occur in cooler and dryer areas of the U.S. as well. Pythium insidiosum, like other Pythium spp, need wet environments to carry out their life cycle in nature. Pythiosis occurs primarily in the fall and early winter after warm summer months, especially after periods of high precipitation. Animals exposed to warm, standing water water are more likely to encounter the infectious zoospores and may have an increased risk for the disease; however, the infection can be acquired after contacting moist soil and grass. It is suspected that the invading zoospores enter an animal through open wounds, either in the skin or in the gastrointestinal tract. Water lilies and other aquatic plants and submerged grasses, including rice plants, are thought to be normal hosts. The zoospores have a strong attraction for hair, water-lily, and grass leaves. Young dogs are most often affected, with several breeds such as the Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd and the Cavalier King Charles being seen most often. Symptoms of gastrointestinal Pythiosis Canine gastrointestinal Pythiosis is an infection of the dog s digestive tract which causes the intestinal tract to thicken. Dogs may eventually develop an intestinal obstruction or large palpable abdominal mass. Symptoms include: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, occasional fever, abdominal mass, and enlarged lymph nodes. The stomach and duodenum are the most common sights of infection. Stomach lesions may be accompanied by abdominal pain and coffee ground vomitus due to ulceration and gastric bleeding. When the small intestines are affected, chronic diarrhea is more common. With colonic involvement and ulceration there may be bloody diarrhea. Formation of hard gastrointestinal tumor-like masses and areas of thickness and mucosal ulceration are common. The infection may spread to adjacent tissue such as pancreas and mesenteric lymph nodes. Histopathologically, the mucosa shows ulceration, atrophy, and hyperplasia. Eosinophils, plasma cells, macrophages, epithelial cells and giant cells are detected in infected tissues. The hyphae of P. Insidiosum, however, are difficult to detect. Silver stain or other special stains are required to visualize the hyphae of this pathogen in infected tissue. Symptoms of cutaneous Pythiosis The cutaneous or subcutaneous form of Pythiosis is acquired through an open wound which usually allows infiltration of the infective zoospores. Lesions are often located on the tail near the perineal area, legs, thorax, abdomen, and face. Symptoms include swollen, non-healing wounds with pus-filled nodules and draining sinus tracts that often enlarge rapidly. The hard stony masses (kunkers) seen in horses is not observed in dogs with the disease, but there will be areas of tissue death or necrosis with eosinophils and a moderate number of neutrophils and macrophages. The hyphae of P. Insidiosum are found in the center of eosinophilic micro abscesses. Canine Lagenidiosis The clinical presentation of canine lagenidiosis is nearly identical to that of the cutaneous form of pythiosis as the tumor like masses of lagenidiosis are identical in appearance to those of pythiosis. In contrast to the clinical course of cutaneous pythiosis, dogs with lagenidiosis often have involvement of distant sites. It causes lesions in the legs, mammary glands, trunk, groin or near the tail. The notable difference in these diseases is that lagenidiosis disseminates to other organs much more commonly. Spontaneous dissemination of disease may involve the lungs, aorta or vessels, cranial mediastinum, and lymph nodes. An aneurysm of a great vessel can rupture and cause sudden death. Diagnosis Because P. insidiosum lesions progress rapidly a quick diagnosis is essential for animal survival. Most veterinary practitioners are not aware of the disease, nor of the blood test, so recognition is important. The diagnosis of oomycete infections can be difficult due to clinical and histological similarity to fungal infections. Special expertise is required for diagnosis by biopsies, so diagnosis is difficult because the organism requires warm temperatures to thrive. On biopsy you need a trained eye and special stain to identify the hyphal structures of the organism, and it can take considerable time for these special laboratory procedures. Abdominal radiographs in dogs with gastrointestinal pythiosis may show an intestinal blockage, intestinal wall thickening or defect, and/or abdominal mass. An ultrasound image of the dog s abdomen will tend to show thickening of the wall of the stomach or intestines. Enlarged lymph nodes may be evident due to the infection. A complete blood count may be normal or have a slightly higher white blood cell count due to the infection, but will not show a P. Insidiosum infection. Only two labs specialize in a serological test employing ELISA (Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technology to detect antibodies to P. Insidiosum, Continued on page 6 Palm Beach Veterinary Society News - Fall 2016 Page 5
Continued from page 5 Louisiana State University and PavLab. Contact PavLab to diagnose Pythiosis and Lagenidiosis with a blood test at 800-856-9655. Treatment of Pythiosis The sooner you take your dog for treatment the better the prognosis, as the lesions are very aggressive and can overwhelm the dog s system in a matter of months. Unfortunately, even with treatment, most cases of pythiosis are fatal. The most effective treatment regimens include a combination of anti-fungals and immunotherapy and sometimes surgery if that is possible considering where the infection is located. Most vets will attempt to remove the infected tissue surgically if it is located in area that will allow resection with appropriate margins. Surgical removal is not always possible and does not always complete remove all infected tissues, so anti-fungals are usually recommended after surgery. DESCRIPTION OF PYTHIOSIS Since P. Insidiosum is not a true fungus, anti-fungal drugs alone will not completely eliminate the infection. Antifungals are also very expensive and can eventually cause liver toxicity. The antifungals used most often are: Sporonox, Itraconazole, Terbinafine, Fluconazole, Amphotericin B, Ketoconazole. Sometimes your vet will prescribe a corticosteroid such as prednisone to reduce swelling and inflammation. This will immediately make your dog feel better and will help to help increase appetite which is another important aspect in treating this disease. Nutrition is a very important part of the treatment regimen in order to boost the immune system. Real foods are the best way in which to do this. The newest treatment now being recommended by many vets is an immunotherapeutic vaccine which is USDA approved for treating Pythiosis in dogs. As soon as your dog is diagnosed, it should be vaccinated with the immunotherapy injections to help the dog s own immune system fight the infection. This will immediately reduce the size of the lesions and give the dog a better chance of survival. Contact PavLab for the USDA approved Immunotherapy treatment at 800-856-9655. Living and Management Your veterinarian will schedule follow up visits to determine the effectiveness of treatment and manage care afterwards. Abdominal x-rays and ultrasounds can also be done to re-evaluate intestinal signs of disease. Additional blood tests which include the ELISA tests for Pythiosis are recommended. A chemical blood profile should be done as well to monitor liver toxicity if the dog is on anti-fungals. Surviving dogs are recommended to receive a yearly booster vaccine to continue in a successful recovery from Pythiosis. Page 6 Palm Beach Veterinary Society News - Fall 2016
Kenneth Keppel DVM MS DACVD 2239 S. Kanner Hwy. Stuart, FL 34994 772-220-8485 4019 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 561-967-5966 3421 Forest Hill Boulevard West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561-967-5966 954-421-5099 Susan Carastro DVM MS DACVO Dylan Buss DVM MS DACVO 954-421-5099 Susan Carastro DVM MS DACVO Joshua Broadwater DVM DACVO 3421 Forest Hill Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561-967-5966 Todd Strubbe DVM DACVO 2239 S. Kanner Hwy. Stuart, FL 34994 772-220-8485 FLORIDA VETERINARY BEHAVIOR SERVICE Expert treatment. Compassionate Care. At Skip s Pharmacy, specialized pharmacists prepare medications utilizing patient specific dosing in unique delivery systems to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. 561-218-0111 800-553-7429 www.skipspharmacy.com 21000 Boca Rio Rd Suite A-29 Boca Raton, Fl 33433 Compounding for Pirate Dogs & Cats Since Before the Millennia.! LISA RADOSTA DVM, DACVB Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist JULIE ALBRIGHT ARIEL FAGEN, MS, DVM, DVM DACVB American College of Veterinary Behaviorists Board-Certified Clinical Behavior Veterinary Resident Behaviorist Appointments: 561-795-9398 FAX: 561-795-8537 info@flvetbehavior.com www.flvetbehavior.com Martin County Animal Eye Specialty Clinic 2239 S Kanner Hwy., Stuart 772-220-8485 Palm Beach County Animal Eye Specialty Clinic 3421 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach 561-967-5966 Broward County Coral Springs Animal Hospital 2160 N University Dr., Coral Springs 954-753-1800 Miami-Dade Animal Eye Specialty Clinic 20290 NW 2nd Avenue, MiamI (305) 652-0448 Palm Beach Veterinary Society News - Fall 2016 Page 7
CLASSIFIEDS - HELP WANTED We are seeking a Superstar Veterinarian with a smile J. We are a well-established, high quality, AAHA accredited general and dental specialty multi-doctor hospital in Weston, FL. We are also a paperless practice with all the bells and whistles. Benefits include paid vacation, continuing education, excellent pet benefits, health insurance, a retirement plan and much more. Experience with Avimark is a plus. If you are interested in joining our team please respond with your resume to vetadministrator@hotmail.com then call Paul at (954)349-5800. 8601 Sunset Dr., Miami, Florida 33143 Phone: 305-665-2820 Fax: 305-665-2821 Website: www.mvshospital.com Doctor Staffed 24 hours a day*7 days a week*365 days a year Surgery Juan C. Sardinas, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Diplomate European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) Alvaro Larin, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Marc Wosar, DVM, MS Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Radioiodine Therapy Erick Mears, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM, Internal Medicine) Oncology Karen T. Oberthaler Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM, Oncology) Internal Medicine Vera Maeckelbergh, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM, Internal Medicine) Jonathan Kreissler, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM, Internal Medicine) Neurology Beatrix Nanai, DVM Diplomate, European College of Veterinary Neurology/Neurosurgery Page 8 Palm Beach Veterinary Society News - Fall 2016
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Dr. Rose Peters joined Dr. Roger Clemmons to provide 24/7 Neurology to South Florida! Rose Peters, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology/Neurosurgery) Dr. Rose Peters attended University of Illinois for veterinary school, then completed her residency at University of Florida. She developed the neurology service at a New Orleans multi-specialty practice prior to joining VSH. Roger Clemmons, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology/Neurosurgery) Dr. Roger Clemmons is a world renowned expert in neurologic disorders, both medical and surgical, including brain and spinal surgery. He taught at University of Florida prior to joining VSH. info@vshpalmbeach www.vshpalmbeach.com 561-625-9995 Page 10 Palm Beach Veterinary Society News - Fall 2016
President ~ Steve Simmons, DVM Vice President ~ Randy Dugal, DVM Treasurer ~ Scott Miller, DVM Secretary ~ Leanne Browne-Feldman DVM www.pbvs.info Palm Beach Veterinary Society, Inc. c/o Animal Wellness Center 137 S. State Road 7, Suite 305 Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33414 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Name: Clinic: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Fax: Email: Website: License #: Please check the applicable box(es) below: New Membership: YES NO If Renewal, any changes? YES NO Membership Dues are $150.00 per year (January 1 through December 31). To pay membership dues online, go to: www.pbvs.info/join-us To pay by check, Mail this form along with your payment to: Palm Beach Veterinary Society ATTN: PBVS Secretary 137 S. State Road 7, Suite 305 Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414 Phone: 561.790.3555 Fax: 561.790.3059 Email: secretary@pbvs.info