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February 13, 2012

A Message about Interceptor and Sentinel:

Unfortunately, our distributors have temporarily discontinued the production of our current Heartworm

preventatives Interceptor® and Sentinel®. We have limited stock available of both Interceptor® and

Sentinel® however we are supplementing our supplies with HEARTGARD® Plus from Merial, the makers of

Frontline®. Although it is likely Interceptor® and Sentinel® will resume production sometime this year,

please be aware that we may have to make a permanent switch to HEARTGARD® Plus. You can find more

information on HEARTGARD® at Merial's website: www.heartgard.com.

*Please note: HEARTGARD® is not intended for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities.

October 2011

CERTIFECT® - Better tick control; a new product from Merial.

A press release from Merial:

The newest addition to the FRONTLINE® family of flea and tick control products kills ticks within 18 hours and detaches ticks

Ticks are growing in number and are being found in new areas, putting the family dog at increased risk for infestations. As a result, dogs are also at increased risk of tick-borne diseases, which have now been found in most U.S. states.³ Cases of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis in pets more than doubled from 2009 to 2010 - disturbing evidence that ticks are an expanding threat.

To address this issue, the makers of No. 1 veterinarian-recommended flea and tick control product FRONTLINE Plus have introduced CERTIFECT, an advanced topical solution that provides proven flea protection with added tick-killing power. CERTIFECT kills ticks in 18 hours, whereas the current standard for tick-killing efficacy is 24-48 hours. It is also the only topical product that detaches ticks. Just like FRONTLINE Plus, CERTIFECT destroys the flea life cycle, giving dog owners, with the help of their veterinarians, a new solution in the fight against these pests.

Tick Control and Pet Health Urban and suburban backyards are now host to a number of wildlife known to carry ticks, including deer, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, rodents and even wild turkeys. Domestic and feral cats can also bring ticks into our yards. As ticks move in, dogs in these areas may be at increased risk of catching infectious diseases.

"It is becoming increasingly challenging to protect our dogs from tick-borne infections, since ticks are now in more places and in greater numbers than ever," says Dr. Mike Murray, technical marketing director for Merial. "Pet owners and their dogs can really benefit from the new tick-killing power of CERTIFECT, which helps protect dogs against ticks which may transmit several dangerous diseases."

CERTIFECT starts killing all stages of ticks in six hours and kills up to 100 percent within 18 hours. It also causes ticks to detach from dogs and prevents reinfestation for up to one month.

Speed of kill for ticks is of vital importance because the sooner a tick is killed, the less likely it is to transmit infectious agents. CERTIFECT starts rapidly killing black-legged ticks, which transmit the infectious agent known to cause Lyme disease, in just six hours.

How CERTIFECT Works
CERTIFECT is made for all dogs at risk for tick exposure that still need proven flea control. It uses a small amount of amitraz to potentiate the tick-killing power of fipronil, which along with (S)-methoprene, are the active ingredients in FRONTLINE Plus. Amitraz and fipronil act together against ticks' nervous systems to kill more ticks and increase the speed of kill compared to equivalent concentrations of fipronil alone.

CERTIFECT is a topical formulation applied to two places on a dog's neck: at the base of the skull and between the shoulder blades where the dog cannot lick. CERTIFECT has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for puppies older than eight weeks and greater than or equal to five pounds.

CERTIFECT should not be used on cats. In studies, no adverse effects were noted on cats in homes with treated dogs.

CERTIFECT will be available in most states starting July 16, 2011, from licensed veterinarians. Dog owners interested in CERTIFECT should consult their veterinarian to determine whether their dogs should stay on their current flea and tick control product or make the switch to CERTIFECT.

Tularemia

September 14, 2011

For Immediate Release

Public health Alert for all Veterinarians in the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy Area

Three cats from two households in Savoy, Illinois were diagnosed with culture-confirmed tularemia at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, Illinois in July and September. This may indicate an increased concern for this disease in the area. Humans and many animals can become infected with this bacterium. In the wild, rabbits and rodents can carry the organism and may die from infection with this organism.

Cats may prey on rabbits and rodents and become infected or they may become infected through tick exposure. Cats may develop a variant of symptoms including high fever, mouth ulcers, depression, enlarged lymph nodes and anorexia. Cats have transmitted this disease to people so caution should be used with handling an animal suspected of having tularemia. Culture can be used to diagnose tularemia in cats. Care should be taken when collecting specimens for culture to avoid exposure. The tularemia bacteria can easily be transmitted to laboratorians if proper precautions are not taken so id tularemia is suspected with should be noted in BOLD on the laboratory submission form.

People may also develop fever, headaches, diarrhea, joint pain, cough and weakness if they become infected with tularemia. People can become infected by handling pets or wild animals with tularemia, being bitten by ticks or by inhaling the organism. If you develop symptoms of tularemia after handling an animal with suspect tularemia (within three to 14 days of exposure) see your health care provider promptly.

Please notify local animal control of any unexplained large die-offs of rabbits and rodents.

Tularemia is animals is a reportable disease and as such must be promptly reported to the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare at 217-782-4944.

For questions or concerns relative to clinical presentation please contact us at 217-328-4143 or contact Dr. Brenda Mckeirnan at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 217-782-4944.

Article is courtesy of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

2001 Linview Ave. Urbana, IL 61801; 217-328-4143; FAX: 217-337-3068

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