Companion Animal Parasite Council
CAPC News and Events
Companion Animal Parasite Council Appoints New Executive Director
Christopher Carpenter, DVM, MBA, has joined the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) as executive director of the not-for-profit parasite education foundation.
Data Reveal Cats Need Better Protection Against Roundworm and Heartworm
Lack of compliance in use of preventives cited as No. 1 reason for more infected felines.
CAPC Adds New Sponsors
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., has joined the council as a Gold sponsor and Virbac has joined at the Silver sponsorship level.
CAPC Updates Parasite Management Guidelines, Control Recommendations
Council update include Lyme disease, testing for regional vectors, and tapeworms
Companion Animal Parasite Council Elects New Officers to Board of Directors
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) has elected Dwight Bowman, MS, Ph.D., as president; Cathy Lund, DVM, to vice
president/president-elect; and Sharon Patton, MS, Ph.D., as secretary-treasurer for the board of directors of the Council.
CAPC and AHS Issue Joint Statement Addressing Heartworm Disease Concerns
Read the full report of the Companion Animal Parasite Council and American Heartworm Society from their Heartworm Roundtable: Reports of Lack of Efficacy of Macrocyclic Lactones.
CAPC to Hold Symposium for Technicians at WVC February 22, 2011
Event Schedule:
- 8am-8:50am Liability Concerns of Client Education Relating to Parasitic Zoonosis, Ms. Holly Morss
- 9am-9:50 The Basic Fecal/Exam/Ova Identification Review, Ms. Holly Morss
- 10 am-10:50am CAPC Guidelines and Website: How to Utilize It All, Ms. Julie Legred
- 11am-11:50am Client Education and Communication: Is It As Big a Deal As Everyone Makes It?, Ms. Julie Legred
Details available at WVC.
Dont Miss the CAPC Tracks at the AAHA/OVMA Conference Toronto 2011!
Visit AAHA/OVMA Conference – Toronto 2011 for more information about our dynamic speakers and scientific and technician tracks on Parasitology. Click here to register, or visit the AAHA/OVMA Conference website for more information.
Presentations from the 2010 CAPC Road Show
Every summer for the last three years, CAPC has loaded up our CAPC mobile and traveled the highways of a region of the country presenting educational seminars to veterinarians and technicians about The CAPC guidelines and how they fit in your practice.
This past year we traveled the Southeastern US and presented programs and pet owner focused events in thirteen cities. Dr. Dwight Bowman presented “Controlling Parasitesl” and Dr. Byron Blagburn presented “Controlling Parasites in Their Stronghold”. You may view their presentations by clicking on the links.
If you haven’t had a chance to catch our Road Show don’t despair, we are planning the 2011 trip right now and before we are done we’ll have been near your practice.
We’re looking forward to seeing you next summer but until then be sure to review this year’s presentations and look for the CAPC Symposium at major conferences you attend. We’ll be at TNAVC, Western Veterinary Conference, AAHA Toronto and AVMA in St. Louis. Stop by and say hello.
CAPC, Nestle Purina Host Community Practice Symposium for Educators
The second Community Practice Communications and Leadership Symposium for primary care educators was held April 28 – May 1 in St. Louis, Mo. The three-day program, sponsored by the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) and Nestle Purina, drew more than 30 veterinary educators interested in enhancing their leadership and communications skills, as well as those of their students.
CAPC Statement Regarding Heartworm Preventive Efficacy
Read the CAPC's response to the growing body of anecdotal reports and experimental evidence that currently available heartworm preventives (macrocyclic lactones) may not be completely efficacious in preventing heartworm infection in dogs.
CAPC Responds to EPA Plan for Topical Parasite Products for Pets
In response to the EPA’s plan to handle topical parasite control complaints, which was published March 14, 2010, in the Federal Register, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) says the plan doesn’t go far enough in addressing the core concerns of the veterinary profession as it relates to responsible use of “spot-on” products for pets.
Wall Street Journal Article on Parasites
Developing World’s Parasites, Disease Hit U.S. Researchers Say Infections Spread by Bug Bites, Larvae Are Flourishing Along Border and in Other Pockets of Poverty.
CAPC Addresses Reports of Increased Reactions to Topical Flea Products
Mike Paul, DVM, executive director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), responds to the recent EPA report of an increase in adverse events associated with the use of certain groups of topically applied flea control products commonly known as “spot on” formulations, which are approved for use on dogs and cats.
CAPC Comments on Adverse Events
The prevention and control of internal and external parasites has done much to improve the comfort and health of companion animals and to reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission of parasites and vector-transmitted diseases.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends the year-round use of monthly administered chemoprophylactic products labeled for use against fleas, ticks, heartworms and intestinal parasites. Use of these products, as with any medication, should always be considered to carry certain risks as well as very real benefits.
These risks of “adverse events” occur in a wide range of situations and range from very minor to the extremely uncommon fatality.
Parasite control should always be considered as a medical procedure. Further, it should only be administered with familiarity of the individual drug profile and following the labeled directions for indication, dose and frequency of administration.
Caution should be used in treating debilitated animals.
Parasite prevention and control do much to reduce both animal and human exposure and disease and should be used accordingly at recommended intervals, all year long.
View CAPC Presentations from 2009 TNAVC
Did you miss the CAPC Symposium at 2009 TNAVC? You can see the presentations at Clinician's Brief, exactly as they were in Orlando.
(Video presentations linked with permission from Clinician’s Brief)
- “Don’t Allow Parasites to Be a Catastrophe” by Dr. Catherine Lund
- “You Get What You Eat!” by Dr. Dwight Bowman
- “Why Don’t They Listen? Improving Pet Owner Adherence” by Dr. Gary Holfinger & Dr. Jay Stewart
- “Managing Heartworm Disease in the Sick Patient: Should All Infected Patients Be Treated & How?” by Dr. Tom Nelson
Free CAPC-Sponsored VetMedTeam Online CE Course
VetMedTeam and CAPC have worked together to create a free, RACE- approved, online CE course titled Focus on Fecal Diagnostics.
People, Pets & Parasites CE-Accredited Programs Sponsored by CAPC
Fleas & Ticks • Heartworm • Intestinal Parasites
LIFELEARN is proud to announce the launch of its new CE website LifelearnCE.com. They are updating
and evolving their traditional CD programs to a new web-based format; maintaining the same high
quality, advanced media features and engaging, interactive learning. As part of the launch, the People Pets & Parasites programs, authored by Bowman and Lucio-Forster and sponsored by CAPC
will be showcased.
- Fleas & Ticks: Accredited for 1 hour of CE
- Heartworm: Accredited for 1 hour of CE
- Intestinal Parasites: Accredited for 2 hours of CE
LIFELEARN’S CE WEBSITE FEATURES
The new e-learning website is designed for the entire practice team and includes courses for receptionists, nurses, technicians, practice managers and veterinarians. All programs are accredited through RACE and the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.
In addition to a search engine to find the right title, courses can be reviewed as a list, or sorted by title, subject, audience and other parameters. Pricing is based on individual use rather than by practice; making it affordable to individuals and small practices. Individuals register and create their own account, user name and password and can view time remaining, test scores and printable
certificates. A practice manager can create a ‘manager account’ which allows them to purchase and assign courses to their staff. The manager then has full access to each team member’s course
information including individual test scores, evaluations and certificates, allowing for convenient training, implementation and tracking.
Press Release April 1, 2010: NAVTA Endorses CAPC Guidelines for Effective Parasite Control
For More Information, Contact:
R. Kelly Schwalbe,
BCS Communications, 816-474-3166
For Immediate Release
BEL AIR, Md. (April 1, 2010) – The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) proudly announces that its parasite control guidelines have been endorsed by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). The endorsement of the guidelines by NAVTA acknowledges and supports the ongoing efforts of the CAPC to educate veterinarians, technicians and pet owners about the importance of preventing parasites in dogs and cats as well the potential transmission of parasite related diseases to people.
Dr. Mike Paul, executive director of the CAPC, said the organization is enthusiastic about the support they have received from the technicians’ association. “The NAVTA endorsement reinforces the fact that both organizations are committed to animal and human health. This collaboration will go a long way in increasing awareness and understanding of the parasite control guidelines, leading to their increased implementation as part of best medicine practices for companion animals,” Paul said.
He notes that technicians play a critical role in health care for dogs and cats, often conveying important information to pet owners about parasite control and treatment on behalf of the health care team. “CAPC has always recognized the important role of technicians in conveying our message and we are pleased to partner with them in this effort. We look forward to working with NAVTA and other professional organizations to further our mission of educating pet health practitioners and the public on the importance of year-round parasite control in pets and we are pleased to add them to our list of endorsing organizations The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), The Heartworm Society (HWS) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) “
“Internal and external parasites are a significant cause of disease and discomfort in animals and can pose a serious threat to the health of people,” said Andrea Ball, executive director of NAVTA. “NAVTA is very happy to endorse and promote the CAPC parasite guidelines to members. More importantly, we encourage technicians to communicate the message as part of a comprehensive wellness program for their clients.”
The CAPC guidelines were developed in 2003 to increase practitioner and consumer awareness of parasitic diseases and the zoonotic risks to human health, while encouraging the implementation of year-round preventative measures that improve pet health and the human-animal bond.
The guidelines and other information on parasite prevention and control can be found www.capcvet.org for health care providers or www.petsandparasites.org for pet owners
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (www.navta.net) is a nonprofit organization that represents and promotes the profession of veterinary technology. Incorporated 1981, NAVTA is the national organization devoted exclusively to developing and enhancing the profession of veterinary technology through education, advocacy and promotion within the industry and to the general public.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.capcvet.org) is an independent not-for-profit foundation comprised of parasitologists, veterinarians, medical, public health and other professionals that provide information for the optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets and people. Formed in 2002, the CAPC works to help veterinary professionals and pet owners develop the best practices in parasite management that protect pets from parasitic infections and reduce the risk of zoonotic parasite transmission.
