'State Expecting Certain Industries to Grow'

By Sarah Hollenbeck - bio | email | Facebook | Twitter

FORT MYERS: Looking for employment? The Florida Department of Labor just released the top industries that will see growth in 2011. We found out how you can get help with training and hooked up with employers in the top growing fields.

The top 12 growing industries for 2011 may not surprise you. Health care and information technology are leading the pack.

• You can find the complete list of growing industries in the "Story Links" section at the right.

And in Southwest Florida, those industries are expected to grow between four and five-percent next year.

"Right now there's a high demand for high quality technicians," said Laura Breunig of the Florida Veterinary Referral Center.

The Florida Department of Labor says veterinary technician is at the top of the list of "most promising." And the industry salary has shot up as well.

Also on the list are interior designers, middle school teachers, massage therapists, paralegals, computer engineers and dental hygienists.

"New techniques, new procedures, we're constantly evolving. Dentistry has become a highlight in a lot of people's health care so it's promising for us," said Dr. George Kazakos, with Specialists in Periodontics.

So what if you're in an industry like construction that hasn't seen much growth in the last couple years? The Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board says now is the time to pursue a different career. And sometimes, they'll even pay for it.

"Books, supplies, uniforms, materials, and after they complete classes then we'll look for employers wanting their new skills," said Joe Paterno, Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board.

And Paterno recommends if you're out of work and can find a job - any job, just take it.

"You have income, you're showing progress. As jobs in other industries start to become more available you have the opportunity to transfer back into the field you prefer," said Paterno.

While job growth is slow, the labor department says Florida's 13-percent unemployment rate is starting to recover.

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Dog 'lucky to be alive' after condo fire

SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla. - A dog, initially believed to be dead, is recovering after firefighters rescue him from a condo fire that sent one woman to the hospital.
Brahman, a 13 year old Keeshond, is recovering at the Florida Veterinary Referral Center in Estero from smoke inhaliation and severe heat exposure.
The dog was found by firefighters without a pulse, but came to after fighters administered oxygen using a special oxygen mask.
A woman that was inside the house is listed in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital, suffering severe smoke inhaliation.
Investigators say someone intentionally set a couch inside the Sail Harbour condo Tuesday afternoon.
The State Fire Marshal's office is handling the investigation.

Read more: http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-12-01/Dog-lucky-to-be-alive-after-condo-fire#ixzz17dYxX7ua

Lights of Love

I am heading with my dog, Vinny, to this great event tonight. This is such a great cause and will be a great time. If you can, please come out to support:)

 

Lights of Love – 2010

animalrefugecenter.com

The Animal Refuge Center's 12th Annual Lights of Love Event honors pets we love and those we've lost. Live music, entertainment and a pet-friendly atmosphere make this a can't miss event!

Thanks to Dr. Goodrich, staff

Editor, THE BANNER:

     On July 11, I took my greyhound, Sonjia, to the Florida Veterinary Referral Center and 24 Hour Emergency and Critical Care due to a mishap at another clinic far away.
     Because of the commitment of Dr. Kimberly Goodrich and the entire staff, she survived a very long ordeal. Having had to travel back and forth, some days every day, I learned how caring the center is towards not only every pet that comes their way, but also toward the caretakers of the pets.
     Dr. Goodrich and her staff literally were a great source of encouragement to me as I walked out this storm with my pet. Without their care, Sonjia simply would not have survived. Words will never express the gratitude I feel towards them.
     Estero and the surrounding are pets and their owners are in good hands with the Florida Veterinary Referral Center.

                                                                                                         
Thank you, FVRC.

  Kathy Irey,
 Clewiston, FL

5-Fluorouracil Toxicity in Dogs

By: Mary Locicero, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
Florida Veterinary Referral Center

     5-Fluorouracil (5FU) is a chemotherapy agent used topically as a cream for treating skin cancers and occasionally warts. Common trade names include Efudex, Adrucil or Fluoroplex. When a dog chews on the cream tube and ingests the 5-Fluorouracil it is usually fatal. We have seen three of these cases in our clinic in the past year and out of these, two patients died and the one that survived was hospitalized for 10 days. According to Poison Control, the mortality rate is 85 percent.
     Pharmacists are often not aware of the danger this drug poses to pets and do not warn owners of the potential toxicity--they may even tell the owners that it is non-toxic. Sadly, many of these patients arrive at the veterinary clinic hours after ingestion already showing signs of toxicity.

Mode of Action
     5-Fluorouracil is a pyrimadine analogue and is considered an antimetabolite. 5-Fluorouracil blocks the enzyme thymidylate sythase, stopping the synthesis of pyrimidine--a nucleotide required for DNA and RNA replication. 5FU inhibits cell division, thus it affects all cells in the body, but most specifically the rapidly dividing cells. In dogs and cats 5FU inhibits cell division, thus it affects all cells in the body, but most specifically the rapidly dividing cells. In dogs and cats 5FU may be converted to fluorocitrate, which interferes with the Kreb's cycle mechanisms of cellular energy production and may be one cause of seizures and neurological signs.

Signs
     In dogs, signs have been seen at dosages as low as 8.6 mg/kg, with the minimum lethal dose reported as 20 mg/kg. Initial signs include vomiting and may progress to bloody vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain and sloughing of the intestinal tract. Signs often progress to severe tremors, ataxia and seizures. Cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory depression and pulmonary edema can also develop. The seizures usually do not respond to diazepam and become uncontrollable. As per Poison Control, once seizures start the dog usually does not survive.

Treatment
     The most important procedures for a chance of survival is early decontamination, emesis and oral activated charcoal administration within 2-3 hours of ingestion--beyond that time, 5FU will already be absorbed. After 2 to 3 hours emesis will not be helpful but activated charcoal may be helpful for up to 12-24 hours is there is no vomiting.
    Once signs have manifested, treatment includes supportive care, seizure management and airway control if necessary.

*For GI signs: sucralfate, Cerenia, Famotidine or Ranitidine, IV fluids. Do not use Metoclopramide, which can get an excitatory effect.
*Pain control: Opioids
*Seizure control: diazepam is rarely effective. Often Pentobarbital or Phenobarbital need to be added. If these do not work then a CRI of Pentobarbital or Propofol can be tried.
*Airway control: intubation if on CRI or comatose.
*Monitor electrolytes and serum chemistries for liver an renal failure.
*Dogs that are lucky enough to survive may show bone marrow suppression later, so CBC should be monitored closely. If bone marrow suppression develops, filgrastim (Neupogen) can be used to stimulate bone marrow stem cell proliferation.

     Because we live in an area that has a large population of geriatric adults and the prevalence of skin cancer in increasing, we will likely see this toxicity again. It is important to educate clients, referring veterinarians and pharmacists of this dangerous drug. The most important chance for survival of the pet is early decontamination so it is important that the animal is brought to a veterinarian immediately and treated quickly.

Sources: Plumb, Donald C., Plumb's Veterinarian Drug Handbook, sixth edition, Blackwell Publishing. pp. 539, 540; Albretsen, Jay, 5-Fluorouracil toxicosis in dogs. Veterinary Medicine, pp.. 270-274, April 2001; Merck & Co., The Merck Veterinary Manual, Whitehouse Station NJ, 2008; 5-Fluorouracil on Right Health internet site; Animal Poison Control conversations.

What is on your mind?

With season fastly approaching, what is on your mind? What kind of concerns do you have.....? Can't wait to hear from you!

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