Early January, I remembered that I haven’t given my dog, Sonny, his heartworm medication, so I started to look for his meds. I purchased 6 months worth in July and stored them in a zip lock bag and pinned them on our cork board in my kitchen. My Aunt Lina came to stay with us for a few days before the holidays and everyone who knows my Aunt Lina, knows how much she loves to cook and clean. If one were to sit on the couch long enough, she would spray Pledge on you and start dusting! For whatever reason, Lina felt the need to clean my cork board (she claims it needed to be organized).

I was intensely looking everywhere in the kitchen; drawers, cabinets, pantry and even my secret alcove, where I keep all my chocolate stash (lucky for me, Aunt Lina hasn’t discovered that alcove yet). Then it finally occurred to me that I placed them in the zip lock bag with a note inside giving the specific dates to administer the next dosage to Sonny. As I ran excitedly to the cork board I realized that it was so neat and organized and that there was NO zip lock bag! That’s when I knew Lina had “uncluttered” my message board. I had called her to see if she might have placed it somewhere but she gave me the old; “I swear I didn’t see it and…I threw NOTHING out… I swear.” I translated her reply to me; “Your cork board was a complete mess and I’m sorry if I threw out Sonny’s meds.” I know that Lina felt bad and I reassured her that it was no big deal; I can pick some more up from the Vet.

Later that afternoon, I made my way to our local Vet office; The Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital with Sonny at tow. I thought; “hey this is going to be quick, all they have to do is look up Sonny’s records and see what dosage he needs.” Wrong! The lovely receptionist told me that there were none available at this time due to a production halt. She then asked me if I wanted to put Sonny on the waiting list. The blank stare and no response was an indication that I was a bit perplexed. She then swiftly apologized about the situation and told me that their hands are tied because Novartis Animal Health in North America has ceased production of Interceptor, Sentinel and Clomicalm (Clomicalm helps treat dogs with anxiety). She then went on to tell me that a Novartis assured her that they will resume its regular production sometime in late January. Well, it’s now February and as of Friday still NO Interceptor, Sentinel and Clomicalm. For all of us who have pets understand how crucial it is to have these antiparasitic meds to keep them healthy and thriving. As for the anxiety medication, Clomicalm, maybe administering a little of my homemade vino may do the trick for a while.

In January I wrote an article titled Double D’s…Doxil for Dan. It talked about how Dan Schiavello who is suffering from Stage IV lung cancer has been cut off from Doxil; a medicine that has been keeping him alive for the last 5 years.

Although Novartis claims it was a “voluntary” cease of production on their part; anyone who knows the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) which I personally think it stands for Fraudulency, Dishonesty and Abuse has their hands in this “cease of production.” I know many of you are saying to yourself; “There are other alternatives for heartworm meds besides Interceptor and Sentinel.” That is true however, who knows when the FDA will disrupt or “cease” their production also. Everywhere you turn nowadays, you will read or hear about another medicine that is being halted, stopped or “voluntarily ceased.” Basically, ALL of us including our furry companions are at the mercy of the Food Drug Administration.

As Spring quickly approaches, March 20 (Sonny’s First Birthday) let’s help The Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital and all Veterinarians acquire enough Interceptor, Sentinel and Clomicalm to keep our dearly loved companions heart healthy and…calm.

Please feel free to contact Mickey McDermott, head of communications for Novartis Animal Health and tell him; “Un-cease the production and keep our beloved pets’ heart’s pumping strong!”

Mickey McDermott

Novartis Animal Health Communications

 336 387 3924

mickey.mcdermott@novartis.com