Zoetis named one of America's best employers, says ForbesApril 18, 2019For the fourth year in a row, Zoetis has been named one of America's best midsize employers, according to Forbes Magazine. The list comprises 150 companies. It is based on an independent survey among a sample of 50,000 American employees working for companies with at least 1,000 people in their U.S. operations. The most important factor in the assessment was the willingness to recommend one's own employer. Employees were consulted anonymously through online access panels allowing them to express their opinions. "At Zoetis, we know our people shape our reputation as a great place to work and drive our success," says Roxanne Lagano, Zoetis executive vice president, chief human resources officer and communications. "We are proud of the culture we have at our company, and we are excited our colleagues and others recommend Zoetis as one of America's best employers."
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Boston's Museum of Science receives AZA accreditationApril 18, 2019The Museum of Science, Boston, has once again been granted an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation. The certification comes after the museum underwent a thorough review by the AZA's independent accreditation commission to ensure it has and will continue to meet standards in animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. The accreditation process must be completed every five years for members to remain in good standing. The museum has been an accredited AZA member since 2002. "Less than 10 percent of animal facilities registered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have achieved AZA accreditation, so the Museum of Science is truly a leader in the profession," says AZA president and CEO, Dan Ashe. "AZA accreditation signifies the Museum of Science's active role in protecting our world's wild animals and wild places while providing exemplary animal care and meaningful guest experiences." The accreditation process comprises of a detailed application and an on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspection team observes all aspects of the institution's operation, including animal care and welfare, keeper training, visitor safety, staff and animals, educational programs, conservation efforts, veterinary programs, financial stability, risk …
Bayer, adivo to develop therapeutic antibodiesApril 17, 2019Bayer Animal Health and adivo have signed an agreement to develop therapeutic antibodies for companion animals. The collaboration may be good news for veterinary medicine. Although the use of therapeutic antibodies is not widespread, they offer a variety of healing options for diseases that still cannot be treated with current technology. "Today's agreement is another example of how we realize our innovation strategy," says Douglas Hutchens, DVM, PhD, Bayer Animal Health's head of drug discovery, external innovation and chief veterinary officer. "By combining the know-how from creative start-up companies like adivo with opportunities derived from Bayer's research, we broaden our space of therapeutic medicine options and complement our portfolio. We are constantly looking for innovative technologies enabling us to generate novel treatment options for the companion animal sector. Now, we will focus on evolving the options presented by adivo from research and development to market maturity." Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer will have access to adivo's species-specific monoclonal antibody technology, which uses an exclusive fully canine phage display library. Bayer will provide targets involved in severe animal diseases. "At adivo, we truly believe pets have a positive impact on our society," says the company's managing director, Kathrin …
Overland Park, Kans, tops list of heartworm cities for MarchApril 17, 2019According to Companion Animal Parasite Council's (CAPC's) top 10 list, Overland Park, Kans, was the number one city for heartworms in March. CAPC says annual testing is more important than ever to ensure dogs and cats are protected no matter where they live or travel. It also recommends year-round heartworm protection. "It takes just one heartworm-infected dog in an area to become a reservoir of infection, increasing the number of infected mosquitoes and ultimately spreading the heartworm parasite to unprotected dogs and cats," says CAPC board member, Michael Yabsley, MS, PhD, FRES, professor in the department of population health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. According to CAPC, national frequency rates for heartworm have increased each of the last five years and are now up 20 percent from 2013 levels. The following U.S. cities have the highest percentage increase in positive heartworm tests for March: 1) Overland Park, Kans. 2) San Francisco, Calif. 3) Laredo, Tex. 4) Thousand Oaks, Calif. 5) Salinas, Calif. 6) Oceanside, Calif. 7) Clarksville, Tenn. 8) Portland, Ore. 9) Providence, R.I. 10) Jersey City, …
UF studies anesthetic with potential for misuse in racehorsesApril 16, 2019A local anesthetic with the potential for misuse in racehorses is being studied by veterinarians at the University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with UF Racing Laboratory. The study will observe bupivacaine as there are concerns the extended release form of the drug could be used unethically to mask pain or an injury in a racehorse. "Bupivacaine has been around for a while," says Taralyn McCarrel, DVM, an equine surgeon and the grant's principal investigator. "We don't use it a lot, as most of the time we're doing very short procedures and for those, we tend to use drugs that are shorter-acting. This is true also when we're using them in a lameness examination. We only need the drugs to last a few hours in most cases." "In this new formulation, tiny droplets of bupivacaine are wrapped in a membrane, which is the liposomal component. After injection, the liposomes start to break down, and gradually release these small pockets of drug over a long time." The research team will start by determining the minimal effective dose to block pain in a horse's foot and to assess how long the anesthetic effect lasts. They will then …
New website pinpoints whether cats are picky eaters or sickApril 16, 2019A new website launched by KindredBio will inform owners about their cat's eating and drinking habits and as a result will lead to more visits to the veterinary clinic. PickyOrSick.com will help owners identify a problematic change in their cat's eating and drinking behavior and will direct them to a veterinarian should there a problem. "The best resource will always be the veterinarian. Yet, the society we live in today is technologically capable of providing answers at the stroke of a keyboard," says Christina Fernandez, DVM, DACVECC, MRCVS, KindredBio senior manager, veterinary affairs. "What's not often mentioned online is cats do not tolerate even short periods of inadequate nutrition. It can be critical to seek veterinary care immediately if an adult cat refuses food for even just a day." The science-based resource directs owners to make an appointment with their local veterinarian. The website features: • a five-question quiz to encourage owners to seek veterinary advice concerning changes in their cat's eating and drinking habits; • suggestions for determining whether their cat's behavior is a sign of illness or just picky eating; • a downloadable log to help monitor their cat's behavior, which can be shared …
Peeva and Covetrus helping to identify lost petsApril 15, 2019Peeva and Covetrus are working together to help bring lost pets home. Using Peeva's radio frequency identification (RFID) tag system, the Covetrus Connected Marketplace provides a single point of integration with most practice management systems (PIMS), helping to instantly identify a pet's owner when the tag is scanned. "Peeva's RFID tag technology and centralized database helps ensure these loved ones are safely returned to their families," says Peeva CEO, Michael Hamilton. "Pet medical information is key to ensuring accurate and rapid identification of a pet's owner, which is why this strategic partnership with Covetrus is so important. It affords us the opportunity to scale quickly by delivering a secure and permissions-based PIMS-integrated solution to the many veterinary practices to which Covetrus provides services."
UA applies to launch a veterinary programApril 15, 2019Students interested in veterinary medicine may soon have the opportunity to study at the University of Arizona (UA). According to an online news report by the Arizona Republic, the university received support from the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). Opening an accredited veterinary medicine program at the school has been a work in progress for many years, as the UA initially asked for approval from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council's on Education in 2014. According to the same report, AVMA denied the accreditation, as it had concerns over the potential program's finances, number of faculty members, research programs, and clinical resources. UA appealed the decision, but it was not successful. The school reapplied in 2017. Now with the approval from ABOR, a site visit by the AVMA is scheduled to happen next month, says the report. UA will hear by September whether it will receive a letter of reasonable assurance, which is required to receive accreditation. The UA College of Veterinary Medicine would be the state's only public veterinary medicine program.
Cats are taking over Times Square this springApril 12, 2019Cats will take the spotlight in Times Square this spring as part of a campaign to promote the love of cats. The International Cat Association (TICA), Winn Feline Foundation, and Dr. Elsey's Cat Products have joined together to create a feline billboard campaign that will be front and center in one of the world's busiest pedestrian areas. The initiative runs until June 30. TICA has celebrated the welfare of cats since its start in 1979. Currently, it is made up of more than 8,000 cat lovers in 104 countries. The Winn Feline Foundation has been supporting and funding feline research since 1968. More than $6 million has been given to researchers working toward a better understanding of diseases, treatments, and cures for feline health conditions. Dr. Elsey's creates various cat products. The company will be in New York from April 22 to May 15 to host the first Power of Purrsuasion pop-up event at Meow Parlour.
Embrace Pet Insurance launches scholarship for veterinary technician studentsApril 12, 2019Embrace Pet Insurance is awarding three veterinary technician students $1,000 scholarships as part of its Veterinary Technician Student Scholarship Program for the 2019-2020 school year. "Embrace is thrilled to be supporting the veterinary community by offering these scholarships," says its director of claims, Jenna Mahan, RVT. "The impact veterinary technicians have on the health and well-being of our pets can't be overstated. Our hope is each scholarship gets a lucky student closer to their goal of a career as a veterinary technician." To qualify, students must: • be 18 years of age or older; • be a U.S. citizen; • have a GPA greater than 3.0; and • be enrolled in a veterinary technician program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Students must submit a 500-word essay on why they want to work in the veterinary industry and how their work will make a difference for the pet population in their area. Recent transcripts and proof of the student's enrollment in an accredited veterinary technician program are also required. To apply, students must complete the online application and attach their essay, transcripts, and proof of enrollment. The deadline for applications …
