VCA Antech Sees Same-Store Revenue Drop By 2.2% In Q1April 28, 2011 VCA Antech Inc.’s animal division reported revenue of $269.9 million for its first quarter ended March 31, compared to revenue of $246.7 million in the year-ago period. The 9.4 percent increase was driven by acquisitions made in the past 12 months, said Bob Antin, chairman and CEO of the company. VCA Antech’s same-store revenue declined by 2.2 percent while its same-store gross profit margin declined to 14.9 percent from 16.9 percent, according to Antin. During the quarter, VCA Antech acquired two animal hospitals which had historical combined annual revenue of $4.8 million. VCA Antech’s laboratory division reported revenue of $79.5 million for its first quarter, compared to revenue of $78.2 million in the year-ago period. The medical technology division reported revenue of $19.1 million for its first quarter, compared to revenue of $15.8 million in the year-ago period. Overall, the Los Angeles-based company reported net income of $30.5 million on revenue of $355.1 million for the first quarter, compared to net income of $32.9 million on revenue of $330.7 million in the year-ago period. VCA Antech reaffirmed its fiscal year 2011 guidance: revenue from $1.47 billion to $1.51 billion and net income from …
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Canine Fashion Show To Benefit Underprivileged PetsApril 28, 2011 The Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation will host its 10th Annual Mutts and Models—The Fundraiser for Underprivileged Pets on Saturday, May 21, in Denver. The theme of this year’s canine and celebrity fashion show is Breakfast at Sniffany’s. More than 400 people are expected to attend the “black-collar” event, according to the foundation. Guests will watch local philanthropists, celebrities and media personalities strut down the runway with their dogs. There will also be a live and silent auction, among other activities. All proceeds from the event will go to the Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital, which provides veterinary care for pets of the economically disadvantaged. For details, click here. <Home>
Florida Launches Certified Vet Assistant ProgramApril 28, 2011 The Florida Veterinary Medical Association has adopted a certified veterinary assistant program. The program is Web-based and will be comprised of four key elements: educational online curriculum, practical experience of on-the-job training, validation of 100 skills to be checked off by a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician and the online final examination. The program includes more than 200 staff training videos provided by Animal Care Technologies (ACT). The Denton, Texas-based company has been offering training programs for the veterinary industry for 15 years and providing industry certification programs in several other states, including California, Missouri, Texas and Iowa. “It is very important that Florida creates a career opportunity early on for the staff member,” said David Grant, DVM, of ACT. “Often times, the veterinary assistant position has a very high turnover rate, about 44 percent nationwide. By earning this credential, you give the employee a mindset that they are embarking on a career not just a job.” Individuals can learn more about the certification program at the annual Florida Veterinary Medical Association meeting, to be held April 29 – May 1 in Orlando, Fla. Details can also be found at fvma.4act.com or by calling …
Pet Owners Favor Adoption, Survey SaysApril 27, 2011 A person looking for his or her next pet is more likely to go to an animal shelter or rescue than a pet store, according to a survey released yesterday by Hartz Mountain Corp. of Secaucus, N.J. The Hartz Pet Trend Report, conducted by Richard Day Research, polled 1,028 U.S. cat and dog owners about their pet and pet-related topics. It found that 60 percent of the respondents would prefer to adopt their next pet from a rescue society, while 10 percent said they’d go to a registered breeder, 4 percent said they’d go to a pet store and another 4 percent said it wouldn’t matter. Hartz said it commissioned the survey to better understand what pet owners think about pet issues and to gain insight into pet owners’ relationships with their four-legged companions. When considering what makes a good pet, the majority of pet owners polled (65 percent) said personality is the most important characteristic, followed by loyalty (20 percent), obedience (11 percent), “something else” (2 percent) and purity of breed (1 percent). < The release of the Hartz Pet Trend Report coincides with National Pet Week, scheduled for May 1 to 7, 2011. …
First World Feline Veterinary Conference Set For SeptemberApril 26, 2011 The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine will introduce the 1st World Feline Veterinary Conference on Sept. 8-11 in Boston. The theme will be "Cardiovascular Disease: The Heart of Feline Medicine." The conference is geared for veterinarians, veterinary technicians and students from varied clinical backgrounds who are interested in learning about feline cardiology. “Feline health and wellness is a global issue,” said Roberta Lillich, DVM, the AAFP program committee chair and past president. “The 2011 conference will bring together practitioners from all over the world, giving us the opportunity to make a difference by working together.” The event will include 42 exhibiting companies as well as feline focused seminars. Twenty-one general continuing education credits and four additional ancillary continuing education credits will be offered. For details, click here. <Home>
European Commission Approves 2 New Bayer Animal Health ProductsApril 26, 2011 Bayer Animal Health reported today that it is expanding its international companion animal portfolio with two new European Commission-approved products: Veraflox (pradofloxacin) and Procox (emodepside and toltrazuril). The company describes Veraflox as the first next-generation veterinary fluoroquinolone antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infection in dogs and cats. The European Commission granted approval for the treatment of the following infections caused by specified and susceptible pathogens: wound infections, superficial and deep pyoderma, acute urinary tract infections and as adjunctive treatment for severe gingival and periodontal tissue infections in dogs; and against wound infections, abscesses and acute upper respiratory tract infections in cats. The product is available in flavored tablets for dogs and cats as well as an oral suspension for cats. Veraflox is approved in 30 European countries and will be launched in the first markets “shortly,” according to Bayer Animal Health. Procox is the first and only licensed combination treatment for roundworm and coccidia gastrointestinal parasitic infections in dogs, according to the company. This includes puppies of at least two weeks of age and weighing at least 0.9 pounds. The product is available as an oral suspension. Procox is approved in …
VSEC To Open New FacilityApril 25, 2011 Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (VSEC) of Bucks County, Pa., will host a grand opening celebration for its new 21,000-square-foot hospital on Saturday, May 14. The hospital will be open for patient care on June 1. The May event is open to the public from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. with hospital tours, food and music. The ribbon cutting will take place at 5 p.m. with a reception for VSEC referring veterinary hospitals to follow. The hospital will house several new amenities, including a linear accelerator to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients and a special room to administer radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroid cats, along with a CT scanner, MRI scanner, dedicated ICU, separate canine and feline wards and a presentation room for continuing education lectures. VSEC plans to open a satellite clinic in spring 2012 in Philadelphia. <Home>
Tea Time For Fido And Fluffy?April 22, 2011Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?footnotesTea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Posted: April 22, 2011, 7 p.m., EDTNarda Robinson, DO, DVM FOOTNOTES 1. Bryan J. Psychological effects of dietary components of tea: caffeine and l-theanine. Nutrition Reviews. 2007;66(2):82-90.2. Alcazar A, Ballesteros O, Jurado JM, et al. Differentiation of green, white, black, oolong, and Pu-erh teas according to their free amino acids content. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55:5960-5965.3. Alcazar A, Ballesteros O, Jurado JM, et al. Differentiation of green, white, black, oolong, and Pu-erh teas according to their free amino acids content. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55:5960-5965.4. Rogers PJ, Smith JE, Heatherley SV, et al. Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together. Psychopharmacology. 2008;195:569-577.5. Young AB and Chu D. Distribution of GABAA and GABAB receptors in …
Celebrating Earth Day With ‘Acts Of Green’April 22, 2011 Today is the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, an observance that is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, according to Earth Day Network. The nonprofit has been campaigning for a “Billion Acts of Green” since Earth Day last year. Acts of Green may include making a commitment to plant trees; clean up beaches and parks; set up community meetings on energy efficiency, sustainability and green economy issues; participate in large-scale light bulb changes; and take on workplace renewable energy retrofits; among other efforts. As of today, 102,022,550 Acts of Green have been logged at billionactsofgreen.org. The goal is to reach one billion Acts of Green before the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio in 2012. Veterinarians interested in learning how to make their practices more green can find a list of resources on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website. For example, the AVMA offers these options for integrating eco-friendly features into veterinary practices: • Reduce waste production and improve waste management. • Increase energy efficiency. • Improve water efficiency. • Reduce chemical product use and minimize toxins. The website also gives details on …
8 Cat Studies Get Funding From Winn Feline FoundationApril 21, 2011The Winn Feline Foundation has selected eight projects as part of its 2011 Feline Health Grant Awards for a total of more than $140,300 in funding. The projects were chosen out of 42 proposals. The winning projects will focus on topics such as feline infectious peritonitis, mortality in kittens, oral squamous cell carcinoma and chronic kidney disease, among others. The projects are: A Reproducible Protocol to Isolate a Characterized Population of Adult Feline Progenitor Cells,” by James Wignall, BSc, MRCVS, and Mandi Lopez, DVM, Ph.D., of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. As part of the study, the researchers will determine the best method to isolate feline ASCs and the potential for cell banking for treatment of ill and injured patients. The results will significantly advance adult stromal cell applications to treat felines, according to the researchers. The project received $9,995. Evolution of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus within FIP Cats and Tissue-specific Adaptation of the Virus to Activating Proteases,” by Gary Whittaker, Ph.D., professor at Cornell University. The researcher will perform laboratory-based experiments on post-mortem samples to define the sequences of the different viruses in the different tissues. The work will characterize the changes that occur …
