Fit from fatSeptember 21, 2017I must confess: I believe most pet owners dread hearing me suggest a weight loss plan for their pet. I also confide that I think many veterinarians tremble at the thought of proposing a weight loss plan. To further complicate matters, I believe pet weight loss is as much an art as it is a science.
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Nationwide annual 2017 Hambone Award voting underwaySeptember 21, 2017After reviewing nearly 1.5 million pet insurance claims received over the past year, Nationwide has nominated 12 candidates for the 2017 Hambone Award. Each year, the pet health insurer combs its database of more than 600,000 insured pets to honor the most "Unusual Pet Insurance Claim of the Year." The winner will be decided after a public voting period of Sept. 21 – Oct. 4. Originally named after a dog who ate an entire Thanksgiving ham while stuck in a refrigerator, the annual Hambone Award has since been given to the most bizarre medical claim each year since 2009. In addition, the veterinary practice that treated this year's Hambone Award winner will receive a $10,000 Nationwide-funded award through the Veterinary Care Foundation to treat pets whose owners could not otherwise afford treatment. From the dog who was impaled by a tree branch to the cat who fell down an abandoned well, each of the 12 nominees have uniquely harrowing tales. All nominated pets have made full recoveries and received Nationwide insurance reimbursements for eligible veterinary expenses. Below are brief summaries of the 12 unusual claims nominated for the 2017 Hambone Award. For a more detailed account of each story, photos of the …
AMC launches Usdan Institute for Animal HealthSeptember 20, 2017 The Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York, which sees more than 50,000 patient visitors a year and has more than 100 years of veterinary medical experience, announced the launch of the Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education to help educate owners on all aspects of their pet's health. AMC has appointed Jaclyn Skidmore, MSc, an infectious disease epidemiologist, as the institute's director. "The Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education will focus on three areas of education: animal health, public health as it relates to animals, and the human-animal bond," said Kathryn Coyne, Animal Medical Center's CEO. "We hope pet owners everywhere will utilize the institute to find resources for their pet's health needs, and we invite all New York City area pet owners to join us at our Usdan event series." The Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education will present a series of educational events that will be open to the public. On Sept. 28, Mark Macina, DVM, head of AMC's dermatology service, will discuss seasonal pet allergies and advances in treatment. Every Tuesday the Institute will issue a "Usdan Tuesday Tip" on timely animal health information across AMC social platforms with the hashtag #UsdanTuesdayTip. …
CE explores expanded treatment options for improving mobility in geriatric petsSeptember 19, 2017Companion Animal Health has opened enrollment for an educational course that the company said is "designed specifically to give general veterinary practices access to the tools required to meet the need for expanded osteoarthritis treatment options in companion animals" and "will equip practices with the practical knowledge of the best multimodal approaches for successfully managing the geriatric, arthritic, and obese dog and/or cat." Attendees will earn 11 continuing education credits, with the option of adding a regenerative medicine wet-lab to advance their expertise (for an additional four CE credits). A panel of speakers will educate attendees on the following topics: Nutritional Management for the Geriatric Dog or Cat Photobiomodulation (Laser Therapy) for OA Nutriceutical Use for the Geriatric, Arthritic Pet Pharmacologic Management of OA Business & Marketing Strategies "We took a look at what courses were being offered in our profession currently, and there weren't really any that combined more than one or two OA treatment options," said Lisa Miller, DVM, CCRT, CVA. "This disease responds best to a multimodal approach, so we designed a course to accommodate that need." Veterinary professionals interested in attending this course can find more information on dates, …
When should you refer a surgical patient?September 15, 2017From a legal standpoint, any licensed veterinarian can perform any surgery on any patient. But just because you can doesn’t mean that you should.
Veterinary oncology market profiled in new Brakke Consulting reportSeptember 15, 2017Brakke Consulting in Dallas has announced the release of a new study that profiles the veterinary oncology sector. "Oncology is one of the highest interest areas in veterinary medicine today," said Lynn Fondon DVM, a senior consultant at Brakke Consulting. "In the past decade, the U.S. has gone from zero cancer therapies approved for veterinary use to a more than a half-dozen, with dozens more in development." The study, Cancer in Dogs and Cats, provides information on the incidence of cancer in pets, examines how cancer is diagnosed and treated in veterinary medicine, and offers estimated costs for treatment. The report reviews the FDA-approved cancer treatments that are now on the market; new and developing veterinary cancer products, including therapies, diagnostics, and supportive care, are also presented. It estimates the current sales of veterinary-approved cancer therapies, as well as provides estimates of the total number of pets treated with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. "We surveyed both veterinarians and pet owners for this study, and we found that despite costs that can reach thousands of dollars, many dog and cat owners are willing to pursue treatment when their pets are diagnosed with cancer," said Dr. Fondon. The report, …
Pros, cons of surgical sterilization, neutering options for femalesSeptember 14, 2017Among the most common surgical procedures in small animal practice are those for sterilization and neutering. The goal of these procedures is both to prevent reproduction and to provide a net health benefit for the patient that may include avoiding the risks of reproduction, reducing the incidence of those disease that are more common in intact animals, and reducing behaviors associated with intact status that can lead to relinquishment.
Mars Inc. completes VCA Inc. acquisitionSeptember 12, 2017What started in January is a done deal, as Mars Inc. has announced that its acquisition of VCA Inc. is now complete. VCA will operate as a distinct and separate business within Mars Petcare, alongside Banfield Pet Hospital, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, and Pet Partners. Bob Antin, co-founder and CEO of VCA animal hospitals, will remain at the helm at its Los Angeles headquarters. "I welcome the 25,000-plus VCA team members to the Mars Petcare family of companies," said Poul Weihrauch, president of Mars Global Petcare. "VCA's partnerships with veterinarians and pet care providers, as well as their breadth and expertise in veterinary services, diagnostics and technology, will position all of us to deliver more comprehensive care and continue on our journey supporting our purpose: a better world for pets." Mars, which reports approximately $35 billion in sales per year and operates in more than 80 countries, produces Pedigree, Royal Canin, and Whiskas pet food brands, in addition to owning Banfield, BluePearl, and Pet Partners. VCA delivers pet health care services through more than 800 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada; Antech Diagnostics, a nationwide clinical laboratory system that services all 50 states and Canada; animal diagnostic …
Avoiding fatalities during veterinary dental proceduresSeptember 11, 2017I recently received a call from a good friend who also is a referring veterinarian. Our conversation reminded me of an important topic I’ve been meaning to write about: identifying and containing life-threatening risks associated with dental procedures.
Veterinary clinics go mobileSeptember 7, 2017When pet owners aren’t keen to bring a sick pet into a clinic or particular animals just don’t do well in a setting away from their home, mobile veterinarians who make house calls that include the same services of a traditional clinic and can often discover issues bothering the pet that don’t come up in an exam room, step in to get the job done.
