Veterinary Emerging Topics Report for 2018 focuses on AMRFebruary 15, 2018Banfield Pet Hospital and the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) have published the second annual Veterinary Emerging Topics (VET) Report. This year's report focuses on feline antimicrobial usage and the mounting public health issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), expanding the 2017 conversation that discussed canine patients. "Our second annual VET Report enables Banfield to continue its commitment to advancing pet health," said Daniel Aja, DVM, chief medical officer, Banfield Pet Hospital. " … Our … goal is to give veterinarians around the world information they need to provide the best care possible to feline patients, while also educating pet owners and the general public on the issue of AMR in companion animals." A lack of awareness around existing guidelines for antimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine has contributed to discordance between usage patterns and ideal treatments, according to the report. The 2018 publication highlights these guidelines and places a special focus on prescription patterns in common feline infections, considering the unique challenges cat owners face treating their feline companions, such as hiding behavior and defense mechanisms, the report stated. Research examined the treatment of upper respiratory infections and urinary tract infections in feline patients. Key findings include: 40 percent of …
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Recoup veterinary med revenueDecember 1, 2017As the veterinary pharmacy landscape continues to move away from traditional in-clinic sales, practice owners are left wondering how to regain some of their lost revenue, especially for the sale of parasite preventives and prescription foods.
WHO urges end to antibiotics use in healthy food-producing animalsNovember 10, 2017The World Health Organization (WHO) launched new guidelines regarding the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals, urging farmers and the food industry to stop using antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in otherwise healthy animals. The guidelines were announced ahead of World Antibiotic Awareness Week, Nov. 13-19. The WHO recommends an overall reduction in the use of all classes of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals, including complete restriction of these antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention without diagnosis. Healthy animals should receive antibiotics only to prevent disease if it has been diagnosed in other animals in the same flock, herd, or fish population, according to the WHO. The new guidelines aim to help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics important for human medicine. They recommend that antibiotics used in animals should be among those that are the least important to human health, and not from those classified as "critically important." The European Union barred the practice in 2006, and a US ban on use of "medically important" antibiotics kicked in at the beginning of this year, according to the WHO. "A lack of effective antibiotics is as serious a security threat …
PetSmart announces launch of online pharmacySeptember 28, 2017PetSmart announced the launch of PetSmart Pharmacy, a new online-only pharmacy that offers ordering and autofill of prescription and over the counter medications, and veterinary diet prescription pet food, combined with home delivery. According to Packaged Facts, the pet medication market would be a more than $10 billion industry by 2018. The market researcher's 2016 National Pet Owner survey found that 46 percent of pet owners buy pet products online, up from 41 percent in 2015. During the online ordering process at PetSmart.com, pet owners enter information about their pet and veterinarian. From there, fully licensed and pharmacy-certified PetSmart pharmacists coordinate with the veterinarian. Once validated, prescriptions are filled and the products are shipped directly to pet owners' homes. An auto-ship feature is available. PetSmart Pharmacy offers options to treat pet allergies, anxiety, arthritis, heartworm, seizure and diabetes, as well as rare ailments. Brand-name and generic prescription and OTC medications include Bravecto, Trifexis, Carprofen, Sentinel, and Vetmedin. PetSmart Pharmacy will not offer pet opiates as part of its product offering. Veterinary diet formulas, wet and dry, as well as treats, from Hill's, Royal Canine, and ProPlan will be available, as …
Professors, scientists release antimicrobial resistance learning benchmarksMay 11, 2017Looking to train future veterinarians as well as retrain those already working in the field that less is more when it comes to antibiotics, a group of professors and scientists have developed AMR (antimicrobial resistance) Learning Outcomes.
Banfield, NAVC call vets to AMR actionApril 18, 2017The issue of antibiotic-resistant superbugs is the reason antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the subject of the inaugural annual Veterinary Emerging Topics (VET) Report, produced by Banfield Pet Hospitals in conjunction with the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC).
How to prevent last-minute pet medication emergency refillsFebruary 24, 2017It’s predictable. Every day, clients call your veterinary clinic within minutes of closing time to request a prescription refill. “My dog took his last pill this morning, and I need a refill today. I’m on the way to your hospital now. Could you wait for me?” pleads the pet owner.
Zomedica banks on canine diarrhea drugsDecember 19, 2016Zomedica Pharmaceuticals Corp. has started talks with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the company’s third proposed veterinary product: an oral suspension formulated for the treatment of canine diarrhea.
What livestock vets need to know about new VFD rulesDecember 7, 2016The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), which kicks in January 1, 2017, regulates the use of medically important antibiotics in the feed and drinking water of U.S. livestock.
More ways to minimize opioid relianceSeptember 27, 2016Last month’s column explored the epidemic of addiction to prescription opioids in people and how veterinary medical professionals may be at more risk of becoming addicted than the general population, considering the access we have to controlled substances and the stress of day-to-day work.
