Veterinarians See Successes Ahead In 2012January 3, 2012 Medical, political advancements are within reach, leaders say.Veterinary leaders have high expectations for the industry in 2012. While the gap is increasingly narrowed between human and veterinary medicine, researchers discuss further medical and political advances for the profession.Veterinarians See Successes Ahead in 2012 By: Jessica Tremayne-Farkas Contributing Editor Veterinary leaders have high expectations for the industry in 2012. While the gap is increasingly narrowed between human and veterinary medicine, researchers discuss further medical and political advances for the profession. Clients’ growing response to medical options for their pets means an enhanced need to provide solutions for potentially fatal maladies, degenerative and quality of life issues. But on a more basic level, one veterinarian says political action by practitioners can help veterinarians tend to animals’ medical needs when finances prevent veterinary interventions. “Some veterinarians feel they’re too busy to take time away from patient care to listen to ways their state veterinary medical associations can help them care for more animals in need,” says Barbara Monaghan, DVM, of Kelley Animal Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., and president of the Alabama VMA Foundation. “Being active in the state foundation means actively raising money to facilitate surgeries …
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Pet Foods Tested For SalmonellaNovember 28, 2011 The federal government initiated a program to randomly sample pet foods, pet treats, and supplements for pets for Salmonella. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine issued a memorandum instructing its 19 regional districts to collect samples of pet foods, pet treats, and supplements for pets from manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or retailers. The testing does not include canned pet food. The agency said it started the program in October because Salmonella-contaminated pet foods, pet treats and supplements for pets pose a significant health risk to humans. Its goal is to ensure that Salmonella-contaminated pet feeds are removed from interstate commerce. Each district was instructed to collect 14 samples between October and September. The FDA encouraged districts to collect samples over the entire fiscal year, or in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year if year-round collection is not feasible. The FDA said samples should consist of the following: * Six samples from non-canned pet foods. Examples include, but are not limited to, non-canned foods for puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, rabbits, reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards and iguanas), rodents (gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice), birds, aquarium fish, and raw meat …
The 4-Wheeled PractitionerNovember 28, 2011The 4-Wheeled PractitionerThe 4-Wheeled Practitioner, mobile veterinarians, mobile veterinarian vehicleLess overhead is inspiring more veterinarians to hit the road and make house calls.Veterinarians taking their specialty on the road have a plethora of options for selecting a vehicle. While some practices are located within the confines of a mobile unit, others utilize a vehicle in addition to a brick-and-mortar facility.cover storiesThe 4-Wheeled PractitionerLess overhead is inspiring more veterinarians to hit the road and make house calls.By Jessica TremayneContributing EditorPosted: Nov. 28, 2011, 4:30 p.m. EST Veterinarians taking their specialty on the road have a plethora of options for selecting a vehicle. While some practices are located within the confines of a mobile unit, others utilize a vehicle in addition to a brick-and-mortar facility. Koni Wade, national sales manager at LaBoit Mobile Specialty Vehicles in Gahanna, Ohio, says 95 percent of the company's clients are exclusively mobile. No stationary clinic means little overhead and minimal staff. A number of veterinarians are finding that they can work just as effectively in a mobile practice as they can in a brick-and-mortar one.Courtesy of Dodgen Mobile Technologies. Dena Baker, DVM, owner of Mobile PetVet in Naples, Fla., looked into leasing space …
Refurbished Equipment Can Lower CostsOctober 17, 2011Refurbished Equipment Can Lower CostsRefurbished Vet Equipment Can Lower Costs, buying preowned medical equipmentBut be sure to look for warranties and technical support, advisers recommend.Buying pre-owned medical equipment doesn't have to mean compromising product quality or efficacy if a practitioner uses a reputable source.cover storiesRefurbished Equipment Can Lower CostsPosted: Oct. 14, 2011, 4:05 p.m. EDT Contributing Editor Buying pre-owned medical equipment doesn't have to mean compromising product quality or efficacy if a practitioner uses a reputable source. Companies that certify, guarantee and provide written warranties for refurbished equipment offer security for the buyer if the item doesn't work properly or needs repair within a set timeframe after purchase. "First, you have to compare apples to apples," says Drew Blackstone, president and CEO of Apexx Veterinary Equipment in Englewood, Colo. "Buying equipment [from individuals] on eBay, VIN.com or from the clinic across town that went out of business is a 'buyer beware' purchase and very different than buying from a reputable equipment vendor," he says. "There can be greater risks that may outweigh any benefits when using these types of vendors to purchase equipment." Purchasing equipment without a warranty or support could mean losing the full amount invested. The benefits of …
Opportunities Abound In BiopharmaOctober 14, 2011 Opportunities in veterinary oncology and biopharmaceuticals were recurrent themes in presentations at the KC Animal Health Corridor’s third annual Investment Forum, held in late August in Kansas City in conjunction with its sixth annual Homecoming event and the Central Veterinary Conference. While those opportunities perhaps reflect the presentation selection committee’s interests more than those of the roughly 180 investors and other participants attending, hey jibed with the messages of featured speakers Ron Brakke of Brakke Consulting and Ernst Heinen, vice president of research and development at Bayer. In a somewhat dour midyear industry overview, Brakke noted that the animal health industry is maturing, that there would be fewer large products and the pipelines at the major companies were relatively empty. He also mentioned the Bayer Veterinary Usage Study, which showed declining veterinary visits on the companion animal side in part due to price resistance. He concluded by predicting “little real market growth after inflation in 2011” for the animal health industry. Heinen said he didn’t fully expect there to be more blockbuster drugs, especially traditional “small molecule” drugs, in animal health. However, he did see potential growth in new technology and new drugs, including bio-pharmaceuticals …
Avoid Mental Taxation: Plan Ahead On Major PurchasesSeptember 26, 2011 While current tax law allows for healthy deductions on purchases and bonus depreciation, accountants say making a purchase solely for a tax writeoff is not a good idea. However, if a purchase is inevitable, this year is the time for it as ever-changing tax laws may mean fewer write-offs starting in 2012. “The benefit that awaits a veterinarian is not the tax savings on the purchase of capital equipment, although that is a great perk for consummating the transaction,” says Mark McGaunn, CPA/PFS, CFP, a managing member of McGaunn and Schwadron CPAs LLC, in Needham Heights, Mass. “The benefits to be gained are the potential additional revenues to be generated, the additional skills and responsibilities that doctors and other staff can learn, making each more valuable, and ultimately the increased level of care that can be rendered to a patient base wanting or needing the additional dynamic the purchase will bring to the veterinary practice. “I always like to be cognizant of the financial rewards that follow large capital investments in a practice, but it’s the intangible and hard-to-measure soft rewards that may yield greater dividends. Waiting to make the purchase may delay these potential dividends.” …
Fipronil Generics Launch Amid Legal BattleSeptember 26, 2011 Novartis Animal Health US Inc. has launched new EPA-approved flea and tick control products for dogs and cats to be available through U.S. veterinarians this summer. Parastar for dogs and EasySpot for cats are species-specific formulations of fipronil, a flea and tick adulticide. Parastar and EasySpot are registered in more than 40 states. Meanwhile, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia granted contempt motions filed by Merial Ltd. and Merial SAS against Velcera and FidoPharm and their contract manufacturer for PetArmor Plus, Cipla Limited. The court stayed its order for 60 days to allow for an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals. PetArmor Plus remains on the market at Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs. Velcera and FidoPharm say they intend to seek an expedited appeal and will defend their ability to continue selling PetArmor Plus, a generic fipronil formulation. Velcera and FidoPharm say they intend to pursue the action they filed in federal district court in Delaware in February, seeking a declaratory judgment that Merial’s patent on a particular composition containing fipronil and s-methoprene is invalid and not infringed by PetArmor Plus. The validity of Merial’s patent was not at issue …
Comprehensive Parasite Control Can Mean Treating More Than The PetSeptember 19, 2011 The fight against fleas, ticks and other pet-related pests is nothing like the trench warfare it was two decades ago, say veterinary experts, who hail the advent of modern parasite-control products. But the problem can still rear its ugly head if complacency kicks in, say those who advocate a comprehensive year-round battle plan led by the professionals who counsel dog and cat owners. Treat and protect the pet, of course, they say, but also pay attention to the indoor and outdoor environments. In her role with the animal health company Virbac United States, Heidi Lobprise advises veterinary professionals about how best to help clients understand the importance of proactive steps in the fight against parasites. “Dealing with parasites is not the most fun thing to talk about, but it is critical,” says Lobprise, DVM, Dipl. American Veterinary Dental College, senior technical manager for Virbac, which carries a comprehensive line of parasiticides, from yard sprays and foggers to shampoos and dewormers. One of the key messages veterinary technicians and front-office staff members can convey is information about the life cycle of fleas, notes Josh Norsworthy, marketing manager for parasiticides at Fort Worth, Texas-based Virbac. …
Insuring Their FutureJune 21, 2011 Providers are making strides to persuade owners that coverage is worthwhile. The pet health insurance industry has seen its share of obstacles—from veterinary apprehension to policy confusion—since its 1980 debut. But industry insiders predict a bright future through not only the forging of business partnerships and the launch of new products and services but also a reduction in competition. Kristin Lynch, executive director of the 4-year-old North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), works on behalf of two clienteles: insurance buyers and sellers. “We are an independent source for pet consumers and can explain what services should be provided with a policy,” Lynch says. “As the perception of pets increasingly becomes ‘one of the family,’ insurance will be more in demand,” she says. “There are very different ideas of pets’ role in life in urban and rural areas. As this bridge narrows … owners will want to be able to care for all of their pets’ medical needs.” For pet insurers, NAPHIA grants membership to qualified companies and strives to set professional and ethical standards. Another goal is to provide accurate benchmark statistics. One survey now under way asks about the average turnaround …
Groups Team To Contain EHV CasesJune 21, 2011 The American Horse Council and the American Association of Equine Practitioners are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the reporting of horses infected with equine herpesvirus after an outbreak that is believed to have started in late April. As of June 2, 84 confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) or its neurologic form, equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), had been reported in 10 states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The USDA reported that of the 84 cases: • 58 involved horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western Regional Championship, held April 29-May 8 in Ogden, Utah. • 12 horses were dead or had been euthanized. • Two newly identified premises had suspected or confirmed cases. The collaboration between state and federal veterinarians and private practitioners is significant given the lack of federal regulations requiring reporting of EHM cases. To contain the outbreak, show organizers canceled competitions, the Bureau of Land Management postponed a Mustang adoption event in Tulare County, California, and horses were not shipped to remote adoption centers. EHM affects the brain and spinal cord, often leading to weakness, ataxia and …
