FTC orders Mars to divest 12 vet clinics before VCA buySeptember 4, 2017To avoid violating antitrust laws, Mars Inc., under a mandate from the Federal Trade Commission, will divest 12 veterinary clinics across the U.S. that provide specialty and emergency services no later than 10 business days after the company's $9.1 billion acquisition of VCA Inc. According to the FTC, Mars is required to divest each of the 12 clincis to one of three divestiture buyers: National Veterinary Associates, Pathway Partners Vet Management Co., and PetVet Care Centers. If the acquisition takes place as proposed, it may lessen competition for certain specialty and emergency veterinary services in 10 U.S. areas by eliminating direct competition between Mars specialists in the area and those of VCA, according to the FTC's complaint. Commission documents also claim that without a remedy, the acquisition would likely lead to higher prices for pet owners and lower quality in the specialty and emergency veterinary services they receive. One clinic in the Kansas City, New York, and Phoenix areas will be divested to National Veterinary Associates; one clinic in Chicago, Corpus Christi and San Antonio; and two clinics in Seattle will be divested to Pathway. Two clinics in the Portland area …
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Pet, vet industries provide emergency relief after Hurricane HarveyAugust 31, 2017In response to Hurricane Harvey, PetSmart Charities has dedicated at least $1 million in emergency relief funding to help animal welfare agencies working to rescue, relocate, feed, and care for pets left homeless due to flooding.
AVMA donates $100,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief effortsAugust 31, 2017The American Veterinary Medical Association has donated $100,000 toward Hurricane Harvey relief efforts via the association’s charitable arm, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF).
AAEP Foundation accepting donations for horses affected by HarveyAugust 31, 2017The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund is accepting aid to help horses in states affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Henry Schein Animal Health launches web-based pet vaccine resourceAugust 31, 2017Henry Schein Animal Health has announced the launch of its Companion Animal Vaccine Resource Center, a web-based hub that provides veterinarians with the latest data on infectious diseases in cats and dogs, and critical information about the role regular vaccinations of pets play in protecting animal and human health.
How bioinformatics research could affect veterinary practices, companion animal healthAugust 30, 2017Let’s face it; we can’t even keep up with all the email, client communications, and news flashing on our smartphones while maintaining a busy clinical load. Once-a-year continuing education barely keeps us afloat in the ocean of veterinary information, and now that information is coming at us more and more rapidly and in more forms.
Henry Schein to acquire Merritt Veterinary Supplies, expand U.S. presenceAugust 30, 2017Henry Schein Inc., a provider of health care products and services to animal health practitioners, announced its plans to acquire Merritt Veterinary Supplies Inc., a family-owned supplier of animal health products. Merritt serves approximately 4,500 veterinary clinics across the eastern U.S.
Southern Veterinary Partners expands into South Carolina, TexasAugust 25, 2017Southern Veterinary Partners announced that five veterinary clinics have joined its organization. From Texas, the veterinary management company now includes Deerfield Animal Hospital in San Antonio, Denton Veterinary Center in Denton, and Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic in Kerrville.
10 secrets of veterinary anesthesia machinesAugust 24, 2017Increase patient safety while under anesthesia and boost your machine’s efficiency with these 10 tips.
Boxer with a bleeding tongueAugust 24, 2017I’ve got another “dental zebra” for you. For those unacquainted with my dental zebra series, I am not referring to the striped horse but rather the rare diagnosis that is sometimes referred to as a “zebra” diagnosis.
