United Airlines introduces new PetSafe rules for transporting animalsMay 14, 2018In response to numerous animal-safety related instances in recent months, United Airlines has announced new PetSafe rules for transporting animals in cargo. Effective June 18, more than 25 breeds of brachycephalic cats and dogs will be banned from cargo holds on United aircrafts, including chow chows, bulldogs, mastiffs, pugs, and boxers, as well as Burmese, Himalayan, and Persian cats. Additionally, due to concerns of animal safety during hot weather, United Airlines will no longer accept reservations to ship any animals to or from airports in Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix, and Tucson between May 1 and Sept. 30 each year. The amended rules also limit the number of connecting cities a shipped pet may be routed through and limits the height of crates to 30 inches. "As we continue our review process to ensure that we are always doing what's right, we are committed to making significant improvements in our program and adhering to the best practices of animal comfort, well-being, and travel on behalf of our customers and their pets," said Jan Krems, vice president of cargo for United Airlines. United's review of its pet handling processes and policies follows several safety-related incidents that took place in its …
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AAHA Connexity 2018 reimagines traditional conference learningMay 14, 2018In an effort to change conference learning, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has combined learning facilitator and emcee into one role for its Connexity conference in Denver, Sept. 13-16, and has named Heather Loenser, DVM, as content weaver. "The content weaver opens and closes each general session asking provocative questions and framing the context of the conference's learning opportunities," according to business improvement consulting firm Velvet Chainsaw Consulting. "As research has shown, learning doesn't happen in bulk and the content weaver challenges attendees to carve out intentional time to engage with peers and reflect on the important content and topics." "I hope to be the catalyst for many 'AA-HA!' moments," said Dr. Loenser. "My job as Connexity's content weaver is to be a sense-maker. I'll help guests answer the crucial questions we often ask after attending a conference—'So what?' and 'Now what?'—by connecting them to colleagues and innovative actions they can immediately implement in their hospitals." Throughout the conference, Loenser will observe educational sessions, work closely with keynote speakers and learning facilitators, and initiate conversations to help attendees make the most of what they've learned. At the end of each day, she'll "weave together" key concepts …
Zomedica, Seraph partner on human diagnostic tech for veterinary clinicsMay 14, 2018 Zomedica Pharmaceuticals Corp., a veterinary diagnostic and pharmaceutical company, has partnered with Seraph Biosciences Inc., a human biomedical device company, to develop and market point-of-care pathogen diagnostic technology for urine and fecal sampling. Leveraging Raman spectroscopy principles, the ZM-020 will feature minimal sample preparation time and deliver fast, in-clinic results and enhanced workflow, according to Zomedica. The instrument will provide real-time, reagentless, and fully automated identification of pathogens and disease indicators, building upon a laser-based spectroscopy technique to identify biological and biochemical signatures in complex biological samples. Marketing and sales are expected to begin in 2019, with an initial focus on canines and expanding into feline applications post-launch. "We believe that ZM-020 will enable us to make a significant improvement to the diagnostic workflow of the veterinary clinic," said Stephanie Morley, DVM, chief operating officer and vice president of product development for Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Zomedica. "If we are successful in our development efforts, we believe that the ability to screen for a wide variety of pathogens with a single diagnostic instrument, beginning with urine and fecal samples, will be a game changer for the modern veterinary clinical team."
Survey: Majority of pet owners unprepared for upcoming disasterMay 11, 2018Banfield Pet Hospital revealed in a recent survey that 91 percent of pet owners are unprepared for the next natural disaster. In advance of hurricane season and in honor of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day on May 12, the Banfield Foundation has kicked off a disaster preparedness campaign to help pet owners prepare for the unexpected. From May 10 through September 30, for every donation of $45 or more made at BanfieldFoundation.org/kit, the Banfield Foundation will thank donors with a pre-assembled pet disaster preparedness kit—and donate a kit to vulnerable pet owners in select high-risk states, up to 1,000 kits. The kits feature a waterproof bag that includes a blanket, treats, stress-relief products, water and food calculation charts, tips and checklists to help keep pets cared for in the event of a natural disaster, and more. All donations will support the Banfield Foundation's Disaster Relief Grant program, which aids nonprofit animal organizations and local communities impacted by natural disasters. Texas A&M joins the cause In 2017, the Banfield Foundation provided a disaster relief grant to Texas A&M University's Veterinary Emergency Team (TAMUVET)—the nation's largest and most-deployed veterinary emergency response unit—to …
Portland, Ore., veterinarian wins My Vet's the BestMay 11, 2018Joshua Elliot, DVM, a board certified Small Animal Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist at Sunstone Veterinary Specialists in Portland, Ore., is the grand-prize winner of Pets Best Insurance Services' 2017 My Vet's the Best contest. The win came after Elliot was selected as a finalist by pet owners on Pets Best's Facebook page and an internal review of a panel of veterinary professionals. As part of his prize, Elliot received $1,000 from Pets Best to help and treat animals in need in his community. He has used a portion of his winnings to help a homeless family's dog fight cancer and intends to use the remaining money to give back in a similar circumstance, he said. "It really meant a lot to me to be nominated," he said. "It's always nice to get positive feedback and be appreciated. I love being able to help furry family members and it's always nice to hear back when things go well." Pets Best has recognized outstanding veterinarians through its My Vet's the Best Contest since 2010. "This is our seventh year hosting the nationwide contest honoring and recognizing the exceptional service of veterinarians," said Chris Middleton, president of the Boise, Idaho-based company. "Dr. …
Report: NAPHIA finds pet insurance continues to riseMay 11, 2018 North America's pet health insurance sector saw continued growth in 2017, with the total number of pets insured in the U.S. and Canada hitting more than 2 million, according to a report released by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). The numbers demonstrate a 16.8 percent increase in insured pets when compared to statistics from 2016. "While we have seen steady growth since 2013, this double-digit increase is well ahead of the just over 11 percent growth in 2016," said Tim Graff, chair of NAPHIA's benchmarking working group. According to the report, there are 1.83 million dogs and cats insured across the U.S., representing 17.5 percent growth when compared to 2016, and 244,000 in Canada, showing 11.1 percent growth. Of those insured, 98 percent were covered through either an accident & illness plan or an insurance plan with embedded wellness; only 2 percent were covered through accident only plans. In regard to premiums, pets covered through accident and illness plans averaged an annual premium of $516 USD per pet in the U.S. and $603 CAD in Canada; those covered through accident-only plans averaged annual premiums of $181 USD in the U.S. and $217 CAD in Canada. …
AVMA gives sports medicine, exotic mammal specialties full recognitionMay 11, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported that it has granted full recognition to the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) and the Exotic Companion Mammal specialties under the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (AVBP). The AVMA board of directors approved the recognition of each on recommendations from the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties. The ACVSMR and the Exotic Companion Mammal specialty had been granted provisional recognition by the AVMA in 2010 and 2008, respectively. "Veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation meets the unique needs of athletic and working animals to optimize performance, to treat injuries and diseases, and to provide rehabilitation for all patients after injury or illness, with neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory impairments or with chronic musculoskeletal disease and pain," said Andris J. Kaneps, DVM, Ph.D., DACVS, DACVSMR, ACVSMR representative to the American Board of Veterinary Specialties. "The need for a veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation specialty has arisen as a result of the explosive growth of animal participation in sports and service activities, recognition of the benefits derived by all animals from rehabilitation, and the intimate relationships between the fields of veterinary sports medicine and …
CDC report finds vector-borne diseases on the riseMay 10, 2018According to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been significant increase in instances of vector-borne diseases across the U.S., with reported cases of diseases transmitted through the bites of blood-feeding ticks, mosquitos, and fleas nearly tripling nation-wide over a 13-year span. Ronald Rosenberg, Sc.D., from CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases in Fort Collins, Colo., and colleagues analyzed data reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System pertaining to 16 vector-borne diseases from 2004 to 2016. The findings were tabulated by disease, vector type, location, and year. During this period, a total of 642,602 cases of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted through the bites of mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas were reported to CDC. The report indicates cases of tick-borne bacterial and protozoan diseases more than doubled during this period, jumping from approximately 22,000 in 2004 to more than 48,000 reported cases in 2016, with Lyme disease accounting for 82 percent of cumulative reported tick-borne disease. Additionally, the combined incidence of reported anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, which are tick-borne bacterial diseases, rose almost every year, as did spotted fever. Babesiosis, a tick-borne parasitic infection …
Texas Tech CVM secures $69M investment from Amarillo City CouncilMay 9, 2018The Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (TTUSVM) in Amarillo, Texas, got one step closer to reality yesterday when the Amarillo City Council approved funding up to $69 million to ensure the school's construction. The deal is an amendment to an agreement between the Texas Tech University System and the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. TTUSVM will be the only veterinary school in the country co-located with a pharmacy and medical school on the same campus, expanding opportunities for translational medicine and research. The Texas Tech vet school aims to address the shortage of veterinarians serving rural communities in a cost-effective manner by eliminating the need for a teaching hospital and partnering with local and regional veterinarians, according to a statement. The project is supported by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, and the Texas Farm Bureau, among others. "Throughout the history of the Texas Tech University System, the Amarillo community has helped set the standard for support and cultivation of higher education opportunities," said Robert Duncan, chancellor. "We are grateful for Amarillo's partnership and shared vision for transforming the landscape of veterinary education to ensure the prosperity of our vital agricultural industries. Amarillo's commitment to bring the school of veterinary medicine to …
Spayathon for Puerto Rico kicks off in JuneMay 9, 2018The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) along with a coalition of 22 organizations from around the world will begin the first round of the Spayathon for Puerto Rico, June 3-9. The initiative, which is offered at no cost to pet owners, aims to spay and neuter at least 20,000 dogs and cats in the territory by May 2019. "This is the first time such a broad collection of national and international groups has come together to intensively reduce the population of animals across an island," said Tara Loller, senior director, strategic campaigns and initiatives, HSUS. "We could not make this historic event happen without the generous participation of each and every coalition member." The initiative will be funded with support from nonprofit organizations, including Maddie's Fund, PetSmart Charities, Petco Foundation, GreaterGood.org, and the 20/22 Act Society. Additional resources will come from groups including Banfield Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, and Rescue Bank, which will provide supplies, such as vaccines, pet food, and crates. Veterinary teams from Emancipet, ViDAS, Veterinarians for Puerto Rico, Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University, and Helping Paws Across Borders will provide high-volume spay/neuter services in locations across the island. Ground support will be …
