AAFP Rolls Out Cat Friendly Practice InitiativeJanuary 16, 2012The American Association of Feline Practitioners unveiled its “Cat Friendly Practice” initiative Monday at the North American Veterinary Conference in Kissimmee, Fla. The initiative provides strategies to help practices become more accommodating to the needs of cats and certifies practices as "Cat Friendly Practices." The AAFP launched the program in response to declining clinic visits by cat owners and intends to help clinics increase veterinary visits for felines and boost the level of healthcare cats receive. Certification requires a practice to have at least one staff member who belongs to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, though a practice does not need to specialize specifically in cats. Practices must comply with a 10-item checklist and send it to the AAFP for review. If approved, the clinic earns the “Cat Friendly Practice” designation and receives marketing materials to promote its new status to customers and is listed in the “Cat Friendly Practice” online database. The AAFP is working with the American Animal Hospital Association on the initiative and has meetings planned with the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Partnership for Preventive Pet Healthcare. The initiative …
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Hill’s Plans To Bolster Sales ForceJanuary 13, 2012 Hill’s Pet Nutrition plans to expand its network of national and regional selling agents to make regular visits to more than 22,000 veterinary hospitals and clinics beginning in April 2012. The Topeka, Kan.-based company is making the expansion to advocate “nutritional recommendations” as the “5th Vital Assessment” in pet healthcare, alongside temperature, pulse, respiration and pain. Hill’s is also increasing its number of direct representatives in both the pet specialty and veterinary channels. The combined representation includes more than 1,200 sales-related personnel. For the expansion, Hill’s is partnering with Butler Schein Animal Health of Dublin, Ohio; Webster Veterinary of Devens, Mass.; MWI Veterinary Supply of Boise, Idaho; and Merritt Veterinary Supplies of Columbia, S.C. <HOME>
Deadline For Shelters To Apply For Free Equine Vaccines Is Feb. 1January 12, 2012 The Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign is accepting applications through Feb. 1, 2012, from equine rescue and retirement facilities in the United States for free horse vaccines. The campaign, sponsored by Summit, N.J.-based Merck Animal Health and the American Association for Equine Practitioners, has provided vaccines for more than 15,000 horses since its inception in 2008. Qualifying facilities are provided with vaccines to protect against eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), rabies, tetanus, equine influenza and equine herpesvirus. To qualify for the horse vaccines, facilities must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and abide by the “AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities.” Facilities are required to work with an AAEP-member veterinarian when applying for vaccinations. Downloadable applications can be found on the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign website. <HOME>
Practice Group VPP Makes First AcquisitionJanuary 11, 2012 Veterinary practice management company Veterinary Practice Partners entered its second phase of development with its first acquisition and has two more potential deals in the works, including one likely to close during the first quarter. The Bryn Mawr, Pa., company acquired Sangaree Animal Hospital of Summerville, S.C., in September, and according to CEO Rich Lester, the transition has been relatively smooth. “In many acquisitions, there is a lot of uncertainty among staff,” Lester said. “Our approach is to try to quell that.” The staff at Sangaree remains unchanged, and former owner Kevin McGinn, DVM, is a part owner. Most of the changes have taken place behind the scenes, including changes to bill paying, creating financial statements and getting vendor contracts in place The next step will involve rolling out new marketing initiatives to grow the top line of the business, Lester said. “We are always learning things, and with each deal, each acquisition or partnership, the transition will get better and better,” Lester said. “This one has gone reasonably well.” Lester said another hospital has signed a letter of intent with VPP. He expects to close the deal in the first quarter of this …
VCA Antech To Acquire Canadian Hospital Chain For $76 MillionJanuary 11, 2012VCA Antech to Acquire Canadian Hospital Chain for $76 MillionVCA Antech to Acquire Canadian Hospital Chain for $76 Million, veterinary, animal hospitalsVCA Antech Inc. will purchase Canadian animal hospital operator Associate Veterinary Clinics Ltd. for CDN $77 million (about U.S. $75.5 million).VCA Antech Inc. will purchase Canadian animal hospital operator Associate Veterinary Clinics Ltd. for about U.S. $75.5 million, VCA reported today.newslineVCA Antech to Acquire Canadian Hospital Chain for $76 MillionPosted: Jan. 11, 2012, 2:15 p.m. EST VCA Antech Inc. will purchase Canadian animal hospital operator Associate Veterinary Clinics Ltd. for CDN $77 million (about U.S. $75.5 million), VCA reported today. Los Angeles-based VCA made an initial investment in Associate Veterinary Clinics in January 2008 and will complete its purchase of the company at the end of the month. The acquired company and its network of 44 animal hospitals in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, will operate as VCA's Canadian business unit, giving the companies a combined North American network of 585 animal hospitals across 41 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Associate Veterinary Clinics, formed in 1981, has pro forma annual revenue of about CDN $95 million (about U.S. $93.2 million). VCA plans to make additional investments in Associate …
UW-Madison Organizes Search Committee For Vet School DeanJanuary 10, 2012UW-Madison Organizes Search Committee for Vet School DeanUW-Madison Organizes Search Committee for Vet School Dean, Daryl Buss, medical sciences, veterinary medicineThe University of Wisconsin-Madison appointed members to a search-and-screen committee to assist in the university's search for the next dean of its school of veterinary medicine.Daryl Buss, DVM, Ph.D., dean of the school since 1994 and the second dean in the school's history, will step down in June.newslineUW-Madison Organizes Search Committee for Vet School DeanPosted: Jan. 10, 2012, 5:55 p.m. EST Dr. Tony Goldberg is heading up the search for University of Wisconsin's next vet school dean. The University of Wisconsin-Madison appointed members to a search-and-screen committee to assist in the university's search for the next dean of its school of veterinary medicine. Daryl Buss, DVM, Ph.D., dean of the school since 1994 and the second dean in the school's history, will step down in June. Tony Goldberg, DVM, Ph.D., professor in the department of pathobiological sciences, is chairing the search committee. Other appointees include: Lisbeth Ambrosius, doctor of veterinary medicine student; Ellison Bentley, DVM, clinical associate professor, department of surgical sciences; Mark Cook, Ph.D., professor, department of animal …
Pets' Sentimental Value Raises Larger QuestionJanuary 9, 2012Pets' Sentimental Value Raises Larger QuestionPets' Sentimental Value Raises Larger Question, texas dog euthanized, pets nonecomic damages, texas dog lawsuitA Texas appeals court ruled in November that the owners of a dog accidentally euthanized at an animal shelter could be awarded damages based on the animal's sentimental value. A Texas appeals court ruled in November that the owners of a dog accidentally euthanized at an animal shelter could be awarded damages based on the animal's sentimental value. The finding appeared to reverse 120 years of Texas law that held that sentimental value was not recoverable for harm to a dog. newslinePets' Sentimental Value Raises Larger QuestionBy Steve Barghusen, DVM, JDFor Veterinary Practice NewsPosted: Jan. 9, 2012, 4:45 p.m. EST A Texas appeals court ruled in November that the owners of a dog accidentally euthanized at an animal shelter could be awarded damages based on the animal's sentimental value. The finding appeared to reverse 120 years of Texas law that held that sentimental value was not recoverable for harm to a dog. In the recent case, Avery, an 8-year-old mixed-breed dog, escaped from his owners' yard and was picked up by animal control in Fort Worth, Texas. The owners could …
Electronic Consultation: A Tool To Increase Pets’ Standard Of CareJanuary 9, 2012 In addition to being economically feasible, consulting with specialists via telemedicine is smart medicine, those in the business say. Telemedicine keeps patients at the primary care office, retaining revenue, while providing real-time specialty care through a board-certified consultant. Clients are assured of expert care and save time by not having to make an appointment elsewhere with a specialist. In the middle are the consulting companies, which report that they work hard to accommodate practitioners’ schedules. “Many of the cases we see cannot be referred due to cost or the need for a short turnaround on results,” says Jennifer S. Fryer, DVM, executive director of Veterinary Answers LLC in Harrison, N.Y. “We work with specialists in anesthesia, small animal internal medicine, large animal medicine, dermatology and nine other specialties. “The turnaround time is based on the veterinarian’s need, but typically it’s within a few hours,” Fryer continues. “When it comes to imaging, we collaborate with PetRays, which offers stellar radiology, cardiology and dentistry consultations.” Services such as Veterinary Answers, Idexx Telemedicine Consultants and North Carolina State University’s Veterinary Telemedicine Group all report that their technology is easy to use when connecting general practitioners with board-certified veterinarians. …
Putney Selects Former Idexx VP Dupree As COOJanuary 9, 2012TJ Dupree is Putney's new COO. Pet pharmaceutical company Putney Inc. hired TJ Dupree as chief operating officer, the company reported today. Dupree formerly served as corporate vice president, companion animal group, with Idexx Laboratories Inc. of Westbrook, Maine. In his new role, Dupree will have strategic and operational responsibility for all of Putney's commercial operations including sales, marketing, service and global supply chain. Dupree joined Idexx, an animal health diagnostics and information technology solutions company, in 2003 as vice president of strategy and business development. Prior to joining Idexx, he was a manager for the Boston Consulting Group of Boston. Putney focuses on the development and sale of generic prescription medicines for pets. The company recently raised $21 million in capital and added nine people to its management and research and development and regulatory teams over the last year. It expects to add another 10 commercial and technical team members this year. <HOME>http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/images/vpn-tab-image/TJ-Dupree-250px.jpg1/9/2012 12:18 PM
Senior Vets Push For Greater InfluenceJanuary 6, 2012 In 2009, after several years of off-and-on debate, the American Association of Retired Veterinarians decided to change its name. It became the American Association of Senior Veterinarians (AASrV), a name leaders believed not only better described its members but one that would help the organization take on a larger role in both members’ lives and the veterinary world at large. Instead of serving as primarily a social organization, the refocused AASrV seeks to establish more of a voice in professional matters. Instead of just holding luncheons or receptions, it would offer informative newsletters and specialized programs geared toward veterinarians who want to remain active mentally, physically and, for some, professionally. “I sense there are a lot of veterinarians at the same stage of life that I am: We want to slow down, but we don’t really want to disconnect completely from matters of veterinary medicine,” says AASrV board member Bob Ranier, DVM, who retired several years ago from Pfizer, where he worked in development and research. “We think this can be the ideal organization to help them” maintain that connection. Nonprofit Status With a board that includes many longtime leaders, including former American Veterinary …
