Private Practice Vets Earn $121,000March 18, 2011Survey finds pet vets fared best in 2009. A new study shows that the average salary for private practice veterinarians increased by 5 percent from 2007 to 2009. The figures were based on the 2011 American Veterinary Medical Association Report on Veterinary Compensation, published every two years. The salary boost—from $115,447 in 2007 to $121,303 in 2009—was largely because of higher earnings by companion-animal-exclusive veterinarians. Their average salary rose from $113,373 in 2007 to $124,768 in 2009, according to the AVMA study. Other private practice sectors—mixed animal, companion animal predominant and equine—saw salary decreases. The AVMA attributed the decline to the recession. The average salary for mixed-animal veterinarians fell by 8.6 percent, to $107,064 in 2009; companion-animal-predominant dropped by 2.4 percent, to $117,524; and equine declined by 3.5 percent, $126,641. Food-animal-exclusive veterinarians also saw a pay cut, from $139,612 in 2007 to $131,479 in 2009, or 5.8 percent, but they are still the highest paid veterinarians working in private practice, according to the study. Veterinarians working in public and corporate positions received salary increases from 2007 to 2009, the study reported. The top-earning veterinarians in 2009 …
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Vet Care Spending Tops $13 Billion In 2010March 17, 2011 . Spending on veterinary care grew about 8 percent to $13.01 billion in 2010, showing the greatest growth within the pet industry, according to the American Pet Products Association, which released its 2010 Pet Industry Spending Figures today. Veterinary and health related services are growing at a fast rate because pet owners are treating their pets as they would their children, said Bob Vetere, president of APPA. “Pet owners are searching for more ways to enhance their pets’ lives with products and services similar to those that humans enjoy,” Vetere said. “And the industry has answered that call with a more diverse array of offerings than ever.” Pet insurance, which is included in veterinary care figures, is a huge area of potential growth, the APPA noted. With improved policies that include more conditions, even at increased premiums, pet insurance will become more attractive for pet owners and more lucrative for insurance carriers and veterinary hospitals, according to the APPA. Overall spending in the pet industry grew by 6.2 percent from $45.53 billion in 2009 to $48.35 billion in 2010. The overall spending figures include food, supplies, veterinary care, live animal purchases and other …
Sergeant’s Introduces Topical Flea/Tick ProductsMarch 16, 2011 Sergeant’s Pet Care Products Inc. is introducing its new flea and tick products FiproGuard and FiproGuard Plus this week at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla. The products will be available through pet specialty retailers nationwide this spring. They are the first approved generic topical products for fleas and ticks containing the same active ingredients as Frontline Top Spot (fipronil) and Frontline Plus (fipronil and s-methoprene), at the same concentrations, according to the Omaha, Neb.-based company. Frontline, a brand of Merial of Duluth, Ga., is only available through veterinarians. FiproGuard and FiproGuard Plus are both indicated to kill adult fleas and ticks, as well as chewing lice in dogs and cats. The dog formula is also indicated to kill mites that may cause sarcoptic mange. FiproGuard Plus contains an insect growth regulator (IGR), which prevents re-infestation by addressing all stages of the flea life cycle, according to Sergeant’s. Sergeant’s acquired the rights to the patented pest-control formula from Sumitomo Chemical Co. of Japan in mid January. The deal allows Sergeant’s to manufacture and sell spot-on pesticide compositions that combine fipronil with an IGR, such as methoprene or pyriproxyfen. Generic formulations are gaining popularity …
Bissell Homecare Pledges Up To $50,000 To Support Pet SheltersMarch 16, 2011 Bissell Homecare Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich., reported today a pledged of up to $50,000 to the Petfinder.com Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to end the euthanasia of adoptable pets by providing resources and support services to animal adoption organizations. “We are so pleased to continue Bissell’s long history of supporting pet causes by joining forces with the Petfinder.com Foundation this year,” said Rich Sorota, senior vice president and general manager of global marketing and sales for Bissell. “As a company, we are passionate about supporting the pet community, and this expansion of our 10-year relationship with Petfinder.com will allow us to educate even more Americans about one of the major barriers to adoption—cleaning up after pets.” About 38 percent of Americans would add a pet to their home if cleaning up after them were an easy job, according to research conducted by Bissell. The effort will take place on Bissell’s Facebook page beginning this summer. A specific date had not been determined as of press time. For each new fan that registers on Bissell’s Facebook page, the company will make a donation to the Petfinder.com Foundation in order to reach its goal of contributing …
Eli Lilly Makes Offer To Buy Janssen Animal HealthMarch 14, 2011 Eli Lilly and Co. of Indianapolis has offered to acquire Janssen Animal Health, a division of Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. The division, which has operations in 11 countries, focuses on targeted disease segments in companion animals and livestock with special focus on pigs and poultry. The deal would provide European expansion and portfolio diversification for Lilly’s animal health division, Elanco, the company reported today. “The addition of Janssen’s animal health business will strongly support a number of strategic growth priorities for Elanco, while providing synergies with our current operations,” said Jeff Simmons, Lilly senior vice president and president of Elanco. “Through this transaction, we intend to further expand our European presence, bolster our growing portfolio of companion animal medicines and diversity our food animal portfolio with new swine and poultry products. We are excited about these new opportunities to improve animal health, food safety and food animal production while delivering greater value to our customers.” Under the terms of the aquisition offer, Elanco would obtain a portfolio of about 50 marketed animal health products, manufacturing licenses, distribution rights, as well as the related intellectual property and marketing authorizations. The transaction would not include any manufacturing …
Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories Names Executive TeamMarch 11, 2011Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories (AVRL), a fairly new division of Abaxis Inc., has named Mark Patterson as its president. Patterson was previously president of Heritage Labs, a commercial laboratory business he co-founded in Olathe, Kan. Other executive team members include Bill Roberts, Ph.D., vice president and laboratory director; Gene Hart, vice president of information services; and Ilya Frumkin, vice president of commercial operations. Dr. Roberts and Hart were also founders of Heritage Labs, while Frumkin was previously vice president of marketing at the company. Gary Anderson, DVM, Ph.D., director of Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, will serve in a consulting capacity for AVRL. Abaxis announced its plans to enter the commercial laboratory market with AVRL in late January. While AVRL will be a full service commercial laboratory, it will focus on specialty and esoteric testing and analysis, according to Martin Mulroy, vice president of sales and marketing for North American Animal Health. Related article: Abaxis to Form Commercial Laboratory for Vets
National PUPS Act Seeks To Regulate ‘High Volume Retail Breeders’March 10, 2011 Members of Congress have introduced a measure that seeks to amend federal animal welfare laws so as to regulate “high-volume” breeders who sell directly to the public. The bill, House Resolution 835, would also institute additional animal care standards. H.R. 835, referred to as the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act or PUPS Act, would amend the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to require “high volume retail breeders” to be federally licensed and inspected regularly. A “high volume retail breeder” is defined as any person “who, in commerce, for compensation or profit, has ownership interest in or custody of one or more breeding female dogs, and sells or offers for sale, via any means of conveyance (including the Internet, telephone or newspaper), more than 50 of the offspring of such breeding female dogs for use as pets in any one-year period.” Currently, animal “dealers,” which includes pet breeders and pet wholesalers, among others, are required to be licensed under AWA. A number of exemptions are provided, including exemptions for retail pet stores and hobby breeders. The bill would also require licensees to follow new exercise requirements for all dogs at least 12 weeks old. Exceptions …
Vermont Mulls Animal Hoarding BillMarch 10, 2011 Vermont has introduced a bill that seeks to impose criminal penalties for animal hoarding. As written, House Bill 371 defines an “animal hoarder” as any person who: • Possesses five or more animals; • Fails to provide adequate food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation, or necessary medical attention or transports an animal in overcrowded vehicles; • Keeps the animals in a severely overcrowded environment; and • Displays an inability to recognize or understand the nature of or has a reckless disregard for the conditions under which the animals are living and the deleterious impact they have on the animals’ health and well-being. The state’s animal cruelty laws define animals as “all living sentient creatures, not human beings.” This could mean a wide array of animals, including cats, dogs, small animals, birds and reptiles. Violators would be guilty of animal cruelty and could face up to one year’s jail time, a fine of up to $2,000 or both. Second and subsequent violators could face up to two years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 or both. Under state law, a “humane officer” may seize an animal without a search warrant if …
