Survey: Vet Students Face Increased Financial, Mental PressuresJune 2, 2009 Veterinary students are experiencing more financial and mental health pressures, according to a survey conducted by the British Veterinary Assn. and its Association of Veterinary Students branch. The survey, conducted every three years since 1996, was circulated to U.K. students during the 2007-08 academic year. In total, 1,833 (45 percent) of the students participated. About 79 percent were female. Also of note: 13 percent of the total number of students were from oversees, 49 percent of whom were from the U.S. In regard to financial pressures, 67 percent of students feel unable to work to supplement their income, with extramural studies regularly cited as a major factor, according to the survey. In addition, 35 percent of students indicated that their financial problems are either difficult or severe and 24 percent stated that their debts will have a large affect on their choice of job after graduation. In respect to mental health and well being, the survey found higher incidences of mental health problems among veterinary medicine students than in society at large. For instance, 29 percent of students said they either suffer from or had suffered from anxiety and 22 percent from depression. According to …
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Treating Congestive Heart FailureJune 2, 2009 Karsten Schober, DVM, Ph.D., recently concluded a clinical study at Ohio State University that sought to utilize cardiac ultrasound to identify and stage congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs. Twenty-one dogs with asymptomatic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 23 dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD) and 10 dogs with CHF caused by MVD or DCM were enrolled, for a total of 63 canine patients. Any dog with dilated cardiomyopathy or MVD was welcome to the study unless it was treated with high doses of diuretics. The study began in 2006 and concluded in April. “The patients were given a clinical exam, chest radiography, cardiac ultrasound, blood chemistry, NTproANP and NTproBNP,” Dr. Schober says. “The dogs’ owners were asked to monitor respiration at home three times a day. Patients were re-evaluated in five to 14 days, and the effects of treatment based on the initial diagnosis and home monitoring were assessed.” The results of the study may help to diagnose CHF earlier, better stratify cardiovascular risk, tailor therapy to specific dog needs, and reduce the exposure of radiation required for repeated thoracic radiography, which is current protocol. “A lot of thinking has to go behind the final …
Lilly’s Animal Worldwide Revenue Up 12%June 2, 2009 Eli Lilly and Co.’s Animal Division reported worldwide revenue of $264.1 million in the first quarter ended March 31, an increase of 12 percent over the year-ago period. U.S. revenue grew by 43 percent, to $153.6 million, primarily due to sales from the Posilac acquisition completed in October. Revenue outside the U.S. fell by 13 percent, to $110.5 million, primarily because of unfavorable exchange rates, according to the Indianapolis company. Overall, Lilly reported first-quarter net income of $1.3 billion on revenue of $5 billion, compared to $1.1 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively, in the year-ago period. <HOME>
VCA’s Same-Store Sales Down 2.7 Percent In Q1June 2, 2009 VCA Antech Inc.’s same-store revenue declined by 2.7 percent in the first quarter ended March 31, while the same-store gross profit margin rose to 18.8 percent from 18.5 percent. The Animal Hospital Division reported first-quarter revenue of $238.4 million compared to $226.1 million in the year-ago period. The 5.4 percent increase was driven by acquisitions made in the past 12 months. The Los Angeles company made nine acquisitions during the quarter, marking historical combined annual revenue of $20.9 million. VCA Antech’s Laboratory Division reported first-quarter revenue of $77.5 million, compared to $76.7 million in the year-ago period. Revenue in the Medical Technology Division was $9.2 million in the first quarter, compared to $13.8 million in the year-ago period. Overall, VCA Antech reported first-quarter net income of $32.9 million on revenue of $315.9 million, compared to $32.2 million and $307.8 million, respectively, in the year-ago period. The company also affirmed its 2009 financial guidance: revenue of $1.36 billion to $1.39 billion and net income of $135.2 million to $141.1 million. <HOME>
Financial News Briefs - June 2009June 2, 2009 Food giant Nestlé, based in Vevey, Switzerland, reported Pet Care Division sales of $2.8 billion in the first quarter of 2009, compared to $2.5 billion a year earlier. The company attributed the performance to resilient demand for key premium and superpremium Purina brands, such as Dog Chow, Beneful, Pro Plan and Cat Chow. According to Nestlé, the growth of its pet care business was supported by products at different price points as well as the continued success of 2008 launches. Vetco Hospitals Inc., a subsidiary of PawsPlus Inc. of Sarasota, Fla., reported that March sales jumped by 39.1 percent, to $1.4 million, up from $981,600 in the year-ago period. First-quarter sales increased by 40.7 percent, to $3.1 million. Schering-Plough’s animal health business reported revenue of $630 million in the first quarter ended March 31, a 13 percent decrease from the year-ago period. Overall, the Kenilworth, N.J., company saw first-quarter net income of $805 million on revenue of $4.4 billion, compared to $314 million and $4.7 billion, respectively, in the year-ago period. Schering-Plough also reported that its merger with Merck remains on track.
California Spay/Neuter Bill Fails In SenateJune 2, 2009 The California Senate on June 1 rejected Senate Bill 250, a measure that would require sterilization of most of the state’s cats and dogs. The vote was 16-15, with 21 votes needed for passage. A vote to reconsider the measure will take place on June 2. SB250, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, calls on cat owners to spay or neuter their pet at 6 months of age if the cat is allowed to roam at large. The bill also requires the sterilization of all dogs at 6 months of age unless the owner gets an unaltered dog license. The bill has been amended to authorize local governments to use existing procedures to issue intact dog licenses or to charge a fee for procedures related to the issuance, denial or revocation of unaltered dog licenses. In addition, unaltered dogs used in legal hunting activities would be exempt from being cited. The sterilization of dogs found to be at large continues to be a requirement under the bill. SB250 is backed by the Social Compassion in Legislation, which says the bill would reduce euthanasia rates and save tax dollars, as well as various humane …
California Spay/Neuter Bill Moves To Senate FloorJune 1, 2009 California Senate Bill 250 goes before the Senate Floor during the first week of June 2009, where the full Senate votes on the measure that seeks to require spay or neuter surgery for most of the state’s cats and dogs. SB 250, by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, calls on cat owners to spay or neuter their cats at 6 months of age if the cats are allowed to roam at large. The bill also requires the sterilization of all dogs at 6 months of age, unless the owner gets an unaltered dog license. The bill has been amended to authorize local governments to use existing procedures to issue the intact dog licenses or to charge a fee for procedures related to the issuance, denial or revocation of unaltered dog licenses. In addition, unaltered dogs used in legal hunting activities would be exempt from being cited. The sterilization of dogs found to be at-large continues to be a requirement under the bill. Click here to view the amended version. <HOME>
Australia Bans Pet Food IrradiationJune 1, 2009 Australia has banned the government-mandated practice of irradiating imported pet food, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The ban comes after a number of cats died or became ill after eating irradiated cat food manufactured by the Canadian company, Champion Petfoods Ltd. The Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, has ordered the sterilization process to cease immediately after receiving international reports that some cats can suffer neurological damage from eating irradiated dry food, according to the Herald. Details on the reports were not immediately available. Late last year, Champion issued a voluntary recall of its Orijen cat food in response to multiple reports of cats showing symptoms of neurological problems after eating the food. At that time, the company reported that 30 to 40 cats were affected and four or five cats had to be euthanized. Champion eventually pulled out of the Australian market after concluding that the health issues were caused by Australia’s irradiation process. Additionally, Champion changed its policy to one that prohibits it from selling to countries where its products will be irradiated. <HOME>
New York Legislators Introduce Bills To Regulate Dog And Cat DealersJune 1, 2009 New York state legislators have introduced two bills, Senate Bill 5392 and Senate Bill 4961, that aim to regulate dog and cat dealers. The Senate Committee on Agriculture is set to hear the two measures on June 2. As introduced, Senate Bill 5392 seeks to limit dog and cat ownership. Under the proposal, no person or business would be allowed to possess more than 50 intact dogs over the age of four months and intact cats over the age of four months that are kept for the purpose of breeding and selling of their offspring. The bill would authorize officials to confiscate animals from violators. Senate Bill 4961 amends the definition of a “pet dealer” to include anyone who sells, offers to sell or negotiates the sale of “animals born or raised on the premises of another or who keeps on his or her premises more than four intact female dogs six months of age or older for the purpose of breeding.” The definition still includes breeders who sell or offer to sell animals, but eliminates the current exemption for those who sell less than 25 animals per year. Senate Bill 4961 also sets forth a …
Denver Pit Bull Lawsuit Gets New LifeMay 29, 2009 An appeal challenging the constitutionality of the Denver breed ban has been allowed to move forward by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The decision favors plaintiffs Sonya Dias, Hillary Engel and Sheryl White in their appeal challenging the city’s breed ban, which prohibits pit bulls within the city limits. Specifically, the Denver ordinance bans ownership or possession, and calls for the euthanization, of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier, or any dog with a majority of physical traits of one or more of these breeds within the city and county. The dog-owning plaintiffs Dias, Engel and White have asserted that the breed ban is unconstitutional. The original lawsuit filed by the three former Denver residents stated that they were forced to move out of the city with their dogs because of the ban, which they claimed was a violation of their constitutional rights. This ruling reverses the United States District Court of Colorado’s dismissal of the suit in 2007. More than 1,000 dogs within the city limits have been euthanized as a result of the ordinance. <HOME>
