VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBenefits of using portable ultrasound in large animal careJune 21, 2024Bringing diagnostic imaging out into the field can have benefits for patients and veterinarians. However, many practices may not know the full breadth of improvements a portable ultrasound unit can have on equine and large animal care and practices.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusivePlaying monopoly with real money: How veterinarians are losing the price warOctober 30, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBACompetition is alive and well in veterinary medicine. But as our industry confronts increased corporatization and consolidation, the word has acquired a new resonance for many of us.
VPN Plus+ ExclusivePhoto op: How thermal imaging is helping keep pets healthyJune 30, 2020Thermal imaging devices are in use for many applications where quick identification of temperature change is helpful. Thermography is used in industry, outer space, the military, by your local HVAC guy, and for medical screening. Currently, thermal imaging is in the news because of temperature-screening devices used in airports. As businesses, social venues, and event and travel spaces develop safer protocols for gathering people, temperature screening has become widespread. Temperature screening thermography uses a variety of devices ranging from low-end handheld scanners up to medical-grade devices with the same detailed specifications required for evaluation of human and veterinary patients. High-end temperature screening systems use facial recognition software to calculate body temperature from the medial canthus of the eye, which is the most accurate superficial point for evaluating core body temperature.1 These systems measure temperatures from six feet away, allowing for safe, contactless use. Further, they "flag" elevated temperature; the person then undergoes a secondary screening protocol. Medical thermography is more than 70 years old. Early devices were expensive, cumbersome, and not practical for widespread clinical application. In 1980, reports began validating thermal imaging as a tool for the evaluation of musculoskeletal conditions in horses.2,3 By 2001, multiple publications had established …
Digital imaging equipment—Show, don't tellApril 27, 2020Digital imaging can help better communicate health issues and treatment plans to pet owners. And when it comes to patients getting the care they need, shouldn’t you use every tool at your disposal?
Covetrus to sell diagnostics subsidiary to Heska for $125 millionJanuary 16, 2020Covetrus is divesting itself of its Scil Animal Care business to Heska Corp. in an all-cash deal worth US$125 million. Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the next 60 to 90 days. Headquartered in Germany, Scil is a veterinary diagnostics company that distributes in 24 countries. The agreement also includes a commercial relationship between Covetrus and Heska tied to ongoing logistics support for the latter's family of diagnostic products, as well as connectivity between the Covetrus Global Technology Solutions practice information management software systems (PIMS) and Heska's laboratory and imaging solutions. Covetrus says the net cash proceeds from the sale will go toward paying down debt. In addition, the proceeds may also be used for other general corporate purposes. "While we are still in the early stages of executing on our strategy, this transaction is an important initial step in that process," says Ben Wolin, Covetrus' acting president and chief executive officer. In related company news, Covetrus also announced it was combining its Spain and Portugal businesses with Distrivet, a provider of veterinary products and services in Spain. As a result, Covetrus will own 50.01 percent of Distrivet. The deal is expected to close …
Zoetis expands diagnostics capabilities with ZNLabs acquisitionNovember 27, 2019Zoetis has strengthened its diagnostics portfolio with the acquisition of ZNLabs, a full-service veterinary clinical reference laboratory company.
LexaGene to unveil LX2 beta prototype for veterinary marketOctober 10, 2018LexaGene Holdings Inc., a biotechnology company that develops instrumentation for pathogen detection, plans to unveil a model of its low-cost LX2 beta prototype at the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians conference, Oct. 19-20 in Kansas City, Mo. The company's polymerase chain reaction-based technology is designed to be placed in-clinic, where it can screen samples for multiple targets simultaneously and return results in one hour. The LX2 system is low cost, leaves a small footprint and takes less than a minute to initiate automated sample processing. LX2 beta instrument features include: Ability to accept two distinct reagent panels for syndromic-based testing, where each panel is capable of detecting 28 targets (up to 56 targets total) at once Capability to process two samples at once within a footprint that measures 16 x 20 x 22 in. A one-time disposable cartridge per test "Incorporating this technology into a veterinary practice will provide better patient outcomes since the technology also looks for antimicrobial resistance, which will allow clinicians to make more informed decisions on prescribing the appropriate antibiotic," said Jack Regan, PhD, LexaGene CEO. "Furthermore, by bringing the testing in-house, practices will tap into a valuable revenue stream that …
VolitionRx tests nucleosome diagnostic for veterinary space applicationsOctober 5, 2018 VolitionRx Ltd., a multinational Belgium-based life sciences company with offices in Texas, London, and Singapore, announced it is entering the veterinary market after "very encouraging" preliminary results from a study using its NuQ diagnostic blood tests for canine cancer testing. NuQ, currently used to screen for colorectal and prostate cancers, works by measuring and analyzing irregular levels of nucleosomes—a section of DNA wrapped around a core of proteins—in the blood to identify cancers. According to the company, the proof-of-concept study showed that blood nucleosomes also can be detected in dogs. With the promise of veterinary medicine applications, VolitionRx said it will now move NuQ into larger trials to answer the question of whether the method will work with animals. The company said it intends to outsource much of the veterinary clinical trial work through a partnership with Heather Wilson-Robles, DVM, DACVIM, associate professor and Fred and Vola N. Palmer chair in comparative oncology with Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in the Small Animal Clinical Sciences department. "The Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine Oncology Department is excited for the opportunity to collaborate with Volition," said Dr. Wilson-Robles. "Its innovative work in …
Meet KC Animal Health Corridor Investment Forum 2018's 12 competitorsAugust 27, 2018Twelve emerging animal health companies from three countries vied last week for investment opportunities in a "Shark Tank" format with more than 200 animal health companies and 40 financial funds at the 10th annual KC Animal Health Investment Forum. "The Global Animal Health Investment Forum is the premier stage for emerging companies to showcase innovations and technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the animal health industry," said Kimberly Young, president of the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor. Each company is given 10 minutes to present their ideas in front of seven judges, including executives from Nestlé Purina PetCare, Bayer Animal Health, Ceva U.S. Holdings, and Petsmart, followed by a five-minute Q&A session. Presenting companies are seeking anywhere from $500,000 to $20 million in funding and have revenue projections of $20 million within five to seven years. "The Investment Forum is really unique," said Roy Stein, founder and CEO of BabelBark. "It gave us exposure to a mix of people with different backgrounds that were open minded and ready to listen to the newest technology. During Global Animal Health Week we connected with significant investors, potential partners and clients that provided us with enough traction to secure funding and …
