Service dogs can lead to a better life for ownersMay 21, 2019Service dogs improve the quality of life for their owners, according to a new study. Due to an increase in demand for service dogs, researchers at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine determined a need for using standardized measures to look at the relationship between the human-animal bond and psychosocial outcomes among people with service dogs over a four-year period. Elanco Animal Health funded the study. "Our goal was to apply strong science in quantifying the effects these dogs can have on well-being," says Maggie O'Haire, PhD, associate professor of human-animal interaction at Purdue University. "The research also reveals the distinctive role a service dog may have in the lives of the families of those individuals." Of the 154 recruited participants, 97 people who used a mobility or medical service dog displayed better psychosocial health, including higher levels of social and emotional functioning, and better functioning at work and/or school in comparison to the 57 who were on a waiting list. "Previous smaller and chiefly qualitative studies have found preliminary evidence service dogs can have psychosocial benefits among individuals with physical disabilities, but the research has been limited," said Tony Rumschlag, DVM, director, consulting veterinarians, U.S. companion animal business …
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Veterinarian develops platelet-rich fibrin kit for pets and equineMay 20, 2019There is now a new way to treat companion and equine animals with chronic and nonhealing wounds. Corey Orava, DVM, Enso Discoveries chief scientific officer, has developed a platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) kit for veterinary use. The procedure can be completed in less than 30 minutes and can help treat cases such as: acute/chronic/nonhealing wounds; draining tracts; graft stabilization; burns; dental surgery; and bone regeneration. "There has long been a need in the regenerative medicine space for improved products, which are cost-effective and have a focus on what is best for the animal and the practice," says Enso Discoveries chief executive officer, Patrick Farley. "Thanks to such new developments as our PRF kit, which uses our proprietary Expressate system, we have been able to help veterinarians around the country save multiple animals that were scheduled for amputation or euthanasia." PRF can also be used as a second-generation autologous blood product, which would remove the risk of rejection.
Salem, Ore., tops the list for heartworms in MayMay 17, 2019Salem, Ore., is the number one city for heartworms in May, according to Companion Animal Parasite Council's (CAPC's) top 10 list. The list reflects positive heartworm test results from the last 30 to 45 days. The following are the U.S. cities with the highest percentage increase in positive heartworm tests for May: 1) Salem, Ore. 2) Dover, Del. 3) Charleston, W. Va. 4) Norfolk, Va. 5) Amarillo, Tex. 6) Port St. Lucie, Fla. 7) Rochester, N.Y. 8) Visalia, Calif. 9) Vancouver, Wash. 10) Albuquerque, N. Mex. According to CAPC, pets on May's top 10 cities list could have been exposed locally or through travel. Factors such as transportation of shelter dogs, pet owner compliance in administering monthly heartworm preventatives, changing weather patterns, and mosquito microclimates may be the cause for the increase in positive tests. "Most people consider their pets as family members and wouldn't knowingly expose them to infection with a potentially fatal disease that ultimately compromises the length and quality of their lives. Yet millions who fail to protect their pets every month from heartworm infection are doing just that," says Craig Prior, DVM, past-president of CAPC's …
Veterinary loan repayment bill introduced in House of RepresentativesMay 16, 2019Rural veterinarians are one step closer to seeing the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) Enhancement Act become law. The act, a companion bill to S.1163, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and would remove a withholding tax to maximize funding for the veterinary medicine loan repayment program. The VMLRP offers loan repayment assistance to relocate veterinarians to areas deemed by the U.S. department of agriculture to have shortages. In a statement, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) president, John de Jong, DVM, said, "Too many rural communities today don't have access to adequate veterinary care, leaving livestock at risk for dangerous diseases, which could impact agricultural communities and threaten public health. Unfortunately, the reality is that food-animal veterinary careers typically pay less than small-animal careers, and high levels of student debt can make it financially difficult for veterinarians to follow these career paths. "The VMLRP is extremely effective in addressing this challenge because it provides veterinarians with loan repayment assistance so they don't have to choose between paying off their loans and pursuing food-animal or public health careers. These efforts are critical to our farming and ranching communities, and we're grateful to the members of Congress …
Trupanion goes all out for Veterinary Appreciation DayMay 16, 2019Veterinary professionals are going to feel all the love on Veterinary Appreciation Day, thanks to Trupanion's new campaign, which celebrates the work they do. Starting today, the pet medical insurance company is asking pet owners to share their veterinary hero stories on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #VeterinaryLove. Those tweets and Instagram posts will then be broadcasted live in New York City's Times Square on the NASDAQ Tower on Veterinary Appreciation Day, which will be held June 18. Trupanion is reminding owners to tag their veterinary office and share a special picture of their pet using the hashtag. The company will also be sharing the hero stories on its social media platforms and online.
Scratchpay, Green Dot Bank partner to create new way to save for veterinarian visitsMay 16, 2019Scratchpay and Green Dot Bank have announced they are working together to help pet owners save money for those unexpected veterinary bills. The financial technology company will offer owners Scratchpay Savings, a new type of savings account and a debit card. "Scratchpay's current offerings help pet parents manage the high cost of veterinary care with convenient and transparent payment plans," says Scratchpay chief executive officer, John Keatley. "But we know many of our customers want to be proactive and plan ahead for the next expensive trip to the veterinarian. "Our new Scratchpay savings account will help them do just that. Set aside funds each month for their pet's health care, while also earning benefits and incentives to reward them for good behavior." The benefits of Scratchpay Savings include: • Set-it-and-forget-it savings plans through the Scratchpay app • A customized debit card, allowing convenient access to funds • Pet-friendly rewards and incentives • No minimum balance • No monthly fee Owners will also be able to earn cash back at Scratchpay partner clinic locations and special rewards will be available to account holders who also have a Scratchpay payment plan.
Penn Vet, Wharton School launch veterinary entrepreneurship programMay 15, 2019The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) and the Wharton School are launching a veterinary entrepreneurship program. Created for clinicians, scientists, technologists, and academic leaders, "Leading Veterinary Entrepreneurship" is designed to help veterinary professionals build entrepreneurial skills regarding public health, environmental sustainability, and human and animal well-being. "As the world becomes more complex, so does the role of veterinarians. They are uniquely positioned to ask questions with implications for animal, human, and environmental health," says Andrew Hoffman, who serves as the program's academic director and Gilbert S. Kahn dean of veterinary medicine. "And an entrepreneurial mindset is really critical, really central, to tackling challenges such as food and water security, sustainable farming, climate change, and the advancement of animal welfare." Participants will learn about the importance of opportunity identification, testing, assessment, resource allocation, and leadership competencies required to create an entrepreneurial culture. "I'm hearing a collective recognition from students, alumni, and my own colleagues regarding the role veterinarians can play in the health of communities, both local and global," Hoffman says. "I wanted to develop an executive program with the Wharton School giving veterinarians the tools to drive improvements in public health, environmental sustainability, …
Applications now open for the IDEA CompetitionMay 14, 2019The IDEA Competition, a yearlong contest for entrepreneurial veterinary students, is now accepting applications. The grand prize winner of the competition will be awarded $10,000, second place will receive $5,000, and third place gets $2,500. "Our mission is to have the largest positive impact on improving the delivery of veterinary health care by building the capacity for entrepreneurship and innovation from within the profession," says VEA director, Robert Trimble, DVM. "Students are incredibly creative and often have transformative ideas about the future of veterinary medicine. Yet, many lack the confidence, resources, education, and mentorship that is needed to turn those ideas into reality. "The VEA provides students with these resources; our work with VetPrep and the IDEA competition reflects our efforts to achieve this mission. It's an opportunity to provide the type of guidance I wish was available when I was a student." The competition is hosted by the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy (VEA) in collaboration with VetPrep and in partnership with Merck Animal Health and the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA). Finals are broadcasted live at the SAVMA Symposium in March 2020, which will be held at Cornell University. During season three, more than 43 teams from North …
Petco Foundation, Blue Buffalo invest $15 million in pet cancer researchMay 14, 2019Petco Foundation and Blue Buffalo announced they have invested $15 million in pet cancer research and treatment since starting the Pet Cancer Awareness campaign in 2010. Not only that, their goal is to raise an additional $2.6 million this year to support innovative programs at veterinary oncology universities in the U.S., and to continue to help owners afford the cost of cancer treatments for their pets. "Blue Buffalo has been committed to finding a cure for pet cancer since our inception," says the company's vice president, David Petrie. "We are excited about collaborative efforts, together with Petco and the Petco Foundation, to raise funds for research, increase awareness of cancer warning signs, and help pet parents with the cost of pet cancer treatment." Funds raised in the campaign will go toward new investments such as Oklahoma State University's Center of Veterinary Health Sciences, which is focused on ultrasound cancer treatment. The therapy would provide a noninvasive, nontoxic alternative to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Further, additional investments to 10 university veterinary oncology centers will help assist owners cover the cost of cancer treatments for their pets. Petco Foundation will also be launching a fund to help animal welfare organizations offset cancer …
AAVMC releases updated cost comparison tool for future veterinary studentsMay 14, 2019The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is now making it easier for prospective veterinary students to see how much it really costs to fund a veterinary education. To do that, the association has released an updated version of its Cost Comparison Tool (CCT). The interactive online database offers tuition costs, scholarship resources, and financing options on all 30 accredited U.S. schools, as well as 12 Canadian and international colleges. "Higher education is an expensive proposition in today's world, and educational debt has become a major national problem," says AAVMC chief executive officer, Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, MPH, JD. "We're committed to providing our applicants and students with the data they need to make informed and intelligent decisions about financing their professional education. Our CCT program is a powerful tool for helping them do that." The CCT was updated to include the total costs of earning a DVM degree for 2019 graduates and median debt levels for 2018 graduates. A tab for a single-year view of tuition costs was also added. Students can now filter the data by tuition costs, total costs, and percentage of students receiving scholarship aid from the colleges. To view the updated CCT, click …
