OVMA, VHMA to host Great Ideas ConferenceJune 13, 2018The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association in association with the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association will host the Great Ideas Conference in Collingwood, Ont., June 20-22. The event includes "how-to" sessions on a range of practice and life management topics, including human resources management, communication, marketing, and more. Mary Gardner, DVM, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, is among this year's speakers. In her lecture series, Dr. Gardner will explore the unique care of aging and geriatric patients, and discuss the role veterinarians play in preparing a client for the loss of their pet. The first installment of a three-part series by Dr. Gardner was recently featured in Veterinary Practice News ("Caring for the Geriatric Pet" can be found online here.) Other speakers include Jason Coe, DVM, Ph.D., who will discuss issues surrounding communication in the clinic, and offer strategies for how to navigate difficult conversations with clients and communicate effectively with staff, as well as Kimberly Pope-Robinson, DVM, who will host a series related to personal health and wellness, including advice on how to avoid career burnout and maintain a proper work-life balance. New this year, the …
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Help your clients prepare for hurricane seasonJune 13, 2018To honor Pet Preparedness Month, veterinarians at PetSmart released a list of tips to help owners ensure the safety and security of their animals in the event of a natural disaster. "The best way to keep pets safe during an emergency is to prepare a disaster plan, especially with hurricane season around the corner," said Nick Saint-Erne, DVM, PetSmart's resident veterinarian. "It is common to overlook pets when preparing for an emergency, but taking a few simple steps to include your pets' needs in your family preparedness plan will help ensure they are comfortable and safe in the event of an emergency." Dr. Saint-Erne suggests owners take the following pet preparedness safety measures to help their animals stay safe and calm in the event of an emergency. Ensure pets are safely contained When severe weather warnings go into effect, crate or kennel your animal. Consider purchasing a pet carrier in the event of evacuation. Additionally, have lidded plastic buckets or bins on-hand if you own fish, turtles, or similar animals. Look for pet-friendly housing options for your animal in case you need to evacuate your home Be sure to your pet up-to-date on its …
ACVIM, VetBloom partner to build elearning platformJune 13, 2018The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) is partnering with VetBloom, the digital learning ecosystem from Ethos Veterinary Health, to create a virtual learning environment for ACVIM and its members. Also, VetBloom will develop an integrated online portal for tracking and reporting of data related to the Maintenance of Credential (MOC) program for ACVIM Diplomates, as well as for tracking of resident specialty training and credentials. Key aspects of the partnership include: A fully branded ACVIM learning site with custom resources for members Paperless, online, automated MOC and resident specialty tracking An ACVIM eCommerce portal for nonmembers Ongoing digital access to ACVIM events Access to curated education from VetBloom and other members of the VetBloom learning community "Both ACVIM and VetBloom bring rich and complementary knowledge and experience to the relationship, and this presents us with a synergistic opportunity to develop a learning ecosystem that creates tremendous benefit for a number of audiences," said Patrick Welch, DVM, MBA, DACVO, chief knowledge officer of Ethos Veterinary Health. "VetBloom is a trusted resource in the veterinary field," said Veronica Muñoz, ACVIM CEO. "We look forward to combining VetBloom's expertise in developing veterinary education …
Aratana Therapeutics seeks feline label expansion for NocitaJune 12, 2018Aratana Therapeutics Inc. announced it has submitted a supplemental new animal drug application with the FDA to approve the use of Nocita in cats to provide regional analgesia following onychectomy. Nocita (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), which provides up to 72 hours of analgesia postoperatively using multivesicular liposomal technology, was first approved in August 2016 for canine use following cranial cruciate ligament surgery. "We believe veterinarians are in need of safe and effective, nonopioid alternatives to provide pain relief to their feline and canine patients," said Ernst Heinen, DVM, Ph.D., chief development officer of Aratana Therapeutics. "If the supplemental NADA is approved, NOCITA will help control feline pain for up to 72 hours by blocking pain signals at their source, the nerve." Visit aratana.com.
Zoetis awards $200K in grants for heartworm researchJune 12, 2018Zoetis has awarded three teams of scientists with $200,000 in research grants to support projects that will help advance understanding of the fundamentals of heartworm and explore novel interventions to help prevent it. "Heartworm disease is a debilitating and potentially fatal condition, particularly in dogs and cats," said Debra Woods, Ph.D., research director and head of parasitology global therapeutics research at Zoetis. "New therapies are likely to be required as heartworm resistance to current therapies develops over time." Grant recipients are: Sean Forrester, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Guilherme G. Verocai, DVM, MSc, Ph.D., DACVM, director of the Parasitology Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Mostafa Zamanian, Ph.D., and Lyric Bartholomay, Ph.D., of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine "We were impressed with the caliber of the innovative research proposals we received and selected three that will augment our internal research and development and could lead to new scientific insights in parasitic disease, in particular, heartworm disease," said Dr. Woods. The research grants were awarded by a committee comprised of leaders from across divisions and disciplines, with external …
Mars veterinary reach grows with UK's Linnaeus, Europe's AniCuraJune 12, 2018Mars Petcare announced its plans to acquire European veterinary group AniCura. Founded in 2011 as the first merger of animal hospitals in the Nordic region, AniCura includes more than 4,000 veterinary professionals and 200 animal hospitals in seven countries across Europe, seeing two million pets every year, according to the company. Mars Petcare employs approximately 50,000 veterinary professionals and cares for more than 10 million pets annually. "Together, Mars Petcare and AniCura will both be in a position to benefit from each other's best practices and competencies, improving clinical practice and continuing to advance the veterinary profession in both North America and Europe," according to a statement by Mars. Mars' acquisition of AniCura isn't the company's first acquisition across the pond. Also this month Mars announced its acquisition of U.K.-based veterinary group Linnaeus. Both groups join the company's veterinary health business units, which include VCA Animal Hospitals, Banfield Pet Hospital, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, and Pet Partners. "Mars Petcare has a long and global history of providing nutrition, veterinary care, and science for pets across the globe," said Poul Weihrauch, president, Mars Petcare. "Our veterinary business until now has been in the United …
Remind horse owners to safeguard against rabiesJune 7, 2018According to veterinary research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Horse Council, horses are nearly four times more likely to contract rabies than dogs. Across the U.S., the majority of horses are not vaccinated for rabies and often run a higher risk of exposure than dogs, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Everybody is at risk for developing rabies," said Bonnie R. Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Interim Dean at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "[Horses are] at higher risk for being exposed probably at pasture, but being in a stall does not preclude exposure. The consequences of interacting with a horse that has rabies are significant." Horses can be exposed to rabies most commonly through bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. Two examples of public equine rabies cases include the 2008 Missouri State Fair; and the 2006 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, which required the notification of more than 150,000 people for potential rabies exposure. Rabies is the deadliest among the five core equine diseases, which also include Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus, and West Nile. Horses are continually exposed …
Brakke to offer webinar on veterinary industry issuesJune 7, 2018Brakke Consulting Inc. is offering a one-hour webinar later this month on four issues facing veterinarians and the veterinary industry. Presented by senior consultant John Volk, "Hot Topics in Veterinary Medicine" will examine such topics as: Supplier Concentration: What Does it Mean to Veterinary Practices? Veterinary Practice Consolidation: Bubble or Long-Term Trend? Preventive Care Plans: Are They Essential to Your Future? Healthy Veterinarians, Healthy Practice: How is your Wellbeing? Participants will have an opportunity to participate in discussions and ask questions. In addition, each attendee will receive a copy of the presentation. "The webinar will include up-to-the-minute data on important issues facing the industry and the implications for veterinary practitioners," says John Volk. "I'm confident that every participant will leave with some take-aways that he or she can apply immediately in their practice." The webinar will be presented four times: June 27, 11 a.m. EDT June 27, 4:30 p.m. EDT June 28, 11 a.m. EDT June 28, 4:30 p.m. EDT To register, go to brakkeconsulting.com and scroll down to the "What's New" area on the lower right-hand side of the home page. Registration deadline is Friday, June 22; cost is $79.
Help clients who travel hire the best professional pet sitterJune 6, 2018As more than 88 million Americans prepare for family vacations this summer, educational association Pet Sitters International (PSI) reminds pet owners to use caution when deciding who will watch their animals, recommending they forgo hiring hesitant friends and neighbors to fill this role and instead seek professional pet sitters, trained to handle potential emergencies. "When it comes to finding pet care, don't prioritize convenience over quality," said Beth Stultz, PSI vice-president. "Just because you can quickly find and book the services of a pet lover with a profile on a pet-sitting or dog-walking app doesn't mean you are choosing a qualified pet-care provider. Pet owners should take a closer look to ensure they are hiring not just a pet lover, but a pet lover who is also a true pet-care professional." Professional pet sitters come to clients' homes, which limits interruption to pets' routines and eliminates the stress and danger of exposing them to new, unfamiliar environments. Additionally, many professionals provide services for owners traveling with animals, offering pet-care services at hotels for clients who need to leave their animals and participate in non-pet friendly events or activities. PSI advises pet owners to schedule a consultation …
Vetsource online veterinary pharmacy secures $50M in financingJune 6, 2018Vetsource, an online veterinary pharmacy founded in 2005, has closed a $50 million private financing round led by Bain Capital Ventures. The company provides prescription management services to more than 17,000 U.S. veterinary practices with more than 8,100 practices contracted to deliver pet medication and food to clients. The funding will go toward helping veterinarians run a better business, deliver better care, enhance client experience, and provide marketing and technology solutions for improved medical and financial outcomes for veterinarians and pet owners, according to the company. "Vetsource has made a tremendous impact on veterinary practices and pet care, and we are excited to support the team in expanding the reach of its core business and complementary SaaS capabilities," said Yumin Choi, managing director at Bain Capital Ventures. "With its innovative business model, unique partnerships across the industry, and strong management team, we believe Vetsource will continue to cement its market leadership and drive massive positive change in the veterinary industry." "We are excited to bring a partner like Bain Capital Ventures into the Vetsource business," said Kurt Green, Vetsource president and CEO. "They share our commitment to empowering veterinarians to leverage innovative technologies …
