BodeVet, distributor partners prepare to launch StablePlate RXMarch 29, 2018BodeVet, a company that develops novel blood products for use in hemostasis and regenerative medicine for the veterinary industry, has partnered with Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank, HemoSolutions, and Northwest Veterinary Blood Bank to support distribution of its first product, StablePlate RX. Billed as the world's first injectable freeze-dried platelet derived product, StablePlate RX Canine is used to treat acute uncontrolled hemorrhage in bleeding canine patients, according to Anne Hale, DVM, chief technical officer for the Rockville, Md., company. Last year, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Friendship Animal Hospital, Cornell University, the University of Georgia, and Iowa State University participated in clinical trials; Ethos Veterinary Health and North Carolina State University recently joined the clinical trial group, as well. Findings are to be released later this year. For more information on BodeVet, StablePlate RX, or its team of experts in veterinary transfusion medicine, visit bodevet.com.
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AKC top breeds list features longtime faves, two surprisesMarch 29, 2018The American Kennel Club (AKC) released its annual breed popularity rankings Wednesday, and unsurprisingly, the nation still loves its happy-go-lucky Labrador retrievers 27 years after their first appearance as top dog. German Shepherd dogs and golden retrievers remain in the AKC's No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. What is surprising is the rise of French bulldogs to No. 4 from No. 76 in just 20 years. Bulldogs, beagles, poodles, Rottweilers, and Yorkshire terriers make up No. 5 through No. 9. The German shorthaired pointer made the No. 10 spot this year (a GSP won Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 2016). The dogs are cute, compact, and relatively quiet, making them a breed of choice for urbanites. But not everyone is excited about the French bulldog's rising popularity. However, they suffer from health issues common among brachycephalic breeds, as well as and spinal and eye problems, and are often born by cesarean section. Sometimes they require nasal or palate surgery. John de Jong, DVM, a Newton, Mass., veterinarian who is president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association said he acknowledges the breed's conditions and challenges, but added that other dogs face their own particular challenges. …
WSAVA launches campaign for global access to veterinary therapeuticsMarch 27, 2018The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has launched a campaign to secure equitable access to veterinary therapeutics for veterinarians. The association also is forming a Therapeutics Guidelines Group (TGG) to spearhead its efforts improve access to veterinary therapeutics. The organization, represents more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide through its 105 member associations, has launched the campaign to address long-standing problems experienced by companion animal veterinarians in some regions of the world in gaining access to the veterinary medicinal products they require to provide a high level of patient care. The WSAVA's Position Statement was drawn up following concerns raised by WSAVA member associations during discussions at member forums during 2017. The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations, the Federation of Asian Small Animal Veterinary Associations, the Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations, the Federación Iberoamericana deAsociaciones Veterinarias de Animales de Compañía, the Commonwealth Veterinary Association, and HealthforAnimals, the global animal medicines association, are statement co-signatories. The TGG aims to: Develop minimum standards for a veterinary hospital pharmacy to ensure it can support a veterinarian's ability to provide an appropriate standard of care Monitor issues relating to access to veterinary therapeutics and recommend solutions using an evidence-based approach Engage global stakeholders to raise awareness of the issue and build a collaborative approach to resolve the issues. "The ready access by veterinary professionals to diagnostics and therapeutic modalities is the foundation of proper patient care," said Walt …
Pet industry hits close to $70B in spending for 2017March 27, 2018Pet owners spent $69.5 billion on their companions in 2017, according to the latest figures from the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Pet food accounts for the single greatest source of spending, veterinary care spending remains the second highest at $17.07 billion, up 7 percent from 2016. The latest pet industry spending figures were announced at Global Pet Expo, an annual pet products trade show presented by APPA and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA). APPA's annual comprehensive industry figures report covers pet spending in the market categories of food, supplies/over-the-counter medications, veterinary care, live animal purchases, and other services. "It's incredible to not only see growth for the pet industry in general, but also to experience growth across all categories—with the exception of live animal purchases, which remained the same," said Bob Vetere, APPA president and CEO. "Talk to any pet owner and they'll tell you how difficult it is to put a dollar limit on what they'd spend to give their loyal companion a happy life, and it's this outlook that continues to drive growth." Spending on pet food continues to be the highest source of dollars spent, with spending …
Could noise sensitivity in dogs be a cry for pain relief?March 26, 2018 A study conducted by animal behavior scientists from the U.K. and Brazil found that dogs that show fear or anxiety when faced with loud or sudden noises could actually be in pain. The researchers examined cases of dogs that had developed sensitivity to variations in noise volume, pitch, and occurrence, and found they also had associated musculoskeletal pain. The undiagnosed pain could be exacerbated when auditory stimuli makes the dogs tense or jump, placing extra stress on muscles or joints that already are inflamed, causing further pain, according to the study. That pain is then associated with a loud or startling noise, leading to sensitivity to noise and avoidance of situations where they had a previous bad experience, such as at a local park or in a loud room at home. According to the researchers, veterinarians should give any dog with a behavior issue a thorough physical exam to determine that if pain is a factor, it can be diagnosed and treated, and the behavior issue can then be addressed. In the study, all dogs that experienced pain and were treated showed improvement in behavior. Pain, behavior issues, and the onset of pain "Although the average ages of the …
Salmonella outbreak linked to pet guinea pigsMarch 26, 2018 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported nine cases of Salmonella infection connected to pet guinea pigs across eight states. The illnesses, which resulted in one hospitalization, ranged from July 2015 to Dec. 2017. "This outbreak is a reminder that pet rodents such as guinea pigs, regardless of where they are purchased or adopted, can carry Salmonella bacteria even when they look healthy and clean," states the advisory. States cited in the advisory include Colorado, with two reported cases, as well as Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Virginia, and Vermont, with one case each. The outbreak strain of the bacteria was identified in a sample collected from the guinea pig belonging to the patient in Vermont. Illness resulting from exposure to Salmonella usually lasts four to seven days. Those affected usually recover without treatment, but extreme cases of diarrhea and vomiting can lead to hospitalization. Infection is considered most dangerous for children younger than 5, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. The CDC recommends veterinarians remind clients with pet rodents to enforce good hygiene practices, especially in regard to young children. To read the full report, click
Why AAHA accreditation is a big dealMarch 23, 2018Becoming an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited veterinary practice isn't about prestige—it's about operating at a higher level, according to an article at consumersadvocate.org. The accreditation process is challenging, rigorous, voluntary, and not guaranteed. When a veterinary facility steps up to become accredited, it's making a proclamation that the organization is committed to excellence, the article stated. That's not to say unaccredited practices are engaging in sub-par animal health care. However, it "raises the question of how much more successful they would be if they truly reached for their full potential by obtaining accreditation," said Darren Taul, DVM, AAHA president elect. Since 1933, the association has charted the course for approximately 3,700 practices to achieve accreditation. "Accreditation is a way to force yourself to be the best you can be," said Bo Williamson, DVM, owner of the Tennessee Avenue Hospital in Cincinnati, the oldest continuously accredited AAHA animal hospital in the world. "Owners and employees of accredited hospitals constantly look to make things better." Currently, only 12 to 15 percent of animal hospitals are accredited; the association wants more practices to make the commitment to achieve accreditation. Accreditation serves two purposes. First, …
Zoetis scholarship award program passes $6M markMarch 23, 2018Zoetis and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) announced the awarding of $630,000 in scholarship funds through the Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Program for 2018. Now in its ninth year, the program awarded scholarships in the amount of $2,000 to 315 second- and third-year veterinary students representing 33 colleges of veterinary medicine. The program has awarded $6.1 million over the past nine years, helping to offset education expenses for more than 3,000 veterinary students. Lizann Guzman, a student enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif., said the award made a significant impact on her educational experience. After not being accepted to the veterinary college in her home state, Guzman faced a difficult financial choice. "One of the hardest decisions of my life was moving out to California for vet school, knowing that I would be in so much more debt than if I waited a year to reapply in-state," said Guzman, who will graduate in 2019. "This scholarship greatly helped me out financially and gave me extra motivation to work hard in pursuing my dream." "Easing the economic pressure on students like …
Merck, AVMF award $280K in scholarships to 56 veterinary studentsMarch 22, 2018Fifty six veterinary students from around the world have received scholarships from Merck Animal Health, in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF). Through the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, select second-and third-year students pursuing careers in companion animal or large animal medicine each will receive a $5,000 scholarship (totaling $280,000) to support their educational endeavors. "We know that the cost of veterinary education can be a challenge but want to encourage talented students to pursue their dreams," said Scott Bormann, vice president, North America, Merck Animal Health. "We're honored to support these recipients, as the work they do throughout their careers will have an important impact on the animal health industry, helping to advance the well-being of both companion and large animals." The AVMF, the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association, has supported veterinary students for more than five decades. "The AVMF helps ensure the future of veterinary medicine by recognizing and supporting outstanding students," said Jan K. Strother, DVM, chair, AVMF board. "We are honored to partner with Merck Animal Health in providing these scholarship opportunities." Award recipients from U.S. and international veterinary schools …
Can The Pet Effect play a role in practice success?March 22, 2018Zoetis has released two new videos as part of The Pet Effect, an educational campaign to raise awareness of pets' positive health benefits for humans, and how, by extension, veterinary professionals are key contributors to public health. To help publicize The Pet Effect, Zoetis has partnered with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). "The Pet Effect aims to put veterinarians at the center of the conversation with pet owners and potential pet owners about how human and pet health are connected," said J. Michael McFarland, DVM, DABVP, executive director, Zoetis Petcare Marketing. "As a HABRI co-founder, Zoetis firmly supports human-animal bond research, and we hope these videos and new research results will help spread the word of the physical and emotional benefits of pet ownership." Who saved who? The Pet Effect campaign has assembled scientific evidence that demonstrates how pets improve heart health, alleviate depression, increase well-being, support child health and development, and contribute to healthy aging, as well as assist in treating a range of conditions from autism spectrum disorder to Alzheimer's disease to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The campaign videos, Comrade and Adopt a Human, portray two situations in which pets can positively affect …
