What Veterinary Practice News readers loved in 2017December 15, 2017Another new year is upon us, but before we embrace 2018 and all it might have to offer veterinary professionals and the industry, let's recap Veterinary Practice News' 10 most-read features of 2017. 1. Canine influenza virus 2017: Beyond two show dogs 2. 10 secrets to keep your veterinary nurses happy 3. University of Minnesota develops cancer drug that helps dogs with hemangiosarcoma 4. Study: Cats eating dry food have increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes 5. Zoetis earns license for Cytopoint skin therapy 6. Raising greyhound health awareness 7. American Association of Feline Practitioners revises declawing position 8. The 7 top challenges facing veterinary medicine in 2017 9. Petco officially enters the veterinary hospital ring with Thrive 10. The strangest things vet techs have heard clients say
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Penn Foster offers veterinary practice management certificate programDecember 14, 2017Penn Foster College, a provider of online degree programs and individual courses, launched its Veterinary Practice Management Undergraduate Certificate program. The new program helps prepare students to become veterinary practice managers by providing them with education in the procedures, policies, and management skills needed in the daily operations of a veterinary business. The undergraduate certificate offers 19 college credits, covering skills including managerial and financial accounting, veterinary practice systems, planning and leadership, business ethics, and more. The program is offered through Penn Foster's technology-enabled learning platform, where interactive, mobile-friendly courses, progress-tracking and goal setting tools, and personal coaches help students complete the program while managing their busy lives. In addition to earning an undergraduate certificate, completion of the program satisfies the college semester hours required for the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager exam offered by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Penn Foster also offers veterinary training programs for its AVMA-Accredited Veterinary Technician Associate Degree, NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma, and Pet Grooming Certificate.
Cornell veterinary fraternity returns with Men of the Vet School CalendarDecember 14, 2017Veterinary fraternity Omega Tau Sigma at Cornell University has once again released its Men of the Vet School Calendar. This year's edition is filled with a variety of animals, including puppies, horses, donkeys, calves, llamas, goats, snakes, and even a kangaroo posing with future veterinarians studying in Ithaca, N.Y. The calendar supports the fraternity as well as its fundraising efforts for multiple charities, including the Patient Assistance Fund at Cornell University Hospital for Animals. This fund benefits sick pets by providing financial resources to owners who cannot otherwise afford the medical care their pet needs. Last year the fraternity donated $5,000 to the fund, breaking its own record for largest contribution from a student organization. The calendar is available on Etsy. International shipping available. For more information, visit the fraternity's Facebook page, Cornell Men of the Vet School Calendar, and Instagram @menofthevetschool.
Zomedica announces therapeutic development milestonesDecember 13, 2017Zomedica Pharmaceuticals Corp. veterinary pharmaceutical and diagnostic company announced a development update on the company's four therapeutic candidates for use in companion animals, namely dogs and cats. ZM-012 and ZM-007: Metronidazole for acute diarrhea in dogs Development milestones for ZM-012 and ZM-007, complementary oral formulations of metronidazole targeting the treatment of acute diarrhea in dogs include: Finalized novel tablet formulation for ZM-012 to replace the large, bitter tasting human-approved generic tablet commonly prescribed by veterinarians for their canine patients. The beef-flavored oral tablets are intended for dogs greater than 9 pounds or 4 kilograms. Finalized the oral suspension formulation for ZM-007, which is intended for small breeds and puppies under 9 pounds or 4 kilograms. Completed pilot testing for both formulations at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine to measure metronidazole's effectiveness to treat acute diarrhea in dogs. Scheduled December 2017 pre-submission meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) to present the regulatory strategy and development plan for ZM-012. A safety study will commence for ZM-012 in the first half of 2018 for completion in the second half of 2018. The company also expects to hold a pre-submission …
BabelBark expands its global footprintDecember 13, 2017BabelBark pet-related software developer announced the expansion of its mobile app and software platform into English-speaking countries and territories, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK. This expansion outside of the US and Canada will bring the emerging BabelBark platform to millions of pet parents, pet vendors, and veterinarians worldwide. BabelBark digital platform offers a mobile app that combines 24/7 activity monitoring, connection to primary care and emergency veterinary services, medical records and medication reminders, regional/local service providers, and products to prescriptively and proactively help pet parents monitor and manage their dog's individual needs. The app connects their dog's information and activity with their veterinarian, pet store, walker, pet sitter, boarding kennel, and more within their identified pet care community. The BabelBark connection is further enhanced when local pet businesses also use the BizBark or BabelVet vendor software platforms, which are designed to complete the BabelBark user experience. "No matter where the pet parent is located, in the US, UK, or another country, they can easily find pet-related services nearby with the swipe of a finger," said Bill Rebozo, founder, product and market strategist for BabelBark. "In addition, when pet owners travel abroad with their …
MWI Animal Health acquires Northeast Veterinary Supply CompanyDecember 13, 2017MWI Animal Health, a part of AmerisourceBergen, has acquired Northeast Veterinary Supply Co. (NEVSCO), an independent, regional distributor of veterinary pharmaceuticals and medical supplies servicing primarily the northeast region of the US. The acquisition of NEVSCO continues to strengthen MWI's position to better support the viability of independent veterinary practices and provide even greater value and care to current and future animal health customers, according to the company. The acquisition of NEVSCO bolsters MWI's presence and capabilities in the northeast region of the US, as the increased scale enables the company to improve access, increase supply chain efficiency, and enhance care in the companion and production animal space, said the company in a statement. The move also better positions MWI to help independent veterinary practices navigate mounting industry challenges and thrive in today's healthcare environment, the company stated. NEVSCO customers will have access to an expanded product portfolio, as well as MWI's industry e-commerce platform and practice building programs, and customers' businesses will benefit from NEVSCO's enhanced high-touch, consultative service model, which now features expanded product access, MWI stated. Visti mwiah.com for more information.
Drug-resistant heartworm strain found in Louisiana LabradorDecember 12, 2017A drug-resistant strain of heartworm was discovered in a dog in Metairie, La., according to local veterinarian, Cynthia Benbow, DVM, CVA. Maddie, a yellow lab from Metairie, was a patient of Dr. Benbow. According to the news release issued by Benbow's office, Maddie contracted heartworm while on a monthly preventive. The heartworms had resurfaced in Benbow's long-time patient after a bout three years prior even though Maddie's owner had, as Benbow described, "religiously" stuck with the prescribed prevention regimen. Testing revealed the dog was infected with a drug-resistant strain of heartworm. A sample of Maddie's blood was sent to Ray Kaplan, DVM, at the Department of Infectious Diseases at University of Georgia (UGA) College of Veterinary Medicine, according to Benbow. Dr. Kaplan's lab confirmed that the heartworms were indeed drug-resistant, and established the strain for research purposes, naming it Metairie-2014. Louisiana hosts "by far the most cases" of suspected drug-resistant heartworm strains, according to Cassan Pulaski, a doctoral candidate at Louisiana State University (LSU). Southern states show higher incidences of likely drug-resistant strains, particularly those surrounding the Mississippi River Delta, he said. It's unknown how many drug-resistant heartworm strains exist because local veterinarians do not have the research tools to verify resistant strains, according to …
Zoetis launches Vanguard CIV H3N2/H3N8 vaccine for canine influenzaDecember 12, 2017Zoetis' Vanguard CIV H3N2/H3N8 is a new bivalent vaccine helps protect dogs against CIV H3N2 and CIV H3N8, which have caused serious disease outbreaks in 38 states across the US.1 In an efficacy study, dogs that received the Vanguard CIV H3N2/H3N8 vaccine were protected from disease after CIV H3N2 challenge.2,3,4 Vaccination also appeared to help decrease the number of days after challenge that dogs shed CIV H3N2 virus—from an average of 4.9 days in the placebo-vaccinated controls to an average of 1.3 days in Vanguard CIV H3N2/H3N8 vaccinates.2,5,6 During a safety study that involved 364 dogs, including 164 client-owned dogs and 200 dogs from commercial breeding facilities, 725 doses of vaccine were administered and no significant adverse events were observed.7 Dogs that frequently are in the company of others could benefit from the protection Vanguard CIV H3N2/H3N8 offers, said Stephan Carey, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, assistant professor, Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and past president of The Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, and Zoetis consultant. "Dogs that attend day care, visit the dog park, or stay at boarding facilities are all at risk for contracting either strain of CIV," he said. …
28,000 days of Vetrax data show what 'normal' behavior means for a dogDecember 12, 2017How long should a dog sleep during a 24 hour period? Is it normal for dogs to scratch? When is scratching so excessive that dog owners should seek veterinary care? These basic questions have not had a clear answer—until now, according to technology company AGL, which has published results from 28,000 dog days of data generated by the company's wearable sensor, Vetrax. The Vetrax wearable sensor, app, and online portal combine to provide accurate and detailed monitoring of a dog's specific behaviors to help pet owners and veterinarians to monitor, evaluate, and manage treatment plans, according to the company. AGL's results shows that dogs sleep less than previously thought but also live sedentary lives, walking for just over an hour a day and resting for nine hours on average. It means that veterinary professionals can now refer to statistics with an evidence base and take 'average' behavior into account when making recommendations, according to AGL. The Vetrax data has been gathered from dogs wearing the company's pet sensor. The monitor evaluates not just general activity but also more clinically relevant behaviors such as scratching or shaking. Vetrax found that, on average, dogs walk for just 68 …
UC Davis veterinarians warn of poisonous Amanita phalloides mushroomsDecember 11, 2017Veterinarians at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine are warning pet owners to be aware of Amanita mushroom intoxication. The Amanita phalloides version, commonly known as the death cap mushroom, is extremely toxic to animals. Found throughout Northern California and many other locations, A. phalloides can be potentially fatal to animals with ingestion of only a small amount. One of the most poisonous of all known mushrooms, its toxins cause acute liver failure and can also damage other organs such as the kidneys and the intestinal tract. "We've had several calls from local pet owners concerned about Amanita mushrooms," said Kate Hopper, BVSc, Ph.D., DAVECC, director of the small animal clinic at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. "They report these mushrooms growing in the Sacramento area currently, but it may grow in all areas of Northern California." On Dec. 4, the UC Davis veterinary hospital admitted an 8-week-old male Alaskan Klee Kai puppy that ingested the mushrooms over the weekend. "The dog's owner reported that they have hundreds of these mushrooms on their lawn in Loomis, and they think there are a lot more in the local area," said Dr. Hopper. According to Dr. Hopper, …
