FTC Open to Wider Veterinary Drug MarketMay 29, 2015A dog owner walks out of a veterinary clinic with a prescription in hand, drives to her neighborhood pharmacy to get her sick terrier’s order filled and leaves with a few generic and brand-name animal drugs. Such a scenario is uncommon today, but the Federal Trade Commission, in a report issued this week, found that the pet medications market could be more competitive—and better for consumers—if portable prescriptions were the norm, human pharmacies had greater access to veterinary drugs and more generics were available. The FTC staff report, titled “Competition in the Pet Medications Market,” was the culmination of a three-year review that included industry and public input gathered at a 2012 workshop and from more than 700 written comments. The FTC acknowledged that the U.S. pet pharmaceutical market—forecast to hit $10.2 billion in sales by 2018—is in flux and has changed dramatically from the days when veterinarians dispensed virtually all prescription drugs. According to the latest estimates, practitioners sell 58 percent of prescription and over-the-counter medications, brick-and-mortar pharmacies and retailers rake in 28 percent, and the growing Internet and mail-order segment accounts for 13 percent. The American Veterinary Medical Association conceded that there is no going back. “The report …
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K-State Unveils Test for New Dog Flu StrainMay 28, 2015The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has added a canine influenza test designed to differentiate between the common H3N8 and emerging H3N2 strains. An H3N2 outbreak first reported in Chicago in mid-March has infected more than 1,000 dogs in about a dozen states, killing an estimated 2 to 3 percent of patients. The laboratory’s H3N2 test was developed at Kansas State University but is not the first. Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center and Idexx Laboratories Inc., for example, can confirm whether submitted swabs carry H3N2. “The test offered by Idexx is a PCR assay,” said Ben Hause, MS, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “They run a PCR panel that gives yes/no answers whether the sample is positive for influenza A virus and if positive, whether it’s positive for H3 or N2 or N8. This will tell you whether the sample is positive for influenza and what the subtype is. “We also screen samples initially by PCR to tell if the sample is positive for influenza A virus,” Hause said. “If positive, we then subtype the virus by sequencing. This will give us the H and N types, but as opposed …
MSU Names Co-Directors of Veterinary Technology ProgramMay 28, 2015Jolynne Judge, LVT, and Helen Mayer, LVT, have been named co-directors of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Technology Program. “Judge and Mayer bring decades of first-hand experience and professional knowledge to their co-directorship,” said Julie Funk, associate dean of Academic Programs and Student Affairs for the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Their experience will allow them to further enhance the stellar national reputation of the Veterinary Technology Program as well as continuing to build relationships within the college and across the university.” Judge, who began her career at MSU in 1982 as a clinical technician with the Veterinary Medical Center, has been an instructor in the Veterinary Technology Program since 1995. Mayer has been an instructor in the program since 1992. She also coordinates veterinary technology advising, serves as pre-veterinary academic advisor, and coordinates undergraduate advising for the college. Judge and Mayer succeed Helene Pazak, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVN, who led the Veterinary Technology Program for 15 years. Dr. Pazak returns to the college faculty and will concentrate on teaching and administrative initiatives.
Pets Best Reaches $100 Million in PayoutsMay 27, 2015Pets Best Insurance Services has paid out more than $100 million to policyholders since the company was established in 2005. The milestone, reported today, shows that people who purchase health insurance policies for their pets are likely to choose veterinary care over putting down the animal when medical costs are a barrier, said company founder Jack L. Stephens, DVM. “The reason I started the pet insurance industry was to end economic euthanasia,” said Dr. Stephens, who launched today’s leading company, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), in 1982. “After 33 years, the industry has helped hundreds of thousands of pet owners and saved millions of pets,” he said. Pets Best pegged the economic euthanasia tipping point at $1,704 in 2012. That is, most pet owners faced with a veterinary bill of $1,704 or more would choose to have the animal euthanized. Dogs represent the vast majority of Pets Best’s business—88 percent of paid insurance claims and 82 percent of policies. The most common canine insurance claims were linked to skin allergies, ear infections, arthritis, masses such as lumps and bumps, and cruciate ligament injuries, Pets Best stated. The average paid claim for skin allergies was $91, and the largest was …
Lincoln Memorial Vet College Names New Associate Dean for Academic AffairsMay 26, 2015The Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) has named John Dascanio, VMD, Dipl. ABVP (equine), as the next associate dean for academic affairs. Dr. Dascanio, who joined the university as a professor of theriogenology and director of large animal clinical skills in August 2014, has more than 25 years of educational experience with veterinary colleges. “I am honored to work with a great team of educators at Lincoln Memorial University,” Dascanio said. “We are providing an innovative curriculum within Appalachia that will utilize the best in clinical skills training. It is extremely exciting to help develop the curriculum of the 30th veterinary college in the United States.” LMU-CVM Dean Glen Hoffsis, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, said that Dascanio is an excellent addition to the leadership team. “He is an outstanding administrator with proven experience in curriculum development, student performance and organized veterinary medicine,” Dr. Hoffsis said. “I am confident that his diverse skills and experience will enhance the education of our student body.”
It’s B-a-a-c-k! Livestock Virus ReturnsMay 22, 2015Vesicular stomatitis, a contagious virus that afflicts mainly horses and cattle, has returned to Texas for the second year in a row after starting the season in New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Texas last year saw vesicular stomatitis (VS) cases at 54 premises in 11 counties before the disease, which causes blistering and swelling of animals’ tongues and lips, faded away. Colorado, which was hit even worse than Texas, has not reported any cases this year. Until 2014, Texas had been VS-free for five years. “If you suspect your animals have VS, you should notify your veterinarian immediately,” said State Veterinarian Dee Ellis, DVM, who also serves as executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission. “Texas had its largest VS outbreak in history last year, and we must remain vigilant in protecting our livestock industry in 2015.” The first case of 2015 in the Southwestern United States was confirmed April 29 by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. The New Jersey serotype of the virus was found in a horse in Grant County, N.M. Two days later, infections of the same serotype were confirmed in three horses in Maricopa County, Ariz., and in a mule in Kane County, Utah, that …
Tuskegee Grad Wins Bayer Communications AwardMay 22, 2015Clients at Westchester Veterinary Hospital in High Point, N.C., better be ready to listen. The practice’s newest veterinarian, Chad Malpass, DVM, on Thursday was named the national winner of the Bayer Excellence in Communication Award. Dr. Malpass, a 2015 graduate of the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, was selected from among 27 student finalists, all of whom demonstrated a superb ability to effectively speak with pet owners. The third annual contest, sponsored by drug maker Bayer HealthCare, required participating students at 27 veterinary schools to film themselves interviewing a client in a clinical setting. Faculty members using a scorecard chose their school’s finalist. Bayer reported that Malpass “outscored the competition with strong core communication skills, including effective use of open-ended questions, empathy and reflective listening.” Malpass was awarded a $2,500 scholarship for being Tuskegee’s finalist and $2,500 for his national victory, but he said the contest paid off in other ways. “Working on my submission … at least doubled the effectiveness of my communications skills specific to veterinary medicine, but even beyond,” he said. The 26 other finalists, each of whom received $2,500 scholarships, were: Mason Chandler (Auburn University) Kay Wicinas (University of California, Davis) Jenny …
Vet Techs Take Lead on Heartworm EducationMay 21, 2015Seven veterinary technicians have been recruited to teach their peers to start conversations with pet owners about a serious topic: heartworm prevention. The team, called the Merial Tech Champions, will show up at events nationwide to spread the messages that heartworm disease is potentially fatal, monthly preventives are recommended and veterinary technicians should raise the topic with pet owners. The sponsor is Merial Ltd. of Duluth, Ga., the manufacturer of the Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) heartworm preventive. Among the team members is Julie Legred, CVT, the executive director of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). “As veterinary technicians, we have many daily responsibilities to our patients that keep us busy,” Legred said. “Among these is talking with pet owners about the threat of heartworm disease and the importance of monthly prevention. Pet owners should always speak with a veterinarian about which products are effective and easy to administer.” The team will work to put misconceptions about heartworm disease to rest. “One mosquito bite is all it takes to transmit heartworms,” Legred said. “It’s extremely important that all pet owners understand this risk as they consider ways to keep their pets healthy.” The other members are Kara M. Burns, …
Wisconsin Vet Lab Names New DirectorMay 21, 2015Philip Bochsler, DVM, Ph.D., chief of pathology at Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL), will assume duties as the lab’s new director on July 6. Dr. Bochsler was chosen as the new director after a national search. Bochsler will succeed Peter Vanderloo, DVM, who has served as interim director since the departure of former director Thomas McKenna, DVM, Ph.D., in September 2014. Dr. McKenna left the WVDL for a new position in Massachusetts. Darrell Bazzell, UW-Madison vice chancellor for finance and administration, says Bochsler has developed a strong record of leadership, service and achievement since he joined the WVDL management team in 2001. “With his experience and expertise, Dr. Bochsler is well-suited to move into the director’s position and provide the highest quality of service to the lab, the university, the state and its agricultural community,” Bazzell says. Bochsler said he is honored to have the opportunity to serve the state of Wisconsin and a world-class laboratory and university. “I look forward to working with the outstanding team of professionals at the WVDL and with our clients and partners across the state,” he said. In addition to his duties as WVDL’s chief of pathology, Bochsler is a clinical diagnostic professor in …
3-D Printers Help Vets Prep for SurgeryMay 20, 2015A $2,500 printer is spitting out realistic plastic bones to help Ohio State University veterinary students practice surgical techniques before they operate on dogs. The designs fed into the 3-D printer are based on CT images taken at the Veterinary Medical Center. “We can use a CT scan from a patient and produce a bone model that looks exactly like the bone in the dog,” said Tatiana Motta, DVM, MS, an assistant professor in the department of veterinary clinical sciences. The manufacturing is relatively fast—a few hours or less in some cases—but turning the CT image into a readable file for the printer is time consuming. A printed bone may be produced within 24 hours of a scan, Dr. Motta said. The 3-D printer—the MakerBot Replicator 2X—layers strings of plastic to create the bone, Ohio State reported. Each layer is 700 strings thick. Faculty members are using printed bones for training as well. 3-D replicas have assisted associate professor Jonathan Dyce, VetMB, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, as he plans surgeries on dogs suffering from severe limb deformities. “I think we are just starting to realize the advancements this technology may give us,” Dr. Dyce said. “The next few years …
