Financial Picture Far from RosyMarch 13, 2014Veterinarians have seen the future and it doesn’t look all that good. A study commissioned by Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif., found that many veterinarians are pessimistic about the financial health of both their practice and their personal life. Veterinarians in many cases are confronted with a triple whammy: onerous student debt, fewer patient visits and paychecks that don’t come close to paying the bills. In fact, the survey of 1,193 veterinarians discovered that one-fourth of practice owners and 30 percent of associates rated their personal financial condition as poor. The study, conducted with the assistance of Brakke Consulting of Dallas, and also sponsored by Veterinary Economics, was designed only to measure veterinarians’ financial standing, not identify ways to eliminate the red ink. "It’s not about solutions, it’s about developing a foundation so we can work together to create solutions for the betterment of the industry,” said VPI President Scott Liles. Practice owners are financially the healthiest, for the most part, according to the study. They take home an average annual income of $109,000—compared to $84,000 for associates—and possess a monetary stake in the clinic. While one-third of practice owners reported their hospital was doing well, the same proportion …
SPONSORED CONTENTThe Reality of Veterinary Surgery ErgonomicsOne of the greatest challenges of Work-Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (WRMSD) is that they can come on slowly. They can be easy to ignore initially. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued ergonomic guidelines to help veterinarians catch problems early. + Learn More
We Should Have Learned These Lessons BeforeMarch 6, 2014 Everyone learned that “What goes up must come down.” Anyone with money in the stock market in late 2008 saw accounts drop seemingly by half almost overnight. Real estate values went down and the banks became unstable. As a result of the economic meltdown, the Gross National Product fell and the unemployment rate rose. All in all, not a good time for most people from 2008 through 2010. The specific numbers are still being crunched, but the veterinary profession was not as affected as most other business sectors. Most veterinarians felt lucky they were not automobile dealers, real estate salespeople, bankers or stock brokers. Were veterinarians hurt? Absolutely, but not to the extent many others were hit. The specific effect depended on your practice location, practice type and your attitude about the recession. In most cases, veterinary practices were somewhat resistant to the recession, although not recession-proof. From various surveys done by AAHA, AVMA and NCVEI, reported gross revenues vary from being up 10-15 percent to being down 25-30 percent. As Dr. Karen Felsted, CEO of NCVEI, has said many times, “Flat is the new up.” Some practices on both coasts of the …
Elanco Animal Health to Buy German Poultry Vaccine MakerFebruary 25, 2014 Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly and Co., reported today that it will acquire poultry vaccine manufacturer Lohmann Animal Health. Lohmann, based in Cuxhaven, Germany, also markets a range of feed additives. “The addition of Lohmann Animal Health provides a unique opportunity for Elanco to expand our presence in the global poultry market and to enter the global poultry vaccine market with a solid base, established products, and global commercial and manufacturing capabilities,” said Jeff Simmons, president of Elanco Animal Health. The agreement grants Greenfield, Ind.-based Elanco all the assets of Lohmann SE and its animal health subsidiary, including plants in Cuxhaven and Winslow, Maine. The transaction price was not disclosed. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014. Elanco reported that the acquisition complements the company’s “mission to help the global food chain deliver a safe, affordable, sufficient food supply.” “As the middle class grows in size and affluence throughout the world, the demand for eggs and poultry is growing rapidly,” said William Weldon, vice president of Elanco research and development. …
Penn Vet Educator, Equine Surgeon Charles Raker Dies at 93February 25, 2014 Charles W. Raker, VMD, Dipl. ACVS, who co-founded the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center campus and was credited with training many of today’s equine surgeons, died Feb. 16. He was 93. Dr. Raker was a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, which he helped found in 1965 and served as president in the mid-1970s. “Dr. Raker was a quiet giant, a gentleman, modest and humble, a trusted man of integrity,” said Corinne Sweeney, DVM, New Bolton Center’s associate dean and executive director of its large animal hospital. “He was such an important figure in the history of veterinary surgery and of New Bolton Center.” Raised in Chester County, Pa., Raker spent eight years in private practice after graduating from Penn Vet’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1942. He returned to Penn Vet in 1950 as an assistant professor of veterinary medicine in a move designed to enhance the school’s livestock and large animal curriculum. “I looked on teaching as a challenge and never looked back,” he later recalled. After helping establish New Bolton Center in 1952, Raker took a crash course in surgery at Cornell University with a focus …
Med-Vet Issues Limited Recall of Insulin SyringesFebruary 21, 2014 Medical products distributor Med-Vet International is voluntarily recalling 140 boxes of mislabeled veterinary insulin syringes. The Oasis syringes were labeled with 40 units per 0.5cc when they should have been marked with only 20 units per 0.5cc, Med-Vet reported today. The mix-up could lead to lower than prescribed insulin doses, the Mettawa, Ill., company stated. Animals receiving subtherapeutic doses of insulin may show signs of hyperglycemia, including dehydration, an increase in thirst, urination, malaise or lethargy, and urinary tract infections. No injuries have been reported, Med-Vet added. The recall involves the Oasis 0.5cc U-40 insulin syringe with a 29-gauge, half-inch needle. The lot number is 20120610, and the item number is MV1/2CCINS-40 or 1/2CCINS-40. The syringes were distributed from January 2013 to February 2014 to veterinarians, consumers, animal hospitals, animal shelters and farmers, Med-Vet stated. The company is fielding questions by telephone at 800-544-7521 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST and by email at customerservice@shopmedvet.com. <HOME>
Alaska Vet Wins My Vet’s the Best ContestFebruary 21, 2014 An Alaska veterinarian who serves an area larger than the entire state of Minnesota was named the grand-prize winner of Pets Best Insurance Services’ annual My Vet’s the Best contest. Sarah Coburn, MS, DVM, practices at North Slope Borough Veterinary Clinic in Barrow, Alaska. The clinic is the sole source of veterinary care within an 89,000-square-mile area, Pets Best reported. Dr. Coburn was presented with a $1,000 check Tuesday during the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. She intends to spend the money on shelter and insulation for outdoor dogs. “I believe I won My Vet’s the Best because our situation and remoteness here is so different from what most other veterinarians face,” Coburn said. “It’s a challenge, but it’s interesting every day. Since it’s an area that can’t support a private vet, I’m glad to provide a service that otherwise wouldn’t be here. It’s a lot of variety, and it’s very rewarding.” She treats everything from dogs and cats to snowy owls and walruses, and she helps state health inspectors with examinations at local restaurants. She also will work at the Iditarod dog sled race, which kicks off March 1. Coburn was selected …
Ark Sciences Releases Canine Sterilization DrugFebruary 18, 2014 The only FDA-approved nonsurgical sterilization drug for male dogs began shipping to U.S. veterinarians Monday nearly a decade after an earlier version exited the market. The new drug, Zeuterin Injectable Solution, is a blend of zinc gluconate and the amino acid arginine. The manufacturer, Ark Sciences Inc. of Ventura, Calif., has trained and certified more than 400 veterinarians in the use of Zeuterin. The procedure does not involve traditional neutering—the surgical removal of a dog’s testicles. Instead, Zeuterin is injected without general anesthesia directly into each testicle using a fine, 30-gauge needle. Sperm production ends within one to three days, and the testes ultimately shrink, the manufacturer stated. The drug is indicated for male dogs ages 3 to 10 months and may be delivered under mild sedation. “It’s a simple, one-time procedure that takes only minutes,” said celebrity veterinarian Marty Becker, DVM, who attended the product launch Monday at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. “It is such an improvement over traditional castration that shelter operators and veterinarians are embracing it.” Dr. Becker reported that Zeuterin is the first veterinary product he has endorsed. Also present at the unveiling were McAllen, Texas, …
Animal Allergy Firm Bio-Medical Merges With ALKFebruary 18, 2014 An allergen extract manufacturer known for its work in human medicine has entered the U.S. veterinary sector with the acquisition of Bio-Medical Services, a veterinary reference laboratory that pioneered in vitro serum IgE allergy testing for animals. ALK, based in Round Rock, Texas, expanded its product portfolio with the addition of Bio-Medical’s ACTT Allergy Management Program. The program includes serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergy testing, bulk allergen sales for veterinary dermatologists and allergen-specific immunotherapy treatment such as ACTT Allergy Drops, ALK reported. “Joining forces with ALK will allow us to provide complete allergy management resources to veterinary dermatologists and general practitioners alike,” said Pamela Blaine, Bio-Medical’s marketing director. “By leveraging the expertise of both companies, we will enhance and expand the ACTT Allergy Management Program to provide the most comprehensive resource for allergy testing and treatment in the industry.” Terms of the transaction, which was announced Wednesday, were not released. Bio-Medical, based in Austin, Texas, introduced in vitro serum IgE allergy testing to the veterinary industry in 1989, the company reported, and has helped treat allergic diseases in dogs, cats and horses. ALK has researched human allergies since 1923. The company also provides diagnostic …
On Duty for On CallFebruary 13, 2014 Tragedy struck early on the second day of the 2013 Breeders’ Cup races in Arcadia, Calif. Just before the final turn of the Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 2, the thoroughbred Secret Compass and her jockey, John Velazquez, went down in a heap. A partition quickly went up around the 2-year-old filly as track and medical personnel attended to her. Many of the 58,795 horse-racing fans filling Santa Anita Park sensed a horrible outcome, and they were right. It was left to Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVS, to relay the official word to reporters from around the world. “Secret Compass sustained a lateral condylar fracture with dislocation,” his statement began. “[It was] an injury we can’t bring them back from because when they dislocate on the track, they lose their blood supply. “So she has been euthanized.” A member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ On Call service, the Southern California veterinarian was tasked with delivering the sad news in his part-time role as a media intermediary. Before Dr. McIlwraith’s news conference took place, Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, provided the same information to viewers watching the races on NBC …
Cat’s Connections Lead to Lifesaving Kidney SurgeryFebruary 13, 2014 They say it’s who you know. Oki’s familial connections—the 8-year-old Burmese cat is owned by two veterinarians employed at the University of California, Davis—certainly didn’t hurt when her kidneys began to fail. Diagnosed with an obstruction in her right ureter—the result of a birth defect—Oki underwent subcutaneous ureteral bypass surgery at UC Davis’ William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. The procedure is relatively new, having been performed in the past year at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts and at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The technique involves creating a new ureter out of tubing to connect the kidney to the bladder and bypass the original ureter. The surgery, performed by UC Davis’ soft tissue surgery service, undoubtedly saved the cat’s life, as medications provided only temporary relief and her condition continued to worsen. Oki’s surgery was a success and she has steadily improved. This new technique, which was featured in February as UC Davis’ Case of the Month, holds tremendous promise for cats with ureter issues, according to a School of Veterinary Medicine spokesman.
