Vet Tech Week Sparks New Events, ProgramsOctober 12, 2010 National Veterinary Technician Week, launched by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America in 1993, began yesterday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 16. Events are already springing up across the country. For example, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, this year’s sponsor, is hosting more than 20 events in various states designed just for technicians. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with other veterinary technicians and learn about Hill’s continuing education opportunities. Drinks, ice cream and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. For details, click here. Hill’s has also partnered with Hallmark Business Connections to create a digital e-card with a special thank you message that will be sent to more than 8,000 technicians. This will also be distributed to more than 18,000 veterinarians, academicians, veterinary and veterinary technician students and practice managers encouraging them to take time to thank their technicians. On NAVTA's website it offers suggestions on how veterinary hospitals can celebrate the observance of National Veterinary Technician Week. A few ideas include conducting client workshops, creating a community pet calendar, inviting a speaker to talk about clinical advances and launching continuing education initiatives. Banfield, …
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NCVEI: Revenue For Vet Practices On The UpswingOctober 11, 2010 More than 50 percent of veterinary practices have seen revenue growth this year compared with the year-ago period, according to the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues. Another 12 percent showed no growth, while about 33 percent to 35 percent saw revenue declines. The nonprofit organization gathered the statistics on its website by asking veterinary practices how their clinic’s quarter one and quarter two revenues in 2010 compared with 2009. The breakdown is as follows: Quarter 1 Quarter 2 2010 increased > 5% 26.6% 26.8% 2010 increased 1% - 5% 28.2% 26% 2010 was essentially flat 12.2% 12.2% 2010 declined 1% - 5% 20.8% 21.1% 2010 declined > 5% 12.2% 13.8% In related news, the average practice has a profit margin of 9.8 percent with the median being slightly higher at 10.2 percent, according to results from the NCVEI/VetPartners Profitability Estimator. NCVEI puts this into perspective: a practice needs to have a profit margin of 18 percent or higher to sell at the gold standard of 100 percent of gross revenue. Here is the breakdown showing the percentage of practices at each level of profitability: Profit Margins Percentage of …
Blue Buffalo Issues Voluntary Recall On Select Dog Food ProductsOctober 8, 2010 Blue Buffalo Inc. has issued a voluntary recall on specific production runs of its Wilderness Chicken-Dog, Basics Salmon-Dog and Large Breed Adult Dog products due to higher than normal levels of vitamin D. “We came to this conclusion after discovering that our supplier had made a scheduling error and produced a vitamin D supplement immediately prior to preparing the ingredients for the Blue products that are in question,” CEO Bill Bishop said today in a letter posted on the company’s website. “We believe that some of the vitamin D supplement may have been carried over into our products, resulting in more vitamin D than is called for in our formulas.” Bishop noted that the potential of increased vitamin D presents no serious health risk. However, if a dog shows any adverse reaction to the recalled products, the dog should be seen by a veterinarian, he added. Typical symptoms might include excessive water intake and/or excessive urination, and in some cases vomiting. Bishop said Blue Buffalo will reimburse any veterinary or testing expenses related to illness caused by the recalled products. Michigan State University issued its own media statement today on the recall saying that veterinarians …
Vetericyn Changes Name To Innovacyn Animal HealthOctober 8, 2010 Vetericyn Inc., which was formed last year to bring to market its Vetericyn line of wound and skin care products for animals, is now Innovacyn Animal Health. The animal business unit is joined by Innovacyn Human Health under the new parent company Innovacyn Inc. The product brand name, Vetericyn, remains the same. Innovacyn marked its entry into the human over-the-counter market on Thursday with Puracyn OTC, a first aid spray for humans. The product is based on the same Microcyn technology used in the Vetericyn line of animal products. The technology is similar to the oxychlorine compound that is part of the immune system’s natural response to invading pathogens, according to the Rialto, Calif.-based company.
Program Awards $500,000 To Combat Shortage Of Food Animal VetsOctober 6, 2010 The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation have awarded $500,000 in veterinary school loan repayments as part of the Food Animal Veterinarian Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program. The program, first announced earlier in the year, was designed to provide financial incentives in the form of current student loan debt grants for veterinarians who commit to four years of employment in food animal veterinary medicine. Five recipients recently each received $100,000, spread over four years of service in areas of need. They are: Dr. Shaw Perrin (Ohio State University) practicing in Goshen, Ind.; Dr. Austin Ayars (Ohio State University) practicing in Phoenix; Dr. Conrad Spangler (University of Minnesota) practicing in Dalhaert, Texas; Dr. Kay Russo (Cornell University) practicing in Stephenville, Texas; and Dr. Scott Morey (Kansas State University) practicing in Concordia, Kan. “We received well over 100 applications from interested veterinarians, who underscore the need for this program,” said Michael Cathey, head of the AVMF. “It was encouraging to see so many veterinarians interested in food animal medicine, but more has to be done. Many of our applicants told us they were forced to turn down job offers in rural areas because of …
Neogen’s Animal Safety Division: 39% Increase In Q1October 5, 2010 Neogen Corp.’s animal safety division reported revenue of $20.7 million for its first quarter ended Aug. 31, up 39 percent from revenue of $14.9 million in the year-ago period. While the April acquisition of the GeneSeek agricultural genetics laboratory service business contributed significantly to the quarter-over-quarter revenue gain, a number of core product lines experienced significant revenue increases compared to the previous year, according to Neogen. Sales of Neogen’s Ideal veterinary instruments increased by 35 percent in the first quarter compared to the year-ago period, sales of veterinary surgical supply products increased about 10 percent and sales of veterinary supplements increased 57 percent. Overall, the Lansing, Mich.-based company reported net income of $5.8 million on revenue of $42.9 million for its first quarter, compared to net income of $4.4 million on revenue of $32.3 million in the year-ago period.
VCA Specialty Referral Hospital Breaks Ground In IndianapolisOctober 5, 2010 VCA Animals Hospitals reported today that VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center has broken ground in Fishers, Ind. The new 32,000-square-foot facility will bring together the services of both VCA Indiana Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center and VCA Veterinary Specialty Center. “We are very excited about the start of construction for our brand new VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center, a referral and emergency care hospital, which will enhance access to specialty veterinary care and services in our community,” said Stephen Hadley, DVM, group vice president for VCA Animal Hospitals, a division of VCA Antech of Los Angeles. “In our new center, we will bring together more specialists and the most technologically advanced services and equipment. We are eagerly watching the progress and anticipate the completion of our hospital in the fall of 2011." The center will include modern exam rooms, onsite general surgical suites, an in-house laboratory and 24-hour emergency care, among other features. Specialty services will include oncology, radiation oncology, internal medicine, cardiology, surgery, ophthalmology and physical therapy. Locally-based M.D. Architects P.C. developed the design of the facility and REI Construction of Indianapolis is handling construction services.
Healing AfghanistanOctober 5, 2010 A modern dairy plant sits down the road from where U.S. Army Capt. Ryan K. Miller, DVM, is stationed. Built five years ago near Kabul, Afghanistan, the plant was to produce pasteurized milk and ice cream and create jobs for local Afghans. But after just three years, the plant shut down because the cooperative no longer could afford the diesel fuel needed to keep the factory running. The idled plant is a daily reminder of the challenges that face Dr. Miller and the multinational coalition as they rebuild and improve Afghanistan’s infrastructure and economy. And it signals a shift in focus, he says, from expensive, sophisticated agricultural projects to simpler, sustainable ones that better suit the needs, capabilities and culture of Afghan farmers. An Afghan man requesting treatment for his sick camel turns up after a training seminar in Helmand Province. “The [dairy plant] was great, but now we can see that it was too complicated and too expensive to operate and make a profit,” says Miller, who works with the army’s Cooperative Medical Assistance unit, which provides technical advice on livestock and agriculture across Afghanistan. “In the last couple of years we’ve …
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Landlord Declaw/Debark BillOctober 4, 2010 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected a bill late last week that would have prohibited landlords from requiring tenants or potential tenants to declaw or devocalize their animal as a condition of occupancy. “I support the goal of this bill, which would preclude landlords from making inappropriate medical decisions as a condition of occupancy,” Schwarzenegger said in his veto message. “However, I cannot sign a measure that contains findings and declarations by the Legislature that are unsupported by science. “In addition, this measure suggests that declawing should be prohibited for any ‘non-therapeutic’ reason, which would include the legitimate medical needs of a pet owner. Regrettably, this bill goes too far in attempting to deal with inappropriate demands by landlords. For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.” AB 2743, introduced by Assemblyman Pedro Nava in February, contended that declawing and devocalization have irreversible effects on the animals. It also stated that such procedures may have the unintended consequence of creating potential public health and safety concerns. For example, there may be a safety risk to police officers posed by a devocalized attack dog present on property that law enforcement officers have legal …
UC Davis Vet School Dean To RetireOctober 1, 2010 The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine reported today that Bennie Osburn, DVM, Ph.D., will retire as dean in the summer of 2011, a position he has held for 14 years. A national search for his successor will begin within the next few months, according to Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Enrique Lavernia. “Dean Osburn’s accomplishments and his vision for veterinary medicine and education reach far beyond U.C. Davis,” Lavernia said. “He is one of the longest-serving veterinary school deans in the nation and has been a tireless advocate for the profession and for veterinary education, as well as an outstanding colleague. “California and the nation have benefited from his steady leadership and his resolute commitment to effecting positive change for the school in everything from facilities to research support to curriculum.” Osburn addressed faculty, staff and students this week. “It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve as dean,” he said. “Leading this school has been one of the most rewarding challenges I have ever experienced, and together we have accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time.”
