PetMed Express Reports Sales Increase In Q4June 29, 2009 PetMed Express Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla., recently reported net income of $5.6 million on revenue of $48.1 million for its fourth quarter ended March 31, compared to net income of $4.9 million on revenue of $40.4 million in the year-ago period. The company acquired about 142,000 new customers during the quarter, compared to 126,000 for the same quarter the prior year. Reorder sales increased 20 percent for the quarter to $37.2 million, compared to $31 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, PetMed Express reported net income of $23 million on revenue of $219.4 million, compared to net income of $20 million on revenue of $188.3 million in the year-ago period. The company acquired about 802,000 new customers during the year, compared to 710,000 in the year prior. New order growth accelerated to 16 percent in fiscal 2009 compared to 5 percent last year. Reorder sales year to date were $156.8 million, compared to $134.3 million in the year-ago period. New order sales year to date were $62.5 million, compared to $53.8 million in the year-ago period. <HOME>
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Webster Veterinary Sees 33% IncreaseJune 29, 2009 Webster Veterinary, a unit of Patterson Companies Inc. of St. Paul, Minn., recently reported revenue of $158.5 million for its four quarter ended April 25, compared to revenue of $119.5 million in the year-ago period. The 33 percent increase is due primarily to the October acquisition of Columbus Serum. Year to date, the unit reported revenue of $550.6 million, compared to revenue of $446.4 million in the year-ago period. Overall, Patterson reported net income of $54 million on revenue of $779.9 million for its fourth quarter, compared to net income of $63.2 million on revenue of $778.4 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the company reported net income of $199.6 million on revenue of $3.1 billion, compared to net income of $224.9 million on revenue of $3 billion in the year-ago period. <HOME>
VCA Registers Stock For Future AcquisitionsJune 29, 2009 VCA Antech Inc., a Los Angeles-based chain of animal hospitals and laboratories, registered $200 million of common stock with the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission to be used for future acquisitions, thereby conserving cash for other uses. It plans to acquire hospitals with aggregate annual revenues of $60-70 million each year, but is also trying to accumulate cash. It currently holds about $521 million in bank debt, with notes coming due in May 2011. The company acquired 51 hospitals and four labs in 2008, 73 hospitals and two labs in 2007 and 22 hospitals and three labs in 2006. The company does not expect its long-term cash flow from operations to be sufficient to pay its long-term debt at that time, according to its SEC filing. <HOME>
Vets Offer Tips On Keeping Pets Calm For July 4 FireworksJune 26, 2009With the Fourth of July around the corner, a day of energetic festivities often involving fireworks and loud noises, veterinarians are promoting tips on how to keep pets calm during the holiday. For instance, Rolan Tripp, DVM, founder of the Animal Behavior Network, has made available to veterinarians free lobby posters and hand outs outlining canine fireworks noise phobia. Dr. Tripp defines noise phobia as “an excessive, unreasonable fear response to specific loud noises. It is more common in dogs than cats and the most common noise phobias are to fireworks and thunder.” For mild cases (somewhat anxious) or as prevention to fireworks phobia, Tripp suggests what he calls a “Fireworks Party.” Starting around July 2 to 3 either fast, or feed only ¼ of the early meal. Then at the first faint of fireworks, pet owners respond with a happy, “It’s a fireworks party!” The pet owner then gets a treat for the dog. From there on out, every boom triggers a “party snack” until the dog “happily” waits for the next boom. “The idea is to turn the fear into joy,” Tripp said. A dog appeasing pheromone collar can also be added, he said. For …
California Spay/Neuter Bill Hearing Set For June 30June 25, 2009 California Senate Bill 250, a measure that seeks to require spay or neuter surgery for most of the state’s dogs and cats, will be heard by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on June 30. The bill was sent to the Assembly when the State Senate approved SB 250 with a 21-16 vote on June 2. SB 250, by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, calls on cat owners to spay or neuter their cats at 6 months of age if the cats are allowed to roam at large. The bill also requires the sterilization of all dogs at 6 months of age, unless the owner gets an unaltered dog license. The bill has been amended to authorize local governments to use existing procedures to issue the intact dog licenses or to charge a fee for procedures related to the issuance, denial or revocation of unaltered dog licenses. In addition, unaltered dogs used in legal hunting activities would be exempt from being cited. The sterilization of dogs found to be at-large continues to be a requirement under the bill. Click here for view the most recent version of SB 250. …
Animal Emergency And Treatment Center Opens In ChicagoJune 25, 2009The Animal Emergency & Treatment Center is scheduled to open a new location in Chicago, Ill., this September, becoming the first 24-hour emergency and specialty center in the city. “Today’s pet owners expect a high level of care and service when their companion pet is sick or hurt,” said Matt Tompkins, DVM, co-founder and managing partner of AETC. “We identified a desperate need for high-quality, round-the-clock treatment for pets in Chicago. Until now, city dwellers have not had the option of 24-hour care for their pets, but instead have had to transport their sick animals from after-hours emergency facilities to their regular veterinarians’ offices every morning. AETC provides ongoing hospitalization, which allows pets to receive uninterrupted treatment from the same skilled medical team.” The center, which joins AETC’s existing facility in Grayslake, Ill., broke ground on June 1 and will span more than 10,000 square feet. AETC Chicago will be staffed by a team of more than 50 veterinary professionals. Specialty services will include surgery, internal medicine and critical care. Other services will include video endoscopy, video ultrasound, digital radiology and computed tomography, as well as a diagnostic laboratory and an intensive care unit. In addition, AETC Chicago will house …
First Canine Flu Vaccine Gets Conditional LicenseJune 23, 2009 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8, has been granted a conditional product license, allowing its use by veterinarians in the United States. This is the first vaccine against canine influenza virus, the Kenilworth, N.J.-based company reports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service granted the permit in late May. During the conditional license period, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health will continue to submit data obtained in support of the product’s performance, which will be evaluated by government regulators to determine whether a regular product license may be issued. The vaccine, made from inactivated virus, has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding. It is intended as an aid in the control of disease associated with canine influenza virus infection, a type A, subtype H3N8. The vaccine is administered by subcutaneous injection in two doses, two to four weeks apart. It may be given to dogs 6 weeks of age or older and can be given annually as a component of existing respiratory disease vaccine protocols to ensure more comprehensive protection, according to the company. …
Winn Feline Foundation And HomeAgain Encourage Cat MicrochippingJune 23, 2009 The Winn Feline Foundation and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service have partnered to help lost cats reunite with owners. From now until August, the company will donate $1 toward feline health research for every new cat microchipped and enrolled in HomeAgain. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, less than 5 percent of lost cats are reunited with their owners once they are taken into a shelter, largely because there’s no way to determine who they belong to. “No question, microchipping saves lives, ensuring far more lost casts are reunited with their families,” said Susan Little, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, president of the Winn Feline Foundation. “Most cats don’t wear collars, and even for those who do, collars and ID tags may fall off or be removed. Microchipping and enrollment into a national database is the only permanent form of identification.” This is the second consecutive year the foundation and HomeAgain have partnered. Last year, 51,984 cats were microchipped. “I’m absolutely convinced many lives were saved as a result of being microchipped, not to mention the cats that benefited from HomeAgain’s generous donation …
Making Sense Of Hip Dysplasia TreatmentsJune 22, 2009 Canine hip dysplasia is commonly diagnosed, but which surgical treatment to offer can be confusing. Suspicion about hip dysplasia often arises from the history. It classically includes bunny hopping as well as difficulty rising after rest, going upstairs or jumping up. Decreased activity, intermittent lameness and a reluctance to run are other common complaints. Examination of a dysplastic dog may include pain on hip extension along with a decreased range of motion, atrophy of thigh muscles and weight shifting to the front legs. Hip pain is basically due to joint laxity in young dogs and to degenerative changes in older dogs. Confirmation of hip dysplasia requires quality hip radiographs, which should be done under heavy sedation or general anesthesia to achieve proper positioning. X-rays taken on an awake patient may lead to an erroneous diagnosis. An 18-month-old male Borzoi suffering from moderate hip dysplasia. He is a good candidate for a triple pelvic osteotomy. We will not discuss which X-ray technique (PennHip vs. OFA vs. other methods) is better. It is not the purpose of this column. It is, however, important to remember that there is no correlation between the severity of …
Respect And Accept: A Look At Grief With The Veterinary ClientJune 22, 2009 Death and dying are uncomfortable subjects. For some, it stirs up painful memories of past losses. For others, it is a reminder of our mortality or the mortality of those we love. As we tend to the animals in our care, we will lose patients to death despite our best efforts. Often at these times, we are exposed to the emotions of the families who have loved them. For some, there are dramatic outbursts; for others, emotions will be put on hold for private moments. As different as people are, so are their reactions. No right or wrong. We must respect and accept the fact that we all grieve and express grief in our own way and in our own time, and we must be there to support our clients through this time. Often, we’re uncomfortable with client reactions. No one likes seeing someone sad and crying, and we fumble, sometimes, in an attempt to make them feel better. Recognize, first of all, that it’s not possible to make them feel better at that time. With that in mind, there are some things you can do and some things that shouldn't be done during those times of …
