NAVC, the nation’s largest annual gathering of veterinary professionals, is where companies and organizations like to reveal what’s new or what they’re working on. Here’s some of what went on in Orlando: Petplan (Gaylord, Booth 919) handed out the fifth-annual Veterinary Awards during a dinner. The winners were: Metzger Animal Hospital of State College, Pa. (Practice of the Year); Sean Aiken, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego (Veterinarian of the Year); Jody Weaver, CVT, of Rau Animal Hospital in Glenside, Pa. (Practice Manager of the Year); Annette Kim, RVT, of Abbotsford Animal Hospital in Aurora, Ontario, Canada (Veterinary Technician of the Year); Crystal Dawson of Northpointe Animal Hospital in Lynnwood, Wash. (Receptionist of the Year); and Erin Kowalski of Bialy’s Wellness Foundation and AURA Natural Pet in Chicago (Pet Parent of the Year). Merial Ltd. (Gaylord, Booth 1019; Marriott, Booth 3801) launched www.RabiesAware.org, a national rabies information resource. The website tracks state and local rabies laws, provides up-to-date surveillance data, lists U.S.-approved vaccines, and provides access to the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians’ Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control. According to the website: "The Rabies Awareness Initiative is the first national resource available to veterinarians to address 'must know' issues pertaining to companion animal rabies vaccines and vaccination in each of the 50 States and Puerto Rico." Assisi Animal Health (Marriott, Booth 3520) announced a campaign promoting NPAID, a company-trademarked acronym meaning Non-Pharmaceutical Anti-Inflammatory Device. Assisi will use the NPAID seal on its pulsed electro-magnetic field (PEMF) loop and may share the seal with other companies’ qualified products. Idexx Laboratories Inc. (Gaylord, Booths 2207 and 2219) released Neo, a cloud-based practice information management system. The company also introduced the SediVue Dx urine sediment analyzer. Zoetis Inc. (Gaylord, Booth 1819; Marriott, Booth 3729) stated that shortage-caused order limits on the anti-itch drug Apoquel should end sometime in 2016. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. (Gaylord, Booth 931) unveiled a partnership with AGL, formerly AgLogica. AGL’s Vetrax medical analytics will provide veterinarians and clients “with a new level of understanding about how therapeutic nutrition can help improve a dog’s health and behavior,” the companies reported. MediVet Biologics (Gaylord, Booth 1113), in collaboration with Kansas State University, presented new evidence on the use of ActiStem therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. Veterinary Products Laboratories (Gaylord, Booth 1425) released a new logo and redesigned its website. Nationwide (Gaylord, Booth 1525; Marriott, Booth 3701) presented its updated Nationwide/Purdue Veterinary Price Index. From 2009 to mid-2015, veterinary prices increased just 0.1 percent, far below the 24 percent level reported in the U.S. Consumer Price Index. Veterinary Specialists of North America, a growing network of specialty hospitals, changed its name to Compassion-First Pet Hospitals. Pet Nutrition Alliance, a not-for-profit organization, launched the website www.PetNutritionAlliance.org to provide veterinary health care teams with nutrition tools and resources. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) reported its 2016 plans. Among them: Make parasite prevalence maps viewable on mobile devices and update the website www.capcvet.org to become more responsive. CAPC’s executive director, Christopher Carpenter, DVM, MBA, released the book “Vet Set Go!” and launched the website www.vetsetgo.com as a resource for children ages 9 to 14 who are considering a career in veterinary medicine.
