Henry Schein Animal Health has joined Patterson Veterinary Supply as the newest U.S. distributors of Abaxis Inc. veterinary products. The growth in the Abaxis network came two months after competitor Idexx Laboratories Inc. announced that it would bring all domestic sales in-house as of Jan. 1, 2015, taking business from Henry Schein, Patterson and other distributors. The addition of Henry Schein Animal Health, announced today, takes effect immediately. The Dublin, Ohio, division of Henry Schein Inc. will sell the full line of Abaxis veterinary products, including portable blood analysis systems, rapid tests and other diagnostic equipment. “Our customers consistently rely on us for a comprehensive line of products and services, including a full range of veterinary diagnostics products such as instruments, consumables and rapid assays,” said Lonnie Shoff, the CEO of Henry Schein’s Global Animal Health and Strategic Partnership Group. Adding Henry Schein to a distributor roster that includes suppliers such as Patterson, Animal Health International and MWI Veterinary Supply “makes solid, strategic sense for both companies,” Abaxis CEO and President Clint Severson said. Abaxis, based in Union City, Calif., announced the Patterson deal Oct. 1. “We are confident that this agreement will further the goals of both companies to provide a comprehensive suite of diagnostic solutions and technical support to the veterinary community,” said George Henriques, president of Devens, Mass.-based Patterson Veterinary. Idexx’s abandonment of U.S. distributors is part of a strategy that chairman Jonathan Ayers described as “a natural evolution of our business model.”
