Fear Free resource now complimentaryJuly 23, 2019Animal professionals who support the Fear Free philosophy now have a free resource where they can refer their clients.
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The tuition-debt crisis: Who is willing to change?July 22, 2019At the end of my career, it is perplexing to look back 60 years—with what passes for the wisdom of old age—to make comparisons with the contemporary scene. To be sure, during my lifetime the veterinary profession achieved major scientific and technological progress, and survived several episodes of political and economic uncertainty. Yet, who can say there may not be worse to come? In my view, the most serious threat to the long-term prosperity of the veterinary profession is the damage now being caused by out-of-control educational costs and student debt. We seem to have lost our moral compass. By the numbers Incurring a moderate amount of educational debt to achieve a professional degree is a worthy investment; however, veterinary education has become prohibitively expensive. According to the 2018-2019 Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges' (AAVMC's) annual report,1 the national median tuition for in-state veterinary students is $31,900 and for out-of-state students it is $52,600. The mean veterinary educational debt is $174,000. With starting salaries averaging in the low $70s, the debt-to-income ratio is approximately 2.4:1 (double the 1.2:1 figure of just a decade ago). One hesitates to invoke the hyperbole of "crisis;" however, student debt is an enormous drag, …
Cats' weight on the riseJuly 19, 2019Cats are, indeed, getting chunkier. This is according to a new study out of the University of Guelph’s (U of G’s) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Canada, which analyzed the data of more than 19 million cats in North America to demonstrate the typical weight gain and loss of the animals over their lifetimes.
Elanco and Aratana Therapeutics finalize deal to mergeJuly 18, 2019Elanco Animal Health has acquired Aratana Therapeutics. Structured as a stock-for-stock transaction, the deal was accepted by Aratana stockholders. "Aratana's strong position in the specialty market—with its current portfolio and pipeline—complements Elanco's field presence and capitalizes on new opportunities for key existing Elanco pet therapy brands," says Jeff Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Elanco. "This deal furthers Elanco's value-generating innovation, portfolio, and productivity (IPP) strategy, while continuing to bring great value to veterinarians and pet owners." Aratana produces Galliprant, a canine NSAID for osteoarthritis for which Elanco has had the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize since 2016. Aratana also contributes two additional products to Elanco's portfolio: Entyce, the only FDA-approved veterinary therapeutic to stimulate appetite in dogs, and Nocita, a long-acting local anesthetic that provides up to 72 hours of post-operative pain relief following certain surgeries in dogs and cats. Further, Aratana's research and development pipeline will contribute to Elanco's efforts to sustain the introduction of novel and innovative companion animal therapeutics. As a result of the acquisition, Elanco says it is forming a new commercial team dedicated to the veterinary specialty business into which the Aratana field force will transition. This specialty sales force will …
Fungus likely linked to freshwater turtle shell diseaseJuly 17, 2019Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a new fungus that could be linked to ulcerative shell disease in freshwater turtles.
LifeLearn partnership supports human-animal bond researchJuly 16, 2019Research exploring the mutually beneficial health benefits of people and companion animals may soon receive a boost, thanks to a new partnership between LifeLearn Animal Health and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI).
VetStem receives immunotherapy license from human health firmJuly 15, 2019Biopharmaceutical animal health company VetStem has partnered with Calidi Biotherapeutics, a clinical‐stage biotechnology company specializing in the stem cell-based delivery of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies for cancer.
Sioux Falls, S.D., tops list of heartworm cities for JulyJuly 15, 2019Sioux Falls, S.D., is the number one city for heartworms in July, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) reports.
AVMA helps veterinarians prepare clients for evacuationJuly 12, 2019As Tropical Storm Barry heads toward the Gulf Coast and areas of Louisiana face potential evacuation orders, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has detailed items veterinarians should advise pet owners to keep on hand in case of an emergency.
Cities receive certification for pet friendlinessJuly 10, 2019Twenty-five North American cities have been included in the first-ever list of “Better Cities for Pets”-certified municipalities.
