HSVMA accepting applications for veterinary student scholarshipApril 30, 2019The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) Compassionate Care Veterinary Student Scholarship is now open for applications. Three scholarships ($3000, $2000, and $1500) will be awarded to veterinary students who have demonstrated an interest in and commitment to animal welfare, animal rights, or animal protection in veterinary medicine. Only first-, second-, and third-year students who are enrolled in an American Veterinary Medical Association- (AVMA-) accredited veterinary school in Canada or the United States can apply. Students must provide two letters of recommendation, their transcripts, and exhibit a need for financial aid. The deadline to apply online is May 31.
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Elanco Animal Health to acquire Aratana TherapeuticsApril 30, 2019Elanco Animal Health has signed an agreement to acquire Aratana Therapeutics. The deal allows Elanco to integrate the Aratana portfolio of pet therapeutics into its companion animal therapeutics business. "Aratana has been one of the most innovative start-ups in animal health, bringing breakthrough solutions to the market," says Elanco president and chief executive officer, Jeff Simmons. "We look forward to putting greater energy behind these brands with our increased share of voice in the field and leveraging." The deal is structured as a stock-for-stock transaction and remains subject to customary closing conditions. The contract must be approved by Aratana stockholders and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. "This proposed transaction acknowledges Aratana's contribution of pet therapeutics to the animal health industry, specifically recognizing our strong track record as a drug developer and our field team's unmatched expertise delivering innovation to veterinary specialists," says Aratana president and chief executive officer, Craig Tooman. "We believe Elanco will help expand our portfolio with its substantial resources and presence within the companion animal segment."
FDA announces proposals to prevent failures in surgical and implantable staplesApril 29, 2019The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) says it is proposing ways to better protect patients from the malfunctions, injuries, and deaths associated with surgical and implantable staples. The review comes after the FDA alerted public and health-care professionals to concerns over surgical staplers for internal use and implantable surgical staples. The alert was prompted as the result of the agency's analysis showing that from Jan. 1, 2011 to Mar. 31, 2018, it received more than 41,000 medical device reports pertaining to over 32,000 malfunctions, approximately 9,000 serious injuries, and 366 patient deaths. The most reported problems referred to staple lines opening, malformation of staples, misfiring and difficulty in firing of staples, stapler failure, and misapplied staples. These devices are commonly used in veterinary settings. The FDA's new proposals include: 1) Reclassifying surgical staplers for internal use to a higher-risk category, requiring the review and clearance of a premarket notification submission prior to marketing. The staples would be reclassified from Class I (low risk) to Class II (moderate risk) medical devices with special controls. This would require mandatory performance testing of various mechanical features, demonstration of usability and labeling comprehension such as assessing health-care professionals' ability to properly select …
Southern Veterinary Partners acquires two more hospitalsApril 29, 2019Southern Veterinary Partners (SVP) is now operating in 12 states, after acquiring Glade Valley Animal Hospital in Frederick, Md., and Lyndon Animal Clinic in Louisville, Ky. The new acquisition brings the count to 79 animal hospitals between Texas and Maryland. "Our rapid growth from starting in one state in 2014 to 12 states in less than five years is more than I could have envisioned when I conceptualized SVP," says the company's chief executive officer, Jay Price, DVM. "This growth is due to our extraordinary veterinary leadership and management teams and the reputation we have built in the industry for listening to veterinarians' needs." "We welcome Jeffrey Head, DVM; Stephen Derrenbacher, DVM; and Lori Landis, DVM, from Glade Valley Animal Hospital and Kurt Oliver, DVM; Kourtney Roppel, DVM; Matthew Thompson, DVM; and Julia Gawley, DVM, from Lyndon Animal Clinic to our team of more than 300 veterinarians. These doctors now have a wealth of resources, best practices, and mentoring opportunities within SVP to help them grow in their careers."
BabelBark named AAHA's exclusive pet care software providerApril 26, 2019The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has named BabelBark as its sole software provider, which will allow animal caregivers to share notes and observations with pet owners and veterinarians. BabelVet, BabelBark's digital application and software platform, is designed to bring everyone in a pet's life together into one environment to better manage pet care. The application software developer will provide BabelVet to more than 4,426 AAHA-accredited hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. "Exceptional care is paramount to AAHA and we now have a consistent and direct connection between the veterinarian and the client through BabelVet," says AAHA's chief executive officer, Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (emeritus). "The real time connection BabelBark provides to every caretaker in a pet's life in unprecedented. This knowledge is vital for us to elevate ongoing patient care." BabelVet also offers both remote patient and real time health monitoring, which can set, manage, and observe an animal's activity goals, providing immediate and critical information on a pet's health.
CAPC forecasts higher heartworm infections in South Central, Southeastern statesApril 26, 2019The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) predicts in its newly released parasite forecast that heartworm occurrence will be higher than average this year . "We started providing our annual forecasts over eight years ago because of the dynamic and ever changing nature of parasites," says CAPC executive director, Christopher Carpenter, DVM. "Over the years, we have seen these diseases continue to move. Our annual forecast will alert pet owners to the risks this year and remind them our pets need to be tested and protected year-round." The council's forecast predicts these areas are the riskiest for parasite-related diseases: South Central and Southeastern states are expected to see a higher than average infections with heartworm. The areas of greatest concern are those along the Mississippi River from Northern Louisiana into Illinois. Areas with historically lower incidence of heartworm such as Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, should note the predicted higher prevalence. The Appalachian region, the Atlantic Coast, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are seeing a high threat again for Lyme disease. Northwestern Minnesota is forecasted to be active with the transmission of the agents of anaplasmosis. Southern Central states, particularly Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri are expected to see higher numbers of ehrlichiosis. To …
Study finds only low levels of methylmercury in dog foodApril 25, 2019A study by the University of California (UC), Davis on levels of methylmercury in samplings of commercial dog food has found low concentrations in the majority of the tested brands. Only three of the 24 types of dog food tested positive for low concentrations of total mercury, and only one contained detectable methylmercury. "The concentrations detected are unlikely to pose a risk to healthy adult dogs," says lead author, Rae Sires, a nutrition resident at UC, Davis's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. "These results should be reassuring to dog owners." Other studies have measured total mercury in dog food, but this is the first time testing for methylmercury has been done. As methylmercury is present in aquatic species, researchers evaluated dog food containing fish, as well as fish-free foods. They found two of the three positive samples among the non-fish diets, which suggests common sources of mercury in pet foods. "We need more data to determine where the total mercury detected in dog foods is coming from, but our study doesn't support avoiding fish or salmon-based diets," Sires says.
KindredBio named AAHA Advantage's new vendorApril 25, 2019Kindred Biosciences has been named American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Advantage's newest vendor. As part of the deal, the biopharmaceutical company will provide marketing and education funds to enhance AAHA's existing educational programs and resources. "At KindredBio, we support veterinary science at every level, whether it's in the laboratory where we develop innovative technologies or in the exam room where veterinarians put science into action," says KindredBio president and chief operating officer, Denise Bevers. "As such, we are proud to join forces with the AAHA."
Informed pet owners more likely to give heartworm preventativesApril 24, 2019Pet owners who have regular and open discussions with their veterinarian are more likely to consistently give their animals preventatives. Not only that, but according to a new study by Ceva, those clients have fewer issues with their cost and actual administration. "Our research showed the most consistent users follow their veterinarian's recommended steps for preventing the disease," says Ceva's senior director of veterinary services and pharmacovigilance, Charles Johnson, DVM. "They also value and rely on their veterinarian's recommendations more than inconsistent and non-users." The study's goal was to look at why consumers don't use preventatives consistently. The results point to lack of education as the main culprit. Respondents reported they are often left uninformed about the risks and health issues their pet could experience by contracting the disease, and they are confused about how preventatives work in general. The other findings of the study are: • only 25 percent of dogs receive heartworm preventives on a regular basis; • only 33 percent of users have purchased heartworm preventives during the past year; and • one in four dog owners think they are giving a heartworm preventive, but are really just providing flea and tick protection. …
Why heartworm prevention begins in your practiceApril 24, 2019According to the American Heartworm Society (AMS), it is estimated more than one million dogs have heartworm disease. Spread by mosquitoes, heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs and cats. Left untreated, the disease can lead to heart failure, as well as damage to other organs. To mark Heartworm Awareness Month, we asked Claire Walther, DVM, veterinary specialty operations at Zoetis Petcare, for her take on what veterinarians can do to better convey the need for heartworm prevention to pet owners. 1) What is the single biggest misconception among veterinarians regarding heartworm disease? Biologically, it is how missing one dose of a preventative medication can lead to the development of heartworm disease. We say it to our clients daily, but many of us couldn't explain why if a client asked. In my own practice, I struggled with the answer. Here is a 30-second sound bite I've used with my clients to help simplify what is a complex discussion. "Young heartworms are carried by infected mosquitoes, and it only takes one bite to transmit them to your dog.1 Once in your dog, the young heartworms live just underneath the skin for about a month—this …
