Americans spent $18.11 billion on veterinary care in 2018March 22, 2019The American Pet Products Association (APPA) says veterinary care remains the second highest source of spending in the pet care community. According to the association's annual industry-wide spending figures, money spent on veterinary care totaled $18.11 billion, surpassing growth in any other category at a rate of 6.1 percent. Figures in 2019 are expected to reach $18.98 billion, an increase of 4.8 percent over last year's figures. The APPA says the frequency of veterinary visits has likely increased due to lower prices, making pet care more available to a broader customer base. "Millennials continue to be the largest pet-owning demographic and this shows in the data," says APPA president and CEO, Bob Vetere. "We know this generation is willing to pay more for quality services to improve the health and well-being of their pets. Today more than ever, pet owners view their pets as irreplaceable members of their families and lives, and it's thanks to this that we continue to see such incredible growth within the pet care community."
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FDA investigating elevated levels of vitamin D in Hill's recallMarch 22, 2019The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it is looking into the presence of elevated levels of vitamin D in Hill's Pet Nutrition canned dog food. The news comes after the pet food company issued an expanded recall on Wednesday for 85 total lots of 33 varieties (SKUs) of its canned dog foods after receiving complaints dogs eating the food were experiencing vitamin D toxicity. Currently, the recall is only for canned dog food and does not affect canned cat food, dry food (kibble), or treats. Hill's says the products in both recalls were made with the same vitamin premix. According to the FDA, the recall was expanded after it requested that Hill's test samples of food it had produced that were not part of the original recall. Hill's conducted that testing and issued the expanded recall of 19 additional products of canned dog food. In a letter sent to veterinarians, Hill's Pet Nutrition vice president and general manager, Jesper Nordengaard said, "We understand this recall has caused pet parents considerable anxiety and that the well-being of their pets may have been affected. We are also aware of the disruption and difficulty this has caused you and your …
Nationwide members paid $119 million to treat their dogs and catsMarch 21, 2019Nationwide members spent $119 million in 2018 to treat their dogs and cats. The pet health insurance company analyzed its database of more than 725,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 most common conditions that prompted veterinary visits. "Pet owners are encouraged to schedule regular medical checkups as recommended by their veterinarians to prevent many common, yet problematic medical conditions," says Nationwide vice president and chief veterinary officer, Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA. "Early detection can be key. The majority of medical conditions on the top 10 list can be successfully managed if treated promptly by a veterinarian." The following conditions affect dogs and cats the most, according to Nationwide: Dogs 1) skin allergies 2) ear infection 3) noncancerous skin mass 4) diarrhea/intestinal upset 5) skin infection 6) vomiting/upset stomach 7) arthritis 8) dental disease 9) anal gland inflammation 10) bladder urinary tract disease Cats 1) bladder/urinary tract disease 2) dental disease 3) chronic kidney disease 4) vomiting/upset stomach 5) diarrhea/intestinal upset 6) excessive thyroid hormone 7) upper respiratory infection 8) skin allergies 9) diabetes 10) heart valve malfunction
Croghan, N.Y. veterinarian accused of forcible touchingMarch 21, 2019A Croghan, N.Y., veterinarian is facing three charges of forcibly touching a 19-year-old woman. Police say the incidents happened on the same day last October, though at two different times and in two different jurisdictions. "He's being charged with forcible touching, which is a Class A misdemeanor in the New York state penal law," Detective Joseph Giaquinto of the Watertown Police Department told WWNYTV. Police allege one of the incidents occurred in a home and that the accused and the victim knew each other. New York State Police have also charged the accused with two counts of forcible touching for an incident involving the same woman that happened in nearby New Bremen, N.Y. According to an article by WWNYTV, the accused has faced criminal charges before. In 2006, police charged him with first-degree sexual abuse, attempted criminal sex act, attempted rape, and forcible touching in a case involving a 36-year-old woman. A jury found him guilty of three counts of forcible touching; he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and had to register as a sex offender. In 2009, the state department of education, which licenses veterinarians, put his license on probation for two years. It's unclear why …
LSU improperly paid $400,000 to faculty member who didn't do his jobMarch 20, 2019A faculty member at the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine did not satisfactorily fulfill his employment obligations, despite receiving $400,000 in salary and related benefits. A new Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) review found the employee did not satisfy his commitments to LSU during the period of August 2015 to September 2018. Further, management at the School of Veterinary Medicine did not take satisfactory action to address his lack of performance. The employee believes he last provided services to fulfill his duties in July 2016 and acknowledges he did not deserve to be paid for the period of July 2016 to August 2018. According to LSU, February 2015 was the last time the staff member submitted a grant proposal. Consequently, he was unable to offer any proof when asked to provide documentation to demonstrate his work from July 2016 to August 2018. The employee was told to appear at LSU for the fall 2018 semester and perform his duties, but failed to do so. He was still employed with LSU as of January 2019, LLA confirms, although it did not identify him. The LSU Office of Internal Audit has recommended management take action regarding the faculty member's …
DogsLife offers financial aid for canine cancer treatmentsMarch 20, 2019A new nonprofit is helping pet owners pay for canine cancer treatments by any board-certified veterinary oncologists in North Texas. The organization, DogsLife, selects recipients through an application and interview process involving the pet's owner and veterinarian, as well as the treating veterinary oncologist. The private charity is primarily supported by donations and all of the funds go directly to providing treatments to the dogs. Sir Desmond, a retired racing Greyhound, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. As a result, the dog's veterinary oncologist recommended his leg be amputated. The price of surgery and chemotherapy was not in Sir Desmond's owner, Caitlin Schmidt's budget, so she applied for assistance from DogsLife. The charity covered half of the surgery and all of the chemotherapy costs. "I cannot really put into words what the phone call meant to me when I was told DogsLife was providing a grant to help pay for all the overages for Desmond's treatment that I simply could not afford," Schmidt says. "Desmond had his amputation surgery and is beginning his chemotherapy."
Banfield Pet Hospital, Banfield Foundation reports highlight commitment to animalsMarch 19, 2019More than $2.2 million in grants have been awarded to 265 nonprofits, thanks to the Banfield Foundation. That's one of the highlights from the organization's 2018 Banfield Foundation Impact Report, which was released in conjunction with Banfield Pet Hospital's 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. It details how the company has leveraged its resources, reach, and relationships to improve the well-being of pets, communities, and the veterinary industry. "At Banfield, everything we do is in service of our purpose—a better world for pets—including our collective efforts, which support pets, communities, our associates, and the veterinary profession," says Banfield Pet Hospital president, Brian Garish. "I can't think of a better legacy than being known as one of the country's most community-minded companies. Through the initiatives highlighted in these reports, we get to live our purpose of caring for pets, while also inspiring future generations of pet lovers to be more socially conscious and make a difference in their own communities." Since September 2015, the foundation has worked to give pets access to veterinary care, temporary shelter, and/or disaster relief, including Spayathon, which offers spay and neuter clinics across Puerto Rico aimed at decreasing an unwanted population of pets while also …
VetSuccess and Fear Free team up to increase fecal testingMarch 18, 2019VetSuccess and Fear Free have partnered to create Fear Free Fecals, a reminder program designed to increase compliance for fecal testing. The program sends pet owners prescheduled reminders, which include a personalized letter, as well as a stool collection bag. Clients are then encouraged to collect their pet's sample at home and bring it in for testing. "The Fear Free Fecals program is fully automated, making it very simple and affordable for practices to be more successful in terms of profitability and patient care," says Martin Traub-Werner, VetSuccess CEO. "Practices can create positive client touch points with zero staff time." VetSuccess sends monthly performance reports showing how many reminders were sent out and how many fecal exams happened as a direct result of the program. "Partnerships like the Fear Free Fecals program with VetSuccess are crucial in helping every pet be happy and healthy," says Marty Becker, DVM, founder and CEO of Fear Free, and columnist for Veterinary Practice News Canada.
OVMA names 2018 Veterinarian of the YearMarch 18, 2019The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) has named Dave Bauman, DVM, as the Veterinarian of the Year for 2018. Outgoing OVMA president Liesa Stone, DVM, BS, presented the award to Dr. Bauman at the association's annual Midwest Veterinary Conference. "A lifetime of achievement as an educator, a volunteer, and a veterinarian clearly represents the qualities worthy of recognition as veterinarian of the year," said Stone, as she gave Bauman the award. Bauman has dedicated more than four decades to the veterinary profession. He taught laboratory animal medicine at the University of Cincinnati (UC) veterinary technology program for 42 years and served on the OVMA board of directors for 18 years.
Merck Animal Health awards $5,000 scholarships to 54 studentsMarch 18, 2019Fifty-four students from around the world are each the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship thanks to Merck Animal Health. In collaboration with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), the company selected students in their second and third year of school who are pursuing careers in companion or large-animal medicine. The recipients were also chosen based on academic excellence, financial need, and leadership. "Merck Animal Health is proud to help lay a solid educational foundation for these students to excel in their future careers," says Scott Bormann, senior vice president for Merck Animal Health, North America. The winners of the 2019 Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship are: Imrul Kayes Anwar, Bangladesh Agricultural University Michael Barua, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Andrea Basque, University of Pennsylvania Kalie Beckers, Louisiana State University Robert Buntz, Colorado State University Emily Calbaum, University of Wisconsin Brittany Campbell, Purdue University Virginia Carrero, Louisiana State University Michael Congiusta, University of Minnesota Lindsay Courtney, Ohio State University Stephanie Crawford, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Brenna Daly, Tufts University Anik Das, Bangladesh Agricultural University Erin Deavours, University of Georgia Thomas Duff, University of Minnesota Peter Ellis, University of California, Davis Grace Ertle, Michigan State University Abdullah Al Fahad, …
