Covetrus launches as newly formed companyFebruary 8, 2019Henry Schein Animal Health and Vets First Choice, two unique and complementary businesses in the animal-health industry, have combined to form Covetrus. Under the newly formed company, Covetrus says it will provide veterinary practices with a more comprehensive set of integrated services and technology solutions, tools to strengthen client relationships and growth, and improved workflow and cost-effectiveness through efficient delivery of next-generation solutions. The new company will trade under the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol CVET. "[This] marks an important new chapter in the world of veterinary medicine, as we launch Covetrus as a new company listed on NASDAQ," says Benjamin Shaw, president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to strengthening our customer relationships and expanding our veterinary practice partnerships worldwide, as we bring more comprehensive and powerful solutions to market to meet their evolving needs and improve health and financial outcomes." As part of the spin-off, Henry Schein received approximately $1.1 billion in what is expected to be tax-free proceeds that will be used to pay debt.
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AAFP survey finds Cat Friendly Practice program growing in popularityFebruary 7, 2019Ninety-eight percent of members of the Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) program say they would recommend it to other veterinary professionals. That's one of the findings of the American Association of Feline Practitioners' (AAFP's) 2018 Cat Friendly Practice survey. The program's main purpose is to cater to the unique behaviors and needs of cats, and to help decrease the stress of the veterinary visit for the cat and the caregiver by providing the veterinary team with tools and resources needed to treat feline patients. "The survey results tell the story that CFPs, and their clients and cats, are benefiting from the program in vital ways," says Heather O'Steen, CAE, chief executive officer of the AAFP. "They're improving treatment of cats in their care and helping to advance feline medicine. We encourage any practice that has feline patients to learn more about becoming a Cat Friendly Practice. The program is an AAFP membership benefit with no additional charges, and there are many resources to walk you through the process. Implementing just a few cat-friendly strategies can make a huge difference in the experience for the cat, caregiver, and your entire veterinary team." The survey—which included 460 respondents—also found the following: 99 percent …
Bad breath could be a sign of diseaseFebruary 7, 2019As part of Pet Dental Health Month, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is advising veterinarians to encourage pet owners to make their pet's oral health care a top priority and to schedule professional exams. According to AVMA president John de Jong, DVM, pet owners should be made aware that poor oral health could lead to potentially life-threatening damage to their pet's internal organs as a result of periodontal disease. "Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for our pets," says Dr. de Jong. "In addition to causing receding gums, tooth loss, and significant pain, bacteria in the mouth enters the bloodstream potentially affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys, which can be life-threatening." AVMA reports most dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease by the age of three, indicated by bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and mouth, and depression. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry (JOVD) showed that only two percent of dog owners follow through on brushing their pets' teeth. In addition, a survey of pet owners showed that only 14 percent of dogs and nine percent of cats receive dental care at the …
Walkin' Pets accepting veterinary scholarship applicationsFebruary 6, 2019Walkin' Pets' scholarship program is now open for submissions from students in veterinary programs. A $1,000 scholarship is being offered for doctoral veterinary students, and a $500 rehab/veterinary technician scholarship is being offered for canine rehabilitation and/or veterinary tech students. Students interested in applying must be full-time doctoral students entering, or enrolled in, the 2019 academic year at an accredited veterinary school. Those who are interested in the rehab/veterinary technician scholarship must be enrolled in a full-time canine rehabilitation or veterinary tech program for the 2019 academic year. The application period for both scholarships is open from now to July 31. Scholarship recipients will be notified by Sept. 1. Applicants are asked to respond to an essay topic and submit a short online application that can be found here: http://www.handicappedpets.com/vet-scholarships. Walkin' Pets by HandicappedPets.com is an online pet product company serving the needs of aging, disabled, and injured pets and their pet caretakers.
New federal animal cruelty law introducedFebruary 6, 2019Congressmen Vern Buchanan and Ted Deutch have introduced the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act to outlaw and prosecute those involved in the abuse and killing of animals. PACT builds on the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act passed in 2010 by closing loopholes and prohibiting cases of animal abuse. While the previous legislation made the creation, sale, and distribution of animal "crushing" videos illegal, these acts of cruelty against animals remain legal. "The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Buchanan said. "Protecting animals from cruelty is a top priority for me and I look forward to working with Congressman Deutch on this important issue." The new legislation will amend the federal criminal code to prohibit intentional acts of crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, or otherwise subjecting animals to serious bodily harm. If passed, those prosecuted and convicted will face federal felony charges, fines, and up to seven years in prison. Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF), said, "Decades ago, the Federal Bureau of Investigation recognized the seriousness of animal cruelty and its link to escalating violence toward humans. Representatives Deutch and Buchanan are tremendous …
MightyVet to offer moral stress session at WVCFebruary 5, 2019MightyVet is offering a two-hour session at the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) on how veterinarians can best deal with moral stress. Given the profession can be physically and emotionally demanding, the company is offering advice and tools to help alleviate stressful situations and their consequences, including burnout, compassion fatigue, ethics exhaustion, and suicide. "Moral stress is not an inevitability in veterinary medicine," says Barry Kipperman, DVM, DACVIM, MSc, one of the panelists. The discussion also will focus on how MightyVet is helping to bridge the gap in veterinary education by ensuring veterinarians are informed of, and prepared for, the challenges they will face in practice. The panelists will explore the following topics: Kipperman will focus on recent research on moral stress, including studies regarding the unique ethical dilemmas faced by veterinary professionals; Laura Strong, DVM, will look at moral stress from the perspective of a hospital owner, addressing the challenge of balancing the financial well-being of a practice with the well-being of the staff; and Carrie Jurney, DVM, DACVIM (neurology) will offer practical tips and tools to tackle the ever-present obstacles in veterinary medicine Click here to register.
Hill's recalls canned dog food due to high Vitamin D levelsFebruary 4, 2019Hill's Pet Nutrition is recalling some of its canned dog food over concerns of elevated levels of Vitamin D. The announcement comes after Hill's received a complaint about a dog exhibiting signs of excessive Vitamin D. An investigation by the company confirmed elevated levels of Vitamin D due to a supplier error. The affected canned dog foods were distributed through retail pet stores, as well as veterinary clinics and e-commerce. No dry foods, cat foods, or treats are part of the recall. Vitamin D is essential for dogs; however, it can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss when ingested in high levels. In a statement, Hill's says, "We care deeply about all pets and are committed to providing pet parents with safe and high-quality products. Hill's has identified and isolated the error and, to prevent this from happening again, we have required our supplier to implement additional quality testing prior to their release of ingredients. In addition to our existing safety processes, we are adding our own further testing of incoming ingredients." For a list of the recalled canned dog food, click here. Pet owners with dogs who have consumed …
Feline medicine scholarship now availableFebruary 4, 2019A new scholarship by Winn Feline Foundation and the AAFP, created to support future veterinarians and advance feline medicine, is now available.
New York Pet Fashion Show includes its first wheelchair pit bullFebruary 1, 2019A New York fashion event for pets will include its first-ever wheelchair pit bull. Rescue dog Effie Brown has been selected to represent all handicapped dogs at the New York Pet Fashion Show in her Walkin’ Wheels Wheelchair.
Dogs with bigger brains have higher cognitive capacitiesFebruary 1, 2019Larger-brain breeds have better short-term memory and self-control than smaller dogs, says a new study.
