Mars Inc. announces $100M venture fundApril 4, 2018 Pet food giant Mars Inc. announced it will invest $100 million in its new Companion Fund, which will back pet care products, tech, and services. The venture fund will be led by Ben Jacobs, CEO and co-founder of Whistle, a company that makes GPS-based location and activity trackers for pets. He joined Mars Petcare in 2016 when it acquired Whistle for $117 million. Jacobs anticipates Companion Fund, which is structured as a standalone firm with Mars as its sole limited partner, will allow the company's pet care division to further diversify through helping start-ups fund product development, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution. "We want to be the go-to partner for any promising new venture in pet care—whether that is health, nutrition, or anything else," Jacobs said. Mars Petcare is one of the world's largest manufacturers of pet food, producing the Pedigree, Royal Canin, and Whiskas brands, in addition to owning BluePearl, and Pet Partners. The company is also one of the largest employers of veterinarians in the United States, with ownership of Banfield Pet Hospitals and other animal health businesses. Additionally, Mars Petcare, in partnership with Michelson …
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AVMA, AAVMC form Veterinary Futures CommissionApril 4, 2018To better evaluate the challenges and opportunities within the veterinary profession, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) have established a Veterinary Futures Commission comprised of individuals from academia, industry, professional practice, and other sectors of the profession. "We're very excited to bring together such a visionary and diverse group of big-picture thinkers to participate in these critical discussions," said Michael J. Topper, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP, president of the AVMA. "They are just the right folks to participate in the critical strategic discussions we need to be having, asking the right questions, and, when need be, challenging assumptions that might be holding us back." The commission, a result of the AVMA/AAVMC Joint Committee, will hold its first meeting April 8-9 in conjunction with the Innovation Summit at Texas A&M University. "The purpose of this group is to help shape a better future for the profession of veterinary medicine," said Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, MPH, JD, AAVMC CEO. "The diversity of perspective and experience that commission members bring to the table is going to promote some innovative thinking and help generate the kinds …
VCA Animal Hospitals kick off second Pennies for Pets campaignMarch 30, 2018VCA Animal Hospitals second annual Pennies for Pets fundraising program, which leverages its 800 hospitals in North America to raise awareness and funds for local companion animal welfare organizations, hopes to hit the $600,000 mark this year, topping last year's total. The campaign is administered by VCA's non-profit partner organization, VCA Charities. During the national campaign, clients at participating VCA hospitals can donate to help companion animal welfare organizations in their local communities. The objective of the Pennies for Pets program is to provide a platform for collecting donations at VCA Animal Hospitals to financially support local companion animal welfare organizations. Last year, the campaign raised $450,000 nationwide through VCA hospitals to benefit more than 85 animal welfare organizations. "VCA has always believed that companion animals deserve a happy and healthy home since our inception in 1986," said Brandon Antin, VCA vice president of social responsibility and innovation. "Through the Pennies for Pets campaign, we will continue our efforts to improve the lives of pets and their families by supporting local companion animal welfare organizations." "The need for assistance for pet welfare organizations continues to rise," said Ron Tatum, VCA …
Hill's Global Symposium 2018 highlights nutrition, healthy agingMarch 30, 2018The role of nutrition in healthy aging is the focus of Hill's Global Symposium 2018, scheduled for April 27 and 28 in Lisbon. The symposium will have an expected attendance of 200 veterinarians from more than 30 countries, but a 24-hour educational livestream will make the event free of charge to veterinary professionals and students around the world. The symposium's theme, Adventures of Aging: Early Chronic Kidney Disease & Growing Older, addresses the reality of veterinarians treating an increasing number of elderly dogs and cats. Helping these animals age healthily is a rapidly growing area of practice and one in which nutrition plays a key role, according to Iveta Becvarova, DVM, DACVN, director of global academic and professional affairs at Hill's Pet Nutrition, and organizer of this year's event. Veterinary experts participating in the symposium from around the world will discuss the implications of recent research into older dogs and cats by Hill's, early chronic kidney disease, and the key role of nutrition in increasing both quality and length of life. Speakers also will advise members of the veterinary healthcare team on strategies to debunk potentially misleading and inaccurate information, and give practical advice on optimizing practice performance …
WVC event attendee count nears 14,000March 30, 2018This year's Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, held March 4 to 8 at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Convention Center, was attended by almost 14,000 veterinary professionals from all 50 states and 27 countries. Visitors sat in on more than 1,000 hours of scientific sessions and perused an exhibit hall featuring almost 520 companies. "WVC hosted veterinary professionals from around the world for an inspirational week of education and networking designed to help them grow their skills and clinical offering," said W. Mark Hilton, DVM, DABVP, president of the WVC board of directors. "This year's event gave us an opportunity to celebrate 90 years of tradition and excellence in education, but also provided a vibrant platform to share experiences with colleagues, discover the latest products and services, and reignite our collective passion for serving the health and welfare of animals." In addition to lectures, hands-on labs, and workshops, attendees were treated to music entertainment by Grammy award winners Jewel and Darius Rucker and Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Kevin Nealon. On the exhibit hall floor, the Learning Lounge hosted 34 CE sessions. The Dr. W. Bruce Wren Food Animal Incentive Award was given to five recent post-graduates and the …
MedVet expands specialty veterinary hospital networkMarch 30, 2018Three specialty animal hospitals have joined the MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets family: WestVet Boise in Garden City, Idaho, and WestVet Northern Utah and Animal Emergency Center, both in Sunset, Utah. The new partners will be referred to as WestVet. "MedVet and WestVet, as individual organizations, have been at the forefront of veterinary medicine for years," said Eric Schertel, DVM, Ph.D., DACVS, MedVet president and CEO. "Together, we enhance our ability to collaborate with referral partners to deliver exceptional service and care while maintaining our commitment to leading specialty healthcare for pets." "Becoming a partner broadens our capabilities and strengthens our resources to help ensure we continue to achieve the best possible outcomes for many years to come," said Jeff Brourman, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA, veterinary surgeon and chief of staff of WestVet. The company currently operates a growing network of emergency and specialty veterinary hospitals located throughout the Midwest and Southeast.
BodeVet, distributor partners prepare to launch StablePlate RXMarch 29, 2018BodeVet, a company that develops novel blood products for use in hemostasis and regenerative medicine for the veterinary industry, has partnered with Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank, HemoSolutions, and Northwest Veterinary Blood Bank to support distribution of its first product, StablePlate RX. Billed as the world's first injectable freeze-dried platelet derived product, StablePlate RX Canine is used to treat acute uncontrolled hemorrhage in bleeding canine patients, according to Anne Hale, DVM, chief technical officer for the Rockville, Md., company. Last year, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Friendship Animal Hospital, Cornell University, the University of Georgia, and Iowa State University participated in clinical trials; Ethos Veterinary Health and North Carolina State University recently joined the clinical trial group, as well. Findings are to be released later this year. For more information on BodeVet, StablePlate RX, or its team of experts in veterinary transfusion medicine, visit bodevet.com.
AKC top breeds list features longtime faves, two surprisesMarch 29, 2018The American Kennel Club (AKC) released its annual breed popularity rankings Wednesday, and unsurprisingly, the nation still loves its happy-go-lucky Labrador retrievers 27 years after their first appearance as top dog. German Shepherd dogs and golden retrievers remain in the AKC's No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. What is surprising is the rise of French bulldogs to No. 4 from No. 76 in just 20 years. Bulldogs, beagles, poodles, Rottweilers, and Yorkshire terriers make up No. 5 through No. 9. The German shorthaired pointer made the No. 10 spot this year (a GSP won Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 2016). The dogs are cute, compact, and relatively quiet, making them a breed of choice for urbanites. But not everyone is excited about the French bulldog's rising popularity. However, they suffer from health issues common among brachycephalic breeds, as well as and spinal and eye problems, and are often born by cesarean section. Sometimes they require nasal or palate surgery. John de Jong, DVM, a Newton, Mass., veterinarian who is president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association said he acknowledges the breed's conditions and challenges, but added that other dogs face their own particular challenges. …
WSAVA launches campaign for global access to veterinary therapeuticsMarch 27, 2018The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has launched a campaign to secure equitable access to veterinary therapeutics for veterinarians. The association also is forming a Therapeutics Guidelines Group (TGG) to spearhead its efforts improve access to veterinary therapeutics. The organization, represents more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide through its 105 member associations, has launched the campaign to address long-standing problems experienced by companion animal veterinarians in some regions of the world in gaining access to the veterinary medicinal products they require to provide a high level of patient care. The WSAVA's Position Statement was drawn up following concerns raised by WSAVA member associations during discussions at member forums during 2017. The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations, the Federation of Asian Small Animal Veterinary Associations, the Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations, the Federación Iberoamericana deAsociaciones Veterinarias de Animales de Compañía, the Commonwealth Veterinary Association, and HealthforAnimals, the global animal medicines association, are statement co-signatories. The TGG aims to: Develop minimum standards for a veterinary hospital pharmacy to ensure it can support a veterinarian's ability to provide an appropriate standard of care Monitor issues relating to access to veterinary therapeutics and recommend solutions using an evidence-based approach Engage global stakeholders to raise awareness of the issue and build a collaborative approach to resolve the issues. "The ready access by veterinary professionals to diagnostics and therapeutic modalities is the foundation of proper patient care," said Walt …
Pet industry hits close to $70B in spending for 2017March 27, 2018Pet owners spent $69.5 billion on their companions in 2017, according to the latest figures from the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Pet food accounts for the single greatest source of spending, veterinary care spending remains the second highest at $17.07 billion, up 7 percent from 2016. The latest pet industry spending figures were announced at Global Pet Expo, an annual pet products trade show presented by APPA and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA). APPA's annual comprehensive industry figures report covers pet spending in the market categories of food, supplies/over-the-counter medications, veterinary care, live animal purchases, and other services. "It's incredible to not only see growth for the pet industry in general, but also to experience growth across all categories—with the exception of live animal purchases, which remained the same," said Bob Vetere, APPA president and CEO. "Talk to any pet owner and they'll tell you how difficult it is to put a dollar limit on what they'd spend to give their loyal companion a happy life, and it's this outlook that continues to drive growth." Spending on pet food continues to be the highest source of dollars spent, with spending …
