VitusVet launches online store for veterinary practicesJanuary 19, 2018VitusVet, a pay-for-performance digital solution for veterinary practices, has launched an online store. The online store is intended to serve veterinary practices that already sell their own medications and preventives, enabling those practices to sell prescriptions online through the VitusVet mobile app to their clients. Since many practices keep their own inventory of prescription drugs for pets, this will allow for more efficient use of those products while also providing greater convenience for pet owners, according to VitusVet. "Providing an online store capability to our customers has been on our product roadmap since day one," said Mark Olcott, DVM, CEO/co-founder. "On the heels of our intelligent medication reminder technology announced earlier this year, and our direct appointment booking functionality announced last September, we are thrilled to add another piece of the foundational technology to practices who wish to go digital and, in the process, better serve their customers." "We take pride in listening to our veterinary practices, and we've heard loud and clear that they would like to be able to offer a convenient way for pet parents to access the inventory in their back office," said Kalpesh Raval, CTO/co-founder. "The VitusVet online store capability makes selling that inventory …
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AVMA provides association management to VMAEJanuary 19, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association is now providing association management services to Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE). Janet Donlin, DVM, CAE, AVMA executive vice president and CEO, officially welcomed the VMAE under the new arrangement during the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference in January. "Executives of state and allied associations contribute a tremendous depth of perspective and understanding of the issues facing our profession," said AVMA president Michael Topper, DVM, Ph.D. "This liaison is one more way we can work together to protect, promote, and advocate for the interests of the entire veterinary profession." Announcing the arrangement, Dr. Donlin discussed the role of state and allied association executives in the growth of veterinary medicine and the AVMA. "The state and allied executive directors of veterinary associations saw the benefits belonging to a professional association," Donlin said. "ASVMAE, now VMAE, was formed, and the rest is history." Other VMAE news Ralph Johnson, VMAE CEO, has joined the AVMA as director of special projects. He will continue to oversee the association management services the AVMA now provides to VMAE, and will assist the AVMA with initiatives focused on delivering products and services …
OSU receives record-breaking $50 million commitmentJanuary 19, 2018Oregon State University (OSU) has received what it calls a "transformative" donation that will change its college of veterinary medicine's ability to provide life-saving care, education for future veterinarians, and critical animal and human health research. The record $50 million gift is a record-breaker for OSU, and the university will name its college of veterinary medicine in recognition of the donor: Gary Carlson, MD, a 1974 alumnus who is a partner at Dermatology Associates of Westlake Village, Calif. The Gary R. Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine becomes the first named college at Oregon State and the second named veterinary school in the nation. OSU said the donation means it can potentially double the size of OSU's small animal teaching hospital, attract and retain stellar veterinary faculty, and support the college's strategic priorities. "This is a game-changing investment in our college," said Susan J. Tornquist, Lois Bates Acheson Dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. "We are very honored and excited about Dr. Carlson's partnership. The hospital expansion is a pressing need for us now, but this is just the beginning of what Dr. Carlson's generosity will make possible as the college adapts and grows to meet …
Tufts veterinarians treat canine cancer with experimental drugJanuary 18, 2018When Edward Sloan's dog, Dozer, a 7-year-old bull mastiff went blind seemingly overnight, a devastating diagnosis revealed Dozer had cancer. Desperate to save his best friend, Sloan found a clinical trial at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, where Abbey Sadowski, DVM, found that Dozer had "lost a lot of weight [and] had several weeks of history before he even saw us." Dr. Sadowski and Cheryl London, DVM, Ph.D., are testing an experimental drug—called KPT-9274—combined with just one round of chemotherapy to treat lymphoma. "We had this remarkable response … when you combine these two things together you can get a dramatic reduction in disease," Dr. London said. Early results of the small study have been promising, especially for Sloan and Dozer. "A single heroic dose … the next day he was able to see," Sloan said. Dozer is three months in remission, and his medical reversal of fortune could eventually lead to a breakthrough in human medicine. London said the outcome of a canine trial is a valuable piece of the research puzzle. "The benefits to the human side are that you get a drug into humans that's actually much …
Study finds raw diets for pets place animals, owners at riskJanuary 18, 2018A new study by Utrecht University scientists, published in British veterinary journal Vet Record, found that raw meat-based diets (RMBD) for pets places owners at risk of serious disease. The study, which analyzed 35 RMBDs from eight brands, revealed that E. coli 0157 was isolated from eight products (23 percent), Salmonella species in seven products (20 percent), and Listeria species were present in 15 products (43 percent). Four products (11 percent) found the parasite Sarcocystis cruzi; another four contained Sarcocystis tenella. Two products (6 percent) revealed Toxoplasma gondii. Researchers also found evidence the raw meat harbored antibiotic-resistant bacteria. "Despite the relatively low sample size of frozen products in our study, it is clear that commercial RMBDs may be contaminated with a variety of zoonotic bacterial and parasitic pathogens that may be a possible source of bacterial infections in pet animals and if transmitted pose a risk for human beings," they added. Pets fed RMBDs can pass pathogens to humans through direct contact, such as licking or brushing up against them, according to scientists. Researchers wrote that pathogens also can be transferred through direct contact with the food, through contact with household surfaces, or by ingesting cross-contaminated human food. RMBDs …
AVMA LIFE, PLIT unify efforts under umbrella trustJanuary 18, 2018Two cornerstones of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), AVMA LIFE and AVMA PLIT, announced they are unifying efforts under an umbrella trust. "This is an important step as we continue to focus on providing ongoing value to our members," said Michael Topper, DVM. "As AVMA President, my overarching desire has been to build on past progress for a stronger future for all veterinarians and those they serve. I have no doubt that members of AVMA, AVMA LIFE, and AVMA PLIT will experience enhanced services as a result of this new structure." The collaborative formation of the umbrella trust will continue to evolve toward full unification. Seven trustees will be appointed to the new umbrella trust; these same seven will serve as the trustees on the AVMA LIFE and AVMA PLIT boards. Of these seven, two will be current trustees from AVMA LIFE, two will be current trustees of AVMA PLIT, and three will be new appointees. "This approach ensures synergy and sound strategic direction while maintaining excellent service delivery to members," said Janet Donlin, DVM, CAE, AVMA executive vice president and CEO. "Our focus has been and will always be on providing excellent service and value …
AAVMC names Jennifer Hodgson as veterinary teaching award recipientJanuary 18, 2018The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) named Jennifer Hodgson, BVSC, DIP VET PATH, Ph.D., DACVIM, from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) as the recipient of the 2017 AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis. The award, considered one of the most prestigious teaching awards in international academic veterinary medicine, recognizes excellence in professional veterinary medical education and is presented to an educator whose sustained record of teaching excellence and ability, dedication, character, and leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession. Dr. Hodgson is associate dean for professional programs, where she is responsible for all academic and student affairs relating to Virginia-Maryland's DVM program. She is also a professor of population health sciences who teaches bacteriology and mycology in the DVM curriculum. "Dr. Hodgson represents the very best of what thousands of outstanding educators and researchers bring to their work every day in our member institutions," said AAVMC CEO Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, JD, MPH. "We're pleased to be able to recognize her outstanding achievements and contributions through our awards program and look forward to honoring her publicly during our 2018 annual conference." Hodgson is active in the North American …
Survey reveals cat-friendly practices rate high in client satisfactionJanuary 18, 2018The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) announced the results of its 2017 Cat Friendly Practice® (CFP) Survey, which provides an in-depth look at the effect the program has on feline healthcare and the veterinary industry. The 2017 survey revealed a 99 percent satisfaction rate among participants and that the program continues to grow and positively influence veterinary care for cats, caregivers, and veterinary teams. What the survey said 98 percent would recommend the CFP program to other veterinary professionals. 92 percent state the CFP program has positively impacted their team morale when handling, treating, and caring for cats. Many practices said they are now more confident when working with cats, and their teams have adopted the use of cat-friendly techniques to reduce stress during the visit. 91 percent reported an improvement in feline knowledge and care among practice team members. Many practices noticed a great improvement in staff understanding of feline behavior, feline-friendly handling, and ability to read a cat's body language. 80 percentreceived positive feedback from clients on implementing the program. 80 percent have increased visits because they are a CFP. 79 percent report increased practice revenue since implementing the CFP program. 75 percentstate the acquisition of new feline patients due to their CFP …
Nationwide data shows pet obesity continues to balloonJanuary 17, 2018Data from Nationwide reveals that pet obesity is on the rise for the seventh straight year. Last year, the company's members filed 1.4 million pet insurance claims for conditions and diseases related to pet obesity—equaling a sum of more than $62 million in veterinary expenses. The boost in obesity-related claims signifies a 24 percent growth over the last four years. The company recently sorted through its database of more than 630,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 most common dog and cat obesity-related conditions (see chart). In 2016, Nationwide received more than 51,000 pet insurance claims for osteoarthritis in canines, the most common disease aggravated by excessive weight, which carried an average treatment fee of $310 per pet. With more than 5,000 pet insurance claims, cystitis or urinary tract disease was the most common obesity-related condition in cats, which had an average claim amount of $443 per pet.
Pathway veterinary management group relocates to Austin, TexasJanuary 17, 2018Pathway, a national veterinary management group serving US pets and pet owners, announced the relocation of its support team to a 15,500-square-foot office space in downtown Austin, Texas. "Having our offices in Austin's dynamic downtown will enable us to foster and grow the vibrant culture we've created," said Stephen Hadley, DVM, CEO. "This will allow us to continue offering support to our ever-expanding teams nationwide and aid in increasing the local appeal of our fast-growing company." In 2017, the company added nearly 100 hospitals for a total of more than 125 locations throughout the U.S. Additionally, the company added more than 800 employees, growing to over 2,500 employees in total.
