VCA launches mobile app for its CareClub membersNovember 1, 2017 VCA Animal Hospitals has launched a mobile app available exclusively for its VCA CareClub members. Available through Apple's App Store and Google Play, the app gives VCA CareClub members access to their pets' health information on the go and a host of resources to manage their pets' wellbeing. The app provides free, unlimited 24/7 live chat with a veterinarian, health care reminders, VCA CareClub plan details, plus appointment booking. VCA CareClub is VCA's own comprehensive wellness management plan for pet owners. Membership includes annual wellness exams, doctor recommended vaccines and testing, microchip services, dental care, and more.
SPONSORED CONTENTOne dose protects for 12 months.One ProHeart® 12 (moxidectin) injection puts compliance in your control. + Get started
Synthetic Genomics, Ceva partner to develop livestock vaccinesNovember 1, 2017 Synthetic Genomics Inc. announced that it has partnered with Ceva Santé Animale to utilize Synthetic Genomics' next-generation synthetic RNA replicon platform to develop vaccines for livestock. Synthetic Genomics' RNA replicons are programed to deliver genetic instructions to a body's own cells to unleash a powerful immune response against a specific disease, the company said. These RNA replicons carry the genetic code for a self-replication engine as well as antigens that signal for an immune response. The self-amplifying, RNA-based vaccine triggers rapid and immediate antigen expression within host cells, which induces strong T cell and B cell responses. These fully synthetic vaccines have lower dose requirements and simplified manufacturing compared to traditional vaccine approaches, according to the announcement. "We have made tremendous progress to date in programming RNA to develop next-generation vaccines that are multigenic, tunable and, most importantly, scalable for commercially competitive markets such as animal health," said Synthetic Genomics CEO Dr. Oliver Fetzer. "This partnership with Ceva, a leader in animal health, highlights the promise in deploying our synthetic biology capabilities to build RNA systems capable of improving global health in a variety of ways." Financial terms of the agreement were not …
Patterson Veterinary partners with Cutting EdgeOctober 27, 2017Cutting Edge Laser Technologies, a Fairport, N.Y., provider of laser technologies for veterinary and medical professionals worldwide, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Greely, Colo.-based Patterson Veterinary. Patterson Veterinary will be distributing multiwave locked system (MLS) therapy lasers and surgical lasers nationwide with Cutting Edge. Cutting Edge currently serves more than 10,000 medical and veterinary professionals worldwide. "By bringing together the research, development and educational resources of CE Laser, and Patterson's world-class distribution and sales capabilities, we expect to provide our veterinary clients significant practice enhancing benefits and support," said Dan Reinhardt, director of marketing - equipment at Patterson. "Patterson is well known throughout the industry for being an outstanding supplier," said Mark Mollenkopf, president of Cutting Edge. "The partnership will allow Cutting Edge to extend the reach of our product offerings and enable more veterinarians to provide a higher level of care to their patients, while providing additional revenue streams in an increasingly competitive marketplace." The MLS therapy laser is an easy-to-use, noninvasive tool for treating acute and chronic pain, post surgical pain, pain associated with arthritis, IVDD, sprains/strains, muscle trigger points, and both contaminated and noncontaminated wounds, according to Laurie McCauley, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVA, …
SCA Pharmaceuticals issues recall on morphine, fentanylOctober 26, 2017A voluntary recall has been issued by SCA Pharmaceuticals, a sterile compounding company. The recall is for 11 lots of its injectable morphine and fentanyl products due to possible microbial contamination. The products associated with this recall were distributed nationwide to human and veterinary hospitals. The company not received any customer complaints or reports of adverse events related to this issue, the manufacturer stated. SCA Pharmaceuticals is notifying its customers via telephone, email, and the USPS, and is arranging for return/replacement of all recalled products. Customers who have product being recalled should discontinue use immediately and return the product to SCA Pharmaceuticals at SCA Pharmaceuticals, 8821 Knoedl Court, Little Rock, AR 72205. Consumers can contact SCA Pharmaceuticals at 877-550-5059 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax. Complete and submit the report online at fda.gov.medwatch/report.htm; to submit by regular mail or fax, download the form at fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call (800) 332-1088 to …
Pennsylvania dog wins 9th annual Nationwide Hambone AwardOctober 26, 2017The winner of the 9th annual Hambone Award, which honors the most unusual pet insurance claim of the year, is Rooster, a hound mix from Scranton, Pa.
Southern Veterinary Partners adds 6 hospitals to its networkOctober 26, 2017 Southern Veterinary Partners (SVP) has expanded into North Carolina with the addition of Wilkinson Animal Hospital in Gastonia and Charlotte Street Animal Hospital in Asheville. Additionally, Goodwin Animal Hospital and Taylor Crossing Animal Hospital, both in Montgomery, Ala., and Barry Veterinary Hospital in Destin, Fla., and Soundside Animal Hospital in Navarre, Fla., have joined SVP's growing network of animal hospitals. SVP now has 33 animal hospitals in 10 southern states. The Birmingham, Ala.-based network is a veterinarian-owned and -operated regional network of Southeast animal hospitals. SVP provides centralized support for the animal hospitals in its network including marketing, HR, finance, inventory, and purchasing management. The hospitals retain their names, culture, and local commitment to their communities as well as veterinarians and staff. Visit svp.vet for more information.
Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team sports new disaster response truckOctober 26, 2017The Texas A&M University Veterinary Emergency Team now touts a new, custom 25-foot truck equipped with a veterinary medical unit that will give the team full medical capabilities in the event of a disaster. The truck is a "tremendous step forward" for the seven-year-old team, according to Wesley Bissett, founder and director of the Veterinary Emergency Team. "It has basically been developed and designed based on everything we've learned across the different types of deployments we've had," Bissett said. "The commitment to service is one of the things that sets Texas A&M apart, if you just look at our history, and this is honoring it. This [new truck] gives us the platform to do that." The new truck makes deployment quicker, maneuvers easier, and has full medical capabilities—ranging from decontamination to full surgery. Further, it includes 48 hours' worth of medical and pharmaceutical supplies, two fully insulated tent shelters, and more. When the truck is not responding to disaster situations, it will be stationed at A&M's Disaster City training facility, where it will be used to educate veterinary students and provide a training opportunity for emergency response professionals, according to officials. The Banfield …
How do top practices increase profitability?October 19, 2017Veterinarians have a bleak outlook of their current state of financial affairs and of their future prospects, according to a 2013 landmark study* that presented financial health data of practitioners at different ages and phases of their careers.
UC Davis plans to improve Vet Med CenterOctober 19, 2017University of California, Davis announced plans to raise $115 million to update and improve three areas of its Veterinary Medical Center (VMC): the Livestock and Field Service Center, the Equine Performance Center, and the All-Species Imaging Center. This campaign, Leading the Way, marks the first phase in a long-term plan to transform the VMC. According to the university, its veterinary teaching hospital is overdue for an update. Opened in 1970 to serve 3,000 patients per year, the hospital now sees more than 50,000 patients annually. Space, layout, and capacity constraints are a problem, as is the speed at which clients receive care. "… Let's take some much-needed next steps, ones that ensure that UC Davis will continue to offer world-class care and an unbeatable education for students with a comprehensive veterinary medical center that builds on UC Davis' strengths and reinforces our role as a world leader," said Gary May, UC Davis chancellor. The university already has raised $67 million—more than half of the campaign goal—prior to the announcement. Davis' first phase The Livestock and Field Service Center will become the first patient-service area to come online. Upgrades and modifications will improve student and clinician …
The beginning of a beautiful partnershipOctober 19, 2017 Working together to improve veterinary care for all animals is a cause that extends beyond borders and language barriers. That's what a team of veterinary specialists from BluePearl Veterinary Partners and Pet Partners discovered when they traveled to Costa Rica to share knowledge and help pets in need. "This was really a first step," said David Ruslander, DVM, DACVIM, DACVR, chief of oncology service at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas, a Pet Partners hospital. "It was a great opportunity to share knowledge and network with other veterinarians from Costa Rica. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term partnership." The idea for the trip, which took place in August, began with Dr. Ruslander, who developed a relationship with Dr. Carlos Coto, a Costa Rican veterinarian interested in learning more about oncology and introducing board certified specialty medicine to his country. Dr. Coto has visited Ruslander in North Carolina, and together they proposed organizing a trip to Costa Rica to benefit local veterinarians. The trip was divided into two segments: a community service project at …
