N.Y. Clinic Gets Facelift Courtesy of NovartisJuly 22, 2014 Cats visiting Village Vet of Lewiston can rest easy now and forget about the dogs traipsing through the waiting room. The western New York hospital has opened two feline-only examination rooms after winning Novartis Animal Health’s Onsior Clinic Makeover contest. The $20,000 in upgrades also includes the purchase of spay and neuter equipment used in partnership with Community Cats Alive, a group that operates a sterilization and vaccination program for feral cats. Some 964 clinics entered the contest sponsored by Novartis’ Onsior brand. Onsior (robenacoxib) tablets are indicated for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation in cats. “Creating a feline-friendly clinic goes beyond the functional clinic elements and includes feline-friendly products, practices and protocols,” said Juan Angel, associate brand manager with Novartis Animal Health US Inc. of Greensboro, N.C. Village Vet, operated by sole practitioner Kristen Ruest, DVM, also received new roll-up window blinds and two fish aquariums—one in the waiting room and another cut into an exam room and hallway. The feline-only rooms feature wall décor, climbing trees and examination baskets, which cats are placed in to help steady their nerves. BDA Architecture, an Albuquerque, N.M., firm that specializes in veterinary …
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Ceva Animal Health Gallops Into Equine MarketJuly 21, 2014 Ceva Animal Health, fresh off its takeover of veterinary drug maker Sogeval, has launched an equine division with four veterinarians in key sales roles. The company’s equine product catalog includes Altresyn (altrenogest), an oral solution formulated to suppress estrus in mares; ConfidenceEQ, a nostril gel designed to reduce stress; and Tildren (tiludronate disodium), which is used in the treatment of bone- and cartilage-related lameness. A wide selection of treatments for pain and mobility, reproduction and behavior issues is scheduled to be introduced later this year, the Lenexa, Kan., company reported July 16. “When Ceva decided to enter the U.S. animal health market, we knew the equine segment would be a strategic opportunity for growth based on the uniqueness of products like Tildren,” said Craig Wallace, Ceva Animal Health’s CEO and North American zone director. “Many members of our team have worked for years to ensure our successful entry into the equine market. We’re glad that day is finally here.” Four equine veterinarians will serve as technical sales representatives. They are Simon Towl, DVM, who will oversee the Northeast region; Ashley Phelps, DVM (Southeast); Matt Klotz, DVM (Central); and Alina Vale, DVM (West). “We …
Trupanion Stock Debuts on NYSEJuly 18, 2014 Shares of pet health insurer Trupanion Inc., the newest member of the New York Stock Exchange, rose by up to 15 percent Friday in early first-day trading. The Seattle company raised about $71 million when it sold 7,125,000 shares of common stock at an initial public offering price of $10. The price was down from the anticipated range of $13 to $15 a share. Trupanion, which trades under the stock symbol TRUP, plans to use the cash infusion to pay down debt and ramp up its marketing. “Trupanion is working really hard to make sure that we build and invest in technology and in business processes where we do the work for veterinarians rather than make the veterinarian bend their medicine to insurance,” said chief veterinary officer Kerri Marshall, DVM. “We are becoming a public company to continue this work to help veterinarians and their clients do what they do best: care for pets. “We believe the Trupanion model will help lead to pet health insurance becoming the norm, and veterinarians will really see a huge shift in their ability to do quality veterinary medicine,” Dr. Marshall added. The company reported having 181,634 …
Avian Vets Gather In The Big EasyJuly 18, 2014 The Association of Avian Veterinarians Conference and Expo starts on August 2, 2014 and runs to August 6, 2014. This is the event’s 35th year and it’s packed with everything from education to fun. The yearly event is an opportunity for many students, professionals and enthusiasts to continue their avian education and network with peers. The association has put together a wide variety of activities, featuring speakers, educational sessions, master classes and labs that draw conference goers near and far. Bruce Nixon, DVM, President of the Association of Avian Veterinarians is excited about the goals the conference is shooting for this year. “The goal is to provide cutting-edge information that promotes quality clinical practice," he said. "The objectives are to a) provide innovative programming for veterinary clinicians with an orientation toward avian medicine, b) continue offering high quality Master Classes and Practical Labs to provide more in-depth learning, c) showcase the latest therapeutics and research, and d) generate funding for education and research.” The choice of venue is also cause for excitement. “I would say we are ‘hungry’ to be back in ‘The Big Easy’— hungry for the latest cutting edge CE, new lab opportunities and …
Early-Bird Registration Open for VHMA ConferenceJuly 18, 2014 The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association is offering a $100 discount to anyone who registers for its 2014 Annual Meeting and Conference by Aug. 1. Up to 16½ continuing education hours will be available at the convention, which is scheduled for Sept. 17 to 20 in St. Louis. Among the scheduled speakers are practice consultants Karen Felsted, CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM, and Shelley Johnson, CVPM, and corporate trainer and author Laura Goodrich. The theme of the annual meeting is “Precise, Performing, Professional.” Learning tracks include sessions titled “Team Synergy,” “Leading From Potential to Performance” and “Staffing the Emergency Practice.” Registration for the full conference after Aug. 1 will cost $595 for members and $790 for nonmembers. More information is available at www.vhma.org. Based in Alchula, Fla., the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association counts practice managers, veterinarians, hospital administrators, office managers and consultants among its members. The organization also offers Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) certification.
Veterinary Chain to Get New Majority OwnerJuly 18, 2014 National Veterinary Associates, the owner of 244 hospitals in 39 states, is being sold to a private equity fund for an undisclosed price. Summit Partners, a Boston-based investment company, will transfer its holdings in National Veterinary Associates to Ares Management of Los Angeles. The chain’s senior managers will retain a minority stake, Ares reported Thursday. National Veterinary Associates, which was founded in 1996 by Stanley R. Creighton, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, bills itself as the largest private owner of independent freestanding veterinary hospitals in the United States. The hospitals enjoy considerable freedom in how they operate and keep their original names, such as Countryside Pet Clinic in Andover, Kan., and Martin Downs Animal Hospital in Palm City, Fla. “As part of its mission, [National Veterinary Associates] provides the tools and resources for its veterinarians to deliver high-quality care and client services that cater to the needs of its hospitals’ local communities,” Ares reported. When he began acquiring independent hospitals, Dr. Creighton believed that “veterinary medicine is best practiced when veterinarians craft their own hospital and community-specific strategies,” National Veterinary Associates states on its website. The chain is headquartered in Agoura Hills, Calif. Bennett Rosenthal, …
Drug Makers, Compounders at Odds Over FDA OversightJuly 17, 2014 The Animal Health Institute, a trade group representing pharmaceutical manufacturers, is demanding that the Food and Drug Administration crack down on the illegal compounding of veterinary drugs, saying the practice puts animals at risk and jeopardizes the development of new medications. The appeal was made during a media conference call Wednesday and at a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., involving stakeholders and organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association. The Animal Health Institute is not asking for the elimination of all drug compounding. The group supports a pharmacist’s manipulation of FDA-approved drugs to meet individual patients’ needs and the occasional compounding of bulk, active ingredients under FDA’s discretionary powers. “The third type of compounded drugs … is dangerous and illegal,” said Richard Carnevale, VMD, the Animal Health Institute’s vice president for regulatory, scientific and international affairs. “These are dangerous drugs crafted by pharmacies acting as manufacturers and often promoted to veterinarians as a way to increase profits. “They are not looking to help Mrs. Jones’ cat,” Dr. Carnevale said of such companies. “They even offer disclaimers that they are not responsible for …
Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act Heads to PresidentJuly 17, 2014 Federal legislation that would permit veterinarians to legally transport and dispense controlled drugs away from their office appears on the fast track to becoming law after the U.S. Senate approved the bill by unanimous consent Wednesday. The Senate action followed the House’s approval eight days earlier. The bill now goes to President Obama for his expected signature. Two veterinarians—U.S. Reps. Kurt Schrader of Oregon and Ted Yoho of Florida—sponsored the legislation in an attempt to eliminate violations of the Controlled Substances Act when practitioners go about their everyday work of making house calls or treating farm animals. The Drug Enforcement Administration in recent years interpreted the Controlled Substances Act as prohibiting the removal and administration of some drugs away from a veterinarian’s registered location. The American Veterinary Medical Association welcomed the Senate’s approval of HR 1528, also known as the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act. “We are grateful for the outreach and engagement in support of this legislation and are seeking swift action by the president,” wrote AVMA blogger Ashley Morgan, DVM, the assistant director of the Governmental Relations Division.
New Heartgard Made for Dogs With Food AllergiesJuly 17, 2014 The oral heartworm preventive Heartgard now comes in tablet form for dogs that have food allergies. The new medication, Heartgard Tablet (ivermectin), does not contain food ingredients that may trigger an allergic reaction, according to the manufacturer, Merial Ltd. of Duluth, Ga. “Many dogs suffer from food allergies, and most oral heartworm preventives have meat components in their formulation,” said Michael Murray, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, a Merial technical marketing director. Merial is offering Heartgard Tablet in addition to the longtime preventive Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), a beef-flavored chewable. Both formulations are administered monthly for the prevention of heartworm disease. Heartgard Tablet is available in three dosages based on a dog’s weight: up to 25 pounds, 26 to 50 pounds and 51 to 100 pounds.
Sterilization Effects Worse for Golden Retrievers Than LabsJuly 15, 2014 Golden retrievers are more likely than Labrador retrievers to be diagnosed with joint disorders or cancer after the animals have been spayed or neutered, according to the results of a study published Monday in the online journal PLOS ONE. Intact members of both breeds enjoy lower rates of joint disorders and cancer, researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine added. The researchers did not take a stand on spaying and neutering, which is done to an estimated 83 percent of all U.S. dogs to control the pet population and prevent unwanted behaviors. Instead, they stated that the study served to measure the long-term health effects of sterilization and to educate breeders and dog owners who are deciding when, and if, to spay or neuter their animals. When a golden or Labrador retriever is sterilized can play a role in the onset of joint disorders and cancer, the researchers stated. A connection was found between early sterilization—before the animal is 6 months old—and the appearance of joint disorders. About 5 percent of intact golden and Labrador retrievers of both genders suffer from a joint disorder, the researchers determined. The rate in dogs …
