Texas To Modify Livestock Entry And Cattle 'Change Of Ownership' RulesFebruary 24, 2012Texas to Modify Livestock Entry and Cattle 'Change of Ownership' RulesTexas animal health comission, Texas cattle, cattle, livestock, BrucellosisThe Texas Animal Health Commission is accepting public comments on rules proposals that would make the state's entry requirements more consistent with national standards, remove the Brucellosis test requirement for change of ownership of adult sexually intact cattle, and add a requirement that cattle be permanently and officially identified when there is a change of ownership.Texas is accepting public comments on rules proposals that would make the state's entry requirements more consistent with national standards, remove the Brucellosis test requirement for change of ownership of adult sexually intact cattle, and add a requirement that cattle be permanently and officially identified when there is a change of ownership.newslineTexas to Modify Livestock Entry and Cattle 'Change of Ownership' RulesPosted: Feb. 24, 2012, 8:25 p.m. EST The Texas Animal Health Commission is accepting public comments on rules proposals that would make the state's entry requirements more consistent with national standards, remove the Brucellosis test requirement for change of ownership of adult sexually intact cattle, and add a requirement that cattle be permanently and officially identified when there is a change of ownership. The commission is …
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Pilot Program Increased Cat Visits And Revenues, Catalyst Council ReportsFebruary 23, 2012The Catalyst Council’s pilot Cat Friendly Practice Makeover program boosted veterinary visits and cat revenues for participating practices, the Annapolis, Md.-based organization reported Monday at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. The 17-practice pilot program included staff training and support, client education and the adoption of consistent feline standards of care to increase “cat friendliness” at the practice. Those practices that participated in the program, which ran from March through September 2011, averaged 2.62 percent more cat invoices year over year, 1.34 percent more cat revenue and 3.44 percent more revenue per cat client. “These results prove that there are reasonable and reliable ways to increase cat veterinary visits,” said Jane Brunt, DVM, executive director of the Catalyst Council. “By making visits to the veterinarian friendlier and less threatening, veterinarians can increase the number of cats they see and help improve their health and well-being.” During that time, a control group of 447 practices experienced a 2.09 percent decline in cat invoices (net difference of 4.71 percent from the pilot practices), a 0.56 percent decline in cat revenues and a 1.12 percent increase in revenue per cat client. Before
OSU Dean Named AAVMC Public Policy Award WinnerFebruary 17, 2012 The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges awarded the 2012 AAVMC Senator John Melcher, DVM Leadership in Public Policy Award to Lonnie King, DVM, M.S., M.P.A., Dipl. ACVPM, dean of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. King will receive the award March 10, 2012, at the AAVMC’s Annual Conference in Alexandria, Va. “Dr. King is an expert in One Health and the emergence of new diseases, who has successfully advocated for important legislation and demonstrated leadership throughout his career in government and academia,” said Bennie Osburn, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP. King is a professor in the OSU Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and holds the Ruth Stanton Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine, and previously served as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. He has also served as an administrator and veterinarian for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as the first director at each of the Office of Strategy and Innovation at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and …
VCA Q4 Revenue Climbs To Record HighsFebruary 16, 2012VCA Q4 Revenue Climbs to Record HighsVCA Antech, veterinary, VCA Antech revenueVCA Antech today reported a record fourth-quarter revenue and a second consecutive quarter of same-store revenue growth.VCA Antech reported a record fourth-quarter revenue and a second consecutive quarter of same-store revenue growth.newslineVCA Q4 Revenue Climbs to Record HighsPosted: Feb. 16, 2012, 6:35 p.m. EST VCA Antech today reported a record fourth-quarter revenue and a second consecutive quarter of same-store revenue growth. Same-store revenue at VCA hospitals grew by 1.1 percent in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011, and total hospital revenue increased 9.2 percent compared to the year-ago period, driven mostly by the 27 acquisitions the company made during its fiscal 2011. The company reported a fourth quarter revenue record of $369.0 million and 12-month best $1.49 billion in revenue. Internal revenue growth for the Los Angeles-based company's laboratory segment grew 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the year-ago period, impelled by an increase in requisitions. The company is anticipating same-store growth to increase by 2.0 percent in 2012 along with a 3.0-percent increase in internal laboratory revenue. As a whole, VCA Antech reported a net loss of 2.0 million dollars on revenues of $369.0 million …
N.J. Firms Team Up To Develop Fast-Dissolve Drugs For AnimalsFebruary 16, 2012 Two New Jersey drug firms are combining their technologies to develop a portfolio of fast-dissolve drugs for the animal health market. Animal health company NewMarket Pharmaceuticals LLC of Princeton, N.J., and drug delivery technology company Catalent Pharma Solutions of Somerset, N.J., are developing five drugs that will combine Catalent’s Zydis fast-dissolve technology and NewMarket’s Direct Systemic Introduction technology. The initial drugs under development include NSAIDs, beta agonists, proton pump inhibitors and behavior modifiers for several species, including horses, dogs and cattle. The companies plan to expand into other classes, as well. Rapidly dissolving tablets provide treatment without the use of needles, according to NewMarket. The drugs are absorbed directly into an animal’s system, bypassing gastric absorption and metabolism and providing a greater amount of drug to the animal at a faster rate than conventional formulations, said David Rock, vice-president for research and development at NewMarket. <HOME>
Heska To Roll Out Sublingual Allergy Therapy For PetsFebruary 15, 2012 Heska Corp. plans to manufacture and market a proprietary, sublingual therapy treatment for pets suffering with allergies, the company announced today. The Loveland, Colo.-based company will introduce the new product at the onset of the allergy season. Dr. Mary Morris and Associates LLC of La Crosse, Wis., developed the therapy treatment to expand treatment options for allergic diseases in people and animals, and partnered with Heska Corp. to manufacture and market the technology to the pet market. “Sublingual therapy offers a convenient alternative to subcutaneous injection, thereby enhancing the likelihood of pet owner compliance,” said Michael McGinley, president and chief operating officer of Heska. The product has undergone substantial testing over the past three years, according to Heska. Heska will manufacture the new allergy treatment product at its Des Moines, Iowa, facility, where the company moved its allergy immunotherapy manufacturing in 2011. <HOME>
Lap Of Love Adds Remote Consultation Service, Plans ExpansionFebruary 14, 2012 In-home veterinary hospice and euthanasia provider Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice began offering cancer consultations for clients via phone and Skype and is planning to expand its in-home service to Massachusetts and Texas, the company reported today. Veterinary oncologist Karri Miller, DVM, M.S., Dipl. ACVIM, joined Lap of Love to provide the remote consultations. Dr. Miller will help clients understand what their pet is going through and what their options for treatment are. Following consultations, a client is emailed a review of their discussion with Dr. Miller, an overview of their pet’s disease and possible treatment options. The same report is also sent to the client’s family veterinarian. The Tampa-based company started its in-home veterinary hospice service in Florida and expanded into North Carolina and Tennessee last year. The company plans to expand into Massachusetts and Texas “in the coming months.” <HOME>
Novartis Unveils Broad-Spectrum BRD VaccineFebruary 9, 2012 Novartis Animal Health launched a broad-spectrum, modified-live vaccine called BRD Shield to protect nonpregnant beef and dairy cattle against bovine respiratory disease complex. The new product is the first modified-live vaccine to offer protection against the noncytopathic strain of bovine virus diarrhea Type 1 and Type 2, which accounts for 90 to 95 percent of clinical disease outbreaks and is responsible for all persistently infected calves, according to Novartis. The vaccine also protects against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, parainfluenza 3 and bovine respiratory syncytial virus. The BRD Shield label indicates beef cattle should receive their initial dose of the vaccine at weaning, followed by a booster four weeks later. Vaccination of dairy cattle is recommended between two and six weeks of age, followed by a booster at six to 10 weeks of age. In herds at risk of BRSV, animals should be revaccinated three to four weeks after the first dose. Calves vaccinated prior to six months of age should be revaccinated after six months of age. <HOME>
Nebraska Administrator RecognizedFebruary 9, 2012 Debbie Newhouse, CVPM, received the 2011 Transforming the Practice award from the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. The award is presented annually to a VHMA member based on the veterinary practice’s success in meeting one or more of four criteria: increase in productivity, increase in revenue, decrease in expenses and increase in practice value estimates. Candidates must participate in the VHMA Practice Diagnostics Survey for two consecutive years to be eligible for the award. Newhouse, an administrator with Ralston Veterinary Clinic in Ralston, Neb., was recognized for assisting with the clinic’s transition to an employee-owned practice. <HOME>
Pathology Added As Technician Specialty By NAVTAFebruary 9, 2012 The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America recognized the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians as the 11th veterinary technician specialty, NAVTA reported today. The mission of the AVCPT is to advance the area of and promote excellence in the discipline of veterinary clinical pathology. Veterinary technician specialists must demonstrate “superior knowledge and performance of clinical pathology techniques,” according to the NAVTA. The 10 other specialties recognized by the NAVTA include the academies of: • Veterinary Dental Technicians; • Veterinary Technician Anesthetists; • Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians; • Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians; • Veterinary Behavior Technicians; • Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians; • Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians. • Veterinary Surgical Technicians; • Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice. • Veterinary Nutrition Technicians. Members of the organizing committee of the AVCPT include Sue Kolkka, A.A.S, L.V.T.; Barb Lewis, M.A., C.V.T.; Barbie Papajeski, M.S., L.V.T., Sharon Richardson, B.S., L.V.T.; Oreta Samples, D.H.Sc., M.P.H., C.V.T.; Pam Schendel, B.S., R.V.T.; Dan Walsh, M.P.S., R.V.T. (Kara Burns, MS, M.Ed., LVT, was removed from the list of AVCPT organizing committee members after being included because of a reporting error.) <HOME>
