The American Pet Products Association’s new membership category, supplier members, hopes to connect suppliers of pet product components, ingredients, packaging, live animal companions, business services and more with top manufacturers in the industry. Source: Pet Product News, September 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Drs. Peter Weinstein and Marty Becker honored in Kansas City
Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, was presented with the Distinguished Life Member Award and Marty Becker, DVM, received Pioneer Professional Award for their commitments to advancing veterinary medicine and the animal health industry. The VetPartners™ 2024 Mid-Year Conference, took place August 20–22 in Kansas City, Missouri, and was attended by nearly 100 industry leaders. Source: … [Read more...]
Virtual BEEF experience promises context
Complimentary Consider this opportunity to engage with producers or advance your understanding of production issues and practices. BEEF’s free online event September 18th features updates related to market trends and forecasts, cattle health and new technology. Among the presenters are: Glynn Tonsor, PhD Dan Thompson, PhD, DVM Russ Daly, DVM, MS, DACVPM Grant … [Read more...]
Reminder: Prioritizing veterinary technicians, a virtual conversation
The Bridge Club’s September 18th Zoom conversation seeks to advance successful paths forward for all technicians. Despite their crucial role in veterinary care, veterinary technicians continue to encounter numerous challenges, including title protection, underutilization, low compensation and high turnover rates. Join via Zoom, September 18, 2024, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CDT. … [Read more...]
Automation to streamline its rabies vaccination, certificate processes
GlobalVetLink has developed a solution that simplifies the creation and submission of rabies vaccination certificates and ensures compliance with state and local regulations. GVL's Rabies Vaccination Certificates eliminates the cumbersome, time-consuming tasks associated with manual certificate management, saves time and reduces errors. Source: GlobalVetLink via PR Newswire, … [Read more...]
Chewy Q2 earnings results show app use growing, net sales increase
Chewy’s Q2 earnings call highlighted six percent net sales per active customer increase, 20 million active customers, six Chewy Health clinics in operation and 13 percent more unique customers using the Chewy app. Source: Digital 360, September 3, 2024. Link. Digital Commerce 360 projects that Chewy online sales will reach $11.59 billion in 2024. Also see: Chewy sees … [Read more...]
FDA – defining VCPR, including telemedicine
The FDA recently published a Q&A page about federal requirements related to a veterinarian’s role in dispensing prescription animal drugs and establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship in the course of practice. The page only covers the veterinarian’s obligations under federal law. Consult state licensing boards to determine if there are additional requirements … [Read more...]
AAFCO and FDA to end longstanding MOU signaling shift in animal feed regulation
The 17-year memorandum of understanding to provide standardization to the animal food industry is ending. It allows AAFCO to look at new and innovative solutions in the ingredient space, and to seek out additional partners that can provide strong, science-based guidance to our state officials. Meanwhile, the FDA is evaluating its animal food ingredient review authorities and … [Read more...]
Eyeworm emergence in cats, dogs in the U.S.
Muscoid flies like the house fly and stable fly, along with drosophilid flies like fruit flies, can transmit eye worm nematodes in the genus Thelazia. Many eyeworm species have been identified in the United States in dogs, wildlife, horses and cattle. Heather D.S. Walden, MS, PhD, shares the discovery of Thelazia callipaeda infections in cats and explains the importance of … [Read more...]
Advocacy helps pet owners discover benefits of choosing pet health insurance (Part 5)
Sponsored Content This series on how veterinary teams position and share the benefits of pet insurance has been well received. In this edition, Roberta Jaime shares how pet insurance is integrated into discussions with pet owners at Aloha Veterinary Hospital. Our doctor takes it further by writing recommendations directly onto the ASPCA Pet Insurance pamphlets during … [Read more...]
Job security driving trends in vocational schooling
Commentary More Americans are building trade skills to take jobs where there is a shortage of skilled labor. This trend bodes well for veterinary technicians, pet care services workers, groomers and livestock workers. The key will be to support continuing education and certifications from accredited veterinary technology programs and from groups like AKC, IBPSA, NCBA, PACCC … [Read more...]
New guidance for AMR gram-negative infections
Actions by our human counterparts affect how antimicrobials are considered in animal health and, therefore, become relevant for animal health pros. The Infectious Diseases Society of America recently updated guidance for treating antimicrobial-resistant gram-negative infections <Link>. The guidance updated recommendations for treating pathogens that cause various … [Read more...]
Insights on how avian flu crosses the species barrier
A new study from the Cusack group at EMBL Grenoble and published in the journal Nature Communications, sheds light on the different mutations that the avian influenza virus can undergo to be able to replicate in mammalian cells. Significant biological differences between birds and mammals normally prevent avian influenza from spreading from birds to other species. To infect … [Read more...]
What did we miss at the VIS?
The 2024 Veterinary Innovation Summit, organized by the NAVC’s Veterinary Innovation Council, provides a platform for veterinary and industry professionals to explore new ideas and technologies. Past gatherings have opened eyes as companies work to ensure an innovative and resilient future for veterinary medicine. The networking and relational elements are also not to be … [Read more...]
Highlights from the 2024 KCAHC Animal Health Summit
Ending a busy 10 days in Kansas City, the 2024 Animal Health Summit hosted by the KC Animal Health Corridor provided the industry with information on sustainability in the consumers’ mind when buying meat, addressing access to veterinary care, including a pipeline of veterinary talent, where technology is going and what it can provide. Congratulations to Craig S. Wallace, … [Read more...]
AAHA Trends magazine is going ALL digital
After 40 years in print as one of the top veterinary practice management magazines in the industry, Trends is going fully digital, starting Jan. 1, 2025. The new platform will combine the existing newsletter, NEWStat and Trends articles and features. Source: AAHA NEWStat, August 06, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Viticus Group introduces new Premium Pass for 2025 WVC Annual Conference
The 97th WVC Annual Conference is scheduled for March 2-5, 2025, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Registration opens on September 7th and includes a premium pass designed to provide an upscale, seamless and elevated conference experience from registration to event completion above and beyond the standard conference registration. Source: Viticus Group, August … [Read more...]
$7 million federal grant to fund K-State’s Biomanufacturing Core and Training Facility
Good news in the KC Animal Health Corridor! The newly funded building in Manhattan, Kansas is one of four the university plans to construct as part of its biomanufacturing training and education initiative. K-State officials said the Biomanufacturing Core and Training Facility will improve the university’s ability to perform cutting-edge research, as well as workforce … [Read more...]
Questions for beef producers planning to expand
Sometimes our roles as animal health pros involve helping customers and clients think through future decisions. With beef cattle prices surging against lower inventories, Wesley Tucker shares eight questions producers should consider before planning a beef herd expansion. Available land, interest and labor costs along with carrying capacity are important considerations as … [Read more...]
Common allergy medications can be deadly to pets
Well, of course . . . BUT do pet owners and their guests really guard where pills are stored and ingested. It’s not uncommon to find an aberrant pill that didn’t reach the weekly pill organizer or a person’s mouth. With cats on the table and dogs in our laps, this release from the Pet Poison Helpline underscores the risks of our pets getting into our medications, as well as a … [Read more...]
AKC turns 140 in September
The AKC staff provides a historical look at how the AKC started from hunters’ desires to standardize their animals to what it is today. The original dogs registered were Pointer, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Setter, English Setter and Gordon Setter. The Lancashire Heeler was the latest dog registered in … [Read more...]
5 key voluntary benefits on the rise in 2025
Voluntary benefits, which can span from disability coverage to gym memberships, are valued by employees and employers, experts say. With open enrollment around the corner, Dawn Kawamoto shares popular voluntary benefits noting their importance in retaining diverse, five-generation workers. Pet insurance was named in the five benefits highlighted. Source: Human Resource … [Read more...]
33 Pet companies make list of fastest-growing businesses in the U.S.
A broad range of pet businesses made Inc. 5000’s list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. They include corporate and group practices, nutrition companies and service providers. Consider reviewing what these companies are doing, providing and manufacturing. Many of the trends we see every week are reflected in their growth. Source: Pet Product News, August … [Read more...]
Addison named to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation’s Honor Roll
Veterinary microbiologist and founder and president of Addison Biological Laboratory, Bruce Addison, is only the second non-veterinarian to earn the prestigious place on the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation’s Honor Roll. Source: The Fayette Advisor, August 13, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Turkey, egg and dairy groups call for new approach to avian flu
Fall bird migrations <Link> have begun and producers are looking for answers to protect their animals from HPAI. They believe an effective vaccine is necessary to protect food supplies and public health. The report here quotes a USDA official who says the agency is leaving “no stone unturned in the fight against H5N1.” The spokesperson shares concerns about the … [Read more...]
Climate-neutral farming is possible
“Reducing methane reduces warming,” shares Frank Mitloehner, PhD, who sits down with Elanco’s Jeff Simmons to discuss trust, cows, milk and the climate. The interview covers the complex relationship between livestock and climate change and the importance of finding solutions to reduce global emissions. Elanco recently introduced Bovear®, a first-in-class methane-reducing … [Read more...]
Culling ratios reveal the value of a herd’s health
Commentary One of three cows you see on a dairy farm will be culled. It is a shocking figure and represents many factors that impact individual cow and overall dairy performance. Preventative strategies help reduce losses to death and sickness and allow dairies to cull voluntarily to improve genetics and eliminate poor doers. Understanding culling rates and reasons is … [Read more...]
2024 CATalyst Report provides critical insights on feline health for animal health pros
The CATalyst Council’s first-of-its-kind data set and the resulting reports will help animal health pros in animal health companies, shelter and adoption organizations, and the veterinary community. It provides insights on feline wellness and nutrition as well as relational dynamics between cat owners and their veterinarians. In addition to the top three issues veterinarians … [Read more...]
Red flag: 8 ways to budget for the cost of owning a new dog
Commentary We sometimes see consumer-facing content that misses the mark. Sadly, thousands of pet owners will read this and, trusting the internet, act on some of the suggestions. Here are three of the eight suggestions that were not well thought out: Buying pet food in bulk: Economies of scale from big bags of dog food diminish when not used up within four to six weeks … [Read more...]
54 pet product manufacturers, service providers earn 2024 Pet Innovation Awards
The Pet Innovation Awards Program highlights the most innovative companies, services and products in the highly competitive pet care industry. The awards encompass a range of pet care industry categories, including apparel, grooming and cleaning, food and treats, health, housing, toys, training, retailers and services. Source: Pet Product News, August 2024. Link. The 2024 … [Read more...]