Surveys Shed Light on Client Trends
Two surveys revealed unsettling news about the ability of pet owners to pay for veterinary services and what clients think about the veterinary profession. According to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, “More than 80% of participating veterinarians said they encounter clients who are unable to pay for treatment of a pet’s life-threatening health issue at least once a month, and more than one-third said they are faced with such situations once a week or more.” Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim reported that “49% of veterinarians felt they were underappreciated by clients when it came to understanding the resilience to stress and emotional exhaustion required from the job.” In contrast, 75% felt personally appreciated by their client base.
$230 Million Veterinary Complex to Open in 2026
Colorado State University scheduled a May 2 groundbreaking ceremony for the Veterinary Health and Education Complex. The $230 million project is expected to open in fall 2026 and include a teaching hospital for routine and urgent pet care, a livestock veterinary hospital, and classrooms with interactive workstations. Visit bit.ly/4dsBXDJ to learn more about how Colorado State intends to train the next generation of veterinarians.
Sage Veterinary Imaging Appoints COO
Peter Selover was named president and chief operating officer of Sage Veterinary Imaging. The company handles referral cases in Round Rock, Texas; Spring, Texas; and Sandy, Utah. Its diagnostic services include 3T magnetic resonance imaging, 128-slice computed tomography scanning and high-resolution ultrasound.
Technicians Can Win a Free Trip to VMX
The North American Veterinary Community is offering all-expense-paid trips to VMX 2025 for three veterinary technicians — two from the United States and one international candidate. Applications for the Dr. Earl H. Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarship will be accepted until Sept. 8 at go.navc.com/44h3ofN. In other news, the NAVC Gives program awarded $10,000 to Texas A&M University’s Veterinary Emergency Team “for its admirable response to the historic Smokehouse Creek fire in the Texas Panhandle and continued dedication to veterinary education.”
VIC Offers Access to Care Resources
The Veterinary Innovation Council launched the Access to Care Resource Hub for veterinary teams looking to assist a broader range of patients. Visitors to vetaccesshub.com can learn about financial options, the spectrum of care, best practices and case studies. Mars Veterinary Health and Banfield Pet Hospital contributed financially to the project.
Inventory Ally Partners With TVC
The Veterinary Cooperative’s 4,000 member hospitals can receive special pricing on Inventory Ally’s cloud-based inventory management software. “Our software has enabled veterinary clinics to slash their COGS from 28% to 18% in just a few months,” said Emmitt Nantz, the co-founder of Inventory Ally.
Vetigel Is Available From Major Distributors
Cresilon Inc.’s Vetigel hemostatic gel is now available through U.S. distributors Covetrus, MWI Animal Health and Patterson Veterinary Supply. According to Cresilon, Vetigel is recommended for the treatment of traumatic wounds as well as routine and complex surgical procedures, such as dental extractions, liver biopsies, tumor and mass removals, cleft palate repairs, and amputations.
Dechra Supports Fear Free
Dechra, which makes the injectable sedation drug Zenalpha, announced a partnership with the Fear Free organization. “As a commitment to Fear Free’s mission, our entire veterinary services team is Fear Free certified, to not only enhance their knowledge and understanding of Fear Free practices but to also help our veterinary partners provide the best care for their patients,” said Mike Eldred, the president of Dechra North America.
Tennessee Finds Its Next Dean
Iowa State University associate dean Dr. Paul J. Plummer was appointed dean of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. He will replace interim dean Dr. Bob Denovo in July.
New From Elanco: ParvoTrack
Elanco Animal Health introduced ParvoTrack, a parvovirus tracking tool for pet owners and veterinary professionals. “Visitors to the online tool can self-report and identify parvo outbreak areas in real time, as well as sign up to receive direct alerts … at DefeatParvo.com,” Elanco stated.