Attend VMX for Just $125
The world’s largest veterinary conference, VMX, will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a “throwback” registration fee of $125 through Oct. 31. The event takes place Jan. 14 to 18, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. Details are at navc.com/vmx.
JAB Pursues Crum & Forster
Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, whose brands include ASPCA, Hartville and Pumpkin, is expected to be acquired by JAB Holding Co. in a transaction valued at more than $1 billion. The deal with seller Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. includes Pethealth Inc., whose 24Petwatch registry has 20 million pets.
Register Soon for KC Summit
The 17th annual Animal Health Summit is set for Aug. 29 and 30 at the Midland Theatre in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Hosted by the KC Animal Health Corridor, the event will include panel discussions, networking opportunities and presentations by emerging companies. Registration is available at bit.ly/3hyy8Sw.
Zimeta Becomes a Dechra Drug
Dechra Veterinary Products acquired from Elanco Animal Health the registrations for the equine pyrexia drug Zimeta (dipyrone injection). Dechra has distributed Zimeta in the United States since January 2021.
PetWellClinic Grants New Territory
PetWellClinic signed a franchise agreement with entrepreneur Jeff Bezer for the opening of three walk-in wellness clinics in northeastern Massachusetts.
How to Use Antibiotics Properly
The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners published recommendations for safeguarding antibiotics and preventing antimicrobial resistance. The 2022 AAFP/AAHA Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines are at bit.ly/3nS5Chi.
ezyVet Works With Trupanion
Pet health insurer Trupanion’s direct payments to veterinary practices was integrated into ezyVet practice information management software.
Colorado State Gets a New Dean
Sue VandeWoude, DVM, DACLAM, was named dean of the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She will take over Aug. 16 after serving as the director of CSU’s One Health Institute.
Mars Names a Global Drug Boss
Mars Veterinary Health appointed Ian Battersby, BVSc, DSAM, DECVIM, FRCVS, its global lead for responsible pharmaceutical stewardship. “Dr. Battersby will guide the development of interventions, strategies, process changes and campaigns to improve responsible pharmaceutical usage” at more than 2,500 Mars-owned veterinary clinics worldwide, according to the company.
Vetmedin-CA1 Earns FDA Approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted conditional approval of Vetmedin-CA1 (pimobendan) for the delayed onset of congestive heart failure in dogs with Stage B2 preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease. The manufacturer is Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.
Third Cancer Study Is Released
The larger the dog, the higher the risk of cancer, according to the third in a series of white papers from Nationwide. The pet health insurer analyzed six years of policy and claims data to reach the conclusion. Learn more at bit.ly/3uBvh1o.
Rarebreed Family Includes a Friend
Rarebreed Veterinary Partners, whose majority owner is the private equity firm Revelstoke Capital Partners, acquired the 47-practice Vet’s Best Friend network. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Rarebreed, which operated 71 hospitals before the transaction, is headquartered in Portland, Maine.
Aussie Students Learn on iQ+ Vet
Veterinary students at the University of Melbourne in Australia are using iQ+ Vet, a handheld, whole-body ultrasound developed by Butterfly Network Inc. The Connecticut company has similar partnerships with Texas Tech University and Purdue University.
Shepherd PIMS Adds a Feature
Shepherd Veterinary Software’s new pet portal allows hospital clients to go online to request appointments and prescription refills. Clients also can access prescription histories, the number of refills remaining and pay the order invoice.
LSU Unveils Small Animal Hospital
The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine opened Stephenson Pet Clinic, a 40,000-square-foot facility that doubles as the small animal entrance to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
New: Guide to Hospice Providers
Pet owners can visit bit.ly/3nRAO02 to find a veterinarian providing in-home pet hospice and euthanasia. The nationwide directory is managed by Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice. “When one of our doctors isn’t available, or if it is an area that we do not currently service, we plan to direct families to this new directory,” said company co-founder Mary Gardner, DVM.
AAVMC Welcomes James Cook U
Australia’s James Cook University joined the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges as a provisional member.
Come to Las Vegas in February
The 95th annual WVC Conference is scheduled for Feb. 19 to 22, 2023, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Visit bit.ly/3gbucal for information.
Basepaws Is Now a Part of Zoetis
Zoetis Inc. completed its acquisition of Basepaws, which provides pet owners with genetic tests, analytics and early health risk assessments. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Fear Free Partners With Sleepypod
Sleepypod, a maker of pet carriers, beds and harnesses, will introduce the Fear Free Happy Homes product line in November. Fear Free, which provides education and certification focused on the prevention and alleviation of pet fear, anxiety and stress, was founded by Marty Becker, DVM, in 2016.
Multiple Resources for Practices
Zoetis Inc. launched Zoetis Petcare Network, a website designed to assist practice teams on business and personal matters ranging from client communication to work-life balance. Learn more at zoetispetcarenetwork.com.
Investing in an Insurance Broker
Pawlicy Advisor, a pet health insurance brokerage, raised $12 million from investors. The New York company said it “will use the new funding to further serve the veterinary community, grow its pet insurance marketplace, enhance its core offerings and make key hires in several departments.”
Beyond Indigo Pets Does It All
The marketing agency Beyond Indigo Pets launched Nose-to-Tail Bundles, a package that includes clinic website design, a business metrics dashboard and a custom marketing strategy.
Terravet Buys Cincinnati Practice
Terravet Real Estate Solutions paid $11.9 million for Animal Care Center, a three-hospital practice in the Cincinnati suburbs of Blue Ash, Fairfield and Forest Park. The properties, north of downtown Cincinnati, total 44,428 square feet.
Own a Clinic Through PetSmart
PetSmart launched PetSmart Veterinary Services, a program for veterinarians interested in opening a franchised practice inside one of the company’s stores. “To ensure the highest standard of care, every PVS hospital will be required to maintain American Animal Hospital Association accreditation,” PetSmart reported.
Brakke Examines Home Delivery
Brakke Consulting released the 2022 Veterinary Home Delivery Report. Among the areas detailed are client preferences for online and phone ordering, the percentage of clinics with an online store, and performance ratings for Vetsource, Covetrus and MyVetStoreOnline. Email Lynn Fondon at info@brakkeconsulting.com for more information.
After-Hours-Only Hospital Opens
PetMedic Urgent Care Vet Clinic’s third location is in Westborough, Massachusetts. The business model covers care for non-life-threatening conditions after regular business hours and on weekends — times when a pet’s primary veterinarian might not be available. Other PetMedic clinics are in Watertown, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine.
Stevens Co. Prevails Upon Virox
The Stevens Co. became the master distributor of Prevail, Virox Technologies’ line of disinfectants for the companion animal sector.
Vcheck Updates Automatically
Bionote USA’s Vcheck V200 diagnostic analyzer now comes with a Wi-Fi device for automatic software updates. “The wireless connection dongle is unique to the diagnostic analyzer marketplace and is being provided free to existing Bionote customers,” the company reported.
How to Help Ukrainian Pets
Veterinarians Without Borders is raising money to support shelter animals in Ukraine and, the organization stated, “in other locations where people and their animals are fleeing.” Learn more at vetswithoutborders.ca.
New Home for Emergency Hospital
Animal Emergency and Specialty Center, a 24-hour practice in Poulsbo, Washington, moved into a 12,000-square-foot building just over a mile from its previous location. David Burgess, DVM, who co-founded the practice in 1993, remains on staff.
In the Interest of Affordability
The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges received a $1.3 million grant from the Stanton Foundation in support of the Spectrum of Care initiative, which aims to address the affordability of veterinary care.