Hill’s Appoints New Chief Veterinary Officers
Dr. Karen Shenoy, the U.S. chief veterinary officer for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, will become the chief veterinarian and vice president of the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region, replacing Dr. Hein Meyer. Dr. Shenoy’s replacement as U.S. chief veterinary officer is Dr. Chelsie Estey. Both appointments are effective in early April.
Vanguard B Comes in a Smaller Dose
The Vanguard B Intranasal kennel cough vaccine is now available in a smaller, 0.5-milliliter dose. According to the manufacturer, Zoetis, the USDA-approved formulation provides single nostril administration to ensure a more comfortable and convenient experience for puppies as young as 3 weeks old.
For Students: Free HAB Certification
U.S. veterinary students can receive free Human-Animal Bond certification in 2025 through the North American Veterinary Community, in partnership with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute and sponsor Zoetis. The certification program, launched in 2018, provides a formal understanding of the science and research of the health benefits of pet ownership and human-animal interaction and how best veterinary professionals can use that knowledge. Veterinary students may register at go.navc.com/4hRar44.
Epicur Returns as Service Animal Eye Exam Sponsor
Epicur Pharma is continuing its sponsorship of the annual National Service Animal Eye Exam through at least 2027. The philanthropic event, held each May, provides free eye screens to service and working animals in cooperation with board-certified diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Registration information is at bit.ly/42641bs.
WVC Sets Attendance Record
The annual WVC Conference drew nearly 21,000 onsite participants to Las Vegas in early March. The organizer, Viticus Group, called the turnout the largest ever in the event’s 97-year history.
Nationwide Identifies Top Reasons for Claims
A newly released Nationwide pet insurance report has revealed that skin allergies were the most common health issue for dogs for the 13th year in a row. According to Nationwide claims data, the condition’s full-year cost to pet owners after the diagnosis was $841. Gastroenteritis topped the feline list for the second year, followed by urinary tract disease and kidney failure. The complete report is at bit.ly/4iVQSbB.
Elias Cancer Immunotherapy Earns USDA Approval
Elias Animal Health’s adoptive cell therapy, Elias Cancer Immunotherapy, has received full approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics. The autologous prescription product is indicated for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma.
Exubrion Therapeutics Hires CEO
Jennifer Kirk was named CEO of Exubrion Therapeutics, whose radiotherapeutic technology, Synovetin OA, delivers targeted, localized relief to dogs suffering from chronic osteoarthritis. Her appointment is effective May 3. Kirk previously worked at Medtronic, a medical technology company.
Patterson Teams Up With dvmGRO
Patterson Veterinary is partnering with dvmGRO, a group purchasing organization for independently owned veterinary practices. “By combining Patterson’s industry-leading product offerings and services with dvmGRO’s business development expertise, we can provide veterinary professionals with the solutions they need to thrive,” said George Henriques, president of Patterson Veterinary.
Bridge Club Collects $14,000 for Charity
The Bridge Club, a veterinary industry networking group, has raised over $14,000 for the Veterinary Hope Foundation. The fundraiser was held at the WVC Conference in Las Vegas, with support from sponsors Chewy Health, Virbac, Blue Buffalo, Vetcetera and Viticus Group.
New From Antech: trūRapid FOUR
Antech has released trūRapid FOUR, an in-house canine vector-borne disease screening test. The lateral flow test uses whole blood, serum or plasma to detect canine antibodies to Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Lyme C6 (Borrelia burgdorferi), as well as heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) antigen.
PetPace Wins PCMag Excellence Award
PetPace, the maker of pet health monitoring wearables, has received the PCMag Excellence Award. In addition, the company recently won the IoT Breakthrough Award for wearable device of the year.
Donors Give $4 Million to Virginia-Maryland
Two philanthropists, Karen Waldron and Shawn Ricci, have donated $4 million to support horses and small pets at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. According to the university, “The $2 million donated to each service at the hospital will enable the hiring of a second emergency care veterinarian in large animal, bringing in an additional critical care specialist in small animal, and supporting residents in equine and small animal care.”