Companion News for July 30

AVMA conferences to address economics, well-being

Today’s Veterinary Business reported that the American Veterinary Medical Association has opened registration for two annual fall conferences taking place in suburban Chicago. The Economic Summit, set for October 22 and 23, will examine the economy, veterinary compensation and student debt, among other topics. The Veterinary Wellbeing Summit, planned for November 17-19, will “focus on what actions we are taking or can begin to take to foster inclusive academic and work environments that promote individual, team, practice and organizational well-being,” according to the AVMA.

Stonehaven Incubate, Nuritas partnering to bring AI to animal health

Stonehaven Incubate and Nuritas announced a new collaboration which will see them join forces as part of a newly created joint venture. This partnership will use cutting-edge AI technology to discover and develop advanced animal health solutions, with an initial focus on exploring feed ingredients, according to a release. Stonehaven Incubate is a dedicated, animal health group committed to creating new companies from disruptive human technology. Nuritas combines artificial intelligence and genomics to discover and unlock natural Bioactive Peptides.

Researchers to test a new cancer vaccine on dogs

According to AAHA NEWStat, researchers at three veterinary schools are working together to test a new cancer vaccine on dogs in the largest clinical trial ever conducted for canine cancer. And if it works on dogs, it could potentially lead to a vaccine to prevent cancer in humans. The Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study (VACCS trial) hopes to enroll 800 healthy, middle-aged pet dogs to test the effectiveness of the new vaccine.

DogSpot expands sidewalk dog sanctuary services

According to Pet Product News, DogSpot has expanded its sidewalk dog sanctuary services to Portland, Ore. The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based company makes high tech sidewalk houses that are placed at the entrance of locations where dogs are prohibited. The app-connected houses are a safer and smarter solution when customers are shopping with their dogs, rather than leaving them in the car or tied up on the street, company officials said. DogSpot houses feature heat and A/C, auto-sanitizing UVC lights, a puppy cam and an app-controlled lock, according to officials. “People who have dogs get it—you don’t get a dog to leave them cooped up inside all day,” said Chelsea Brownridge, co-founder and CEO of DogSpot. “The best part of their day is going out on walks around town, heading to the dog park and spending time with you. We’re making it possible to say, ‘Wanna go for a walk?!’ more often and more safely than before.”

New York becomes first state to ban declawing

According to dvm360, New York has become the first state to ban feline declawing after Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 22 signed legislation prohibiting the practice. “Declawing is a cruel and painful procedure that can create physical and behavioral problems for helpless animals, and today it stops,” Cuomo said in a statement. The bill creates a civil penalty of $1,000 for anyone who performs “an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangectomy or tenonectomy procedure by any means on a cat within the state of New York, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose.”

Petco, PetSmart draw more U.S. dog food buyers than cat

Petfood Industry reported that U.S. dog owners appear to shop at Petco and PetSmart more than cat owners, a new Packaged Facts report shows. Analysts used survey data to calculate that the two pet specialty superstores attract 48% of dog-owning households, while 44% of cat owners shop at Petco or PetSmart, partly because of supermarkets’ strength in cat food and litter. Combined, PetSmart and Petco sold products to 47% of dog- or cat-owning households in 2018—approximately 29.9 million households.

How I Met My Dog has paired 1,000 adopters with shelter dogs

USA Today reported on the success of a new app that pairs adopters with shelter dogs. How I Met My Dog works like a dating app, matching potential adopters with shelter dogs across the country, Madeline Purdue writes. Since launching in 2017, the service has facilitated about 1,000 adoptions and has more than 100,000 users. But users aren’t allowed to ask any questions about the breed of dog they’re being matched with. According to the app’s chief dog expert, people who adopt by breed don’t always find a dog that meets their expectations, putting dogs at higher risk of ending up in shelters.

Due to confirmed virus, Georgia animal shelter temporarily stops accepting cats

The Red & Black (Georgia) reported cases of a rare, often fatal virus forced the Athens-Clarke County Animal Shelter in Georgia to quarantine all feline residents and turn away new shelter occupants. The shelter announced in a July 10 statement that it wouldn’t take cats until at least July 20, in response to two confirmed cases of feline panleukopenia. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, feline panleukopenia “infects and kills cells that are rapidly growing and dividing, such as those in bone marrow, intestines and the developing fetus.” The virus is resistant to many disinfectants and has a high mortality rate, especially among kittens.