Companion News for July 15
Pet services make up for decline in product sales
Today’s Veterinary Business reported that online sellers will capture an estimated 20% of the U.S. pet products market in 2019, but brick-and-mortar businesses are responding to e-commerce’s growing challenge by emphasizing and expanding pet services. A new study published by the market research firm Packaged Facts pointed to PetSmart and Petco as examples of pet specialty retailers that have adapted to the internet age. The companies draw customers to in-store veterinary clinics — PetSmart hosts hundreds of Banfield clinics — encourage them to spend on training and grooming services, and make it easy for them to go home with food and other supplies. PetSmart also has gotten into boarding through PetsHotel. Meanwhile, Walmart has entered the veterinary space with in-store providers PetIQ and Essentials PetCare.
FDA, CDC investigating Salmonella outbreak linked to pig ear dog treats
According to AAHA NEWSTat, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with public health and regulatory officials in several states, are investigating an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella across 13 states — an outbreak linked to contact with pig ear dog treats. The CDC and the FDA announced the investigation recently, singling out pig ear dog treats as the common source of contact for the infection. Authorities say that 45 people — from California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin — have been infected with Salmonella; 12 of the people were hospitalized. Of the 38 infected people interviewed by the CDC, 34 said they had come into contact with a dog prior to contracting the illness, and 17 out of 24 said that they came into contact with pig ear dog treats or dogs who had been given the treats.
California budget includes $5 million for veterinary and other care for pets of homeless people
Fox KTVU reported that California’s newly adopted budget includes innovative funding to help the animal companions of people living on the streets. The 2019-20 budget that went into effect on July 1 includes $5 million in grants to fund veterinary and other care for pets of homeless people. The money would go toward placing veterinarians at qualified homeless shelters to allow those living on the streets to get care for their pets. Gov. Newsom has promised to make homelessness and the housing crisis top priorities. His $214.8 billion budget calls for $2.4 billion to address those concerns.
Pathway Vet Alliance reaches milestone 200+ locations; announces the addition of two new company leaders to executive team
Pathway Vet Alliance, a national veterinary management group, announced the company is now serving pets and their parents in over 200 locations across the U.S and has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer. Founded in 2003 as a single veterinary practice, Pathway has grown both organically and through acquisition, expanding to 33 states, according to a release. Since 2017, Pathway has added over 175 hospitals to its national network and more than 4,500 employees. The company has appointed Odis Pirtle as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer and Andrea Clayton to the position of Chief People Officer.
After FDA warning about grain-free pet food, customers are unsure what to feed their pets
NBC reported that consumers used to reading ingredient labels on their own foods might think that checking corresponding labels on pet products will give them necessary information, but veterinary experts say otherwise. Furthermore, they say, many pet food rankings online rely on those labels, focusing on the ingredient list, when in reality, it’s the nutrients in the product that matter. “And those nutrients need to be bioavailable, meaning they need to be in a form the pet can utilize,” says one University of Pennsylvania veterinarian. The issue is gaining attention in light of the FDA’s ongoing investigation into the link between grain-free diets and canine heart disease. nbcnews.com
Alaska veterinarian runs floating veterinary clinic to serve remote communities
Alaska Public Media reported that in an effort to increase access to veterinary care for Alaska’s remote southeastern communities, one veterinarian has turned a 50-foot fishing boat into a floating veterinary clinic. Despite its cramped quarters, the 17-year-old clinic’s operating room supports a wide range of procedures, including dental work, bone mending and some surgeries too. alaskapublic.org
