Weekly companion animal news: June 22, 2020

Couple plans to open nation’s first drive-thru veterinary clinic

A Wisconsin husband and wife veterinary team is opening what they believe will be the first drive-thru veterinary clinic in the United States, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. They’ve even gone as far as patenting the idea. The approximately 4,100-square-foot building will have four vehicle bays. It will allow pet owners to remain in their vehicles while staff treat their pets there or in nearby exam rooms with Plexiglas windows for pet owners to see inside. “Like an oil change,” said Marty Greer, the vet who’s opening the new clinic with her husband.

AVMA webinar focuses on diversity in the vet profession

Diversity, marginalization and intersectionality are big topics at the moment, and they’re important in the veterinary profession too. The AVMA has a free webinar available for CE credit on its Axon platform, in which Lisa Greenhill, senior director for institutional research and diversity at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, explains what intersectionality means and how it relates to the veterinary profession. Greenhill in the webinar discusses what scholarly literature says about diversity and intersectionality, and she addresses the idea that “discrimination never exists in isolation,” according to the AVMA. The goal is for participants to walk away with ideas for how to reduce discrimination in their work environments and communities.

Tucson shelter joins national effort to keep pets in homes

Arizona-based shelter Pima Animal Care Center is joining the national Human Animal Support Services initiative, KVOA reports. The goals of the initiative include helping struggling pet owners access resources to keep their pets; getting stray pets home quickly without having them enter the shelter system; housing more pets in foster homes; providing telehealth assessments for people considering pet surrender due to medical reasons; and allowing the public to quickly access the shelter through text and email exchanges. The HASS concept emerged during the pandemic and has several participating cities, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta and others.

Canine cancer treatment shows positive results in trial

The Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine recently published results from a study of Stelfonta (tigilanol tiglate), a canine anticancer pharmaceutical from QBiotics. The study of 123 client-owned dogs showed that in those with mast cell tumors, a single intratumoral injection of Stelfonta removed 75% of MCTs at day 28, significantly higher compared to untreated controls. The trial showed no recurrence in 93% of Stelfonta-treated dogs at day 84. According to the announcement, the treatment was well tolerated, and the patients had a good quality of life during and after treatment. Stelfonta is available in Europe with anticipated launches in the United States and Australia, pending approvals. Virbac, QBiotics’ marketing partner, will distribute the drug.

FDA approves Clevor for dogs

The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has approved Clevor (ropinirole ophthalmic solution), an eyedrop solution that induces vomiting in dogs. Vets may need to induce vomiting when the dog has eaten something poisonous or that can’t pass through the intestinal tract, and that can be safely vomited as determined by a veterinarian. Clevor is available by prescription only and should only be administered by veterinary personnel, according to the FDA.

Patterson offers CE course on proper disinfection practices

Patterson Veterinary University, the continuing education arm of distributor Patterson Veterinary, is offering a complimentary course on disinfection. The course, created in collaboration with Virox Animal Health, presents a guide for veterinary teams to identify gaps and opportunities when developing a disinfection program, something that will be important as practices reopen.

Researchers find no definitive link between DCM and grain-free diets

Researchers found no definitive relationship between grain-free and legume-rich diets and dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs, according to a new study. The study was completed by BSM Partners, a pet care research and consulting firm. “We wanted to gain the best understanding of this issue, so we examined the results of more than 150 studies, which taken together did not support a link between grain-free and legume-rich diets, and DCM,” said Dr. Sydney McCauley, an animal nutritionist and the article’s lead author. “What the science does make clear is that DCM is largely an inherited disease.” The article also highlighted other factors that could contribute to the presence of DCM, including nutrient deficiencies, myocarditis, chronic tachycardia and hypothyroid disease. Pet Product News has more information.

Despite threat of Lyme disease, tick control lags across U.S., study finds

Tick monitoring and control is lacking in much of the United States despite a steady increase in tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, according to a new study. Researchers surveyed tick management programs across the country and found that less than half of public health and vector-control agencies do active tick surveillance, and only 12% directly conduct or otherwise support tick control efforts. “Ticks are responsible for the majority of our vector-borne illnesses in the U.S., and our programming does not adequately meet the need in its current form, for both surveillance and control,” said study lead author Emily Mader, program manager of the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases.