Weekly companion animal news: July 20, 2020

New study examines opioid-related ‘vet shopping’ in Appalachia

A recent study shows that “vet shopping”—lying to acquire pet medication for personal use—remains a problem in veterinary medicine in Appalachia. The study, a collaboration of Lincoln Memorial University and other research teams, found that 13 of the 14 vets interviewed had heard of the phenomenon, while eight had personally encountered it in their practices. New laws have made it more difficult for people to acquire opioid medication, leading some people to turn to veterinary clinics as a source for prescription opioids. “The data gathered from this study will provide a better understanding regarding the attitudes and practices used by veterinarians related to vet shopping and will provide insight for future research and intervention strategies,” said Vinayak K. Nahar, an assistant professor of dermatology and preventive medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Canine intestinal parasites are common at U.S. dog parks, research shows

Parasites are common at U.S. dog parks, but routine veterinary care and preventive use can mitigate the risk, two researchers write in BMC. Researchers collected fecal samples from more than 3,000 dogs attending hundreds of dog parks in 30 major metropolitan regions across the country. They also asked owners about their parasite control practices and their dogs’ history of intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites were detected in one in five dogs and at 85% of dog parks. Owners who indicated their dog had been previously diagnosed with intestinal parasites were more likely to report administering a preventive than owners without that history, highlighting the power of diagnostic testing to motivate action, the researchers write.

Veterinarians object to paper questioning link between grain-free diets and DCM

A recent article that cast doubt on the link between grain-free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy has raised concern among veterinarians, who said, among other things, that the study’s authors should have declared a conflict of interest, the VIN News Service reports. The study, a review of past research, was funded by BSM Partners, an animal food consulting company that works with a pet food brand implicated in the FDA’s investigation into diet-related causes of DCM. Additionally, vets said few of the approximately 150 studies reviewed were directly relevant to the question of whether certain diets cause DCM. They said the authors left out crucial evidence, especially evidence indicating that changing the dog’s diet has reversed the disease.

Practices report slight lag in purchasing and performance in second week of July: VetWatch

Veterinary hospital vaccine purchasing in the second week of July showed a slight pullback across all categories versus the previous week, but sales are still robust and ahead of previous year-to-date performance in all categories except chronic care medications, according to new data from VetWatch. The analytics service from Veterinary Advantage publisher NAVC and other partners collects data from thousands of practices across the country. Total purchases of canine and feline flea, tick and heartworm preventives were up 4.4% over prior year-to-date performance. Practice performance has stayed relatively flat: Overall YTD revenues held at 2.1% growth versus 2019 results, while metrics of unique patients, clients and invoices lagged. For the most up-to-date information, visit the VetWatch website.

Antech releases rapid canine inflammatory bowel disease diagnostic test

Antech Diagnostics, part of Mars Veterinary Health, announced that its novel blood test for canine inflammatory bowel disease (also called canine chronic enteropathy) is now available. The assay is a non-invasive test that incorporates data from three biomarkers, which provide objective measurements of disease, to allow rapid diagnosis of “consistent with CE/IBD” or “not consistent with CE/IBD,” according to the announcement. Additionally, biomarker measurements allow veterinarians to identify possible causes of a dog’s gastrointestinal clinical signs. The test is available to U.S. doctors, with availability planned for Canada after pandemic travel restrictions are lifted.

Purina launches gastrointestinal supplement for pets

A new veterinary-exclusive nutritional supplement from Purina could help cats and dogs suffering from diarrhea and support a healthy intestinal microbiome. FortiFlora SA Synbiotic Action comes in separate lines for cats and dogs. It contains both a probiotic—Enterococcus faecium SF68—and the prebiotic fiber psyllium. The supplement is meant to be sprinkled on the pet’s food. More information is available from fellow NAVC publication Today’s Veterinary Business.

Lemonade launches pet health insurance

Insurance company Lemonade has officially launched its pet health insurance options, available to pet owners in 33 states. The new insurance product is for cats and dogs. It starts at $12 a month and is available for new and existing Lemonade customers, with existing customers eligible for a discount of up to 10% off their monthly premium when they bundle their renters or homeowners policy with a pet policy. Customers can get either a “Preventative and Wellness” package, which includes the costs of routine wellness exams and vaccines, or an “Extended Accident and Illness” package that helps cover costs of advanced treatments and veterinary care.

Silk Road discovery suggests cats were pets 1,000 years ago

The discovery of a cat skeleton along Kazakhstan’s Silk Road suggests that cats were kept as pets more than 1,000 years ago, according to a new study. DNA analysis of the nearly complete cat skeleton indicates that the animal, a domesticated species not related to local feral cats, had a high-protein diet and was likely fed by members of the pastoral Oghuz tribe, researchers said. An X-ray indicated it sustained numerous broken bones and lost most of its teeth, further suggesting it lived a relatively long life under human care, they said. UPI reports.