Weekly companion animal news: October 19, 2020

KC Animal Health Plug and Play holds Selection Day Oct. 21

KC Animal Health’s Plug and Play animal health technology accelerator launches October 21 with a Virtual Selection Day. Plug and Play Tech Center, a venture capital fund, in August 2019 selected Topeka, Kansas, to be a startup accelerator location focused on animal health and ag tech. Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Cargill are the first founding partners in the new program. The launch event will feature startup pitch sessions and keynote remarks from Plug and Play founder and CEO Saeed Amidi. Registration is available online.

PetSmart Charities commits $2.1M for domestic abuse programs

PetSmart Charities announced a $2.1 million commitment to programs in North America serving at-risk pet owners experiencing domestic abuse and other crises exacerbated by the pandemic. Funding will support programs like pet-friendly domestic violence shelters, pet deposits for pet-friendly housing and emergency pet boarding, according to the announcement. Up to 48% of domestic abuse victims don’t leave their abuser because they’re worried about what will happen to their pets, and as few as 10% of domestic violence shelters accept pets into their facilities, the announcement said. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Pet CBD industry could be worth $60M in 2020: report

The pet CBD market rose from almost zero in 2016 to about $25 million last year, and could grow to $60 million in 2020, a new report says. According to the report, from Hemp Industry Daily in partnership with Nielsen, hemp-CBD products could represent one in four animal health supplements by 2025. That depends on the FDA approving use of the products and more mainstream retailers and veterinarians embracing them. The report includes information on estimated sales, demographics of purchasers and the federal regulatory outlook for the pet hemp-CBD category.

Pharmaceutical company works on COVID-19 vaccine for pets

A South Dakota pharmaceutical company says it’s created a COVID-19 vaccine for animals, particularly cats. The company, Medgene Labs, is South Dakota’s only federally licensed vaccine facility and usually provides vaccines and services for livestock. But this new vaccine specifically targets companion animals. “The next stage that we are at is to actually look in the animal models themselves, either cats or mink, and look for protection,” said Alan Young, Medgene’s chief technology officer. While pets haven’t been found to infect people with the coronavirus, company officials say that given viruses can mutate, they want to prevent human infections in the future. KTIV reports.

Hampton, Va., shows highest roundworm case increase in latest CAPC report

Hampton, Virginia, was at the top of the Companion Animal Parasite Council’s latest list of cities with the highest increase in roundworm cases. The parasite can be lethal, particularly for puppies and kittens, and it’s of particular concern during the fall and winter, according to CAPC. The organization’s monthly report uses national data to rank the metropolitan areas in the country with the highest percentage increase in positive roundworm tests over a monthlong period. Hampton was followed by Anchorage, Alaska, and Port St. Lucie, Florida, in the report, which compiled data for September 1-30.

Study examines marketing practices at U.S. veterinary hospitals

Practice management consulting firm iVET360 released a comprehensive study of the digital marketing practices of veterinary hospitals around the country. The company surveyed 1,000 accredited veterinary hospitals in all 50 states. Among other things, the study found that 18.2% of hospitals have basic search engine optimization on their website; 8% of hospitals and clinics are using Facebook ads; and while the average veterinary hospital has 92 reviews on Nextdoor, they probably don’t know.

NC clinic to become 24/7 emergency practice

A one-year-old North Carolina general practice is becoming a 24-hour emergency hospital, more than doubling its office hours and staffing, Today’s Veterinary Business (also published by NAVC) reports. Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital at South Saunders, part of the Vets Pets network, plans to unveil the transformation in the summer of 2021. Opening the emergency hospital won’t require a building expansion. “Our flagship hospital at South Saunders has become a landmark for this area,” said Oak Heart veterinarian George Ghneim. “We want to provide really high-quality veterinary care and customer service to the area. Adding 24-hour emergency services gives the local community something that wasn’t readily available.”

Veterinarian encourages profession to focus on environmental health

A veterinarian speaking at the AVMA’s virtual convention in August urged colleagues to focus on the pressing environmental crisis. “You are the leaders in your community; you are some of the most valued and respected scientific resources in your communities…That trusted voice can help make the science respected across our country and the globe so we can make preparations to keep the planet healthy,” said Jonna Mazet, executive director of the University of California-Davis One Health Institute. Mazet said that while the veterinary community has championed the One Health concept—the idea that human, animal and environmental health are intertwined—the environmental side has frequently been forgotten.