Weekly companion animal news: March 1, 2021

Pandemic supplement boom raises questions among veterinarians

The pandemic has sparked a boom in pet supplement sales, which may have to do with pet owners’ concerns about “pet immunity,” said David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts. But some veterinary experts don’t think it’s advisable. “I’m surprised by the use of supplements to protect against COVID,” said Tony Buffington, a clinical professor at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “I guess it is a measure of the completely understandable fear and anxiety that so many of us are feeling during this pandemic.” But he doesn’t recommend nutritional supplements for pets “because satisfactory diets—complete, balanced, digestible, palatable and safe—don’t need them.” The Los Angeles Times reports.

With rising adoptions, the ‘retail rescue’ industry is difficult to contain

Pet adoptions are up right now, and rescue dogs are especially popular. But some animal rights advocacy groups, including the Humane Society, say a lack of regulatory oversight allows some members of the rescue industry to create a market for the same inhumane practices they claim to try to stop. With pandemic demand leading to fewer dogs available for adoption, some rescue groups are turning to the two remaining government-regulated dog auction houses in the United States to purchase animals, according to an investigation published in The Washington Post. The investigation found that some rescue groups—many with lucrative donations in tow—try to outbid one another to build their supply of dogs. The auction dogs are allegedly then relabeled as “rescue” and sold to a final consumer, sometimes at a profit. Those new dog owners have no way of knowing they didn’t get a rescue. But on top of calls for more oversight, existing regulations are already difficult to enforce, meaning the “retail rescue” industry may stick around for a while, The Regulatory Review reports.

PetDesk launches insurance guide for pet owners

PetDesk announced the launch of the Pet Insurance Guide, a tool for pet owners to quickly request and purchase pet insurance policies from the PetDesk app. A survey of pet owners found that more than 40% considered pet insurance either confusing or too expensive. To simplify the experience, PetDesk has partnered with Pets Best, an insurance provider, to educate pet owners and veterinary clinics about pet insurance, with the goal of increasing adoption by clarifying common misconceptions.

AAFP releases feline hypertension toolkit

The American Association of Feline Practitioners has released a new “Hypertension Educational Toolkit” to aid veterinary professionals in diagnosing systemic atrial hypertension in cats. The toolkit emphasizes the importance of checking blood pressure routinely to aid in tracking trends and early detection of hypertension in cats. While veterinary professionals are encouraged to use the information in the toolkit when examining feline patients at any age, cats 10 years of age and older pose a higher risk for hypertension and need to be monitored more frequently.

Oklahoma veterinary hospital sees surge in patients during winter storm

An Oklahoma veterinary hospital saw a surge in patients during the winter storm, taking in more than 100 in just two days, KFOR reports. The cold temperatures were dangerous for pets left outside. “It’s been tough,” said one veterinarian who, with others, stayed overnight at the hospital for days. Oklahoma City Animal Welfare said phones had been ringing off the hook about pets left outside with no shelter.

AVMA releases practice management tools for members

The AVMA has released a business plan template and a profit and loss calculator for members, to help simplify financial and back-office operations for veterinarians. The downloadable and customizable business plan template allows veterinarians to analyze a practice’s current plan or to build a new one from scratch. The profit and loss calculator helps practice owners track revenue, expenses and overall profitability. More information is available from the AVMA.

CDC epidemiology program seeks veterinary student applicants

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accepting applications from medical and veterinary students for its Epidemiology Elective Program. “It’s meant to provide students with the opportunity to gain experience with applied epidemiology in public health through a hands-on experience and mentorship by CDC scientists,” said Kelly Cordeira, who heads the program. Through the program, which is unpaid and lasts six or eight weeks, students learn “things like how to respond to an outbreak, different steps you take,” Cordeira said. “We also teach surveillance and how to work with data, how do you collect data, analyze data, how do you plan, control and intervention strategies.” Over the years, the program has brought in 1,500 future physicians and 600 future veterinarians. Officials hope to get more veterinary students this year, WTKR reports.

Covetrus announces North American chief veterinary officer and new chief consumer officer

Covetrus has appointed Dr. Link Welborn as chief veterinary officer in North America. In his new position, Welborn will “champion the role of the veterinarian in providing better care for animals, while counseling Covetrus on ways to deliver better business outcomes for veterinary practices,” according to the announcement. The company also announced the appointment of Deborah Sharkey as chief consumer officer, the company’s first. In her new role, Sharkey will be responsible for developing solutions that support and strengthen the veterinarian-pet owner relationship. She will oversee marketing, product and strategy for the consumer group within Covetrus’ Global Technology Services, which also encompasses the SmartPak brand.

New SoundByte: Marboquin from Dechra

Marboquin (marbofloxacin) tablets are indicated for the treatment of certain bacterial infections in dogs and cats. It’s therapeutically equivalent to the pioneer drug, meaning it has the same efficacy but at a substantially lower price, according to Dechra. It’s available in tablets from 25 milligrams to 200 mg. More information is available in the SoundByte from Veterinary Advantage.