Weekly companion animal news: March 7, 2022

Risk of heartworm and Lyme disease increases as carriers spread, CAPC says in latest forecast

Risk of heartworm, Lyme disease and other parasites has increased recently due to rehoming of pets, changes in the distribution of carriers of these parasites, changes in wildlife populations, climate change and other conditions, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council’s Annual Pet Parasite Forecast. CAPC expects the high risk of heartworm infection to continue this year along the Mississippi River, throughout the southern portions of the interior Midwest, and along the Atlantic coast north into densely populated areas of the Northeast. The organization warns veterinarians in states with historically lower heartworm prevalence to take caution and discuss increasing risk of heartworm infection with clients. More information on 2022 forecasts for heartworm, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis is available from the Companion Animal Parasite Council.

How pets can help build communities

A Tufts University professor writes in The Conversation about the benefits to people of having a pet. “Research shows our pets can…strengthen our relationships and trust with other people,” writes Megan K. Mueller, an associate professor of human-animal interaction at Tufts. They can serve as an avenue through which people form bonds with each other, they can help children develop empathy and compassion, and research shows they can even strengthen social connections in communities and in the workplace. Still, Mueller writes, “While evidence continues to support the idea that pets foster positive interactions between people, animals are not a universal solution for creating trust. There is still a lot we need to learn about the interrelated relationships between pets and people.”

Pet cleanup product sales have spiked during the pandemic: Packaged Facts

Pet cleanup product sales have boomed during the pandemic, posting double-digit growth in 2020 and 2021, according to a new report from Packaged Facts. U.S. retail sales of pet cleanup and odor-control products reached $5.5 billion in 2021, resulting in a 7.4% compound annual growth rate for the 2016-2021 period, according to the report. Thirty-five percent of all retail pet cleanup and odor-control product sales occur online, representing the largest share of the market. Cat litter, the biggest segment of the market, is now a $4 billion category. “Pet owners spending more time at home have been more focused than ever on keeping their indoor spaces sanitary and odor-free, with 53% of pet owners considering pets to be a top cleanliness concern,” said report analyst Shannon Brown.

Petco agrees to purchase remaining 50% stake in pet hospital joint venture with Thrive

Petco has entered a definitive agreement to purchase Thrive Pet Healthcare’s 50% stake in the companies’ pet hospital joint venture, which currently operates nearly 100 full-service veterinary hospitals in Petco pet care centers across 14 states under the Thrive brand. Petco and Thrive formed the joint venture in 2017 and together launched full-service veterinary hospitals in Petco pet care centers. Petco will transition Thrive’s locations to its Vetco Total Care hospital branding. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022.

Norbrook relaunches two canine osteoarthritis treatments

Norbrook announced the relaunch of two medications for the treatment of pain and inflammation related to osteoarthritis in dogs. Carprieve Injection (carprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that’s bioequivalent to Zoetis’ Rimadyl injectable. Loxicom Oral Suspension (meloxicam) is an NSAID that’s bioequivalent to Boehringer Ingelheim’s Metacam, Norbrook said. More information on the products is available in the announcement.

Dechra acquires U.S. licensing rights for Malaseb dermatology products

Dechra has obtained licensing rights for the Malaseb brand of dermatology products in the United States from Australia-based Dermcare. “The Malaseb line of dermatology products strengthens the popular Dechra dermatology product line by offering a brand that many veterinarians use and trust,” said Dechra North America President Mike Eldred.

Countries bordering Ukraine relax pet restrictions for refugees

Countries bordering Ukraine are making exceptions to peacetime restrictions so that refugees crossing the border can bring their pets. Veterinary bodies in Romania, Hungary and Poland have adjusted requirements for pets entering the European Union across the Ukrainian border, including suspending checks for microchips and vaccinations, Vet Times reports. “Ukraine is classified as a ‘country of concern’ for rabies zoonoses, which is why it has strict conditions for travelling with companion animals,” according to a statement from Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Office. “In order to maintain the rabies-free status of Hungary, the official veterinary supervision of the dogs, cats and ferrets admitted…will be provided by the regional veterinary authority,” the statement said.

Alberta veterinary school will double its student base thanks to expanded funding

The University of Calgary’s veterinary school will be doubling its yearly student base from 50 to 100 thanks to expanded funding from the provincial government of Alberta, CTV reports. This is an opportunity for the school to help mitigate a shortage of veterinarians in the province, which is especially short on large-animal doctors. The veterinary school was one of several programs to get more funding—others that are getting extra include aviation, IT and engineering—even as money distributed to other areas of study declines. “This is huge for the government to give us the opportunity to really address the challenges we have in terms of a veterinary shortage,” said Renate Weller, dean of the university’s veterinary faculty.