Companion animal news: December 23, 2020

Pets don’t need a COVID-19 vaccine now, experts say

As COVID-19 vaccines begin rolling out for humans, a smaller effort to develop vaccines for pets and other animals has also begun. But there’s no urgent need for a pet vaccine, Science magazine reports. While the rates of infection in dogs and cats may be similar to those in humans, symptoms seem to be mild, if they appear at all. Additionally, “cats and dogs don’t play an important role in the maintenance or transmission of the disease to humans,” said William Karesh, executive vice president for health and policy at EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that tracks emerging diseases in animals. “There’s no need for a vaccine from a public health standpoint.” USDA, which grants commercial licenses for pet vaccines, isn’t currently approving any for COVID-19, meaning companies can conduct research, but they can’t sell or distribute vaccines. As for other animals like mink and apes, the best approach to protecting against disease transmission would be changing the way we interact with them, not necessarily developing a vaccine, said one expert.

Pandemic relief includes help for small businesses and veterinary medicine

The new pandemic relief package passed by Congress includes fixes to the Paycheck Protection Program, $20 million for animal health infrastructure’s role in the COVID-19 response, AVMA-led One Health report language, and funding for federal programs important to veterinary medicine, the AVMA announced. The Paycheck Protection Program provisions include a fix for unfavorable IRS tax treatment of expenses paid with PPP loans and simplified PPP forgiveness applications for loans up to $150,000. “The legislation reflects many of the AVMA’s top priorities, for which we worked very closely with key legislators to ensure were included in the final agreement,” said AVMA President Douglas Kratt.

Chewy’s CFO to expand products, explores monetizing telehealth services

Chewy’s chief financial officer plans to ramp up the number of products the online retailer offers to help boost orders and is considering ways to monetize its new, free telehealth service, The Wall Street Journal reports. CFO Mario Marte said the idea is to build out Chewy’s online catalog so pet owners don’t need to shop elsewhere to find the products their animal might need, and to increase the amount customers spend. While new customers might start by spending about $150 a year, those who have been registered on the website for five years or longer often place orders of $700 or more a year, he said. The company had about 18 million customers at the end of its fiscal third quarter November 1, up 5.1 million from a year earlier.

Two hospitals will receive LexaGene’s MiQLab pathogen detection system

LexaGene Holdings, a molecular diagnostics company that develops fully automated rapid pathogen detection systems, announced its MiQLab systems will be placed in the clinical practices of two specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals as part of LexaGene’s Early Access Program. Veterinary Specialty Hospital of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and Denver Animal Emergency of Denver, North Carolina, will receive access to the point-of-care technology. Both practices will evaluate the MiQLab system and MiQLab Bacterial AMR Test in specialty and critical care settings using a range of sample types, according to LexaGene’s announcement.

U.K. animal welfare group advises against fireworks for New Year’s

U.K.-based animal welfare group Blue Cross is advising people to refrain from lighting fireworks this New Year’s Eve, due to the fear they cause in pets. A survey by the group showed that 70% of respondents believe fireworks should be banned in the country, and 70% of dog and cat owners were concerned for their pet’s welfare this firework season. “We know at Blue Cross just how upsetting this time of year can be for animals—especially now we are seeing more and more people doing their own fireworks in their back gardens,” said Ryan Neile, the charity’s head of behavior.

Zoos Victoria trials ‘guardian dogs’ to help protect endangered bandicoots from foxes

Officials have placed two large Maremma dogs in an Australia nature reserve to protect 20 eastern barred bandicoots, part of an effort by Zoos Victoria to bring the bandicoots back from the brink of extinction. The bandicoots were released recently from breeding programs into the fenced 50-hectare reserve to stop them from escaping. But that fencing won’t stop feral foxes, a key threat to the bandicoots, from moving through the area. Conservationists hope McKinnon, a 4-year-old male Maremma, and Quinta, a 3-year-old female, will keep the foxes from attacking the bandicoots, The Guardian reports.