UVSA research puts the spotlight on the consumer experience

The United Veterinary Services Association (formerly the American Veterinary Distributors Association) released commissioned research showing a gap between pet owners’ high satisfaction with the quality of care their pets receive, and their relatively moderate satisfaction with their overall experience at the vet. In a sample of 2,000 pet owners, 95% of dog owners and 94% of cat owners describe themselves as “highly satisfied” with the quality of care. At the same time, only 70% of dog owners and 75% of cat owners “strongly agree” that they are satisfied with the veterinary clinic they use, while 25% of dog owners and 22% of cat owners “somewhat agree.” In exploring why pet owners aren’t always fully satisfied with their trips to the vet, UVSA’s research found that cost is the top concern, cited by nearly half (48%) of the customers who weren’t fully satisfied with their veterinary clinic. In addition was a long if secondary set of issues that emerged, including both service/convenience for the pet owner (20%) and the pet’s experience at the vet (11%).

VMX 2020 registration now open

NAVC announced that VMX 2020 registration is now open. The conference will be held January 18-22, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. New for 2020:

Lower registration fees
Better dining options and more flexibility
Extended CE schedule on Saturday
Early access to Hands-on Workshops, Rounds and Meet the Professor Luncheons
Added support for parents with better nursing mother accommodations and enhanced childcare offerings
Free registration for students

For more information or to register, visit https://navc.com/vmx/?mid=66987600&ml=1381030

Midmark acquires Mason Company, animal boarding and containment solutions company

Midmark Corp., a provider of medical, dental and veterinary equipment, technology and services, announced it acquired Mason Company, an animal boarding and containment solutions company located in Leesburg and Lebanon, Ohio. The acquisition “adds to Midmark’s growing portfolio and expands the company’s ability to work closely with channel partners and customers in animal health to create a better care experience for pets and their owners,” according to a release. With the addition of Mason’s architectural and design expertise, together with their industry leading product offering, Midmark will provide solutions designed for comfortable and aesthetic accommodations for long-term boarding of companion animals, the release said.

Banfield Pet Hospital® launches new telehealth service

Banfield Pet Hospital® announced its new telehealth service, Vet Chat™, that offers its more than two million Optimum Wellness Plan® clients across the U.S. and Puerto Rico access to one-on-one chat with a veterinarian anytime, anywhere through the Banfield app. With a recent Banfield survey showing 71% of pet owners turn to the internet instead of their veterinarian, Vet Chat gives Banfield’s wellness plan clients on-demand access to general pet care advice and triage support from a veterinarian.

Veterinary-exclusive CBD supplement released

According to Today’s Veterinary Business, Animal Nutritional Products has introduced a veterinary-exclusive CBD (cannabidiol) chew formulated for pets suffering from pain, stress and other conditions. PhytoMAXX Bites contains a hemp extract as well as capsicum, which the manufacturer stated “activates the TRPV1 receptor that can influence pain perception.” Among other ingredients in the supplement are glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin. “These ingredients combined with our propriety BioHemp hemp extract can possibly and significantly help with joint, immune, antioxidant, skin and stress-related issues,” said Robert Kovler, CEO at Animal Nutritional Products.

Compassion-First Pet Hospitals expands leadership

Ryan Buck, group president for all of Compassion-First hospitals in Texas, is being promoted to executive vice president, according to a release. Buck will now oversee the newly created business development department, marketing, talent development, customer development and the client experience departments to respond to the growing needs of the family of hospitals as well as the planned growth ahead. Part of Compassion-First Pet Hospitals strategic plan for growth is to have presence from coast to coast. This includes opening a second office in Vancouver, Washington, at the end of the third quarter. This west coast office will be the hub for the newly formed business development department. Compassion-First Pet Hospitals announced the addition of Doug Brooks as vice president of business development, to Compassion-First’s leadership team. Additionally, Alison Cornell, chief financial officer with Compassion-First Pet Hospitals, has also been promoted to executive vice president.

ELIAS Animal Health, BodeVet announce new collaboration

ELIAS Animal Health, a clinical stage development company advancing novel treatments for cancer in companion animals, and BodeVet, a Maryland-based company focused on the development of novel blood products for use in veterinary transfusion and regenerative medicine, have announced a joint effort to significantly expand the availability of ELIAS’ ECI® treatment for canine cancer via the mobile apheresis capabilities of BodeVet. Apheresis is a processing procedure that separates blood into different components and, in this case, yields the T cells critical to the ELIAS treatment protocol. Currently, there are twelve locations offering apheresis for pets. BodeVet offers a mobile service that will enable veterinary oncologists in most major cities in the United States to incorporate ECI® into their specialty hospital portfolio of oncology services, expanding beyond chemotherapy and radiation. Working together, ELIAS and BodeVet are committed to promoting animal health and welfare by developing and delivering new treatment solutions to veterinary medical practitioners.

Tim Demerath named VP of sales for PBI-Gordon

The employee-owners of PBI-Gordon announced that Tim Demerath has joined the company as vice president of sales for the company’s pest management business unit. In his newly created role at PBI-Gordon, Demerath will oversee the company’s four sales groups to maximize opportunities and grow market share. Demerath brings more than 15 years of sales experience to his role at PBI-Gordon. He was most recently sales manager for the Western Iowa district of Bayer CropScience, where he led a team of 10 field representatives and posted significant market share increases. Prior to that, he held other sales, marketing, and commercial operations positions at Bayer.

Companion News for June 11