Companion News for week of August 12

Revised AVMA policy urges pet insurance education

The American Veterinary Medical Association House of Delegates approved a policy change elevating pet health insurance from simply being endorsed by the AVMA to being recognized as a financial resource deserving of client education, Today’s Veterinary Business (also published by NAVC) reports. The resolution specifically recommends that doctors “proactively educate” clients — a phrase some members of the approval committee felt went too far. But one stakeholder said the word “proactive” is important, because it can include something as simple as asking clients about their pet insurance, opening the door for conversation. The House of Delegates also approved minor changes to other policies and asked the Council on Veterinary Services to review a resolution declaring sexual harassment a “serious issue” in the veterinary profession.

New leadership at the AVMA

The American Veterinary Medical Association selected a president and president-elect at its 2019 annual convention in Washington, D.C., Today’s Veterinary Practice (also published by NAVC) reports. Dr. John Howe of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, began his term as president, replacing outgoing president Dr. John de Jong. Dr. Douglas Kratt of La Crosse, Wisconsin, was selected as president-elect, officially beginning his term during the AVMA 2020 convention, taking place in San Diego next summer. In his new role, Dr. Howe is prioritizing communication within the profession and with the general public. He’ll also focus on veterinary technicians, supporting the recent approval of a task force examining the utilization of veterinary technicians, their financial and career sustainability and technician well-being, among other things.

BabelBark launches two-way pet journaling feature

Digital veterinary services platform BabelBark announced a new “two-way pet journaling” feature. It allows pet owners to upload photographs and write notes in the app to update their veterinarian on their pet’s health. The journal is automatically shared with the veterinarian, and as an asynchronous service, the vet can review the information at a time that doesn’t disrupt their patient schedule. “It very well could be” a step toward telehealth for veterinary hospitals, said Roy Stein, BabelBark’s founder and CEO. “But more importantly, by connecting with the pet owner with two-way pet journaling, a veterinarian and their staff can…basically get a snapshot of the pet’s health, all while not interrupting the daily flow of caring for other patients.”

Dechra Pharmaceuticals signs agreement for licensing and supply of novel diabetes treatment

Dechra Pharmaceuticals announced the signing of a licensing and supply agreement with Akston Biosciences Corporation for a patent-pending, long-acting protein for the treatment of diabetes in dogs. Diabetes is currently treated by daily injections, but proof of concept studies indicated that a single injection of this protein will have duration of seven days, “providing a clear advantage over current treatments to both the dog owner and the dog’s welfare,” according to the announcement. After an upfront payment of $2 million, Dechra will pay milestone payments totaling $14 million during the development process, which should be completed within five years. The agreement also allows Dechra to license a version for cats, which will be subject to additional milestones.

Petco plans 55 more in-store vet clinics

Petco plans to double the number of its full-service in-store veterinary hospitals by the end of 2019, Today’s Veterinary Business reports. Fifty-five clinics are expected to open through agreements with Global Veterinary Partners, The Pet Vet, Thrive Affordable Vet Care, VetnCare and Vital Pet. Petco already has 55 hospitals operated by Thrive or The Pet Vet, as well as one operated through Global Veterinary Partners. Once the 2019 expansion is complete, Petco is expected to have 111 veterinary clinics in 21 states. Comparatively, Petco competitor PetSmart has 849 Banfield veterinary hospitals across 42 states and Puerto Rico, a company spokesperson said. Petco anticipates expanding more in coming years.

Big players get in on $9B U.S. pet medication market, report shows

Walmart, Chewy and Petco have all entered the growing online prescription space, which last year accounted for 15% of the $9 billion pet medication market, according to a new Packaged Facts report. Online sales will continue to increase, but other changes, like Walmart’s and Petco’s expansions of their in-store clinics, will also help build the pet medication market. Traditional veterinary clinics are also becoming more active, “the overall upshot being increased access to pet medications for consumers and a heightened focus on pet health in general,” Packaged Facts’ announcement says. As many veterinarians also set up their own online pharmacies, those outlets, along with the big players — which will likely soon include Amazon — will bring fierce competition.

Which dogs are most likely to be afraid of the veterinarian?

The most important factor in determining whether a dog would be afraid of a veterinarian was the dog’s breed, a new study shows. Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia found that toy dogs (as defined by the Australian National Kennel Council) showed the highest levels of fear of veterinarians, followed by mixed breeds and hounds. Utility dogs (like Doberman pinschers) showed the least fear. Lifestyle also appears to affect fear levels, Psychology Today reports: Dogs used for breeding and showing, as well as dogs with a working background, showed the lowest levels of fear, whereas companion dogs with no history of formal working roles were most likely to be fearful.

How a 6,000-year-old dog cancer spread around the world

Scientists have analyzed the DNA of canine transmissible venereal tumor, a 6,000-year-old cancer found in dogs throughout the world and the longest-lived cancer known to humans, Wired reports. Scientists based at the University of Cambridge have used a massive collection of dog tumor samples to create the first genetic map of the cancer. The study, published in Science, “not only traces these cells’ prolific colonization of human’s best friend, it also begins to unravel the mystery of the cancer’s bizarre evolutionary success, offering a glimpse of how humans might one day tame their own,” Megan Molteni writes for Wired. The researchers’ findings seem to support a new experimental form of cancer treatment called adaptive therapy, by which tumors are exposed to medication intermittently, rather than in a constant barrage. “Rather than killing a tumor, adaptive therapy researchers want to keep it alive but small, mild, and stable,” according to Molteni.