Weekly companion animal news: April 17, 2023

New guide aims to improve veterinarian-client relationships

Mars Veterinary Health and the AVMA released the Positive Pet Care Guide, a resource that aims to strengthen the relationship between veterinary teams and clients. The guide, available for free to the entire veterinary profession, “outlines shared expectations of both veterinary professionals and pet owners to help foster healthy lines of communication and encourage an environment where each veterinary interaction is rooted in a supportive, safe and inclusive environment for all,” according to the announcement. This comes as the AVMA releases data on a survey of more than 1,300 veterinarians, finding nine out of 10 respondents in companion animal practice said they’ve experienced negative or escalated client interactions in the past year.

Pet owners and veterinarians report challenges, desire for stronger relationships: surveys

Ninety percent of veterinary professionals and 80% of pet owners say strong and positive veterinary team-client relationships are important to them, according to new survey data. The data comes from Banfield, which surveyed 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide, and the AVMA, which surveyed more than 1,300 veterinarians. Nine out of 10 veterinarians indicated they experienced negative or escalated client interactions in the past year, with 65% saying it happened on a weekly basis. Nearly half of pet owners said they’ve gotten into a disagreement or heated interaction with their veterinary team. The findings were released in tandem with the Positive Pet Care Guide from Mars (which owns Banfield) and the AVMA.

Pet owners who need veterinary care would try telemedicine, survey finds

A quarter of U.S. pet owners in a new survey said there was a time in the past two years when they wanted or needed veterinary care but weren’t able to get it. The survey was conducted by the ASPCA. Sixty-nine percent of respondents that had an unmet need for veterinary care in the past two years reported an interest in using veterinary telemedicine if it were available, and 66% said they would see a veterinarian more often if telemedicine were available. “When used responsibly, telemedicine can reduce animal suffering, address financial and logistical barriers to veterinary care, keep pets in their homes and extend the capacity of animal shelters to serve animals and their communities,” said Dr. Camille DeClementi, vice president of the ASPCA Animal Hospital.

Veterinarians and pet owners embrace telemedicine

Veterinary telemedicine has been on the rise since the pandemic, when many states temporarily loosened restrictions on it. Many veterinarians and pet owners see telemedicine as an opportunity to expand access to care and reduce stress on pets. The ASPCA, for example, is urging states to loosen their telemedicine rules. Twenty-six percent of owners in a 2022 survey by the organization said there had been times in the previous two years when they had been unable to access veterinary care, and two-thirds said their pets would probably go to the veterinarian more often if they could use telemedicine. Still, telemedicine faces hurdles, and veterinarians and pet owners acknowledge it’s not always the best solution, The New York Times reports.

Washington state establishes stricter rules for pet insurers under new law

Pet insurers in Washington state will have to follow stricter rules under a new law, including setting new standards for what qualifies as a pre-existing condition that can warrant denial of a claim, Axios reports. The new law says insurers can deny a pet’s medical coverage based on a pre-existing condition only if that condition is “directly related” to the new ailment. It will also eliminate waiting periods some pet insurance policies impose before covering accidental injuries, and it requires insurers to clearly explain to customers that their premiums can rise as animals get older or if owners move. It takes effect January 1, 2024. Axios reports.

Dermatitis and chronic kidney disease were the top reasons dogs and cats visited the vet last year, Nationwide analysis shows

Atopic or allergic dermatitis was the top medical condition that prompted veterinary visits for dogs last year, according to a new analysis of insurance claims by Nationwide. Chronic kidney disease was the top disease affecting cats, according to the analysis of the company’s database, which has more than 1.2 million pets. Nationwide pet health insurance members in 2022 filed more than 1.43 million claims for treatment related to the top 10 most common medical conditions affecting dogs and cats. The full list of the most common conditions is in the announcement from Nationwide.

FDA approves first generic flumethasone for cats, dogs and horses

The FDA earlier this month approved Bimasone Injectable Solution, the first generic flumethasone, for certain diseases that cause inflammation in horses, dogs and cats. It’s recommended for the various rheumatic, allergic, dermatologic and other disease states known to be responsive to anti-inflammatory drugs in these species. Bimasone, a corticosteroid drug, contains the same active ingredient (flumethasone) in the same concentration and dosage as the brand-name product, Zoetis’ Flucort.

Maine lawmakers consider making public housing landlords allow pets

Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would require the state’s public housing agencies to allow tenants to have one or more household pets. “By increasing the number of rental units that are truly pet-welcoming, we can keep pets in the families where they are loved and cherished, as well as increasing the pool of families able to consider adopting a homeless animal in need,” said Katie Lisnik, executive director of the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society. Lisnik said housing restrictions were directly related to about one in five of the animal surrenders her shelter saw in the last year and are likely an underlying issue in other cases. Opponents say the bill would create safety hazards and increase costs for landlords. The Sun Journal reports.