Weekly companion animal news: April 24, 2023

iVET360’s latest benchmarking report shows slower revenue growth, higher client spending for practices in 2022

Revenue growth last year at U.S. veterinary practices was 6.3%, according to iVET360’s latest industry benchmarking report. This was down from the 13.4% growth hospitals saw in 2021. Transactions declined 3.3%, but average transaction charge increased 10.6%. New client averages dropped 3.5%, but average new client spend rose 4.9% from the prior year. “In 2022, the veterinary world navigated a new normal, juggling inflation, wage pressures and the aftermath of the pet adoption boom-turned-shelter surge,” said Oliver Roller, CTO of iVET360. The report is available for download at iVET360.com.

Commentary: Two bills in Florida could give more pets access to veterinary care

To mitigate Florida’s veterinary care shortage, the state’s legislature needs to take action to expand access to spay-neuter procedures and telemedicine, Dr. G. Robert Weedon writes in the Lakeland Ledger. Under one bill currently before the legislature, veterinarians licensed outside Florida who are in good standing would be allowed to sterilize pets as unpaid volunteers under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed in the state. Another bill being considered by lawmakers would allow veterinarians to diagnose and treat pets via telemedicine.

Arkansas law prohibits pet store sales of dogs and cats

A new law in Arkansas prohibits cities from banning pet store sales of dogs and cats. Gov. Sarah Sanders signed the bill, which amends a 1991 law to note that local governments can’t pass rules to ban pet stores from acquiring or selling animals from kennels or breeders. This stems from a legal battle that began last year between the city of Fayetteville and Petland of Fayetteville. The new law is set to take effect in August, KFSM reports.

Puppy mills move online, selling directly to consumers

As pet stores face criticism for selling dogs from puppy mills, unscrupulous sellers have shifted online, reaching consumers directly. Their sites claim to source dogs from reputable breeders, but they often raise the puppies in inhumane conditions, Dr. Karen Fine writes in Time. “Yes, locating a pup from a rescue, shelter or breeder can take more work, time and patience than purchasing one from an online puppy store,” Fine says. “But it can result in a healthier, happier dog that is a better fit for your family. It can also help end the abuses of puppy mills, support more informed breed choices and ensure better care for animals.”

SoundByte: Butterfly iQ+ Vet

Butterfly’s iQ+ Vet portable ultrasound is easy to use, portable and offers continual software updates to improve the device, according to the SoundByte in Veterinary Advantage. Check out the full SoundByte here.

South Carolina’s first planned veterinary school could be a boon for the state’s animal doctors

South Carolina veterinarians hope Clemson University’s plan to open the state’s first veterinary school helps relieve a care shortage that’s making their work difficult. Clemson’s veterinary school could graduate students as soon as 2030. A feasibility study showed class sizes would be around 80, with a maximum of 125 students. “The potential impact for Clemson’s vet school is both for vets—like mental health and help for us—and for our clients,” said Whitney Ozment, a veterinarian. “Clients are frustrated that they call their vet and they can’t get an appointment for three weeks.” Nearly half of South Carolina’s counties are listed as “high needs” on the USDA’s veterinary shortage map, The Post and Courier reports.

Pennsylvania to make xylazine a controlled substance

Pennsylvania is making xylazine a controlled substance, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced last week. The veterinary tranquilizer contributed to 90 overdose deaths in 2017, but in 2021, it contributed to 575—an increase of more than 600% in five years, the governor’s office said. The state’s acting health secretary submitted a notice of intent to temporarily add xylazine to the list of schedule III drugs, CBS Pittsburgh reports.

Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is growing, scientists say

Scientists have identified new mutations in the H5N1 virus that they say are concerning regarding the risk of the virus spreading to humans. According to the European Centre for Disease Control, the risk of human spread is still low but is increasing. Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a sample from a man in Chile infected by the virus showed two genetic mutations that are signs of adaptation to mammals, The New York Times reports.

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