Weekly companion animal news: August 10, 2020

NAVC opens registration for VMX 2021

NAVC, publisher of the Fountain Report, announced that VMX 2021 will take place January 16-20 in person in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center. It will also take place, for the first time, virtually, through the VMX Virtual platform, which features interactive educational programs, networking and a 3D Expo Hall. “The health and safety of VMX participants is paramount and the NAVC is introducing new safety measures and working closely with the Orange County Convention Center, our host hotels and Visit Orlando to make sure we provide a safe and healthy experience for everyone who comes to VMX,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill. More information on the conference is available in the announcement.

Study shows common causes of heatstroke in dogs

Exertion or exercise—including walking, playing or running with their owners—was the cause of nearly three-quarters of heatstroke cases in dogs, a new study found. Researchers from Nottingham Trent University and the Royal Veterinary College analyzed the clinical records of more than 900,000 U.K. dogs. They found that 1,222 had received veterinary care for heatstroke at some point during their lives, with almost 400 affected in a single year. Just over 14% died from their heatstroke. Hot weather alone was responsible for 13% of cases, while traveling or being left in hot vehicles accounted for 5%, Vet Surgeon reports.

Veterinarians treat dogs for life-threatening tetanus infections

Doctors at Tufts saved two dogs in nine months from tetanus, a life-threatening infection that requires a long period of recovery. In one recent case, a 3-year-old golden retriever named Brooklyn developed tetanus after scratching her back using a dead porcupine during a walk in the woods. To treat her, the veterinary team administered an equine antitoxin therapy to help halt progression of the infection. Its efficacy is still not proven, but critical care resident Ian DeStefano said that “we know from experience and published studies that it’s relatively safe in dogs.” Brooklyn received a feeding tube and a tracheostomy tube. But ultimately, “the nursing care is absolutely paramount,” DeStefano said. “It’s 90% of the battle.”

Elanco completes acquisition of Bayer Animal Health

Elanco announced the closing of its acquisition of Bayer Animal Health, for $6.89 billion. That’s down from the initial estimate of $7.6 billion, Today’s Veterinary Business (also published by NAVC) reports. The final terms consisted of $5.17 billion in cash and 72.9 million shares to Bayer AG. “Nearly two years into our journey as an independent company [after separating from Eli Lilly & Co.], we have made significant progress in creating a purpose-driven, independent global company dedicated to animal health—all while weathering the century’s most significant animal and human health pandemics: African swine fever and COVID-19,” said Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco.

NaVetor practice management app helps with curbside care and efficient payments

Patterson Veterinary upgraded its NaVetor mobile app to make curbside and in-clinic patient care easier. NaVetor is a cloud-based practice management software system that was launched in 2018. According to Patterson, veterinary team members with a connected mobile device can check patients in; create invoices; accept payments from clients waiting in their cars or exam rooms; forward-book appointments; and prescribe medications.

Dechra announces sponsorship of the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Working Dog Center Residency

Dechra Veterinary Products announced its sponsorship of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center canine sports medicine and rehabilitation residency for Dr. Meghan Ramos. The sponsorship will help fund Ramos as she begins her three-year residency in July 2020. The partnership will also allow the center to continue its work on research, breeding, educational programs and training of working dogs, according to Dechra. The manufacturer first partnered with the working dog center by sponsoring the Citizen Science Program through Dechra’s Phycox product line. The program, co-founded and led by Ramos, allows local citizens to train their personal dogs in scent detection and participate in the center’s research studies.

Veterinary Scholars Symposium goes online, highlights new research

More than 500 veterinary students from across the country, as well as researchers from three dozen veterinary schools, convened virtually for the Veterinary Summer Scholars Symposium and presentation of the annual Boehringer Ingelheim Research Awards for graduate veterinarians and veterinary students. The Veterinary Graduate Award went to a University of Minnesota graduate student whose research has focused on using pigs to understand Neurofibromatosis type 1, a deadly neurologic disease that currently has no cure. The Veterinary Research Scholar Award went to a Cornell University student researching the use of mesenchymal stem cells to prevent or reduce degeneration in intervertebral disc disease.

U.K. veterinarians may be asked to administer flu shots to people in mass vaccination effort

Reports that veterinarians may be asked to administer flu shots to people as part of a mass vaccination program this winter have been met with a cautious response from the British Veterinary Association, Vet Times reports. The government plans to vaccinate as many as 30 million people against the flu to avoid the National Health Service becoming overwhelmed in case of a spike of coronavirus infections. “Our understanding from the Department of Health and Social Care is that they are at a very early stage of gathering ideas about how they could expand the workforce to scale up delivery of the vaccination program, but any suggestions at this stage are just speculation,” said BVA president Daniella Dos Santos. “If they confirm in time that vets are being considered as this new policy takes shape, we would make sure that our members have a strong voice in these discussions—especially in terms of logistical impacts on practices.”