Weekly companion animal news: August 24, 2020

Registration open for NAVC E-Commerce+ Summit and VMX

Registration is open for Veterinary Advantage publisher NAVC’s annual E-Commerce+ Summit, which will take place virtually September 22–23. Focusing in part on how the pandemic has changed the veterinary industry—including by increasing consumer demand for digital and virtual health care—the summit will feature sessions to help industry members stay competitive. Early-bird registration is open through the end of August. Registration is also open for NAVC’s annual VMX meeting, January 16–20, both virtual and in-person. NAVC is prioritizing safety at the 2021 event, committing to protocols and guidelines from the CDC. Visit NAVC’s website to learn more and register.

Membership program aims to serve as affordable pet insurance alternative

A new pet insurance alternative aims to give owners a low-cost solution to protect their pets’ health. EZ Pet Check, an emergency care membership program that’s been providing local services in select cities since 2014, launched a nationwide network this month. Members pay for all routine care; EZ Pet Check covers emergencies up to the customer’s emergency billing limit ($3,000 initially, $7,500 after six months). The subscription cost is about $10 per month per cat and about $15 per dog.

FDA tracks medical device shortages and discontinuances during pandemic

As part of provisions laid out in the CARES Act, the FDA is maintaining a list of medical devices that the agency has determined to be in shortage. Additionally, the FDA is providing a list of medical devices for which the agency has been notified that manufacturing has been permanently discontinued. Those lists are available on the FDA website.

Scientists discuss what they know—and don’t know—about pets and COVID-19

A handful of studies are trying to determine the infection and transmission risks of COVID-19 in pets, Science reports. While hard data is still lacking, scientists say their findings so far continue to indicate that cats and dogs are highly unlikely to pass the coronavirus on to humans. On the flip side, they’re much more likely to get the virus from humans. Additionally, research shows, pets appear unlikely to display symptoms of the virus. Overall, scientists say their understanding of how companion animals play into the pandemic is only just beginning.

CBD for pets rises in popularity, but vets urge caution

The pet CBD market category grew 946% last year, research shows, and new products are proliferating. But peer-reviewed research on CBD for dogs is still limited, and the few studies that have been completed had small sample sizes. And while pet treats and tinctures containing CBD are sold in stores and online, they’re not approved by the FDA, meaning veterinarians aren’t allowed to recommend them. “It’s not that we don’t see potential in these products, because we do,” Gail Golab, chief veterinary officer for scientific affairs and public policy at the AVMA, told The Washington Post. “It’s that we want their potential to be demonstrated through FDA approval and we want to make sure that owners can be confident that what they’re giving their animal is something that’s actually going to help them.” Golab added that in humans, “there is a fair amount of placebo effect,” a risk that extends to their dogs.

To keep pets in homes, animal welfare groups help owners

Many pet owners are struggling financially during the pandemic. At the same time, animal welfare organizations are realizing they need to help pet owners in order to help their pets. “Increasing access to health care and critical resources for pets that are living in poverty is the best way to keep pets out of the shelter,” said Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the ASPCA. Bershadker said the organization estimates another 4.2 million pets will likely enter poverty over the next six months due to the pandemic. “That’s a 21% increase in the number of pets living in poverty, bringing that to about 24.4 million pets living in poverty.” Since it was launched in March, the ASPCA’s $5 million COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Initiative has provided $2 million in grant funding, set up new pet food distribution centers in several cities, and helped more than 268,000 dogs, cats and horses nationwide, including distributing about 1,800 tons of food, the Associated Press reports.

Law will require German residents to walk their dogs twice a day

Germany’s agriculture minister, Julia Klöckner, is introducing a new law requiring dog owners to walk their pets twice a day, The Guardian reports. Klöckner said she’s taking the action based on evidence that many of Germany’s 9.4 million dogs aren’t getting the exercise or stimuli they need. Under the new regulations in the Hundeverordnung, or Dogs Act, owners will be required to take their dogs out for at least one hour on each occasion. The law is due to be introduced next year. The announcement sparked debate and raised questions about how it will be possible to check up on the 19% of German households that own dogs.

University of Georgia adds beehives for veterinary training

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine is starting a program to build a set of beehives on campus. The program will give residents and senior veterinary students experience caring for the insects. According to the university, this makes its residency program “the first and only in the country to offer such a wide spectrum of training, from invertebrate to megavertebrate care—creatures ranging from bees to whales.” The new initiative comes as veterinarians increasingly work with beekeepers to maintain their bees’ health and prevent antimicrobial resistance.