Weekly companion animal news: December 7, 2020

U.S. Department of Transportation announces final rule on air travel with service animals

The U.S. Department of Transportation has revised its Air Carrier Access Act regulation on the transportation of service animals by air. The final rule defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. It no longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal. It also requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other animals.

Early research is promising, but the jury’s still out on COVID-sniffing dogs

Preliminary—and yet to be peer reviewed—studies show dogs can detect the coronavirus with almost perfect accuracy. Scientists involved in the efforts suggest the dogs could help control the pandemic because they can screen hundreds of people in an hour in busy places such as airports or sports stadiums, and they’re cheaper than conventional testing methods. But skeptical researchers say that even though the early results show promise, they’re not sure the process could be scaled up to a level that would allow the animals to make a meaningful impact. “No one is saying they can replace a PCR machine, but they could be very promising,” said one veterinarian involved in a study in Germany. Nature reports.

Online puppy scams rise sharply in 2020 due to pandemic, BBB warns

The Better Business Bureau has seen an increase in fraudulent pet sales since the start of the pandemic, MLive reports. The scams involve prospective pet owners paying hundreds of dollars or more to purchase pets online, later discovering those pets don’t exist. There were more reports about fraudulent pet websites in April than in the first three months of the year combined, and in November, the BBB Scam Tracker recorded 337 complaints about puppy scams, compared to 77 for the same month last year. “COVID-19 has given these scammers another excuse to try to make these sales at arm’s length, arguing customers can’t visit the dog in person due to health concerns,” said Phil Catlett, president of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan.

ASPCA opens Veterinary Forensic Science Center for abuse investigations

The ASPCA has opened a Veterinary Forensic Science Center in Gainesville, Florida. The organization says the facility is “the first-ever forensic laboratory to support law enforcement across the country with suspected companion animal cruelty cases.” The 3,000-square-foot facility is staffed with five veterinary forensic experts equipped to assist law enforcement with animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions through services such as necropsies, live animal forensic exams and forensic osteology. The center will also serve as a teaching facility to share lessons with other animal welfare professionals to help prevent and respond to animal cruelty in communities nationwide.

New study links low cholesterol to mortality in canine and feline patients

Low cholesterol appears to be associated with mortality in cats and dogs, and it could be a negative prognostic indicator, according to new research. The study determined the period of hypocholesterolemia and the associated mortality rates in dogs and cats at the University of California, Davis veterinary hospital. “The odds of death in dogs and cats with hypocholesterolemia were 3.2 and 2.5 times higher than in those with normocholesterolemia respectively,” said Steven Epstein, an author on the study. “Furthermore, there was a significant linear trend towards higher mortality in association with more severe hypocholesterolemia in both species.” Veterinary Practice reports.

Gene discovery may help prevent tooth loss in cats

New research has shown that blocking a particular gene can help prevent tooth resorption in cats. This could help researchers develop treatments for resorption, for which no treatments exist other than extracting affected teeth, Vet Times reports. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh identified the MMP9 gene, and the protein it generates, as key in causing tooth resorption. They believe that existing therapies targeting this protein—for example, in cancer treatment—could be effective in treating the condition.

Millennials continue to make up largest share of veterinary profession: AVMA

Millennials last year continued to make up the largest share of the veterinary profession, according to a new AVMA report. The association surveyed recent graduates, practice managers and other professionals for an overview of current industry-wide strengths, changes and opportunities. Workplace data showed an annual increase of about 2.5% in the number of active veterinarians in the United States, with women representing more than 60% of the workforce. The overall growth isn’t surprising, according to the AVMA, largely because of the country’s booming pet population and owners’ high expectation for health care, as well as increased demand in the livestock industry. In 2019, millennials made up 35% of the industry; that group has made up the largest share of the profession for the past four years. Veterinary Practice News reports.

Midmark announces animal health employee promotions

Midmark announced the promotions of two executives in its animal health segment. Chris Grenier was promoted to the position of vice president of sales for animal health. In this role, Grenier will be responsible for leading the Midmark revenue-generating and customer-facing field-based team in the veterinary marketplace. He will continue to remain a significant contributor to the Midmark senior sales leadership team. Crissy Treon was promoted to the position of director of downstream marketing for animal health. Treon will be responsible for the development and execution of the business unit strategic plan, identifying market and competitive trends, delivering relevant business value propositions and developing marketing strategies and programs to drive growth.