Weekly companion animal news: February 19, 2024

Nearly 40% of veterinary professionals use AI tools in the practice: survey

Digitail, a practice management software for veterinary hospitals, together with the American Animal Hospital Association, published “AI in Veterinary Medicine: The Next Paradigm Shift,” a study exploring current awareness, perception, utilization, expectations and concerns around the adoption of artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine. The study, which collected perspectives from 3,968 veterinary professionals, found that 39.2% of respondents reported using AI tools or software in their veterinary setting, while 69.5% of those respondents who have tried AI tools for professional tasks report using them daily or weekly. The study also found a direct correlation between the use of AI tools and the level of enthusiasm toward this technology. The most commonly cited benefits of AI integration included improved productivity and time savings, reduced administrative workload and increased efficiency in diagnosis and treatment.

Canine respiratory illnesses have dropped since autumn peak, Colorado researchers say

The spike in respiratory viruses among Colorado’s dogs appears to have dropped since it peaked in December 2023, according to Colorado State University veterinary researchers. In early fall, veterinarians across Colorado started noticing more owners bringing sick dogs into their clinics, some with a prolonged cough that lasted weeks to months and occasionally progressed into severe illnesses like pneumonia. In many cases, infected dogs had a minimal response to treatment. CSU veterinary researchers have been conducting studies to track the infections and their effects, and they saw a decrease in cases in January. This may be related to pets spending less time in social situations with ill dogs during the winter months, according to Dr. Michael Lappin, an internal medicine specialist and director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at CSU. Colorado Public Radio reports.

California bill would allow veterinary technicians to neuter cats

A bill introduced in the California Legislature would permit a registered veterinary technician to neuter a male domestic cat provided they’re directly supervised by a veterinarian. If passed, the measure would make California the only state to allow veterinary technicians to perform the surgery on cats, according to the AVMA. Supporters of the bill say it’s one among several steps needed to address the apparent shortage of veterinarians and combat a “pet overpopulation crisis” in the state. Opponents say the change would put cats at risk and set a dangerous precedent in the practice of veterinary medicine. The bill is sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation, an animal welfare organization focused on public policy. The AVMA and California Veterinary Medical Association have voiced their strong opposition to the measure, the VIN News Service reports.

Covetrus pleads guilty to misbranding veterinary prescription drugs

Covetrus has agreed to pay $23 million in criminal fines and forfeitures after it pleaded guilty to causing the introduction and delivery of misbranded veterinary prescription drugs into interstate commerce, KTVH reports. The Department of Justice said Covetrus shipped more than $20 million in prescription drugs from non-pharmacy locations to those not authorized to receive prescription drugs. These types of shipments are deemed “misbranded,” according to the DOJ. As part of the agreement, Covetrus will forfeit more than $21 million in sales and pay $1 million to the Virginia Department of Health Professions. The company will also pay a $1 million fine and implement appropriate compliance measures to prevent future violations.

Shortage of veterinarians leaves fewer affordable care options for Oregon pet owners

A shortage of qualified veterinarians and veterinary technicians has left fewer affordable options for Oregon pet owners. Eugene, Oregon’s spay and neuter clinic, for instance, is no longer operating on large dogs and has cut back on small animal surgeries. Dr. Kelly Hazzard, the Eugene clinic supervisor, said staffing shortages have limited her to vaccinations, wellness checks and half a dozen surgeries a day. Jill Parker, president of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, attributed part of the problem to veterinarians retiring or having left the industry during the pandemic because of burnout, among other reasons. At the same time, more and more Americans are adopting pets. “It’s not quite as simple as numbers, though, because there’s so many different types of practices and each of them have their own unique reasons why they have a hard time attracting veterinarians,” Parker told KLCC.

PetDx says new study validates company’s cancer detection blood test

PetDx published a clinical validation study indicating its new OncoK9 Screen test has a high detection rate across seven predefined, clinically relevant cancer types that represent a large proportion of all cancers found in dogs. These cancers are often difficult to detect by physical exam alone due to their anatomic location and/or lack of specific clinical signs. They are often aggressive, requiring prompt intervention, and have typically been associated with improved outcomes when detected and treated early. The study evaluated nearly 2,000 dogs with and without cancer across independent training and testing cohorts. It demonstrated a sensitivity of over 70% for the OncoK9 Screen test across seven cancer types (lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, leukemia, histiocytic sarcoma, primary lung tumors and urothelial carcinoma), with a false positive rate of less than 1.5% in cancer-free dogs, according to PetDx.

Relief and mobile veterinary careers may offer a path toward improved quality of life: study

A recent survey explored relief and mobile veterinarians’ views and experiences related to their current job and examined why these veterinarians opted to pursue careers in relief and mobile practice. A total of 444 responses were collected (125 veterinarians in mobile practice and 240 relief veterinarians). Factors most commonly reported to have a strong effect on mobile or relief veterinarians’ decision to leave their previous job included administration, hospital culture, leadership, feeling their voice was heard and workplace schedule factors. The majority of mobile and relief practitioners reported feeling satisfied with their work-life balance (mobile, 78%; relief, 91%) as well as availability for children (mobile, 84%; relief, 84%) and other family members (mobile, 85%; relief, 87%), suggesting the decision to leave their previous position in search of one that offers better work-life balance paid off, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

SoundByte: CarePoint™ VET

CarePoint™ VET’s blood collection tubes allow for improved inventory management, easy integration in practice workflow, and versatility thanks to their temperature stability, according to manufacturer Allison Medical. Find out more in the SoundByte from Veterinary Advantage.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article erroneously included information on a Midmark education course that was intended for human medical professionals. We regret the error.