Weekly companion animal news: February 7, 2022

After a busy year of adoptions in 2021, a Kentucky animal shelter now doesn’t have enough space for pets trying to find a new home.

A Kentucky animal shelter is trying to rehome an influx of pets after a busy year of adoptions in 2021, Spectrum News 1 reports. Louisville-based Animal Care Society oversaw nearly 550 pet adoptions last year, which volunteer Wendy Bade said was high compared to other years. But the shelter now has a wait list of nearly 100 pets that owners want to give up. The shelter can only house 25 dogs and 20 cats. According to Best Friends Animal Society, there are about 100,000 more dogs and cats in U.S. shelters this year than at the same time last year. “We’re starting to see it throughout the pet rescue community, where people are returning their pets now that COVID is kind of over and getting back to life is [more] normal,” Bade said. She added that even as the shelter is short on employees, it’s not able to raise starting wages to attract more workers the way other employers can.

Norway court outlaws breeding of two flat-faced dog breeds

A ruling last week by a court in Norway bans the reproduction of two common breeds of flat-faced dogs, a decision supported by animal welfare advocates and opposed by kennel clubs, the VIN News Service reports. The Oslo District Court ruled that breeding English bulldogs and cavalier King Charles spaniels breeches the country’s existing animal welfare legislation. Breeders must cross these dogs with healthier breeds if they choose to reproduce them, the court ruled. Structurally flattened faces are associated with health issues including difficulty breathing and reproducing, along with eye, skin and dental problems. The Norwegian Society for the Protection of Animals brought the lawsuit. The Norwegian Kennel Club opposed it, saying illegal breeders will now take over the market. The ruling’s implication for imports is being considered.

Patterson’s veterinary software can now integrate with CareCredit

CareCredit’s veterinary financial services can now be integrated with Patterson Veterinary’s cloud software, NaVetor, the company’s announced. Practices that have the integration can use NaVetor to process payments and returns and help clients apply for the CareCredit credit card. The integration also offers a “contactless payment” option for clients. “This partnership between NaVetor and CareCredit allows veterinary practices to get more done in less time from within their software, rather than logging into multiple systems throughout the day,” said Christal Hahn, director of commercial software at Patterson Veterinary. Practices that already accept CareCredit and use NaVetor can contact the software’s support team to enable the integration.

Pet telehealth startups Dutch and Pawp are growing fast despite challenges

New pet telehealth startups hope to take advantage of a spike in pet ownership and the rise in popularity of human telemedicine during the pandemic as they try to reach more customers. Dutch started in eight states in 2021 but has expanded video conferencing to all 50 states in the last three months. The company offers a $19-a-month subscription service for pet owners to book unlimited video chat sessions any time of the day for questions on conditions such as anxiety, allergies and nutrition concerns. Pawp, which launched in 2019, charges $24 a month for unlimited video consultations. Pet owners are allowed a $3,000 annual emergency fund that they can use at local clinics to treat serious issues. The company also has a model that businesses can sign up for to provide the service to their employees. Pet telehealth companies face challenges similar to the ones human telehealth companies have faced, including regulatory concerns and questions about the legitimacy of their services, Modern Retail reports.

Petriage partners with Crum & Forster to offer telehealth services to pet insurance customers

Veterinary telehealth platform Petriage announced a partnership with Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, the first time Petriage is partnering with an insurer. Through the partnership, pet owners enrolled with ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Hartville Pet Insurance (both offered by Crum & Forster) will have access to Petriage’s online symptom checker and Petriage Live, its 24/7 nurse helpline. “Pet parents will be able to access the Petriage symptom checker and the 24/7 Petriage Live service directly from their ASPCA Pet Health Insurance or Hartville Pet Insurance program member centers,” said Allon Freiman, chief strategy officer and co-founder at Petriage. “For pet parents whose family veterinarians are partnered with Petriage, they will receive the added benefit of having their vet automatically notified of Petriage analysis recommendations.”

Petco to offer pet sitting, dog walking and other services in partnership with Rover

Petco will offer its customers pet sitting, boarding, dog walking and other services through a partnership with Rover. The new program offers discounts for pet owners making their first appointment and for members of Petco’s Vital Care wellness plan program, according to the announcement. “We are pleased to expand our relationship with Rover and make their leading pet boarding, sitting, walking and daycare services more accessible to pet parents through Petco’s integrated, multichannel ecosystem of solutions,” said Jenny Wolski, Petco’s senior vice president of omnichannel experience.

Merck advised to discontinue Bravecto commercial after challenge from Boehringer Ingelheim

The National Advertising Division of BBB (Better Business Bureau) National Programs recommended that Merck Animal Health discontinue a commercial for its Bravecto flea and tick preventive for dogs, which compares the product with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s NexGard preventive. Boehringer Ingelheim challenged the 30-second “Best in Show” television commercial, saying the commercial included the express claim that NexGard users will experience “a rejection in protection at week 5.” The challenge also alleged implied claims that Bravecto is “best in show” and therefore better than NexGard at preventing flea and tick infestations and that NexGard doesn’t provide long-lasting protection. NexGard is administered monthly while Bravecto is administered every 12 weeks. The BBB division said the commercial didn’t clearly communicate the basis of the product comparison—i.e., the difference in the products’ respective duration of action. Merck will appeal the decision.

Easyvet will open two new walk-in clinics in Florida PetSmart stores

Easyvet, a group of walk-in veterinary clinics, announced the opening of two new franchised clinics in Florida PetSmart stores. “The new clinics will allow us to continue focusing on our company’s mission in providing convenient care,” said CEO Tim Schoenfelder. “Our walk-in model will allow pet parents to schedule a same-day appointment and speak to a veterinary professional while doing their regular shopping at PetSmart.” In addition to basic services like wellness exams, vaccines and microchipping, the PetSmart locations will include basic surgery such as dental work, spays and neuters. According to its website, easyvet currently has 24 locations, several of which are yet to be open.