Weekly companion animal news: February 8, 2021

Millennials overtake Gen X in the veterinary profession: AVMA

Millennials are surpassing Generation X as the leading age group in the U.S. veterinary workforce, according to data from the AVMA. Millennials this year make up 35.1% of the workforce. Generation X makes up 34.6%, baby boomers make up 29.9%, and the silent generation are at 0.4%. Most new veterinarians entering the workforce are millennials, while baby boomers and the remaining silents are moving toward retirement. This generational shift will likely lead to significant changes in the profession, the association said, including changes in work-life integration, a new emphasis on mentorship, greater adoption of new technology, and new client insights.

Nationwide and Walmart partner on pet drugs

Nationwide pet insurance is inviting policyholders to have their veterinary prescriptions filled at one of the 4,700 U.S. pharmacies operated by Walmart. The initiative, called Nationwide Pet Rx Express, saves money and time when pet owners need commonly prescribed medications for chronic diseases and flea, tick and heartworm prevention, the company said. Policyholders can go online to register for the program and access a digital ID card, according to fellow NAVC publication Today’s Veterinary Business.

Elanco to cut another 350 jobs in further restructuring

Elanco Animal Health will eliminate 350 jobs around the world as part of its next step of restructuring to improve operational efficiency, Feed Strategy reports. In a late January press release, the company said it would consolidate research and development activities and would close R&D sites in New Zealand and Germany. It also said it would reduce duplication and optimize structures in U.S. operations, marketing, manufacturing and quality central functions and administrative areas, resulting in the elimination of about 350 jobs.

Animalytix will host virtual Senior Executive Forum on February 16

Animalytix on February 16 will host its annual Senior Executive Forum virtually. The forum will include a detailed analysis of the critical market segments driving the animal health industry and an assessment of how lockdowns, commercial disruptions and other factors affected the market. The program will also include a special emphasis on the performance of the veterinary sector including variability across major metro markets and practice types. More information and registration is available online.

New SoundByte: Douxo S3 skincare from Ceva

Douxo S3’s key ingredient, Ophytrium, works on dogs’ and cats’ three skin barriers—the physical, microbiological and immunological—for maximum protection, according to manufacturer Ceva. The Douxo S3 range, including Calm, Seb and Pyo, has been clinically tested to treat conditions such as canine atopic dermatitis and dandruff, and to reduce the bacterial overgrowth score. More information is available in the SoundByte from Veterinary Advantage.

Trained dogs detect COVID 94% of the time, study finds

A German veterinary clinic says it’s trained dogs that can detect COVID-19 with 94% accuracy, even if people are asymptomatic, Deutsche Welle reports. The dogs were conditioned to sniff out the “coronavirus odor” emitted from cells in infected people, said Esther Schalke, a veterinarian at Germany’s armed forces school for service dogs. “So dogs can really sniff out people with infections, as well as asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID patients,” said Holger Volk, head of the clinic at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, where dogs are being trained. Stephan Weil, the state premier of Lower Saxony, said he was impressed with the study and called for more tests before the dogs are put to work in the real world.

Pet owner’s personality can affect canine training success, study shows

The success of a dog’s training may depend on its owner’s personality, new research shows. “Almost nothing is known about how treatment success is influenced by the characteristics of the owner,” said Lauren Powell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. The research team recruited 131 dog-owner pairs to attend a veterinary behavioral program for six months. Owners were asked to fill out a human personality assessment questionnaire and dog behavior questionnaire at the start of the study. The dog behavior questionnaire was to be filled out again at three and six months into the study. “Extroverted owners were more likely to see improvements in dogs’ fearful behaviors and introverted owners less so,” Powell said. “Introverted owners may find it tough to leave their dog or give it space if it is required as part of the dog’s treatment.” NBC News reports.

Supplement sales skyrocket during pandemic

Pet supplement sales rose 21% last year to nearly $800 million, according to a new report from Packaged Facts. The veterinary care sector captured an estimated 46% of the revenue, the largest share. According to the report, dog owners spent four times as much as cat owners on pet supplements. Additionally, the report said, “41% of pet owners are paying closer attention to their pets’ health and wellness because of COVID-19.” Packaged Facts predicts pet supplement sales will rise by about $50 million annually through 2025, Today’s Veterinary Business reports.