Weekly companion animal news: June 12, 2023
New state laws promote veterinary telehealth
Arizona recently approved a veterinary telemedicine law allowing pet owners to access telemedicine services after licensed veterinarians establish a virtual veterinarian-client-patient relationship. And a new proposal in California seeks to empower in-state veterinarians to use video technology as a prior assessment before determining the need for an in-person examination. The bill’s sponsors hope to make veterinarians more accessible, especially in remote areas, GlobalPETS reports.
Dechra Pharmaceuticals agrees to $5.59 billion acquisition by Freya Bidco
Dechra Pharamaceuticals announced that it reached an agreement for a $5.59 billion acquisition by EQT’s Freya Bidco. MarketWatch reported that shareholders will receive 3,875 pence in cash for each share held. While the parties have reportedly agreed on the terms and conditions of a recommended cash acquisition, and the takeover is expected to be completed in late 2023 or early 2024, per RTTNews.
The U.S. retail pet medication market reached $12 billion last year: Packaged Facts
U.S. retail sales of pet medications—including sales through veterinarians, brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers—reached $12 billion in 2022, according to Packaged Facts’ recently released “Pet Medications in the U.S.” report. Packaged Facts estimates the veterinary channel continues to dominate the market at 71% of total sales. By pet, dog medications make up the majority of sales at 69%. By product, parasiticides make up the largest share of the market at 59%. Pets+ Magazine has more.
Oregon animal hospital resumes 24/7 emergency care
The DoveLewis animal hospital in Portland, Oregon, announced it would resume accepting emergency cases 24 hours a day, reversing a reduction in hours it imposed last year amid a staff shortage. The hospital, which said last fall it had only half the staff needed to operate at full capacity and would only take emergency walk-ins eight hours a day, will immediately take walk-in cases at all hours, The Oregonian reports.
Puerto Rico implements new entry rules for dogs and cats
According to Puerto Rico’s new pet import rules, animal owners will need to arrange an examination of their pet by a U.S.-accredited veterinarian. Upon completion of the exam, the veterinarian will need to issue an interstate health certificate. If the cats or dogs don’t meet Puerto Rico’s standards for entry or have the proper accreditation, the owners will have to return the animals to the United States and cover the cost, the Miami Herald reports.
More pets are at risk of tickborne diseases in Maine
As warmer temperatures draw more people to the Maine outdoors, veterinarians are warning that pets are at risk for tickborne diseases. With deer ticks migrating further north and west and more sensitive tests becoming available, rising cases of Lyme, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever have been detected in dogs, News Center Maine reports.
Gene therapy induces long-term contraception in female cats: study
A study published by Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden indicates a single dose of Anti-Müllerian Hormone gene therapy can induce long-term contraception in female cats. Eighty percent of the estimated 600 million domestic cats worldwide are free-roaming. Animal welfare experts have long identified sterilization as the key to humanely reducing free-roaming cat populations, but there have been no contraceptives that produce permanent sterilization in companion animals. In the study, six female cats were treated with AMH gene therapy. The treated cats have been monitored for more than three years to examine the safety of the treatment. At the doses tested, the gene therapy appears to be safe and well-tolerated, according to researchers. Dvm360 has more.
As brachycephalic dogs rise in popularity, what should the veterinary profession do?
As flat-faced dogs become more popular among dog owners in the United States, the global veterinary community is debating the ethics of breeding these dogs. Some countries in Europe, namely the Netherlands and Norway, have banned breeding of brachycephalic dogs. The VIN News Service speaks with veterinary professionals about these bans and what the veterinary profession can do to make sure pet owners know how to care for their brachycephalic dogs.
SoundByte: Cerenia Injectable
Ninety-one percent of canine patients had faster return to feeding when treated with Cerenia Injectable for prevention of vomiting due to emetogenic agents such as opioids, a clinical study found. Cerenia (maropitant citrate) is made by Zoetis. More information is available in the SoundByte in Veterinary Advantage.
