Weekly companion animal news: June 14, 2021

New smartphone app lets veterinary students practice treating dogs

The Royal Veterinary College has launched a smartphone app that allows veterinary students to sharpen their clinical reasoning and case management skills. The app was developed in response to pandemic restrictions that limited opportunities for clinical experiences. It presents cases to students using anonymized and randomized clinical data sourced from more than 20,000 dogs. A future version of the app will focus on cats.

New products and advanced treatments gain traction for aging pets

As pets’ lifespans increase—dogs to an average of 11.8 years in 2015 and cats to an average of 12.9 years—entire product lines have been developed to meet the needs of geriatric animals, AARP reports. Products include orthopedic pet beds to soothe aging bones and strollers that can carry a full-size husky, as well as assistive mobility devices like vehicle accessibility ramps. Hip replacements and ACL repairs are becoming more popular. “People are pursuing advanced care when their pets are reaching end of life,” said Dr. Leilani Alvarez, head of the Integrative and Rehabilitation Medicine Service at the Manhattan-based Animal Medical Center. Alvarez often prescribes treatments like acupuncture, laser therapy and hydrotherapy to keep senior pets mobile and prevent arthritis pain.

Webinar will focus on domestic violence and pets

A June 23 webinar hosted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association will address the impact of domestic violence on veterinary practices, including patients, clients and employees. Research has shown that violence toward animals can be a sign of violence toward other people, and veterinarians are increasingly being called upon to respond to suspected animal abuse, according to the WSAVA. Dr. Melinda Merck, former co-chair of the WSAVA’s Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee, will lead the webinar, giving advice for veterinarians to spot signs of domestic violence and ways to handle client discussions.

WSAVA and HABRI announce new partnership

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association are partnering to demonstrate the importance of veterinary medicine in supporting strong human-companion animal bonds and to promote the health benefits of interacting with pets, the organizations announced. According to the announcement, “activities agreed under the partnership will focus on promoting the science of the human-animal bond and the veterinary profession’s positive role in animal welfare and human wellness. The WSAVA is also represented on the Advisory Committee, which participates in the development of the online Human Animal Bond Certification course” created by HABRI and NAVC.

Some puppies show innate ability to understand human cues, research shows

Some puppies seem to be born with an innate ability to understand humans’ social cues, according to new research. At only 8 weeks old, some of the puppies in the study locked eyes with humans they didn’t know and took command cues, such as directions pointed out with a finger, NBC reports. The researchers determined that genes explain why some young dogs seemed to understand cues while others didn’t. Dr. Katherine Houpt, an animal behaviorist and professor emeritus at Cornell University who wasn’t involved in the study, said it may help resolve a dispute among researchers over whether these abilities are innate or learned. “This certainly shows dogs have innate abilities,” Houpt said, adding that people who want a puppy that will grow up to be a close companion may want to look for social skills like the ones described in the study.

PIJAC urges Congress to pass One Health Act

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council is urging Congress to pass the One Health Act, which would require USDA, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Interior to adopt a One Health framework with other agencies. The pandemic has demonstrated that human and animal health are interconnected, said Mike Bober, PIJAC’s president. “In calling for federal departments and agencies to bring together human and animal health experts to establish a national One Health Framework and coordinate activities under a unified, collaborative One Health Program, the One Health Act will help ensure the U.S. is better equipped to detect, prevent and respond to future zoonotic disease outbreaks,” Bober said.

Covetrus integrates prescription and practice management technologies

Covetrus has added new features to its practice management software, including streamlined prescribing on its AVImark and eVetPractice systems through an embedded integration with the Covetrus Prescription Management Platform. Access to digital scripts within these central operating systems will save time for veterinary teams that are receiving more prescription requests from online retailers as animal owners shop online more, according to the announcement. Digital scripts direct animal owners to the practice’s own online pharmacy, for wellness-focused workflows and faster fulfillment, according to Covetrus.

Zoetis Foundation will focus on diversity, debt relief and mental health in veterinary medicine

Zoetis has committed $35 million over five years to the newly established Zoetis Foundation. Initially, the foundation will focus on scholarships and diversity initiatives “to help drive a more inclusive veterinary community” in the United States, according to the announcement. In 2022, the foundation’s work will expand to support veterinary debt relief, mental wellness for farmers and veterinarians, and farmer and veterinary livelihoods in other parts of the world. This announcement coincides with the release of the company’s 2020 sustainability report.