Weekly companion animal news: June 15, 2020

JAB Holdings plans for more major pet industry acquisitions

Luxembourg-based JAB Holdings in recent years has become the world’s second-largest coffee maker, and now it’s making fast headway in the pet industry. In February 2019, the company spent $1.2 billion to acquire Compassion-First Pet Hospitals. Soon it bought National Veterinary Associates, one of the largest companies in the industry, with more than 700 animal hospitals in multiple countries. Now, with a virtually endless budget, JAB “is scouring the globe for more takeovers in what’s set to be the business world’s most ambitious effort to monetize the animal kingdom since the dawn of husbandry,” Bloomberg reports. According to JAB CEO Olivier Goudet, “This is going to be a very big asset for us. We are in the first 10 years of an industry that will keep growing for the next 50 years.”

New SoundByte video: IntroVet IV Catheter

The IntroVet catheter, made by CP Medical, features a universal back cut bevel needle to help access difficult veins and reduce the risk of infection; a bevel indicator to assist in one-handed catheter advancement; double flashback technology to show successful venipuncture; and a removal flash plug to allow for syringe attachment. More information is available in the Vet Advantage SoundByte, and the video is available here.

New tool gives veterinary practices overview of pharmacy sales

A new resource provides veterinary practices with an overview of their pharmacy sales. The VetSuccess Practice Overview Report, from VetSuccess and Vetsource, includes home delivery data from Vetsource alongside transaction data from individual practice management systems. By matching patient-for-patient data from multiple sources, veterinary practices have access to the full picture of their pharmacy sales, according to the announcement.

BluePearl launches employee well-being program

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital announced the launch of its “Micro Steps to Wellness Program,” which aims to help associates cope with work-related stress, create healthy lifestyle habits and reduce elevated health risks. The year-long wellness program consists of small, monthly behavioral steps for associates to practice daily. For example, the first “micro step,” titled Paws for Wellness, encourages associates to take short, frequent breaks while working to improve their overall attitude, reduce stress, and increase concentration and happiness.

Kansas State veterinary professor gets $3M federal grant to study tick-borne diseases

A professor in Kansas State University’s veterinary college has been granted more than $3 million from the National Institutes of Health to develop vaccines for tick-borne illnesses, Kansas-based WIBW reports. “Tick-borne diseases have been continuously emerging in the U.S. and many parts of the world for over four decades and remain a threat to the health of people, dogs and farm animals,” said Roman Ganta, director of the college’s Center for Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases and the recipient of the grant. He’s been leading research on tick-borne diseases for more than 20 years, according to the university.

Veterinary Virtual Care Association appoints first executive director

The recently formed Veterinary Virtual Care Association, a global nonprofit that aims to develop best practices for delivering telehealth for animals, has appointed Alison McIntyre as the organization’s first executive director. McIntyre is a junior partner with the Animal Policy Group and will continue working with the group while working with the VVCA.

Pets in Need Project reaches homeless pet owners

A pet CBD company launched a program to help pets in California whose owners are experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. ElleVet Sciences cofounders Christian Kjaer and Amanda Howland created the Pets in Need Project, a two-month-long initiative that allowed company team members to provide free veterinary care and supplies to pets in need. “We are seeing a variety of health issues in the field, but the majority of the time we administer vaccines, flea and tick preventatives, deworming and general checkups,” Kjaer said. Kjaer added that it’s “a self-selecting group, though, as the people who seek out our help and stand in line are caring pet owners. The ones we don’t see are the ones we are concerned about.” They hope to treat 600 to 700 pets by mid-July, fellow NAVC publication Today’s Veterinary Practice reports.

Nonprofit gives Arizona firefighters tools to help save animals’ lives

An Arizona nonprofit is providing local firefighters tools to help save animal lives during rescues, Arizona-based KTAR reports. The Fetch Foundation, based in Scottsdale, has created a “Fido Bag”—a specialized breathing apparatus formed to fit across the pet’s mouth. The cone-shaped oxygen mask allows for a secure seal on the pet’s face to help prevent smoke inhalation. The bags also come with specialized burn sheets, bandages, rinsing saline and protective restraints. The kits feature collapsible water dishes and stuffed toys to accompany an injured pet on its way to a veterinarian’s office or hospital. Firefighters in Phoenix recently used the equipment to save two large dogs.