Weekly companion animal news: March 14, 2022

More than 40,000 new veterinarians will be needed for U.S. pet care by 2030: Mars Veterinary Health

Nearly 41,000 additional veterinarians will be necessary to meet the needs of companion animal health care in the United States by 2030, according to a new study from Mars Veterinary Health. “Like many others, Mars Veterinary Health believes the industry is facing a chronic shortage of veterinary professionals,” the company said in its announcement. The study shows a 33% expected increase in pet health care service spending over the next 10 years. Even with new veterinary graduates expected in the coming decade, a shortage of nearly 15,000 veterinarians will likely still exist by 2030, according to Mars. It would take more than 30 years of graduates to meet the 10-year industry need for credentialed veterinary technicians, according to the study.

This year looks set for more major pet industry M&As

After a slew of major pet industry acquisitions in 2020 and 2021, largely fueled by the pandemic, the industry can expect to see more this year, David Lummis, lead pet market analyst at Packaged Facts, writes in Pet Product News. Companies and brands focused on pet health and wellness, those that sell subscription services like home delivery of pet food, and those participating in sustainability initiatives will likely be of interest to investors, Lummis says. This year will also likely see the acquisition of “disruptor companies” by major industry players looking to expand to new areas, he says. An example is Mars’ 2021 acquisition of subscription cat litter company PrettyLitter and its 2022 acquisition of fresh pet food maker NomNomNow.

Where to send money to help people and animals in Ukraine

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has compiled a list of reputable organizations mobilizing to help people and animals in Ukraine. In addition to humanitarian organizations including the Red Cross and UNICEF, the list includes the Small Animal Veterinary Associations of Ukraine, Poland and Estonia. While the organizations on the AVMF’s list are not “AVMA-endorsed,” “they are generally viewed as credible organizations that are poised to provide immediate help,” according to the AVMF. People have also recently begun booking stays at Airbnbs in Ukraine to send money directly to residents.

Summer immersion program will allow veterinary students to learn about leading a practice

Veterinary students can now apply for Suveto’s Student Hospital Immersion Program. The 10-week summer intensive aims to show students the fundamentals of veterinary practice ownership and business leadership and give them real-world experience. The program, which is in its first year, will admit 50 students. Applications are also open for veterinary practice leaders to be matched with participating students, who will work alongside them for the duration of the program.

Utah State University receives funding for the state’s first four-year veterinary college

Utah lawmakers have approved $18 million in annual funding to Utah State University for a four-year veterinary college. Utah State is currently part of a regional program in which veterinary students complete two years of foundational study at the school and do their final two years at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The new program will be Utah’s first four-year veterinary education program, Utah-based KSL reports.

Petco expands Vital Care subscription wellness plan, extends benefits to partners

Petco is introducing new benefits for Vital Care, its monthly wellness plan. The plan, which costs subscribers $19.99 a month, was launched in October 2020 and has nearly 160,000 pets enrolled now, according to Petco. The company says it has introduced new benefits for dogs as well as a new plan tailored for cats. Benefits include unlimited routine exams at participating Petco locations, discounts on dog grooming, cat litter and pet food, and rewards points to use for health and wellness needs. Petco is also extending Vital Care benefits to its affiliate partners’ employees and customers; these partners include Rover.com and Central Garden & Pet, among others.

Zoetis named one of Fast Company’s 2022 ‘Most Innovative Companies’

Zoetis has been named to Fast Company’s list of Most Innovative Companies for 2022, ranking eighth in the corporate social responsibility category. According to the company’s announcement, Zoetis is the only standalone animal health company to be included on this year’s list. The recognition is based on Zoetis’ development and donation of more than 11,000 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, specifically meant for animals, to dozens of U.S. zoos and other institutions in 2021. The vaccines were administered to great apes, lions, tigers, bears and other animals.

Calls to the Animal Poison Control Center increased more than 22% last year

The ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center saw a more than 22% uptick in call volume in 2021, addressing more than 400,000 cases. Human over-the-counter medications led the top toxin list, accounting for more than 17% of the APCC’s call volume. Other top toxins were human prescription medications, food products, chocolate and plants. Household items such as cleaning products, veterinary products like calming chews, rodenticides, insecticides and gardening products like fertilizers were also on the list.