Weekly companion animal news: October 25, 2021

JAB acquires two large pet insurers, signaling big plans in the animal insurance industry

JAB is acquiring two large pet insurers in the United Kingdom and Chicago, as the company seeks to become a major player in the animal insurance industry, Bloomberg reports. The company said it’s taken a majority stake in Cardif Pinnacle, a pet insurance-focused subsidiary of BNP Paribas SA, and it’s buying Chicago-based Figo Pet Insurance LLC, for undisclosed prices. The company used a strategy entering the pet insurance industry similar to the one it used when consolidating the coffee industry: JAB acquired Independence Holding Company’s pet insurance arm earlier this year through a vehicle named Iguana Capital to conceal its identity. It’s also making its move into pet insurance with an already-established pet care division, running 1,400 veterinary hospitals and clinics in multiple countries through companies such as Compassion-First Pet Hospitals and National Veterinary Associates. Most of a $6 billion fund JAB finished raising last year will be dedicated to the veterinary sector, and the company plans to spend a significant portion of a new $5 billion fund on growing those assets and building a global leader in pet insurance, said senior JAB partner David Bell.

Pets should be recognized as a public health strategy, says HABRI president

As research emerges showing the benefits pets have on human health, programs and policies should begin recognizing pet ownership as a public health strategy, Steven Feldman, president of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, writes in commentary in Roll Call. “We’ve progressed from a sense that pets are just ‘fun’ to recognizing that pets support positive changes in mental health, address significant medical conditions and promote social connection,” Feldman says. “Studies even show that pets have the power to lower the cost of health care and strengthen the social fabric of towns and cities throughout the United States.” These findings and others indicate “engagement with pets” should be promoted as a wellness strategy at the same level as nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation and other public health priorities, Feldman says.

VetPawer introduces scheduling software that helps clients over the phone

VetPawer has introduced the Automated Virtual Assistant—AVA—a software that provides voice-automated scheduling assistance to clients who call the veterinary clinic. When the client calls the clinic to schedule an appointment, AVA interacts with the client to find an open appointment that works for them. AVA writes the appointment directly into the practice management software with no human interaction. While online scheduling is becoming more popular, the vast majority of veterinary appointments are still made over the phone, according to VetPawer. That makes this service a potentially valuable way to save staff time on scheduling and allow them to focus more on clients in the office.

Dechra receives FDA approval for companion animal skin treatment

Dechra has received FDA approval for its amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium oral suspension drops, the latest addition to its anti-infective dermatology portfolio, which includes products such as Cefpoderm tablets, Clavacillin veterinary tablets and Enroquin flavored tablets. “The upcoming launch of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium oral suspension will offer flexible dosing options for veterinarians while extending our amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium product portfolio, and further solidifies Dechra’s position as a market leader in companion animal anti-infectives,” said Mike Eldred, president of Dechra’s North America operations.

Zoetis announces Robert J. Polzer as president of research and development

Zoetis announced the appointment of Robert J. Polzer as executive vice president and president of research and development at the company, effective January 1, 2022. Polzer currently serves as senior vice president of global therapeutics at Zoetis. He joined the company in 2015 after spending more than 20 years in R&D leadership roles at Pfizer. He’ll succeed the current executive vice president and president of R&D, Dr. Catherine Knupp, a veterinarian who will remain head of R&D until she retires at the end of the year.

From dog training on Zoom to telemedicine, the pandemic has changed the pet care industry

The pandemic has changed the dynamics of the multibillion-dollar pet care industry, The New York Times reports. “For the average consumer who needs help with house training and learning basic commands, Zoom has really opened the door for trainers to change the way they work,” said Mark Bennett, a certified dog trainer who offers virtual sessions through his business, Brooklyn’s Finest Dog Training, out of his cabin in upstate New York. Sarah Todd, who runs a New York boarding and training program, nearly had to close her business last year. But people are traveling once again, and many new pet owners are returning to work, leaving behind pets who aren’t used to being alone. “I’m getting a lot of people calling me and saying, ‘I’m going to get kicked out of my apartment if the dog doesn’t stop barking,’” Todd said. Telemedicine was useful for veterinarians at the height of the pandemic, said AVMA President Dr. José V. Arce, who said he thinks telemedicine will become more common in veterinary practices as younger veterinarians enter the profession and the range of available technologies expands.

A new tool helps clinics improve employee recruitment

A new tool from practice management services company iVET360 aims to help veterinary practices recruit new employees. The Recruiting Tool Kit is a series of articles, templates and how-to guides created by iVET360’s human resources and training team and is free to all veterinary practices, according to the company. This follows a survey released by iVET360 in September, in which recruitment was cited as the biggest challenge facing hospitals.

Some dogs show human-like ADHD behaviors, study finds

Some dogs exhibit behaviors that closely resemble ADHD in humans, a recent study found. Researchers say the findings, based on a study of more than 11,000 dogs, provide hope for better treatments for both dogs and humans, CBS News reports. The research team, based in Helsinki, Finland, examined dogs of different breeds, asking owners behavioral questions based on human ADHD research. Hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention were found to be more common in young dogs and male dogs, matching observed demographics in humans, they said. They also found that dogs who stayed at home alone daily were more hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive than dogs who spent more time with their owners or weren’t alone.