Weekly Veterinary Industry Review #2

 

It’s Friday, August 7th, 2020. Welcome to round two of the Weekly Veterinary Industry Review, brought to you by GeniusVets. One thing is for sure—this pandemic hasn’t slowed down the moving and shaking within the veterinary field. This week, we learn of the NAVC’s partially virtual VMX 2021 conference, uncover some great new products for your pooch that will help you get through the summer, and, as always, share some feel-good pet news. So let’s get to it.

 

Pet News

Uplifting and informative news in the world of cats and dogs...

The Chemical Connection Between Pets and Positivity

  • Why are dogs man's best friend? It turns out, science can explain that
  • Petting a dog (or a cat!) causes the brain to release Oxytocin, a chemical that enhances our sense of well-being
  • Quote: According to Lois Krahn, Professor of Psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Arizona “one of the main mental health benefits of having a pet is companionship,” “There's been research shown that people who spend time caring for their companion animals can be more relaxed" and “sleep issues could potentially improve due to the presence of a companion animal".
  • Source: Article posted by nbpPhiladelphia.com

 

Solar Powered Kitties

  • Ever wondered why your kitty can often be found lying in front of a sun-soaked window? Again, it's science!
  • When a cat falls asleep, their basal metabolism drops and they lose heat, which is why they seek out windows, lamps, garages, and in the wintertime, engines (Beware of this!)
  • Quote: "Like all mammals, cats use a portion of their caloric food intake to maintain their body temperature. The problem with cats is that almost a third of their calories are used to maintain their skin and coat."
  • Source: Article posted by BayNews9.com

 

Why Does My Indoor Cat Need a Rabies Vaccine?

  • Vets get this question all the time
  • Vets aren't trying to gouge you for money - the truth is, there are plenty of ways a rabid bat can get to your indoor cat (think open windows, patio encounters, escaped kitties)
  • Quote: "Globally, 59,000 people die every year from rabies. In this country, most human cases result from a bat bite inside the home."
  • Source: Article posted by NWAOnline.com.

 

Killer Cats? Not Exactly

  • Many have been in an uproar, claiming that cats are decimating other animal populations, such as the bird population
  • This EcoWatch article points out the faulty logic in this thinking
  • The article also points out two solutions to this, including "catios" (cat patios) and trap-neuter release programs run by sanctuaries
  • Quote: "Cats, like any other predator, affect their ecological communities. Whether that impact is good or bad is a complex value judgment, not a scientific fact."
  • Source: Article posted by EcoWatch.com.

 

Recommendations for Disaster Preparedness For Household Pets

  • As Nor'easter Isaias bears down on the east coast, the CDC has released very specific guidelines on sheltering and evacuation for those with household pets, service animals, and support animals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The article covers everything from planning and resources to mass animal intake and housing
  • Quote: "People and at least some companion animal species may be able to spread SARS-CoV-2 without showing symptoms of COVID-19, creating a baseline risk for all emergency response and support personnel as well as disaster/emergency survivors."
  • Source: Article posted by CDC.gov.

 

Get Outside With These Pooch-Friendly Products

  • Calling all outdoorsmen and outdoor hounds! 
  • Forbes released a list of practical products for taking pooches on summer adventures
  • The article includes things such as the best tech for dog tags, the best harness for adaptability, and the best outdoor beds
  • Quote: "What’s been a delightful surprise is how my love of dogs and the need for a better product has now evolved into a much greater appreciation for how dogs function, behave and fit into our lifestyles." - Angela Hook
  • Source: Article posted by Forbes.

 

Keep Canines Cool With This Super Hot List

  • Yahoo! Sports got in on the list action by naming some great products to help keep your canine cool this summer
  • The article includes things such as cooling mats and pools for pups - GeniusVets Content Manager, Marnie Brodersen, swears by the cooling mats for her perpetually panting pug, Woody
  • Quote: "There are a wide variety of nifty gadgets available to help keep your pet cool in the summer; from sun beds with their very own canopy, to cooling vests, blankets and bandanas."
  • Source: Article posted by Yahoo! Sports.

 

 

Veterinary Business News

Keeping you at the forefront of veterinary news regarding products, personnel, and conferences...

5 Things Vets Should Know About CBD

  • The CBD for pets momentum doesn't seem to be slowing down but the vet blog My Vet Candy wanted to share 5 things vets should know about CBD.
  • Quote: The fifth thing to know is the most important, which is, "There are no FDA approved CBD products for veterinary use. Products marketed for pets are classified as nutraceutical supplements. Therefore, products cannot make health claims."
  • Source: Article posted by MyVetCandy.com.

 

CBD Health Names CVO

  • Despite the lack of backing by the FDA, CBD Dog Health, the leading provider of CBD products for pets, recently named Dr. Zac Pilossoph as CVO.
  • Quote: “As the demand for pet products containing cannabinol (CBD) continues to skyrocket, Dr. Pilossoph brings experience as a global veterinary cannabis educational expert to CBD Dog Health's hemp-derived solutions for pets.”
  • Source: Article posted by PRNewsWire.com.

 

NAVC Opens Registration For VMX 2021

  • The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) has some huge news regarding VMX 2021, and it is keeping with what will likely be the norm for big expos that will take place in our post-pandemic future.
  • Quote: “Through our new digital platform, veterinary professionals anywhere can learn from and engage with the world’s most renowned veterinary professionals, explore our industry-leading Expo Hall and network with colleagues wherever they are most comfortable — at home or live from Orlando, Florida at the convention center. The health and safety of VMX participants is paramount, and the NAVC is introducing new safety measures and working closely with the Orange County Convention Center, our host hotels and Visit Orlando to make sure we provide a safe and healthy experience for everyone who comes to VMX.” - NAVC CEO Gene O'Neill
  • Source: NAVC Newsletter

 

The Far-Reaching Effects of COVID on Pets and Vets

  • Not surprisingly, COVID has put a strain on pets, and this article discusses how this pandemic has made triage all the more important.
  • The article also notes that pet owners should make well appointments now, as many clinics are booked into the fall.
  • Quote: ““If it’s a case in which a pet’s condition could rapidly deteriorate and compromise quality of life, then we get them in. Then there are some patients in which their conditions are stable, we can try to work them in within a day or two.”
  • Source: Article posted by WDET.org.

 

More COVID Fallout: 900+ Cats Waiting for Neuters or Spays

  • You've heard of 101 dalmations, but one Nashville clinic has over 900 cats waiting for spays or neuters
  • Quote: “This is definitely the most backed up we've ever seen it.” - Pet Community Center (PCC) Natalie Corwin
  • When Corwin founded PCC back in 2014, they had a waitlist of about 1,000 cats but, since then, they’ve completed rescue surgeries within two weeks and never had a waiting list.
  • Source: Article posted by USAToday.com.

 

The Veterinary BOOM Forecast

  • The Global Veterinary Healthcare Market is accounted for $31.46 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $66.95 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 9.9% during the forecast period (via Stratistics MRC)
  • Source: Article posted by PRNewsWire.com.

 

 

Tech News 

Gadgets for good pet health and prevention...

New Product Helps New Pet Parents Return to Work in Case of Emergency

  • A new kit has been invented for all the new pet owners who've bought or adopted animals during this pandemic but have now returned to work
  • The kit consists includes keyring tags and brightly colored wearables that alert first responders to the existence of pets at home, directing them to emergency contact information stored in the wallet.
  • The example given in the press release is that accidents do happen so, in the very unfortunate incident of a car accident or something en route to work, first responders will know a pet needs to be fed at home (many pets sadly died due to no one knowing COVID patients in hospitals had pets at home)
  • Source: Article posted by PRNewsWire.com.

 

Gadgets for Gizmo

  • From activity trackers for pets to home monitors for glucose levels, technology for pets is getting crazy advanced.
  • Quote: “Pet wearables are an up-and-coming industry that will allow veterinarians and pet families to track health metrics in order to manage chronic illnesses.” - NorthStar VETS emergency DVM Kelly Johnson
  • Source: Article posted by Wired.com.

 

 

Feel Good News

Pet news that gives us the warmest and furriest fuzzies...

Army Vet Finds Post-Military Peace By Fostering Pets

  • This week's feel good story is about army vet Omar Brooks, who has found serenity and a post-military purpose in fostering pets.
  • Quote: “He struggled for 15 years to fill the hole in his soul left by his military service. Then, two years ago, this dogface soldier started working with Bridge to Home Animal Rescue in Eighty Four, Washington County. Fostering dogs and finding them homes have helped Brooks, now 40 and a state corrections officer, to navigate the treacherous terrain of daily life during a pandemic.”
  • Source: Article posted by ArmyTimes.com.

 

Have something newsworthy in the veterinary field? Reach out to us at [email protected]. Enjoy our weekly veterinary industry review, coming to you each Friday afternoon.