Zoetis to purchase animal health assets of Abbott

Zoetis Inc. has announced an agreement to purchase the animal health assets of Abbott for US$255 million. Abbott Animal Health is a companion animal health business focused on the veterinary surgical suite. The acquisition will strengthen Zoetis’ companion animal product portfolio and expand its diagnostics business as more pets are being treated for pain and serious illnesses, according to the company.
“The addition of Abbott Animal Health assets is an excellent complement to the Zoetis companion animal business and addresses the challenges our customers face today in effectively raising and caring for animals that are living longer and receiving more intensive medical and surgical treatment,” said Zoetis Chief Executive Officer Juan Ramón Alaix.
“The transaction is aligned with our value creation strategy to deploy capital to acquire products that enhance our portfolio. This acquisition strengthens our pain portfolio and our diagnostics business so we can deliver more customized solutions to veterinarians.”
Going forward, Zoetis said it remains committed to its strategy of acquiring complementary businesses and products that can generate sustained value to shareholders. No other terms of the transaction are being disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015, pending the successful completion of customary regulatory and legal reviews.

Vets Plus achieves Safe Quality Food Level 3 certification

Global animal health company Vets Plus Inc. has received SQF (Safe Quality Food) Code 7.2 Level 3 certification for manufacture of dietary supplements after an audit of the manufacturing facilities for food safety and quality management systems in September 2014. This is the highest level of certification standards set by Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) and is recognized by foodservice providers and regulatory agencies around the world that require food safety and quality management systems by their suppliers.

SQFI sets rigorous standards to assure safety and quality of food by manufacturers, distributors and agents to cover all aspects of the food supply chain. Vets Plus is one of the first animal health supplement companies to pursue the certification at this level in the US. Level 3 certification indicates comprehensive implementation of quality management and safety procedures. “We have worked hard to implement the SQF standard protocol throughout our manufacturing processes," said Dr. Anita Sinha, director of quality management at Vets Plus. "To have achieved this certification is a great honor and indicator of the quality of products we are making here."
The SQF standards are based on government and industry food safety requirements with specialized guidance within specific categories. Qualifying companies must demonstrate their ongoing dedication to food safety and quality, which is validated during an annual recertification audit. SQF is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and is trusted by buyers and retailers around the world. “The audit process and maintenance of SQF certification at this level is a demonstration to our partners of our commitment to safe, quality animal health products," said Sinha. "We chose to pursue this certification because we are dedicated to safe manufacturing processes to ensure the highest quality products.”

Veterinary Medicine Caucus formed in US House

Veterinarians and congressmen, Kurt Schrader and Ted Yoho, have formed the Veterinary Medicine Caucus in the US House of Representatives in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of veterinary medicine to animal health and welfare, food safety, public health, research and the overall economy. 
The Veterinary Medicine Caucus, which other House members are encouraged to join, will also draft legislation and conduct briefings and hearings.
“Together, I hope we can use our unique experience and perspective in the field of veterinary medicine to educate and engage our fellow members of Congress,” Schrader said.
Schrader also recently introduced HR1225, the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. If approved, the legislation would provide a federal income tax exemption for financial awards granted under the program. The program would allow eligible veterinarians to receive up to US$25,000 per year toward qualified educational loans, if they agree to serve three years in a designated veterinarian-shortage area.

Research and Markets offers global animal health company report

Research and Markets has added the "Top 200 Animal Health (Global)" report to its offerings.
The report provides a financial evaluation of the global animal health market.
Using the Pimsoll analysis method, each of the top 200 companies included is individually assessed and ranked against each other and compared to industry averages. The report found that 30 companies in the animal health market are poised for takeover, while 33 companies achieved a sales increase greater than 10 percent in 2011. The report also found, however, that 63 companies saw sales fall in 2011 and 39 of the companies were rated as "Danger."
A full copy of the report can be purchased online.

Web forum encourages sharing of animal health, food safety research

Dr. Daral J. Jackwood, Ph.D., director of the Center for Diagnostic Assays at the Ohio State University and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio, USA, is leading efforts to encourage researchers to adopt open-access science in the fields of animal health and food safety through the Center's www.diagnosticspeak.com.
Dr. Jackwood's online members-only forum is dedicated to advancing open-access science by allowing professionals to share discoveries, seek insight and exchange ideas that advance the field of animal disease diagnostics.
According to Dr. Jackwood: “DiagnosticSpeak.com provides an opportunity to create a database of diagnostic information that is searchable and available to everyone. Participating researchers will stay better informed about animal health issues and new diagnostic assays. They can also exchange ideas on how to more effectively and efficiently conduct diagnostic assays by interacting with colleagues on diagnostic issues related to food safety.
“DiagnosticSpeak.com is designed to provide a single vehicle through which the worldwide scientific community can gather to discuss issues relevant to infectious disease diagnostics in the area of food safety, food animals and environmental safety," he said. 
For more information about DiagnosticSpeak.com, please contact Dr. Daral J. Jackwood via email to Jackwood.2@osu.edu, or by phone at +1.330.263.3964. 

Animal health company launches DVMdiets Network for veterinarians

AHD, an animal health marketing and technology company, launched the DVMdiets Network, created for veterinary professionals
AHD says its DVMdiets Network provides comprehensive nutritional education for veterinary practices, along with an online home delivery platform for clients that offers more than 70 brands of specialty and prescription diets.
The DVMdiets Network features weekly live and on-demand seminars for member practices, which are sponsored and conducted by diet manufacturers and companion animal nutrition experts. The programs are designed to educate the entire staff of the veterinary practice, focusing on emerging trends, standardized nutritional guidelines, and new products and categories. The DVMdiets Network is offered as a free member benefit for members of the online veterinarian purchasing organization, GroupDVM, AHD says. 
"Our research indicates that while nutrition is discussed on more than 80% of veterinary clinic visits, less than half of veterinarians feel that their staff is adequately trained on companion animal diets," said Daryl Schraad, president of AHD. "The growing number of specialty diets has made it challenging for veterinarians to stay properly informed, let alone stock all of the products that their clients need. DVMdiets helps ensure the veterinarian remains the 'go-to' source for nutritional information, while allowing them to earn revenue and increase diet compliance through our DVMdiets home delivery program."

Kansas State University opens animal health center

Kansas State University officially opened the Center for Animal Health Innovation at its Olathe, Kansas, USA, campus.
The program started with a US$1 million seed grant from the Kansas Bioscience Authority. The Center for Animal Health Innovation was designed to become a link between animal health companies looking for new technology to develop new products and university researchers or entrepreneurs creating that new technology.
“We’re still formulating our strategic plan and understanding the core categories that we want to go after and then begin to really look for opportunities and technologies,” said Paula Stack, the Center’s interim chief executive officer.
The Center's board, which includes representatives from regional animal health organizations and companies, will select a permanent CEO during the summer as well as develop plans to attract additional investment and set the Center’s operational goals.
“We’re really at the beginning of the process,” Stack said. “Our ultimate goal is to bring economic growth to the animal health industry and the specific impact on Kansas.” 

Veterinary Practice Insurance releases 'Top 60 Most Unusual Ingested Objects' list

Veterinary Practice Insurance has released its "Top 60 Most Unusual Ingested Objects" list for 2010.
The list, which includes such items as jellyfish, a bikini, eye glasses and a TV remote control, represents a portion of the US$3 million VPI policyholders spent to treat pets that ingested foreign objects. According to the company, nearly 2,000 foreign body ingestion claims were made to VPI in 2010.

Natura donates petfood to SPCALA

Natura Pet Products donated over 4,000 cases of dog and cat food to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (SPCALA), USA. The donation will go toward helping SPCALA feed homeless and needy pets in southern California.
“We are proud to have been able to share more than 4,000 cases of our healthful Innova dog and cat food cans with the SPCALA. This exceptional animal welfare organization has shown unsurpassed dedication to the care of thousands of animals and its mission provides an extension of Natura’s philosophy for animal health and wellbeing,” said Don Scott, president of Natura.

Vets support canned petfood over raw diet

Despite the popularity of raw petfood diets, many vets are not comfortable recommending a raw food diet to their clients, according to NY Daily News.
Veterinarian Philip Raclyn's concerns about raw diets include the risk of contamination from Salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria, not to mention potential dietary imbalances and internal injuries from sharp bones.

IN Pet Supplements fights against knockoffs in China

Scott Brown, president of IN Pet Supplements, recently discovered his line of pet supplements is being replicated by illegitimate businesses in China’s growing pet market.
In response, IN Pet Supplements is fighting back against the IN impersonators by partnering with Midas Pet Foods to educate the Chinese consumers and retailers about the presence of imitation products and how to tell the difference between real products and knockoffs.

Column suggests food allergy cause of cat’s UTI

Dr. Michael Fox of the Pocono Record recently addressed the cause of a long history of urinary-tract inflammation in a reader’s 6-year-old neutered cat in his column. After two cultures and X-rays, the reader’s veterinarian had yet to find the cause.
Fox suggested that the cat “may have a food hypersensitivity that is causing inflammation in the urinary bladder and tract.” He went on to explain that corn is a common culprit, and corn-sensitive cats on a corn-free diet can still have a flare-up when a corn-based cat litter is used.