Veterinary Practice Partners Acquires Caring Hands
The 125-hospital Veterinary Practice Partners network grew by eight clinics with the acquisition of Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Maryland and Virginia. “Of the 21 veterinary doctors being elevated to equity partners, 17 are women,” Veterinary Practice Partners stated. Terms were not disclosed.
Digatherm Gets a New Name
Digatherm Thermal Imaging of Ocala, Florida, rebranded itself WellVu Thermal Imaging. “The name WellVu was chosen to represent the company’s commitment to fostering wellness through thermal imaging in both human and animal health,” WellVu reported. “Using a highly sensitive infrared camera, WellVu technology allows clinicians to measure, compile and analyze the electromagnetic energy emitted from a patient.” The new website is wellvuimaging.com.
Petco’s Grooming Category Goes ‘Clean’
Retail giant Petco announced a Clean Grooming initiative. “Across more than 1,350 Petco pet care centers, petco.com and in the Petco app, pet parents can now easily identify grooming services and products without parabens, phthalates and chemical dyes, so they can make informed decisions about their pets’ routine care and overall health,” the company stated. The products are marked with a “Clean Ingredients” badge.
Thrive Offers Urgent Care in New Jersey
Thrive Pet Healthcare opened an urgent care clinic in Turnersville, New Jersey, a location also serving the Williamstown and Pennsville Township areas. “Modeled after human urgent care, the Turnersville urgent care clinic provides outpatient, same-day services for sick pets that require prompt access to a veterinarian but do not have critical or life-threatening conditions that require surgery or hospitalization,” Thrive stated. The clinic is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Small Door Opens D.C. Location
The membership-based Small Door Veterinary network expanded into Washington, D.C., with a new practice on 14th Street. Five Small Door clinics are in New York City, and a sixth opened in Boston in January. Member clients pay $169 a year per pet for one free exam, same- or next-day appointments, and 24/7 telemedicine.
AVMF and Merck Team Up on Earthquake Relief
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Merck Animal Health contributed a combined $100,000 to support veterinarians and animals affected by recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. “With shelters overwhelmed and veterinary care and supplies limited, the veterinary community’s ability to care for animals, including livestock critical to the food supply, has been severely impacted,” the partners reported. According to the foundation, 90% of the veterinary clinics in the region were destroyed by two earthquakes in February.