Trupanion Continues Its European Expansion
Trupanion agreed to acquire Royal Blue, the parent company of pet health insurance provider PetExpert, which operates in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The announcement came a month after Trupanion acquired Smart Paws, which sells pet insurance in Germany and Switzerland. Terms were not disclosed. Seattle-based Trupanion’s executive vice president of international, Simon Wheeler, reported that the company expects “Belgium and Poland to follow in the coming months.” He did not elaborate.
Lincoln Memorial Adds a Second Entering Class
The Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine will grow by 100 students in January after the AVMA Council on Education approved LMU’s request to enroll a second cohort each year. “There is a veterinary shortage that is not only impacting Appalachia but also the entire nation,” said the college’s dean, Stacy Anderson, DVM, DACVS, Ph.D., MVSC. “LMU built spaces to accommodate class expansion and engaged hundreds of veterinary practices to train our students in the distributive clinical year. We stand ready to produce more confident, competent, career-ready veterinarians.”
Fuzzy Partners With JetBlue
Veterinary telehealth company Fuzzy will provide a free one-year membership to the owners of pets that fly on JetBlue. The partnership with JetBlue includes 24/7 access to veterinarians through Fuzzy’s subscription-based telehealth platform and products for pre- and post-travel needs, such as anti-anxiety chews, calming collars and emergency kits.
AAFP Issues Cat Friendly Guidelines
The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine jointly published Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines covering a feline patient’s journey to the practice and contact with team members. The guidelines “will enhance feline welfare, caregiver loyalty and human safety as well as create more positive veterinary visits for all,” said Heather O’Steen, CAE, the CEO of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Details are at bit.ly/3E9GOdo.
Cornell Students Can Earn Business Certification
Cornell University launched a Certificate in Veterinary Business and Management for students enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The program focuses on six areas: financial literacy, professional development, financial management, organizational management, personal development and entrepreneurship. “Eligible students will complete a capstone experience in which they apply their business and management knowledge to a real-world veterinary project,” Cornell stated.
Partner Veterinary Expands Into Maryland
Partner Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center plans to construct a 20,000-square-foot hospital in Frederick, Maryland. The 24-hour hospital is expected to open in spring 2023. Partner Veterinary described Frederick, which is 45 miles north of Washington, D.C., as “an economically growing market.” “It’s important to us that we build strong partnerships with primary care veterinarians so they know they can trust us to provide continuity of care for Frederick-area pet families,” said CEO Katie Brooks, LVT, CVPM. The company announced plans in October to build an emergency and specialty hospital in Richmond, Virginia, to supplement an existing urgent care center.