AVMA Offers Anti-Cyberbullying Toolkit for Practices
The American Veterinary Medical Association released the Reputation Management Toolkit, a collection of online resource designed to help veterinarians counter and recover from cyberbullying attacks. The toolkit, available at avma.org/reputation, includes advice for responding to news media inquiries, best practices for when and how to respond to negative social media reviews, and strategies for assessing and alleviating reputational harm. “Incidents of cyberbullying are painful and can disrupt and even damage a veterinary practice,” said AVMA President Lori Teller, DVM. “It’s essential that veterinarians have the tools they need to head off problems and mitigate the harm if they should find themselves the victims of such behavior.” Banfield Pet Hospital supported the project with an educational grant.
Heartworm Incidence Survey Needs Your Input
The American Heartworm Society is inviting veterinary practices nationwide to participate in the triennial Heartworm Incidence Survey. Data submitted at bit.ly/3CAcCHp by March 15 will be used to create a map outlining trends in heartworm incidence and the spread of heartworms into new areas, the organization reported. The map will be released in April as part of Heartworm Awareness Month.
AAHA Publishes 2023 Senior Care Guidelines
The American Animal Hospital Association released the 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. “These new guidelines offer actionable strategies that veterinary teams can adopt to create senior-friendly environments that welcome senior pets, including modification of physical environments, prioritizing care to keep families together, and taking different approaches to healthy and unhealthy senior patients,” AAHA reported. Support came from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, CareCredit, Idexx Laboratories and Zoetis Inc. Senior care recommendations and client handouts are at aaha.org/senior-care.
Purina Executive Leads Pet Food Institute Board
Nina Leigh Krueger, the president and CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare North America, was named chair of Pet Food Institute’s 2023 board of directors. The trade group’s members include most U.S. manufacturers of dog and cat food and treats. Other 2023 board officers are Scott Salmon, president of Simmons Pet Food Inc. (vice chair), Nicki Baty, president of Hill’s Pet Nutrition U.S. (secretary), Rod Troni, global chief marketing officer of Champion Petfoods (treasurer) and Scott Morris, president and CEO of Freshpet (personnel officer).
MWI to Distribute LinkVet Pet Wearable
MWI Animal Health was named the exclusive distributor of LinkVet, a wearable smart device for pets. LinkVet, from Smart Tracking Technologies LLC, uses a smartphone app to connect veterinarians and dog owners. “In addition to GPS tracking and customized activity monitoring and analysis,” the company stated, “LinkVet provides access to vet and microchip records, unique built-in training tools, symptom analysis tools, and on-the-go resources all supported by a Florida-based concierge services team.”
Texas Practice Installs 128-Slice CT Scanner
Sage Veterinary Imaging partnered with Philips Healthcare to offer what it called “the first human-quality, 128-slice CT for pets in Texas.” The CT installation is part of a 5,000-square-foot expansion at the Round Rock, Texas, veterinary clinic. The project includes two surgical suites, a special procedures lab, an ultrasound wet lab training facility, and additional expansion of the I-131 feline hyperthyroidism treatment program. Sage also operates imaging centers in Midvale and Sandy, Utah.
Digatherm Cameras Now Available From Multi Radiance
Therapeutic laser developer Multi Radiance Veterinary became the exclusive worldwide distributor of Digatherm Thermal Imaging infrared cameras. “Laser therapy and thermal imaging have a long-standing synergistic relationship and (Multi Radiance) is excited about the potential this partnership holds for both technologies,” according to the Solon, Ohio, company.