The weekly rundown of veterinary news for the time-poor vet, presented by VetX International
$7.6 Billion Elanco Deal Set to Go Ahead in US
Elanco’s acquisition of Bayer Animal Health is all set to close in early August. This comes after 11 months of deliberation, however the FTC (US Federal Trade Commission) has now given final clearance.
“This approval marks the near-final step in fulfilling our vision of bringing together two dedicated animal health companies,” says the company’s president and CEO, Jeff Simmons.
The acquisition will not only transform the operation of the company, greatly diversifying its portfolio, but will make selected treatments more available. For example, giving worldwide rights to the treatment Osurni. More information is available at:
https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/7-6-billion-elanco-deal-gets-ftc-green-light/
UK Study Reveals Gap in Owner Knowledge
Even though lockdown measures have seen owners spending more time than ever before with their pets, a recent study has revealed a remarkable lack of owner knowledge.
The recent study by the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) was led by Professor Cathy Dwyer and the late Fiona C Rioha-Lang. Prof Dwyer said: “Some potential animal owners do not give a lot of thought, or do much research, before acquiring a pet, so sometimes have little real knowledge about what normal behaviour, responses and even feeding habits look like, and the potential costs, of their pets.
“There is also a lot of conflicting information about for owners, especially I think in the area of training, so it can be hard for owners to be sure that they are accessing good-quality information.
“For animal keepers that have inherited knowledge or where knowledge has been passed down through generations, information can be out of date, but it can be hard to change those approaches.”
New Australian Software to Record Patient History
A new partnership between the VetDB platform and management software provider, ezyVet, means that verifiable patient data can be easily retrieved and stored.
“Sixty-five per cent of owners will lose the vaccination certificates and vets don’t have immediate access to this history, for example, from the breeder, previous vet or a shelter,” VetDB chief operations officer Ross Wyness said.
“This may result in time delays or repeat costs because information is not readily available. So, we decided to lock that information to the pet’s microchip, forever.”
The integration between the two companies allows ezyVet customers to directly connect with VetDB to verify the patient details and match the vaccination records, as well as access a range of applications and tools.
Management Comes Under Scrutiny in Light of Recent AHT Closure
Despite attempts to salvage its future, the Animal Health Trust has been forced to close. This means that 250 people are set to lose their jobs.
More recently, the management of the Trust has come under scrutiny, with one clinician claiming that “Failure to respond adequately or promptly enough in recent years, and in order to be innovative and competitive, has no doubt largely contributed to their failure to secure a future for the AHT now.”
The trust performed some important work, especially when it came to the surveillance of equine diseases. Veterinarians can only hope that corporates can “step up to the plate and support what has been lost.”
Using a Mindfulness Journal…Mindfully
Keeping a mindfulness journal can be a great way to reflect on your emotions, situations that have occurred throughout the day, and ultimately can push you to become more self-aware in your everyday life. This is a key skill for working effectively in a veterinary team, and is especially relevant to veterinary leaders.
Amber Murphy encourages everyone to journal routinely: “Putting aside 10 minutes a day to focus on expressing one’s thoughts is a useful life habit. The key here is to communicate in writing creatively and releasing unwanted feelings so that you can have more attention to details in your life.”
“One routine includes taking a 15-minute walk outside before writing in a journal. Some mindfulness followers begin their routine directly with the journal right after they wake up.”
Teaching mindfulness is a key aspect of both the VetX Thrive and Leaders programmes. We recognise that mindfulness both in and outside the veterinary practice can greatly increase your happiness and reduce the risks of burnout. If you are interested in boosting your career with techniques such as mindfulness, you should check out our free webinar: 4 Steps to a Happy and Successful Career as a Veterinarian.
