Equine Guelph, a nonprofit equine education organization, has announced a series of e-course lectures on biosecurity. "Beat the Bugs" is a two week e-course that will be presented April 16-29, 2012. The program is designed to educate horse owners on the best biosecurity practices that will minimize transmission of disease.
The course may also be of interest to those employed in the equine industry such as barn managers, riding instructors, broodmare managers, stallion managers, and grooms.
The second season of the racing industry's popular "Night School" fan education series will kick off on February 28th. Night School attracted over 375,000 participants in its first season including fans, breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, and grooms.
The live weekly events begin at 8:30pm each Tuesday, with the first session focusing on Triple Crown contenders and prep races. The program is available on several dozen racing websites including keeneland.com, churchilldowns.com, ntra.com, and drf.com.
The Bluegrass Community & Technical College's North American Racing Academy (NARA) has announced several new initiatives that will expand upon its current educational offerings.
NARA will now partner with industry professionals to offer students a variety of mentorship placements during race meets and sales. These mentorships will give students valuable networking opportunities as they approach graduation. NARA is also expanding its online presence, with new developments to include the launch of a site that will match graduates and employers.
NARA will also offer a one year certificate program for exercise riders in addition to the two year Associate courses it already offers for jockeys and horsemen.
ABC's "Nightline" program recently profiled an increasingly popular use of psychiatric medications: treating behavioral problems in pets. The show consulted Dr. Nicholas Dodman, the veterinarian who founded the Animal Behavior Center at Tufts University.
As veterinary pharmaceutical sales representatives and veterinarians can attest, Americans spent $7 billion on pet medication in 2011, representing a 35% sales increase over the past four years. Pet medication sales continue to be a major source of revenue for the pharmaceutical and veterinary communities.
Lawmakers in California have proposed legislation that would require state licensing of pet groomers. Under Senate Bill 969, pet groomers would be responsible for passing state licensing exams, paying fees of up to $350, and complying with a variety of new rules related to safety and facility maintenance.
The bill is being promoted as a means to prevent untrained groomers from inadvertently causing injury to the pets under their care, but some groomers are concerned about the significant added costs that would be incurred due to the proposed licensing fees.
The U.S. Aquaculture Society will host its Aquaculture America conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from February 29th to March 2nd. This conference is the only national event of its kind in the United States.
Aquaculture America 2012 will feature a variety of presentations, product demonstrations, and an extensive trade show area with over 150 exhibitors. This event will be of interest to both self-employed aquaculture farmers and those who work for large commercial fish production operations.
The American Pet Products Association will host its Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida from February 29th through March 2nd. The Global Pet Expo is billed as the pet industry's biggest trade show and features over 2,000 booths that will introduce over 3,000 new products.
While the show is not open to the public, it brings together distributors, retailers, pet product sales representatives, and other industry professionals that are responsible for influencing trends in the pet product industry.
The Humane Society is promoting today as World Spay Day. Traditionally held on the last Tuesday in February, the event raises awareness about pet overpopulation and the need to prevent it through spay/neuter programs.
Pet owners are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a local veterinarian if their pet has not yet been spayed or neutered.
HBO has permanently suspended production of its horse racing drama "Luck" after a third horse was euthanized on the set. The well-cast series featured Dustin Hoffman and other highly regarded actors playing the roles of trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, owners, and bettors on the California racing circuit.
The show suffered criticism from various groups after multiple horses were injured during filming. The horse injured this week reportedly reared up and fell backwards while being led back to its stall by a groom. The two prior injuries occurred during the filming of racing scenes.
Despite being plagued by low ratings, "Luck" had already been picked up by HBO for a second season. The first season (and series) finale will air on March 25th.
A recent story in USA Today discussed the sharp rise in both the number of U.S. pet insurers and the number of insured pets over the last decade. Prior to 1997 only one firm offered pet insurance in the U.S., but that number has increased to 11 as of this year. These per insurance firms have also reported solid increases in policy sales, which are growing as much as 10 percent per year.
Pet insurance is fairly affordable, running about $15 per month for basic plans to $75 per month for comprehensive coverage. Policies generally cover 80 to 90 percent of a covered veterinary expense after a claim is submitted.
Pet insurance sales agents should see job opportunities increase as this industry shows continued growth.
Midwestern University has announced the establishment of a College of Veterinary Medicine at its Glendale campus. This veterinary school will be the first of its kind in Arizona, and it is scheduled to welcome the initial class of students in the fall of 2014.
Studies by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges indicate that the supply of qualified veterinarians will not be able to meet the demand in the United States over the next decade. Arizona is one of the states facing a severe shortage of practitioners, so it is hoped that this new veterinary program will attract small animal, large animal, and equine veterinarians to the area.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is promoting its National Wildlife Week from March 19th to the 25th. National Wildlife Week was first celebrated in 1938 and has continued as an annual tradition.
During this week the NWF promotes appreciation of wildlife through educational programs and events. It also serves as a time to appreciate those who work with wildlife and promote education and conservation efforts as a part of their careers (such as wildlife biologists, wildlife rehabilitators, zoologists, fish & game wardens, and zoo keepers).
This week Rover.com announced plans to launch a major expansion after receiving a multi-million dollar infusion of cash from investors. Previously concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle-based pet sitting firm intends to offer its services nationwide.
Rover.com is a website that connects dog owners with pet sitters. Sitters may offer care in their own home or in the dog owner's home. Reviews of each sitter may be posted online.
The Rover.com concept is just one example of innovation in the rapidly expanding pet service industry. The American Pet Product Association projects that pet services (such as boarding and grooming) will account for $4.11 billion in revenue this year, up from $3.79 billion in 2011.
The New York State Senate has passed a bill that is designed to make pet theft a felony offense. Once it goes through the Assembly, the bill will provide much stronger protection for licensed dogs or cats (New York law previously required proof that a felony theft involved an item of property valued at over $1,000).
The American Kennel Club has reported a significant increase in stolen pet reports, up 49 percent from 2010 to 2011.
This new measure is being called the toughest pet theft law in the United States, carrying up to a four year prison sentence upon conviction. Animal rescue groups and responsible breeders are applauding the bill as it will protect pets from being stolen for use in dog-fighting, puppy mills, or other unacceptable purposes.
Beef cattle farmers in the United States are bracing for any potential impact on the beef market resulting from the detection of a case of "mad cow disease" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in California. The case represents the first incidence of BSE in six years, and only the fourth confirmed case in U.S. history.
Major importers of U.S. beef (such as Mexico, Canada, and Japan) have reassured officials that they plan to continue purchasing American beef products. These assurances seem to have eased fears of a plunge in export sales similar to what occurred in 2003, when beef export revenue decreased by over $3 billion dollars.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's animal identification plan has been put on the fast track for review by the White House. The national identification system is designed to allow government health officials to locate the farms from which sick animals originated so that they can identify and quarantine other potentially infected animals.
The plan's review has been expedited in light of the recent case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow" disease) that was identified in California. The animal identification program would require both dairy farmers and beef cattle farmers to tag and register cattle moved from one state to another.
The 2012 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress is offering early bird discounts to equine veterinarians and equine veterinary technicians who register by the end of July. The Congress will take place from September 12-15th in Birmingham, England. The BEVA event is promoted as the largest gathering of equine vets in Europe.
The Congress program includes equine medicine and surgery lectures, a trade show featuring innovative products, and a variety of networking and social events. Those interested in participating may register by visiting the BEVA site.
A study at the University of Melbourne has shown that the viruses used in two different poultry vaccines have combined outside of the laboratory setting to form new a new strain of infectious disease. This development is of great concern to the veterinary industry, particularly the segment concerned with treating animals used in poultry farming and egg farming.
The risk of such recombination outside of the lab setting was previously thought to be quite low, but the recent development of the new strain of infectious laryngotracheitis (a disease with worldwide impact and a 20% mortality rate) has raised concerns that this is becoming more prevalent.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Pfizer's animal health division may be sold to a rival pharmaceutical company for as much as $20 billion. This news may be of interest to pharmaceutical sales reps, small animal veterinarians, large animal veterinarians, and other animal health industry professionals.
The German firm Bayer factors as a strong prospect for taking over Pfizer's animal health interests; Bayer is best known for its Advantage flea and tick prevention products. A prior bid by the Novartis firm (reportedly in the range of $16 billion) was rejected. Pfizer may also consider keeping the animal health unit to create a spinoff company.
Pfizer's veterinary revenue, the largest in the animal health industry, surged an additional 17 percent in 2011 to reach a sales volume of $4.18 billion.
Kroger pharmacies nationwide are now offering pet prescriptions alongside their traditional inventory. Kroger is even including a number of pet products in the popular $4 generic drug program in an effort to beat the prices offered by local veterinarians and online suppliers.
Large retailer Target also offers pet medications in its pharmacies. Target's PetRX program offers pet drugs in 24 states, with products in stock at over 670 individual stores.
It would appear that the days of veterinarians turning a healthy profit from prescriptions may be numbered as more competitors enter the market. These developments could also have an impact on pharmaceutical sales representatives who have traditionally marketed products to veterinary clinics.
PetSmart Charities has reached the 5 million adoption mark and is celebrating with a new campaign called "High-Five for Pet Adoption." Actor Josh Duhamel has signed on to take the role of official spokesperson for the campaign.
PetSmart adoption centers place about 400,000 pets per year in new homes. PetSmart Charities provides grants and charitable support to many other animal rescue groups and welfare organizations.
With one of the strongest fields in recent memory lining up to fill the starting gate, tomorrow's Kentucky Derby should be a memorable one. The 138th running of the prestigious event will again draw the finest trainers, owners, breeders, jockeys, and horses that the sport has to offer.
The Derby provides a great networking opportunity for those in the Thoroughbred industry, as a large percentage of equine professionals attend the event.
Friday, June 22nd is being promoted as the 14th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day. The event was started in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, a professional pet sitting organization that strongly promotes pet adoption and rescue. Working pet owners throughout the world are expected to participate in this popular event.
PetSmart, the well known pet product retailer, announced a new partnership today that brings the Sunbeam Pets product line to its stores. Sunbeam's offerings include items such as bark control products (such as collars, remote trainers, and sonic devices), heated beds, and grooming products.
Products from the Sunbeam line have been quietly appearing in stores since early 2012, but July marks the official unveiling to coincide with the announcement that plans are in place to bring additional products to market through 2013.
Animal control officials are reminding pet owners to keep animals indoors during July 4th celebrations. Animal shelters and rescue groups see as much as a 30 percent spike in lost pets from July 4 through July 6 each year. Many animals are startled by the loud noises produced by fireworks, and they may flee the area if they can find a path of escape.
Owners are reminded to keep pet areas secure, keep identification tags on pets (especially if they are not microchipped), and leave the radio or television on to muffle the sounds of the celebrations outdoors.
The American Association of Zoo Keepers (AZA) is celebrating National Zoo Keeper Week from July 15-21, 2012. National Zoo Keeper Week is traditionally held during the third week of July and recognizes the the important contributions made by zoo and aquarium professionals to wildlife conservation and care.
The 2012 World Congress of Herpetology is scheduled to run from August 8-14 in Vancouver, Canada. The event offers lectures by leading experts in the field, presentations of research studies, exhibits, and networking events for herpetologists and ichthyologists from all over the world.
The Congress also features a trade show with booths for book publishers, magazines, professional industry groups, animal tracking system providers, video monitoring systems, and wildlife conservation groups.
A new gel, known as "fracture putty," is being tested on animals by veterinarians and animal scientists at the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center.
This innovative gel is formed with protein-producing stem cells which, when injected, cause bone to regenerate at a much more rapid rate than usual. Fracture Putty can heal major fractures in a matter of weeks when it would normally take months.
The gel has proven its effectiveness on a variety of animals from rats to sheep, but further research is being conducted on large animals before any human trials begin. This bone healing agent could prove to be a major health innovation for both the veterinary and human medical communities.
The Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) has published new guidelines for resuscitating dogs or cats suffering from cardiac arrest in the latest Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. The RECOVER initiative was directed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University, and more than 100 board-certified specialists contributed to the guidelines.
The RECOVER group is creating an online certification program that will certify small animal veterinarians in the new veterinary CPR techniques. The multi-part article detailing RECOVER's findings is available here.
Pfizer Inc. has announced its intent to offer shares in its animal health division, which is being rebranded as a separate company to be known as Zoetis. Zoetis is slated to become a stand alone company by July of 2013.
The animal health division of Pfizer earned $4.2 billion in 2011 and currently employs over 9,000 individuals including veterinary pharmaceutical sales representatives, researchers, and veterinarians. The animal health division produces vaccines, drugs, and tests for use in livestock and companion animal species.
Animal health firm Merial reported today that it has completed the acquisition of Newport Laboratories. Newport Laboratories is best known in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry as a producer of vaccines for use in swine and cattle.
This purchase is expected to bolster Merial's vaccine production revenues as it will link the firm to beef cattle farmers, dairy farmers, and swine farmers who utilize the animal health products formulated by Newport.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a change to the Animal Welfare Act with respect to dog breeders who sell puppies over the internet. The new rule would require internet based sellers with more than four breeding females to either allow customers to visit their facilities or submit to USDA inspections and licensing.
This legislation is designed to ensure that breeding animals are healthy and not part of "puppy mill" operations. The change will not affect breeders that already operate from physical locations--only operations that did not previously allow puppy buyers to visit their facility will be affected.
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) has designated January as National Train Your Dog Month. During this month, the nearly 6,000 dog trainers who comprise the APDT will promote training techniques that build positive relationships between pets and their owners.
The APDT has also announced its 2012 series of webinars that provide training from a variety of industry professionals. Subjects include canine learning methods, behavior, health, and other topics of interest in the industry.
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The week of May 20th to May 26th is being promoted as National Dog Bite Prevention Week. This week serves to remind both pet owners and those who work with dogs in a professional capacity (such as groomers, doggie day care operators, dog trainers, and K-9 police officers) to be observant of behavioral changes in the animals under their supervision to minimize the risk of being bitten.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 4.7 million people suffer dog bites each year. Children are the victims in approximately 400,000 of these incidents, with the remainder of the dog bites involving adult victims.
Bret Michaels, lead singer for the band Poison, is launching a pet apparel line for PetSmart. Michaels had previously demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit during his season on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice, which he won in 2010.
The rocker inspired line, known as the Pets Rock Collection, will feature items of apparel such as rock themed pet shirts, leather collars, vinyl boots, and (of course) his signature bandanas. Other products such as bowls, beds, and toys will also be offered. Seasonal items, such as Halloween costumes and holiday apparel, are on the horizon.
A new multi-million dollar veterinary center will open on January 23rd at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. The 16,000 square foot facility will allow visitors a unique opportunity to observe a steady stream of veterinary procedures on zoo animals.
Visitors will be able to interact with the veterinarians as they perform surgeries, x-rays, exams, and various treatments. Glass walls, close-up video cameras, and direct audio links will facilitate the communication between vets and visitors.
Busch Gardens also will open up its kitchens to visitors so they can learn about animal nutrition and diet preparation. Visitors will be able to assist in the preparation of daily rations.
Future zoo keepers, veterinarians, and animal nutritionists may find this new veterinary attraction to be of particular interest.
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The University of Guelph in Canada is offering an online certificate program in equine welfare. This program may be of particular interest to barn managers, riding instructors, and other equine management professionals.
The Equine Welfare Certificate consists of six online courses. The four core courses are Equine Welfare, Global Perspectives in Equine Welfare, Equine Behavior, and Equine Nutrition. The two remaining courses are electives chosen from the following options: Health & Disease Prevention, Equine Industry, Equine Nutrition or Advanced Health through Nutrition, and Advanced Equine Functional Anatomy.
The Pedigree Foundation has awarded over $4 million in grants to non-profit dog rescue groups and animal shelters since 1998, and the program has been renewed for 2012. Applications for Innovation Grants will be accepted through June 29th.
Innovation Grants were awarded to seven animal shelters in 2011. Each successful applicant demonstrated creativity in their efforts to increase dog adoptions. Last year's winners included an obedience training program that introduced high risk youth to shelter dogs, an emergency humane transport service, and behavioral modification programs.
Today, May 18th, is Endangered Species Day. The U.S. Congress first promoted this day in 2006 as part of an effort to call international attention to animal species facing the threat of extinction. There are currently more than 10,000 species on the endangered list worldwide.
Endangered Species Day is of particular significance to fish and game wardens, zoologists, zoo keepers, wildlife biologists, marine biologists, and others involved in efforts to save threatened wildlife species.
The 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey begins collecting data on June 25th. The survey seeks to obtain an accurate count of horses, donkeys, and mules in the state while also evaluating the economic impact of the equine industry. The last comprehensive statewide equine survey was taken in 1977.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the survey using a random sampling of 15,000 Kentucky participants. Barn managers, horse breeders, and other equine industry professionals may receive survey materials beginning this week.
The University of Kentucky is hosting their fourth Equine Farm Expo event on May 31st at Margaux Farm in Midway. This event will run from 4pm to 8pm and will feature farm equipment demonstrations, farm and pasture management presentations, information on equine feed and nutrition, wagon tours of Margaux Farm, and a free meal for all attendees.
Vendors will include feed suppliers, car and tractor dealers, Thoroughbred industry groups, and more. It may be of interest to barn managers and other equine industry workers. To register for this free event please contact the Woodford County Extension Office or visit the UK Equine program website for more details.
The University of Edinburgh is currently accepting enrollments for a free online Equine Nutrition course. The course will cover one topic related to equine nutrition each week: anatomy and physiology of the equine digestive tract (week 1), nutrient digestion (week 2), nutrient sources and feeding management (week 3), equine dietary management (week 4), and equine clinical nutrition (week 5).
The course will consist of five video lectures lasting one hour each, with related readings and course notes provided. Those who complete the course will receive a signed certificate of completion.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) will host the 2012 World Veterinary Congress from April 11-15th in Birmingham, England. The event has been billed as the largest veterinary event ever hosted in the United Kingdom.
The Congress schedule will include over 300 lectures and classes, a major commercial trade show, and a variety of social and networking events that will be of interest to small animal veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other animal health professionals.
A new device has been developed by marine biologists that may allow humans to "talk" with dolphins. The prototype speaker device is able to replicate the full range of dolphin sounds (whistles, clicks, and burst pulse noises) at both low and high frequencies.
Scientists plan to broadcast specific sounds for the dolphins and then record the response vocalizations. They hope that over time they will be able to understand how dolphins communicate with each other, and that eventually they will be able to decode the vocalizations to allow human-dolphin communications.
Post positions were drawn today for Saturday's Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the famed Triple Crown series. I'll Have Another will break from post position 11 as he attempts to become the first horse to claim the crown since Affirmed in 1978.
The entire Thoroughbred industry will turn its attention to the June 9th event, watching to see if controversial trainer Doug O'Neill and young jockey Mario Gutierrez can help I'll Have Another become racing's 12th Triple Crown champion.
The fourth Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit has been scheduled for October 16-17, 2012. The event will be hosted by The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.
Equine veterinarians, trainers, owners, breeders, and others in the racing industry will participate in the summit, which is intended to promote equine safety. Further details on summit events will be released in coming weeks. Keeneland's website will provide a live feed of the event.
The New Bolton Center, part of the University of Pennsylvania, has announced the upcoming topics for its "First Tuesday" equine lecture series. These informative lectures on veterinary topics are presented on the first Tuesday of each month.
The next lecture, scheduled for April 3rd, will focus on recognizing equine emergency situations that require immediate veterinary attention. The May 1st lecture will address equine first aid techniques and emergency stabilization. The June 5th lecture will discuss equine eye cancer. Each lecture is presented by an equine veterinarian with advanced knowledge of the topic; many are certified in their veterinary specialty.
The lectures are free to the public, and registration can be completed online through the University of Pennsylvania.
The fourth annual Jockey Camp will be held July 27-29 in Norwalk, Ohio. The camp was founded by Frankie Lovato Jr., an Eclipse Award winning jockey and inventor of the Equisizer horse simulator, a machine used by jockeys worldwide to train for races. The 2012 edition of Jockey Camp will feature additional instruction from Julie Krone, a leading female jockey who won the 1993 Belmont Stakes and 3,703 other races.
While no live horses are used as a part of the camp, it does offer a variety of instructional lectures and demonstrations by industry professionals, time using the Equicizer machine, and networking opportunities. This camp is designed for those who intend to pursue careers as jockeys or exercise riders.
The fourth annual BlogPaws conference will be held in Salt Lake City from June 21-23. BlogPaws is an event geared towards helping pet writers and bloggers to increase their social media presence, develop blog topics, and expand their content into books or other outlets. The keynote speaker will be the founder of Petfinder.com.
Attendees can bring pets along to the event, which includes lectures, meals, networking sessions, and sponsor exhibits. Sponsors include PetSmart, Hill's, Rachael Ray Nutrish, the American Animal Hospital Association, Pedigree, Purina, and many more.
Interzoo 2012, the world's largest pet supply trade fair, will be held from May 17-20 in Nuremburg, Germany. The event is held every two years and attracts 1,500 exhibitors who present products to over 38,000 visitors from 115 countries.
Products and exhibits for 2012 will focus on a variety of areas including pet food technology, veterinary equipment, multimedia services, publications, aquariums and terrariums, pet grooming, cages, equine products, pet toys, technology, marketing services, and more.
The Interzoo event may be of particular interest to pet product sales representatives, pet boutique owners, pet designers, or others involved in the pet supply industry.
