The Mars Wodonga Solar Thermal Plant, a pet food manufacturing facility in Wodonga, Australia, will be the first major steam-powered manufacturing facility in the country to implement a 100% renewable energy solution for electricity and process steam within the next 2 years, the company announced in a public statement.

 The initiative, which was inspired by Mars’ “net zero emissions by 2050” commitment, will require a $39.9 million investment.

The company’s transition to net zero emissions will include the installation of an 18-megawatt parabolic trough concentrated solar thermal (CST) plant that will be able to store thermal energy for up to 10 hours to cook pet food. With a $17.2 million grant from the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the project will be the country's first commercial deployment of parabolic trough CST technology, according to a news release.

“We are incredibly proud to announce that Mars will be the first manufacturing facility of its kind in Australia to deploy a 100% renewable energy solution within 2 years,” Craig Sargeant, general manager of Mars Petcare Australia and New Zealand, said the release.

 “Decarbonizing site-based process heat, coupled with Mars Australia’s 100% renewable electricity use, is a significant achievement that not only reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability but also positions our Wodonga facility as a leader in green process heat manufacturing on a national scale.”

Powering veterinary medicine with renewable electricity

“Investing in renewable energy technologies like CST is critical to decarbonizing industrial processes, particularly in sectors that heavily rely on gas for steam-based manufacturing,” said Sargeant.

 “CST offers a powerful solution by capturing and storing solar energy in the form of high temperature heat, for use at any time, making it an ideal fit for our steam-based manufacturing needs.”

The project also expands on Mars' use of Electric Thermal Energy Storage (eTES) technology. This technology enables the facility to use low-cost, grid-connected renewable electricity during off-peak hours to generate and store heat. This stored heat can then be used to produce steam at any time of the 24-hour day. The eTES system, developed with support from the Australian government agency Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), offers a cost-effective and renewable alternative to gas, according to the company.

Additionally, Mars has a partnership with the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) to purchase Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin certificates at Hydrogen Park Murray Valley. The agreement to purchase hydrogen from AGIG will further support the company’s transition to renewable energy, as this clean energy source generates only water when consumed in a fuel cell.

 “This arrangement will displace over 10% of Mars Australia’s total gas consumption,” including Mars Petcare Wodonga, wrote the company in its statement.

Combined with Mars Australia’s current 100% renewable electricity agreement, the use of CST and eTES systems, along with the AGIG hydrogen purchase, will help the Wodonga facility employ a 100% renewable energy solution by 2026. This solution will be part of the company’s global commitment to 100% renewable energy for site-based operations by 2040.

“Earlier this year, Mars globally announced that since 2015, GHG emissions in the company’s value chain have been reduced by 16% or 5.7 million metric tons. This project further contributes to Mars Net Zero Roadmap target to reduce emissions globally by 50% by the end of 2030, which we're on track to achieve," said Sargeant in the release.

The Wodonga facility, which manufactures the Pedigree and Whiskas pet food, has been in use for more than 50 years.

 “We are part of the fabric of the local community, supporting jobs and investment in regional Victoria. Wodonga is at the heart of that journey, and today’s announcement is a major step forward in supporting both regional investment and Australia’s clean energy future,” Sargeant continued.

According to the company, Mars is collaborating with other local businesses and government organizations as part of a larger initiative to create a renewable energy hub in northeast Victoria for future generations.

Mars Wodonga to be Australia’s first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site to deploy a 100% renewable energy solution by 2026 with new solar thermal plant. News release. Mars, Incorporated. October 29, 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024. 

https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/mars-wodonga-australia-solar-thermal-plant#:~:text=Wodonga%20(October%2029%2C%202024),manufacturing%20site%20in%20Australia%20to

Hydrogen fuel basics. U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed December 2, 2024. 

https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-fuel-basics

Articles

Mars Petcare’s Wodonga site will implement a fully renewable energy system for both electricity and steam production by 2026

Pet food manufacturing facility will become Australia’s first 100% renewable steam plant

Happy Monday dvm360 readers! For those of you in the United States, we hope that you had a great weekend celebrating Thanksgiving with your friends, family, and fur babies! At the end of this week, the dvm360 team, our amazing faculty, and veterinary professionals from across the country will head to Long Beach, California for our final Fetch conference of 2024. It is still not too late to come join the fun, so learn more and register 

Besides our upcoming conference coverage, here is what you can find this week on dvm360.com:

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it has settled with Elanco Animal Health for $15 million after the company allegedly mislead its investors from the first quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2020.

In an exclusive interview with dvm360 at the 2024 Fetch Coastal conference, Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC, explained the difference between traumatic and nontraumatic causes of hemoabdomen.

Mississippi State University recently shared how its veterinarians saved the leg of a 10-month-old goldendoodle puppy who was hit by a car and left stranded on the side of the road in Conway, Arkansas, and how one couple gave up their wedding fund to help the injured puppy.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, 

, one of dvm360’s 2024 Veterinary Heroes, joins our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to discuss red flags and allergy mimickers in veterinary dermatology.

Mars, Incorporated’s Wodgonga pet food manufacturing facility, which produces PEDIGREE and WHISKAS, will become Australia’s first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site in Australia. The facility will deploy 100% renewable energy solution for both electricity and process steam in the next 2 years.

Here is a sneak peek of this week’s headlines 

Sneak peek: The dvm360 team heads to Fetch Long Beach, and other veterinary news 

Officials with the FDA have approved a new indication for a monthly fluralaner chewable tablet (Bravecto 1-Month; Intervet and Merck Animal Health). The expanded use of the 1-month formation now includes treatment and control of Asian longhorned tick (

) infestation for 1 month in canines ages 8 weeks and older weighing 4.4 lbs or more.

This parasiticide product was previously approved for killing adult fleas (

), treating and preventing flea infestations, and treating and controlling infestations of the black-legged tick (

) for 1 month in canines ages 8 weeks and older and weighing at least 4.4 lbs. Additionally, this fluralaner chewable tablet is FDA-approved for treating and controlling lone star tick (

) infestation for 1 month in canines ages 6 months and older, weighing 4.4 lbs or more.

“Parasites pose serious animal and human health risks as fleas and ticks can transmit disease agents,” Kathryn Duncan, DVM, PhD, DACVM, parasitology field specialist at Merck Animal Health, said in a news release.

 “Protection against the Asian longhorned tick is critical because its prevalence is increasing throughout the country.”

In early 2023, Merck Animal Health also announced FDA approval of use of fluralaner chewable tablet (Bravecto for Dogs) for 12 weeks with Asian longhorned tick infestation. That expanded product label also includes protection against flea, black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick infestations for 12 weeks; and 8 weeks for lone star tick infestations.

In a dose confirmation study for use of 1-month fluralaner chewable tablet against Asian longhorned ticks on puppies in South Africa, 18 healthy dogs were enrolled. These puppies were randomly assigned to either receive fluralaner treatment or placement in the untreated control group. Each dog was infested with approximately 50 adult Asian longhorned ticks on Day 2 and weekly, Day 7 through Day 28. Tick counts were conducted weekly, Day 2 through Day 30.

Investigators found those treated with the 1-month fluralaner product had greater than 90% reduction in live tick counts at 48 hours following administration of the drug or infestation for 30 days than dogs treated in the control group. Overall, the study demonstrated that fluralaner chewable tablets were effective for reducing live Asian longhorned ticks and increasing dead Asian longhorned ticks for 1 month. Furthermore, no adverse reactions were reported in this investigation, according to the FDA.

One-month fluralaner chewable tablets are available in 5 strengths with a minimum dose of 4.5 mg/lb. The drug is administered orally once a month with food and is required to be dispensed or prescribed by a veterinarian.

In addition to the expanded FDA approval for 1-month fluralaner chewable tablets, Merck Animal Health recently announced marketing authorization from the European Union (EU) for a new, 3-in-1 fluralaner formulation (Bravecto TriUNO) that targets flea and ticks as well as roundworms, hookworms and heartworms in canines. This tablet includes moxidectin and pyrantel as active ingredients, and will be available in the EU through licensed veterinarians. It has also been approved by agencies in Peru, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

“Merck Animal Health is committed to enabling more convenient options for comprehensive parasitic protection for pets and their owners,” Jason Drake, DVM, DACVM, parasitology director, scientific marketing affairs, global companion animal parasiticides at Merck Animal Health, said in a news release.

 “This new addition to our BRAVECTO portfolio provides easy-to-administer protection for pets against a broader range of parasites. While most pet owners understand the importance of protection against fleas and ticks, it’s equally important to protect pets from internal parasites as both can lead to further health issues and disease. With a single medication, pet owners can feel assured their pets are protected from all sides.”

Recent animal drug approvals. FDA. December 2, 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/approved-animal-drug-products-green-book/recent-animal-drug-approvals?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Freedom of Information Summary, NADA 141-532. FDA. November 25, 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024. 

https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/16308

Merck Animal Health receives US FDA approval of expanded indication for Bravecto (fluralaner) Chews for Dogs. News release. Merck Animal Health. January 26, 2023. Accessed December 2, 2024. 

https://www.merck-animal-health.com/blog/2023/01/26/merck-animal-health-receives-u-s-fda-approval-of-expanded-indication-for-bravecto-fluralaner-chews-for-dogs/

Merck Animal Health announces European approval of Bravecto TriUNO for use in dogs. News release. Merck Animal Health. November 26, 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024. 

https://www.merck-animal-health.com/blog/2024/11/26/european-approval-of-bravecto-triuno/

The agency approved Bravecto 1-Month for use in treating and controlling Asian longhorned tick infestation


FDA expands monthly parasiticide label

Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, explains what noise phobia is, offering examples

Noise phobia: The phobic response and how it differs from noise aversion 

Noise phobia is a common issue in pets—especially in dogs—Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC explained in an interview with 

where he talked about his lecture “Canine Noise Phobia and the Anxiety Patient.” In the interview, Pachel differentiated between noise aversion and noise phobia and provided an example of a phobic response in a canine patient with noise phobia. He also offered examples of noises that may induce a phobic response in dogs, such as fireworks and gunshots. In today’s digital era, animals may also have a phobic response to noises like cell phone tones and other noises from digital devices, explained Pachel.

To hear more from Pachel, including information about the other lectures that he presented at the Fetch dvm360 conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey this fall, click 

 Noise phobia is something that we see as a really common problem and in a lot of different species. Where it tends to show up, at least clinically for us in the behavior world, usually in dogs plus or minus in cats.

But noise phobia is essentially an exaggerated emotional response to noises. And noises— the ones that we often see—are things like fireworks, gunshots, often loud, sudden, unexpected noises or, as we sort of have moved into more of the digital age as well, it's not uncommon to see some of those noise phobic responses to things like high pitched beeps, whether that's tones from a cell phone or the beep of the microwave or the low battery indicator of a smoke alarm, for example—these are all things that can elicit a really powerful response for the animal that's affected.

And whereas a normal sort of noise aversion or a lower-level fear response might show up as an animal who notices a particular noise and then seeks to avoid it, when we're dealing with a phobic response, we're typically seeing an intensity of the response that's so out of proportion to the actual stimulus itself. So for example, one of my patients who responded negatively to things like doors slamming or other again, loud, sudden noises, rather than sort of just startling or reacting and then recovering within a couple of seconds, this was a dog who, when hearing the sound of a door slam, bolted, jumped through a closed second story window and ran for almost 6 miles in one direction before exhaustion essentially stopped her in her tracks, right?

It's such an exaggerated, dangerous response because of that sheer panic that takes over that animal. And we see anywhere from those sort of lower-level fear responses all the way up to really debilitating phobias in those patients who are affected by noise phobia.

Videos

Noise phobia: The phobic response and how it differs from noise aversion

Patricia Kennedy Arrington, DVM, CVFP, has devoted more than 4 decades to advancing veterinary medicine and shaping the profession. A 1971 graduate of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Kennedy Arrington cofounded Jefferson Animal Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1978 alongside her husband, Rick Arrington. Although she did not initially aspire to own a practice, her husband’s business insight identified a need for round-the-clock care in the bustling city. By 1980, Jefferson Animal Hospital had achieved accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association and became one of the first veterinary practices to offer 24-hour emergency and wellness care—a groundbreaking model at the time.

A pioneer for women in veterinary medicine, Kennedy Arrington entered the field during an era when women were underrepresented. “Women were not appreciated much back then,” she explained. “I had something to prove, and I wanted to make the profession better.” She has since become a mentor to aspiring veterinarians, encouraging them to get involved in their local, state, and national veterinary organizations.

Kennedy Arrington has earned numerous honors throughout her career, including being named Kentucky Veterinarian of the Year in 2011, receiving the Businesswoman of the Year award from the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2006, and being recognized as a distinguished alumna of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. Reflecting on her recognition as a Veterinary Hero, she remarked, “It’s always a ‘wow’ moment to be acknowledged because you never think you deserve it. There are so many incredible people in this profession.”

An advocate for client education, Kennedy Arrington emphasizes its critical role in patient care. “If you explain to a client what’s going on with their pet, they’ll give medications properly and follow through on care,” she noted. She also stresses the importance of continual learning and collaboration, frequently visiting other veterinary practices to exchange ideas. “Every time you visit a practice, you pick up ideas that make you a better practitioner,” she said. “It’s also how you build a network of colleagues around the country and the world.”

Outside of her work, Kennedy Arrington is an accomplished traditional rug hooker, winning blue ribbons at the Kentucky State Fair, and enjoys gardening and traveling with her husband. The pair have explored destinations such as Machu Picchu, China, and Kenya, often as part of veterinary group trips.

Through her innovative practice, dedication to mentorship, and passion for advancing veterinary medicine, Kennedy Arrington has become a role model for veterinarians worldwide. “Veterinary medicine is about being part of the community,” she said. “It’s the relationships with pet owners and the bond they share with their animals that make this work so rewarding.” At 53 years into her career, Kennedy Arrington continues to inspire the next generation of veterinary leaders.

In honor of Kennedy Arrington and 11 other Veterinary Heroes inductees, an award ceremony will be held during the 

2024 Fetch dvm360 conference in Long Beach

, California, where the winners will be recognized for their unwavering commitment and extraordinary efforts within the veterinary profession. The ceremony will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 11:30 AM PST. All Fetch Long Beach registrants are invited to attend the award ceremony for no additional fee. 

The 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

As a leader in 24-hour veterinary care and a champion for women in the field, Patricia Kennedy Arrington, DVM, CVFP, has dedicated her 50-year career to transforming veterinary medicine and inspiring future practitioners.

Veterinary Heroes: Patricia Kennedy Arrington, DVM, CVFP

Dennis Tim Crowe Jr, DVM, PhD, DACVS-Emeritus, DACVECC-Emeritus founder, FCCM, NRAEMT, CFF, is a hero in more ways than one. This year, dvm360’s Veterinary Heroes program is recognizing him as the 2024 honoree for Emergency Medicine.

Crowe has been practicing veterinary medicine for 52 years. Currently, he is involved with Mobile Veterinary Surgery of Georgia as well as Veterinary Surgery, Emergency, and Critical Care Services and Consulting.

In a letter, Crowe’s nominator wrote that he is the best veterinarian they have ever known.“Furthermore, his compassion for people is immeasurable, in that he is literally always willing to help and loves teaching people, either formally in our profession or informally in day to day life. Tim is either usually devoting his time to helping his fellow veterinarians, their clients and pets,” the nominator continued.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Tim Crowe Jr, DVM, PhD, DACVS-Emeritus, DACVECC-Emeritus founder, FCCM, NRAEMT, CFF

An accomplished author, speaker, educator, and innovator, Crowe has inspired emergency and surgical veterinary procedures that have been adopted worldwide. For example, his work in the 1990s led to the eventual development of cardiac output detection units that are now regularly used in human intensive care units. He is considered a father of veterinary emergency, trauma, and critical care, and was honored the Father of Veterinary Hyperbaric Medicine by Hyperbaric Medicine International in 2019.

Beyond his continued surgical and emergency care efforts to help critical care patients, Crowe has been an active volunteer firefighter and first responder medic for more than 30 years. He is a fellow in the American College of Critical Care Medicine and has been active with the National Disaster Life Support (NDLS) Foundation, contributing to the development of the NDLS training programs for veterinarians.

“When he is home at night and weekends, he makes himself readily available to help his fellow man in life threatening distress as a volunteer firefighter, rescuer and EMT medic, where he has been directly involved with saving human lives too,” Crowe’s nominator wrote.

Together with his late wife of 53 years, Deb, Crowe has 2 children and 6 grandchildren. He also enjoys teaching Sunday school to elementary school–aged students, singing, and playing harmonica and guitar at his local church.

Crowe plans to receive his award alongside 11 other distinguished inductees of dvm360’s Veterinary Heroes program during a luncheon celebration at the Long Beach Convention Center. The special event will take place during the 

 on December 8, 2024, at 11:30 AM PST. All conference attendees are invited to attend.

The 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center.

The Emergency Medicine honoree has developed surgical procedures used worldwide and devotes time outside the clinic to volunteer as a firefighter and first responder for humans.