Susan Kogut, JD, president of Petco Love, and Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, chief veterinarian of Petco Love discuss access to vaccines, the Vaccinated and Loved campaign, and National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month

Bridging the gap in access to pet vaccines

To highlight National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month this March—an initiative created by Petco Love, a nonprofit dedicated to pet health and welfare—

spoke to Susanne Kogut, JD, president of Petco Love, and Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, chief veterinarian and board member of Petco Love, about the organization’s 

 campaign, which provides free vaccines to pets in need, National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month, and the importance of educating pet owners about preventive care.

In the talk, the gap in access to pet care was also discussed. According to Kogut, survey data from 3.35 million vaccines distributed throughout the US by Petco Love revealed that only 36% of the pet owners receiving these free vaccines reported that their pet had previously been vaccinated, underscoring the significant access gap that the organization is working to close.

In an upcoming event on March 30, 2025, Petco Love is focusing on vaccinating 1000 pets at a free drive-through pet vaccination clinic at the Wheatley Height Sports Complex in San Antonio, Texas, in partnership with San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS).

 At the event, San Antonio ACS will provide free DAPPv, HCP, and rabies vaccines, along with free microchipping services. 

Below is a partial transcript, lightly edited for clarity:

So, you know, Petco Love recognized a big gap in this country around preventable diseases that we see in pets, and really wanted to go after providing free vaccinations for underserved communities, specifically around some of the common infectious diseases we see in certain parts of the country. And so that's going to be [parvovirus] and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats. So, you know, really trying to promote access to care through vaccinations with preventable diseases.

We created March as National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month back in 2022 and it was really to bring more attention and to create more awareness about the importance of vaccinating our pets. We also wanted to celebrate our 

 campaign as we sought to get millions of pets vaccinated by offering free pet vaccines.

Another kind of goal that we want to come out of both the 

 campaign and National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month is through prevention of these diseases, you know...veterinarians and shelters will be seeing less of these diseases come in. [These diseases are] a mental strain on the profession, [they’re] a financial strain on pet parents, and so, you know, while we are focused on the overall numbers, getting pets vaccinated—and that

 a key in this campaign—we can't forget about the downstream effects on benefiting both pets, pet parents, the veterinary profession, and, you know, the animal welfare industry.

Petco Love declares March as National Pet Vaccination Month, celebrates success of Vaccinated and Loved campaign. News release. Petco Love. March 4, 2025. Accessed March 26, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petco-love-declares-march-as-national-pet-vaccination-month-celebrates-success-of-vaccinated-and-loved-campaign-302390978.html

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Susanne Kogut, JD, and Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, discuss access to vaccines, the Vaccinated and Loved campaign, and National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month

How a nonprofit is bridging the gap in access to pet vaccines

Privo Technologies, a phase 3 clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in drug delivery and cancer treatment in the human healthcare space, recently announced the launch of a new subsidiary called Benevet Oncology. This new branch, according to the company, will use Privo’s drug delivery technologies to tackle unmet needs in veterinary medicine.

More specifically, BeneVet plans to adapt Privo’s platforms, which were originally created for human medicine, to treat animals. According to BeneVet, their therapies leverage nanotechnology, polymer science, and potent oncology drugs.

 Moreover, their nanoengineered technology targets tumor and lymph nodes, offers immunomodulation and immunogenesis, has no systemic toxicity, employs chemo-housing nanoparticles, and more.

“With a team of experienced veterinary oncologists, pharmaceutical researchers, and animal lovers, we focus on developing targeted therapies that attack cancer cells with fewer side effects, ensuring pets experience the highest quality of life possible,” BeneVet states on its website.

BeneVet’s early research and development will be on cutaneous and subcutaneous solid tumors. This research consists of intratumoral therapies of solid tumors, with BeneVet using Privo’s PRV131 intratumoral injectable to deliver targeted treatment to tumors in cats and dogs with improved precision and fewer adverse effects.

 According to BeneVet, the company’s investigational PRV131 injection has had no reports of toxicity or weight loss in cats, including following multiple intratumoral injections—a contrast to other chemotherapies, which some feline patients do not tolerate well.

Additionally, the new subsidiary will work on topical treatment of shallow tumors through the development of sustained-release treatments that aim to offer long-term relief for chronic pain conditions in pets.

"Our pets are family members, and they deserve the same level of innovation and care that we dedicate to human health," Manijeh Goldberg, PhD, MS, MBA, CEO and founder of Privo Technologies, said in a company release.

"BeneVet will build on Privo's technological foundation to bring groundbreaking treatments to veterinary medicine, starting with solutions for conditions that currently have limited or inadequate options."

To make sure its solutions are clinically effective and practical for real-world use, BeneVet also plans to work with veterinarians, veterinary researchers, and pet owners. The company will also explore opportunities for collaboration with animal health organizations to drive progress in advancements in veterinary medicine through joint research.

"By creating BeneVet, we are reaffirming our commitment to innovation and extending it to improve the lives of our beloved companions," said Goldberg.

"This new chapter is a natural evolution of our mission to make impactful, science-driven advancements accessible to those who need them most."

Privo Technologies Inc. announces the launch of BeneVet Oncology: Advancing companion animal health through innovation. News release. Privo Technologies Inc. March 24, 2025. Accessed March 27, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/privo-technologies-inc-announces-the-launch-of-benevet-oncology-advancing-companion-animal-health-through-innovation-302408525.html

About us. BeneVet Oncology. Accessed March 27, 2025. 

Articles

Benevet Oncology will adapt Privo Technologies’ platforms to advance cancer treatments for animals

Human biopharmaceutical expands into veterinary medicine with new subsidiary

Ollie, a 7-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, and his owners Sarah Christie and Dan York from Sacramento, California, enjoy traveling to their second home in Del Notre County in northwest California. However, Ollie’s recent health scare shed a light on a disease that Christie and York did not know was a possibility, raising their awareness for Ollie’s outdoor activities.

Christie shared that recently Ollie begged to go outside for an urgent bathroom break, but as the day went on she noticed that he was lethargic and trembling. Worried about him, they rushed him to an emergency veterinary clinic where his tests were inconclusive. The team gave Ollie antibiotics and advised his owners to look out for vomiting because his intestines were full, but not necessarily blocked. Christie shared that the following day, Ollie was not eager on his walk and was appearing to still be ‘under the weather.’

Two days later, Ollie was not eating and vomited, so his owners brought him back to the veterinarian, where it was confirmed that he was not blocked and provided him with anti-nausea medication. However, Ollie’s health continued to decline, and he was not responding to medication, so Christie made the choice to bring him to the UC Davis veterinary hospital. There, he was evaluated and stabilized by the Emergency and Critical Care Service before being transferred to the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service.

Ollie, a 7-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, was recently treated at UC Davis for salmon poisoning 

The team at UC Davis collected background information about Ollie, including his outdoor habits with his owner York, prompting them to ask if he had gone swimming in any rivers or encountered any raw salmon, giving them an idea of what could be going on with Ollie.

“Ollie presented with classic clinical signs of salmon poisoning disease – low platelet count, enlarged lymph nodes, and changes to his spleen,” said Emily Hirsch, DVM, a second-year resident and co-chief house officer of the hospital, in an organizational release.

 “Knowing that his owner is an outdoorsman and Ollie might be around salmon in those situations, I was almost certain that was the case.”

Christie explained to the UC Davis team that on a recent trip to Del Norte County, Ollie was on a walk near the Smith River, which is one of the best salmon rivers on the west coast, here, she said Ollie encountered some dead salmon. Christie said that although he did not take a bite out of any dead salmon, it was clear that he must have licked one and had enough of an encounter to be poisoned by the salmon’s parasitic flukes that contain 

“Typically, we have to take samples from the abdominal lymph nodes,” Hirsch explained. “But in Ollie’s case, we were able to get samples from his enlarged peripheral lymph nodes, meaning he was heavily burdened by this infection by the time we saw him, which is why he presented so sick.”

Salmon contracts flukes by eating snails, but not every salmon has flukes and not all flukes contain the bacteria. However, Hirsch warns that raw salmon without flukes could still be dangerous if ingested and cause other diseases, such as mercury poisoning.

For pets with salmon poisoning, they typically begin to show symptoms within a week and signs include lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea (which could possibly contain blood), enlarged lymph nodes, fever, weakness, discharge from the eyes or nose, weight loss, muscle tremors, seizures, increased respiratory rate, and increased heart rate. If the infection is not treated within 2 weeks, most dogs will not survive.

If caught in time, like it was in Ollie’s case, salmon poisoning disease is easily treatable with the proper medication. Ollie was prescribed doxycycline to clear the infection and praziquantel to clear the flukes from his system. Within a few days of taking his medication, Ollie recovered, and his owners reported that he is back to normal and still enjoying outdoor activities, but York and Christie have a closer eye on him now.

Dog’s Close Call with Salmon Poisoning Disease Shocks Owners but Raises Awareness. News release. UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine. March 25, 2025. Accessed March 27, 2025. 

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/dogs-close-call-salmon-poisoning-disease-shocks-owners-raises-awareness

Schmid R. Salmon Poisoning. VCA Animal Hospitals. Accessed March 27, 2025. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/salmon-poisoning

The university’s ‘Case of the Month’ highlighted the story of a 7-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever’s health scare

UC Davis raises awareness on salmon poisoning disease 

The bipartisan People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act was reintroduced to congress by Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Claudia Tenney (NY-24) to help increase access to pet insurance. The bill, if passed, would make veterinary care expenses eligible under tax-advantage health care spending accounts, particularly Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

“Pets are more than just animals – in many households, they’re family members. While household costs continue to rise, paying for pet insurance can become a financial burden that people can’t afford,” expressed Ross.

“As a dog owner, I’m proud to introduce our bipartisan PAW Act, which will ensure animal lovers can afford care for their pets by including veterinary care and pet insurance as eligible expenses under HSAs and FSAs. I’m grateful for Congresswoman Tenney’s continued partnership to make sure all families can afford insurance for their furry friends,” she continued.

According to the release regarding the bill, the proposed legislation would also provide support to veterans and people living with disabilites by imposing no limit on veterinary care expenses for service animals.

 The bill will also ensure that the IRS relies on an up-to-date federal definition of service animal for HSA and FSA expenses, including animals trained to assist with physical and mental disabilities.

“Pets and service animals are valued members of our families and lives, with many benefits including increasing our lifespan, reducing stress, and promoting physical activity. It is important we ensure pet owners can afford quality care. The PAWS Act allows pet owners to use HSAs and FSAs for veterinary care, ensuring all pet owners can keep their beloved pets and service animals healthy,” said Tenney.

Through the PAW Act, pet owners would be able to use HSA or FSA accounts to pay for up to $1000 for pet health insurance plans or veterinary care. The bill also maintains the current HSA and FSA contribution limits to help there be little to no impact on federal expenditures.

This bill is currently endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, and MetLife.

“The AVMA-endorsed People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act helps maintain animal and human health, promotes and emphasizes the health benefits of pet ownership, and allows more people to become pet owners,” said Sandra Faeh, DVM, AVMA president.

“Ensuring veterinary care and pet health insurance are eligible expenses under Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts means more affordable care for pets, greater access to care for service animals, and an enhanced ability to detect and prevent zoonotic diseases. We thank Reps. Tenney and Ross for their leadership on this issue and urge Congress to promptly pass the PAW Act,” she concluded.

Ross, Tenney Introduce Bill to Make Pet Insurance More Affordable. News release. Deborah Ross 2

 District of North Carolina. March 21, 2025. Accessed march 27, 2025. 

https://ross.house.gov/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=06CCC11F-67AB-4A1F-9E2F-E8EA266897F1

The bill aims to increase access to pet insurance and make veterinary care expenses eligible under tax-advantaged health care spending accounts 

PAW Act reintroduced to congress

A new app for pet owners helps clients easily and conveniently access veterinary support. Created by Thrive Pet Healthcare, the free app serves more than 300 veterinary hospitals in the US.

"We understand how important peace of mind is to pet owners," Joe Mazzarella, chief technology officer at Thrive Pet Healthcare, said in a news release.

 "That's why our new app combines expert, compassionate care with personalized health management, helping pet families feel more connected and confident about their pets' wellbeing than ever before."

The new app is more comprehensive than an earlier app offered by Thrive that served 30 hospitals, according to company officials, in an email to 

. “[The new app helps pet owners] easily access their pets’ health records anytime and connect with their pet’s health care team,” they said.

The new app allows pet owners to complete a variety of functions. These include booking and viewing appointments, accessing patient medical records, track issues with written notes about a pet’s health, manage prescription medications, and locate Thrive hospitals for primary, specialty and emergency needs including use of an SOS feature to quickly find emergency care.

The app also features pet photo galleries, personalization of each pet’s profile, pet health articles and tips curated by veterinary professionals, a daily schedule with appointment and medication administration reminders, and the ability to learn more about and enroll in the Thrive Plus paid membership, which offers preventive care through exams, discounts on services, procedures and medications; and perks at more than 185 Thrive locations in the US. Additional app features are expected to be introduced in the coming months with the goal of enhancing patient care across Thrive’s hospital network.

Users can download the available new app through the Apple app store and Google Play. There is no cost to download and access the service.

Thrive Pet Healthcare unleashes the future of pet health management with easy-to-use app. Thrive Pet Healthcare. March 26, 2025. Accessed March 27, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thrive-pet-healthcare-unleashes-the-future-of-pet-health-management-with-easy-to-use-app-302411192.html

Thrive Pet Healthcare has introduced a service that is more comprehensive than its' previous app and with expanded reach to its' hospitals

New app connects pet owners to veterinary support

Alex Sigmind, DVM, DACVO, shares tips for pet parents to catch vision problems at home

5 Ways to pick up on pet's vision changes

Alex Sigmund, DVM, DACVO, shares practical tips for pet parents to monitor their pets’ vision at home. By sharing these tips with clients, you can help them identify subtle signs of vision impairment that may indicate underlying issues. Educating clients on what to look for not only fosters proactive pet care, but also ensures that any potential problems are addressed promptly through timely veterinary intervention.

1. Notice when your pet is bumping into things

If your pet is consistently bumping into objects they previously navigated with ease, it might be a sign of declining vision. Many pets are familiar with their surroundings, so these changes might only become apparent in new environments or when furniture is rearranged.

2. Watch for difficulties in dim lighting

Vision changes often become more apparent in low-light conditions. Whether it’s during early morning walks, dusk outings, or simply in the dimmer areas of your home, pets may struggle with transitions from bright to low-light spaces. Difficulty navigating stairs, jumping on furniture, or moving between rooms could indicate retinal degeneration, which may be genetic or age-related.

A noticeable shift toward using their nose more frequently can be a clue. For example, if your pet can’t track a thrown treat or toy visually and instead sniffs intently to locate it, this heightened reliance on smell may suggest declining vision.

Sometimes vision loss may only affect one side. This can cause your pet to become startled or even snap when approached from the impaired side. Being aware of this behavior can help you identify potential issues before they worsen.

A change in pupil size may be subtle yet significant. Normally, pupils adjust with light: larger in dim settings and smaller in bright settings. If you notice your pet’s pupils remain unusually large in bright light, this could be a warning sign of retinal disease, which might be linked to conditions like retinal degeneration, detachment from high blood pressure, or even glaucoma.

Share this advice from Alex Sigmund, DVM, DACVO, with pet parents to help catch vision issues early and ensure timely care