Beyond the Myth

Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. To watch the full video and earn 0.5 CE credits, click 

Despite cats being susceptible to a wide array of external and internal parasites, they often remain unprotected in spite of a market with safe and effective parasiticide products. It is also important to remember that indoor cats are at risk just as much as outdoor cats. Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, of 

, spoke with Susan Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM about how common some of these risks are, what to do about them, and how to break down barriers for feline parasite protection.

Common misunderstandings about flea infestations in cats.

Flea denial is real. One misconception is that fleas are seasonal, regional, or there is a thought of “not my cat.” We also have the feeling that cats are good groomers and independent, so they’re going to remove the fleas they have. However, as veterinarians, we know they can’t get them all and they need to be on flea control to eliminate those infestations.

Fleas are more than happy to come indoors to set up the infestation. If it’s not a cat going outside, it could be a dog or human in the same household that transmits the fleas to the cat. There is a report from a few years ago that said 10% of pet cats in the US had fleas, with regional numbers of 17% in the southeastern US and 20% in the Pacific northwest.

Another misconception is that once fleas are discovered, there won’t be a problem anymore after treatment. As fleas build up in an environment—because of the larvae and pupae—the adults will emerge and reinfest the cat. Cats and people don’t live in closed environments. We are continually reintroducing fleas and that is why they have to be protected.

What information do veterinarians need to consider when we think about tapeworms?

 because cats often ingest fleas as part of their normal grooming habits. We haven’t been able to document that tapeworms are very common in cats until very recently because fecal flotation doesn’t have a high sensitivity for eggs due to their weight and low likelihood of floating. Newer antigen and PCR testing is how we discovered the high number of infected cats nationally. 5-10% of cats nationally are infected with 

Although many people are familiar with flea infestations in cats, we often hear that “cats don’t get ticks” or “I’ve never seen a tick on my cat.”

some of the myths associated with ticks in cats?

Not only do cats become infested with ticks, they also can become infected with tick-borne diseases that are potentially fatal. The most serious tick-borne disease in cats in North America is cytauxzoonosis, which is transmitted by the lone star tick, 

. Lone star ticks are expanding both geographically and seasonally. We’re seeing activity from them most months of the year. So tick prevention is needed all year-round rather than certain months of the year.

Cats will develop a severe, highly febrile disease. They may also be extremely lethargic and even jaundiced. We perform a blood smear to identify the organisms.

Roundworms are phenomenally common in cats. Cats never get the age-related immunity that dogs do, especially cats that have access to prey species which they ingest, like rodents or birds. Combining a cat’s love for hunting with less frequent parasitic control means that so many cats are not protected from infection. Cats remain susceptible to roundworms throughout their life, meaning they’re going to be shedding eggs that will then contaminate the environment. These larvae then present a zoonotic risk. Hookworms can infect cats as well, but roundworms are more prevalent. Their natural behaviors increasing their exposure to these parasites are a good reason for vets to recommend a broad spectrum parasiticide for their feline patients.

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Better ways to understand and protect felines from parasitic infections

Beyond the myth

Running a veterinary hospital involves many moving parts, and seemingly minor issues can add up over time. Forgetting to include a laboratory test on the invoice, dealing with yet another no-show, or having clients who don’t follow treatment plans are common occurrences often viewed as routine in operations. However, these are silent revenue drains that cumulatively deplete the earning potential of your hospital, whether through the loss of hard-earned income from missed charges, overspending on outdated software, or missing out on profit opportunities due to poor client adherence and inefficient workflows.

In today’s economy, where every dollar counts and staff time is more valuable than ever, these hidden losses can significantly affect your bottom line. Fortunately, technology offers solutions to plug these leaks and maximize profits, ensuring your practice thrives in a competitive landscape.

These are not to be taken lightly in veterinary medicine. Missed charges are silent revenue leaks, often unnoticed in the hustle of daily operations. Whether it’s errors in coding and billing entries; inaccuracies in bundling and discounting; or the omission of services, products, or additional fees on the invoice, these missed opportunities can add up to ​​10% of missed revenue per year.

The most common culprits of missed charges often stem from human error. However, inefficient processes or inadequate documentation play a significant role in this silent revenue drain. The solution requires robust documentation, coding, billing, revenue cycle management processes, and ongoing staff training. It also requires implementing quality assurance measures to minimize errors and optimize revenue capture. Automating through technology is the optimal solution. Here are some effective ways to enhance billing accuracy.

Integrate services and billing with records

: By linking clinical services directly with the billing system, every service entered into the patient record will be immediately reflected on the invoice. For example, Digitail Secure Payments integrates with an onsite terminal. It automatically sends the correct invoice amount to the machine, eliminating manual data entry mistakes and ensuring an error-free billing process. Additionally, having clients’ credit cards on file helps secure more timely payments and manage cash flow, enhancing convenience.

Integrate practice information management software with diagnostic services

: Eliminating delays in updating lab results minimizes the risk of missed charges associated with diagnostic services. Whether you conduct lab work in-house or outsource it, ensure it synchronizes with patient records and billing. Check if such integration exists with your clinic’s practice information management software (PIMS) and activate it. Ask the PIMS provider to introduce this integration if it doesn’t exist.

: Just as you create standard operating procedures to streamline processes and boost consistency, having predefined treatment plans achieves the same outcome. Depending on the appointment type, such as a wellness check or surgery, these templates can suggest the typical products and services associated with the procedure and automatically create an invoice. This will expedite the billing process and minimize the chance of overlooking billable items.

: Generate regular reports and audit trails from your PIMS to review billing practices systematically. Analyzing these reports can unveil patterns of missed charges and highlight areas for improvement. This data-driven approach allows teams to address discrepancies promptly, preventing further revenue leakage.

Implement voice-to-text transcription for documentation accuracy

: Automating the record-keeping process will ensure all services are correctly recorded for billing purposes. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI), voice-to-text capabilities have become even more advanced.

Imagine a situation where a client has a sudden change of plans and needs to reschedule their appointment. It’s after hours, and the hospital is closed. With no online booking option, you end up with yet another no-show.

A lack of client adherence can result in lost revenue by directly impacting appointment attendance, preventive care, treatment plan completion, and client loyalty. In today’s fast-paced world, retaining business requires being readily accessible and convenient for pet owners, which means employing diverse communication methods. From emails to text messaging to in-app notifications, technology can improve client adherence without creating more work for the veterinary healthcare team.

: Besides reducing no-show rates and improving appointment use, reminders can improve adherence to recommended treatments, vaccine boosters, dental cleaning, and other preventive care that busy pet owners may overlook. Your staff has enough on their plates without spending time printing off reminder lists, sending reminder notices in between seeing patients, and playing phone tag with clients. The system must work for your staff by sending scheduled reminders and prompting them about possible opportunities to improve pet care when they need it.

: Go beyond a simple tab on your website to schedule an appointment. Real-time online booking offers unparalleled convenience and efficiency. Pet owners can schedule appointments seamlessly, anytime and anywhere, eliminating the hassle of phone calls. This system allows for immediate confirmation of appointments, reduces on-hold wait times, and frees up staff to tend to urgent matters in the practice.

: Text messages and apps give clients convenient and instant access to critical information and services. Through text messages, clients can receive appointment reminders, medication alerts, and updates on their pet’s health status, ensuring they stay informed and organized. Apps offer additional benefits, such as access to medical records, appointment scheduling, and the ability to communicate directly with the veterinary healthcare team. These digital tools enhance communication, streamline processes, and ultimately contribute to better pet care management, empowering clients to stay actively involved in their pet’s well-being.

Think of every step of the patient journey, from booking an appointment to patient intake, treatment, and post visit communication. Inefficient processes can manifest in various forms, from administrative tasks to clinical procedures, draining precious time and resources from staff and clients. Modern technology can optimize or automate each of these steps, reducing wait times, alleviating the workload for your team, and increasing the hospital throughput.

Streamline registration and record managemen

t: Collecting patient information and history and getting consent forms signed in advance saves time. Additionally, syncing refills with follow-up appointments helps mitigate revenue drains due to lack of adherence.

: Using tools that display each doctor’s availability percentage and booking rate is essential for efficient time management. Monitoring the fill rate ensures the team’s time is used most effectively, helping to balance the schedule and avoid overbooking or underutilizing staff. Schedule optimization ensures the right appointments are booked at the right times, promoting a smooth internal workflow.

: Using voice-to-text transcription to update medical records during appointments saves doctors time doing paperwork after hours––up to 8 minutes per subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) note, which, for a 5-doctor hospital, can translate to 50 hours saved per week.

 Additionally, creating predefined lists of diagnoses and corresponding recommendations can save time by automating the creation of some of the SOAP notes and discharge instructions.

: Using AI to generate personalized recommendations, discharge notes, and educational materials frees up the staff to spend time talking to the pet parent.

Optimizing patient journeys will free up the clinical team to see more patients or improve their work-life balance, both of which will positively impact your hospital’s revenue.

Pet owners are more inclined to seek veterinary care if they have the flexibility to pay in installments. Offering alternative payment options can determine whether clients accept the recommended treatment plan or can afford care at all.

: Companies such as CareCredit can integrate with your PIMS to provide a seamless process for clients to finance pet care. Having the 2 systems connected allows the company to process applications instantly and handle payments in the PIMS, enhancing convenience for clients and veterinary staff.

: Even under high default rates, the revenue benefits from offering clinic-backed payment plans outweigh the labor costs and could bring higher profitability to clinics while increasing access to care for clients and patients, according to findings from a recent study published in JAVMA.

 If you are hesitant to provide your own payment plans, consider partnering with VetBilling––an external platform that handles payments and collections on behalf of hospitals for a comparatively small fee. Use the platform to manage payment plans, pet savings accounts, wellness/subscription plans, and pay-in-advance plans.

: Using a pet parent app can be handy for promoting available payment options, allowing the client time to digest the information from the comfort of their home.

Relieving the financial burden of veterinary expenses will result in better patient outcomes, more accessible care, and improved hospital financial performance.

The hospital’s PIMS may be its own worst enemy––legacy systems can eat away at your budget, creating inefficiencies and hindering growth. ​​Approximately 65% of veterinary practices still use on-premises servers that require ongoing maintenance and electricity costs, hardware upgrades, and manual backups.

A server-based PIMS updates only once a year, requiring all systems and computers to be shut down during this process. In contrast, cloud-based PIMS updates its software and features in the background every 14 days without any interference to hospital operations. However, the actual financial burden of server-based PIMS becomes apparent when you consider the number of additional services you need to invest in: third-party online appointment scheduling, reminders, texting, and other essential capabilities for modern pet care.

The limitations of outdated software may become more apparent if you decide to expand to additional locations, offer remote work opportunities for your team, or introduce virtual care services.

: As a software-as-a-service, cloud-based PIMS requires only a monthly payment to the provider, who is responsible for maintaining and updating the system. Choosing an all-in-one software can also ensure all core functionalities are already built-in, contributing to more seamless workflows. Cloud software is also inherently more flexible and can swiftly roll out new features to meet the evolving needs of veterinary professionals and their patients.

Technology is developing in leaps and bounds and can be the answer to more profitability, a better experience for staff, and improved patient care. AI alone is revolutionizing the daily routines of veterinary practices, automating tasks such as appointment scheduling, record-keeping, and even diagnostics, which enhances efficiency and accuracy. Many veterinary hospitals say that positive firsthand experience motivates them to try new tools––so don’t hesitate to explore what is available. Embracing advanced technologies not only addresses the silent revenue drains but also positions your practice at the forefront of veterinary medicine, ensuring sustainable growth and excellence in patient care.

, the head of customer success at Digitail, is a workflow expert with 25 years of experience in veterinary medicine and practice management, including general practice, specialty, emergency, university, and corporate environments. Fluent in multiple languages, she excels in understanding and responding to the evolving needs of veterinary businesses, identifying areas for improvement, and addressing inefficiencies. She is also a passionate advocate for veterinary work-life balance and a member of Not One More Vet, an organization dedicated to transforming veterinary practices for a brighter future.

Galvin J. Maybe money does grow on trees. American Animal Hospital Association. September 18, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2024.https://www.aaha.org/newstat/publications/maybe-money-does-grow-on-trees.

Danylenko G. How Paumanok Veterinary Hospital harnessed AI to reclaim 50 hours per week. April 17, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2024. https://digitail.com/blog/how-paumanok-veterinary-hospital-harnessed-ai-to-reclaim-50-hours-per-week/

Neill CL, Roberts J, Colon J, Zhang P. What are the risks of clinic-backed payment plans? JAm Vet Med Assoc. 2023;262(3):426-431. doi:10.2460/javma.23.07.0421

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc investor day. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. August 10, 2023. Accessed July 8, 2024. https://www.idexx.com/media/filer_public/ba/04/ba049de2-a3df-4ae7-8007-739f88c98dc0/2023-08-10-investor-day.pdf

Veterinary practices could be leaking revenue, adding up to significant losses. Technology can stop the leaks. 

Five silent revenue drains and ways to plug them 

Falcor, an 11-year-old, 412-pound white Bengal-hybrid tiger, was treated by UC Davis ophthalmologists for a tumor on his eyelid. (Image courtesy of UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine)

The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is a sanctuary located in San Andreas, California and home to 25 rescued, abused, abandoned, or retired captive wild animals including elephants, bears, primates, and other species. PAWS has an onsite veterinary care team as well as a dedicated group of caretakers who monitor the animals closely. Each caregiver on the property is trained to look for health issues whenever they feed, clean, or care for animals.

In 2023, Falcor, an 11-year-old, 412-pound white Bengal-hybrid tiger at PAWS, had a soft tissue sarcoma mass removed from around his left eye and was completed with clean margins with no recurrence seen since the removal.

Renae Smith, lead tiger supervisor at PAWS, has been with the sanctuary for 17 years and was the original caretaker to notice the mass.Smith then immediately alerted Jackie Gai, DVM, PAWS director of veterinary services.

Gai then called the Ophthalmology Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital, which recently acquired a new laser equipment as Lauren Charnock, DVM, MS, was going through the hiring process at the hospital. Charnock trained on the equipment while she was in her comparative ophthalmology residency at Auburn University.

Although there is a state-of-the-art hospital at PAWS, the team performed Falcor’s procedure within his enclosure to reduce the amount of time under anesthesia. PAWS has portable gas anesthesia, imaging, and other equipment on site that veterinary teams can use within the field and is easily transportable. The team then darted Falcor and once it was safe, Gai and her team created a makeshift operating room within the enclosure.

Gai was joined by Jennifer Glavis, DVM, MVPM, and Lynn Dowling, RVT, who all had worked together at PAWS for over 10 years. Glavis, who is serving as a part time staff veterinarian at PAWS, and Dowling, a full time swing swift supervisor, also both work at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.

During the procedure, the team from PAWS was responsible for anesthesia induction and monitoring, blood collection, and other ancillary procures as Charnock and Kathryn Good, DVM, DACVO, chief of the Ophthalmology Service, removed the tumor and performed photodynamic therapy.

 This laser treatment has been used on other species at UC Davis, mostly those with cancer on and/or around the eye.

Lauren Charnock, DVM, MS, performing hotodynamic therapy on Falcor.

According to UC Davis, normally the tumor is removed surgically first, as was done with Falcor, and then a specific photo-sensitive dye is injected into the surgical site.

 Here are therapeutic properties in the die that are activated by the laser, emitting particular light wavelengths.This procedure then creates an immediate scab to protect the surgical site from infection, attempts to target and kill remaining cancer cells, and then ‘seals’ the site without requiring sutures.

Patient that receives this treatment typically tend to have minimal tissue swelling and appear to be quite comfortable after surgery. This treatment also helps reduce the risks of the tumor spreading or regrowth by allowing more tissue to be removed during the surgery, which also then increases the chance of obtaining clean margins during the removal. Overall, the anesthetization, comprehensive eye exam, and eyelid tumor surgery took the team 76 minutes and Falcor remained stable throughout the procedure.

Falcor receiving care from his veterinary team

Most likely, there are no white tigers like Falcor remaining in the wild and only 1 in 10,000 born in the wild are a white cub. Because it is believed there is only 5,000 tigers still in the wild, the chance a white cub will ever be born again in the wild is extremely rare.

 Currently, Falcor is one of about 200 white tigers in captivity worldwide. Gai explained that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums as well as any other legitimate breeding organization does not support the breeding for white tigers.

“Not only is the white color recessive, but so are other conditions like dwarfism, cleft palate, vision problems, deformed limbs, and deformed facial features. With inbreeding, eventually, you end up with white tigers with too many health problems,” explained Gai.

Falcor’s team does not believe that his melanoma is the result of inbreeding, but they are an issue with white or gray animals because they have a higher incidence of melanoma than more pigmented tigers.

PAWS is working to keep Faclor’s future bright, but he has had an ‘infamous’ past as well. Falcor was part of a major government action against Jeff and Lauren Lowe, owners of a private zoo in Oklahoma and who were featured in the Netflix series “Tiger King.” Within the government action, 68 big cats were seized by the US Department of Justice and the US Department of Agriculture from the facility to alleged violations of the federal Endangered Species Act as well as the Animal Welfare Act.

Ophthalmologists Treat White Tiger with New Laser Technology. News release. UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine. August 20, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/ophthalmologists-treat-white-tiger-new-laser-technology

van der Weyden L, Brenn T, Patton EE, Wood GA, Adams DJ. Spontaneously occurring melanoma in animals and their relevance to human melanoma. 

. 2020;252(1):4-21. doi:10.1002/path.5505

Ophthalmologists at UC Davis removed the tumor and treated it with a new laser technology, photodynamic therapy 

Bengal-hybrid tiger treated for eyelid tumor

Akston Biosciences Corporation announced plans to develop a new companion animal obesity drug as part of a new strategic partnership with Energesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The partnership intends to manage obesity in companion animals by enhancing their natural ability to burn more calories and increase energy use, promoting healthy weight loss without the potential to rebound.

“Energesis and Akston share an appetite for innovation as we seek to develop an array of new, differentiated products to treat obesity in pets,” Todd Zion, PhD, president and CEO of Akston Biosciences, said in a news release.

 “This partnership exemplifies Akston’s dedication to advancing the [American Veterinary Medical Association] One Health Initiative, reflecting our commitment to translational medicine. By integrating innovations across human and veterinary sciences, we aim to contribute to a healthier, more interconnected world where the well-being of people, animals, and the environment are seamlessly linked.”

The underlying technology to be used in the drug’s development leverages recent scientific insights in brown adipose tissue (BAT) biology, which is used to generate heat, burn calories, and reduce body fat without reducing muscle mass.

 In the partnership, Akston receives the option to license Energesis’ biologic BAT recruitment therapy for companion animals. Akston will serve as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), developing and producing the therapeutic at its facility in Massachusetts.

“Partnering with Akston to further develop and manufacture our BAT Recruitment Therapy holds the promise of treating obesity in companion animals while bolstering a future for human therapies of the same kind,” explained Brian Freeman, MD, CEO of Energesis.

 “[BAT] recruitment therapy is a major advance in the treatment of obesity. The current approaches, such as Ozempic, reduce appetite, and in doing so cause loss of needed muscle mass and a lowering of metabolic rate, leading to a rebound weight gain. Enhancing energy use, however, leads to a healthy weight loss without rebound. Given the great need for new approaches beyond appetite suppression in companion animals, we are very excited to partner with Akston to move this technology into the veterinary space.”

A 2022 survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimated 61% of cats and 59% of dogs in the US to be overweight or suffer from obesity.

 In the same survey, 49% of pet owners reported having conversations with their veterinary professionals regarding their pet’s ideal weight.

 Although many veterinary professionals may refrain from mentioning weight out of fear of making clients uncomfortable, two-thirds of surveyed pet owners said they neither feel embarrassed nor uncomfortable at the mention of their pet needing to lose weight. Results of the survey indicate that clients are interested in being told about their pet’s need for weight loss.

The agreement marks Akston’s second major strategic partnership announcement in the past month, complementing the company’s 

 to co-develop an anti-cPD-L1 monoclonal antibody immunotherapy to treat cancer in dogs.

 Their newest partner, Energesis Pharmaceuticals Inc., is a human biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat obesity and related metabolic diseases. Their approach is built on targeting BAT, increasing rate at which the body burns stored fat, and lowering insulin resistance.

Energesis and Akston Biosciences Sign Partnership Agreement for Companion Animal Obesity Drug Development. News release. Akston Biosciences Organization. August 20, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240820433433/en/Energesis-and-Akston-Biosciences-Sign-Partnership-Agreement-for-Companion-Animal-Obesity-Drug-Development

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. State of U.S. Pet Obesity. 2022. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.petobesityprevention.org/2022

Littrell A. Animal therapeutics company names partner for oncology drug development. 

. August 15, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/animal-therapeutics-company-names-partner-for-oncology-drug-development

Akston Biosciences and Energesis Pharmaceuticals Inc. are forming a strategic partnership to develop an animal obesity drug

Therapeutics company announces partnership to combat animal obesity

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (Elanco) announced that Credelio Quattro  has completed its review of all major and minor technical sections with the FDA. The product has now moved into the final 60-day administrative review that is currently underway.

“This is an exciting time at Elanco as we deliver a robust innovation portfolio that we believe will help transform animal care with solutions that go beyond today’s market leaders,” said Jeff Simmons, Elanco president and chief executive officer, in an organizational release.

“Elanco expects to launch a potential blockbuster each of the next three quarters in large, fast-growing, or new markets that are largely accretive to Elanco. We continue to expect $600 million to $700 million of innovation sales in 2025.”

 Elanco is continuing to expect Credelio Quattro is to seek approval for indications that would give the product the broadest coverage, including fleas, ticks, heartworms as well as internal parasites like tapeworms.

 Elanco also disclosed that along with the regulatory process, it has plans to finalize a manufacturing scale-up to help optimize the launch, and is targeted for the first quarter in 2025.

Earlier in the process, Credelio Quattro completed 2 out of the 3 major technical sections, Effectiveness and Safety. However, in June 2024, the company received an incomplete letter for the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls major technical section.

 At that time, the company went forward with the minor technical sections as this was happening, including Labeling.

“We are very pleased with the continued progress of our pipeline. We completed the Bovaer review ahead of schedule and now have two potential blockbusters – Zenrelia and Credelio Quattro – in the final administrative review at the FDA, illustrating our R&D organization’s high capacity and ability to build capabilities to deliver a consistent flow of high-impact innovation,” said Ellen de Brabander, PhD, executive vice president of innovation and regulatory affairs.

“A significant thank you to the Elanco team for their efforts to bring these differentiated innovations toward approval while also refilling and advancing the early-stage pipeline for the next era of innovation.”

Along with Credelio Quattro, Elanco has an additional product, Zenrelia, that has received confirmation from the FDA that it has completed all major technical sections as of late June 2024. For the minor technical sections, the company aligned with FDA language and is currently waiting to receive the completion. Elanco is anticipating the launch of Zenrelia in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Elanco Announces Credelio Quattro Moves to Final FDA Administrative Review. News release. Elanco Animal Health Incorporated. August 20, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.elanco.com/en-us/insights/credelio-quattro-moves-to-final-fda-administrative-review

Elanco Provides Innovation Update. News release. June 27, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elanco-provides-innovation-update-302183924.html

The parasiticide is currently on track to receive approval this October

Credelio Quattro advances to final FDA administrative review

Stray cats in Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and the American Veterinary Medical Association)

The Ukrainian Small Animal Veterinary Association (USAVA) and its charity branch, the Ukraine Veterinary Medical Foundation (UVMF), will receive a $50,000 grant for veterinary relief in Ukraine amid the war in the country. The fund will be provided by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), the charitable branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

USAVA and UVMF will use the grant to sustain a mobile veterinary clinic operating in Ukraine and to purchase food for several thousand animals. The funds will also provide animals and pet owners in Ukraine with shelter, veterinary equipment, and veterinary care, according to a news release.

 The grant was approved this month by the AVMF board of directors.

“The AVMF has been privileged to support the veterinary community in Ukraine since the onset of the conflict,” said Rena Carlson, DVM, AVMF chair, in a news release.

 “The conditions they work under are unimaginable. We are inspired by their dedication to ensuring that animals and their owners receive the necessary care and support. By funding a mobile unit in Ukraine, we enable veterinarians to reach areas where the need is greatest.”

Vladlen Ushakov, USAVA president and international veterinary fellow at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts believes the grant will help more than 10,000 animals in Ukraine.

Census data from 2023 revealed that the war in Ukraine has led to a rapid increase in the number of animals in shelters and in the care of animal volunteers, according to a report.

 As of 2023, the number increased by 20% to 30% in rear areas. Among volunteer caregivers, the number of animals increased by 60%. Meanwhile, in frontline zones, the number of animals in shelters increased by 100% or more. According to the report, most of these animals are pets that were abandoned by their owners during evacuations.

 In Ukrainian towns that were forced to evacuate due to the threat of Russian bombs and soldiers, stray cats and dogs are a common sight, according to the AVMA.

Before the war, Kormotech, a pet food company, estimated that there were 8 million domestic cats and dogs living in Ukraine.

 Since the start of the war in 2022, many companion animals in Ukraine have been killed or have escaped animal shelters due to artillery or other weapons striking the shelters, according to a news report.

 Moreover, animal shelters in the country have faced challenges in acquiring necessary supplies, according to the AVMA.

According to Danielle Johnson, executive director of the AVMF, the organization has raised more than $667,000 in disaster relief for Ukraine since the war began, a news release relayed.

More than $570,000 of these funds have been allocated to veterinary-focused groups such as USAVA and UVMF, as well as to Greater Good Charities, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Street Dog Coalition, Worldwide Vets, and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

 The remaining funds from the AVMF’s Ukraine disaster relief efforts will be distributed by the end of 2024.

AVMF maintains support for veterinary relief in Ukraine. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. August 19, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/avmf-maintains-support-veterinary-relief-ukraine

Research: How war affected animal shelters in Ukraine. Kormotech. February 1, 2023. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.savepetsofukraine.kormotech.com/en/post/research-how-war-affected-animal-shelters-in-ukraine

Cima G. Animals also victims of war in Ukraine. American Veterinary Medical Association. March 31, 2022. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/animals-also-victims-war-ukraine

The Ukrainian Small Animal Veterinary Association will use the funds for a mobile veterinary clinic amid the war in Ukraine.