Maryland Zoo announced that its bird curator, Jen Kottyan, was appointed to lead a national breeding and population management initiative for African penguins, 

Kottyan will serve as the program leader for the African Penguins Species Survival Plan (SSP).

According to a news release, Kottyan will oversee the African penguins breeding programs within Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos. Kottyan, who has worked with SSP for some time, relocated in June 2008 to the Maryland Zoo to specifically work with the colony of African penguins at the Zoo.

“Anyone who’s interacted with the African penguin colony at our Zoo knows how incredible these animals are,” Kottyan said, in the release.

 “Because of the decreasing populations in the wild, the work of the AZA’s African Penguin SSP Program is more critical now than ever.”

African penguins, nicknamed the jackass penguin due to its mating call sounding similar to a braying donkey,

had its population decline by 90% since the turn of the 20th century, earning them a spot as an endangered species. The penguins are native to southwest Africa and Namibia and are not found anywhere else in the world. These penguins' greatest threat is human interference such as the collection of their eggs and having to compete with fishermen to access fish.

They are also vulnerable in the wild to pollution of their habitats, particularly oil spills. On June 23, 2000, 19,000 African penguins were affected by an oil spill when MV 

sunk off the western coast of South Africa between Dassen and Robben Islands, an area that supports the largest and 3rd largest colonies of African penguins.

 As of today, the estimated number of African penguins in the wild is 52,000 and there is a chance that they will go extinct within the next 10 years.

 The Maryland Zoo’s penguin team has traveled to support a seabird facility in South Africa for years now and is a founding member of a facility similar in Namibia that is getting up and running.

“Jen’s experience with penguins and deep familiarity with their breeding and population management made her an excellent choice to run this national program with a global impact,” said Margaret Rose-Innes, General Curator at the Maryland Zoo.

Maryland Zoo has the largest colony of African penguins in North America with over 1000 chicks successfully breed. These birds are part of the Zoo’s Signature Animal Programs as well as one of the most popular attractions to visitors.

Maryland Zoo Bird Curator Appointed to Lead A National Penguin Program. News release. Maryland Zoo. March 5, 2024. 

African Penguin. The Maryland Zoo. Accessed March 6, 2024. 

https://www.marylandzoo.org/animal/african-penguin/

Crawford RJM, Davis SA, Harding RT, et al. Initial impact of theTreasureoil spill on seabirds off western South Africa. 

. 2000;22(1):157-176. doi:https://doi.org/10.2989/025776100784125645

Articles

Jen Kottyan will oversee breeding of African penguins at AZA accredited zoos. 

Maryland bird curator tapped to lead national penguin program

A hyaluronate sodium therapy (NexHA Injectable Solution; Vetoquinol) for treating equine joint dysfunction associated with osteoarthritis (OA) has returned to the veterinary market with renewed FDA approval. Last available in 2015, this generic solution is administered by intravenous injection, and can by purchased by clients with a veterinarian’s prescription.

“We are excited to let veterinarians and horse owners know that NexHA is back,” Eric M Alsup, DVM, general manager, Vetoquinol USA, said in a news release.

 “Using affordable generics allows owners to put more money toward other important veterinary services without compromising standards of care.”

A bioequivalent product to Legend hyaluronate solution (Boehringer Ingelheim), the generic therapy is indicated for the managing signs of carpus or fetlock joint debilitation in horses caused by OA-related noninfectious synovitis.

 According to the FDA, OA slowly breaks down breakdown of joint cartilage, which can result in clinical signs such as lameness, stiffness, and joint swelling. Although there is no cure for the condition, appropriate management of OA can help control these signs and improve the quality of life of affected horses.

Hyaluronate sodium relies on hyaluronic acid as the products’ active ingredient, which acts as a lubricant for articular cartilage. The solution effectively is used to reduce inflammation in the affected joint, improve synovial fluid quality, and reduce the patient’s degree of lameness.

 Adverse effects from using hyaluronate sodium therapy that have been voluntarily reported include occasional depression, lethargy, and fever. The therapy has not been evaluated for use breeding horses, as well as pregnant or lactating mares according to the release.

Vetoquinol acquired the generic solution in 2014 with the acquisition of Bioniche Animal Health. Following nearly a decade of absence on the market, the product was relaunched after improvements to the supply chain were made, according to a company spokesperson. Veterinarians can now order the solution from a Vetoquinol territory manager or a preferred distributor representative.

NexHA (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution returns to market. News release. Vetoquinol. March 4, 2024. 

https://www.vetoquinolusa.com/news/nexhatm-hyaluronate-sodium-injectable-solution-returns-market

First injectable pentosan for equine osteoarthritis is approved by the FDA. 

. December 20, 2022. Accessed March 6, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/first-injectable-pentosan-for-equine-osteoarthritis-is-approved-by-fda

Legend (hyaluronate sodium). Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Accessed March 5, 2024. 

https://bi-animalhealth.com/equine/joint-health/legend

Espy B. Lameness and joint medications: general information. American Association of Equine Practitioners. 2026. Accessed March 6, 2024. 

https://aaep.org/issue/lameness-joint-medications

The injectable treatment from Vetoquinol was last available for use in 2015. 

Generic therapy for equine joint disease returns to the market

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) announced that its Chronic Pain Education Toolkit is now available to veterinary professionals. The online resources will give veterinary professionals insights and tools that they need to effectively address chronic pain in feline patients.

“As our knowledge and understanding of pain in the domestic cat continues to expand, the AAFP Chronic Pain Educational Toolkit will now add to existing resources and provide guidance on improving the quality of life for cats with chronic pain,” said Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Chronic Pain Toolkit chair, in an organizational release.

 “Developed by individuals at the forefront of treating pain in domestic cats, the AAFP Chronic Pain Educational Toolkit provides veterinary professionals with an easy-to-access and easy to-use resource for understanding, diagnosing, and managing chronic pain in cats.”

 the toolkit will offer an in-depth understanding of chronic pain by learning more about pathology, types, and prevalence of chronic pain in feline patients and enhanced assessment tools to explore various assessment methods, such as those including both in the veterinary team and client to help get a better idea of the patient’s condition.

The toolkit will also offer science-based treatment strategies to help veterinary teams learn about effective therapy goals with practical application, incorporating pharmaceuticals, environmental modifications, and nutrition.

 Patient and care giver support will also be attainable in the guide through valuable insights such as the management process to foster a collaborative and successful approach.

The 40-page PDF was created by a task force made up of veterinary professionals with an educational grant awarded by Zoetis. This toolkit is intended for veterinary professionals as an implementation tool to access and gather information quickly, not as a complete review of the scientific data for treatment.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners announces new Chronic Pain Educational Toolkit. News release. March 5, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/PressReleases-Media/2024/chronic-pain-2024-FINAL.pdf

American Association of Feline Practitioners Chronic Pain Educational Toolkit Chronic Pain Educational Toolkit. American Association of Feline Practitioners. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/Toolkit/Chronic/AAFP_Chronic_Pain_Toolkit_Full.pdf

The American Association of Feline Practitioners released these resources to help veterinary teams manage chronic feline pain 

New feline chronic pain toolkit now available 

The veterinary field is currently dealing with significant employee shortages, with a scarcity of professionals in every area of a veterinary practice including veterinarians, technicians, and support staff. This shortage poses challenges for providing care to animals and negatively impacts employees’ job satisfaction. Consequently, increased staff recruitment and retention are important efforts for improving the shortage. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released the data gathered from a survey on employee retention.

 The survey collected responses from more than 14,000 individuals working in various roles within small animal practice.

30% of veterinary practice team members are planning on leaving their current role.

of that 30%, half plan to leave clinical practice entirely, and once they do, 90% won’t return.

The economic costs of attrition range from $1-5 billion; the emotional toll is even greater.

New veterinary student graduates are not enough to fix the shortage alone.

Reasons for Leaving. (Graphic courtesy of AAHA)

The AAHA recommends that practice leaders need to listen to want their employees require to stay. Take a deep dive into understanding what’s driving people to leave and make changes that will encourage valuable employees to stay with the practice.

The AAHA stresses that retention is more important than re-hiring lost employees because it can cost significantly more to re-hire than to retain current employees and give them fair compensation. The financial burden, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, finds that staff replacement can cost as high as 50%–60% of an employee's annual salary.

Garth Jordan, CEO of AAHA told AVMA News that the average turnover rate among veterinary team members is 23% every year and it is only increasing. “The results of the research outline clear solutions—for the whole team, as well as by role—to help individual practices and our industry at large work toward significant improvements in employee retention,” Jordan told AVMA News.

Reasons for staying. (Graphic courtesy of AAHA)

The AAHA also found that most of their respondents valued teamwork, meaningful work, flexibility, appreciation for their work, and fair compensation in their job, among other factors. The authors of the AAHA white paper on this survey weighed in by stating, “Different roles can have wildly different objectives and perspectives. For instance, veterinarians likely entered the field for much different reasons than customer service representatives. The motivations influencing one team member’s decision to stay likely are different from those of the person next to them, especially when considering the perspectives of owners versus employees.”

Michele Drake, DVM, CVA, owner of The Drake Center for Veterinary Care in Encinitas, California stated in an article on practice culture, “Achievements, big and small, deserve recognition. Whether your team has navigated a particularly grueling day or gone above and beyond for a patient, it’s crucial to celebrate the win.”

AAHA’s full findings on retention can be found in the 

Stay, Please: Factors That Support Retention and Drive Attrition in the Veterinary Profession

Stay, Please: Factors That Support Retention and Drive Attrition in the Veterinary Profession. American Animal Hospital Association. February 16, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://www.aaha.org/practice-resources/research-center/white-paper-form-the-path-to-increasing-retention-in-veterinary-medicine/

Allen DG. Retaining Talent – A guide to analyzing and managing employee turnover. Society of Human Resources Management. January 2008. Accessed March 5, 2024. http://researchgate.net/publication/266223246_Retaining_Talent_-_A_guide_to_analyzing_and_managing_employee_turnover

Lederhouse C. Study: Fair pay, appreciation for work top factors in employee retention. News release. March 4, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://www.avma.org/news/study-fair-pay-appreciation-work-top-factors-employee-retention?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

Drake M. Culture 101: Creating a healthy practice environment. 

. January 8, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/culture-101-creating-a-healthy-practice-environment

A new AAHA study helps veterinary practices keep valuable staff

Quick ways to improve employee retention

(Image courtesy of PetPace and Business Wire)

PetPace is a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of AI-driven wearable pet technology. Based in Burlington, Massachusetts, the tech company has veterinarians, IoT professionals, engineers, algorithms experts, and data specialists on staff to bring the pet industry innovative products that revolutionize pet health. Its new product, PetPace 2.0, is an AI-powered dog collar displaying continuous, real-time medical insights on the pet wearing the collar. Data collected can be used for early detection, treatment, monitoring, and GPS tracking.

The PetPace 2.0 was created to give owners peace of mind with its remote monitoring features and allow them to stay on top of their pet’s health and check for any abnormalities. The smart collar can measure all major vital signs and health-related biometrics, including the following:

“It is a dog's natural instinct to mask their pain and discomfort until the disease has progressed,” said Asaf Dagan, DVM, DAVBP, CVA, and co-founder of PetPace, in a company release. “PetPace’s proprietary continuous monitoring of critical biometrics enables the early detection of health problems that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Other smart collars measure only a few vital signs, which are insufficient to accurately determine a dog’s overall wellness or early warning signs.”

After more health data is collected, the PetPace 2.0 collar can also provide a wellness score for owners to review. According to the release, this product is clinically backed by several studies and endorsed by university research.

 studied the PetPace collar in relation to osteoarthritis (OA) and its benefits in detecting the signs of OA in dogs.

“Tracking trends and changes across a range of health indicators can alert an owner when something is wrong with their pet’s health, prompting them to bring their dog to a veterinarian before the situation becomes more serious. It also enables the veterinarian to remotely assess the pet’s condition using objective and accurate in its natural setting,” Dagan added.

Moli, a 4-year-old spayed female Siberian Husky sustained injuries from a car accident after running into the road on the evening of November 11, 2023. The PetPace 2.0 collar she was wearing recorded the pain and discomfort she experienced during her injury and recovery. Moli suffered scraping wounds and bruises on her left hind leg and inner thigh, and her treatment included antibiotics and painkillers. Following treatment, Moli improved and returned to normal behavior and activity within a few days. The collar was able to accurately document both the acute injury and the gradual improvement.

“This case underscores the accuracy and value of the PetPace collar in detecting health issues quickly, followed by tracking treatment efficacy and eventual recovery and return to normal levels,” said Dagen.

Moli’s owner, Ayelet Ben-Zvi stated, “Seeing Moli’s vitals helped us monitor her condition in the hours after the injury, making sure she is not in a life-threatening situation, and then giving us peace of mind in knowing that her recovery is moving forward as expected.”

AI smart collars are available on the PetPace website.

PetPace launches PetPace 2.0, the only vet-grade AI-powered canine pet collar providing continuous life-saving medical insights for vets, researchers and pet owners. News release. PetPace. March 4, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240304225777/en

Rowlison de Ortiz A, Belda B, Hash J, Enomoto M, Robertson J, Lascelles BDX. Initial exploration of the discriminatory ability of the PetPace collar to detect differences in activity and physiological variables between healthy and osteoarthritic dogs. 

 2022;3:949877. doi:10.3389/fpain.2022.949877

Acute pain monitoring in a Husky: From hit-by-car injury to full recovery with PetPace. PetPace. December 10, 2023. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://petpace.com/acute-pain-monitoring-in-a-husky-from-mild-hit-by-car-injury-to-full-recovery-with-petpace/

Remote monitoring gives owners data points and analytics on their dog’s health

Vet-grade AI-powered dog collar

Interview with George Melillo

Hey, everybody, Adam Chrisman here from dvm360. I'm here with Chief Veterinary Officer and founder of Heart and Paw, Dr. George Melillo. How are you, my friend?

Well, thanks for having me. I gotta tell you, this is my first time in a Heart and Paw here in New Jersey, and this is beautiful. Tell us a little bit about it. 

Thanks. You know, I'm really excited that you're here and able to see firsthand what we've been kind of creating. Our challenge was really the same as to how do we treat pets and their parents and our team members like family the way no one else has. And I think a lot of the space shows that whether it's the comfort of the lobby—or courtyard, as we call it, the warm tones, the pet friendly aspect of it—to simple things like having natural light, and skylights for our team members. And it's our 28th Heart and Paw, our 10th de novo build. So, our most recent one, and I think we've got everything right in this location.

Yeah, I noticed that you have a separate entranceway for cat parents, which is great. They love that.

 We do, we do have a separate waiting room. We have a separate exam rooms. If we had to kind of board or do medical hospitalization, we have a separate area for cats only. 

Yeah. And I think it's such a good reflection on your internal teams. When you feel good. You have the natural lighting here. It's just a good reflection of how you're going to treat your clients and patients externally.

Right, exactly. I mean, our whole vision, the whole concept for Heart and Paw was to create a place for people who love to care for pets, veterinarians, vet care teams to be happy, healthy, and successful.

That's great. So, if someone like myself as a generalist is interested in partnering with Heart and Paw, how does that work?

Yeah, I mean, obviously, our go forward model is to build new hospitals such as this same prototype. And in a JV kind of co-ownership model. So, we're actually starting with a veterinarian, we want to identify that veterinarian who wants to be a co-owner, and really start with where they want to be. And we'll do some research and choose the right location together to build that hospital and to add it to the Heart and Paw family.

Oh, that's excellent. They have a lot of buy-in it sounds like.

Yes, they do, a lot of autonomy. For me, the biggest thing I can provide our doctors with well-being is autonomy.

Let them have control of what their day, career, week, future looks like as a professional.

That's fantastic. Well, congratulations on all the success and continued success of Heart and Paw. Wonderful. Love it.

Thank you so much. It's great to have you and dvm360.

Videos

Learn about the unique features and vision behind Heart and Paw’s pet care facilities