Animal Disease Insights: A free, data-driven resource for animal health

Animal Disease Insights online platform. (Photo courtesy of Navneet Dhand BVSc&AH, MVSc(VPHE), MANZCVS (Vet Epi), GradCert(Higher Edu))

Animal Disease Insights is a new online platform that has recently been launched by Australia’s One Health Epi Consulting as an innovative data-driven dashboard collating global animal disease information and news to aid disease surveillance, prevention and control.

“Animal Disease Insights was developed in response to the growing need for a modern, user-friendly resource to access and visualise animal disease data. As reports of animal diseases continue to increase globally, veterinarians, epidemiologists, animal health policymakers, and journalists require a centralized source to quickly understand the global situation and drill down into country-specific data,” Navneet Dhand BVSc&AH, MVSc(VPHE), MANZCVS (Vet Epi), GradCert(Higher Edu), executive director of One Health Epi Consulting, explained exclusively to

“Having identified the need for a single platform that can provide the latest news stories, analyze news reports, and generate disease intelligence by consolidating these resources, the platform will enable faster, evidence-based decision-making for veterinary epidemiologists and public health officials while offering journalists an efficient tool for preparing their reports. It will be invaluable in improving efficiency, fostering collaboration, and facilitating early outbreak detection—all vital components for global health security,” Dhand continued.

Dhand said that the platform aligns with the goals of international health organizations like the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

“We are grateful to WOAH for providing valuable data and assisting with queries for developing data pipelines for the site. While WOAH’s own platform, the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), also presents similar data, it uses a different approach to filter and visualize it. Additionally, WAHIS does not feature news stories, so this platform complements WAHIS by providing timely, relevant reports and disease intelligence,” said Dhand.

Animal Disease Insights would be of interest to veterinarians, public health professionals, epidemiologists, researchers, students, policymakers, and journalists.

“The platform offers a user-friendly, modern interface for accessing vital animal disease information, thus strengthening disease intelligence. Users can visualize global spatial patterns for a selected disease, track country rankings based on outbreak numbers or cases, and explore trends for a specific disease over the past 20 years. In addition, users can access detailed information about individual events, stay updated with the latest news stories related to their disease of interest, and monitor fluctuations in news article volume to gain critical insights into emerging health threats,” Dhand said.

The platform was developed by One Health Epi Consulting using its own resources and time over the past couple of years.

“While WOAH was generous in providing valuable data, the platform was developed entirely without external funding, making it a unique give-back initiative from One Health Epi Consulting to the veterinary and public health community. We are proud to offer this platform completely free of charge and ad-free, ensuring that the focus remains on providing high-quality, actionable information for professionals. However, maintaining this level of service will require ongoing investment, and we welcome offers of support to ensure its continued sustainability,” said Dhand.

“Furthermore, we are actively working on plans to integrate data from social media sources. This would allow the platform to capture real-time public and media sentiment, providing a more dynamic and comprehensive view of emerging disease trends. By expanding the sources of data, we aim to improve the platform’s ability to generate timely, reliable disease intelligence, which will help veterinary professionals, policymakers, and researchers make more informed decisions in the fight against animal diseases.”

Australian Prime100 pet food brand set to be acquired by Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Melbourne-based fresh pet food company Care TopCo Pty Ltd, the owners of the Prime100 brand, is set to be acquired by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, part of the global Colgate-Palmolive Company in the second quarter of 2025.

According to a statement on the Colgate-Palmolive website, the acquisition provides Hill’s Pet Nutrition with an entry into the fast-growing fresh pet food category while complementing its existing science-led, veterinarian-endorsed specialty pet food diets and strengthening its presence in the Australian pet food market. John Hazlin, president of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, said that Hill’s is committed to enriching and lengthening the special relationship between people and their pets.

“With this addition, Hill’s will have an even larger, complementary portfolio of advanced nutrition products, backed by science and endorsed by vets, to help pet parents meet their pets’ specialized dietary needs. We look forward to working with the Prime100 team and are confident that our joint expertise will drive new discoveries, empower veterinarians and provide pet parents with more tailored nutritional solutions,” Hazlin said in the statement.

Colgate-Palmolive Company announces agreement to acquire Prime100. News release. Colgate-Palmolive Company. February 18, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250213237764/en/Colgate-Palmolive-Company-Announces-Agreement-to-Acquire-Prime100

Articles

Updates on the launch of a new data-driven online platform collating global animal disease information, and an Aussie fresh pet food brand to be acquired by Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Veterinary scene down under: A platform compiling global animal disease info, plus Australian pet food company is acquired

As a healthcare banker at US Bank, I talk all the time with veterinarians who want to start their own practices. The question I often hear: Can I get financing to start or acquire a practice, even with all of my veterinary school debt?

My answer can surprise them: Yes, they can—if they build a practice the right way, with the right support.

The critical factor is cash flow. When healthcare lenders are looking to make loans, they are not focused on a student’s total debt. Instead, their concern is whether a practice’s income can cover a veterinarian’s monthly payments. And that is possible in today’s marketplace, especially in growing communities where the demand is strong for veterinary services.

To be sure, veterinary school debt is top of mind as students finish their training and start practicing. In 2024, the mean educational debt for veterinary school graduates was nearly $169,000, according to the most recent American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) graduating senior survey.

 Many graduates leave with a significant amount more than this.

Today’s veterinarians have choices when it comes to the business structure they use to serve patients, but owning a private practice remains a dominant option. According to the 2023 AVMA survey, 68.9% of veterinary graduates chose to go into private practice, while 24.6% opted for internships and 2.4% public practice.

From my experience, these practitioners like being their own boss, building their own brand, and being able to treat patients the way they think is best. Establishing an independent practice can also be an excellent way to build wealth and support a family over the long-term.

For veterinarians who take this route, the first major decision is whether to start a practice from the ground up or to acquire an existing one. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

A start-up practice launches with new equipment, and the owners can run their operations and treat their patients as they see fit. The major disadvantage, of course, is starting with zero revenue and no existing patients.

Meanwhile, acquiring a practice provides a veterinarian with an existing staff and patient base. But the equipment is used, staff may be set in their ways, and the veterinarian’s treatment style may or may not mesh with the patients’ expectations. All of these factors are important to consider before veterinarians set out on their own.

The next question for aspiring practice owners is how to finance their start-up or acquisition. This is where the critical factor of cash flow comes into play.

Specialized healthcare bankers are typically cash flow lenders, meaning they don’t concentrate on the outstanding debt. They look at a graduate’s monthly student debt payments and whether they can be covered by the profit produced by the practice.

In analyzing a potential loan, bankers are looking at both sides of the equation. What are the monthly debt payments a graduate expects to owe? And what are the revenue prospects of a practice? If the income is sufficiently greater than the debt, 100% financing is an option.

On the debt side of the equation, many veterinary school graduates have been able to make their monthly school loan payments more manageable by using Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans offered by the US Department of Education. With these plans, payments are based on ability to pay, rather than the total balance, helping reduce debt payments.

On the income side, a specialized healthcare lender will examine a practice’s business plan to understand projected revenue and profit. Overall, the outlook for a veterinarian’s compensation has been positive in recent years. According to the 2024 AVMA survey, the mean starting compensation was around $130,000 for graduates of US and Caribbean veterinary colleges entering full-time employment.

 That was up from $124,295 in the 2023 survey.

This growth in income gives bankers confidence that borrowers will be able to meet their business and personal obligations, such as college, home, and auto debt. Of course, there are variables for each individual practice such as location and specialty.

Finally, veterinarians should consider the terms of their financing before signing on the dotted line and make sure they are working with partners with expertise in healthcare.

Specialized healthcare lenders can often provide longer-term financing options—10 to 15 years on non-real estate loans. These loans require smaller monthly payments, an advantage over the 5- to 7-year loans offered by some other lenders. A banker with expertise in healthcare can also offer money movement, back-office software, wealth management, and other services that can support veterinarians as they build their practices.

Besides picking the right banker, it’s important for practitioners to surround themselves with additional experts: accountants, attorneys, and consultants with extensive experience in the healthcare industry. They can help craft a business plan that maximizes efficiency and revenue so a practice will produce the necessary cash flow to secure financing.

Today’s veterinary students may be graduating with significant debt, but many still want to work for themselves as they pursue flexible schedules, seek to build businesses that can sustain their families, and most importantly, develop care models that best fit their patients’ needs. With the help of a banker steeped in their industry, and the support of other experts, these veterinarians can be optimistic about obtaining the financing they need to pursue their dreams.

 is the head of healthcare business banking at US Bank.

Gap shrinks between new graduate, overall veterinary salaries. American Veterinary Medical Association. November 7, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/gap-shrinks-between-new-graduate-overall-veterinary-salaries

Veterinary starting salaries rise in 2023, educational debt holds steady. American Veterinary Medical Association. November 1, 2023. 

https://www.avma.org/news/veterinary-starting-salaries-rise-2023-educational-debt-holds-steady

Healthcare lenders focus on cash flow, not education loans, to help new veterinarians start their own practice

How veterinary school graduates can start a practice with high student debt 

tapeworm is becoming more prevalent in North America with rapid expansion being seen in the northeastern United States, following its introduction from Europe.

 A study published in 2024 also noted a need for veterinary awareness of endemic risk regions as well as emerging risk of this zoonotic parasite in northwestern US states.

“We're finding a European strain now, and the European strain does seem to be more transmissible to humans and dogs. We think that that might be what we're seeing [with] rapid spread right now,” said Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, a parasitology expert and clinical professor at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Manhattan, Kansas.

 largely affects wild and domestic canid species serving as definitive hosts as well as intermediate hosts that include rodents.

The risk to humans increases dramatically when domestic dogs are infected with the parasite, according to Herrin. In a ‘lunch and learn’ session at the 2025 WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, he also discussed diagnosis of 

infection and managing this parasitic infection.

definitive hosts such as dogs, red and gray foxes, and coyotes typically become infected by feeding on rodents infested with these parasites. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, adult 

tapeworms in canids live in the small intestines and are transmitted through the hosts’ feces. Feces containing 

 eggs are then consumed by mice and voles, which serve as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Domestic dogs can also be intermediate hosts as well as definitive hosts.

travels to organs that include the liver and lungs of its’ hosts. The larvae become hydatid cysts, which eventually affects organ function.

 “[A cyst] puts a lot of pressure on the surrounding tissues,” Herrin said.

Although wild canids do not typically show signs of 

 infection, symptoms shown in other species depend on the severity and location of the cysts. These signs may include abdominal pain, weakness, weight loss, and liver disease. However, because 

cysts grow slowly, signs of infection may not be seen for years.

 proglottids are microscopic and cannot be seen, according to Herrin. He noted that annual fecal flotations using centrifugation are important for early identification for this parasitic infection. These eggs are heavy and will not float with a passive flotation, he cautioned. “It’s just not a sensitive technique,” Herrin said. “Sedimentations might be a better option.”

 infection is suspected, Herrin recommended following up a centrifugal fecal float by administering a PCR test designed for 

 “It detects 20 parasites and can differentiate Dipylidium, Taenia and 

In a study published in 2024 that was cited by Herrin in his lecture, 26 of more than 2.3 million PCR surveillance tests were positive for 

 infection between March 2022 and July 2024. Seventeen of the 26 positive tests were sequenced as European haplotypes, and 8 also had eggs identified by centrifugal flotation.

infection often includes praziquantel, which is effective at the adult stage, according to Herrin. The 2024 study found that 25 dogs were administered praziquantel for detected infection, and all were qPCR-negative in 3 to 5 weeks after treatment with the drug.

There is no drug on the market that can prevent dogs from infection at the alveolar stages once eggs are ingested, Herrin said. However, prevention of 

may be achieved by educating veterinary teams and clients, and having pets avoid the ingestion of canid feces.

: a slow-moving trainwreck? Presented at: WVC; Las Vegas, NV. March 2-5, 2025.

. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Accessed March 4, 2025. 

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/E.-multi-factsheet-1.pdf

Conlon CL, Brigandi JP, Frair JL, et al. 

 in New York wildlife: distribution and genetic diversity of an emerging pathogen. 

Evason MD, Peregrine AS, Jenkins EJ. Emerging 

in 26 dogs from the United States and Canada (2022-2024). 

. 2024;263(2). doi:10.2460/javma.24.07.0471

Parasites and diseases: alveolar hydatid disease. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Accessed March 4, 2025. 

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=disease.internal1

Echinococcus multilocularis infection is becoming more prevalent in North American wild and domestic canid species 

What to know about an emerging tapeworm risk

Image Credit: © kkolosov - stock.adobe.com

At the 2025 WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Yoko Nagamori, DVM, MS, DACVM, presented a session based on findings from a preprint study she led—

Prevalence of spurious parasites identified in feces of dogs and correlation with true canine parasitism

—which offers potential insights on canine gastrointestinal parasitism and its diagnostic challenges.

The study, conducted at Zoetis Reference Laboratories in Louisville, Kentucky, where Nagamori serves as head of parasitology, retrospectively analyzed 48,509 fecal samples collected from client-owned dogs throughout 2023. Its primary aim was to differentiate between true parasitic infections and spurious parasite findings—artifacts that can mimic true infection but do not require treatment. According to the study’s findings, true canine parasites were identified in 12.3% of the 48,509 samples, while spurious parasites were detected in 4.8% of the samples. Notably, Eimeria oocysts accounted for the majority of spurious findings, being present in 4.14% of all samples. The predominance of Eimeria among spurious parasites is relevant given its frequent misidentification during routine fecal examinations, which can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment decisions.

The study also discussed the statistically significant correlation between the presence of spurious parasites and true parasitic infections (P < 0.0001). This finding may suggest that dogs excreting spurious parasites are at an elevated risk of harboring true parasitic infections, potentially because of shared exposure factors such as coprophagic, predatory, or scavenging behaviors. The study’s findings further revealed that canines under 12 months exhibited a higher prevalence of spurious parasites, a trend that was mirrored in the occurrence of true parasitic infections. In addition, the data showed that intact female dogs had the highest rate of spurious parasite detection when compared with other sex/reproductive groups.

Seasonal trends also emerged from the analysis. The prevalence of spurious parasites peaked in February, while true parasitic infections reached their highest levels in January. These seasonal variations may be related to increased environmental contamination and changes in canine behavior during the colder months, as well as to the breeding patterns of various animal species that serve as definitive hosts for parasites like Eimeria, according to the study.

The study addressed the practical implications of these findings for everyday veterinary practice, including the importance of proper fecal sample collection techniques—ideally, collecting 3 to 5 g of fresh fecal matter immediately after defecation—and for performing examinations promptly or storing samples under refrigeration if delays are unavoidable. By doing so, practitioners can enhance the sensitivity of fecal examinations and better differentiate between spurious and true parasitic infections, the study implies.

The study concluded with a call to action to integrate these diagnostic insights into routine practice. By recognizing the significance of spurious parasites as potential indicators of environmental exposure and increased risk for true parasitism, clinicians can refine their diagnostic approaches and with the goal of improving patient care.

Nagamori Y. Are you seeing the GI parasites that are seeing you? Emerging prevalence data. Presented at: WVC; Las Vegas, Nevada. March 2-5, 2025.

Nagamori Y, Warren Z, Houma M, et al. "Prevalence of spurious parasites identified in feces of dogs and correlation with true canine parasitism." SSRN. Published 2023. doi:10.2139/ssrn.5141670

Emerging data from a recent study reveal that the frequent misidentification of spurious parasites in canine feces may signal an elevated risk of true parasitism, emphasizing the importance of accurate fecal diagnostics.

Trends in canine GI parasitism

Canine allergic dermatitis is a complex condition that can be influenced by environment, genetics, immune response, skin barrier function, and the cutaneous microbiome of the dog. Because of the complexity of this condition, what do the treatment options and plans look like for these canine patients?

Anti-Hero: A Variety of Inflammatory and Antipruritic Medications for Canine Allergic Dermatitis, 

Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, shared a review of therapeutic options available to manage inflammations and pruritus. Throughout the lecture, Lancellotti shared multiple types of medications available to veterinary professionals, through slides and her own version of karaoke [Dermatology Version].

Glucocorticoids (GCs) bind to cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors, then translocate to the nucleus where they modulate gene transcription by binding to glucocorticoid response elements. This process upregulates anti-inflammatory proteins and downregulates pro-inflammatory genes. This process causes a few effects within the acute and chronic treatment of both inflammation and pruritus. There are some short-term adverse effects that are common, including behavior changes, diarrhea, panting, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and more.

Veterinary professionals prescribing these to patients should monitor the patient’s tolerance and reduce to lowest effective dose as well as frequency should be prioritized if GCs are being used in the long-term because of progressive adverse effects. These effects can include cardiovascular workload, immunosuppression, muscle and ligament atrophy, risk of diabetes and pancreatitis, and more. Lancellotti said that these medications are administered to patients by liquid or tablet at 0.5–1.0 mg/kg prednisone/prednisolone equivalent every 24 hours at first. The dose can then be lowered to lowest effective dose and frequency that is maintaining remission of clinical signs in the pet.

 Lancellotti also stated that these medications are not recommended for long term.

For the benefits of GCs, Lancellotti explained that it is rapid acting, effective against edema, can be an inexpensive option for clients, and has that variety of administration options. However, she mentioned some drawbacks for GCs is more frequent changes were observed during monitoring and it interferes with allergy and hormonal testing.

Cyclosporine inhibitors (Atopica; Elanco) leads to a decrease in activation of T cells, and a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines like interferon-α and is used in canines with atopic dermatitis who weigh at least 4lbs. This then leads to a decrease in pruritus and edema in treatment in chronic allergic dermatitis, not acute. When it comes to this treatment, the most common of the short-term adverse effects are gastrointestinal, with less common long-term risks including gingival hyperplasia, opportunistic fungal infections (which are less common at 5 mg/kg dosing), and papillomas.

This type of medication is administered by liquid or capsule at 5 mg/kg once daily for the first 4-6 weeks to determine if clinical sings improve, then the dosing frequency of administration can be reduced to either every other day or twice daily, and the daily dose itself can be decreased. Lancellotti cautioned attendees that when administering cyclosporine concurrently with medications that can affect the cytochrome p450 enzyme system in the liver, it will in result affect the concentration of cyclosporine circulating.

Right up until the end, Lancellotti engaged the room with her keyboard and voice. Her renditions of 'We Will Block You' and other remixed classics helped the audience understand that just like music in our lives, itchy dogs will be in the clinic. By understanding the different types of treatments, helping these patients get better will just be another song and dance.

Lancelloti B Anti-Hero: A Variety of Inflammatory and Antipruritic Medications for Canine Allergic Dermatitis. Presented at: WVC; Las Vegas, Nevada. March 2-5, 2025.

van den Broek A. Muller & Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology. William Miller Jr, Craig Griffin, Karen Campbell. Saunders-Elsevier, St Louis; 7th Edition, 2013, 938 p; IBSN: 978-1-4160-0028-0, £113. 

. 2013;24(5):559-559. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12055

Archer TM, Boothe DM, Langston VC, Fellman CL, Lunsford KV, Mackin AJ. Oral cyclosporine treatment in dogs: a review of the literature. J Vet Intern Med. 2014;28(1):1-20. doi:10.1111/jvim.12265

Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, broke down the treatments for canine allergic dermatitis, including through song, in her lecture at WVC 2025

Medications for canine allergic dermatitis


A patient with cancer receives chemotherapy at a veterinarian visit.

Canine cancer occurs at about the human rate, and nearly half of all dogs older than 10 years develop the disease.

 Although less is known about the feline cancer rate, some types of the disease are more common in cats including lymphoma.

In an education session at the 2025 WVC conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), noted that the prevalence of cancer in dogs is what makes it so important that veterinary teams not only evaluate canine patients and know what to look for but also understand treatment options. In cases where clients decline a referral to a veterinary oncologist, the patient will need treatment from its’ primary practitioner.

There are various reasons why a patient with cancer may not be referred to an oncologist. According to Venable, reasons may be related to client finances or an inability to take time off from work to make an appointment. Lack of access to a specialist can also be an issue, especially for pet owners in certain areas of the US that require traveling a great distance for an appointment.

“Most oncologists are located in major metropolitan areas. So, if you live outside of that, there's actually multiple states that don't even have oncologist,” Venable said. “[And] sometimes it can be an issue when clients just clearly can't get in, or it's a long wait time.”

A barrier to care may also be because many oncologists are so booked up that the specialty clinic requires a definitive diagnosis of cancer to get in to have an appointment. Venable noted that referring clients to an oncologist that offers teleconsulting services may help bridge the gap in access to care.

Still, Venable said, in other cases, a client’s biases or past experiences drive their decision not to seek treatment with an oncologist.

A patient’s treatment plan will depend on a variety of factors. The type of malignant tumor, as well as its’ location, size, grade and stage all factor into treatment decisions.

Overall, Venable said, there are 4 pillars for treating patients with cancer. They include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. “Oral chemotherapy can include drugs such as cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, lomustine and many others,” Venable said. “Oral chemotherapy does not require the same level of administration and handling in USP 800 because compounding of the medication is not required. This means you do not have as high a risk of exposure and only requires gloves for handling.”

Venable also discussed using targeted therapies such as toceranib phosphate (Palladia; Zoetis) and verdinexor tablets (Laverdia-CA1; Dechra) in general practice for treating patients with cancer. Furthermore, medications for pain as well as antibiotics can be administered to these patients.

“A lot of times these are older dogs,” Venable said. “People may not want to do one of those major treatments for various reasons, or it could be something where it's metastasizing everywhere. And so that's something to keep in mind.”

With palliative care, there is emphasis on quality of life and the patient’s comfort. A general practitioner can prescribe therapeutic drugs for helping a patient with nausea control, to stimulate appetite, and as an antidiarrheal, in cases of weight loss and gastrointestinal upset. Venable also suggested adjusting food to make it more bland and easier for the pet to digest.

“For pet owners who do not believe in euthanasia, high doses of morphine or morphine type drugs can be prescribed for their pet,” Venable said. “My experience with pet owners who do not believe in euthanasia, is that they are fine giving these medications to help calm their pets and make the passing more peaceful.”

How a cancer case is resolved depends on many factors including the cancer type, its’ location in the body and the extent of the disease. However, it is important that veterinarians are able to recognize cancer and have some familiarity with available treatment options.

Venable emphasized that there is no right or wrong way answer to managing cancer, and that should be communicated to clients. She noted that they will often feel pressure to make the best decision for their pet, and that a lot of emotion comes with a cancer diagnosis, so communication is key.

“A way to just kind of let them off the hook is to sit and tell them that there's no right or wrong. There's a lot of different options, and it's more important that they understand the expectations,” she said.

Cancer in pets. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed March 3, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/cancer-pets#:~:text=Approximately%201%20in%204%20dogs,rate%20of%20cancer%20in%20cats

Venable R. Cancer treatment options for primary practitioners. what to do when owners decline referral. Presented at: WVC conference; March 2-5, 2025. Las Vegas, NV.

Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology) discussed what primary doctors can do to treat their patients with cancer when clients decline specialty care during a WVC 2025 CE session 