Weekend Rounds - 04.24 (2)

The products shaping the future of vet med

April 24, 2022

Predicting The Future of Vet Med

Staying current on the latest trends, treatments and diagnostic tools in our industry can be a daunting task. But what if we take a birds-eyed view of the profession for a moment and ponder what veterinary medicine will look like in 10, 20 or even 30 years and where can we expect to see those changes?

It's no surprise that the adoption of new digital technologies will drive the greatest change in the industry. As the demand on veterinary services increase, new products will be developed to increase efficiency and efficacy of treatments. In 2020, the global veterinary market was worth nearly 27.9 billion, and is expected to rise to over 45.2 billion by 2026. 

Preventative Monitoring

According to a

, preventative monitoring of animal wellbeing and health will be responsible for the largest portion of growth in the industry. Preventive measures to reduce health-related costs is increasing the demand for wearable sensors for both

and

. While clinical applications remain the realm of research and a few edge cases, just as wearable tech has drastically shifted the landscape for people (think Apple watch diagnosing arrhythmias) it is likely to do the same for veterinary practice.  

Access to Veterinary Care

The demand for veterinary care has never been higher and there are two paths forward to fixing the problem: train more vets

and

 make it easier and more efficient for vets to treat patients (we say 'and' because neither solution on its own will be enough). Telehealth platforms will continue to have a huge impact on the industry as more clients are able to access care through virtual services.  We have seen early success in this field from companies such as Vetster and PetDesk, telehealth platforms for your clinic to white label, like

, and successful triage services like

. There are also a growing number of services to help clinics

by cutting costs, automating appointment bookings, follow ups and note taking. 

Artificial Intelligence

In previous issues we have covered how

has the potential to reshape how we practice by being employed to aid diagnosis, differentiate between benign and malignant diseases and by improving veterinary efficiency.  While it is still likely a number of years away from mass adoption, as the technology becomes market-ready it has the greatest potential to disrupt the industry.

Vets Storm Capitol Hill...

... in the best way possible. 

Just a few weeks after a

terrorized Capitol Hill, around

are following in the fox's footsteps right to the front door of the legislature building. The vets will arrive next week to meet with senators and representatives to highlight the importance of legislation that will help increase access to veterinary services. Leading the agenda is the importance of vets in rural areas and strategies to reduce the spread of diseases that pose a threat to animal and public health.

The meetings are part of the AVMA's annual legislative fly-in that brings representatives from 48 states and 20 veterinary schools to Washington. This year, the goal is to educate congressional offices and pursue two pieces of legislation:

1. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)

which would enable more food animal and public health veterinarians working in rural areas with limited veterinary services to receive up to $25,000 a year for student loan repayment.

2. The Healthy Dog Importation Act

which would distribute the necessary funds and resources to screen the large number of dogs entering the U.S. each year and provide every imported dog with a certificate of veterinary inspection from a licensed veterinarian upon entering the U.S.

Quick hits:

Here are the stories that caught our eyes this week and are worth a read: Dogs’ heart rates nearly double during veterinary visits [Earth.com]Despite Women Dominating the Veterinary Profession, Pay Gaps Persist [Insight Into Diversity]AVMA Board chair addresses veterinary issues [AVMA]New Partnership Aims to Address Rural Veterinary Shortage [AG Web]

Trivia

Dolphins only close one eye when they sleep.  Which eye is closed when the right half of the brain is asleep?

Your weekly dopamine 

Did you know primates sing and hum while eating? While it's not a huge surprise (I mean, we all do it, right?) it is amusing to think about gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos composing "their little food songs" as the researcher on the study put it.

Interestingly, whether the primates are in captivity or not seems to matter. In zoos every individual sings during meals, but n the wild it was generally only dominant silverback males that sing while eating.

Ready for your next course?

Common Canine Endocrinopathies

CA$75.00

Foundations of Oncology

CA$75.00

Foundations of Veterinary Dentistry

CA$75.00

Trivia Answer

The left eye. 

Dolphins alternate which half of the brain is asleep so that they always remain conscious.  They need this because they must actively decide when to breathe. (Source: Seaspiracy and whales.org)

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