VMX 2020—New product roundup

With thousands of veterinary professionals converging in central Florida this week, many veterinary product and service companies have taken advantage of the annual Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) to launch their latest and greatest products, all of which are intended to makes pets healthier and happier—and make life a little bit easier for the veterinarians, team members and pet owners who care for them.

Here's a rundown of some products launched (or just about the launch) at VMX.

Cat Townhouse, from Mason Company, is where high style meets high function. Designed to meet Association of Shelter Veterinarians guidelines for housing, these deluxe kitty "townhomes" offer lots of vertical space, are easy to clean and come with glass windows.

Vetradent Rawhide Dental Chews for Dogs and Vetradent Toothpaste for Dogs and Cats from Dechra are intended to improve pet oral care at home. The dental chews are made from all-natual beef rawhide and come in two sizes. The chicken-flavored toothpaste comes packaged with a double-headed topothbrush to help fight tartar and freshen breath through the brushing action.

SignalPET provides instant radiology test panels covering dozens of syndromes. Powered by artificial intelligence and a patent-pending process, veterinarians can use SignalPET to view radiographs in real time, with no hardware costs.

Urinary SO Aging 7+ from Royal Canin offers a new tactic for managing lower urinary tract disease in aging dogs and cats. Products for both species are available in a wet or dry formulation.

Blücare Litter Granules from Royal Canin is a breakthrough in at-home hematuria (and microhematuria) detection. Pet owners simply srpinkle the white granules into their cat's litter; if the granules turn blue after the cat urinates, there is blood in the cat's urine. (Launching in Q1)

Gastrointestinal Puppy and Kitten is a new high-energy diet from Royal Canin that is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of growing puppies and kittens, with nutrients that support gastrointestinal health. It is available in both wet and dry formulations. (Launching June 2020.)

Feline Pill Assist from Royal Canin ensures a successful pill intake in 91% of cases. Its soft texture can be molded easily around most pills, and the product is compatible with most Royal Canin veterinary diets, with the exception of those formulated for adverse food reactions. (Launching in February)

Take 5 is a new high-approval payment plan from Scratchpay. Clients simply apply for plans at Scratchpay.com and, if they are approved, pay for only one-fifth of the appointment cost at the time of service and then pay down the balance in bi-weekly increments.

Scopio Labs Digital Cytology System allows you to scan and upload cytology cases and receive rapid results from a global team of clinical pathologists in about an hour.

Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Starter Kit, by Hill's Pet Nutrition, offers various meal options across forms and flavors in a convenient kit to find the right choice to please the fluctuating tastes and appetites of cats with chronic kidney disease.

Proin ER (phynylpropanolamine hydrochloride extended-release tablets), from PRN Pharmacal, is FDA approved for the control of canine urinary incontinence due to urethral sphincter hypotonus. Proin ER provides the same efficacy as Proin in an extended-release form for once-daily dosing.

Ocu-GLO Powder Blend XL Vision Supplement, from Animal Necessity, is formulated specifically for canine eyes and includes grapeseed extract, lutein and omega-3 fatty acids. It also includes astaxanthin for enhanced antioxidant support.

HydraCare, from Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements, is a nutrient-enriched water formulation that helps cats consume 28% more liquid each day than plain water alone. It contains osmolytes to help water absorption at a cellular level, and has a tasty liver flavor. (Launching in Q1)

VMX Virtual is a year-round gateway to the VMX Expo Hall, with 24/7 access to VMX exhibitors and their products. Users can take virtual booth tours, chat with company representatives, access show deals and more.

Churu Veterinarian Formula by Inaba Foods is a highly palatable appetite motivator for cats. This all-natural, liquid-based puree is made with real tuna and farm-rasied chicken, and can be used for exam distraction, postsurgical recovery, medication delivery, hydration and more.

Avial & Exotic Pet Insurance is Nationwide's newest offering. Avian and exotic pet owners can now have the same pet health insurance options as dog and cat owners, with 90%, 70% or 50% reimbursement on virtually everyting from prevecntive care to hereditary conditions.

Bravecto Plus (fluralaner and moxidectin topical solution) for Cats, by Merck Animal Health, is the first and only feline topical to deliver two months of protection against fleas and ticks, heartworm prevention, and treatment of roundworms and hookworms.

DoggyStat, from Anubis Bio Corporation, uses passive immunity to rapidly evacuate acute canine diarrhea. Targeted antibodies actively neutralize bacterial and viral pathogens to the GI tract to support normal gut function and relieve diarrhea in 12 to 24 hours with a single dose, with no known side effects.