Welcome to the Vets Pets Weekly Update!

We’re excited to bring you the latest news, updates, and stories from across our North Carolina veterinary practices. Each week, we’ll share important announcements, highlight achievements, and sprinkle some fun along the way.

Your work makes a difference every day, and we want to celebrate you. If you have news or stories to share, please let us know by responding to any of these emails or reaching out to marketing@thevetspets.com.

Grateful for You

This season of giving thanks, we’re celebrating the incredible teams that make Vets Pets who we are. Our work is built on trust, accountability, and a shared purpose of providing the best care possible for North Carolina’s pets and the people who love them.

We are thankful for our hospital teams who show heart, compassion, and teamwork every day.

Vets Pets at NCVC 2025

Vets Pets was proud to take part in the 2025 North Carolina Veterinary Conference with a Center Court presence that brought together teams from Points East Veterinary Group, Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital, Wake Veterinary Medical Center, Companion Pharmacy, and Carolina Veterinary Dermatology Center.

The conference, held November 7–9 at the Raleigh Convention Center, gave us a great opportunity to connect with colleagues, support continuing education, and highlight the collaborative strength of our community. Our teams enjoyed meeting attendees, sharing the work happening across our practices, and celebrating the impact veterinary professionals make every day.

We are grateful to everyone who stopped by and to the team members who represented Vets Pets throughout the event.

On Tuesday, November 18, LaCroix Veterinary Hospital celebrated its top performance in the Purr-fect Pace Challenge with an evening of good food, fun, and time together. The team enjoyed dinner from CAVA before heading outside for yard games, even braving the cold to make the most of it. Steve Thomas hosted the celebration with special guest Dr. Vee Ringer.

The gathering recognized the team’s commitment to wellness and collaboration and gave everyone a chance to unwind and connect. Congratulations to the LaCroix Veterinary Hospital team for their effort and well-deserved achievement.

Companion Pharmacy Update

Update on Otic Formulation Options

We are seeing more recurrent and refractory otitis, and several factors appear to be contributing. Limited antimicrobial stewardship in both veterinary and human medicine continues to influence resistance. Chronic infections may also involve biofilms that reduce antimicrobial effectiveness, and repeated exposure can decrease sensitivity to standard drug concentrations.

A few considerations may help improve outcomes. Using adequate medication volumes is essential, and many patients need longer treatment courses than expected. In most cases, two weeks is the minimum needed for meaningful improvement. Client technique with ear cleaning is another major factor. When debris or purulent material is present, thorough cleaning reduces microbial burden and improves penetration of topical therapy. I often suggest applying cleaner generously and giving it time to work before wiping out the canal. Taking the pet for a walk while the cleaner does its job can be a great trick. Early use of steroids can also be important, since reducing inflammation helps open the canal and allows medication to reach its target more effectively.

We are updating our otic formulations to better support your treatment plans and improve patient outcomes. Please reach out anytime if we can help with individual cases or provide more information.

Upcoming Vets Pets Events

• Zebulon Animal Hospital Grand Opening | January 24, 2026 | Zebulon, NC
• Vets Pets Leadership Summit | February 26, 2026 | Raleigh, NC
• SAVMA Conference | March 13-14, 2025 | Raleigh, NC