Hill's Pet Nutrition and Novartis Animal Health have partnered to launch the Multimodal Osteoarthritis Management Program.

The companies designed the program to help veterinary health care teams improve the lives of arthritic dogs through a comprehensive treatment plan that considers a wide range of available therapeutic options. The options include nutrition, medication, exercise, rehabilitation, and adjunct therapies.

As part of the program, Hill's and Novartis are introducing a multimodal kit for veterinary clinics. Each kit contains educational tools for veterinary teams, materials for dog owners, and extra incentives to encourage dog owners to seek veterinary care.

Veterinarians can order a kit or learn more about the Multimodal Osteoarthritis Management Program by contacting their Hill's or Novartis sales representative.

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine has received a five-year, $625,000 gift from Novartis Animal Health U.S. to help support the clinical trials program in the college's Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research.

The gift will fund a clinical trials veterinarian, a veterinary research technician, and laboratory space and equipment that will be dedicated to supporting clinical research studies involving patients in N.C. State's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

The clinical trials program enables clinical investigators to evaluate novel approaches to diagnose and treat disease and deliver innovative solutions that enhance animal and human health. It also promotes research collaboration between clinical investigators, basic researchers, referring veterinarians, pet owners, and industry scientists.

Program participation may also interest veterinary students and residents in exploring careers in translational medicine.