Daniel Calvo Carrasco, an RCVS specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and a European Specialist in Avian Medicine and Surgery, will be heading up the new service, which opens its doors to patients in January.
Daniel graduated from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 2010. He began his career at first opinion practices in Birmingham and Wiltshire, where he developed his skills as a vet in small animals, while still having the chance to look after small furries from a local pet shop where he was based. He then completed an exotic animal medicine and zoological medicine internship, followed by two years of small animal and exotic practice in the UK.
In May 2016 he gained his RCVS CertAVP(ZooMed) and later that year he completed his European College Zoological Medicine Avian residency.
For the next two years, he worked at Great Western Exotics before joining the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in 2018, where he combined conservation work with managing and caring for its living collection.
Daniel said: “I’ve always had a passion for zoological medicine and caring for the more exotic mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and I’m excited to be leading this new service at Southfields.
“I really enjoy all aspects of exotic, zoo and wildlife medicine and have a particularly keen interest in orthopaedics and advanced surgery in exotic species.
“I have treated all sorts of species in my time from parrots and lizards to wading birds such as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Aldabra tortoise, Hyacinth Macaw, Toucans, Seriemas and many birds of prey.”
Southfields hospital director Daniel Hogan said: “We are delighted to have recruited Daniel to lead this exciting addition to the services we offer.
“He is highly experienced and will lead our new exotic animal service, which is the first such service in the whole of the South East and will be available 24/7 to offer the best and most comprehensive zoo and wildlife care in the region.”
For more information, visit: https://www.southfields.co.uk/
Duncan, an 85kg miniature horse, was first admitted to the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital in July this year for investigation of severe hind limb lameness. A CT scan revealed that Duncan had dislocated the left hip joint and damaged it irreparably.
Equine surgical specialist Dave Stack said: "Treatment options for this problem are very limited, especially with extensive damage to the head of the femur.
"I discussed Duncan’s predicament with two small animal surgical specialists, Professor Rob Pettitt and Andy Tomlinson, who agreed that performing a total hip replacement offered Duncan the best chance for recovery."
The procedure had been attempted in small ponies before, however, all known previous attempts had failed. The surgery required careful preparation and the combined knowledge of specialists in both small animal and equine surgery, as well as colleagues from the anaesthesia and internal medicine departments.
Working together, the teams were able to replace Duncan's left hip using implants designed for use in large dogs.
Equine Surgical Resident, Matthew Cullen said: “Although always complex, hip replacements are relatively common in dogs, so the experience of the small animal surgeons was absolutely vital as Duncan presented a highly unique challenge.
"Despite that he has made an excellent recovery and was able to walk and trot almost normally at his last check up!”
Duncan was hospitalised for over three weeks and required round-the-clock supervision in the first few days after surgery. As he grew stronger, physiotherapy formed a large part of the postoperative care to help him get back on his feet.
Rob Pettitt, Professor of Small Animal Orthopaedics at the University’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital, said: "The opportunity to provide Duncan with a normal life using a procedure that we perform regularly in dogs but that has never been successful longer term in equids was a unique experience. Our role as surgeons was just a small part of the huge teamwork that has resulted in this successful outcome."
Dave Stack added: “I would like to express my gratitude to all who contributed to the success of Duncan’s recovery, not least Rob Michael of Thompson House Equine Clinic, Duncan’s vet at home, whose care of him has been invaluable. I am thrilled that Duncan will live a comfortable life and delighted that Duncan’s owners have the opportunity to continue to spoil him for many years to come."
Sophia Salmon MRCVS from Central CPD said: "All of the major corporate chains in the UK now deliver a significant proportion of their clinical and non-clinical staff training via online learning platforms. These systems form an important part of professional development, training standardisation and even performance evaluation.
"However, learning platforms can be expensive to procure and develop, as well as being time-consuming to maintain, and therefore may not be viable for smaller businesses."
Central CPD has used its experience providing online learning to several of the UK’s major corporate veterinary groups to create 'Central CPD On-Demand', which features over 1500 clinical and non-clinical CPD videos for vets, nurses, managers and receptionists.
There's a new practice subscription package which, developed with whole-team learning in mind, costs £2000 per year for up to twenty people (veterinary surgeons, nurses or management staff).
Central CPD says the new package allows individuals and practices to set their own learning plan for the year, and for mentors to build and supervise training programmes for other staff members.
Practices can add their own content, such as policy documents, in order to assist with the delivery of compulsory elements of staff training.
Central CPD says its service is a fraction of the cost of procuring and populating an off-the-shelf learning platform, and the company is staffed by vets and vet nurses who are available to provide one-to-one advice and support to help practices set up their team’s platform and get the most out of the system.
For more information, visit: https://centralcpd.co.uk/
The CAMadvocate course (http://www.cameducation.co.uk), which is delivered online, consists of 10 modules with video presentations, course notes, downloads, owner-focused tools, further online learning, and social media uploads.
The course is designed to help canine professionals improve their understanding of canine arthritis, and to define their role in the identification, diagnosis, and management of the condition.
Hannah Capon MRCVS, the founder of Canine Arthritis Management said: "Dog walkers, groomers, trainers, kennel owners, etc., are all influencers! They have the ability to support a long-term veterinary-derived management plan. Or they have the ability to destabilise it!
"Owners listen to these people because they have more available time; they may appear less like a business and more like a friendly service or even a peer; or they may offer advice that seems more convincing. Whatever the reason, we should harness their powers and ensure they are disseminating reliable information whilst servicing their own needs!"
Canine Arthritis Management believes that a multidisciplinary team is required to better manage this disease, that this includes professionals outside the veterinary practice, and by harnessing their influence, the profession can educate more owners, identify this disease earlier, action appropriate management plans and give owners more years with their pets.
Hannah added: "I hope the profession will support this initiative and consider applying it to other chronic diseases that are prone to misinformation due to lucrative product sales."
CommentA training course / qualification developed by a veterinary surgeon and designed to educate influencers. It's genius. Surely there's huge scope for this kind of initiative beyond canine arthritis? What do you think pet owners are most ill-informed about, where it could be really effective to better educate canine influencers, so that they in turn will pass it on. Post your thoughts here.
The course, which starts in September 2021 at SRUC’s Craibstone campus, will focus on small animal veterinary nursing care, with some aspects of exotic, wildlife, and large animal nursing.
Students will gain clinical experience through practical activities taught on campus in the new Veterinary Nursing Skills Centre and a work-based placement with an approved training practice.
The honours year will build on the skills and competencies embedded in the first three years and will develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of a range of subjects including the psychology and physiology of pain, animal ethics, welfare, and genetics.
From April 2021, SRUC will also offer a distance learning Professional Development Award. This three-unit bridging programme, which will cover communications, veterinary terminology and animal biology, is aimed at VCA students, or those with alternative appropriate qualifications, wishing to progress on to degree level.
Professor Neil Foster, Head of the Veterinary and Animal Science Department, said: “At SRUC we pride ourselves on developing graduates who are ready for the workplace.
“These new programmes help to fulfil the British Veterinary Association’s ‘Vet-led Team model’ by providing qualified veterinary assistants and nurses to enhance the work of veterinary surgeons.”
For more information about the new courses visit: www.sruc.ac.uk/study
For the study, the researchers analysed rehoming adverts placed on the websites of 16 Dogs Trust and RSPCA centres in 2015 and 2018. Data was collected on 1793 dogs across the 16 centres.
The percentage of dogs classified as 'extreme brachycephalic' using the Kennel Club definition increased from 2.76% (n=24) in 2015 to 5.19% (n=48) in 2018.The researchers speculate that owners may be passing on the financial burden of caring for and treating chronic health issues in brachycephalic dogs to the rehoming charities.
Dr Anne Carter, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University said: "The increasing numbers and rising popularity of brachycephalic breeds is already influencing the demographic spread in rescue centres. This pattern that is likely to continue, particularly as these dogs reach 3–4 years old, which we have found is the most common age for dogs being relinquished.
"Differing breeds require highly contrasting intensities of care, housing, and particularly veterinary care. Owners may often choose brachycephalic dogs with limited consideration for their potential health conditions. These dogs then enter rescue centres, placing additional strain on resources due to cost of treatment and additional length of stay for recovery.”
Reference
Laura Padron Vega was struck off in December 2018 after dishonestly backdating two statutory Certificates of Competence submitted to the Food Standards Agency under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations 2015.
She was also found to have failed in her duties as an OV because she was unprepared for, and unaware of, the new regulations and did not take adequate steps to ensure that the two people for whom she had given veterinary certification were licensed to perform slaughter in accordance with the regulations.
At the outset of the restoration hearing, Ms Padron Vega admitted her guilt and made representations that she appreciated the seriousness of her actions and that there was no chance of her repeating them. She also produced a number of testimonials, including some from former veterinary colleagues, in addition to evidence that she had endeavoured to keep up-to-date with her continuing professional development while off the Register although this had been difficult due to her financial circumstances.
In considering her application for restoration, the Committee found that Ms Padron Vega had accepted the reasons for her removal from the Register and the seriousness of the findings. It found that she was unlikely to repeat the behaviour and that her conduct had been entirely acceptable since she was removed from the Register. It also considered her financial and personal circumstances, noting the difficulty she had in securing well-paid, full-time employment since her removal from the Register, and the impact that this had on her being able to keep up-to-date with her continuing professional development.
However, the Committee expressed concerns over her efforts to keep up-to-date with the knowledge and skills she would need to return to practice and said she demonstrated “no real appreciation of what she needed to put in place to demonstrate that she can return to work safely”.
In particular it found that the CPD she had undertaken was unstructured and insufficient and that therefore she had not done enough at the present time to demonstrate that she was fit to be restored to the Register, especially as she signalled that, if restored, she hoped to work in small animal practice, an area that she had not worked in for some time.
Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “While the Committee did not consider that the applicant was in a position to return to practice at this point, it did consider that if the applicant applies herself to a properly structured and focused Return to Practice Plan and is able to produce evidence of how she has fulfilled the requirements of that plan, then her application could prove successful within a short time.
"The outcome of the plan for a return to practice will need to ensure the continued protection of the welfare of animals as well as the interests of clients whose animals she might be called upon to treat and, most importantly, the public interest which is founded on a belief that the veterinary certification processes are beyond question or doubt."
In order to allow Ms Padron Vega sufficient time to develop this plan, the Committee adjourned the restoration hearing for seven months (until July 2021).
Ms Jones added: “This adjournment will afford [Ms Padron Vega] an early opportunity to reflect on the concerns of the Committee… and to return with a properly supported programme for the future which will show her understanding of the problems that are likely to face her on her return to practice and her proposals to meet those inevitable difficulties.”
The full eligibility criteria, including FAQs and guidance notes, for veterinary nurses who wish to stand for VN Council can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil21. The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Sunday 31 January 2021.
Due to the ongoing postal problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, RCVS Council has approved a temporary change to the RCVS Election Scheme this year to allow nominations to be submitted electronically, rather than in hard copy. This temporary change is currently before the Privy Council for final approval.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for the elections, said: "For prospective RCVS and VN Councils election candidates this will mean that, rather than having to send us hard copies of your nomination documents in the post, these can simply be emailed to the College along with the relevant digital photographs and electronic signatures."
The College has also updated its information and guidance for prospective candidates, including an informal ‘job description’, to help them better understand what it means to be members of VN Council, their responsibilities, commitments and how they help the College meet its strategic goals, as well as the principles and rules governing their conduct.
Prospective candidates for VN Council can contact Matthew Rendle, VN Council Chair, for an informal conversation on what it means to be a Council member on vncchair@rcvs.org.uk.
Matthew said: “I was very proud to recently be appointed as Chair of VN Council with responsibility for overseeing it and its role in important decision-making on some of the big issues for veterinary nursing around training and education, post-registration qualifications and registration.
“Over the past years, the role, responsibility and stature of VN Council has really grown. Its members have been at the forefront of important projects such as VN Futures, which is helping the profession identify and plan for its future, and have been ambassadors for the profession at events such as our recent VN Evening.
“Last year we had a record number of veterinary nurses standing for election to VN Council, a fantastic development that I hope will be repeated this year as you really can make a difference on VN Council and play a role in speaking up for and promoting our profession. Please do get in touch with me if you wish to find out more.”
There is one more RCVS Council meeting before the nomination period ends. It will take place online on Thursday 21st January 2021 and prospective candidates who would like to get a feel for it are welcome to attend as observers: contact Dawn Wiggins, RCVS Council Secretary, on d.wiggins@rcvs.org.uk.
Written by members of BSAVA Scientific Committee, together with specialists in internal medicine and neurology, the document explains that there are limited studies showing beneficial effects of CBD, and those that there are need to be interpreted with caution as they involved small sample sizes and used unlicensed products which may have contained other components which could have influenced the results.
The document also explains that legally, CBD products must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeons and not used instead of a medication with proven efficacy.
Caroline Kisielewicz, BSAVA Scientific Committee member and one of the authors of the document said: “Information regarding the effects of cannabinoids on animals is predominantly at the stage of pre-clinical testing of individual substances in mice, rats and guinea pigs. There are limited clinical studies looking at the effects of CBD in dogs, and no reported studies in cats.
"There are many reports describing possible beneficial effects and therapeutic potential in humans, and subsequently pet owners may ask their vet about using cannabinoids to treat veterinary patients. This document aims to provide a broad overview of the available evidence base and legal position in the UK for veterinary team members."
BSAVA President, Ian Ramsey added: "The development of this information is in direct response to an increased interest in the use of CBD to treat cats and dogs. Furthermore, the guidance supports BSAVA’s mission to promote excellence in small animal practice through community, education and science."
The BSAVA position on CBD can be accessed here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443514.chap8#html_fulltext.
Faecal matter transplantation (FMT) has been used in people to treat Clostridium difficile infections and has also been trialled in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The researchers believe that FMT offers a potential new option for the treatment of chronic diarrhoea in dogs and the study will investigate whether it contributes to a more rapid resolution of clinical signs. The study is being conducted in association with eight other private practices or universities around the country.
Julien Bazelle, a European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Davies said: "The goal is to recruit, over a short period of time, canine patients with chronic small intestinal diarrhoea, for a randomised trial in which the cohort receives or not FMT at the time of the initial investigations and prior to any other treatment.”
Dogs aged 6 months to 10 years with a history of chronic small intestinal diarrhoea (+/- other GI signs) are needed to participate in the study. Half of the dogs will receive FMT and the other half will be managed without. FMT will be performed in eligible patients during the sedation for their routine abdominal ultrasound. Transplanted faecal matter will be administered via a retention enema.
To be eligible, dogs must not have received antibiotics, probiotics or steroids recently.
If you have a potentially suitable patient please contact: julien.bazelle@vetspecialists.co.uk or Fergus.Allerton@willows.uk.net
The survey was sent to all UK veterinary practices on the 25th November with a deadline to respond by the 1st December and received 186 responses, a response rate of 6%.
The survey found that during this period:
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: “Thank you once again to all the practice staff who took the time to complete this survey, it really is very useful for us to have a clear picture of how coronavirus and its restrictions are affecting day-to-day activities, as it has an impact both on our decision-making and policies, and what we can tell others about the impact on the professions, such as the UK and national governments.
"The overall picture from this survey is that, while for most it is not business as usual, veterinary practices and members of the professions are, to an extent, getting used to the disruption and have plans and policies in place to help mitigate the impact of the mosaic of different restrictions across the UK.
"While there is hope on the horizon with the start of the roll-out of coronavirus vaccines, we will continue to review and keep up-to-date our advice and guidance to ensure that you can practise to the best of your abilities, while keeping safe and within the rules.
“Of course, we also recognise the toll that the pandemic has taken on many people’s mental health and wellbeing, and this is reflected in some of the more concerning statistics around the impact that staff absences can have on the rest of the team.
"We also asked practices what might help them manage from a staff mental health and wellbeing point of view, and will take these suggestions into account when planning further support via our Mind Matters Initiative mental health project. In the meantime, we would like to remind those who are feeling stressed or are in distress that there are sources of help available during these difficult times – these can be found at www.vetmindmatters.org/help-links/help-during-covid-19/.”
The full report of the survey is available to view at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications
"We are urgently looking at what these new national lockdowns will mean for veterinary professionals and services, and we are liaising with the Chief Veterinary Officers.
"We aim to issue updated guidance in the coming days but can confirm that we will not be reverting to emergency-only work, as we saw at the start of the first UK-wide lockdown last March.
"Instead, we are developing guidance to support veterinary professionals to carry out work that is essential for public health and animal health and welfare, in the context of the very strong ‘stay at home’ messages from both governments.
"We recognise that this continues to be a very challenging and difficult time for our colleagues, and we want to thank veterinary teams across the UK for continuing to work safely so that we can all play our part in stopping the spread of Covid.
"Once again we thank animal owners for their understanding and ask them to continue to respect their vets’ decisions at this time. The range of services available will vary between practices so that vets can work in Covid-safe ways to keep their colleagues and clients safe."
Last year, the company had more than 37,000 entries from pet owners and the veterinary community for the five award categories:
The winners will be announced later this year and will recognise the remarkable work carried out by some of the best veterinary professionals in the country.
James Barnes, Head of Sales & Partnerships at Petplan (pictured right), said: “Now more than ever it’s important to recognise the lengths the veterinary community goes to in looking after our pets. Every year we’re astounded by the quality and quantity of nominations which are a real testament to the hard work of all of those involved at practices who care for animals and clients all year round.
"The awards are a perfect opportunity for you to showcase your practice and your colleagues. If you haven’t already I’d invite you to nominate someone today.”
Nominate a colleague or your practice at www.petplanvet.co.uk/vetawards.
Preoperative fasting to reduce the likelihood of gastroesophageal reflux, regurgitation, emesis and aspiration of gastric contents during anaesthesia is routine, but research on the topic is currently thin on the ground.
The survey aims to obtain information on current preoperative fasting recommendations and protocols in dogs and cats which will enable the expansion of knowledge on common practice. Kat (pictured right) said: "It will also allow me to compare current practice to the literature to examine the use of evidence-based practice. It may also highlight areas requiring improvement in small animal practice to ensure patient health and welfare."
The anonymous questionnaire is aimed at a number of veterinary staff including registered veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons, students, animal care assistants, veterinary care assistants and reception/administration staff as all are involved in providing advice and instructions to clients on this topic.
Kat plans to share significant findings with the profession in due course.
To take part in the survey, visit: https://harper-adams.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/preoperative-fasting-duration-questionnaire
The survey will close on Friday 14th August 2020 at 5:00pm.
Please share this story with colleagues!
Richard Casey, President of The Veterinary Marketing Group (VMG) said: “Pegasus’s survey has shown some very encouraging results. But it is also very worrying that so many of our colleagues do not feel safe from COVID19 exposure in the workplace.
"I encourage all our colleagues, regardless of whether they are management or not, to reach out to workplace colleagues. Ask them how they’re feeling, what are their concerns and what is working well?
"The same goes for clients. Let’s not assume that because we’re not yet fluent in consulting virtually that the client doesn’t value the flexibility of hearing your expert voice from the comfort of their home.
"Instead, invite feedback on how your new approaches are landing. What could be done differently? The key to managing anyone’s expectations is always clear communication. Even more so in today’s consumer driven, 24/7 economy. The veterinary practices who come out of COVID-19 well, will likely be the ones who embrace the new normal. They’ll have listened to their team and clients needs, and found ways to meet them.”
Virtual Recall's products include vaccination, neutering, appointment and healthcheck reminders, customer feedback, telemedicine and post operation surveys, and healthcare advice communications.
Jamie Brannan, Senior Vice President UK, Ireland and Nordics said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Zoetis to add a new solution for veterinarians with an innovative service that will support clinics in increasing their level of compliance, education and engagement at the pet owner level.
"As we expand our comprehensive offering across the continuum of care for veterinary clinics, Virtual Recall will enhance the level of pet owner services that can be offered to their pet owner customers in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
“Our studies have shown that veterinary customers are keen to reduce administrative workload and find new ways to engage with pet owners. We believe that Virtual Recall will achieve that, helping to educate and improve pet owner compliance and adding financial benefits to the veterinary practice.”
Jamie Crittall, Co-founder, Virtual Recall said: “As a company we’ve always been restless – constantly looking at new ways and developing new technologies in which we can drive animal healthcare compliance. Zoetis’ thoroughly well-earned reputation for always putting their customers first – wanting them to thrive and be successful – combined with a commitment to enhance the lives of people and animals, is infectious. It is a very exciting new chapter for Virtual Recall and fellow co-founder Charlie Barton and I are thrilled to continue at the helm."
The web based app, which has been launched in association with the BSAVA, provides a library of medical summaries drawn from global guidelines and peer-reviewed journals.
Vet2Vet co-founder Dr Zoe Coker said “There is rarely time during the working day to read all the necessary journals, articles and up-to-date texts. VETbytes collates all the evidence on a specific medical condition and consolidates it into a short synopsis called a Keep it Simple Summary (KISS)."
BSAVA President Professor Ian Ramsey said: “BSAVA is excited and proud to be involved in the VETbytes project, which should provide significant benefits and support for our members. Every busy small animal clinician should try out VETbytes as it is a real paradigm shift in mobile resources for vets.”
The VETbytes app currently covers more than 100 topics developed in consultation with more than 25 veterinary experts. Further benefits include drug (and CRI) calculators, a quick reference section and links to hundreds of source abstracts. The content encourages reflective learning and can be used towards CPD hours.
VETBytes is available on subscription with reduced rates for BSAVA members and free access for veterinary students.
To start a free trial or subscribe to the VETbytes app, visit www.vetbytes.co.uk.
The Ear Protector sits on the back of the head and hooks onto face mask strings, pulling them backwards and away from the ears, thereby relieving pressure and stopping chafing.
The product was designed by AMufacture's Chief Operating Officer, William Howden, a former Olympic sailor who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He said: "Early in the pandemic, it became apparent to us that there was a serious need to address an unresolved problem with face masks – people were really beginning to suffer and were getting distracted from their work."
The Ear Protector is sterilisable in a dishwasher. It is also recyclable when it reaches the end of its life.
For more information, visit: http://www.theearprotector.com
For the study, titled “RHDV2 epidemic in UK pet rabbits. Part 1: clinical features, gross post mortem and histopathological findings”1, veterinary surgeons were encouraged to submit case histories and the results of post mortem examinations of pet rabbits that died suddenly. Samples taken during the post mortem were sent for histopathological examination.
Frances Harcourt-Brown, corresponding author for the paper, said: "Case histories, macroscopic findings and histopathology results were available from 300 rabbits that died suddenly.
"Of these, 185 (62%) died from RHD and showed characteristic histopathological features of RHD including apoptosis and variable lytic and coagulative hepatocellular necrosis, with varying distribution.
"Interestingly, macroscopic evidence of disease was not present in all cases – for example, gross liver abnormalities were only reported in 30% of cases, despite all cases showing hepatocellular necrosis on microscopic examination.
"Rapid death and death of other rabbits in the household were common features of RHD.
"Histopathology was also useful in yielding valuable information about other causes of death in the rabbits that did not die from RHD.”
Nicola Di Girolamo, editor of JSAP said: “This is a terrible disease that is currently spreading in areas of the world that were free from it until recently. Having more evidence on the type of clinical presentations and lesions that should be expected with this disease in rabbit patients is going to be of tremendous value for clinicians. Given that there is not always macroscopic evidence of RHD, histopathology is key for the diagnosis of RHD in pet rabbits.”
The full article can be found in the July issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice which is free for BSAVA members.
It can also be read online here: https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsap.13141
Photo: BSAVA
Lax-a-Past is a palatable paste that can be administered orally to kittens and cats aged over 6 months.
It can be used weekly to help stop hairballs from forming or in higher doses over a consecutive three-day period to help eliminate them.
Carol Morgan, Brand Manager from Dechra Veterinary Products (pictured right) said: “Hairballs are a well-known issue for cats. Lax-a-Past is a complementary feed that offers a simple, easy-to-administer solution to help relieve the digestion problems caused by hairballs.
“It is very easy for owners to administer as the required dosage can be squeezed out and spread on a front paw or given directly into the mouth."
Lax-a-Past is available in a 70g tube.
For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk.
Christine said: "Tests conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a pet cat in England.
"This is a very rare event with infected animals detected to date only showing mild clinical signs and recovering within in a few days.
"There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change."
Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said: "This is the first case of a domestic cat testing positive for COVID-19 in the UK but should not be a cause for alarm.
"The investigation into this case suggest that the infection was spread from humans to animal, and not the other way round. At this time, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease to humans.
The pet cat was initially diagnosed by a vet with feline herpes virus, but the sample was also tested for SARS-CoV-2 as part of a research programme at the Centre for Virus Research at Glasgow University. Follow-up samples tested at the APHA laboratory in Weybridge confirmed the cat was also co-infected with SARS-CoV2 , the virus known to cause COVID-19 in humans.
BSAVA advice for practising vets about coronavirus is here and further information about testing is available here.
APPA is an oral, patented, fixed-dose combination of two synthetic secondary metabolites of plant origin, apocynin and paenol.
Under the terms of the agreement, AKL’s unnamed partner will fund a study in dogs with naturally occurring OA. The study will compare the efficacy and efficacy duration of APPA with the current standard of care for treating canine OA: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
David Miles, AKLRD CEO, said: “Just like humans, millions of dogs suffer intolerable pain and disability because of OA and the current treatments just aren’t as effective or as well tolerated as they need to be. We already know from previous canine studies that APPA reduces pain and has an excellent tolerability profile but this exciting new partnership will allow us to go one stage further and assess sustainability of response.”
The randomised study will assess pain and duration of response as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoint assessment will include adverse events, quality of life, pharmacokinetics analysis and biomarkers that may enable potential identification of factors predictive of response at treatment onset, or that correlate with response magnitude.
Two separate studies on dogs have already been carried out by researchers at the University of Vienna. The first, an 11-week cross-over study of 32 canines diagnosed with established, naturally occurring OA, showed that APPA provides significant symptom relief in clinical canine OA1.
A follow-up, five-week study of 60 dogs with OA compared APPA to the standard of care drug, meloxicam. It concluded that daily oral administration of APPA was effective as a stand-alone alternative to NSAIDs in dogs with naturally occurring OA. Significant benefits were also seen for APPA over meloxicam in orthopaedic examination as well as in lameness and function scores2.
The results will inform the pivotal clinical trial design and AKL says its working assumption is that a 26-week field study would complete the regulatory requirements for commercialisation.
If the study and future testing is successful, AKL estimates that APPA would be well placed to capture a significant share of the global canine OA market, which is estimated to be worth $3billion by 20283.
References
For the research, 2000 pet owners were asked whether they they had bought counterfeit pet medicines online. 31.3% said yes. They were then asked if they had reported the matter. 62.2% said they had. Finally, they were asked what the outcome of their report was. 60.9% said their purchase was confirmed as a fake, suggesting that at least one in ten pet owners - probably more - have bought fake pet medicines.
Bayer says the true number of owners affected is likely to be even higher, as a further 12% of pet owners in the survey said they believed that they may have bought fake pet medicines but had not reported it.
The research also showed that 87% of shoppers purchased pet parasite prevention products from unaccredited sites that have been known to sell counterfeit pet medicines. Indeed since April this year, the VMD has removed over 500 veterinary medicine listings from online marketplaces.
The message to clients is that chasing the lowest price for veterinary medicines can be a false economy.
Photo: Can you tell whether this product is fake or not?
Tramvetol is presented in two pack sizes of 30 and 100 tablets to assist practices with dispensing and storage as a Schedule 3 controlled drug. The meat flavoured 50mg tablets can also be divided into two equal parts to ensure accurate dosing.
Virbac says Tramvetol is suitable for both short courses and long-term treatment; 2-4mg per kg of Tramvetol can be administered every 8 hours or from 6 hours, if required, based on the intensity of the pain. In addition, Tramvetol has a wide therapeutic window and a maximum daily dose of 16mg per kg.
Commonly used in combination with other forms of analgesia, including NSAIDs1, Tramvetol is quickly absorbed and boats a rapid onset of action2. Peak plasma concentrations are achieved within 45 minutes3.
Dan Johnson, Product Manager at Virbac said: ‘Tramadol is already an important part of the analgesia toolkit for many veterinary practices. We hope that Tramvetol will prove to be a much more convenient option for practices, whilst helping to provide dogs with a better quality, pain free life’.
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
The BVA has partnered with Closer Still Media, the impresarios behind the London Vet Show, to organise the event. They say it will cater for 1,500 veterinary professionals and provide high-value, low-cost, practical clinical and non-clinical CPD, big issue debates, and showcase key veterinary suppliers and vendors in the exhibition in a vibrant central location.
BVA President Daniella Dos Santos said: "I’m delighted to announce the launch of BVA Live. It’s an opportunity for BVA to return to hosting our own standalone conference for the first time since BVA Congress became part of the London Vet Show in 2013. The new conference will enable the veterinary community to come together, outside of London, to develop and thrive through a programme of excellent CPD, delivered by world class speakers.
"For me the most important element of BVA Live is bringing the veterinary profession together to tackle the big issues we face and providing an opportunity to engage with BVA Officers, volunteers and staff in one central venue. By hosting the conference at the NEC, Birmingham, with its excellent direct road, rail and air links it means that we can provide a greater regional offering to the veterinary profession."
It remains to be seen what impact this new conference will have on BSAVA Congress, which for many years was pretty much the only gig in town. Then, with the London Vet Show snapping at its heels, it announced it would move north from Birmingham to Manchester from 2021. Hardly will the dust have settled, than BVA and CloserStill are filling the void. At this rate, BSAVA Congress will probably have to move to the Hebrides by 2025.
It looks like there are a lot of dice being rolled here. Will more vets want to meet in Manchester than Birmingham? Will any of us be meeting in 2021 anyway, or will coronavirus continue to limit gatherings in 2021?
For more information and to register your interest in attending, visit bvalive.vetshow.com