Novartis Animal Health has launched a chewable formulation of Milbemax wormer, for dogs.

According to the company, clinical studies have shown that the chicken-flavoured formulation and chewy texture of Milbemax Chewable Tablets is highly palatable, with more than 94% of dogs showing spontaneous acceptance from hand. Novartis says this should help make worming simpler and improve compliance, something which is particularly important given market research which shows that difficulties in administering medications often leads to missed treatments.

Containing milbemycin oxime and praziquantel, the new tablets deliver the same broad spectrum efficacy as existing Milbemax formulations, effective for the treatment of roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, lungworm and tapeworm, and for the prevention of heartworm.

Folkert Kamphuis, Chief Operating Officer at Novartis Animal Health said: "The new EASYCHEW™ formulation represents Novartis Animal Health's latest innovation. It will make worming a treat whilst providing tried-and-trusted Milbemax efficacy. With Milbemax chewable tablets we give pet owners a wormer that is easy to administer and veterinarians the trusted efficacy of Milbemax."

Milbemax Chewable Tablets are available for both dogs and puppies, in four and forty-eight tablet packs.

A leather and brass dog collar once owned by Charles Dickens is one of a number of items coming under the hammer at a sale of 'dog art' at Bonhams New York on 16th February.

You'll have to have deep pockets, though: with a nameplate inscribed 'C. Dickens, Esqe,, Gad's Hill, Place, Higham.' the collar carries an estimate of $4,000 - $6,000.

If you're feeling really flush, you could also pick up a painting by the foremost dog artist John Emms. Amongst the six Emms lots to be offered, a painting titled The Bitchpack of the Meath Foxhounds is expected to fetch $500,000 to $700,000.

The illustrated auction catalogue for the sale is online and available to view at: http://www.bonhams.com/dogs

Last year's pass rate has been maintained by VN candidates taking their Level 3 Practical exams - with the number of VN students sitting exams having seen an increase across the year.

The RCVS sent out the results of the Level 3 Practical exams last Wednesday, to the 352 student VNs who sat the exam in November. A total of 348 candidates took the small animal option and four candidates the equine.

With 64% of candidates succeeding, the pass rate was similar to December 2008.

The number of VN candidates overall has increased significantly compared with 2008, with 1188 candidates taking exams in 2009, and 878 in 2008. There has also been a welcome increase in the number of VN students enrolling with the RCVS; student enrolment figures for 2009 were up by 5%, at 1,114, compared with 1,060 in 2008.

RCVS Head of Veterinary Nursing, Libby Earle said: "Congratulations to all those who have now qualified. Once you've received your certificates - and completed your 3,290 hours' training at approved training practices - you can List as Veterinary Nurses and join the Register to start careers as qualified professionals."

A list of all the successful candidates is available from RCVSonline (http://www.rcvs.org.uk/), along with information about how VNs eligible to List and Register can do so.

Genitrix is encouraging practices to capitalise on the growing market opportunity for dental treatments by offering a free pack of its Dentagen Dental Wax and a special offer of six products for the price of five for the rest of its Dentagen dental range during March 2010. 

The company is also urging practices to declare March 'Dental Care Month' and to use it as a platform to step up the education they offer to pet owners on this important welfare issue.

According to Genitrix, the Dentagen range uses a plant extract called RF2 which operates as an 'anti-biofilm' treatment, modifying the membrane of oral bacteria to prevent them from producing plaque even at low concentrations. Dentagen Wax is applied to dogs or cats at the end of dental procedures in practice, while the animal is still sedated. It forms a protective coating over the teeth, which lasts for several days.

Each pack of wax contains five syringes enabling practices to offer free wax applications to pets during Dental Care Month. Pet owners can then maintain the protective coating by giving their pet either Dentagen plaque prevention chews every other day or the Dentagen Aqua drinking water additive.

For dogs, the chews are supplied in two sizes with the larger size designed for dogs over 8 kg and a smaller size for dogs less than 8 kg. Dentagen Aqua is a drinking water additive containing RF2. The company says the palatable liquid, which is added to a pet's drinking water, has proved particularly effective in treating cats which don't respond well to tooth-brushing or dental chews.

Rob Watkins, Genitrix' marketing director said: "It's well known that dental disease affects 80% of pets over three years' old and, if left untreated, can go on to cause serious health problems.  

"Data from veterinary practices also confirms that many of them are not achieving the revenue they could from offering dental treatments to their clients. We want them to get their teeth into this important revenue opportunity so we're calling on practices to make March 'Dental Care Month' and are offering them a special deal on Dentagen products to get them started.

"The efficacy of the Dentagen range in inhibiting plaque formation has been proven in clinical trials and it has proved popular with pet owners, increasing their compliance with preventative health regimes."

To order your free pack of Dentagen Wax and to take advantage of the special offer on the rest of the range, contact Genitrix on 01403 786345 or by email at mail@genitrix.co.uk

The completion date for the RCVS surveys of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions is Monday 8 February, and the College is urging anyone who has not yet completed their survey to do so.

The data collected will be used to help develop policy, in discussion with government and other bodies, and in response to requests from journalists and members of the public who wish to have an accurate picture of the veterinary profession today. So it's important that as many people as possible complete their surveys.

For the first time, a standard set of questions about well-being (the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale) has been included. Over time, data collected will enable the College to monitor population changes in mental health and well-being, and work with other organisations to address any issues identified.

If you have mislaid your paper copy, the survey can be completed online:

Veterinary surgeons click here: www.employmentresearch.co.uk/vs2010.htm

Veterinary nurses click here: www.employmentresearch.co.uk/vn2010.htm 

All responses are confidential. 

Rabbit Awareness Week (26^th April - 2^nd May 2010) is reportedly going to be bigger than ever this year with over 1000 vets within the industry expected to be involved.

In partnership with Burgess Pet Care, Petplan Insurance, Company of Animals, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Genitrix, PDSA, Wood Green Animal Shelters and RWAF, Rabbit Awareness Week's mission is to educate current and potential rabbit owners across the UK about the importance of rabbit welfare.

The focus of the week will be rabbit obesity. At the same time, organisers hope the week will raise the profile of rabbits as pets and encourage owners to seek the right veterinary advice about rabbit nutrition and health.

The week has been deliberately timed to happen soon after Easter, to make use of a time of year when rabbits are at the forefront of people's minds. Organisers hope to reach rabbit owners who may have bought new pet rabbits but who may not have the right information about how to keep them happy and healthy.

Throughout the week some of the UK's largest retailers, suppliers of rabbit food and welfare charities will be providing valuable feeding knowledge and information, along with a range of deals and offers to vets and pet owners. 

Organisers are asking veterinary practices to get involved by offering Free Health Checks for pet rabbits, and by providing free advice about vaccinations, husbandry and diet. To help, there is a range of display and training materials to help you run your Free Health Checks together with promotional materials such as newsletter templates and press releases. You can also register your event for free on the Online Event Locator.

The display kit includes shelf wobblers, barkers, posters, appointment flyers, Health Check Certificates and an A3 size Free Health Check window sticker. You'll also receive additional items to give away to rabbit owners, including Excel samples, RAW care guides, car stickers and branded bags.

For more information and to find out what special trade offers are available to vets during the week register at http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/.

A new eBook from electronic publisher Quicklook Books aims to give outsiders a broad overview of the veterinary profession.

According to author, veterinary surgeon Bob Lehner, Quicklook@Vets offers readers the opportunity to get below the surface of the veterinary working practice and gain insight into the profession, without becoming 'bogged down' in complicated medical terminology.

He said: "The veterinary world, although considered by many to be an enthralling subject, is accessible to very few people. Texts are, more often than not, written for veterinary graduates instead of the general public.

"In Quicklook@Vets, I wanted to explore all the aspects of this exciting subject in a clear, coherent manner, without unnecessary jargon, to enable anyone to read and learn about the captivating world of veterinary practice."

As a vet with over 35 years of experience, Bob Lehner worked with a wide range of animals and has experience in commercial deer farming, working with zoo animals and as a veterinary surgeon for the pharmaceutical industry. Now retired, Bob Lehner works part-time in practice, as an inspector for the RCVS Practise Standards Scheme and work with an animal charity in Botswana neutering feral village dogs.

The book is available for download here 

Hill's Pet Nutrition has highlighted recent studies which, the company says, prove that feeding a food enriched with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils to dogs with osteoarthritis results in a reduction in NSAID dosage of up to 25%¹, owner observed improvements in clinical signs³, and improved weight bearing ability^{2, 7}

The claim that food can effectively support medical treatment follows in the wake of two published and one in press study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association (JAVMA). These demonstrate that omega-3 enriched food (in this case Hill's Prescription Diet j/d Canine) has significant  effects on weight bearing and helps reduce NSAID dosage by up to 25 per cent, when fed to dogs with osteoarthritis ^{1, 2,3}. 

According to Hill's, the research demonstrates that in dogs the high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from fish oils can down-regulate the cartilage degrading enzyme aggrecanase¹. In vitro studies have also identified that EPA resulted in a reduction in the amount of degraded cartilage residue produced⁴. High levels of omega-3 fatty acids can also help to reduce inflammation^5,6.

The two studies that were recently published confirm that feeding a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids aids in the management of osteoarthritis in dogs^2,3. The randomized double-blinded controlled trials were carried out over three and six months respectively and involved a total of 165 dogs identified as suffering from mild to moderate osteoarthritis. After collating the results from almost 25,000 trial days, researchers were able to confirm a significant 'clinical improvement' from feeding a food fortified with fatty acids.

In the first study described in JAVMA, researchers found evidence that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils resulted in improvements in weight bearing². Objective measurement using force plate gait analysis demonstrated that dogs fed a test food fortified with fatty acids were seven times as likely to show improved weight bearing compared with dogs fed a control food.

In the second study, through a detailed questionnaire, owners also observed significant improvements in their dog's osteoarthritic condition³.  Improvements observed covered the following signs: difficulty in rising from rest, limping, stiffness, soreness when touched, yelping or whimpering in pain, aggression, lagging on walks, reluctance to play and overall activity level.

Adrian Pratt, Veterinary Affairs Manager for Hill's Pet Nutrition, manufacturer of Prescription Diet j/d, which is enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, hailed the results as a breakthrough in the field of nutrigenomics (the study of the effects of nutrition on gene expression): "This research points the way to a new model for the management of osteoarthritis, using a clinically proven food to interrupt the cycle of damage and cartilage degradation, alongside graded levels of NSAIDs and proactive programmes to manage weight and adjust exercise routines. Clinicians now have the conclusive proof they need to recommend feeding omega-3 enriched food to ameliorate the signs of osteoarthritis in clients' pets and to adjust NSAID doses accordingly." 

For further information on Hill's Prescription Diet j/d, please contact your Hill's Territory Manager or call 0800 282438.

References
1. A multicenter study of the effect of a therapeutic food supplemented with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on the Carpofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis. Fritsch A, Allen T, Dodd C, JAVMA in press
2. Evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs. Roush J, Cross A, Renberg W, Dodd C, Sixby K, Fritsch A, Allen T, Jewell, Richardson D, Leventhal P, Hahn K, JAVMA Vol 236 No 1, Jan 2010 pp67-73
3. Multicenter veterinary practice assessment of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on osteoarthritis in dogs. Roush J, Dodd C, Fritsch A, Allen T, Jewell D, Schoenherr W, Richardson D, Leventhal P, Hahn K, JAVMA Vol 236 No 1, Jan 2010 pp 59-66
4. Eicosapentaenoate supplementation abrogates canine articular cartilage degeneration in in vitro explant culture systems, Caterson B, Cramp J, Little C B et al, Hills European Symposium on osteoarthritis and joint health 2005 14-19
5.  Dietary modification of inflammation with lipids, P C Calder, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2002 345-358
6.  Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory mediator production, James M J, Cleland L G, Gibson R A, Am J Clin Nut 2000: 71 suppl 343S- 358S
7.  Vasseur PB, Johnson AL, Budsberg SC, et al. Randomized, controlled trial of the efficacy of carprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1995; 206 (6): 807-811.

Virbac - manufacturer of Effipro - has launched the 'Flea Free Zones' campaign to help practices fight back against retail competition in the flea control market.

The company says that with an on-pet flea product market estimated to be worth well in excess of £64 million, and an estimated 20 million cats and dogs in the UK, vets are well positioned to improve their revenues and provide excellent customer service, by promoting flea control to all of their customers.

However, according Dr Rachel Crowe, Effipro Product Manager, much of this business is currently going through retail channels: "Many pet owners have become used to purchasing their flea treatment from retail outlets, mainly due to cost, and no longer distinguishing between a brand bought from a vet and one bought from a supermarket.

"As a dedicated veterinary business, Virbac is focussed on supporting and increasing business within veterinary practices. Our 'Flea Free Zones' campaign is a practice support package designed to help promote initial purchase, as well as long-term client loyalty. We know that pet owners often turn to their vet or vet nurse for advice, but then purchase treatments elsewhere.

"With Effipro, practices have the performance of fipronil but at a highly affordable price, and we believe this promotion will help vets grow their share of the flea control market." 

The campaign is designed to get clients purchasing flea treatments from their vet and encourage repeat purchases from the practice.

Dr Crowe said: "The beauty of Effipro is that it has a broad range of products, packs and price flexibility. In particular the single pipette from the Practice Pack is proving a very popular point of entry for the owner, especially as an initial trial purchase. Also included in the promotional campaign is an Effipro loyalty scheme, which provides an incentive to keep clients coming back and literature to assist practice staff to answer customer queries about flea control.

"Just one spot-on treatment range also means there is no confusion with POM-V alternatives, so loyalty to Effipro is easier to retain within the practice. And with the added option of purchasing award winning Indorex environmental insecticide spray, clients now have a complete flea control solution available from their vet practice. So with both products being supported by prominent promotional campaigns, there hasn't been a better opportunity than this for vets looking to capture a bigger share of customer spend on flea treatments."

To learn more about Virbac's Flea Free Zones campaign contact your local Virbac territory manager or call Virbac on 01359 243243.  

Edinburgh-based Braid Vets has signed up its 1000th client to the practice's VIP (Very Important Pet) Pet Health Plan.  

To mark the event, staff at the practice and Kenneth Agnew from Practice Plan For Vets Ltd, presented 1000th member Douglas Roberts and his dog Rudy with a bottle of champagne and a Kong toy.

In common with other schemes, the Braid Vets Pet Health Plan spreads the costs of vaccinations and flea control over the year with a fixed monthly direct debit. In addition, Braid Vets gives its Health Plan members further discounts on selected services provided by the practice, including food purchases.  

Mike Hall MRCVS of Braid Vets, said: "We think the Health Plan has been one of the things that has helped us withstand the worst effects of the recession.  In our experience, Health Plan clients attend the clinic more regularly for health checks, vaccinations and treatments throughout the year."

He added: "We're delighted to have reached our 1000th member of the scheme, but we're not going to stop there. We think there's considerable scope for further growth. The reason is that it's such a no-brainer. Under our plan, vets have complete clinical freedom and always recommend the products best suited to the individual pet. So the pet wins, the client wins and the practice wins."

Anita Bates from Practice Plan for Vets, which manages this scheme and many others on behalf of veterinary practices in the UK, said: "Our health plans focus on preventative services and products. They provide the practice with a regular monthly income and bonded clients as well as improving owner compliance, frequency of visits to the practice and average transactions values for wellness and illness."

For more information about Practice Plan For Vets, visit: www.practiceplanforvets.co.uk

The RCVS has released the results of a competition held at BSAVA Congress earlier this month, in which veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and other members of the practice team were asked to identify three animals from sound only.

The correct answers were a purring cat, a Chihuahua dog (the breed had to be specified) and a guinea pig.

Of 370 entrants, only 104 (28%) were correct. Some of the more outlandish answers included, for the cat noise: elephant, lion, whale and dolphin; and, for the guinea pig noise:  ferret, meerkat, dove, chicken and frog. However, the majority of those getting it wrong were stumped by the requirement to specify the breed of dog, with Jack Russell Terrier or some 'yappy little thing ' proving a favourite.

The winner of the competition was Liverpool-based veterinary surgeon, Anna Rowntree, who won an iPod Nano. She said: "I thought the competition was good fun and a real novelty. It certainly drew me to the stand and was not what I would have expected from the RCVS - it proves they can be approachable! I was very excited to have won and I still can't believe I have."

The noises competition linked to the College's theme for the event, 'Falling on deaf ears?', which examined how the organisation takes account of responses to its consultations, debunking the myth that those who take the trouble to reply are not listened to. The topic was addressed by President Professor Sandy Trees in a presentation on the Saturday of Congress. Visitors to the stand were also given RCVS-branded earphones to reinforce the listening message.

Copies of all three presentations made by the RCVS at BSAVA Congress are now available on RCVSonline (www.rcvs.org.uk/ear_ear). They are:

• 'Falling on Deaf Ears', where President Sandy Trees considered responses to four recent consultations - on Extra-Mural Studies, veterinary nursing qualifications, the Practice Standards Scheme and veterinary legislation - and outlined how the College took account of them
• Senior Vice-President and Practice Standards Scheme Chairman Jill Nute launching the new Practice Standards Scheme Manual, which came into effect on 1 April 2010
• Jacqui Molyneux, Chairman of the RCVS Awarding Body Board, outlining the new veterinary nursing qualifications, which will replace the National Vocational Qualifications when they are phased out by government this summer.

Petplan has announced the 2010 finalists for the Vet Nurse of the Year at the Petplan Veterinary Awards. 

The company says it was inundated with over 1,800 nominations this year, and wasn't disappointed in its quest to discover veterinary staff that go far beyond the call of duty.  Each year there is an astonishing public response, with tales ranging from midnight rescues to simple acts of kindness. This year was no exception.

The finalists for the Petplan Vet Nurse of the Year 2010 are:

Amy Floyd of Fivelands Veterinary Centre, Birmingham
Amy has been nominated because of her calm and loving approach to animals and clients. As a Head Nurse, staff look up Amy as a source of inspiration, she leads by example, working hard and going above and beyond the call of duty.

Lisa Strickland of Viking Vets, Bristol
Lisa was nominated for her hard work and dedication. After 20 years as a veterinary nurse, Lisa still works with the same compassion, drive and enthusiasm. Lisa takes enormous pride in her work, ensuring the highest quality of service is provided.

Louise Want of Feldon Veterinary Centre, Warwickshire
After nearly 30 years as a veterinary nurse Louise is as dedicated and enthusiastic as when she first began in the industry. She is always supportive and professional with a caring and approachable manner. Louise's nomination is a reflection of her positive influence and inspiration to other aspiring nurses and students.

The nurses will attend an awards ceremony taking place on 8^th April at the Birmingham Town Hall where the Petplan Veterinary Awards will be presented to the winners in four separate categories.  

The finalists for each of the other categories are as follows:

Vet of the Year
Girish Thakral, Blacks Veterinary Group, West Midlands
Mike Hewitt, Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre, Buckinghamshire
Stuart Jackson, Jackson Veterinary Clinic, Oxfordshire         

Vet Receptionist of the Year
Carole Dawson, Kingsteignton Veterinary Group, Devon
Linda Workman, Summerleaze Veterinary Hospital, Berkshire         
Sue Snodin, Towerwood Veterinary Group, Leeds      

Vet Practice of the Year
Ashfield House Veterinary Hospital Ltd, Nottingham  
Mill House Veterinary Surgery and Hospital, Norfolk  
Priors Leaze Veterinary Centre, West Sussex

Alison Andrews, Petplan's Head of Marketing said she was thrilled by the number of nominations received, and the quality of this year's finalists: "This year we are celebrating the eleventh anniversary of the Veterinary Awards which were launched so pet owners could thank their practice for the tireless and wonderful work they carry out. We are delighted that the awards, which we often hear referred to as the 'Vet Oscars', are still going strong.  This year we have received a great number of nominations and the quality and standard really challenged the skills of our esteemed judging panel. We would like to wish those short listed every success on the night."