Hill's Pet Nutrition has launched a new website - www.hillsweightloss.co.uk - featuring the company's weight management programme to help address the UK's spiralling pet obesity epidemic.
Nearly 50 per cent of pets are obese or overweight and the company hopes that the site will act as a valuable support tool for vets, providing clients with an interactive, tailored weight loss and exercise programme to follow with their cat or dog.
The website also includes a series of animated illustrations and videos to demonstrate how to check a pet's Body Condition Score (BCS) by feeling its ribs along with feeding and exercise hints and tips.
To help keep pet owners motivated, the site features a weekly weight loss programme email newsletter consisting of additional support, handy tips and helpful reminders.
Libby Sheridan, veterinary affairs manager at Hill's Pet Nutrition, comments: "Obesity in animals is soaring and the new website is a useful and effective support tool which advises on both diet and exercise regimes and helps keep owners and their pets on track to reach their target weight."
Hill's Pet Nutrition's pet foods to aid and maintain weight loss include Hill's Prescription Diet w/d, m/d and r/d, which has recently been reformulated. In a recent trial, dogs fed Prescription Diet r/d lost 22 per cent of their body fat in eight weeks. Hill's Science Plan Light can also help pets prone to weight gain. Science Plan NeuteredCat is formulated to meet the needs of cats that have been neutered as they are significantly different in their energy needs.
New research carried out by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association on behalf of National Pet Month has provided an insight into the latest pet purchasing trends in the UK:
Kruuse has launched the "ByoFresh" range of canine deodorising and disinfecting products. Winner of Pets at Home's "Best New Product of the Year 2007" and Highly Commended at Glee Pet Index 2007, Kruuse says this is a range of products that will help with the age old problem of "smelly dogs".
All of the products contain Byotrol, a patented new anti-microbial ingredient that provides broad-spectrum protection against most common micro-organisms and has already been successfully used in the human health sector.
Byotrol is the first veterinary anti-bacterial and anti-fungicidal agent, tested to British Standards EN 1676 and 1677, to be used in canine deodorising products. These tests are supported by veterinary supervised trials on over 100 dogs at nine independent practices.
"We see tremendous potential for the ByoFresh range in veterinary practice for veterinary surgeons, nurses and clients alike", commented Andrew Groom, Country Manager of Kruuse UK." Not only do these products help resolve a real problem, they're competitively priced to support all customers' requirements.
CEVA Animal Health's household flea products, Staykill, Acclaim and Skoosh, will soon have helped fight the 5 millionth household flea infestation in the UK.
In order to preserve the historic 5 millionth can for future generations, CEVA would like to offer £1,000 to buy it back from which ever veterinary practice orders it.
In addition, the (rather over-excited) household flea team at CEVA are in such a celebratory mood, they are also awarding 49 luxury chocolate hampers to practices ordering the 49 cans either side of the momentous 5 millionth can.
For further information or to make the most of the latest special offers, call the Flea Fighters Hotline on 01494 781510.
Novartis Animal Health is launching a new range of practice support materials to help raise owner awareness about skin conditions like atopic dermatitis.
"It's vitally important, in the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis, to make clients aware that not all pruritus is caused by fleas," said Agnes Delauche, Senior Brand Manager at Novartis.
"Our new range of literature will help front of house staff to educate owners and engage them more readily in this healthcare topic, particularly when handing over repeat prescriptions for flea treatments. The waiting room displays may also prompt owners to recognise itchiness in their pet, associate it with the signs and then ask the vet for advice."
When a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis has been made, practices need to act swiftly and outline a treatment plan with owners. Research carried out by Novartis found that 86 per cent of owners whose dogs were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis were frustrated with the condition. In addition, 44 per cent of owners left their original veterinary surgeon in search of a solution for their dog's atopy. "It can be a long and exasperating problem for both the dog and the owner, therefore, it's critical that vets provide a timely diagnosis and effective treatment regime," concludes Dr Delauche. "Hopefully, our new literature will provide practices with the necessary support materials for owners. It provides treatment timescales and reiterates that atopic dermatitis cannot be controlled overnight."
Alongside the waiting room poster and owner leaflets, the company has also developed an informative website for owners http://www.itchfree.co.uk/.
For copies of the new materials, contact your local Novartis Territory Manager or ring 01276 694402.
Hill's Pet Nutrition has launched Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare, formulated to manage both struvite and oxalate urinary stones. It's appropriate for cats with feline idiopathic cystitis, which accounts for an estimated 64% of all FLUTD cases. The new diet replaces x/d, which will be discontinued.
According to Hill's, a significant benefit is that c/d contains no excess salt and therefore presents no risk to cats that have hidden kidney disease. Libby Sheridan, Veterinary Affairs Manager, said: "It's something that is always at the back of our minds when cats have shown signs of urinary tract problems: has there been damage to the kidneys that I can't yet detect? We need to be cautious when it comes to managing urinary disease in cats. Limiting salt with careful diet formulation and therefore avoiding potentially worsening compromised kidneys is important in long term management."
Feline c/d Multicare contains controlled levels of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and oxalate to reduce the constituents of crystals and calculi, added citrate to reduce stone formation and enhanced levels of B6 specifically to decrease the risk of oxalate formation. Increases in omega-3 fatty acids help ensure that the inflammatory response is ameliorated, which is particularly important in the management of feline idiopathic cystitis.
Hills continue to recommend s/d for dissolution of struvite calculi and k/d in cases of feline urate calculi. Feline urinary disease is, of course, a condition that requires long term intervention to guard against recurrence and c/d Multicare is available in a variety of flavours and formats, including tender chunks in gravy pouches, 156 g tins and dry in chicken and ocean fish varieties, ensuring there is a enough choice to satisfy the most discerning of cats.
For more information call Hill's Customer Service on 0800 282 438 or (ROI) 1-800 626002.
From June 2008, the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) will be introducing a Graduate Diploma in Professional and Clinical Veterinary Nursing tailored to the needs of practicing nurses.
Detailed market research of nurses working in practice has shown a high demand for the course. From those surveyed via a questionnaire, 63% said they are interested in the Diploma course on a part-time basis over a 2 year period. With regards to how nurses wish to study, 83% of respondents confirmed their interest in distance/online learning.
The programme is aimed at veterinary nursing practitioners who wish to develop higher level professional and clinical veterinary nursing skills with emphasis on critical thinking by combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. It is a distance learning programme whereby students will learn via the College's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Programme Director Perdi Welsh explains: "As this is a post-qualification award the nursing practitioners who would benefit from it are already in work. Therefore the course needs to be flexible to fit around their busy lives and their commitment to their employer.
"E-learning provides an ideal mode of study for qualified veterinary nurses wishing to advance their knowledge and skills. Distance learning means that students do not have to take time off work and travel to attend regular sessions at college."
Modules are hosted within the RVC Virtual Learning Environment, where students have access to course material, will participate in group discussion, carry out on-line tasks and collaborate with a small group of other students enrolled on the module to share experiences.
For more information call 01707 666660, email vnschool@rvc.ac.uk or log onto www.rvc.ac.uk/VNdiploma
The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) has announced the initial results of an on-line BVNA awareness and opinion survey of the members of this website, conducted in February this year.
The survey attracted nearly 1000 responses, mainly from VNs working in small animal practices, 49% of whom were already BVNA members.
Results from the survey included:
BVNA President, Clare Fraser, said: 'It's easy for us who are actively involved in the BVNA to know about the benefits of membership, but we felt we needed to canvas the views of VNs in the UK and overseas to gain a broader picture on the perception of our organisation.'
'For example, although annual, quarterly or monthly direct debit payments for annual membership fees have been available for the past eleven years, 30 per cent were not aware of this. The monthly direct debit cost for a full member is only £3.91', explained Claire.
'Nearly a third of respondents mentioned CPD has a benefit of BVNA membership, and we expect this number to increase, as voluntary regulation now requires every registered VN to undertake a minimum of 45 hours of CPD over a three-year period.
'Interestingly, 20 per cent of respondents thought they are not eligible to join the BVNA, for reasons such as they currently reside outside the UK, or they are not registered VNs. In fact, membership is open to anyone in the UK or overseas, and there are different levels of membership, including British trained VNs, VN students, and associate members who work in jobs allied to the veterinary profession but are not actually VNs.
'We greatly value the feedback from members and non-members alike, and thank everyone who has taken part', added Claire, 'but we still welcome more views and suggestions to ensure that we continue to accurately represent VNs in the future'.
Winners of the 2008 Petplan Veterinary Awards, which recognise and applaud staff and practices for their outstanding excellence and service, will feature on Natasha Kaplinsky's Channel Five news slot from tonight at 5:00pm, and then again at 7:00pm.
Tonight's news will cover the story of the Veterinary Practice of the Year: Orwell Veterinary Group, and there'll be more coverage on Tuesday and Wednesday as follows:
Tuesday 13th May 5pm & 7pm - Vet of the Year - Brian Faulkner of the Melton Veterinary Surgery
Wednesday 14th May 5pm & 7pm - Vet Nurse of the Year - Louisa Baker of the Priors Leaze Veterinary Centre.
Should be great publicity for the profession, and it is difficult to achieve this sort of thing, so hats off to Petplan.
Petplan has launched PetPeople, billed as the largest circulation pet focussed customer magazine.
In the first issue, animal behaviourist and QVN Vicky Hall looks at the relationship between women and their cats, and suggests that overbearing relationships are leading cats to display inappropriate behaviour.
Petplan policy holders will receive PetPeople magazine twice a year. Each issue will provide expert help from leading vets, behaviourists and dieticians, plus insightful, and very often humorous, feature stories on everything from the perfect pet-friendly garden to dispelling the ‘mad cat lady' myth.
The first issue has a distribution of 600,000 and will be sent free to veterinary practices. Suzanne Murray, channel manager for Petplan, believes the diverse content of the magazine will make it a welcome addition to vet practice waiting rooms, and staff rooms. She said: ‘We are proud that so many outstanding contributors agreed to work on the first issue, including dog-loving travel writer Gavin Bell. It's also rewarding to have content from the many charities we support and from our pet-loving clients."
For further information about the magazine, email: petpeople@petplan.co.uk
The RCVS List of Veterinary Nurses Incorporating the Register of Veterinary Nurses 2008 is now available. This is the first time that the publication distinguishes between Listed and Registered Veterinary Nurses, following the introduction of the non-statutory Register in September 2007.
The publication includes 4,808 Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs), although the figure continues to rise and is currently around the 5,000 mark. The data used in the List/Register is correct as of 10 March 2008. It is possible to check the most up-to-date information on RCVSonline: www.rcvs.org.uk/vnlist
RVNs indicate a willingness to be accountable for their professional practice, by following the Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses, and keeping their skills up-to-date through Continuing Professional Development.
Only Registered Veterinary Nurses are able to use the letters RVN after their name. Veterinary Nurses who have not yet registered and would like to, should contact the RCVS Veterinary Nursing Department for a transfer pack: 020 7202 0788 and vetnursing@rcvs.org.uk. Transfer is free of charge.
"I look forward to seeing the RVN section of the publication increasing in size year on year, as veterinary nurses signal to the public and their colleagues that they wish to be recognised as accountable professionals," commented Andrea Jeffery, Chairman of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council.
The publication has been posted to all Listed and Registered Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Nursing Approved Centres. It is also available to purchase from RCVSonline (www.rcvs.org.uk/publications).
Just over 17% of the RCVS membership voted in the Council elections - which the RCVS reports is consistent with previous turn-outs.
New faces on the RCVS Council include Richard Stephenson, Charles Gruchy and Catherine Goldie. Dr Barry Johnson (first elected to Council in 1985) and Dr Christopher Chesney (first elected in 1996) have been voted on for further terms. Dr Robert Ellis, who has had three previous periods on Council, has been re-elected.
Meanwhile about 9% of registered and listed veterinary nurses cast their vote in the VN Council elections. At 680, the number of votes was up 100 on last year, but the turnout remains disappointing low. Dot Creighton, current Vice-Chairman, will continue on Council for another term, and Katherine Kissick has been newly-elected.
The Company of Animals, makers of behaviour and training products, has announced the launch of a new Product and Training DVD, designed to be screened in practice waiting rooms.
The DVD features the entire range of products from Company of Animals, including its multi-award-winning dog training devices, being demonstrated by pet dogs and their owners. It is presented by Animal Psychologist and founder of The Company of Animals, Dr. Roger Mugford.
The Company of Animals says that playing the DVD during opening hours will grab the attention of your customers, raise their awareness of already popular products, and educate them about new ones.
This DVD is free and available to all veterinary retailers. To order the DVD or for more information see: http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/
Purina Veterinary Diets has launched Feline Urinary UR ST/OXTM to provide highly advanced nutritional support in the veterinary treatment and long term management of FLUTD.
Purina says that Feline Urinary UR ST/OXTM will help vets nutritionally support the management of three conditions most frequently associated with FLUTD in just one formula: dissolve struvite crystals, reduce the recurrence of both struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths and help treat feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC).
According to the company, the most advanced scientific methods of evaluation have been used to determine the efficacy of Feline UR ST/OXTM, namely Activity Product Ratio (APR) and Relative Super Saturation (RSS) techniques. Rarely used, except in human science, APR is a dynamic and highly sensitive parameter. It is a more vigorous test than RSS and reflects more precisely the in vivo situation.
RSS assesses the likelihood of urolith formation by using measurements of urine pH, volume and mineral concentration. Urine APR goes further and calculates the ratio of urinary measurements before and after urine incubation with pure crystals (struvite or calcium oxalate.) APR is therefore able to more accurately predict the crystal evolution by assessing the cumulative influence of urine crystal growth promoters and inhibitors. Feline UR ST/OXTM is the first diet evaluated using both these parameters together. The results of the evaluation demonstrate a rapid dissolution for struvite and a reduction of recurrence for both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.
FLUTD has a number of known risk factors including insufficient water intake and obesity. To date, the only interventions that have been repeatedly shown to increase water intake and urine volume are dietary modifications. In the management of FLUTD, raising water intake has three key benefits to decrease the concentration of various urolith-forming components in the urine, dilute inflammatory mediators and shorten the contact time of irritating substances with the bladder mucosa. Feline UR ST/OXTM dry formula has been shown to increase water intake by up to 20%, increase urine volume by up to 40% and consequently decrease urine specific gravity to below 1.045.
Feline UR ST/OXTM has also been specifically developed with moderate fat levels and optimal protein to help achieve and maintain ideal body condition thereby tackling obesity, another predisposing factor for FLUTD. With an exceptionally palatable formula, this new diet is available in both a wet and dry form.
Purina Veterinary Diets Feline Urinary UR ST/OXTM is available in the following pack sizes - 1.5 and 5kg and 195gr cans.
Each 'Facing Up To Finances' discussion will include tips from a financial professional and live Q&A from the community.
Hosted by a member of VetYou, the panel will include a financial professional, a guest sharing their experience, and a member of the Veterinary Woman team.
Registrants can pre-submit questions or ask them live, including anonymously.
Editor of Veterinary Woman, Jenny Langridge, said: “Readers of Veterinary Woman ranked ‘finances’ as the top subject they needed to know more about to make the most of future opportunities.
"It’s vital that women in the veterinary professions are able to access trusted resources such as the Facing Up To Finances discussions to help achieve their financial goals.”
Further sessions in October 2024 and January and May 2025 will cover subjects including preparing for the unexpected, financial planning and negotiation around life moves such as family, moves and career shifts, and financial strategies for wellness and insurance.
https://www.subscribepage.com/veterinary_woman_finance_series
Linda gave her address at the Royal Institute of British Architects, venue for the RCVS Annual General Meeting last Friday.
Linda, an equine vet and director of the Wiltshire-based George Veterinary Group, said: “A Royal College and a regulator – it’s a challenge but this combined role is also an opportunity for us.
“In the time I’ve served the RCVS, I’ve definitely learnt some of what it takes to fulfil these roles under the remit of both the Veterinary Surgeons Act and our Royal Charter; to think not just from personal perspective and experience, and also to try to look beyond the needs of the profession today and consider what tomorrow might bring.
“Vets are not just one thing.
"The roles we fill in our working lives are many and varied, and I would argue that the MRCVS is the best placed arbiter of animal health and welfare.
"As such, keeping the MRCVS at the heart of decision-making around how veterinary care and services are provided is essential both to safeguard animal health and welfare and also to retain public trust in our work.
“Cultivating trust is a big part of what many of us do, day in and day out – trust in us from within our teams, from our clients and perhaps even from our patients.
“The RCVS with its two hats does a tough job for both the professions and the public.
"In many cases, the interests of the professions and the public align and there is no conflict.
"Of course, as a regulator where the interests don’t align, the RCVS regulates in the wider public interest and this, too, is a positive for us as a profession.
“Working in a regulated environment is a strength for us.
"The landscape in which we work has changed and the regulatory environment needs to change too. Now we are the other side of the general election, work can continue on legislative reform seeking parliamentary time for a new Veterinary Surgeons Act.”
As the 13th female President of the RCVS, Linda will lead an Officer Team comprising the now Senior Vice-President Dr Sue Paterson FRCVS, Junior Vice-President Professor Tim Parkin FRCVS and Treasurer Dr Tshidi Gardiner MRCVS as well as VN Council Chair Belinda Andrews-Jones RVN, who attends Officer Team meetings as an observer.
The project is being led by Dr Faye Didymus (pictured) and Dr Jackie Hargreaves from Leeds Beckett University and will culminate in a set of evidence-based recommendations for how mental health education for veterinary students could be enhanced.
Jackie said: “As part of our project we have already explored the curriculum of accredited veterinary nursing courses for mental health content, but we would love to know more about current VN experiences of mental health in the workforce, and how mental health could be integrated into the curriculum of degrees and diplomas.
"This will include an interview, lasting approximately 60 minutes, about confidence in their practical skills, coping with work stress, and discussion about how to prepare students for the workplace.
“We are seeking VNs who are currently working in practice who have thoughts and ideas about how to further integrate mental health into the veterinary nursing curriculum.
"If you fit into this category, we would be very grateful if you could take the time to participate in our study.
"There is currently little research in this area, and we hope that the outcomes of our project will make a real tangible difference to the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary nurses both throughout their studies and in the long term when they enter the workforce.
“Faye and I would like to extend our thanks to everyone who has already supported our research project, and we look forward to hearing about the ideas and experiences of current practising veterinary nurses.”
For further information about the interview, please contact either Dr Hargreaves at j.hargreaves@leedsbeckett.ac.uk, or research assistant Jen Rawson at jennifer.rawson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
Recruitment for interviews will close on Saturday 7 September.
The content covers the main points in the WSAVA’s report and offers up-to-date information and advice.
For example, Virbac highlights how the report raises concerns about increasing moves to early neutering, or for neutering to be used as a method of behavioural control, as not all aggressive behaviours are testosterone related.
For that reason, a “castration trial’ with long-acting GnRH agonist is recommended by the report before irreversible orchiectomy is performed.
In addition, there is also evidence that gonadectomy may contribute to the development of some tumours, which is currently under intense investigation, as is the effect of age at castration
Dr Neil Mottram, Technical Manager at Virbac, said: "There is so much new information to assimilate.
"So the educational reproductive resource is designed to make that journey easier to navigate and provide vets with easy access to up to the minute information on key issues in the report’.
To access the materials visit: https://vet-uk.virbac.com/home/resource-library.html, or contact your territory manager.
The webinar will discuss the importance of self-compassion and provide an overview of Katherine and Sarah’s research into the effectiveness of an online compassion focused therapy (CFT) intervention in improving the mental wellbeing of veterinary professionals.
Katherine and Sarah will also go into more detail about how to get the most out of a CFT course they have created, which will be made freely available for veterinary professionals on the Mind Matters website and on the RCVS YouTube channel .
Katherine said: “Our recent randomised control trial has shown the course to significantly improve resilience and self-compassion and reduce rumination and self-criticism amongst veterinarians.
"Therefore, Sarah and I are delighted to now be disseminating the CFT course freely to the veterinary professions, so that as many people are able to benefit from the evidence-based resource as possible.
“Even though our research was conducted on veterinary surgeons, we hope that the course will be useful to all those working in the veterinary team as the content can be applied in a number of contexts.
“Our webinar will explain more about our research, as well as some of the science behind the effectiveness of the course in a veterinary context.
"So, if you are interested in learning more about how CFT may be able to help you and your team, both in a personal and professional capacity, please do come along.”
Katherine and Sarah’s compassion focused therapy course will be made available on the Mind Matters website in due course. In order to access the online compassion course, individuals are invited to complete a short questionnaire before and after watching one 10-15 minute video each day for 14 days, with the aim of the video intervention being to develop self-compassion skills and reduce self-criticism.
https://vetmindmatters.org/events/
VetPartners says Valley Vets has around 200 employees, less than half of which are members of the union, although the BVU says 50% are required for recognition.
Suzanna Hudson-Cooke MRCVS, Branch Chair at BVU said: “Fees at Valley Vets have increased by 25% in two years, which is hurting pet owners whilst some staff at Valley Vets are being paid so little that they’re having to use foodbanks.
“Three years ago, VetPartners CEO Jo Malone committed to paying all staff a living wage, which still hasn’t happened”
“VetPartners did increase the salaries of lower paid members by 7.27% in the last review, but this was mostly to meet its legal obligation to pay the minimum wage.”
VetPartners responded to these points saying:
"It has been and still is our aim to pay at least the real living wage to all of our employees. We have moved closer to the aim over the past three years.
"There are 20 members of the regular team that work at Valley Vets who are below the real living wage and they are paid approximately 1.6% below that level.
"Since April 2020, we have uplifted overall salary costs at Valley Vets by 31.45% before the increase in April 2024, at a time when VetPartners, like many businesses across the UK, has been hit by a sharp rise in the cost of goods and services, interest rates and rampant inflation.
"Valley Vets’ profitability has declined over the last three years.
"We have made advances over several years in improving many benefits for our teams such as life cover, health shield, sickness and enhanced maternity cover and want to continue to do so.
"We have seen mass redundancies from other large groups and we are trying to avoid this at Valley Vets.
"The BVU in Unite requested pay and condition increases initially that would have raised employment costs by over 25% and they are currently requesting increases which would raise this by 15% which would make Valley Vets unsustainable without a significant reduction in the workforce, something we are trying to avoid.”
During annual salary reviews in 2024, we benchmarked pay for all roles within Valley Vets and they sit in the upper quartile.
"We prioritised lowest-paid team members with a 7.27% pay increase while higher paid colleagues also received an increase at a lower rate.
"We are also well aware of the affordability of care fees, and that is why we felt fees paid by our clients could not be raised any further to support significant salary increases demanded by the BVU in Unite.
The strike is due to continue till the end of July, during which time the BVU says staff are being released from the picket line as needed to provide local animals with emergency care.
Staff are not paid whilst out on strike so the BVU has started a fund, here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PTVKVK3
A team of researchers led by Tim Mair, CVS Equine Veterinary Director and Specialist in both Equine Internal Medicine and Equine Soft Tissue Surgery at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, will review 100 cases of colitis in adult horses and 100 controls referred to seven equine veterinary hospitals in the UK: five CVS equine veterinary hospitals as well as Rossdales Equine Hospital and University of Liverpool’s equine hospital.
A set of diagnostic tests on blood and faeces will be performed in these cases.
The laboratory tests will include: small redworm serology, culture and PCR of faeces for Salmonella spp, PCR of faeces for Clostridioides difficile and Clostridium perfringens, ELISA of faeces for toxins of C.difficile and C.perfringens, PCR of faeces for coronavirus.
The clinical features, laboratory results, treatments and outcomes will also be recorded.
Tim said: “Acute colitis accounts for around 5% of admissions to referral hospitals.
"And of those who are referred with it, half will not survive but there is very limited evidence available.
"So it’s vital that we build our evidence-base of this life-threatening condition.
"We hope that the outcomes of our new study will lead to a greater understanding of the causes and better inform veterinary treatment of colitis in UK adult horses.”
The Colitis in Adult Horses study is supported by a research grant from CVS, and funding for the small redworm ELISA will be given from Austin Davis Biologics.
The study started at the beginning of 2024 and the first horses have been recruited.
The results of the study are expected to be published in 2025.
The practice, which has nine clinicians (including three RCVS Recognised Specialists), eleven RVNs, two human-trained cardiac physiologists and a dedicated referral administrator is the first referral practice in the UK to become an EOT.
Dave Dickson, a director alongside Jo Harris, said: "The decision to transition the clinical side of the business into employee ownership was led by the core values of the team and the desire to preserve our independence as a referral service.
"In an industry dominated by corporate acquisitions, with business models increasingly focused on keeping referral offerings within the corporate groups and limiting choice for clients, we felt it was crucial to chart a different course.
"We have a very bonded and supportive team, working together to continuously improve and evolve, where the ideas of every team member are important and all roles are equally appreciated.
"We feel that employee ownership aligns perfectly with this ethos.
Jo Harris added: “By involving all our employees in the ownership of the business, we aim to foster a culture of engagement and collaboration.
"This new structure ensures that every team member has a stake in the success of the business and a voice in how it operates.
"We believe this will not only enhance our service quality but also promote sustainable growth and innovation.
"The transition to employee ownership is not just a change in structure; it is a reaffirmation of our values and a pledge to our patients, clients, and partners that we will continue to strive for excellence in every aspect of our work.”
Available in packs of 56 (4 x 14 tablet blister packs), Lodisure tablets are divisible for accurate dosing.
The recommended starting dose is 0.125-0.25 mg amlodipine per kg bodyweight per day, which equates to half a tablet for cats weighing less than 4kg (and more than 2kg) and one tablet per day for cats weighing between 4kg and 8kg.
It can be administered directly to the cat or given with a small quantity of food.
Dechra companion animal brand manager, Sarah Musgrave, said: “Feline hypertension is very often part of a more complex diagnosis, therefore it is important that antihypertensive therapies are easy to dose and administer.
"Lodisure is a new, first-line, easy to dose and administer treatment to control systolic blood pressure in cats while the underlying primary cause is diagnosed and treated, which vets can rely on in their day-to-day practice.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/products/cat/prescription/lodisure.
A team of three Ofsted inspectors carried out a four-day inspection, reporting that:
Head of centre Jackie Shopland-Reed said: “We are delighted to have regained our outstanding status, in our first full inspection since being graded as Good in 2015.
“It is very rewarding that the inspectors praised the high quality of teaching and the support we provide for apprentices.
"We also received feedback that apprentices enjoy their learning and feel safe and well supported.
"Our strong and effective partnerships with employers were also praised, all of which which makes us very proud.”
https://www.liteltd.co.uk
Invetx specialises in developing protein-based therapeutics for chronic conditions in companion animals, with a focus on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
Dechra says these therapies have targeted modes of action and therefore are often more effective, provide an extended duration of activity and have fewer side effects, all of which help to extend and improve the quality of life for companion animals while decreasing the care burden for pet owners.
Jesper Nordengaard, Chief Executive Officer of Dechra, said: "I regard this acquisition as hugely important for Dechra, marking the start of a new chapter in our growth.
"It demonstrates our ambition to create further points of differentiation and relevance with veterinarians and pet owners alike, confidence in our ability to deliver highly innovative new products, and capacity to execute large scale transactions at speed."
Jesper added: “The half-life extension technology developed by Invetx allows for the generation of therapeutics that make treatment of chronic conditions far more convenient for pet owners and veterinarians through improved compliance.
"The pipeline of products currently being developed are all high value potential and will deepen our expertise in core therapeutic areas such as atopic dermatitis and osteoarthritis, allowing for synergistic product development, sales & marketing, and education efforts in the future.”
https://www.invetx.com