The British Veterinary Association, some of the UK's largest animal charities, law enforcement agencies and unions have today called on the leaders of the main political parties to work together to introduce improved and updated legislation to protect dog welfare and public safety.

The 20 groups have come together to demand action against irresponsible dog owners by the Government and the provision of necessary resources for those tasked with policing dog control laws.

It comes ahead of the summary of responses from Defra's consultation on dog legislation which is expected this autumn. The consultation received more than 4,000 responses by the time it closed in June, indicating the scale of interest in the subject.

The joint statement will be sent to Prime Minister David Cameron MP, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP and acting leader of the opposition Harriet Harman MP.

The statement says: "We believe that irresponsible dog ownership, whether it is allowing dogs to stray, be dangerously out of control or indiscriminately breeding them, causes significant problems for the safety and welfare of both humans and animals. Current legislation is proving inadequate in many cases to ensure sufficient protection.

"We believe that both the provision of sufficient resources at a local level for local authorities and the police, and updated and consolidated legislation that has a genuine preventative effect, are needed to address this problem.

"We call on the coalition Government to act and bring forward legislation that addresses these areas effectively."

BVA President Professor Bill Reilly added: "The Government must not ignore this overwhelming call for action to protect dog welfare and public safety.

"The problems caused by dangerous dogs will never be solved until dog owners appreciate that they are responsible for the actions of their animals. The BVA believes very strongly in the principle of deed not breed - targeting dogs for their actions, not what they look like - and new legislation must tackle the actions of irresponsible pet owners that can cause dogs to become aggressive. Current legislation is not tackling irresponsible owners who increasingly put the public and other animals at risk.

"Compulsory microchipping - and an effective and workable registration system - should be put in place for all dogs, not only to reunite stray dogs with their owners, but also to help prevent puppy farming and to promote responsible ownership.

"I cannot stress too strongly that responsible ownership is the key to resolving the issue of dangerous dogs."

Veterinary practices are signing up fast for the opportunity to take part in Pet Smile Month in September 2010, according to organisers.

Participating practices carry out free dental checks in September as part of a nationwide campaign to promote dental health in pets.

Pet Smile Month founder, veterinary surgeon Bob Partridge said: 'Pet Smile Month is all about relieving pain and suffering in pets and educating owners on the importance of dental care for pets. It also highlights the caring nature of the profession and provides practices with an opportunity to promote the range of services it offers.'

Registered practices will receive information leaflets to give to clients, and an educational poster - illustrating the problems of dental disease and encouraging clients to seek dental care.

For Pet Smile Month 2010, as well as the Pet Smile Art Competition (with prizes for young clients), Kruuse has offered the iM3 42-12 dental scaler as a prize for the best waiting room Pet Smile Month display, together with runner-up prizes.

Pet Smile Month could not exist without the long-standing commitment of Petosan, Genitrix, CEVA, Kruuse, NVS, Centaur, Dunlops, Veterinary Surgeons' Supply Company and IGP UK Ltd.

To find a participating local veterinary practice, owners can use the 'Find-a-PSM-Vet' button at http://www.petsmile.org/. There is also a dedicated vet area on the website.

Linnaeus has published Pathways to Innovation: Learning and Leadership in Clinical Veterinary Research, which contains a selection of veterinary research papers and articles by experts from across the profession. 

The studies and articles include a look at retention in the veterinary nursing profession, the importance of ethics, artificial Intelligence in veterinary practice, canine corneal bacterial pathogens, canine appendicular soft tissue sarcomas and mast cell tumours, and autologous mesenchymal stromal cell treatment.

Professor Luisa De Risio, Clinical Research and Excellence Director at Linnaeus, said: “Innovation in clinical research can only happen if we embrace change in society – from new technology to improvements in animal welfare. As well as showcasing the latest research, our new report also brings together experts to consider the opportunities for our profession.”

https://bit.ly/42KFrMK 

Bayer has unveiled a major TV marketing campaign to promote Drontal.

An advertising campaign featuring the Drontal Schnauzer will run for two months. In addition, the company is sponsoring the TV series The Dog Whisperer, which is due to be aired from October to December this year.

The company is also launching a competition to enable owners to show off their pets and win a number of prizes.  They include appearing in a double page spread in Your Dog and Your Cat magazines, holidays at pet-friendly hotels, digital cameras, shopping vouchers, pet accessories and much, much more!  Pet owners will be able to submit photos, videos and stories to http://www.mypetsuperstar.com/ which has four competition categories:

• Most entertaining - to showcase the most talented cats and dogs with amusing habits, funny mannerisms and clever tricks
• Cutest - for cute and cuddly pets that have the 'aahhhh' factor
• Look-a-like - for pets that resemble a famous celebrity, politician or historical character, or even those that have similar personality traits to someone in the public eye
• Inspirational - for heroic pets that have helped their owners overcome an obstacle in life, motivated them to do something new or simply have a 'tail' of courage

Dan White, Drontal product manager said: "My Pet Superstar aims to celebrate the unique traits and talents that make us love and take pride in our pets. Visitors to the website will be able to vote for their favourite entries and even post these to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. With four very different categories, this competition will be wide open to all dog and cat owners. Our motto is that healthy pets are happy pets, and we will use the competition to remind dog and cat owners about the benefits of regular worming.

Practices can get involved by displaying waiting room materials including A4 static window posters, shelf wobblers and mobile hanging devices by calling 0845 257 4798.

Genitrix has launched Dentagen toothpaste which, the company says, uniquely both cleans teeth and inhibits the formation of plaque. 

Dentagen toothpaste is based on RF2, a plant extract, which is clinically proven to inhibit the formation of dental biofilm or plaque. It has been formulated to a dentrifrice abrasivity (RDA) index of 34 to ensure that it removes plaque while causing no damage to the enamel layer of the teeth. The toothpaste is packaged with a free finger-brush to help introduce the pet to having its teeth brushed.  It costs £5.50 for a 70g tube.

The toothpaste completes the range of Dentagen health products - the fastest growing dental products in the UK (according to GFK data in May 2010). 

Genitrix says Dentagen is the only veterinary dental system to combine a procedure carried out in practice with a variety of aftercare regimes to ensure owner compliance. In 2008, Genitrix launched the Dentagen plaque protection system. It consists of a RF2-impregnated wax provided to practices in a syringe and applied to the gingival layer and the buccal area of teeth of dogs or cats at the end of dental procedures. Pet owners then maintain the protective coating by using  the new Dentagen toothpaste or other products in the range - either the RF2-impregnated vegetable-based palatable Dentagen chews or Dentagen Aqua, a palatable liquid containing RF2, which is added to a pet's drinking water on a daily basis.  

Rob Watkins, Genitrix' Marketing Director, said:  "Brushing has long been recognised as the 'gold standard' when it comes to dental health care so we felt it was important for the Dentagen range to include this option.  Regular brushing makes a significant contribution to the maintenance of oral health and the RF2 in the Dentagen toothpaste actually suppresses plaque formation between brushing which is a further benefit.  It sets a new efficacy standard for pet toothpaste.

However, while many owners understand the importance of dental health, many of them find actually brushing their pet's teeth difficult - especially those with cats.  This is why the Dentagen range includes a variety of options.  It enables pet owners to select the method that is right for them and their pet and thus maximise the likelihood of their compliance with a good preventive health regime."

Animal training and behaviour experts have joined forces to try and end bad practice by poorly trained individuals.

The Animal Behaviour and Training Council is being launched to regulate the education and training of those working in the animal behaviour modification sector.

The new organisation brings together leaders in the veterinary, welfare, rehoming, animal training and behaviour therapy fields. It aims to set standards for the knowledge and skills required to be a recognised professional.  

The agreed standards will be used to assess the competency of practitioners before they are included on the Council's national register of animal trainers and behaviour therapists. The details will be publicly available to help people to find an appropriate expert.

The standards will also help those seeking a career in animal behaviour or further developing the skills of those already practicing the profession.

Council chairman David Montgomery said: "Regulation of this industry sector is long overdue. The formation of the council has been met with widespread enthusiasm and support from professional organisations both in the UK and overseas."

Organisations represented on the Council already include major charities such as RSPCA, Guide Dogs and The Blue Cross, with interest being expressed from organisations in Europe, Australia and Brazil.

Senior lecturer in companion animal behaviour and welfare at Bristol University Dr Rachel Casey said: "There is currently a plethora of groups and individuals providing dog training which makes it difficult for owners to choose the right one to suit the needs of their pet.

"We believe that the ABTC will aim to solve this problem and will be a very important step forward in raising standards in animal training and behaviour."

For more information visit: www.abtcouncil.org.uk

The Dogs Trust has released the results of its 2010 Stray Dog Survey, which shows that 51% of stray dogs picked up by local authorities in the UK were reunited with their owners.

According to the charity, this compares with 42% last year and is only the second time the figure has gone through the 50% barrier since survey records began in 1997.

Where the method used to return stray dogs was identified, the proportion of dogs returned through microchipping was 35% - up from 31% last year.

Dogs Trust is repeating the call for the introduction of a compulsory microchipping system for all dogs in the UK. It believes this will help reunite even more owners with their lost pets, trace abandoned pets back to irresponsible owners and ultimately reduce the number of healthy dogs unnecessarily put to sleep in the UK.

The annual Stray Dog Survey, conducted by GfK NOP on behalf of Dogs Trust, shows an overall increase in instances of straying from 107,228 to 121,693. However, taking into account the number of dogs reclaimed or returned to owner (45,329 in 2009 and 61,908 in 2010) we can estimate that this year the number of dogs actually abandoned (approximately 59,785) as opposed to being wanted pets that simply strayed has fallen by 3%.

There has been a considerable decline in the number of dogs being put to sleep by Local Authorities due to ill health, aggression (under the Dangerous Dogs Act) or simply for want of a home. Down from 9,310 in last year's survey to 6,404 this year. Dogs Trust is delighted at the progress Local Authorities have made in bringing down these numbers and their efforts in rehoming and returning so many dogs to their owners.

Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin said: "Dogs Trust is encouraged to see that although the instances of straying in the UK has increased in the last two years, the percentage of these dogs being reunited with their owners has increased and, more importantly, the numbers being put to sleep has fallen drastically.

"We are delighted to see that microchipping is having a serious impact on the stray dog situation in the UK. Dogs Trust runs subsidised microchipping campaigns across the country and in particular those areas with the biggest stray dog problems. A compulsory microchipping system would undoubtedly improve the situation further."

Dogs Trust says the introduction of compulsory microchipping would:

• Enable lost or straying dogs to be reunited promptly with their owners - meaning fewer dogs will be put to sleep at council pounds
• Permanently identify a dog in such a way that is virtually impossible to alter or remove - a clear advantage for dogs that are stolen
• Enable clear identification of the dog's owner when prosecution is being considered for dog thieves and antisocial behaviour
• Significantly decrease the workload of all those dealing with stray dogs
• Reduce kennelling costs for Local Authorities and save time
• Allow puppies bred illegally or inappropriately on puppy farms to be traced to their source

Time is running out to nominate your fellow staff members for this year's 'Petplan Pet Insurance Advisor Award'.

The award recognises the hard work and dedication that Pet Insurance Advisors (PIAs) do to highlight the importance of insurance to pet owners so that they are protected financially.

Donna Lewis, President of The British Veterinary Nursing Association said: "The PIA in a practice is an important role for a member of staff to fill and the award is just as relevant as the Vet Nurse of the Year or Receptionist of the Year award.  The Petplan PIA Award recognises the individual who fully understands and works to help educate clients and staff about insurance, it is also recognises their passion for their role."

To nominate your dedicated PIA for Petplan's PIA of the Year Awards, please visit www.petplan.co.uk/pia.  The PIA of the Year will receive a new laptop and their practice will receive £100 in vouchers!

Nominations close on 3^rd September and the nominees will be judged by industry professionals.  The winner will be announced at the annual BVNA Congress on 9^th October.

Norbrook has launched Loxicom 0.5mg/ml oral suspension for small dogs, indicated for the alleviation of inflammation and pain in acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.

Loxicom Oral Suspension comes in a clear 15ml bottle which allows vets and clients to monitor levels of the product and re-order when necessary.

Loxicom 0.5mg/ml for Dogs comes with two sizes of syringe, a 1ml syringe graduated from 0.25kg-5kg to treat even the smallest of dog breeds accurately, and a 5ml syringe graduated from 1kg-25kg to treat small and medium dog breeds. The syringes plug securely into the bottle to ensure a tight-fitting connection and minimal leakage when administering the product.

This new oral suspension joins the range of 1.5mg/ml oral suspensions for Dogs and 5mg/ml injections for Dogs and Cats, launched in 2009, and the 0.5mg/ml oral suspension for Cats launched earlier this year at the BSAVA Congress.

CEVA Animal Health has published a trial which, according to the company, shows that horses suffering lameness caused by bone spavin can show marked improvement following treatment with a Tiludronate infusion, in combination with controlled exercise.

Bone spavin is a chronic aseptic osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints which, says CEVA, is considered to be one of the most common forms of hindlimb lameness in the horse.

The double-blind, multicentric, placebo-controlled trials were carried out on a total of 108 pleasure horses, show jumpers and eventers of a variety of sizes and breeds, all of which had been clinically diagnosed with bone spavin. The horses were rigorously selected, having to show clinical signs of spontaneous lameness of at least six weeks but less than a year's duration and had to be in daily exercise. Horses suffering proximal suspensory desmitis were excluded.

Horses were defined as suffering from bone spavin if they displayed a chronic hindlimb lameness which improved with distal tarsal joint analgesia and showed radiographic evidence of bony changes associated with bone spavin in the distal tarsal joints. The horses were treated at day zero with a single Tiludronate infusion or a placebo and reassessed 60 days later after a period of controlled exercise.

Eighty seven horses completed the trials, comprising 42 Tiludronate treated horses and 45 placebo cases. By day 60 approximately 60% of the Tiludronate treated horses had improved in lameness by two grades or more, scored on a ten point system.

Horses with bone spavin experience abnormal bone remodeling changes, occasionally with excessive bone resorption in the tarsal bones. Tiludronate works by regulating this bone remodeling through a decrease in the resorptive process, slowing down the degradation of the bone structure when the condition is progressing and alleviating the pain associated with abnormal bone lysis.

CEVA has recently produced a leaflet specifically to help horse owners to understand the diagnosis and treatment of bone spavin. For copies of this leaflet and CEVA's comprehensive veterinary brochure on the product please contact CEVA Animal Health on 01494 781510 or visit the website at http://www.tildren.com/

Tiludronate infusion in the treatment of bone spavin: A double blind placebo-controlled trial

Reference 
M. R. GOUGH*, D. THIBAUD† and R. K. W. SMITH‡ (*CEVA Animal Health, Bucks, UK; †CEVA Animal Health USA, Kansas, USA; and ‡Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK). Equine vet. J. (2010) 42 (5) 381-387 doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00120.x

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has called for comment on a new draft health protocol which aims to deal compassionately with veterinary surgeons who have health problems, such as alcohol or drug addiction or mental health issues, while continuing to protect the public interest.

According to independent legal advice sought by the College, such an approach is appropriate and necessary in order for the RCVS to fulfil its regulatory responsibilities - similar systems exist within other regulators.

RCVS President Peter Jinman said: "At present, where veterinary surgeons suffer from health problems that affect their fitness to practise, they may be referred to a formal and public Disciplinary Committee inquiry and stopped from practising. But it is recognised that this is not always in the public interest, which could be protected by a more compassionate approach, involving medical help, workplace supervision and continued practice, subject to conditions."

As a result, the draft Protocol has been developed by the RCVS Preliminary Investigation and Advisory Committees. It formalises and builds on steps taken by the Preliminary Investigation Committee in the past to help veterinary surgeons to recover from health problems affecting fitness to practise, without referral to the RCVS Disciplinary Committee. Often those veterinary surgeons are also receiving help from the Veterinary Benevolent Fund's Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme.

The Protocol encourages anyone coming into contact with veterinary surgeons - including other veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, members of practice staff, clients and healthcare professionals - who have concerns about a veterinary surgeon's health to report those concerns to the RCVS as soon as is reasonably practicable. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are concerned about the health of a veterinary surgeon must also take steps to ensure that animals are not put at risk and that the interests of the public, including those of their colleagues, are protected.

A similar protocol would be introduced for Registered Veterinary Nurses when the equivalent disciplinary system comes into force next year.

The draft protocol, together with recommended changes to the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct to support the change, is available online (www.rcvs.org.uk/healthprotocol) and comments are requested by 8 October 2010. The comments will be considered by Advisory Committee and then RCVS Council.

 Comments should be sent to Simon Wiklund, Advisory Manager, on s.wiklund@rcvs.org.uk. A hard copy of the consultation document is available on request.

BEVA Congress Registrations this year show that many more vet practices are now recognising the benefits of Veterinary Nurses attending Congress (8-11 September 2010) and are actively encouraging their VN teams to attend, say the organisers.

Apparently, Veterinary Nurse registrations are already looking healthy compared to 2009.

BEVA Congress hosts a Vet Nursing day each year, with themed lectures aimed specifically at the profession and presented by a combination of vets and vet nurses. Pete Ravenhill MRCVS, partner at Willesley Equine Clinic (now part of B&W Equine Group Ltd) at Tetbury, Gloucestershire, who will be speaking at Congress this year, is always keen for as many of his practice's VNs as possible to attend. He said: "We tend to send three or four of our vet nurses each year, as a part of their annual CPD budget. In our experience they come back informed and enthusiastic, having received masses of information and ways to apply it in their own day-to-day jobs. It also enables our Vet Nurses to realise how much we value them as professionals and how heavily reliant the quality of our service is on their skills and professionalism."

This year the VN day will run on Thursday 9 September and will encompass a broad programme, including Ethics in Nursing. This sensitive topic promises to generate strong interest and debate as well as extend knowledge on making decisions on euthanasia and how to manage bereavement issues.

James Yeates BVSc BSc CertWEL of the department of clinical veterinary science at the University of Bristol, will be exploring Coping with sick horses - when is enough enough. He will consider how improvements in quality of life can be maximised with the use of pain assessment tools, quality of life methodologies and welfare-based care plans. He will also examine the risk of perpetuating suffering, how best to assess and balance the welfare harms and benefits and how best to communicate assessments to owners.

Belinda Johnston, MA VetMB MRCVS, at West End House vet practice at Higham, Suffolk, will explore the topic of Bereavement management - supporting the grieving owner. She will explain the normal grief patterns that can be expected and why it is so important to provide compassionate, empathic care for grieving owners and how practices need to have a clear, proactive idea of how they handle bereaved clients.

Other subjects to be covered on Vet Nursing day at BEVA Congress include Complementary Therapeutics and Rehabilitation, Medical Nursing and Nutrition and Supportive Care. The full day counts as 7 hours of Vet Nursing CPD.

BEVA Congress runs from 8-11 September 2010 at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. For further information and to register visit http://www.beva.org.uk/