A You Gov poll commissioned by Intervet/Schering Plough in the run up to National Vaccination Month (1st-30th June) shows the degree to which the recession is now biting into veterinary spending, and the impact it's having on vaccination levels.
The You Gov survey found that 19% of pet owners nationwide admit they have cut back on veterinary expenses such as vaccinations, health checks and treatments. Just under half are failing to vaccinate their animals with 53% of those polled not vaccinating their pets due to cost.
Other key findings of the You Gov survey include:
The You Gov survey also highlighted a lack of awareness among younger pet owners about pet health. Of the 18-24 year olds polled who had not taken their pet to be vaccinated, 44% said it was because they were unaware of any disease risk to their animals, compared to just 13% of those aged 55 and over. 22% of 18-24 year olds surveyed were not aware of zoonoses such as fleas and worms and diseases such as ringworm and Toxocara.
Matt Brash, BVetMed MRCVS, who runs a small animal veterinary clinic in North Yorkshire and is star of the TV show 'Zoo Vet at Large' said: "These figures are concerning and we could be sitting on a ticking time bomb. The simple fact is that many pet owners don't realise that their pets are at risk of disease. Less than half of all dogs and cats are vaccinated, which is well below the amount needed to protect the pet population through herd immunity."
Paula Boyden, a vet and Business Development and Corporate Marketing Project Manager at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, who has steered the campaign for the company said: "There are clearly some strong messages coming out to vets here, not least where and how the credit crunch is hitting pet owners. The underlying message that National Vaccination Month offers a way of supporting pet owners during these difficult economic times is obviously important. While the data shows that pet owners will still make considerable sacrifices to care for their pets, it also highlights that vaccination is falling by the wayside. Clearly, practices will need to work harder than ever against the background of the credit crunch to bring home the message to pet owners that their pets are at risk of serious and often fatal disease and that cutting vaccination is a false economy. The You Gov poll also highlights the urgent need to educate the younger section of pet owners about the disease threat faced by their animals."
TV wildlife and science presenter Kate Humble, who with Matt and Clare Brash is spearheading the National Vaccination Month Campaign, said: "The really sad aspect is that people who are reducing veterinary care due to the recession may be making a false economy by putting their pets at risk of serious disease, which may lead to treatment at far greater cost than the price of the annual jab."
The You Gov survey suggests that where people have had to pay for unexpected vet bills they are paying for them on credit cards. One had to put the family pet down and many revealed that they had made personal sacrifices in order to keep looking after their animals including stopping smoking, cutting out luxuries, clothes and socialising.
The You Gov survey highlights how, despite lavishing affection and presents on their pets, people are not taking adequate steps to protect them from preventable killer diseases. The survey reveals that 65% of pet owners consider their animal to be an extremely important member of the family with over half (54%) buying them Christmas presents. However, only 56% of pets were vaccinated with just under a quarter (22%) of owners unaware of any disease risk.
Currently, an estimated 3 million dogs, 6 million cats, 1.8 million rabbits and 500,000 horses are unvaccinated.
In answer to this disease threat and to help owners during the recession, around 2,000 veterinary clinics across the UK have so far signed up to part in the National Vaccination Month campaign, offering pets a full vaccination course against a range of fatal diseases for the cost of a booster.
To participate in National Vaccination Month (www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk) - the biggest national consumer campaign of its kind, please contact your Intervet/ Schering-Plough Animal Health account manager or call Intervet/ Schering-Plough's Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685, option 4.
Genitrix has repackaged its palatable, fenbendazole-based treatment for internal parasites, with an easy dose syringe mechanism to allow its accurate administration to rabbits, ferrets, exotic birds and reptiles. To make life simpler for pet owners, it has also provided detailed dosing instructions for worming all the species for which it is indicated.
First launched in 2008, Lapizole is a broad spectrum oral-antiparasiticide for use in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by internal parasites of rabbits, birds, reptiles and ferrets, including Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) in rabbits.
Genitrix' marketing director, Rob Watkins, said: "Lapizole proved itself as a highly effective treatment for E. cuniculi during its first year. Many of our customers have expressed the wish to use the treatment on a broader range of animals and in species groups for which highly accurate dosing and a syringe mechanism would be vital. We've taken their feedback on board and are delighted to be making Lapizole available to them with its new dispenser.
"The combination of efficacy, easy dosage and palatability make it an ideal product for the control of internal parasites in these species."
For more information, visit http://www.genitrix.co.uk/
Fort Dodge has released figures today which point to a continued modest slowdown in the UK veterinary sector, being mitigated by a slight increase in average transaction value (the amount a client spends in a year).
Matthew Rowe, Companion Animal Marketing Manager at Fort Dodge, said: "It's been clear for some time that the veterinary sector is being hit by static growth and an increasingly competitive environment. The reduction in turnover being experienced by many practices is primarily down to current clients visiting less often and fewer new clients being attracted."
Key findings of the Fort Dodge Index for the first quarter of 2009 are:
Alan Robinson said: "In the current climate, the only contributor to turnover growth in many practices seems to be a steady rise in the price of professional fees, consultations and surgery. These have continued to push up average transaction values (by 1.4%) and client values (1.2%) in this first quarter of 2009 despite reducing visit frequency. Drug related income increases seem to be driven by a small increase of POM mark-ups in many practices.
"But this alone will not sustain a successful business and, with transaction volumes still falling, the priority for practices is to maintain client footfall despite increasing competition and falling pet ownership. In today's market, retaining clients is a cheaper and more effective way to maintain client and patient numbers so an emphasis on 'bonding' clients though preventative health care and heath maintenance programmes is key.
"We're seeing a steady increase in the number of practices running these programmes but the percentage of pets involved is still woefully low so the message is that practices can and must do better.
Animalcare has announced that a new indication for chronic renal insufficiency in cats has been approved in the licence for Benazecare 5mg.
Benazecare is a POM-V ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor containing benazepril hydrochloride, which was originally launched in the UK in 2007 for the treatment of congestive heart failure in dogs.
For more information, contact Animalcare at www.animalcare.co.uk
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched a new consumer campaign to support the company's joint care supplement, Cosequin.
The campaign centres around a series of paw-tapping internet videos which showcase the perfectly poised paws of dog and cat dance duo, Fred and Ginger, highlighting the importance of good joint health. The videos are available to view at http://www.cosequin-dance.co.uk/
Pet owners are encouraged to purchase Cosequin from vet practices to enter a prize draw to win a photography day with leading animal photographer, Sam Lunt, or one of ten tickets to an upcoming live dancing tour. Posters and in-practice leaflets are also available for vet practices to help drive awareness and encourage uptake.
Sarah-Jane Minter, Marketing Manager for Intervet/Schering-Plough, commented; "We wanted to create a campaign which would support vets in practice and attract the attention of pet owners, especially those who may not have previously thought about the joint health of their pet. With these lighthearted new videos of Fred and Ginger demonstrating everything from the jive to the rumba and an eye-catching print campaign, we certainly expect to grab pet owners' attention!"
ISPAH says that by supporting joint condition and maintaining not only healthy cartilage, but also healthy joint structures, Cosequin is suitable for all dogs and cats that need some joint support, especially highly active or older animals. It adds that the joint care supplement contains 100% pure chondroitin sulphate and the unique formulation has been proven in over 50 clinical trials.
For further information, please contact your local Intervet/Schering-Plough Veterinary Business Manager or phone the company's Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
A campaign to reform English libel law to allow for robust criticism of scientific and medical claims without fear of legal action has been launched by journalist and author Simon Singh. It's a campaign which anyone working in the caring professions might wish to support.
The campaign comes as a consequence of legal action taken against Mr Singh by The British Chiropractic Association, which took exception (perhaps unsurprisingly) to an article he'd written in The Guardian. In the article, Mr Singh denounced claims on the BCA website that its members could use spinal manipulation to treat children with colic, ear infections, asthma, sleeping and feeding conditions, and prolongued crying as 'bogus', and criticised the BCA for 'happily promoting' these claims.
Out of curiosity, VetSurgeon rang the BCA press office this morning, and asked to be given the references for studies which it feels would support the original claims made on its site. Non have been forthcoming so far, which is a surprise. Under the circumstances, we'd have expected the BCA would have a raft of supporting evidence readily available.
But this isn't really about whether or not chiropractic works or not. The case seems to hinge upon whether Mr Singh's article implied that the BCA was being deliberately dishonest, or just delusional. He say's the latter. Unfortunately for him, Mr Justice Eady recently ruled the former, leaving Mr Singh with a bill for £100,000 worth of legal fees.
Mr Singh is to appeal. At stake is the freedom to be able to challenge scientific claims without fear of being sued. If you'd like to support this campaign, visit senseaboutscience.com and add your name to the 7000 others (including some pretty illustrious names) who have already done so.
The RSPCA has reported that 11,586 animals were abandoned last year. That's more than 30 a day, and an increase of over 57% compared to the 7,347 animals that were abandoned in 2007.
Is this a precursor for tough times for the veterinary profession? Difficult to know. It conflicts with the record profits announced by CVS only a month ago. And perhaps the sort of people that would consider abandoning their animal under any circumstances are not likely to have been regular visitors to a vet in the first place.
CEVA Animal Health has extended its behavioural range of products with the launch of Senilife®, a nutritional supplement which is specifically formulated to help manage signs of brain ageing in dogs and cats.
Senilife® contains a combination of three essential brain nutrients - phosphatidylserine, vitamin B6 and vitamin E - which the company says help maintain membrane fluidity and normalise neurotransmission. In addition, two natural but potent anti-oxidants - gingko biloba and resveratrol - support brain metabolism and help to neutralise free radicals and reduce amyloid deposits.
According to CEVA, common signs of brain ageing in dogs and cats include playing or interacting less, barking or howling at night, loss of house-training/litter box training, apathy or increased tiredness and disorientation. A study has shown that up to 75% of dogs over seven years of age and 35% of cats 11 years and over suffer from at least one geriatric behavioural problem1.
In a recent clinical study, 86% of owners were satisfied with the results achieved after one month of using Senilife®, with 73% of dog owners and 67% of cat owners noticing fewer signs of brain ageing within the first seven days2.
Juliet Penaliggon, small animal marketing manager at CEVA Animal Health, says: "Many typical signs of brain ageing in dogs can be controlled by nutritional management. Senilife® is a fast-acting, nutritional supplement that contains proven nutrients and neuroprotectives to help manage these signs."Senilife® capsules are easy to administer either directly into the mouth of the pet or emptied onto the pet's food."
For further information, please contact your CEVA Animal Health representative or call 01494 781510.
References1 Behaviour problems in geriatric pets. Lansberg G and Araujo J. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 35 (2005) 675-698.2 Isaka N, Baysse B, Lopez A, Ovaert P and Penaliggon J. CABSTG Spring Meeting April (2009).
New Horse Passport Guidelines come into force from 1 July 2009 which will require horses to be microchipped. However a recent poll on Horse & Hound Online has revealed that 75 per cent of those questioned were unaware of the new microchip legislation.
With this in mind, Bayer has produced a comprehensive marketing support package for equine vets which provides an overview of the new Horse Passport Guidelines 2009 together with a clear and concise summary of its requirements for vets and horse owners.
The Tracer Advance equine package contains a handy laminated bullet point guide to the new regulations, practice posters, client leaflets, client leave pieces, pre-written articles for use in practice newsletters and local press, and PowerPoint presentations for client evenings.
Practices can apply for any of these items by contacting their Bayer Territory Manager.
Alstoe Animal Health has announced the winners of the Ease Flex video competition.
To take part, entrants had to video their dog eating Ease Flex chews, and submit their film to the VetNurse video gallery. 5 of those entered were selected to be displayed at BSAVA Congress, where delegates were invited to vote for their favourite dog.
The winners are:
Rebecca wins a 26 inch flatscreen TV, Jo wins an iPod Touch, and Gemma an iPod Nano, courtesy of Ease Flex.
Congratulations!
VetNurse.co.uk has been asked to publish the following announcement from The University of Liverpool
Hydrocortisone aceponate (Cortavance®, Virbac Animal Health, Bury St. Edmunds) is a potent but very safe topical glucocorticoid. A recent publication1 clearly demonstrates both its safety and efficacy. In this trial clinical lesions scores were decreased by more than 50% in 11 of 15 dogs after 28 days, and no changes to haematology, biochemistry and ACTH stimulation tests were seen in dogs treated once daily to every other day for up to 70 days.
We have, however, become aware that the wording in the notes for the nurses’ proceedings for the recent BSAVA annual congress has led some people to make the erroneous conclusion that hydrocortisone aceponate is a mild steroid. The text listed glucocorticoids in order of the potency of their adverse effects, not clinical efficacy, although this isn’t clear from the wording. The intention was to emphasise that the side-effects were very mild, not that hydrocortisone aceponate isn’t effective. We can see how this mistaken interpretation has arisen and apologise for any misunderstanding.
Ms Vanessa Schmidt, RCVS Trust/Schering Plough Resident in Veterinary DermatologyDr Neil McEwan, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary DermatologyDr Tim Nuttall, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Dermatology
The University of Liverpool Faculty of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE.
1. Nuttall TJ, Mueller RS, Bensignor E, Verde M, Noli C, Schmidt V, Rème C. Efficacy of a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate spray in the management of canine atopic dermatitis: a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Veterinary Dermatology 2009; available online 03 April 2009: DOI 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2009.00756.x
Lots of April Fool's Day gags involving animals this year...
The Sun reported that Sir Richard Branson's health club chain, Virgin Active, is launching a new gym for dogs only, to combat the pet obesity epidemic. Alton Towers supposedly launched a new rollercoaster ride for dogs only. Meanwhile, Pasante, a condom manufacturer, launched the 'condog', though this seems to be a variation on an idea that has been around for a while now.
My favourites, though, were two April fools unrelated to animals. The first was from Cadbury's, made more believable by the fact that it was planted in the Southampton Echo. The second was the announcement by BMW that Dr. Noit All, the company's Head of Innovation, had developed a fuel-saving system called Magnetic Tow Technology (MTT). Readers were invited to keep abreast with future developments from BMW by emailing Dr. Noit All's colleague at uve.vollenvorit@bmw.co.uk.
Genitrix has extended its Dentagen dental care range with the addition of Dentagen Aqua, a water additive treatment to control plaque and prevent bad breath in cats and dogs.
Genitrix says the product offers a completely new approach to dental care for companion animals and is expected to prove particularly effective in treating cats which do not respond well to existing treatments, such as dental chews and tooth-brushing.
Dentagen Aqua is a palatable liquid which is added to a pet's drinking water on a daily basis. Its active principal is RF2, a plant extract. According to the company, RF2's ability to enable natural and healthy mouth bacteria to flourish while inhibiting the formation of plaque even at low concentrations has been demonstrated in extensive clinical trials. It operates as an 'anti-biofilm' treatment, modifying the growth of the membrane of oral bacteria to prevent them from producing plaque.
Dentagen Aqua is supplied in a 250 ml bottle costing £6.80. At the recommended dose of 5 ml per day, the bottle will provide 50 days' treatment for a cat or small dog.
In 2008, Genitrix launched the original Dentagen plaque protection system which consists of a unique RF2-impregnated wax provided to practices in a syringe to be applied to the gingival layer and the buccal area of teeth of dogs or cats at end of dental procedures. Dog owners can then maintain the protective coating by giving their pet Dentagen plaque prevention chews. The launch of Dentagen Aqua means that an equivalent solution is now available for cat owners or for dogs which don't eat chews.
With over 85% of dogs and cats over three years old suffering from some form of dental or gum disease, it's the most common health problem in these animals. The market for preventative dental healthcare supplements is estimated to be close to £1 million per annum.
Rob Watkins, Marketing Director at Genitrix, said: "Dentagen exceeded our expectations during its first year and has proved popular with both vets and dog owners. Given the vital importance of good dental health for dogs and cats, it seemed the logical next step to produce a water additive version to make the treatment easier for cat owners in particular."
Research released today by the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) reveals that only a minority of pet owners are able to identify what their pet should look like when it is at the right weight.
Eight out of 10 dog, cat and rabbit owners believe that their pet is just the right weight, but when asked which of a series of pictures most closely resembled their pet, only 33% of dog owners and 23% of cat owners chose the 'normal weight' picture.
The independent research, conducted by TNS, surveyed over 2,100 households. Other findings included:
Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive of the PFMA, said: "The figures are alarming and the problem won't go away without a fundamental shift in owners' attitude to feeding their pets. It is also worrying that most owners are not aware of the problem, because they are unable to recognise a fat pet in the first place. Perceptions of what is the correct size are seriously out of kilter with reality."
Only 25% of those surveyed said that they had ever sought advice on whether any of their pets were overweight. Up to a third admitted using trial and error when deciding how much food to give, indicating a sole reliance on their pet's appetite to determine optimium food portions. Less than a quarter referred to manufacturers advice on pet food labels, or sought advice from their vets.
Michael continued: "Thankfully, there is a solution and we have developed a tool to help owners identify the correct condition of their pet, along with steps to take if a problem exists. Prevention is at the heart of our awareness campaign. Feeding a good diet, and to the correct amount, is fundamental. And so is exercise. We know that a pet fed to its right condition will lead a longer and healthier life. Not only that, getting active with your pet can help pet owners achieve the same for themselves. We urge pet owners to start using our Pet Size-O-Meter and make sure they and their pets have the best chance for a long happy life together."
The PFMA has also produced a supporting White Paper entitled - Pet Obesity: The Reality in 2009 - which compares the obesity epidemic in humans with that of our pets. You can download it here.
The latest addition to the Bayer portfolio of educational websites for pet owners was launched this week and to mark the occasion, there are 5 digital cameras and photo frames to be won by vets and nurses.
Targeted specifically at cat owners, with a dedicated section for vets and nurses, http://www.profender.co.uk/ aims to educate owners about the importance of worming their cats and visiting their vets.
Pet owners visiting the site will be able to profile their cat to determine the optimum worm treatment regime. To help improve compliance, owners can also subscribe to a free SMS or email reminder service to alert them when a worming treatment is due.
The vet- and nurse-only section of the website contains a wealth of information, including animated worm lifecycles and details on Profender Spot-On, its formulation and mode of action.
To enter the competition to win a digital camera and photo frame, you just need to answer three questions. Click here.
Drontal has renewed sponsorship agreements with councils throughout the UK in a bid to further encourage pet owners to scoop their dogs' poop.
The support will see thousands of council dog bins featuring Drontal branding to promote best practice amongst dog owners and urge them to clean up after their pets.
Dan White, product manager for Drontal, said: "Through our dog bin sponsorship we are highlighting the importance of responsible pet ownership which includes preventing the spread of worm eggs in the environment by scooping poop."
According to Bayer, Drontal is the only wormer that kills every type of intestinal worm commonly found in UK dogs and cats.
For further information please contact your Bayer representative or log on to www.drontal.com.
Petplan is hosting a series of seminars for charity staff throughout November. The ‘All About Charities' seminars, covering the latest hot charity topics will be running on the following dates: - 12th November, Nottingham - 19th November, Edinburgh - 26th November, Bristol A variety of prominent speakers, all experts in their field, have agreed to speak covering topics such as; · Recognising problematic behaviour in sheltered animals (Sarah Heath, Veterinary Behaviourist) · Control of infection (Dr Susan Dawson, University of Liverpool) · Managing conflict - dealing with difficult visitors and potential new owners (David Smart of David Smart Associates) The seminars are a great opportunity to engage in valuable personal development for all charity staff. For full details of the seminar timetable and to book your place on the seminar, visit www.petplan.co.uk/charity and download the flyer. For seminar questions please call Petplan on 020 8580 8214 or alternatively email events@petplan.co.uk Tickets cost £25 and are allocated on a first-come first-served basis so book today!
Following discussions with the BVNA, City & Guilds has developed a new qualification for senior Veterinary Nurses: the Licentiateship in Veterinary Nursing. The qualification provides recognition of professional development for individuals who progress into more senior roles, but often have little in the way of formal recognition of the work that they undertake. The Licentiateship offers a form of recognition based around Continuing Professional Development. To qualify for the award applicants will need to meet the following criteria: A veterinary nursing qualification at NVQ level 3 or equivalent. Either: evidence of further professional development in a management or supervisory role. Or: evidence of at least five years CPD in which applicants have progressed into a supervisory or management role. The Licentiateship is used in over 70 different vocational sectors to recognise professional excellence. City & Guilds Senior awards are offered by a variety of organisations to recognise the mix of high levels of academic and professional skills, but which do not necessarily carry formal recognition. One of the sectors within which the Licentiateship is popular is Health and Social Care. This is an area with many people qualified with an NVQ level at level 3 but where further qualifications are often not available, or fail to reflect individuals' career aspirations. The Licentiateship has proved popular as it takes account of previous qualifications whilst allowing recognition of ongoing professional development. As well as gaining a certificate and post nominal letters, Senior Award recipients are invited to attend the annual City & Guilds graduation ceremony in the Merchant Taylors Hall in the City of London. In May 2008 over 180 candidates received their awards and were able to share the experience with their friends and family. City & Guilds Senior awards are offered under Royal Charter in recognition of academic ability and professional skills at the three levels of Licentiateship (LCGI), Graduateship (GCGI) and Membership MCGI). For more information please contact Patrick Sherlock, City and Guilds, 1 Giltspur Street, London EC1A 9DD, E. patrick.sherlock@cityandguilds.com, T. 020 7294 8220 Or visit: www.cityandguilds.com/seniorawards
Petplan is delighted to announce Kelly Cummings has won the Petplan Insurance Advisor of the Year Award. She was presented with her award at the BVNA ceremony on Saturday 11th October. This award recognises the hard work and dedication that Petplan Insurance Advisors (PIAs) do to highlight the importance of insurance to pet owners as a means of financial protection. Simon Wheeler, Head of Marketing at Petplan said: "Kelly is a great advocate for pet insurance. Establishing pet insurance as part of the culture in her practice made Kelly stand out as an ambassador for others to follow. As practice manager of Albavets in Glasgow, Kelly leads by example to ensure pet insurance benefits both clients and the veterinary practice itself." The other finalists were Fiona Andrew from Tay Valley Veterinary Centre in Perth and Helen Rosser from Blythman & Partners in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The award was judged by last year's winner Sally Harrison, President of VPMA, Sarah Hibbert and Vicky Field of Petplan. This award coincides with the launch of Petplan's new and improved online training course for PIAs which allows nurses to continue their personal development training and earn valuable CPD points. The scheme helps practices offer the complete package of knowledge to pet owners and encourages clients to return as they know that the practice goes that extra mile to help with all their needs - clinical as well as financial. To find out more about how to become a PIA, log onto http://www.petplanpia.co.uk/ and if you register before the 31st December 2008 you will be entered into a free prize draw with a chance to win a laptop!
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is touring the UK, hosting a series of careers events to encourage more young people to consider studying in a veterinary-related field.
The events give young people the opportunity to find out what a veterinary career involves. The College also hopes to impress upon future students that a veterinary education can be used qualify them for a diverse range of professions, and being a vet or vet nurse are just two of these.
The RVC is particularly keen to promote its BSc in Veterinary Nursing and its BSc in Veterinary Science (a bio-science degree). Click here for more information and tour dates.
An interesting survey from Freedom Food has shown how little the public knows about farm animals:
Mind you, some pretty obscure facts here. I wonder how many vets would have known all the answers.
The Scottish SPCA has called for parents across Scotland to take more responsibility for the behaviour of their children after another sickening catalogue of violence against animals over the past year.
Launched during Scottish Animal Week, the charity's plea is supported by shocking statistics which show that attacks have risen by almost 20 percent compared to the last two years and that even more are taking place during school holidays.
In the twelve months since August 2006, staff answering the Scottish SPCA's Animal Helpline dealt with 233 calls relating to youngsters tormenting, abusing and even killing domestic pets, farm animals and wildlife.
More than a third of these - 85 - were received during school breaks, with 58 recorded over the summer. Attacks included swans being killed with airguns and shot with crossbows, cats being targeted with airguns, hedgehogs being kicked to death and animals being terrorised, with one being killed, in a wildlife park.
The Scottish SPCA has also been involved this year in cases involving deer being shot and killed having wandered into urban areas, dogs being beaten and a lamb being set on fire.
Virbac has launched Propofol-Lipuro Vet, a short-acting intravenously administered and short-term maintenance general anaesthetic for use in dogs and cats.
Propofol-Lipuro Vet contains no preservatives so its use can be repeated, even in cats, for continuous rate infusion. No age restrictions apply to the animals it can be used for and it can be administered for induction prior to Caesarean section.
Virbac Product Manager Kate Woolley MRCVS said: "Propofol is a well-established solution for short-acting anaesthesia in many practices. Propofol-Lipuro Vet complements Virbac's anaesthesia range which now offers total control of analgesia, sedation, intravenous and gaseous anaesthesia, and recovery."
Propofol-Lipuro Vet is available in boxes of 10 x 20 ml bottles.
Ceva Animal Health has extended its Meloxidyl dogs and cats’ range with the launch of a new 5ml Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats.
The company says the new bottle size will provide more prescription options for veterinary practices currently stocking 15ml bottles and is a perfect post-surgery size to send patients home with. The bottles are also clear brown in colour; designed to make it easier for cat owners to see how much liquid is left in each bottle.
Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats contains meloxicam for the alleviation of pain and inflammation. It is licensed for the treatment of musculo-skeletal disorders and the alleviation of post-operative pain.
Rob McLintock, business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "The new 5ml Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats’ bottle will provide veterinary practices with more prescription options for the management and alleviation of pain and inflammation in cats."
To support the launch of the new 5ml Meloxidyl presentation, Ceva is running a competition to win one of five BSAVA Manuals of Anaesthesia and Analgesia by answering one question: ‘How many millilitres are in the new Meloxidyl cat bottle’?
To enter the competition, email analgesics-group@ceva.com. Include ‘Meloxidyl competition’ in the subject line and contact details and the answer to the question in the main body of the email.
For further information on Ceva’s analgesic product range, contact your local Ceva territory manager, email analgesics-group@ceva.com or call 01494 781510.
Virbac has announced the launch of Speed Trio, an in-house diagnostic test to enable the detection of FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus) antigens; anti-FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and anti-FCoV (Feline Coronavirus) antibodies in 15 minutes.
The company says Speed Trio is designed to facilitate the diagnosis of immunosuppressive diseases, such as FIP (feline infectious peritonitis); when a cat tests positive for Feline Coronavirus and either FeLV or FIV it is at increased risk of developing FIP¹ and serological testing for all three diseases is the logical step.
Virbac says it has also enhanced the entire Speed range to further improve the readability of the tests and the brightness of the test bands.
Product Manager Madeline Haynes said: "The Speed range, which has been proven in practice for more than 20 years, offers a comprehensive suite of in-house diagnostic tests, which are easy to perform and highly cost-effective to use in practice.
"Speed Trio is not only a unique test combination that helps to facilitate diagnosis of immunosuppressive diseases but also boosts client satisfaction and can support practice profitability."
Reference