The Advertising Standards Authority has decided not to uphold complaints against the Morrisons Christmas TV advertisement.
The full adjudication can be read here.
Peter Jones, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "This ruling is disappointing but the ASA has set out its reasons for the decision and we accept those reasons. Thankfully, the advert only had a short shelf life and we hope that Morrisons is now very unlikely to make the same mistakes again. Overall, we hope the whole incident has served to educate Morrisons and the general public about the dangers of grapes and raisins to dogs."
As part of the University of Bristol, Langford is the only referral hospital in the South West which has an educational facility.
The new academy will also be developing its Veterinary Nurse Graduate Program and give access to its Vet Nurse Congress.
Juliet Morrison, Nurse Graduate Lead said: “At LV we passionately believe in nursing progression.
"Through our SAH Graduate Nursing Programme, we continue to support the next generation of nurses to become confident, resilient professionals.”
For more information, email: brm@langfordvets.co.uk
Defra Minister David Heath has announced the latest bute (phenylbutazone) test results. The presence of bute has been confirmed in 8 samples out of 206 tests.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has stated that horsemeat containing phenylbutazone presents a very low risk to human health.
Responding to these latest developments the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) have issued the following statement:
"The presence of phenylbutazone (or bute) in horses intended for the food chain will be of concern to consumers who rightly expect the UK food chain to be robust. We are grateful to the Chief Medical Officer for clarifying the very low level of risk that this presents to human health and we will work with the FSA and Defra in any way we can to assist their investigations into these incidents.
"The ability to treat horses with bute is very important for equine welfare. Bute provides affordable, long-term pain relief for horses and is unique in this respect.
"The UK Horse Passport Regulations are designed to facilitate the ongoing medical treatment of horses not intended for the human food chain, whilst ensuring that these animals do not enter the food chain.
"We fully support the concept of the Horse Passport Regulations but have argued for some time that there are problems with the system in terms of the number of Passport Issuing Authorities and the vulnerability of the system to fraud. We are very keen to continue our dialogue with Defra and others to find ways to make the system more robust.
"Our members are aware of the strict rules regarding the regulation of medicines (including bute) and the use of horse passports, and in recent years we have provided clear guidance on the regulations to help both vets and their clients. These incidents will hopefully reinforce these messages amongst horse owners and all of us involved in equine healthcare."
Guidance notes are available via the BEVA website Medicines Page (http://www.beva.org.uk/useful-info/Vets/Guidance/Medicines)
Researchers from the School of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Bristol have had a study into domestic dogs' fear responses to noise published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
According to the University, the study provides an important insight into dogs' fear of noises, and could improve our understanding of behavioural signs of fear or anxiety.
In the study two approaches were taken to investigate the occurrence of, and risk factors for, behaviours caused by a fear of noise: a postal survey of dog owners to investigate general demographic factors and a structured interview of a sub-set of owners to gather more detailed information.
It seems that while owners are often aware of their pet's behavioural response when exposed to a loud noise, they do not necessarily recognise it as being indicative of fear or anxiety. This has relevance both for awareness of compromised welfare, and the methodology for surveying such behaviour.
According to the researchers, other behavioural signs, such as decreased activity or salivation, may not be as easily recognised by owners as signs of fear, and may be under-reported. Also, signs of urination, salivation and destruction may make owners disappointed or angry, and this may influence their interpretation that such behaviours are associated with fearfulness.
The risk factors for owner-reported fear of noises included:
The researchers suggest a dog's early life experience is an important factor in the development of fear responses to specific loud noises.
Dr Rachel Casey, European Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine and Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Bristol University, said: "Our results suggest that the characteristics of dogs, their early environment, and exposure to specific loud noises are involved in the development of fear responses to noises. Interestingly, less than a third of owners sought professional advice about treatment for their pet's response to noises."
Disappointingly, less than a third of owners currently seek professional advice about treatment for their pet's fear. The researchers recommend there is a need for veterinary surgeons to increase awareness among the general dog owning public that treatment is both available and effective in dealing with fears of loud noises, and to direct them towards appropriate sources of help.
Information for vets and dog owners on finding an expert to help treat behaviour problems including fear of noises can be found at www.rspca.org.uk/findabehaviourist
Paper: Fear responses to noises in domestic dogs: Prevalence, risk factors and co-occurrence with other fear related behaviour, Emily J. Blackwell, John W.S. Bradshaw, Rachel A. Casey, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, published online 22 January 2013.
Davies Veterinary Specialists (DVS), the private small animal referral centre based in Hertfordshire, has installed two new state-of-the-art ESAOTE ultrasound machines.
DVS says The MyLab Twice Vet and the MyLab Class C Vet provide fast, efficient and highly accurate imaging in a wide range of applications, including high-definition abdominal, cardiac, musculoskeletal and ophthalmic scans.
The MyLab Twice Vet, with its range of probes including the broadband 18MHz linear probe, will be used for general ultrasonographic imaging at DVS. It is capable of the most refined contrast media examinations that, for example, can help to locate and identify a liver tumour that may be rendered invisible when using conventional diagnostic procedures.
The MyLab Class C will be used predominantly for advanced cardiac work, including trans-oesophageal echocardiography for interventional procedures in theatre.
Pedro Oliveira, European Veterinary Specialist in Cardiology at DVS said: "The trans-oesophageal probe is currently a very rare piece of equipment in veterinary diagnostics. It gives us the capacity to obtain unique views of the heart, especially the heart base which can be a very difficult area to examine with regular echocardiography. It also allows real-time and direct monitoring of procedures, such as deployment of devices to occlude patent ductus arteriosus, surgery and anaesthesia in critical patients."
The first patient to benefit from the new My Lab Class C was an 11-year-old, female German shepherd dog with suspected cardiac neoplasia following several episodes of haemorrhage into the pericardium. A normal echocardiographic examination identified a small suspect area but it was in a part of the heart that was very difficult to approach surgically.
However, a trans-oesophageal examination revealed that another small mass close to the tip of the right auricle was actually the origin of the bleeding. The dog underwent surgery to remove the mass and subsequently made a full recovery. Without the My Lab Class C there would have been no viable options for this dog.
Clive Elwood, Managing Director at DVS, said: "Combining the best possible on-site diagnostic equipment with some of Europe's finest clinicians enables us to provide the best possible service and outcome for our patients, across multiple disciplines."
RCVS Council recommended the increase due to inflationary pressures and increased business costs.
Dr Tshidi Gardiner MRCVS, RCVS Treasurer, said: “We recognise that these are difficult economic times, so Council has endeavoured to limit the fee increase as far as possible; however, in proposing these new fees, Council has had to take account both of increased costs due to inflation, and of additional costs related to ensuring we are fulfilling our regulatory remit to the best of our abilities and meeting our strategic priorities.
“For example, increased costs related to the additional number of veterinary degrees coming on stream, modernising our membership database, our Charter Case Committee, the trial of our private prosecutions protocol against non-vets breaching the Veterinary Surgeons Act, and much more besides.”
Ceva Animal Health has launched a new TV advertising campaign designed to raise awareness of problems owners may face in a multi-cat environment.
The Cat Cabin Fever campaign will run for four weeks.
Ceva says the 20 second TV ads have been designed to strike a chord with viewers who have more than one cat in their household, where 'sometimes sharing just isn't an option'. Highlighted in particular is the Feliway Diffuser which releases natural pheromones into a room to help cats feel at ease, allowing them to cope with stressful situations and prevent unwanted behaviour. Malcolm Laurie, head of marketing at Ceva, said: "We know that there are more than 8million cats in the UK and only 2.5million cat households, therefore the majority of households must have more than one cat. "However, cats are solitary animals, which makes living with other cats difficult at times. This campaign is focused on making the lives of cat owners and their pets as harmonious as possible, including lots of top tips on how to ease any tensions in such an environment." Ceva has also produced a multi-cat leaflet designed to give owners specific advice on how to provide the correct environment for our feline friends The advertising campaign will be supported by online competitions, marketing materials for veterinary clinics and retailers, which include a checklist for a cat friendly home, and PR. For more information, visit: http://www.feliway.co.uk/.
Vetoquinol - makers of the NSAID Cimalgex - has announced the launch of its updated website www.CiMyDog.co.uk.
The company says the website has been developed to provide reliable online information about pain in dogs to cater for the increasing needs of pet owners and vets.
The website has two sections. The first is a pet owner focussed, educational tool which takes the visitor on a journey through the process of pain; from spotting the signs of pain all the way through to ways of relieving pain, culminating in the recommendation that the visitor seeks advice from their veterinary practice.
The second section requires registration as it contains more in depth information on the pain process and potential treatment options available, this section is for veterinary professionals only. Also on this section of the website there are many scientific abstracts related to pain and treatment with links to enable the veterinary visitor can view this peer reviewed material.
Robert Simpson, Cimalgex Product Manager said: "The internet is a very powerful tool in terms of increasing education, especially in areas such as canine pain. Unfortunately there can also be a lot of misinformation online and so we felt it was important for Vetoquinol to try and redress the balance by producing www.CiMyDog.co.uk. This can be used as a reliable and up-to-date resource by pet owners and veterinary professionals alike. -
www.CiMyDog.co.uk is a very interactive site which aims to demystify the pain treatment process, ensure pet owners look out for behavioural signs of pain and looks to improve overall canine health with assistance from their veterinary practice. We hope that this will be a valuable resource to which vets can refer their pet owners."
A new study1 published in the Equine Veterinary Journal's (EVJ) special American Association of Equine Practitioners supplement has concluded that maggots can play an integral role in modern veterinary care for a variety of wounds in horses.
The study assessed the efficacy of maggot debridement therapy in a diversity of equine lesions and found that the method was beneficial in 93% of cases.
Maggots have been used for the treatment of wounds for hundreds of years. Freshly emerged, germ-free larvae of the common green bottle fly are usually used for the purpose. Their wound-healing action is attributed to a debridement effect, an antiseptic effect, a direct effect on cytokine and cell proliferation involved in wound healing and breakdown of biofilm formation. Maggots also destroy and digest bacteria and may also be beneficial in the fight against multi-drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.
The study involved the retrospective analysis of 41 horses with various lesions including foot injury, limb laceration, soft tissue abscesses and musculoskeletal infection. Depending on the type, size and location of the wound the maggots were applied either in direct or indirect contact. In some cases a second maggot application was necessary to reach the desired level of healing. Debridement, disinfection and healing occurred in all but three cases, in less than a week. Of the three that did not respond two were complicated by the presence of tumours and one by pre-existing damage to the underlying bone.
Olivier Lepage of the University of Lyon, who led the study, said: "These results show that maggot debridement therapy potentially has an integral place in modern veterinary wound care. It can be used to treat many types of lesions, although not those involving tumours or bone sequestration. Associated high costs present a limiting factor but maggot debridement therapy should certainly be considered for lesions that fail to respond to conventional methods."
Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the EVJ, said: "Horses often suffer from non-healing wounds, particularly in the limbs where the skin is under continuous movement and there is very little subcutaneous tissue. Although at first glance this study might seem counter-intuitive and we might think of maggots as being the last thing one would want on a clean wound, it shows that maggots can be an effective way to clear damaged tissue and this is an important adjunctive approach in equine wound management."
1The use of maggot debridement therapy in 41 equids OM Lepage, A Doumbia, MF Perron-Lepage and M Gangl. EVJ ISSN 0425-1644 DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00609.x
The study is published by Wiley-Blackwell and can be accessed at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00609.x/abstract
Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched of Dexdomitor 0.1 mg/ml, adding to its range of alpha-2 agonists and antagonists.
Produced and manufactured in partnership with Orion Corporation, Elanco says Dexdomitor 0.1 mg/ml contains all the properties of dexmedetomidine in a formulation that allows accurate and convenient dosing for the smallest patients. It can be used as a sedative for non-invasive, mild to moderately painful procedures and examinations which require restraint, sedation and analgesia in dogs and cats. It can also be used for deep sedation and analgesia in dogs in concomitant use with butorphanol for medical and minor surgical procedures and as a pre-medication in dogs and cats before induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia.
Dexdomitor 0.1 mg/ml has been designed to provide accurate dosing in very small dogs (up to 5kg) for sedation and pre-medication, small to mid-size dogs (up to 20kg) for pre-medication, and small cats (up to 3kg) for sedation and pre-medication.
Ed Whittle MRCVS, technical consultant at Elanco Companion Animal Health said: "With nearly a quarter of dogs weighing less than 6kg and nearly three-quarters weighing less than 23.1kg1, Dexdomitor 0.1mg/ml is ideal for small animals that require low concentration doses of dexmedetomidine for convenient and accurate dosing".
Elanco has has also produced a sedation and pre-medication dosing guide to educate veterinary professionals on the recommended doses for its range of alpha-2 agonists and alpha-2 antagonists.
For further information contact your Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or email elancoCAH.uk@elanco.com.
Boehringer Ingelheim has announced that its 'Talk About Laminitis' campaign will run from Mid March until the end of June.
Last year, the initiative saw over 9000 horses and ponies tested for PPID through its free ACTH test scheme. This year, to build on this success and support the testing of even more animals, the company has announced a high impact, co-ordinated campaign to drive awareness that up to 90% of laminitis cases may have an underlying endocrine cause1,2.
Once again, Boehringer is urging veterinary surgeons to carry out free ACTH blood tests on laminitic or foot-sore horses as part of the campaign, which is backed by Redwings, The British Horse Society and World Horse Welfare.
Professor Andy Durham from the Liphook Equine Hospital, where the ACTH tests are performed, said: "We are learning so much from these tests. For example, we are now recognising PPID routinely in laminitic horses and ponies as young as 10 years old, and in the spring when we might expect to see more EMS cases, where veterinary surgeons have also tested for PPID we are seeing both abnormally elevated ACTH and insulin. Unless the PPID is addressed, horses will continue to be at risk of painful recurrent laminitic episodes which is a significant welfare issue to the horse and extremely frustrating for owners."
To participate in the scheme, veterinary surgeons and horse owners can download ACTH blood test vouchers from www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk. Attach the voucher to the ACTH sample submission form and the ACTH laboratory fees will not be charged.
Lee Hackett from The British Horse Society said: "Without the 'Talk About Laminitis' initiative and the support of Boehringer Ingelheim, literally thousands of horses may not be receiving the appropriate treatment and management for their laminitis to help prevent recurrence. We hope as many veterinary surgeons as possible get involved this year to continue this welfare success."
To ensure that horse owners are fully aware of the initiative, a PR and advertising campaign in the equine consumer media will start in March. The ad campaign includes an infomercial on Horse & Country TV (SKY Channel 280), with viewer numbers in excess of 450,000 per month.
There will also be a live online broadcast for horse owners on endocrinopathic laminitis presented by David Rendle BVSc MVM CertEM(IntMed) DipECEIM MRCVS, from the Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire. The one-hour webinar, which takes place at 8.00pm on Wednesday 10 April, will educate horse owners on how the veterinary profession's understanding of this debilitating and devastating disease has been completely revolutionised over the past five years. It will be followed by an interactive Q&A session when viewers will be able to pose questions for David to answer.
David said: "As our knowledge of the two hormonal diseases responsible for the majority of cases of laminitis improves, veterinary surgeons can offer their clients more comprehensive advice on treatment options to prevent laminitis. For many owners who have struggled with this condition, this is an absolute revelation and has enormous welfare benefits".
Horse owners can register to view the online programme by visiting www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk.
To ensure that veterinary surgeons are versed in the most up to date research available, Boehringer Ingelheim will also be hosting a webinar for veterinary professionals at 8.00pm on Wednesday 13th March, presented by Professor Andy Durham BSc BVSc CertEP DEIM DipECEIM MRCVS. The online seminar, 'The laminitis revolution.... An update on our understanding of endocrinopathic causes of laminitis', will entitle the viewer to a downloadable certificate for one hour of CPD. To register, visit www.bi-academy.co.uk. Places are limited, so register early to avoid disappointment. The webinar will also be available to view after the event on demand.
For further information on how you can promote 'Talk About Laminitis' in your practice contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Territory Manager or call 01344 746959
References
1. Karikoski et al. (2011). The prevalence of endocrinopathic laminitis among horses presented for laminitis at a first-opinion/referral equine hospital. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 41 111-117
2. Donaldson et al. (2004). Evaluation of suspected pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses with laminitis. J Am Vet Med Assoc;224:1123-1127.
The Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) has changed its name to International Cat Care in order to better reflect the work the charity does to help improve the lives of cats both in the UK and internationally.
Along with the name change, the charity has developed a completely new visual identity, which has been applied to its new website (www.icatcare.org).
Claire Bessant, CEO of International Cat Care, said: "We continue to evolve as a charity and we are increasingly working internationally to help vets and local communities provide better care for cats. While our mission and core values will remain the same, we needed a strong brand identity to better reflect this work and to help us engage more directly with consumers and vets."
Underneath the International Cat Care umbrella, there are three core areas which are designed to help streamline the charity's work and make it easy for vets, professionals and consumers to engage in the right way. The three areas are:
The charity's new website will continue to host information and advice on virtually every aspect of cat care, but also showcases the charity's work internationally. Most recently, the team has been in Sudan teaching vets about the safe handling and neutering of cats, with a special emphasis on street cats.
Claire Bessant continued: "We really wanted to achieve a clear and succinct explanation of who we are and what we do, and we think the new name and visual identity perfectly sums this up. It's been such a rewarding process because the rebrand has been so positively received by our dedicated staff, members and supporters."
International Cat Care will be officially unveiled on the first day of this year's BSAVA Congress, where vets and the media will be invited to the stand to see the new identity for the first time, and for a glass of celebratory champagne.
To meet the team and find out more about the rebrand, visit stand 704 at the BSAVA Congress.
Kruuse has announced the launch of two new two new wound dressing products: Kruuse HydroGel and Kruuse Foam Dressing.
Kruuse HydroGel is a clear amorphous hydrogel with Polyhexanide (0.04%). According to the company, HydroGel will help maintain a moist healing environment encouraging autolytic debridement and gentle removal of slough and necrotic tissue. It is presented as a single dose 15g applicator tube.
KRUUSE Foam Dressing is a non-adhesive; absorbent hydrophilic foam wound dressing coated with bacterial resistant micro porous thin foam backing. The company says it 'breathes' to allow oxygen in, expands as it absorbs exudate and conforms to shallow wound cavities. It is presented in 3 sizes: 5x5cm, 10x10cm and 15x15cm.
Andrew Groom , Managing Director, Kruuse UK Ltd. said: "Both products enhance the Kruuse's wound care product portfolio available to all customers, combined they increase the already extensive range of wound products available to the veterinary practitioner".
Both products will be on dispay and available at BSAVA 2013.
Dr. Tracy Hill, a specialist in internal medicine, has joined the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, bringing with her expertise in interventional radiology.
Tracy completed a fellowship in interventional radiology and endoscopy at the Animal Medical Centre in New York, will be researching new techniques in this developing field.
She will also work in the clinic at the School's Hospital for Small Animals and as a senior lecturer.
She said: "Interventional radiology is an emerging and expanding area in veterinary medicine. Interventional radiology employs the use of fluoroscopy and endoscopy to enable minimally invasive treatments for diseases in many body systems. These techniques often reduce morbidity, mortality, or cost associated with more invasive procedures. The Dick Vet has been performing interventional cardiac procedures for some time and we are looking to expand this field into treatment of non-cardiac diseases."
Tracy, who carried out her residency in small animal internal medicine at North Carolina State University, where she also completed a PhD, will help the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh to provide interventional radiology procedures.
This includes a minimally invasive treatment for certain liver shunts using a procedure only being regularly performed at a handful of veterinary hospitals in the world. In this procedure, fluoroscopic guidance is used to access the abnormal vessels in the abdomen via a catheter placed in the jugular vein in the neck. The abnormal shunt vessel is then closed using coil embolization, without the need for abdominal surgery.
Tracey said: "I am delighted to join the Dick Vet. There is no denying the expertise at the vet school, as well as its partnership with The Roslin Institute for research."
A study published by Mike Dryden - one of the world's leading parasitologists - in Veterinary Parasitology has demonstrated that spinosad (Comfortis, Elanco) provides a high level of flea control one month after a single treatment and maintains a high level of effectiveness under conditions of natural challenge following subsequent monthly treatments.
The multi-clinic, investigator-blinded study1 was undertaken in client-owned dogs provided with three consecutive monthly treatments of oral spinosad (SPN) and fipronil/methoprene spot-on (FSM). All other household dogs and cats, to a maximum of four pets per household, were dispensed the same treatment. Subsequent treatments were given when the dog returned for whole-body flea counts and pruritus-scoring on days 30 and 60, with final assessments on day 90 (plus/minus five days on each occasion).
One hundred and twenty eight dogs were enrolled on the study at 10 veterinary practices in the USA (65 in the SPN arm and 63 in the FSM arm). On day 0, mean flea counts were 57.7 (range: 10-1469) and 44.8 (range: 10-717) for the SPN and FSM groups, respectively. On day 90, 55 of the 58 (95%) SPN dogs were flea free compared with only 21/55 or 38% of dogs in the FSM group. Mean pruritus scores declined to 0.92 (6.67 on day 0) in the SPN group and 3.83 (6.33 on day 0) in the FSM group by day 90. Mean flea counts were 0.08 and 5.19 for SPN and FSM groups respectively on day 90 correlating to a reduction in flea counts of 99.9% in the SPN dogs and 88.4% in the FSM dogs. Between treatment differences were found to be highly statistically significant (p<0.0001) for every parameter measured at every time point during the study in favour of SPN.
Anna Jackson, national veterinary manager for Elanco Companion Animal Health said: "The recent study confirms oral spinosad's outstanding efficacy in controlling fleas and associated pruritus in dogs when administered by owners following natural challenge in the home environment".
For further information please contact your local Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or phone 01256 353131.
1 Assessment of owner-administered monthly treatments with oral spinosad or topical spot-on fipronil/(S)-methoprene in controlling fleas and associated pruritus in dogs. Michael W. Dryden, William G. Ryan, Margie Bell, Anthony J. Rumschlag, Lisa M. Young, Daniel E. Snyder. Veterinary Parasitology 191 (2013) 340-346
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has dropped the requirement that veterinary practices display a poster in waiting rooms which tells clients what the top ten medicines they supply are, and their costs.
The requirement was apparently dropped, initially for a six month period, following pressure from the Royal College, which felt says it felt the poster did not entirely serve its purpose.
The requirement for the poster was brought in following the Competition Commission investigation into veterinary medicine sales in 2005, as part of a range of measures. Some of the responsibilities were enforced via the RCVS as an alternative to legislation under the Fair Trading Act, to ensure that clients have access to sufficient information to be able to decide where to obtain veterinary prescriptions and medicines.
The poster, which was outlined in the Guide to Professional Conduct, and subsequently the Code of Professional Conduct, had to include information about prescriptions and repeat prescriptions, together with the 'ten relevant veterinary medicinal products most commonly prescribed during a recent and typical three-month period'.
How 'most commonly prescribed' has been calculated has often varied - for example, by price, volume, number of prescriptions, etc - and, in addition, different formulations, brands or pack sizes of the same active ingredient could cause confusion.
RCVS President, Jacqui Molyneux said: "Having seen how this has worked in practice, we have been keen to push for change because it was felt that the list could be confusing to clients.
"We have also been mindful of the fact that the ways in which consumers access information has changed radically over the last seven years or so, with internet searches becoming more prevalent.
"These factors conspired to make the list less meaningful as a tool that allowed consumers to shop around. It is thus hoped that the removal of the list will reduce potential misunderstanding among the public."
During the first six months following the change, the College and the OFT will monitor the situation. If there is no appreciable level of complaint from the public, the change will become permanent.
The other requirements of supporting guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct Chapter 10 (Fair Trading Requirements) remain unchanged (www.rcvs.org.uk/fairtrading), and the OFT recommends that the notice advising clients that they can obtain a prescription from the practice be made even more prominent.
In addition, it remains important that veterinary surgeons communicate medicines prices clearly to their clients and other callers, and that invoices itemise individual products supplied (www.rcvs.org.uk/medicines).
Ceva Animal Health has launched a competition - open to veterinary surgeons and nurses - to support Cardalis (benazepril and spironolactone), its dual-acting treatment for heart failure in dogs.
To enter the competition, which will run till the end of April, visit www.cardaliscompetition.co.uk and answer 4 questions about Cardalis. There's a £400 Amazon gift voucher up for grabs.
Fraser Broadfoot, small animal product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Cardalis is proving extremely popular and we are therefore very excited to offer veterinary professionals the chance to win a great prize by sharing their knowledge of the product."
Kruuse has launched a range of seven specialized sterile surgical disposable drapes and gowns developed for the surgery team working in equine clinics or hospitals.
The company says its new surgical sets have been designed so they include a comprehensive set of sterile drapes, towels, instrument covers and adhesive tapes needed to perform particular procedures:
Andrew Groom, Managing Director, Kruuse UK Ltd. said: "This exciting new range of products increase the Kruuse's equine product portfolio and develop further our commitment to provide specialist species available products to support the veterinary practitioner."
Pfizer has divested itself of its animal health business unit, which has become a stand-alone company called Zoetis. The new company unveiled its vision for Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EuAfME) region at a press conference in Paris last week.
The company says it aims to have its products, services and people as the most valued by animal health customers around the region, and the world.
Alejandro Bernal, Zoetis Executive Vice President and Area President for the EuAfME region said: "We are united around this shared vision, and we strive every day to help customers meet their real-world challenges through quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostic products, genetic tests and a range of services," said "As the largest standalone company in the industry, we are dedicated solely to animal health and focusing on our core business so our customers can grow theirs."
In addition to working closely with customers, Zoetis said it strives to collaborate with universities and other research organisations, to help advance the animal health sector and those who raise and care for animals. One example of this is the partnership with the University of Stirling, one of the leading research organisations, based in Scotland.
Professor Randolph Richards, from Stirling said: "Academia is increasingly realising the benefits of working with industry on research projects, and is concentrating on those with more direct impact rather than on pure research. In our own case, Zoetis has been able to provide resources which were otherwise unavailable to us, with funding opportunity being provided through the UK Technology Strategy Board."
The RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurses Council elections are now underway for 2013, and ballot papers and candidates details have been posted to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses eligible to vote.
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, said: "At a time when the College is experiencing a period of significant change, it's more important than ever that the Councils have the right personnel to help steer us along the path to becoming a first-rate regulator. The annual Councils elections represent a key opportunity for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to ensure this happens."
This year, 13 candidates, five of whom are current Council members, will contest the six available seats on RCVS Council, and four candidates are contesting the two available places on VN Council, including one existing member. The candidates are as follows:
RCVS Council
VN Council
*denotes existing Council member
For the first time this year, the College is organising an online hustings for RCVS Council candidates to allow veterinary surgeon voters to put their questions to them directly. This will be run as a free, live webinar by 'The Webinar Vet' and will take place on Tuesday, 19 March at 7pm. Questions need to have been submitted in advance as there are too many candidates to hold a debate, but veterinary surgeons can still register to listen to the hustings at www.thewebinarvet.com/rcvs. The hustings will also be recorded and available to listen again via the same web address until the voting deadline.
Votes in both elections may be cast online, by text message or by post, and must be received by 5pm on Friday, 26 April 2013. Details of how to vote are printed on the ballot papers and candidate information is also available on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil13 and www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil13.
Anyone in need of a replacement ballot paper for RCVS Council should contact Ian Holloway (i.holloway@rcvs.org.uk / 020 7202 0727), or for VN Council, contact Annette Amato (a.amato@rcvs.org.uk / 020 7202 0713).
To ensure independence, the elections are being administered by Electoral Reform Services.
The event will include empowering talks by Vet Empowered founders Katie Ford and Claire Grigson MsRCVS.
Expert guests include Aoife Smith, an ex-RVN and psychotherapist, Chloé Hannigan from VetYogi and Jo Kelly, a registered veterinary nurse and accredited nutritional therapist.
There'll be hands-on workshops and immersive activities aimed at challenging comfort zones, fostering connections, and cultivating a mindset of growth and empowerment.
The organisers say Vet Empowered Live also offers the chance to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and build a supportive community of peers committed to personal and professional growth.
Katie said: "We're thrilled to bring Vet Empowered Live to life and provide veterinary professionals with a unique opportunity to invest in their personal development.
"Our mission is to empower individuals to unlock their full potential, overcome obstacles, and create fulfilling careers on their own terms.
"We are passionate about providing a safe and inspiring space to do this."
Tickets cost £150 and include six hours of CPD and food and drink throughout the day.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vet-empowered-live-confidence-beyond-manchester-2024-tickets-775605325407
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Bayer Animal Health, maker of Advocate and organiser of the Be Lungworm Aware campaign, is warning that last year's damp summer and the mild winter conditions may lead to a continued spread of Angiostongylus vasorum in the UK.
Biodiversity & Conservation Officer for The Natural History Museum, Professor Fred Naggs, said: "An increase in the number of slug and snail populations this year would suggest there will consequently be a continued spread of the parasite. However, this depends on a number of factors: (i) the number of slugs and snails around last year, of which there were many (ii) the level of precipitation throughout the year, as slugs and snails will breed continuously when temperatures are mild to warm and there is adequate relative humidity. According to many reports in the press, last year was one of the wettest on record (iii) the survival of slugs and snails over the winter. As this winter has not been particularly harsh, reasonable numbers of slugs and snails should have survived."
In addition, a study by the RVC as shown that A. vasorum is spreading beyond the traditional geographic distribution with 20 per cent of veterinary practices across the country reporting at least one case of A. vasorum. 1
To help raise awareness of the parasite, veterinary surgeons and nurses are being encouraged to support the 'Be Lungworm Aware' campaign. The scheme will offer support and education to owners and participating vet practices throughout this month, which has been labelled 'Lungworm Awareness Month'.
Caroline Braidwood, Group Product Manager at Bayer Animal Health said: "While dog owners are becoming more aware of A. vasorum, there is still a real lack of understanding as to the warning signs associated with the condition and how to prevent or treat it. Some owners still believe that Lungworm can be prevented by using normal intestinal wormers which is not the case - Advocate is the only product that can prevent A. vasorum, and from the first application. Our aim with the 'Be Lungworm Aware' campaign is to drive pet owners to their vet practice, where they can then be informed of the danger of the parasite and educated about correct preventative treatment."
Practices can request a range of materials including a practice press pack by calling their Bayer Territory Manager. The pack is designed to promote the awareness campaign to local dog owning clients and includes a regional press release, images and other collateral including leaflets, posters and a campaign DVD for display in waiting rooms.
For more information on lungworm, visit www.lungworm.co.uk
Reference
1. Royal Veterinary College survey 2012, 1,419 veterinary practices
Greendale Veterinary Diagnostics has announced a partnership with a referral practice in order to provide general practitioners with additional support and advice with their exotic cases.
Through this partnership, Birch Heath Veterinary Clinic will provide interpretation of test results and practical advice for Greendale clients wishing to discuss perplexing cases.
Steve Clarke, Business Development Manager at Greendale said: "Exotic veterinary work relies heavily on diagnostic laboratory investigation, and Greendale's technical excellence, combined with Birch Heath's clinical expertise, provides a unique service for veterinary surgeons treating the increasing number of exotic pets seen in the UK."
In addition, the company has produced a new brochure which gives advice concerning how to obtain blood samples from exotic species. Each brochure contains a voucher for one free sample submission to encourage vets to gain confidence in our new service.
For a copy of the brochure or further information, call: 01483 797707.
The Royal College has announced that a Legislative Reform Order (LRO) to reconstitute its disciplinary committees separately from its Council has been signed by Defra Minister David Heath, and will come into force on 6 April 2013.
The LRO will amend Part I of Schedule 2 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA) and require that the RCVS Preliminary Investigation and Disciplinary Committees are made up of veterinary surgeons and lay members who are not RCVS Council members, and who are appointed independently.
This will ensure that the same group of people is not responsible for setting the rules, investigating complaints and adjudication, and will bring lay people formally into the Preliminary Investigation Committee.
The LRO will also allow the RCVS to increase the pool of people available to investigate complaints and sit on disciplinary hearings, reducing the workload on the individual Committee members whose primary appointment is to RCVS Council.
The RCVS has been working on the LRO with Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) officials since late 2010, and the Order was based on consultations undertaken by the RCVS and Defra.
According to the College, the Order was commended at every stage of Parliamentary scrutiny as an effective means to address the single biggest deficit of the VSA and to improve how the RCVS regulates the profession. During debate in Grand Committee of the House of Lords on 10 January, the RCVS received considerable praise for its strenuous efforts to modernise under the constraints of the present legislation, and the LRO received unanimous support.
Following the Order coming into force, the first external members will join the Disciplinary and Preliminary Investigation Committees from July 2013. After a two-year transition period, members of the RCVS Council will become ineligible for membership of these committees. Information about how to apply to join these committees will be available shortly.
President Jacqui Molyneux said: "I am delighted the LRO has been made and I am immensely thankful for the hard work of the Defra team and my colleagues in the College. The LRO is the single biggest reform to the regulation of veterinary surgeons since the 1966 Act, and it will bring the RCVS in line with regulatory best practice and improve the perception of the independence of the RCVS disciplinary processes."
Grahame Gardner is offering a 25% discount across many of its scrubwear ranges till the end of February 2013, including the Urbane Scrubs collection, the unisex Easiephit range and the Scrubzone brand.
For further information, visit www.grahamegardner.co.uk or call 0116 255 6326.