Carlos Egido Cortes, a Glamorgan-based practitioner, has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee following his conviction for possession of four indecent images of children and an extreme pornographic image involving an animal and a female.

Mr Cortes had pleaded guilty to the offences in January 2017 at Cardiff Crown Court. In February 2017, he was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years with a requirement to complete unpaid work and rehabilitation activity and a victim surcharge. Following Mr Cortes’ conviction the matters were referred to the RCVS and Mr Cortes was subsequently referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

Mr Cortes did not attend at the Disciplinary Committee hearing and was not represented. The Disciplinary Committee, being satisfied that Mr Cortes had been served with the Notice of Inquiry and having considered and taken into account a number of separate factors, decided that it would be in the interests of justice to proceed with the hearing in his absence.

The Committee considered whether Mr Cortes’ convictions rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon. Chitra Karve, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee has reached the conclusion that the respondent’s possession of this material which has led to his convictions was so reprehensible as to merit the description disgraceful. It considers that by possessing this material, the respondent has brought disgrace on the profession and will have undermined confidence in it. It therefore finds that the convictions have rendered the respondent unfit to practise veterinary surgery."

In considering the sanction the Committee decided that removing Mr Cortes from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons was the only available option. Ms Karve added: "The Committee has determined that the respondent’s behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a member of the veterinary profession. It therefore directs the Registrar to remove the respondent’s name… from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons."

Ceva Animal Health has launched Adaptil Stress Relief Now, a non-pheromone tablet to help dogs cope with predictable but unavoidable short-term stressful situations such as vet visits and car journeys.

The new product contains GABA, which, according to Ceva, plays a central role in relaxation by limiting the nerve cell activity in the areas of the brain associated with anxiety.¹ It also contains L-tryptophan to increase serotonin synthesis¹ and reduce stress-related behaviours in dogs.² It also contains T-theanine, which Ceva says increases the release of GABA and inhibits the binding of the excitatory neurotransmitter L-glutamic acid to its receptors,^1,3 with the effect of reducing anxiety and improving learning abilities.⁴ Finally, the product also contains B Vitamins (B1,B3, B6, B8 and B12), which the company says helps the body cope with the effects of stress.⁵

Ceva says that by administering the tablets to dogs two hours before any predictable stressful event and boosting levels of these naturally occurring substances, Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets have been shown to help 80% of dogs remain relaxed in stressful situations, with the effect lasting up to four hours after administration.⁶ 

Sarah Endersby, Senior Veterinary Advisor at Ceva said: "Pet owners often want advice from their vets to help their dog's cope with a potentially stressful event that is approaching. Many want a reliable and quick-acting solution, especially if the event is infrequent or of a short duration. An oral anxiolytic can be really useful in this situation, and can be used alongside targeted behavioural training to help the dog cope."

According to the company, study trials have proven a high safety margin, with no recognised side effects and no impact on clinical parameters.⁶ In palatability trials, 90% of dogs chose to eat them with no prompting.⁶

Ceva recommends the new product is used alone or in combination with other products in the existing Adaptil range for common stressful situations for dogs, including: house parties / visitors, fireworks, thunderstorms, noise phobias, travel, veterinary visits and visits to groomers.

For more information about Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets, including client literature, please speak to your local Ceva representative.

References

1. Alramadhan, E., M. S. Hanna, M. S. Hanna, T. A. Goldstein, S. M. Avila, and B. S. Weeks, 2012, Dietary and botanical anxiolytics, Medical Science Monitor, v. 18, no. 4, p. RA40-RA48.
2. DeNapoli, J. S., N. H. Dodman, L. Shuster, W. M. Rand, and K. L. Gross, 2000, Effect of dietary protein content and tryptophan supplementation on dominance aggression, territorial aggression, and hyperactivity in dogs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, v. 217, no. 4, p. 504-508.
3. Kakuda, T., A. Nozawa, A. Sugimoto, and H. Niino, 2002, Inhibition by theanine of binding of [3H]AMPA, [3H]kainate, and [3H]MDL 105,519 to glutamate receptors, Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry, v. 66, no. 12, p. 2683-2686.
4. Ritsner, M. S., C. Miodownik, Y. Ratner, T. Shleifer, M. Mar, L. Pintov, and V. Lerner, 2011, L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center study, Journal of clinical psychiatry, v. 72, no. 1, p. 34-42.
5. Thompson, J., 2005a, Vitamins, minerals and supplements: part three, Community practitioner, v. 78, no. 11, p. 407-408.
6. Study Report, Evaluation of the voluntary acceptance, consumption and tolerance of Adaptil oral tablets in dogs, ST 2013-02 Vetpharma/De Morgenstond.

Elanco Companion Animal Health, maker of Comfortis and Trifexis, has launched Common parasites of dogs, a new publication designed to help veterinary professionals advising clients about the benefits of regular parasite control.

Focusing on endoparasites, the booklet includes information about roundworm (Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine), hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum), whipworm (Trichuris vulpis), heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum), tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) and fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.).  It includes details on the lifecycle of the parasites, how they develop, symptoms and sources of infection, whether the parasites are a risk to pets and humans and illustrations to explain their lifecycle and show what each of the parasites looks like.

Common parasites of dogs is available in two formats: a 'tablet friendly' electronic version and a booklet consisting of individual cards on a metal snap ring.

Matthew Rowe, senior brand manager at Elanco Companion Animal Health, said: "Pet owners often get confused by the different parasites that can be picked up by their dogs. The new common parasites of dogs education tool will help veterinary professionals advise their clients about parasites and the benefits of routine worming and flea treatments."

For a copy of Common parasites of dogs electronically or as a booklet, contact your Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or email elancoCAH.uk@elanco.com.

A new education provider has launched in Australia, offering online training for veterinary nurses in the UK.

Veteducation.com.au offers 4-6 week short courses for veterinary nurses who have completed their basic nursing qualification - but don't want to stop learning.

The company says that the response to its 2 pilot courses has been outstanding, with more than 70% of our students already enrolling in another course.

The courses: "Emergency Medicine for Veterinary Nurses" and "Critical Care for Veterinary Nurses" combined carefully prepared notes, 24-hour access to additional resources, message boards, and veterinary tutor assistance, plus the bonus of weekly live interactive tutorials, to help students through their course material.

All courses are completed from the comfort of your own home - no travel expenses, no need for locums, and no additional costs.

Veteducation.com.au has over 12 courses coming up over the next 2-3 years, beginning with "Anaesthesia for Veterinary Nurses" in February 2008.

You can join a mailing list at www.veteducation.com.au to keep updated on course dates.

Eli Lilly and Company, which owns Elanco Animal Health, has announced an agreement to acquire Novartis Animal Health for approximately $5.4 billion in cash.

Lilly says that on completion of the deal, Elanco will be the second-largest animal health company in terms of global revenue. It will also solidify its number two ranking in the U.S., and improve its position in Europe and the rest of the world.

As part of the agreement, Lilly will acquire Novartis Animal Health's nine manufacturing sites, six dedicated research and development facilities, a global commercial infrastructure with a portfolio of approximately 600 products, a pipeline with more than 40 projects in development, and an experienced team of more than 3,000 employees.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2015, subject to clearance under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, similar requirements outside the U.S., and other customary closing conditions.

John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., Lilly's chairman, president and chief executive officer said: "Animal health continues to represent an attractive growth opportunity for Lilly. We intend to keep Elanco and to take advantage of the substantial synergies between our animal health and human health businesses.

"Significant investments in our animal health business in recent years have enabled Elanco to double its revenue since 2008, leading the industry in growth. Global trends suggest continued sustained demand for animal health products in the years ahead. Through this acquisition, which moves Elanco to top-tier in the industry, we intend to create value for our shareholders by adding to our promising pipeline of innovative animal health assets, increasing sales through a larger commercial footprint, and improving efficiencies and lowering costs."

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.

Zoetis has announced the launch of Apoquel (oclacitinib maleate), a new treatment for pruritus associated with canine allergic dermatitis and the clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis. 

Uniquely, the new treatment inhibits the JAK enzyme, a protein that is integral to the signalling pathway of cytokines that are pro-inflammatory or have a role in allergic and itch response.

According to the company, pruritus affects about one in six dogs whose owners seek veterinary help, and about half of all itchy dogs will have an underlying allergic skin condition for which the new product would be indicated.

Zoetis says that because Apoquel targets the specific pathways of pruritus (itch) and inflammation, it is less likely to cause unwanted side effects than glucocorticoids and demonstrates anti-pruritic efficacy within four hours.

Pascal Prélaud, a dermatology specialist from Paris, who took part in the clinical development programme of Apoquel, said: "When a dog develops an itch related to an allergy, it can be life-disrupting for the dog and the entire family. I've learned firsthand the fundamental difference this treatment can make to a dog and its owners in stopping the itch, but without many of the side-effects that are common with steroids.

Zoetis reports that in clinical trials, Apoquel demonstrated a good safety profile and efficacy for the treatment of pruritus and resulted in improved skin lesions in dogs diagnosed with a number of allergic skin diseases as well as atopic dermatitis and treated either short or long term. The decrease in itch scores was observed by pet owners within 24 hours of administration, and pruritus continued to decrease compared to baseline until the end of the study.  Skin lesions scores assessed by veterinarians were significantly improved after one week and continued to improve long term during the studies (four months). 

Apoquel is a POM. Apoquel tablets, dosed at 0.4 to 0.6 mg/kg, are administered orally, twice daily for up to 14 days, and then administered once daily for maintenance therapy if medium- to long-term treatment is required, such as in dogs with seasonal skin allergy and atopic dermatitis. 

Vétoquinol has released the results of a survey of 1000 dog owners, which looked into their attitudes towards long-term medication for their pet¹.

Owners were asked to rate how important various factors were to them when it came to giving medicine long term to their dog. They were also asked to consider what they felt was most important to their vet when it came to choosing a medicine.

• Effectiveness: 85% of dog owners felt that effectiveness was highly important.
• Side effects: 77% of dog owners said a limited range of side effects was either highly important (47%) or important (30%) in deciding their preference for a particular medication for their dog. Interestingly, owners thought that veterinary surgeons are slightly less concerned about side effects than they are: only 34% of owners think side effects are highly important to their vet). 
• Easy of administration: Only 24% of owners rated how easily a medication can be given as highly important. 28% said it was of medium importance.
• Established brand: 30% of dog owners felt this was of medium importance, and 24% felt this of least importance.
• Cost: surprisingly, the cost of medication was found to be one of the least important factors, with only 14% saying it was highly important to them.

Vétoquinol says the fact that dog owners rate the effectiveness of a medication much more highly than the cost means there is very little reason to compromise on treatment based on a presumption of what clients will want to pay. These findings are also largely very positive in that they suggest that dog owners believe that in many areas vets are making decisions based on criteria that are important to owners. The area where there is the greatest mismatch is over the risk of side effects of medication.

Pet owners think that vets may take the risk of side effects from long-term medications less seriously than the owners themselves might prefer. It suggests that the risk of potential harm, no matter how small the risk of actual harm is, may be more unacceptable to the dog owner than vets and nurses might otherwise presume. When prescribing long-term medication there is a need to talk about the risks associated with medication more openly and to take the client's attitudes to risk into consideration.

^1. A survey of 1048 dog owners, carried out by petbuzz, on behalf of Vétoquinol, March 2011

Petplan is running its television advertising campaign from now until October.

The advert (below) is airing on Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, ITV2, ITV3, More 4, Gold and USA.

Suzanne Cheadle, Acting Head of Marketing at Petplan said: "As the UK market leader, it is imperative that pet owners recognise and understand who we are and what we stand for. We need to help pet owners understand not only why pet insurance is so important, but explain why they should choose Petplan over any other provider. In 36 years, there's not an illness or accident that we haven't seen, and our Covered For Life policies have been developed with unrivalled knowledge and experience."

The Royal Veterinary College has launched an appeal to the veterinary profession to raise a target of £10,000 to enable VetAid Kenya to help during what has become the worst drought in living memory in the Horn of Africa.

According to the RVC, the drought has already forced over one million cattle and small stock south into the Tana Delta district of Kenya in search of grazing. Crowded together, these weakened animals are at major risk of infectious and parasitic disease. In some cases 80-90% mortality can be expected in herds or flocks. Without veterinary intervention, breeding livestock for communities in the Horn of Africa drought area will be devastated.

Government veterinary services are stretched and they are assisted in a coordinated response involving Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (Belgium, Switzerland and Germany) and VetAid Kenya which has staff in the field protecting herds.  The programme has been partly funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), but with funds running low this vital activity is at risk just as it is most needed. VetAid Kenya is now the only veterinary agency working in the area, implementing an emergency vaccination programme to protect the breeding stock.

Gabriel Turasha, Director of VetAid Kenya said: "We only have one team working in Tana River and desperately need funds to send out three more teams as soon as possible.  £10,000 would cover the cost of three teams, transport and vaccinations to treat 20,000 animals per week.  This will make a real difference as we are providing the only veterinary support in this vast area.  

"Our vaccination teams are ready to go out into the field at a few days notice. We just need to mobilize them.  This is where the UK veterinary profession can help - every pound donated will make a huge difference!"

RVC Principal Professor Stuart Reid said: "Veterinary services are seriously stretched in Kenya and the only organisations with the flexibility, initiative and expertise to respond this to emergency are the veterinary NGOs such as VetAid Kenya and its Vétérinaires Sans Frontières partners.

"FAO has limited budget to spend on disaster response and RVC has a longstanding relationship with VetAid Kenya and with the region in general.  As a College, we strongly feel that we should do all we can to support pastoral farmers in the region, and mounting this appeal is one way in which we can respond to the ongoing disaster and support our veterinary colleagues in East Africa."   

The RVC and all other agencies involved in this appeal are contributing their services pro-bono so that all funds raised will go to the programme to help the people and animals struggling with the drought. 

To donate, visit: www.rvc.ac.uk/vetaidkenya

The RCVS has removed 295 veterinary nurses from the Register for non-payment of their annual renewal fee on 1 January 2018.

The annual renewal fee for veterinary nurses is due for payment on 1 November every year, although you have up to midnight on 31 December to pay before you're removed from the Register.

Of the 295 removed from the register this year, over 25 subsequently applied for restoration to the Register and paid an £118 fee.

Although the number of removals has increased slightly from the previous year, when 247 veterinary nurses came off the Register for non-payment, it is far fewer than 2016 when 692 were removed for non-payment.

Nicola South, Head of Registration at the College, said: "Over the past two years we have been making use of text messages and emails to remind veterinary nurses, and veterinary surgeons, to pay their annual fee to remain on the Register and I think the falling number of removals in the years since we introduced this is testament to the effectiveness of these methods.

"However, there are still some individuals who are slipping through the net and we would remind veterinary nurses that a considerable fee needs to be paid to the restore to the Register if their registration lapses. Furthermore it is then technically illegal for them to practice and perform any procedures that fall under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act."

A list of those who have been removed from the Register on 1 January 2018, and who haven’t subsequently been restored, has been published to assist practices in making checks to ensure that all their veterinary nursing staff are still on the Register. This list can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/check-the-register/about-the-vn-register/

Those with questions about how to restore to the Register should contact the College’s Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or registration@rcvs.org.uk.

For questions about paying the annual renewal fee or setting up a Direct Debit contact the RCVS Finance Department on 020 7202 0723 or finance@rcvs.org.uk

Dorwest Herbs has launched its annual 'Dorwest Say Relax' fireworks phobia campaign, which includes free promotional packs for practices.

The promotional packs, which contain a poster, leaflets, flashing badges and a 'Dorwest Say Relax' t-shirt, being given free to the first 100 practices that request a product box (containing licensed Scullcap & Valerian Tablets and Organic Valerian Compound at a discounted price) from the company.

In addition, Dorwest is running a seemingly popular consumer facebook competition to find the most relaxed dog in the nation, the winner of which will be sent on a pet-friendly luxury weekend break.

Finally, the company is writing a blog written from the perspective of Merlin, the dog used in its logo - http://merlintakescontrol.wordpress.com - though quite who is going to read it, or why, is slightly beyond me.