Dômes Pharma has launched Fluoxevet, billed as the first re-engineered fluoxetine for dogs with separation disorders, offering accurate, flexible dosing in a double-divisible, flavoured tablet.

Jonathan Hill, UK country manager  at Dômes Pharma said: "Dômes Pharma is really excited to be extending our pet anxiety range to help vets manage cases in this complex area.

https://domespharma.co.uk/products/fluoxevet/ 

Zoetis has been granted a Wholesale Dealer Import Certificate (WDIC) to supply practices with an alternative rotavirus vaccine after being hit by manufacturing delays with this year’s season of Equip Rotavirus.

Practices which want to buy the alternative imported vaccine will need to apply to the VMD for a Special Import Certificate (SIC).

Wholesalers have agreed to stock the alternative vaccine.

Zoetis says it acknowledges the concern and frustration this causes its customers and wants to reassure the equine community that it is working hard to resume Equip Rotavirus supply as soon as possible.

For further information, contact your Zoetis account manager or ring Zoetis HQ on 0345 300 8034.

A survey by the Gluck Equine Research Centre at the University of Kentucky and Spillers, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal¹, has revealed the main reasons why horses are retired.

The survey of 2717 horse owners, 56% of which were leisure owners and 35% professionals, found that most horses (62%) were retired between 15-24 years of age, mainly for health reasons. 

Mares had a higher risk of retirement than geldings, which the researchers say may be due in part to mares used for breeding not doing much structured exercise.

Just over 1 in 6 horses in the study were affected by low muscle mass according to their owners. 

Age, sex, osteoarthritis, laminitis, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and primary use were identified as risk factors for low muscle mass. 

Geldings had a higher risk of low muscle mass than mares, which the researchers say may be a result of low testosterone. 

Horses with owner-reported veterinary-diagnosed PPID, osteoarthritis and laminitis had a higher risk of low muscle mass.   

Primary use was identified as a risk factor for low muscle mass, with retired horses having a higher risk than horses used for competition or pleasure riding. 

Owner-reported low muscle mass was perceived to affect welfare and the ability to work in the majority of senior horses. 

Alisa Herbst, who led the study, said: “A prolonged working/active life may not only be desired by owners but is also likely to provide health and welfare benefits to the horse.

"We hope the results of this study may be useful for veterinarians caring for senior and geriatric equines, by helping to achieve this."

“The information may aid in the investigation of diseases affecting senior horses and in establishing senior horse-owner education programs.

"The low muscle mass risk factor list may assist vets in identifying horses at risk of low muscle mass to be selected for close monitoring.

“Vets may also consider inclusion of an objective measurement of muscle atrophy, such as the muscle atrophy scoring system (MASS)***, in annual wellness exams, so that atrophy can be identified and managed as early as possible."

Sarah Nelson, Product Manager at Mars Horsecare added: “This survey has highlighted several interesting retirement trends.

“With a better understanding of when and why senior horses are being retired we hope, eventually, to be better placed to monitor for, prevent (where possible), and treat the underlying conditions early on, to help horses stay active and healthy for longer.”

https://www.seniorhorsehealth.com  

Reference

1. Herbst A. Coleman M , Macon E, Brokman A, Stromberg A, Harris P , Adams A (2023) Retirement risk factors, exercise management, and muscle mass in U.S. senior horses Equine Veterinary Journal in press.

Vet Dynamics, the business consultancy for independent practices set up by Alan and Vicky Robinson, has raised a staggering £40,712 for Vetlife at its annual conference.

The money, which was raised from the annual raffle and auction was nearly 50% more than last year's total, which was an already impressive £27,800.

When the total was announced, former Vetlife President and auctioneer for the evening, Graham Dick was visibly moved and rendered temporarily speechless.

Once he's had a chance to recompose himself, he said “Your continued selection of Vetlife as the nominated charity for your now legendary fundraising at your annual conference not only raises much needed funds to enable it to continue to fulfil its mission, but also provides an excellent opportunity to re-enforce its contribution to the wellbeing of so many fellow veterinary professionals.” \

“This amazing sum raised could not have been possible without the provision by so many of such a wide range of raffle prizes and high value lots for auction and the generosity of those who bid unstintingly for them.

"On behalf of those in our veterinary community  for whom such generosity may have made a substantial difference Vetlife is extremely grateful.”

Vet Dynamics Director Vicky Robinson said: “Both Graham and I were virtually speechless to see the amazing generosity from our delegates and exhibitors and, of course, the kindness of the donors.

"It's such a pleasure to be able to contribute to a charity who work tirelessly to help our wonderful profession.”

Photo: Vicky Robinson and Graham Dick

Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Strangvac, a protein-based strangles vaccine for horses and ponies.

Strangvac has been in development for over 25 years and Dechra says it's the first and only intramuscular vaccine to help protect against strangles.

Strangvac contains recombinant proteins CCE, Eq85 and IdeE from Streptococcus equi and has DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) capability. 

The vaccine contains no live bacteria or bacterial DNA, so will not trigger positive culture or PCR tests.

In trials the new vaccine protected more than 94% of horses¹.

Dechra says it reduces the clinical signs of strangles including a high temperature, coughing, inappetence, difficulty swallowing and changes in demeanour, while also reducing the number of lymph node abscesses. 

Strangvac can be given to foals from five months of age and two injections should be given at a four-week interval. 

Horses at high risk of Streptococcus equi infection, such as those in livery, should be revaccinated after two months. 

Based on measured antibody titres, immunological memory was found in horses following repeated vaccination six months after primary vaccination.

Dr Andrew Waller, chief scientific officer at Intervacc AB, the company that developed the vaccine, said: “Strangvac is a ground-breaking new vaccine which, alongside good stable management and biosecurity procedures, can play a really important role in improving herd immunity and reducing the number of strangles cases in the equine population, thereby preventing major economic loss to the equestrian industry.”

https://www.dechra.co.uk/equine/vaccines 

XLVets, the cooperative of independent practices, has decided to share its resources with independent practices that are not currently members.

XLVets has called on experts in people development, legal, IT and HR, as well as its practice owners, managers and team leaders to develop a package of coronavirus resources. The package includes guidance and best practice, tips offered by XLVets members, expert guidance in the use of technology to support home workers, access to the XLVets Thriving in Practice wellbeing initiative and more. 

To access the resources at www.xlvets.co.uk without charge or obligation, email admin@xlvets.co.uk.

Colm McGinn (pictured right), from XLVets said: "We are very good at working together to develop solutions for problems and supporting each other. This is a national challenge and while our members have faced some difficult decisions, they've been able to share that decision-making process with their peers, calling on them for ideas, guidance and support.

"It's a big ask for just one or two partners to interpret the guidance in a rapidly changing environment and to stay informed about advice from regulatory bodies and associations. We've all benefited from sharing knowledge and it's lifted some of the pressure that comes from taking individual action, while still having freedom to do what's right for your own practice and people. I can't think of a better time for us to share our learning and resources for the greater good."

For more information, visit: https://www.xlvets.co.uk/the-boss. 

King Charles has adopted the millionth hen to be rehomed by the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT).

Founded in 2005 by Jane Howorth MBE, the British Hen Welfare Trust rehomes commercial laying hens that would usually be sent to slaughter, typically at 18 months. 

The charity has rehomed hens in schools, community areas, prisons and back gardens around the country, where they have plenty of life left both as egg layers and companions.

The millionth hen, named Henrietta by His Majesty, was rehomed at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire, along with 30 others earlier this month.  

Jane said: “We’re thrilled that one million hens have been adopted and extremely pleased that Henrietta and her 30 feathered friends are heading to Highgrove Gardens.

"Helping a lorry load of 4,000 was my original target and we’ve exceeded my expectations by some margin!

"To think that so many hens have had a happy retirement gives me a great deal of pleasure as I’m sure it has for all the kind-hearted British supporters who’ve taken these deserving little creatures into their homes and hearts. 

"From the day I started this charity, it’s been a privilege to meet and work with people who want to help hens and to work alongside the egg industry to champion hen welfare and free range eggs.” 

www.bhwt.org.uk/one-millionth-hen. 

RCVS Knowledge has produced a series of free contextualised care discussion guides designed to help communication between veterinary professionals and clients.

The guides have been developed for vet teams to share with their clients and work through together, so that both sides are on the same page about owner values, pet welfare and behaviour, and diagnosis and treatment options.

A member of the veterinary team and the client can then work together to make decisions and provide quality care. 

One of the pet owners who helped develop the guides said: “I always get so worked up with vet consultations that I forget half of what they say, or feel like I didn’t tell them enough about my pet’s history.

"If the vet used these guides at my next consult, they would make me feel very at ease indeed!”

Pam Mosedale, Clinical Lead at RCVS Knowledge, said: “These guides offer a simple, actionable way to help deliver contextualised care in practice.

"To get started, run through the questions in the guide with a client, and see how this can help you devise a treatment plan with the information you’ve discovered.

"This helps you gain a fuller understanding of your patient’s care and wellbeing needs and your client’s circumstances and expectations.

"Ultimately, this will assist you in delivering quality care that aligns with the needs and expectations of your clients.”

There are three contextualised care discussion guides:

• The pre-consultation conversation guide for owners, which is designed to help pet owners prepare for a veterinary consultation and help the veterinary team identify any support areas they may need.
• Your pet’s wellbeing during treatment, which will help pet owners and the veterinary team identify how pets may react to certain treatments, and guide overall decisions on treatment plans.
• Conversation guide for delivering contextualised care, which  can be used to discuss treatment options with the owner, allowing for an in-depth discussion on what treatment will entail, and how this might impact both the owner and the patient. 

RCVS Knowledge is encouraging veterinary teams to adapt the guides to meet their individual needs. 

https://rcvsknowledge.org/contextualisedcare

COMMENT

Anything which helps clear communication between the owner and vet is surely to be applauded, and if owners are prepared to spend the time completing the pre-consultation guide, it would surely leave less room for error. 

However, arguably the greatest cause of friction between owners and vets is cost, and that is something only mentioned fleetingly, in the context of: 'Are there any other factors that may impact on the care of your pet? e.g planned holidays or financial concerns'.

Isn't it time to stop beating around the bush?

Isn't there an opportunity here for greater clarity over the level of spending a client is happy with?

Is there an acceptable form of words here to ascertain whether - regardless of whether they have financial concerns or not - the client is one of those who wants the cheapest solution to the problem, one for whom money is no object, or someone who sits somewhere in the middle?

Wouldn't that be more instructive than almost anything else?

Krka has launched 'Ears to Tail', a range of veterinary practice resources designed to encourage a responsible, risk-based approach to the use of parasiticides.

The materials include pet owner guides, reception posters and slides to display on waiting room TV.

They complement the Krka veterinary professional guide on responsible risk-based parasiticide use for cats and dogs that was developed in conjunction with Ian Wright BVMS MSc MRCVS and launched last year.

Renzo Di Florio, Krka’s Technical Veterinary Adviser said:  “In first opinion veterinary practice, where the majority of consultations last 15 minutes or less, time is short and in-depth discussions are not always possible.

"The guides provide comprehensive information on common parasites, practical advice on prevention and treatment and information on risk assessment.

"And by aligning with ESCCAP guidelines, the guides help address the delicate balance between animal health, human health and environmental protection – a true One Health issue.”

https://www.krka.co.uk/veterinary-knowledge-hub/articles/risk-based-parasiticide-use-for-cats-and-dogs

Louise Hosford, a Principal Nurse Manager who works at Vets Now's emergency and critical care clinic in Sheffield has become the sixth winner of the company's bursary in memory of Louise O’Dwyer. 

The bursary gives Louise a £2,000 CPD allowance for having demonstrated her commitment to making a difference and furthering Louise’s legacy of sharing learning.

Louise said: “I'm absolutely over the moon to have been awarded the Louise O'Dwyer bursary - and am incredibly grateful for the support and opportunity provided by Vets Now.

"I have worked in practice for some 26 years now and was lucky enough to attend several of Louise's emergency and critical care nursing lectures at a variety of veterinary conferences over the years.

"Her lectures were inspiring and full of humour.”

“I intend to use the bursary to undertake the Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing (PgCert APVN) through the University of Glasgow.

"I am incredibly excited to embark on this new learning journey - and hope that I can share these skills with other RVNs, and encourage others to keep following their dreams within the veterinary nursing profession, just as Louise did.”

Applications for next year’s Louise O’Dwyer bursary will open in spring 2025.

CVS Equine has made personal protective equipment (PPE) mandatory for all of its staff that handle horses.

From early 2025, all vets, nurses and technicians will be required to wear a hard hat in the vicinity of a horse, pony or donkey – whether in practice, on a yard, or at a client’s premises.

It follows a three-year research project collaborating with the University of Liverpool which revealed that 90% of veterinary clinicians have experienced an injury during their career.

It is hoped that the move will reduce injuries to the head – one of the most common traumas to be suffered by equine vets identified by the research, usually sustained when examining distal limbs.

CVS says that in the US, equine vets sustain on average eight serious injuries during their career, making it the second highest profession for non-fatal injuries.

The University of Liverpool research found that over 25% of equine vet injuries have led to hospital attendance.

Dr. John Tulloch, Lecturer and European Specialist in Veterinary Public Health at the University of Liverpool, who led the research, said: “Vet visits are not an ‘everyday activity’ for a horse.

"As a result, many horses will be on heightened alert, and some may be more prone to unpredictable behaviour.

“Vets are often in a vulnerable situation when examining a horse.

"And it’s difficult to pick up on a horses’ signals, especially when examining areas such as distal limbs.

“Our research found that many injuries happen when a horse kicks or pushes a person over and the person’s head makes impact with the ground.

"So, wearing a hard hat will be a big step towards preventing traumatic head injuries if this were to happen.”

Sophie Ignarski, Equine Director at CVS said: “All of our clinicians are at risk in their day-to-day work – whether they are newly qualified or very experienced.

"Other colleagues including nurses, vet techs and patient care assistants are similarly vulnerable.

“We decided to make wearing of hard hats mandatory in order to protect all of our colleagues and minimise the potential risk of head injury, understanding it can never be fully eliminated.

"We recognise that this policy shift represents a degree of change but hope that it serves to further support and progress the equine veterinary industry more widely.

“Our policy is evidence-based, utilising three years of rigorous research, and we will continue our efforts in the future to grow our knowledge and understanding of this important area.

"By doing so, we join other industries – such as construction – who have already adopted similar changes to the extent they are now established in their culture.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587725001266 

CVS is embarking on a new study to investigate and document the clinical and clinicopathological features, treatments and outcomes of colitis in UK adult horses.

A team of researchers led by Tim Mair, CVS Equine Veterinary Director and Specialist in both Equine Internal Medicine and Equine Soft Tissue Surgery at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, will review 100 cases of colitis in adult horses and 100 controls referred to seven equine veterinary hospitals in the UK: five CVS equine veterinary hospitals as well as Rossdales Equine Hospital and University of Liverpool’s equine hospital.

A set of diagnostic tests on blood and faeces will be performed in these cases.

The laboratory tests will include: small redworm serology, culture and PCR of faeces for Salmonella spp, PCR of faeces for Clostridioides difficile and Clostridium perfringens, ELISA of faeces for toxins of C.difficile and C.perfringens, PCR of faeces for coronavirus.

The clinical features, laboratory results, treatments and outcomes will also be recorded.

Tim said: “Acute colitis accounts for around 5% of admissions to referral hospitals. 

"And of those who are referred with it, half will not survive but there is very limited evidence available.

"So it’s vital that we build our evidence-base of this life-threatening condition.

"We hope that the outcomes of our new study will lead to a greater understanding of the causes and better inform veterinary treatment of colitis in UK adult horses.”

The Colitis in Adult Horses study is supported by a research grant from CVS, and funding for the small redworm ELISA will be given from Austin Davis Biologics.

The study started at the beginning of 2024 and the first horses have been recruited.

The results of the study are expected to be published in 2025. 

Julian Hoad has taken up his role as BSAVA President for 2024-25.

Taking over from Carl Gorman, Julian says his focus is to continue the work undertaken this year as part of a ‘programme of change’ for BSAVA, that will continue to promote the strong sense of community within the membership and the wider profession.

Speaking at the BSAVA AGM, Julian said: “I am very humbled as I stand here today as your 67th President. It is certainly the pinnacle of my veterinary career, and the greatest honour yet bestowed on me in life.

"We continue to live in exciting times at BSAVA, and as ever, I join a team of utterly amazing staff at Woodrow House.

“I really do believe that the BSAVA will continue to go from strength to strength and will continue to maintain its relevance and position as the indispensable voice of the small animal veterinary profession.”

Julian started volunteering for the BSAVA after his graduation within the Southeastern Regional committee, becoming Chair of the committee after a few years.

He then became part of the BSAVA Education Committee, BSAVA PetSavers Grants Awarding Committee, and was lately part of the Publications Committee.

He then joined the Presidential ladder two years ago as Junior Vice President.

Outside of his volunteering for the BSAVA, he was at Crossways Vets in West Sussex for 17 years, initially as a partner, then as an owner, and finally as a Clinical Director.

He has since stepped down from the practice to devote his time to being BSAVA President this year.