Elanco has announced the results of a survey it conducted amongst European dermatology diplomates which found that nearly 90% of them consider Comfortis (spinosad) is the first choice of flea control for cats and dogs.
The research was conducted at the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology (ESVD) and European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ECVD) Congress 2013. 49 Dip ESVD holders from around Europe were asked:
Research has shown that dermatological cases account for approximately 20% of small animal consultations conducted by general practitioners1. According to Elanco, further industry investigations have found that skin diseases are two to three times more common than the next disease category, and dermatological problems are a common secondary reason for an examination.
Anna Jackson, national veterinary manager at Elanco Companion Animal Health, said: “Skin diseases are a huge part of a practicing vet’s workload and one which can prove challenging to effectively address. By creating a fast acting oral flea control product that can work alongside other topical dermatological treatments, we’re helping to alleviate the discomfort and consequences of flea allergy dermatitis, which is one of the most common causes of skin disease. It’s fantastic to receive such strong endorsements from some of the leading dermatologists in Europe and this underlines the benefits of using Comfortis for flea control.”
Reference
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."
"The majority of veterinary medicines used in the UK (and ingredients and components to make them) are either produced in or enter via the EU. The government is working with animal health companies who have been carrying out extensive contingency planning for all EU Exit scenarios, including no deal. These plans cover all aspects of their supply chains, from regulatory compliance and stocking levels to logistics and customs. They also include, as appropriate, increasing stocks of products in the UK, changing supply routes, transferring marketing authorisations and other regulatory processes.
"To reduce any risk to medicines availability in the UK, detailed planning is ongoing to ensure that supply chain measures are appropriate to address the sector’s complex needs and priorities.
"Much work has been done by companies with the objective of ensuring fair and appropriate distribution of this inventory to avoid disruption.
"Supply is expected to cope with a normal ordering pattern with adequate forward planning and communication with suppliers.
"With this planning in place, we are confident that we have made every effort to ensure continuity of supply of veterinary medicines in the UK."
Well that makes a nice change from the incessantly and determinedly gloomy picture painted elsewhere.
New research from the USA, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ), has shown that a toxin from the box elder tree is the likely cause of Seasonal Pasture Myopathy (SPM), the US equivalent of the European disease known as Atypical Myopathy (AM).
According to the British Equine Veterinary Association, preliminary comparisons of these results with cases of AM in Europe suggest that the European condition may be linked to similar trees which could have an important bearing on the future prevention of the disease in Europe.
Seasonal Pasture Myopathy is a highly fatal muscle disease in Midwestern USA and Eastern Canada. A similar disorder called Atypical Myopathy is becoming increasingly frequent in the UK and Northern Europe. Outbreaks of both diseases tend to be seasonal, with most cases occurring in the autumn. Horses that develop SPM and AM are usually kept in sparse pastures with an accumulation of dead leaves dead wood and trees in or around the pasture and are often not fed any supplementary hay or feed.
The research1 identified that seeds from box elder trees were consistently present in the autumn pastures of all 12 horses enrolled in the study. These horses were from 11 different farms and had all presented with the clinical signs of SPM, which include muscular weakness and stiffness, dark urine, periods of recumbency, colic-like signs and muscle trembling. The toxic amino acid hypoglycin A, which is known to cause acquired multiple acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) was shown to be present in the box elder seeds and hypoglycin metabolites were identified in the serum or urine of all the horses. All but one of the cases proved fatal.
Professor Valberg DVM PhD of the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, who instigated the study, said: "The fact that another acquired form of MADD in rats and humans is caused by hypoglycin A ingestion strengthens our conclusion that hypoglycin A is the likely toxic cause of SPM in horses. We are intending to conduct further studies to determine the factors that affect the highly variable hypoglycin A concentrations in box elder seeds."
Professor Valberg has established collaborative links with groups in Europe in order to investigate if a similar toxin is involved in European Atypical Myopathy. Working with Professor Vince Gerber and Dr Lucia Unger at the University of Bern, Professor Valberg has obtained seeds from a tree related to the Box Elder found on many pastures where Atypical Myopathy has occurred.
Professor Celia Marr, Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal said: "This is a really important step forwards. We don't yet know for sure that the cause of European disease, Atypical Myopathy, is the same as Seasonal Pasture Myopathy in the US. But the clinical signs and MADD aberrations are identical and both conditions have a high fatality rate. It remains to be seen whether this research will help European horses, but there is no doubt that it will allow American horse owners to prevent this devastating condition affecting their horses with immediate effect."
1 Seasonal Pasture Myopathy/Atypical Myopathy in North America associated with Ingestion of Hypoglycin A within Seeds of the Box Elder Tree Stephanie J Valberg DVM PhD1, Beatrice T Sponseller Dr. med. vet2, Adrian D Hegeman PhD3, Jennifer Earing PhD, Jeffery B. Bender DVM MS1, Krishona L Martinson PhD4, Steven E Patterson PhD5, Lawrence Sweetman PhD1
The newly refurbished and extended HQ at Woodrow House in Gloucestershire includes a practical wetlab equipped to share learning with a remote audience, hi-tech lecture rooms and a second teaching room where equipment such as microscopes or X-ray screens can be used.
Meeting rooms include video conferencing technology and giant presentation screens, and there are modern working environments, energy-saving innovations and pleasant break-out areas, all designed to make the building more inspiring, welcoming and comfortable.
Outside there are electric car charge points, bicycle racks and a landscaped area for wildlife with five bird boxes, a small pond and a log pile.
The two-year transformation was unveiled today with an opening address by Lord Trees (pictured right, on the right with Phil Lhermette), who said: "The BSAVA has always been a very dynamic and innovative organisation and this development is the latest example.
"Following their mission to pursue excellence in small animal practice through education and science, the wonderful facilities of this new building will provide a great resource for veterinary education and CPD which of course not only benefits vets and vet nurses but more importantly will ultimately benefit the health and welfare of our pet population.
"The building offers the very latest facilities to deliver high quality teaching and learning and has the capacity to be expanded as necessity dictates. I’m delighted to see the BSAVA investing in the future of the profession and this building, and the online technology it houses including the new digital library, will enable the organisation to continue to deliver its mission well into the future."
BSAVA President Phil Lhermette said: "Over the past 60 years BSAVA has put science and education at the heart of our organisation, and our successful growth includes delivering high quality CPD in an exciting new environment, which will be perfect for everyone to learn in the most conducive way.
"It has been 20 years since we moved into Woodrow House, so it was time for a one-off, ethical transition to create a modern, fit-for-purpose facility for all our members to enjoy."
BSAVA Head of Education Lucie Goodwin said: "These state-of-the-art, scientific-based education facilities will support highly valued, practical CPD for all veterinary professionals, and disseminate learning to a remote audience through video technologies in the classroom - a model that is poised to accelerate because of the proliferation of portable devices and the explosion of mobile phone capabilities."
A new quarterly veterinary publication - Companion Animals - has been launched to provide veterinary professionals with a structured summary of the best international literature published in the past three months.
The peer-reviewed publication is backed by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, which says it is part of the company's commitment to invest in education and continue to support vets in practice.
Companion Animals contains expert commentary and analysis on recent advances in veterinary medicine and has an international editorial and advisory board. The board comprises Virginia Luis Fuentes from the Royal Veterinary College, Daniel Holden from the County Veterinary Clinic, Jacques Penderis from the University of Glasgow, Scott Brown from the University of Georgia, Brice Reynolds from the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, Rob Rayward from Coast Veterinary Referrals, James Oliver from North Kent Referrals, Sarah Smith from Sarah Smith Cardiology, Mark Lowrie from Davies Veterinary Specialists, Marieke De Vries from the Animal Health Trust and Patricia Ibarrola from University College Dublin.
In addition, each issue contains an original review article. The leading article in Volume 1, Issue 1 is titled 'The recognition and management of acute and chronic pain in cats' and is authored by Louisa Slingsby from the University of Bristol.
To register an account and receive all content free of charge, courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, please contact your local Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or telephone 01344 746959.
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/.
On Tuesday 15 January the RCVS will hold a 'Meet the RCVS Day' for those standing or considering standing for election to RCVS Council or the Veterinary Nurses Council.
The event offers prospective candidates an opportunity to find out more about what the role of a Council member involves, and what would be expected of them, if elected.
Candidates and prospective candidates will have the chance to meet the RCVS Officers and senior staff, and to find out what goes on behind the scenes. The day will start at 10.30am, and finish at approximately 3.30pm, to allow plenty of time for questions. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
For further information, or to book a place, prospective candidates can contact Fiona Harcourt, Communications Officer (f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0773).
Nomination forms for RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurses Council, full instructions and guidance notes are available from www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil13 and www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil13. The deadline for nominations is 5pm on 31 January 2013.
Council and VN Council members will be expected to spend at least six to eight days a year attending Council and Committee meetings, working parties and subcommittees (for which a loss-of-earnings allowance is available).
The Blue Cross has presented its Veterinary Nurse of the Year award to Rebecca Darbyshire for her outstanding contribution to animal welfare, both within her veterinary practice and among the local community in Pocklington, York. The award was presented during the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) annual congress in Kettering, Northamptonshire on Saturday 11 October by BBC wildlife presenter Steve Leonard and The Blue Cross director of veterinary services, Christian Bamber.
This award celebrates the significant contribution made by a veterinary nurse in both educating the public and promoting the welfare of pets in the community. Veterinary surgeons and members of the public all over the country were invited to nominate a nurse who they felt had made an important contribution to their local community.
Christian Bamber explained: "This annual award is an opportunity for The Blue Cross to applaud the dedication and hard work of veterinary nurses across the UK. Rebecca's compassion and kindness towards pet owners in her local community has led to a deeper understanding of and commitment to animal welfare in her area. We congratulate Rebecca for winning this year's award and for her tireless enthusiasm and cheer which is so appreciated by the pets and their owners at her Yorkshire practice.
Rebecca was nominated by vet and colleague Matt Brash at Battlefields veterinary clinic in Pocklington.
Mr Brash said: "Rebecca is an outstanding, unassuming professional nurse. She runs all of the clinics that a modern day nurse does, but still has the time for anybody - whatever they need, whenever they need it. She has developed such a close relationship with our clients that they would often rather see her than a vet!"
Rebecca said: "It was a total surprise to find out I had won this year's award. I had no idea I'd even been nominated and I've never won anything before. I've been a veterinary nurse for more than 14 years and I really, really enjoy it. It just gets better as time goes on!"
CEVA Animal Health has announced the results of a survey which found that nearly half a million UK cat and dog owners never go on holiday for fear of upsetting their pet's routine.
In addition, the research revealed that half³ of pet owners who do take holidays experience guilt as a result of leaving their animal at a kennel or cattery, with nearly two-thirds (62%) considering the experience to be just as stressful or even more stressful for them than for their pet.
Cat behaviour counsellor Vicky Halls said, "We plan holidays in order to relax, yet they are actually a common cause of stress for all concerned - particularly for the pet cat. Even a stay at the best cattery can be unsettling, as their patterns of feeding, play and social interaction will be disrupted. They also have to adapt to a different environment and its new smells, noises and other animals. Of course, cats may experience similar issues if staying with a neighbour."
Indeed, 63% of respondents claim to have noticed a change in their pet when they've returned from holiday, with many animals becoming unsettled and showing signs of confusion or nervousness without their owners around.
According to the survey, going on holiday is one of the most stressful events that a pet can experience, although there are measures that people can take to relieve some of their animal's stress.
Juliet Penaliggon, small animal business unit manager at CEVA Animal Health, said: "Many people become anxious at the thought of leaving their pet in someone else's care while they are away. For some, this means they feel unable to go on holiday at all, even for a weekend, but there are excellent kennels and catteries available.
"It's advisable that owners research the facilities in their area and they shouldn't be afraid to ask questions when they visit the kennels or catteries. Once pets are there, some familiar items and the use of pheromone products D.A.P. and Feliway can help the animal to settle in."
For further information, please visit http://www.dapfordogs.com/ or http://www.feliway.com/.
¹ Survey carried out by Opinion Matters on behalf of CEVA Animal Health, March 2010. Sample size: 1,100.² 464,000 UK cat or dog owners³ 46% of pet owners
The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has launched a new 'Use Medicines Responsibly' campaign.
The main thrust of the campaign is an initiative by NOAH to encourage pharmaceutical companies to add: 'Use Medicines Responsibly' as a strapline to their own advertising campaigns, with a link to the NOAH information resource for prescribers and users of animal medicines: www.noah.co.uk/responsible.
Speaking at the NOAH annual members' conference in Northampton, NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH believes responsible promotion of animal medicines to be an important link in the chain towards responsible use. Companies' promotional material can educate prescribers and users of animal medicines to the benefit of their animals' health and welfare.
"We believe this new advice resource, with the reminder on advertisements, will help."
The PFMA says the factsheets have been produced with nutrition experts in response to demand from industry professionals.
Nicole Paley, Deputy Chief Executive, PFMA said: "We launched our factsheet range just over a year ago to tackle and dispel many of the myths around pet food. The range now covers sixteen subjects and with over 3,400 downloads, they have proved to be a valuable resource for pet professionals at the front line of pet care.
"We decided to add the Vegetarian Diets Factsheet and Food Allergy and Intolerance Factsheet to our range in response to demand for clarification on these topics. Owners are exploring alternative diets and whilst cats are obligate carnivores, dogs are omnivores and can adapt to vegetarian diets. As with all diets, they need to be well-balanced and our factsheet contains top tips.
"The Allergy Factsheet explains the difference between allergies and intolerances, which are both adverse food reactions but are very different conditions requiring different advice from veterinary professionals."
To see the full range of PFMA factsheets, visit: pfma.org.uk/fact-sheets.
Petplan is inviting nominations for the 2008 Petplan Veterinary Awards, set up to celebrate excellence within practices throughout the country.
Nominations are being sought under four categories:
Vet of the Year Vet Nurse of the Year Receptionist of the Year Practice of the Year
Petplan will again be presenting the Special Recognition Award in 2008. The award celebrates those veterinary professionals who work in television, newspapers, magazines, or on the radio. Last year's winner Marc Abraham, vet on the Paul O'Grady Show, was recognised for his ongoing work in the media which raises the profile of the veterinary community and animal welfare.
A mailing will arrive with you soon containing the nomination forms that you and your clients can use to recognise a job well done, together with additional marketing materials such as posters and a leaflet dispenser. You can also nominate online at www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards, or download a nomination form.
In addition to the four main categories awarded on the night, Veterinary Business Journal also recognises achievement in practice with the hotly contested award for Practice Manager of the Year.
Simon Wheeler, Head of Marketing for Petplan says: "The Petplan Veterinary Awards continues to grow in stature each year and are a true reflection of the importance Petplan places on the working relationship between us and the profession. Reliable and transparent insurance provides the invaluable financial bridge between the profession and the owner to ensure that the best in veterinary care is available for our pets.
"The awards are now in their ninth year and we are never disappointed in our quest to discover veterinary staff that go far beyond the call of duty. Each year we are astonished by the response, with tales ranging from midnight rescues to simple acts of kindness and support."
Further announcements will be made in the press and on the Petplan web site. To order more nomination forms, email: vetawards@petplan.co.uk or call 0845 678 1063.
Nominations close February 15 2008.
The association has written a joint letter with the British Equine Veterinary Association and the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate asking for licence to be granted to specials manufacturers to produce isoflurane whilst the shortage persists, which Zoetis forecasts will be until March 2019.
In addition, the association's incoming Chair of the BSAVA Scientific Committee, Ian Self, an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia has provided advice to support practitioners looking for alternative anaesthesia options, available here: https://www.bsava.com/News/ArticleID/2535/Isoflurane-supply.
The association has also made Chapter 14 of its online edition of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Anaesthesia and Analgesia 3rd edition free to access until the end of March 2019. The manual contains further information on alternative solutions such as TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia protocols) which some will be unfamiliar with.
The manual can be accessed here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443231.chap14
Zoetis says Librela (bedinvetmab) and Solensia (frunevetmab) work differently from NSAIDs, the current standard of care, by specifically targeting NGF, a key player in OA pain1.
As monoclonal antibodies, they are eliminated by the body in the same way as naturally occurring proteins, with minimal involvement of the liver or the kidney2.
John Innes, BVSc, PhD, MRCVS (Small Animal Orthopaedics), Chief Veterinary Officer and Referrals Director at CVS said: “The potential for anti-NGF therapy to control OA pain is an exciting new development, representing a new therapeutic class, an innovative tool for clinicians working to alleviate OA pain, and a new medicinal innovation.
"NGF is one of the key factors mediating pain, inducing the release of both proinflammatory mediators and more NGF contributing to a cycle of pain and inflammation. I welcome this innovative tool for clinicians working to alleviate OA pain.”
In a field study (three-month placebo-controlled, followed by six months continuation therapy), Librela administered as monthly injections demonstrated a reduction in osteoarthritis pain as compared to placebo-controlled dogs.
According to the company, the pain reduction was maintained throughout the six-month continuation study, demonstrating sustained efficacy of Librela for at least nine months.
Solensia administered as monthly injections during two multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind field studies that enrolled a total of 360 cats demonstrated that in both studies, ≥76% Solensia-treated cats were considered a treatment success by the owners and veterinary-assessed joint pain scores decreased by >50% in these cats by study end2.
Mike McFarland, DVM, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Zoetis said: “Globally osteoarthritis (OA) pain impacts nearly 40% of cats and dogs suffering from the condition2,4.
"OA pain is under-diagnosed as pet owners often think signs of pain are related to ‘normal’ signs of ageing.
"The most common medications used to treat OA pain today are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)1, While effective, current treatment choices can have limitations. Additionally, middle aged to senior pets may have other diseases that require multiple medications. Not all pets respond to NSAID therapy and some will not tolerate NSAIDs. This can lead to under-treatment today of OA pain.
“With Solensia for cats and Librela for dogs, veterinarians will now have access to once-monthly breakthrough solutions for the management of pain associated with osteoarthritis – offering a new alternative to veterinarians to improve the quality of life for pets and their owners.”
Librela (bedinvetmab) is launched today in the European Union, United Kingdom and Switzerland. Solensia (frunevetmab) will launch in Europe, United Kingdom and Switzerland in May.
References
Rabbit Awareness Week (26th April - 2nd May 2010) is reportedly going to be bigger than ever this year with over 1000 vets within the industry expected to be involved.
In partnership with Burgess Pet Care, Petplan Insurance, Company of Animals, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Genitrix, PDSA, Wood Green Animal Shelters and RWAF, Rabbit Awareness Week's mission is to educate current and potential rabbit owners across the UK about the importance of rabbit welfare.
The focus of the week will be rabbit obesity. At the same time, organisers hope the week will raise the profile of rabbits as pets and encourage owners to seek the right veterinary advice about rabbit nutrition and health.
The week has been deliberately timed to happen soon after Easter, to make use of a time of year when rabbits are at the forefront of people's minds. Organisers hope to reach rabbit owners who may have bought new pet rabbits but who may not have the right information about how to keep them happy and healthy.
Throughout the week some of the UK's largest retailers, suppliers of rabbit food and welfare charities will be providing valuable feeding knowledge and information, along with a range of deals and offers to vets and pet owners.
Organisers are asking veterinary practices to get involved by offering Free Health Checks for pet rabbits, and by providing free advice about vaccinations, husbandry and diet. To help, there is a range of display and training materials to help you run your Free Health Checks together with promotional materials such as newsletter templates and press releases. You can also register your event for free on the Online Event Locator.
The display kit includes shelf wobblers, barkers, posters, appointment flyers, Health Check Certificates and an A3 size Free Health Check window sticker. You'll also receive additional items to give away to rabbit owners, including Excel samples, RAW care guides, car stickers and branded bags.
For more information and to find out what special trade offers are available to vets during the week register at http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/.
With Christmas just around the corner, Petplan is giving practices the chance to win £1,000 towards a Christmas party.
Any member of a practice can enter the competition by visiting www.petplanvet.co.uk.
Petplan Marketing Manager Alison Andrew said, "It's been another busy year for vet practices and we want to thank them for their tireless efforts to keep the nations pets full of health. The £1000 will allow them to really celebrate the festive season in style."
Veterinary staff can also enter the competition at the Petplan stand at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) from 8th-10th October and at the London Vet Show on 22nd-23rd October 2010.
The RCVS has announced that its Head of Veterinary Nursing, Libby Earle, has decided to take early retirement and will leave the organisation on 19 April 2013.
Nick Stace, RCVS CEO said: "As Head of Veterinary Nursing, Libby was instrumental in leading significant developments in the regulation of veterinary nursing and the establishment of national standards for education and training. We wish her all the very best for the future."
Libby has held the role of Head of Veterinary Nursing at the RCVS for 14 years; a replacement for her will be considered by the College in due course.
ProteqFlu, the live attenuated canarypox equine influenza (EI) vaccine, has had its shelf life extended from 27 to 36 months.
Merial says the increased shelf life is the result of ongoing investment in vaccine research & development, and that the new data underpins the stability of modified live vaccine technology.
Merial highlights that ProteqFlu is the only equine flu vaccine in Europe to include the updated American clade 1 Ohio/03 strain in accordance with the OIE recommendations (2004).
Nurse Helen Lower has successfully completed the Equine Veterinary Nursing qualification and becomes the first in the North of England to do so under the new direct track training system.
Until recently equine nurse training had an indirect route to qualification involving a two years' training with small animals and an extra year's specialist training to qualify as an Equine Nurse. Now The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons recognises that equine nursing requires specialist knowledge and training. It has responded appropriately with a tailor made training structure which will develop highly skilled nurses for this challenging area of veterinary medicine.
Helen Lower joined Bearl Equine Clinic three years ago. She began her career with BHS exams and taught riding for a while before joining the Hunt Service for two years.
At Bearl Equine, Helen leads a team of four nursing assistants and works closely with Jonathan Wainwright, Head of Nurse Training to implement the in-house training programme across the team.
Bearl Equine Clinic is a six vet first opinion and referral practice based in rural Northumberland. The clinic is equipped with MRI, Scintigraphy and full surgical unit.
A survey carried out by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health to launch Plerion, a chewable, flavoured wormer for dogs, has shown that most UK dog owners turn to their vet rather than a pet shop for advice on worming.
Over 83% of owners who took part in the survey said they follow their vet's advice on worming whilst fewer than 8% would follow the advice of their local pet shop. 63% choose to buy wormers from their vet against 35% buying wormers from a pet shop or online pharmacy.
Survey participants understood the importance of carrying out a regular worming programme with almost 80% stating that a dog should be wormed every three to four months. However, some owners cited forgetfulness as a reason for not worming their pet regularly and expressed a need for a reminder from their local vet practice.
Almost 85% of those who took part in the survey believed that not all wormers provide the same level of protection and almost 75% said that vet recommendation is the reason they purchase a specific brand of wormer. 94% of owners are aware that worms can affect people as well as dogs.
The survey revealed that 1 in 5 owners experienced difficulty in administering a complete dose due to their dog spitting out part or the entire tablet.
Intervet/Schering Plough says that Plerion should help reduce compliance issues; its innovative and tasty soft chew formulation meaning that most dogs will take it right out of the hand.
Sarah-Jane Minter, marketing manager at Intervet/Schering-Plough said: "When developing Plerion we knew it was essential to launch a product that made life easier for dog owners by being easy, and even fun, to administer as this would increase the likelihood of owners sticking to a regular worming programme. We are delighted by the feedback we are receiving from owners who report their once fussy dogs are taking the flavoured, chewable Plerion tablets as though they were treats."
Plerion is available in two tablet sizes that provide a combination of Pyrantel, Praziquantel and Oxantel which, the company says, gives effective treatment for the major endoparasites in a single dose including tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, as required by the Pets Travel Scheme (PETS).
For further information, please contact your local Intervet/Schering-Plough Veterinary Business Manager or phone the company's Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
Bayer Animal Health, maker of Profender, has released the results of some market research conducted amongst cat owners.
The survey, which was conducted by OnePoll amongst 1000 cat owners, found that:
As regards worming:
When it comes to the relationship they have with their veterinary surgeon:
When it comes to the Internet:
The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has approved a new Health Protocol, which formalises a more compassionate approach to veterinary surgeons with health problems.
The Protocol will allow - in appropriate circumstances - veterinary surgeons (and, from next year, registered veterinary nurses) who suffer from health concerns affecting their ability to practise safely, to have the matter dealt with confidentially, without going to a full public Disciplinary Committee hearing.
It will allow individuals to access appropriate support and help away from the public spotlight, while ensuring that they do not put animals or the public at risk.
According to independent legal advice sought by the College, such an approach is appropriate and necessary in order for the College to fulfil its regulatory responsibilities - similar systems exist within other regulators.
The draft Protocol was the subject of consultation amongst the profession and the public over summer. Proposed amendments to the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct, to support the introduction of the Health Protocol, were also approved in the November meeting.
RCVS Head of Professional Conduct, Gordon Hockey said: "The Protocol encourages anyone coming into contact with veterinary surgeons - including other veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, members of practice staff, clients and healthcare professionals - who have concerns about a veterinary surgeon's health to report those concerns to the RCVS as soon as is reasonably practicable.
"Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are concerned about the health of a veterinary surgeon must also take steps to ensure that animals are not put at risk and that the interests of the public, including those of their colleagues, are protected."
Pfizer Animal Health's Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) vaccine (Duvaxyn EHV 1,4) has been rebranded Equip EHV 1,4).
Pfizer says that EHV is carried by most horses in the UK1 and can cause respiratory disease, abortion and more rarely neurological disease. However, it is the more common sub-clinical infections that pose the most apparent issue for the competition client, with the associated loss of performance and the potential effect on the health of the whole yard.
Once infected with EHV, a horse can harbour the virus throughout its life and potentially shed the disease to other animals without showing any outward signs. According to the company, vaccinating helps to minimise the severity of the disease itself and importantly, can also help to reduce the amount of infective virus that is shed to other in-contact horses.
Equip EHV 1,4 is given as a primary course of two vaccinations, 4-6 weeks apart followed by a single dose every six months. It can also be used as an aid in the control of EHV-1 abortion - pregnant mares should be vaccinated with a single dose during each of the 5th, 7th and 9th months of pregnancy.
For further information on Pfizer's EHV campaign, to obtain literature for your practice or to book a talk for your clients contact your Pfizer Account Manager or Pfizer Animal Health, Walton Oaks, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS.
1. Eddington et al. Equine Vet. J. 1994; 26 (2): 140-142.
The winners and runners up will be honoured at a ceremony taking place on the eve of BSAVA Congress on 3rd April 2019.
Matt Baker, presenter of The One Show and Countryfile, will be hosting the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards alongside the head judge, Chris Laurence MBE FRCVS, who puts his name to the Vet of the Year Award.
The award categories include:
Chris Laurence Vet of the Year – sponsored by Vet Record
Vet Nurse of the Year – sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance
Charity Team of the Year – sponsored by PDSA
Charitable Contribution of the Year – sponsored by Blue Cross
International Cat Care Welfare of the Year – sponsored by International Cat Care
Farmer of the Year – sponsored by R.A.B.I.
Farm Educator of the Year – sponsored by NADIS
Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare – sponsored by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines
To nominate someone for an award, visit www.cevawelfareawards.com. They can come from all walks of life and will be assessed on the evidence provided in the original nomination.
Entries must be in by Friday 25 January 2019.