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A new equine parasite supplement to the online peer-reviewed publication Parasites and Vectors has been published by Fort Dodge.
Entitled "Equine parasites: diagnosis and control - a current perspective," it contains papers on a range of topics including a major European resistance study into key anthelmintic molecules. It is authored by equine parasitology experts and opinion leaders from around the world and was first published in September 2009. It is freely available at http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/
Fort Dodge Index (FDI) data for the first six months of 2009 confirm the downward trend in key veterinary practice metrics, including turnover growth, transaction volume and client numbers with a national picture emerging of much slower growth than the same time last year. The one mitigating factor continues to be an increase in the prices charged by practices for their services, which is leading to a small increase in average transaction values.
The FDI (www.fortdodgeindex.co.uk) analyses and benchmarks the performance of practices across the UK. Figures for the first half of 2009 confirm the trend, seen for some time, of static or steadily declining performance in key areas for practices. The national picture of turnover growth and its components for the period January-June 2009 shows that:
Patrick Traill, Corporate Account Manager at Fort Dodge, said: "While some practices are continuing to report busy months and high turnover, it's clear that many are experiencing a rough ride as the recession in the wider economy affects the spending power of pet owners.
"The key challenge is that profits are being eroded at a time when turnover is also being seriously hit. The only impetus for growth so far this year has been the increase in consulting, surgical and drug fees and this alone will not help practices plan for a secure future.
"The latest FDI data confirms a trend which we've been reporting for some time and we urge those who haven't yet taken action to do so without delay. While capturing new clients will always be fundamental to growth, in these times reducing client losses is equally critical and resource may well be better spent on plans that support client retention.
"Practices should also be considering initiatives to increase client visit frequency and support client bonding. Examples could include preventative health schemes and loyalty programmes. Finally, practices could also explore avenues to increase annual transaction value through the promotion of new products and services.
"Joining the FDI is an effective way for practices to benchmark their performance both against others in their locality and across the UK. Full details on the FDI, the benefits it offers to practices and how to join are available on our newly re-designed website. Full copies of the FDI report can also now be downloaded on a quarterly basis."
A copy of the latest FDI report is available for free download at http://www.fortdodgeindex.co.uk/. Further information on how to join the scheme is available from Fort Dodge on 01489 781811.
Fort Dodge has released figures today which point to a continued modest slowdown in the UK veterinary sector, being mitigated by a slight increase in average transaction value (the amount a client spends in a year).
Matthew Rowe, Companion Animal Marketing Manager at Fort Dodge, said: "It's been clear for some time that the veterinary sector is being hit by static growth and an increasingly competitive environment. The reduction in turnover being experienced by many practices is primarily down to current clients visiting less often and fewer new clients being attracted."
Key findings of the Fort Dodge Index for the first quarter of 2009 are:
Alan Robinson said: "In the current climate, the only contributor to turnover growth in many practices seems to be a steady rise in the price of professional fees, consultations and surgery. These have continued to push up average transaction values (by 1.4%) and client values (1.2%) in this first quarter of 2009 despite reducing visit frequency. Drug related income increases seem to be driven by a small increase of POM mark-ups in many practices.
"But this alone will not sustain a successful business and, with transaction volumes still falling, the priority for practices is to maintain client footfall despite increasing competition and falling pet ownership. In today's market, retaining clients is a cheaper and more effective way to maintain client and patient numbers so an emphasis on 'bonding' clients though preventative health care and heath maintenance programmes is key.
"We're seeing a steady increase in the number of practices running these programmes but the percentage of pets involved is still woefully low so the message is that practices can and must do better.
Fort Dodge Animal Health has announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has approved a new label claim for ProMeris Duo® for dogs. The new claim extends protection offered by ProMeris Duo to include "treatment of demodicosis (caused by Demodex spp.) and lice (Trichodectes canis) in dogs".
Accoding to the company, dealing with demodectic mange on a dog has in the past been time-consuming for the pet owner and sometimes required vets to use a product off-label. Despite available measures, some dogs fail to respond to treatment and even require euthanasia due to the severity of the condition.
Rami Cobb, BVSc (Hons), MACVSc, Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical Research and Development at Fort Dodge Animal Health said: "With the addition of the demodectic mange claim to the ProMeris Duo label, vets have the option of using the recognized efficacy of amitraz in a convenient spot-on formulation to treat and control this condition.
"When we conducted field studies for the label claim, the before and after pictures of the dogs treated with ProMeris Duo were remarkable. Visible improvements in the dog's condition were seen following the first treatment and in most cases, demodex mites could not be found after just a few months."
ProMeris Duo was evaluated for efficacy against demodectic mange mites in naturally infected dogs. Study results indicated dogs treated monthly with ProMeris Duo showed significant reduction in mite numbers and improvement in clinical signs after three months.
ProMeris Duo is now licensed for the following indications: For the treatment and prevention of infestations by fleas (Ctenocephalides canis and C. felis), as well as ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Dermacentor variabilis), and treatment of demodicosis (caused by Demodex spp.) and lice (Trichodectes canis) in dogs. The veterinary medicinal product can be used as part of a treatment strategy for flea allergy dermatitis (FAD).
Fort Dodge has unveiled an initiative to help practices improve peri-operative care and the management of hospitalised cases with the launch of its Early Warning Scoring System (EWSS) kit.
The kit contains cat and dog anaesthesia and observation charts for the effective monitoring of cats and dogs during operations, post-operatively and for hospitalised medical cases.
EWSS observation charts are widely used in the NHS but this is believed to be the first time that such a system has been developed specifically for use in veterinary practices. They have been designed by Mike Davies BVetMed CertVR CertSAO FRCVS, Technical Services Manager at Fort Dodge, and are intended to help veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons identify patients whose condition is deteriorating before they reach a critical state.
Mike Davies speaks around the country on preventive medicine and geriatrics and his experience of working closely with practices is that many do not have good protocols in place for nurse monitoring of patients. The EWSS grades parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and CNS response and the charts incorporate areas in which the practice can record pain using a visual analogue scale or a numeric scoring system.
The company has also launched Dorbene vet, a new product providing fast-acting sedation and analgesia for dogs and cats. Its active ingredient is the trusted and well proven alpha-2 agonist medetomidine hydrochloride, which affects the nervous system by inhibiting noradrenaline mediated neurotransmission. A dosing guide for Dorbene vet is also included in the EWSS.
The launch of Dorbene vet complements Fort Dodge's existing companion animal products, analgesic Torbugesic and dissociative anaesthetic Ketaset. Used alone it offers dose-related sedation within 10-15 minutes, which is rapidly reversible using the alpha-2 antagonist atipamezole for predictable recovery. It is presented in 10 ml and 50 ml multi dose vials in amber coloured glass which protects the product from light.
For further information on the EWSS or Dorbene vet, contact Fort Dodge on 01489 781711.
Fort Dodge Animal Health has launched the UK's first free diagnostics service to assist vets in diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs.
The introduction of the new Lyme Disease Surveillance Service (LDSS) reflects concerns that the increasing incidence of the disease in humans could be followed by a similar increase in dogs.
Canine Lyme disease, while still rare in the UK, is known to be difficult to diagnose with vague symptoms and a variety of clinical presentations.
Infest-Nation, the ProMeris Parasite Report launched in late 2007 and based on interviews with 2,000 vets and pet owners, cited figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) which reported 768 cases of human Lyme disease in 2006, an increase of 263% since 2003. The increase in human incidence is believed to be attributable to an increase in the human population, better diagnosis and more favourable climatic conditions for ticks as the vector for the disease.
According to Fort Dodge, it's possible that the increase in Lyme disease in humans will be mirrored in the canine population. Forty per cent of vets contacted for Infest-Nation had reported a significant rise in the tick problem over the last five years and 75% of dog owners didn't know how to check their dogs for parasites and didn't treat them as frequently as the recommended once a month.
Participation in the LDSS is free for veterinary practices registering with the scheme. You can do this by contacting Fort Dodge on 01489 781711 or by email at fortdodgeuk@fdah.com. You will then be provided with testing kits and full instructions on the submission of blood samples.
Fort Dodge has launched a new website for horse owners, all about parasites and worming. It's here: http://www.wormingyourhorse.info/.
Fort Dodge (makers of Equest equine worming brands, and Deosect), is launching a new Equine Parasites Reference Manual.
The manual, which is supported by AHDA, AMTRA and BEVA, is billed as 'an objective and comprehensive reference guide covering endoparasites and ectoparasites and their control, as well as offering prescribing tips, a glossary of terms and reference sources'.
Fort Dodge has produced the manual to provide an ‘all in one' guide to support veterinary professionals and Suitably Qualified People (SQPs) involved in prescribing equine parasite treatments. It brings together, in an A5 spiral bound booklet, all the information they may need on the full range of licensed veterinary medicines to control equine parasites of concern in the UK. It will be launched at BETA (17-19 February at the NEC).
For further information about the manual (or to get a copy), please contact Fort Dodge on 01489 781711.
An unprecedented outbreak of fleas and ticks in Britain, posing risks to human and animal health, is being blamed on climate change, the wet summer and tougher strains of pests. Experts also warn the problem is set to worsen as autumn provides ideal conditions for the disease carrying parasites. The warnings are made in a new report: "Infest-Nation: the ProMeris Parasite Report 2007" from Fort Dodge Animal Health. In it, a survey of environmental health officers shows one in six reporting a 200% rise in cases involving fleas and ticks in their borough in the last five years. One in four said their borough was now issuing warnings on the subject to the general public. More than one third of the nationwide sample of 2000 vets, environmental health officers and cat and dog owners questioned noticed a rise in ticks and fleas in the last five years. Key findings included: