CEVA Animal Health Ltd have introduced the UK’s first doxycycline-based antimicrobial for pigs. Soludox® joins Colivet® Solution, which is the UK’s only colistin-based antimicrobial, and maintains CEVA’s focus on water-based medication.

CEVA’s expanding portfolio of antimicrobials now boasts five different actives including Cyclosol® LA (oxytetracycline), Cyclo Spray® (chlortetracycline) and Spectam® Scour Halt (spectinomycin).

For further information contact Phil McGuire, CEVA Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG, telephone: 01494 781510

It's the Blue Cross Take Your Dog To Work Day on 14th September.

I don't know how much money it raises, but as a marketing and PR exercise to promote dog ownership, the day is almost without rival. It always gets plenty of media coverage. It's got strong celebridee endorsement. And getting pet owners to bring their dogs into work is a very clever way of getting more people thinking about getting a dog.

Following a 12-month undercover investigation by the BBC, a Lincolnshire man who posed as a veterinary surgeon over a number of years was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Lincoln Crown Court last week.

Leonard French, 69, from Tattershall Bridge, was secretly filmed selling unlicensed veterinary medicines to an undercover reporter from BBC Look North and administering medicines to a dog.

The BBC reported that Mr French had been illegally importing veterinary medicines from Russia, France and the US and was said to have made £170,000 from their sale to dog owners, companies and hunts.

The VPMA and UMD Professional have launched a joint initiative to provide a new way of achieving the Certificate in Veterinary Practice Management (CVPM).

Managers wishing to achieve the CVPM can now take UMD Professional's distance learning course for veterinary practice managers, which also leads to the Institute of Leadership and Management's (ILM) Level 5 Diploma in Management. The course provides the theoretical grounding required for the CVPM, but also focuses on practical management skills in the areas of planning, communications, marketing, client care, finance and people management.

To achieve the CVPM by this route candidates need to complete the ILM Level 5 Diploma course followed by a presentation to the CVPM examination board and undertake an oral examination set by the VPMA. "This new arrangement means that practice managers can access management training relevant to their careers in a flexible way, and have the benefit of achieving two qualifications at the same time." said Brian Wright of the VPMA.

More information on the course is available from Penny Parry of UMD Professional on 020 8255 2070 and on the new arrangements for the CVPM from the VPMA Secretariat on 07000 782324.