Bayer Animal Health has launched Tracer Advance Slim, a new, smaller microchip which is delivered through an implanter needle that - with a diameter of 2mm - is 20% smaller than its predecessor.
The company says that the new product will help vets and nurses reassure the 27% of owners that have said the size of the implanter needle caused them concern over whether they should get their animal chipped1.
Bayer also says slimmer microchips make microchipping more accessible for smaller species including exotic pets, birds and rabbits, which in turn means a potential new client base for vets.
Dan Calvo Carrasco MRCVS from Great Western Exotics, said: "The small size of the modern devices, combined with newer technology, increases the ease of implantation, causes less discomfort for the animal and makes microchipping suitable for almost any captive animal, including small birds, mammals and reptiles."
In addition, the new chip has a reading distance of up to 30cm, which Bayer says can help improve the welfare of those animals that are easily stressed, or difficult to handle.
Dan added: "Some animals do not tolerate handling well and longer reading distances will allow identification without the stress of catching and restraining the animals. Automated readers can be placed on tunnels, gates and nest areas, so microchips are read without handler intervention."
It's not just the owners of small species and exotics that have concerns about implanter needle size. First opinion equine vet Nathalie Cole said: "Whilst working as a first opinion practitioner I have met equine clients who have been concerned about the size of needle used and reported hearing stories of horses becoming very needle-shy following a microchipping experience. I can recall at least one client who gave needle size, perceived pain and stress to the horse as the reason for declining to have their horse chipped.
"Slimmer microchip products could be used to improve client perception and therefore uptake of microchipping, particularly given that the majority of UK equine microchip candidates are foals"
Bayer says that additional benefits of the new product include the fact that the transponder is encapsulated with an extremely robust bio-polymer which is ten times stronger than glass and less likely to shatter. Plus the new implanter has a removable needle which means sharps disposal should be easier and more cost-effective.
Tracer Advance Slim is available with a choice of registration options - online, postal or via participating Practice Management Software providers.
Tracer Advance Slim is available from veterinary wholesalers.
Reference
Clomicalm contains Clomipramine hydrochloride, a broad-spectrum tricyclic antidepressant that inhibits the neuronal reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. A non-sedative, Clomicalm is used in combination with behavioural modification techniques to help separation anxiety.
Itrafungol is an oral solution containing Itraconazole for the treatment of ringworm in cats, administered orally directly into the mouth by means of a dosing syringe.
Both Clomicalm and Itrafungol are available to order from the veterinary wholesalers.
For more information, speak to your Virbac Territory Manager.
Veterinary Review and Practice Heart magazines have ceased publication.
The former was first launched 15 years ago by John Alborough, and sold to Onstream Communications in May 2007.
Mark Johnston, Managing Director of Onstream Communications said: "It wasn't commercially viable running a full publishing team for two magazines, especially in the current economic environment, so we're consolidating our activities and concentrating on electronic media".
These include the peer-reviewed online clinical information services: Canis, Felis, Equis and Lapis and the provision of websites for veterinary practices and companies wishing to promote themselves and their products and services.
The new guidance is being launched as part of the company's Keeping Britain’s Pets Healthy (KBPH) preventative healthcare initiative.
The guidance includes 18 recommendations designed to help all members of the practice team to implement consistent, effective improvements in preventative healthcare.
The recommendations were the result of a package of research carried out by Dr Rachel Dean, Dr Marnie Brennan, Dr Natalie Robinson and Dr Zoe Belshaw at the university’s vet school, including a systematic review of the literature, a survey of veterinary surgeons and in-depth interviews with vets and owners. A final study used the Delphi technique to achieve consensus amongst 26 first opinion practitioners and 8 pet owners.
The recommendations invite practices to consider a number of ways they might improve the consultation process, including: the purpose of the consultation, the role of each member of the practice team, and how pet owner expectations should be addressed and communicated during the process.
John Helps, Senior Technical Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Our new KBPH initiative marks a step change in our emphasis on preventative healthcare.
"It aims to champion the central role each member of the veterinary practice team plays as experts in educating and engaging our nation of pet lovers.
"These evidence-based guidelines are just the first step towards our increased emphasis on communicating the importance of the annual preventative health visit.
"They support the partnership between the practice and its clients around the health and welfare of their pets, and the significant contribution vaccines and parasiticides make to the health and welfare of their pets. They also help the whole team understand their specific role in the provision of preventative healthcare."
You can download the full recommendations here.
There's a complimentary counter top unit and pillow packs to help veterinary surgeons and nurses communicate the benefits of probiotics to clients. The unit can hold a cat and dog 30 sachet box of Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora from practice stock and the pillow packs can be used to dispense single sachets, so the client can trial the product with their pet at home.
At the same time, the company is encouraging vets and nurses to look at the evidence behind the probiotics they recommend. Although carried out a while ago now (2003 and 2011), two studies have shown that other diets claiming to contain probiotics generally did not meet the label claim when evaluated1,2.
Libby Sheridan, MVB MRCVS, Purina Veterinary Technical Affairs Manager, UK & Ireland says the efficacy of probiotics is thought to be strain-specific3 and recommends that clinicians critically assess the evidence for the particular strain and preparation of probiotics stocked or used.
Libby said: "The quality and efficacy of probiotics can vary and while in some cases there is strong evidence for efficacy in the targeted species, for others, the evidence is scant. Having experienced it myself, I know it's not always easy when working in a busy practice to take the time to ensure the evidence is there, but the studies back up that we should assess these things carefully before making a robust recommendation to our clients."
Most of the probiotics commercially available to veterinary professionals use the lactic acid bacterium Enterococcus faecium.
The particular strain and preparation of any probiotic will affect its ability to reach the large intestine, the expected site of action, intact. The evidence for the SF68 strain of Enterococcus faecium has been validated in a number of studies4-11 over recent years. Proven benefits of the SF68 strain include those focused on the gastrointestinal system where it supports canine and feline intestinal health and microflora balance and those with wider implications, such as support for a healthy immune system.
To obtain a unit or discuss the science, contact your Purina Veterinary Nutrition Partner or telephone the Purina Veterinary Nutrition Team on 0800 212161 quoting code VETPRESS.
References
This multimillion pound centre will support the provision of advanced first opinion and referral equine services in the Midlands.
Senior Partner Richard Stephenson said: "It was a great honour and pleasure to have His Royal Highness visit our new premises, and our staff eagerly anticipated meeting Prince Charles and showing him the wonderful facilities we now have."
Amongst these are a Fujifilm SonoSite Edge II portable ultrasound system. Richard added: "Pool House is a well-known practice – we’ve been in existence for over 150 years – and we have developed a reputation as a specialist equine imaging centre, with radiography, ultrasound and MRI capabilities. The new facility has been designed to give us increased theatre capacity and stabling, and we needed an additional ultrasound system to match this expansion."
"The demands of equine practice mean that ultrasound is often required in difficult circumstances, and we need systems that can cope with extreme temperatures, dust, straw, mud, water and the occasional knock. Many pieces of equipment used in veterinary medicine were originally intended for a human clinical environment, so can’t stand up to the rigors of our work – they’re simply not fit for purpose. However, SonoSite systems are perfect for us; they’re robust, highly portable and very intuitive to use, which is important for intermittent ultrasound users."
The long-awaited Panorama programme about the veterinary profession will air on Thursday 22 July at 9pm on BBC One.
Rumour has it that the programme will cover a range of issues, including the role of unqualified nursing staff in the practice, support for new graduates, over-charging in relation to insurance and regulation of corporate practices.
The RCVS says it expects increased public interest in the regulation of the profession following the programme and is gearing itself up to address any concerns it raises. A statement will be posted on www.rcvs.org.uk immediately following the programme, and the RCVS has said that it will work with the British Veterinary Association and other organisations to ensure that the robust nature of the regulatory system is communicated to the public, from undergraduate degrees through the Professional Development Phase and the Guide to Professional Conduct, to mandatory continuing professional development and the voluntary Practice Standards Scheme and Register for Veterinary Nurses.
In a statement issued today, the RCVS said: "We currently receive around 700 complaints a year - about one every 15 years of a member's practising life. It's a record to be proud of. However, if the programme raises areas of genuine concern, we will do all we can to act on them and we have already made it clear to the BBC that we would expect their support in this."
Elanco Companion Animal Health - maker of Comfortis, the flea treatment for dogs - is hosting an online evening webinar on Tuesday 10th January to highlight what pet owners want from their vets.
The free webinar follows research into the perceptions of clients and veterinary surgeons as to what attributes constitute a 'good vet'1. According to Elanco, the research revealed a distinct mismatch between what vets think and what pet owners think. The webinar will highlight these differences and the steps veterinary professionals can take to address them. Additionally, it will provide veterinary professionals with the opportunity to learn more about Comfortis and ask questions of Elanco's technical consultants.
Presented by Alan Robinson BVSc MRCVS DMS, a business development consultant for independent veterinary practices, the webinar will start at 8.00pm and will account for two hours CPD. Veterinary surgeons and nurses wishing to book a place should visit www.thewebinarvet.com/comfortis.
For further information, please telephone 01256 353131, email elancoCAH.uk@lilly.com or contact your local Elanco key account manager.
Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, has launched into the UK companion animal market with a pledge to listen to vets and provide a highly personalised level of support.
The company will initially offer recognised brands such as equine vaccines from the Duvaxyn range, Felocell vaccine for cats and equine wormer Strongid P. It says it is also developing a range of innovative new products designed to address the unmet needs of companion animals, the first of which are expected to be launched during 2011.
Mrs Tina Hunt, a Glasgow Vet School graduate and most recently, Veterinary Business Director at Fort Dodge UK, has been appointed with a remit to build the Elanco Companion Animal Health organisation in the UK. Reporting to Jannes Nijland, Director Elanco Western Europe, she will spearhead the company's growth and relationship building with veterinary practices across the country.
Tina said: "Recent changes in the animal health sector make it an exciting time to be launching a new companion animal brand. The opportunity to be in at the start and to shape a completely new business from scratch was too good to miss. My team shares a passion to combine the best of our experience with new approaches and new ways of working which are more closely attuned to what vets actually want. This means doing things differently and this is a challenge we relish.
We seek a genuine partnership with the profession and look forward to building close, individual relationships with vets and practices, helping them to enable companion animals to live longer, healthier and higher quality lives. While we're a newcomer in this sector, we benefit from the track record and resources available to Elanco, the fifth largest animal company in the world. We're determined to make Elanco Companion Animal Health a trusted and valued partner to vets working in companion animal practice."
Elanco develops and markets products to improve animal health and food-animal production in more than 75 countries. The company employs more than 2,300 people worldwide, with offices in more than 40 countries, and is a division of Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceutical corporation. Additional information about Elanco is available at www.elancopet.com and the company can be contacted via email: elancoCAH.uk@lilly.com
The Nu.Q Canine Cancer Test is a new technology that measures circulating nucleosomes in order to enable earlier cancer detection in some of the most common types of canine cancers.
According to the company, Nu.Q testing requires only 50µL of EDTA plasma from a patient and provides accurate results in 5 to 10 minutes.
One study demonstrated >75% detection rates for common cancers in dogs like lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma when using Nu.Q1.
The company suggests veterinary professionals use the tool during annual check-ups or regular senior wellness exams for older dogs and at-risk breeds.
Jimmy Barr, DVM, DACVECC, Chief Medical Officer at Antech, said: “It’s exciting to see innovations like Nu.Q Canine Cancer Test become more widely available to veterinary teams in Europe.
"With cancer affecting one in four dogs2, it is critical that veterinary professionals have access to fast and accurate cancer screening methods, so they can make informed and timely decisions and ultimately change pet health outcomes.
https://antechdiagnostics.co.uk
Mark Naguib MRCVS, Public Relations Officer at the BVZS said: "Our conference is the largest gathering of exotic pet, wildlife and zoo vets in the UK and one of the best places to gain CPD in these fields whether you’re a new graduate or an experienced specialist."
The BVZS says it is subsidising the ticket price in recognition both of how the cost of living crisis is affecting the profession, and because after two years of socially-distanced online conferences, meeting in person is more important than ever.
The Society says it believes this is important enough that it is prepared to make a loss on the event in order to provide a real service not just to its members, but also to the whole veterinary zoological community.
The conference will once again feature dedicated streams covering zoo health, nursing, exotic pets and wildlife health.
There will also be a student stream, including back-to-basics exotics talks and a dedicated student networking session.
There will be evening entertainment on the Saturday and the opportunity to socialise and network.
https://www.bvzs.co.uk/bvzs/about/conference-2022
Hosted on the Boehringer Academy website, the three-minute quiz involves listening to 15 murmurs and deciding whether each one is clinically significant or not.
After deciding, you'll be told the grade of the murmur and if further investigation should be considered to determine if the dog has cardiomegaly. Boehringer says this is important since dogs with MVD and cardiomegaly are more likely to develop heart failure within 1 to 2 years1.
To register on the Boehringer Academy or take part in the quiz, visit www.boehringer-academy.co.uk.
The webinars already available cover subjects like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), emergency diagnostics and traumatic brain injury, presented by experienced emergency vets Aoife Reid, Liron Levy-Hirsch and Jacqueline Seymour.
More content is due to be added to the library in the coming weeks, including guest webinars from TVM UK on rodenticide and seizure management, and from clinical psychologists Dr Jo Becket and Dr Jess Brown on “thrive, not just survive” and “when stress gets too much”. There will also be a session from ECC specialist Tobias Grave (pictured right) on how to deal with some of the most common pet emergencies.
Tobias will also be on hand to help veterinary surgeons and nurses whose practices use Vets Now for their out-of-hours service with both general advice and a second opinion on potentially complex cases via the new support line.
Tobias said: “Covid-19 is bringing fresh challenges to vets and vet nurses every day. With clinicians seeing a caseload which is mainly emergency and often having to triage patients over the phone or by video consult, it’s never been so important to come together as a profession.
"Both our webinars and our specialist support line for practices who use our service will help equip vet professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to deal with challenging emergencies in practice."
You can find Vets Now’s library of free ECC webinars here.
For the study, Luisa De Risio, clinical research and excellence director at Linnaeus and a co-investigator, is collaborating with neurology specialists and primary care vets at Linnaeus practices to recruit cases.
Luisa said: “Canine idiopathic epilepsy is a disease that is common in many breeds of dog and can significantly impact the quality of life of both affected dogs and their owners.
"However, there is limited knowledge concerning the role of genetic factors in susceptibility to the disease in most breeds.
“The overarching aim of this large-scale collaborative study is to identify the genetic factors contributing to the risk of developing idiopathic epilepsy as this could help develop tools to lower the incidence of the condition in future generations.
“The study will initially focus on the Border Collie and Italian Spinone, as they can suffer from a particularly severe and life-limiting form of epilepsy, before expanding the study to other breeds in the future.
Dr Sally Ricketts, the geneticist leading the study at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: “We are very excited about this collaboration, which will facilitate our sample collections to enable study of this debilitating disease.
For more information on the study, visit www.canine-genetics.org.uk/research/epilepsy.
Photo: Sally Ricketts, senior research associate at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge; Luisa De Risio, clinical research and excellence director at Linnaeus and Christopher Jenkins, research assistant at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.
Andrew Parry MRCVS, an RCVS and European Specialist, heads Diagnostic Imaging at Willows. He said: "Our previous CT scanner was excellent but all technology moves on. We wanted to ensure we maintained our position at the forefront of specialist veterinary diagnostic imaging.
"We have a large cardiology service and the Siemens scanner, with its advanced cardiac imaging package, will allow the team to gain a huge amount of information about cardiac disease and other vascular abnormalities. This combination of technology and on-site Specialist imaging expertise is unusual, even at a referral level.
"A further advantage of the new scanner is its use of tin filters, which enables it to produce high quality images of regions of high contrast, such as feline chests."
Willows has also invested in a software package which does all sorts of clever stuff to bring the images to life for clients.
He said: “The syngo.via software allows anyone to access and manipulate images from any computer in the hospital. This can be building complex models or more straightforward multiplanar reconstruction.
"Specialists can show models to clients immediately, while surgeons can manipulate images in theatre and all clinicians can view and interact with images from their own working environment.
"Additionally, we have invested in Siemens-manufactured software called syngo.via Cinematic VRT, which means we can build, rotate and fly through volume rendered CT models with clients, giving them a dynamic understanding of anatomy and pathology."
The programme offers a structured and heavily supported first year in practice, including hands-on surgical training and seminars from Advanced Veterinary Practitioners, at the Pets'n'Vets' Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital in Glasgow.
Totally Grad! also includes a mentor plan and additional monthly benchmarking and seminars and support.
Oliver Jackson, partner at Pets'n'Vets said: "We are well aware that many larger veterinary entities run new graduate programmes and we are proud to say that Totally Grad! offers great advantages that come with our independent structure.
"Independent practice can offer a rewarding working environment for new graduates – particularly progressive practices such as ours. We can offer new graduates not only the close-knit, friendly, helpful, stable, first-opinion experience, but also provide opportunities for career growth and development.
"We have the facility for graduates to explore their particular areas of interest. Indeed, in our practice it is possible for a new graduate to change our way of working – the decision-makers are available and listening. We now have many vets working with us who have come through the practice from our graduate system and who have gone on to help shape our practice.
"The success of our Laparoscopic and Cardiology clinics can be attributed to those vets, as can various other client service initiatives and ways of working. New blood brings new ideas and we welcome that."
Totally Grad! will also be open to fellow independent practices.
Oliver added: "By opening up our Totally Grad! programme, we are offering a simple, accessible facility to those fellow independent practices able and willing to provide a mentor and allow their graduate vets to be out of their practice for one or two days per month over a 12 month period. It fits perfectly with our Roundhouse Referrals offering which offers advice, CPD and support to local practices."
Any independent practices interested in participating in the programme can contact oliver.jackson@petsnvets.org while final year students interested in learning more about the programme can visit the website at www.totallygrad.co.uk and/or email Karen W at hello@totallygrad.co.uk
The programme commences in October 2017 and includes ten days of hands-on practical training based at the CPD Solutions Training Centre in Studley near Birmingham, where surgery tutors will help veterinary surgeons refine their techniques in small group sessions.
CPD Solutions says the main differences with existing PgCert programmes include a stronger emphasis on practical training, a lack of lecture days and the grouping together of practical days in three attendance sessions.
The company says that many current PgCerts run for 2 to five years, so its programme provides an opportunity for those who'd prefer to complete their training and gain a PgCert qualification in a much shorter timeframe.
Susie Coughlan, MD at CPD Solutions said: "Our experience is that vets get the most out of hands-on practical training in a structured and supportive environment, combined with reflective application of their new skills in practice. We set out to replicate this with the new PgCert – all attendance sessions are practical, and the course provides support for developing reflective work-based learning that vets can then use throughout their careers."
David Perrin, Head of Professional Development at the Centre for Work-Related Studies at Chester University said: "The University is proud to be working with CPD Solutions as leading educationalists in the field of veterinary professional development. We have put together a high-quality product that brings together our work-based learning expertise with CPD Solutions specialist knowledge, and this will be of wide interest to practitioners in the field."
For more information, contact CPD Solutions on 0151 328 0444 or visit www.pgcertsurg.com
Bayer has announced that it has launched a new bone-shaped version of the Drontal Plus tablet with greatly increased palatability to increase client compliance.
In a field study, new Drontal Dog Tasty Bone proved to be voluntarily consumed by 88% of 150 dogs1.
Vicky McAlister, Group Product Manager at Bayer said: "We want to make it as easy as possible for responsible dog owners to remember to worm their pet at least every three months. To help improve compliance, there is an increased necessity for highly palatable oral dosage forms. To meet this need, the Drontal Plus Tasty tablet has been optimised using a novel formula that has an extremely high level of palatability where the majority of dogs take the tablet straight out of the owners hand like a treat - proving that Drontal is now tasty by nature as well as name!
This combined with the memorable bone-shaped design will help cement Drontal as the wormer of choice in the minds of owners."
Is it just me, or does the name of this product sound a bit like someone who has ingested a series of words, and then regurgitated them in no particular order? I suppose Drontal Tasty Dog Bone means something else, and Tasty Dog Drontal Bone doesn't really work.
According to the company, gum disease is five times more common in dogs than humans, as dogs have a more alkaline mouth, promoting plaque formation. The company also says that studies have shown 80% of dogs suffer some form of gum disease before they are three years old.
The survey found most owners associate bad breath, tooth loss and inflamed gums (76%, 67% and 65% respectively) with poor oral hygiene.
However, many dog owners were unaware it could lead to more serious consequences with only 11% identifying heart disease as a potential cost of poor oral hygiene and only 7% understanding the liver can be affected.
The company has produced a YouTube video with Marc Abraham MRCVS and behaviourist Carolyn Menteith about canine oral care and Pettura Oral Health - a gel applied directly to dogs' teeth and gums to help maintain oral hygiene.
Freelance Surgical says electrosurgery has yet to take off in the veterinary profession in the way that it has in human surgery because many veterinary surgeons are still unfamiliar with the technology and have concerns about safety.
In fact, the company says, it can make surgery more efficient, faster and safer.
In the new series of videos, Alasdair Hotston Moore covers the background of electrosurgery, an overview of the Gima Diathermy unit and a practical demonstration of how to use the equipment correctly and safely.
Bilitis Hammond, Veterinary Specialist at Freelance Surgical said: “With the GIMA electrocautery units being so popular, we were surprised to find there was very little training on best use available online.
"We wanted to offer some short bitesize videos that show surgeons what this machine can offer so they are using it to its full potential and safely.
"We feel these videos will be a huge asset to everyone in practice. “
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfKRtTQ2EA16cP-gfkqSVdA
https://www.freelance-veterinary.co.uk/surgery/electrosurgery
Porus One contains renaltec, a selective absorber that absorbs the precursors of uraemic toxins in the cat’s intestine that would normally be removed or regulated by healthy kidneys, so that they may be safely excreted in the cat's faeces.
The product is presented as a powder which can be sprinkled on wet cat food, or given with Add One as a treat.
Dechra says it is well-accepted by cats due to its neutral taste and smell.
Add One is a moist and tasty cat treat developed to encourage cats that prefer dry food to eat Porus One.
It is available in two flavours: creamy salmon and tasty liver.
Add One contains omega-3 and a high moisture content to help support kidney health.
It also contains taurine to support a cat’s eyes and heart.
One box of Porus One contains 30 single-dose sachets, each containing 500mg of renaltec.
One box of Add One contains 30 single-dose 10mg sachets.
https://porus-one.com.
Enrobactin contains enrofloxacin but is uniquely available in 10ml bottles for convenient dispensing in practice.
Enrobactin can be used to treat digestive, respiratory tract and skin and wound infections and features a distinctive caramel aroma.
Madeline Haynes, Product Manager, said: "Offering practices solutions which are efficacious but also easy to use is a key focus at Virbac, particularly given the importance in practice of using antibiotics responsibly and accurately across all species. Enrobactin is a good example of this and we are pleased to launch it."
The charity-run Vetlife helpline, which offers 24/7 confidential support, says it had 2775 contacts from members of the profession last year, up 160% on the previous year.
Vetlife Operations Manager Joanne Driver said: "We’re aware that for many the impact of seasonal work pressures for vet practices and the stresses of the already hectic Christmas period do not simply disappear when January arrives. When paired with mental health issues or personal worries, it can continue to feel overwhelming.
Vetlife helpline is a safe place to talk for those who are struggling, and our volunteers can signpost callers to resources and our health and financial services.
"It can be hard to spot colleagues who are struggling or to find ways to offer the help they need. By supporting Vetlife you can help us ensure there is a friendly anonymous voice at the end of the phone or via email for everyone in the veterinary community who needs it. Vetlife is largely run by volunteers and we rely on your support and donations to keep the services running.
"Please make a meaningful resolution this year and support Vetlife through a donation, by becoming a member or by joining as a volunteer."
If you would like to support Vetlife, there are a number of ways to help:
DonateAs a registered independent charity, Vetlife relies on the generosity of the people in the veterinary community and veterinary organisations to be able to continue its work. The simplest way to donate is online at: www.vetlife.org.uk/support-us/donate/
VolunteerVetlife is almost entirely managed and run by its volunteers. To learn more about volunteering for Vetlife Helpline or as an Area Representative, visit www.vetlife.org.uk/support-us/volunteer/
Become a Vetlife MemberVetlife members are an essential link with the veterinary community, helping it to make sure everyone knows about the support services that it offers. You must be a veterinary surgeon to become a Vetlife member. You can complete the Vetlife membership form at: vetlife.org.uk/support-us/become-a-vetlife-member/
Vetlife Helpline is available on: 0303 040 2551 or email via www.vetlife.org.uk
The stem cells were created as part of a study into feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which the RVC carried out in association with the Animal Health Trust (AHT), The Beryl Evetts and Robert Luff Animal Welfare Trust (BERLAWT), The Winn Feline Foundation and Boehringer Ingelheim.
The RVC says HCM affects about 15% of the feline population in the UK; translating to over 1 million cats. It is caused by genetic mutations which affect the heart muscle cells.
To date, there are no treatments proven to stop or reverse it, leading to a very poor prognosis for affected cats.
This is partly because a major issue with studying heart diseases at a cellular level is that heart muscle cells do not survive in a laboratory environment. When studying human heart cells, this has been overcome by turning ordinary skin cells into pluripotent stem cells (cells able to turn into any tissue in the body).
These are termed 'induced pluripotent stem cells', or iPSCs. It is then possible to generate heart muscle cells to study from these iPSCs.
The research, carried out by Dr Luke Dutton under the supervision of Professor David Connolly, Dr Jayesh Dudhia and Dr Debbie Guest, as part of his PhD at the RVC in collaboration with AHT, has now identified the conditions required to create iPSCs from domestic cat cells.
While creating iPSCs has been done before in wild cats, the RVC believes that Dr Dutton’s breakthrough in creating iPSCs from domestic cat cells is a world first. It sets the scene for further research into how to turn these iPSCs into heart cells and then, once successful, testing drug therapies that could improve outcomes for cats with HCM.
The researchers say that the translational benefits of this project are potentially very significant, as around 1 in 500 people in the UK have HCM, and the condition manifests in humans in the same way.
If the therapies that researchers test on feline heart cells turn out to be effective, this sets the stage for testing these treatments on humans.
Dr Dutton, author of the study, said: "This is an incredibly exciting project, which is only made possible by the generous funding of the BERLAWT, Boehringer Ingelheim and The Winn Feline Foundation.
"Not only is this study the first reported generation of iPSCs from domestic cats, but these cells can now be used in a novel disease model. This will allow us to study the disease processes present in these cats in ways that have not been possible with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic agents that may slow or even stop the disease process. We would then hope to translate these agents into the feline clinic."
Dr Debbie Guest, Head of Stem Cell Research at the Animal Health Trust, said: "This is the first report on the successful generation of domestic cat iPSCs. These cells not only bring hope to cats suffering from HCM, but allow us to develop new tools to study conditions affecting other tissue types in the future."
The awards, which recognise the achievements of remarkable people from the veterinary, farming and charity industries, were hosted by TV presenter and animal lover, Matt Baker, and Chris Laurence MBE FRCVS, who was also chair of the judging panel.
Chris said: "Once again the breadth of nominations for the Welfare Awards has amazed and enthused the judging panel. The new categories this year have been well supported and widened the field of nominees as well as increasing the number of nominations. There have been some outstanding finalists and those who have won should be justifiably proud to have done so against some stiff competition. Of course, the real winners in all this are the animals whose welfare has been improved and the message that has given about the importance of animal welfare to those who have come into contact with all the nominees."
The other award winners were:
Vet Nurse of the Year Award in association with Agria Pet InsuranceRachel Wright, TOLFA
Charity Team of the Year Award in association with PDSAEbony Horse Club, Brixton
Charitable Contribution of the Year Award in association with Blue Cross Fiona Gammell, Wicklow Animal Welfare
Farmer of the Year Award in association with R.A.B.I.David Finlay, Rainton Farm, Castle Douglas
Farm Educator of the Year in association with NADISJames Griffiths from Taynton Court Farm, Gloucester
International Cat Care Welfare of the Year AwardIan MacFarlaine, chief inspector of SPCA in Bermuda
Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare Award in association with Your Dog and Your Cat Professor Jacky Reid, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow and CEO of the research company, NewMetrica.
Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health UK and Ireland said: "The vision, dedication and hard work demonstrated by each and every award winner is truly outstanding. We had a brilliant evening celebrating our remarkable winners and would like to congratulate each and every one of them on their fantastic achievement."
Photo: Chris Laurence, Adele Waters (Vet Record), Hannah Capon and Matt Baker.