Intervet / Schering-Plough has announced that its leptospirosis vaccine, Nobivac Lepto 2, is now back in stock at all wholesalers and that the production delay affecting supply has been fully resolved.

David Hallas, general manager, Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health, said:  "We foresee no further supply difficulties on Nobivac Lepto 2. I very much regret the inconvenience experienced over this difficult period and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of our customers for their patience, understanding and support.

"A combination of advancing production and a very timely batch release process has enabled us to re-introduce Nobivac Lepto 2 ahead of the previously-indicated timing of early May, and we are pleased that we have been able to deliver on the assurances that we made back in January."

The company says that current stock levels and planned deliveries are all in place.  

Ken Elliott, Marketing Manager for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health's Companion Animal Business, said: "Orders should be placed with wholesalers in the usual way but we advise practices that have outstanding orders, or think they may have outstanding orders, to check the status with their wholesaler."

National Veterinary Services has announced that from 14^th January, veterinary practices will be able to place their daily orders up to 8pm, 7 days a week.

The veterinary wholesaler will also be providing a telephone ordering service on Saturday mornings from 9am until 12pm.

 Martin Riley, NVS Managing Director said: "We are always keen to understand practice needs and to deliver on their requests. This is a significant change for the industry and with the introduction of more new tools and services later in the year we believe NVS will make a great difference to our customers."

For further information please contact 01782 770319.

The Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP) has published the first study to document the histopathological frequency of hepatobiliary diseases in a large cohort of dogs in the United Kingdom.

The researchers hope that the study will help to increase a veterinary surgeon’s index of suspicion of a particular liver disease, particularly if a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis is not possible.

In the study titled “Histopathological frequency of canine hepatobiliary disease in the United Kingdom”, histopathology reports from canine liver tissues submitted to a commercial veterinary laboratory by UK first and second opinion practices were retrospectively reviewed.

Data collected included breed, age, sex, gross and histological descriptions, diagnosis and additional comments.

Data were then grouped into 23 categories according to WSAVA histological criteria for canine hepatobiliary diseases using the four main morphological groups of vascular, biliary, parenchymal and neoplastic disorders. Breed analysis was then performed on the top five ranking breeds within each individual category.

A total of 4584 histopathology reports of canine liver tissue were included in the analysis.

The most common histopathological diagnoses were reactive hepatitis (16.8%), chronic hepatitis (16.0%) and reversible hepatocellular injury (RHI) (12.9%).

Labrador retrievers were found to have increased odds for reactive hepatitis (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.23-1.99), whilst crossbreeds demonstrated reduced odds (OR 0.65, 95%CI 0.54-0.79).

Breeds with increased odds of chronic hepatitis included the Labrador retriever (OR 4.14, 95%CI 3.47-4.93), springer spaniel (OR 6.30, 95%CI 5.10-7.79), cocker spaniel (OR 2.78 95%CI 2.20-3.53) and West Highland White Terrier (OR 3.23, 95%CI 2.24-4.65).

Within the RHI group, the schnauzer (OR 8.06, 95%CI 5.77-11.26) and Bichon Frise (OR 5.19, 95%CI 3.63-7.42) had increased odds of disease.

Dr Yuvani Bandara, corresponding author for the paper, said: “This is the first study to report the histopathological frequency of hepatobiliary diseases and to identify possible breed predispositions in a large cohort of dogs in the UK.

“Despite multivariable analysis not being performed to account for confounding factors, we hope that this information informs and supports future investigations for hepatic disease in particular breeds and potential predispositions.”

The full article can be found in the September issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice and can be read online here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13354.

Reference

1. Y Bandara, WA Bayton, TL Williams, T Scase and NH Bexfield (2021) Histopathological frequency of canine hepatobiliary disease in the United Kingdom. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 62 (9). Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13354 

TVM has launched myepilepticpet.co.uk, a website to help pet owners with the practical challenges of caring for an epileptic dog and the emotional impact of the diagnosis.

A 2022 study¹ conducted to understand owner perspectives, found that pet owners with epileptic dogs often felt overwhelmed with the diagnosis and the information discussed at the initial consultation.

The new website is therefore designed to complement the advice and treatment offered by veterinary practices.

It offers information about travelling with an epileptic pet, feeding information, a downloadable epilepsy diary and answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Vicky McAlister, Marketing Manager at TVM, said: "The website is intended as an additional resource to support vets in the care they already provide their patients, as we know that owners can often feel overwhelmed, and the study concluded that greater availability of reputable resources would help to improve their satisfaction^1".

Reference 

1. Pergande AE, Belshaw Z, Volk HA, Packer RMA. Owner perspectives on the impact of veterinary surgeons upon their decision making in the management of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Vet Rec. 2022;e2482. http://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.2482 

The BVA is lobbying the government for business rates relief and other financial support for veterinary practices during the pandemic, arguing that without it many practices may not survive.

As part of the package of measures announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak in mid-March, businesses in the retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare sectors are eligible for a 100% business rates holiday for a year in England, Scotland and Wales, offering a vital economic lifeline when many may have had to close or operate with reduced turnover and staffing.  In Northern Ireland, all businesses are eligible for a three-month business rates holiday covering April, May and June.

However, veterinary practices, many of which have remained open to provide essential care and treatment for pets and production animals, are not eligible for business rates relief, despite the fact that many are high street businesses and a significant proportion of their income comes from retailing medicines, treatments and other pet products.

The BVA says it has heard directly from hundreds of members who now fear for their future, and a recent survey released by the RCVS indicates that a quarter of practices have seen their weekly turnover reduced by 75%, and about 66% have seen it halved. 

The Association has written to the Treasury and devolved government departments to ask why the veterinary profession has so far been overlooked for financial support, while other high street businesses that remain open including food retailers, hardware stores and pet shops are eligible for rates relief. 

It has also mobilised its members to contact their local MPs and devolved parliamentarians with their concerns. Several hundred have already downloaded template letters from the BVA website, and parliamentarians representing a wide cross-section of regions and parties have already pledged their support. Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion, has also tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion (#339) recognising the value of vets and pushing for the profession to be given access to business rates relief.

Daniella Dos Santos, BVA President, said: “The Government has repeatedly given thanks to vets for continuing to maintain animal health and welfare and public health and support the food supply chain in these challenging times.  But that makes it all the more disappointing that the profession’s pleas for financial support so far seem to have fallen on deaf ears.  Veterinary practices are rightly remaining open to provide 24/7 essential care and fulfilling their duty to maintain animal health and welfare, but many are struggling to stay afloat as they grapple with dramatic reductions in turnover and scaling back their rotas to keep colleagues and clients safe.

"It’s been really heartening to see that parliamentarians across the political spectrum value their local vets’ role in their communities and have offered to put pressure on the Treasury and devolved governments to give practices access to vital financial support.  We hope that such a strong and united call will be answered soon, and will continue to urge government to help practices to continue their valuable work in these difficult times."

The BVA has welcomed reports that the Government will consult on a cull of badgers in areas worst affected by bovine tuberculosis

Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "Reports that the Government wishes to move forward with a badger cull to tackle the spread of bovine TB in England are very welcome. The BVA has been championing the need to tackle the spread of the disease in wildlife for some time and we are delighted that the Government has listened to these calls.

"Bovine TB is a devastating disease in many parts of the UK and action must be taken to halt the spread.

"The BVA will consider the proposals in the consultation carefully, including any detailed information on how a cull will be managed. It absolutely must be humane, targeted in the right places and well managed.

"Whatever the Government proposes must be part of a package of measures to control the disease including controls in both cattle and wildlife."

Novartis Animal Health has published a product usage chart aimed at vets and SQPs that gives guidance on the use of ectoparasites through the seasons.

The chart covers the use of blowfly preventatives CLiK and CLiKZiN, and the blowfly strike treatment Crovect, which also covers ticks, biting lice, headfly and fly maggots.

There is advice on the treatment of pre- and post-shearing ewes, and early season and main season lambs, plus recommendations for end of season treatments.

Helen Langham, Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health, said: "The chart is designed to provide an overview of the ectoparasite challenges faced by sheep and lambs through the year, and explain which products should be applied and when.

"SQPs can download the chart and a full range of information about ectoparasites from the Novartis Farm Animal Health website."

The chart can be downloaded from www.farmanimalhealth.co.uk

The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) has announced that it will be hosting monthly webinars for veterinary surgeons from January 2016. 

ISFM says it has selected highly qualified speakers who are passionate about cats to cover a range of topics, including medicine, surgery, behaviour, anaesthesia and ophthalmology.

The first four webinars will be free and open to both ISFM members and non-members. Thereafter the series will be available exclusively to ISFM members at no extra cost.

To introduce the series, there will be two webinars in January. The first talk, A practical approach to the cat with respiratory distress, will be given on the 12th January by Kieran Borgeat, a European and American Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology.

The second webinar, Vaccination in cats – everything you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask, will be presented by ISFM's Veterinary Director Andy Sparkes, a European and RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine, on 26th January. 

The webinars will also be available to download later to everyone who registers. 

For more information and to register for the January webinars visit: www.icatcare.org/vets/webinars.

To become an ISFM member and access future webinars, go to: www.icatcare.org/isfm-membership. 

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is launching a forum to facilitate research into the welfare of pet chickens.

According to the charity, hens have been badly neglected by the world of evidence-based academic research, with only two known papers written about their welfare. 

However, researchers are now starting to take an interest and it is hoped that the new forum, nicknamed The Coop, will pave the way for ground-breaking studies around the world into hen welfare and hen keeping.

Jane Howorth MBE, Founder of the BHWT, said: “The research about to be undertaken ranges from exploring how hens benefit our mental health to seeking good veterinary care and appropriate drugs. They will also examine how the pet hen population has grown over the years and reasons for keeping them, and which homegrown remedies are used and which work. 

One of the first bits of research to be supported by the BHWT is a study called ‘From the Backyard to our Beds’ by Jenny Mace BSc, MSc AWSEL, FHEA, Visiting Lecturer on the MSc in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law at the Centre for Animal Welfare at the University of Winchester. 

The survey will collect data on the care-taking practices and attitudes towards chickens of non-commercial chicken carers, and you can take part here: https://winchester.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/from-the-backyard-to-our-beds-the-spectrum-of-care-in.  

Jenny said: “To my knowledge, this research constitutes the first quantitative study to distinguish between ex-commercial and ‘standard’ chickens. It is also the first to enquire about some niche care-taking practices, such as the use of hormonal implants as a possible means of healthcare in hens. 

“The results should be fascinating and I urge all backyard chicken keepers/rescuers to make sure their experiences are captured by filling out this survey. Thank you so much!”

The BHWT is also supporting work undertaken by Keiran Ragoonanan, a student at the Royal Veterinary College in London, who is investigating backyard chicken husbandry and feeding practices in the UK.

For more information visit: https://www.bhwt.org.uk/hen-health/take-part-in-ground-breaking-research-to-help-pet-chickens/

Ceva Animal Health, maker of Milbactor, Vectra 3D and Vectra Felis, has launched a new booklet for practices to give clients: Protecting your Pet from Parasites.

The booklet offers an overview of the common ecto and endoparasites that can affect dogs and cats in the UK, including fleas, ticks, roundworm, tapeworm and lungworm. It explains how pets can become infested, how to tell if a pet is infected and the potential health problems that may result from an infestation. It also highlights the importance of routine treatment to help prevent infestation and transmission of diseases.

At the end of the booklet there is a check list designed to help pet owners and their vets determine the parasites that pose the greatest threat to their pet, taking into account factors such as whether there is more than one pet in the household, whether the pet scavenges or hunts wildlife or whether there are children in the household.

Rob McLintock MRCVS, companion animal business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "Recent research¹ carried out by Ceva demonstrated that pet owners are increasingly confused by what parasites are being treated by their current anti-parasitic regime. The new booklet will provide owners with a comprehensive overview of both ectoparasites and endoparasites and facilitate discussion between clients and their vets to assess the best treatments on a case by case basis."

Ceva has recently launched the Ceva Protection System for dogs, a simple two-step solution featuring Milbactor and Vectra 3D to provide comprehensive ectoparasite and endoparasite protection with one monthly topical treatment and one flavoured tablet.  The Ceva Protection System also features Vectra Felis, offering fast-acting flea protection for cats, and Acclaim® for sustained treatment of the pet's home environment.

To request copies of the booklet, call Ceva Animal Health on 01494 781510 or contact your local Ceva Animal Health territory manager.

Reference

1. 536 cat and dog owners, February 2015

The Animal Health Trust has presented the results of a study which has identified a significant link between hind limb lameness and saddle slip, showing consistent saddle slip in some horses with hind limb lameness, even when the lameness is fairly subtle and difficult to detect.

According to the AHT, saddle slip in sports horses is a well-recognised problem that can occur for a variety of reasons, including asymmetry in the shape of the horse's back, riders sitting crookedly and ill-fitting saddles. Sue Dyson, Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust, had also observed that saddle slip may occur because of hind limb lameness. The intention of the study, therefore, was to find out more about the interrelationships between the horse, saddle and rider and to document the frequency of occurrence of saddle slip in horses with hind limb lameness compared with other horses.

The research was undertaken by Sue Dyson and Intern Line Greve and was presented at the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress last month. It is thought to be the first study of its kind, and was supported by the Saddle Research Trust (SRT). The SRT is a charitable organisation, aiming to facilitate research and provide support as well as advice on the influence of the saddle on the welfare and performance of horses and riders.  

The study assessed 128 horses of varying size, age and type. The degree of lameness of each horse was graded; back shape and symmetry were measured and saddles assessed for symmetry and fit.  Each horse was ridden by at least two riders and rider straightness plus weight were recorded. The grade of saddle slip, whether it occurred with more than one rider, and whether saddle slip was influenced by the direction of movement or the diagonal on which the rider was sitting were also noted.

The saddle consistently slipped to one side in 54% of horses with hind limb lameness, compared with 4% of horses with fore limb lameness, 0% with back pain and/or sacroiliac joint region pain and 0% of non-lame horses. Diagnostic analgesia was subsequently used to abolish the hind limb lameness and this eliminated the saddle slip in 97% of cases.

Sue said: "Our findings emphasise the need to educate owners, veterinarians, physiotherapists, trainers, riders and saddle fitters that saddle slip is frequently an indicator of lameness, not necessarily a manifestation of an ill-fitting saddle or asymmetric shape of the horse's back. Detection of saddle slip provides an opportunity for the owner, riders and trainers to detect low-grade and subclinical lameness, with important welfare consequences."

Further scientific studies are planned, with the support of the Saddle Research Trust, in order to build on these findings. To this end the SRT is currently seeking an honorary fundraiser to help secure ongoing financial support. For further information contact Anne Bondi on 07775 912202 or email annebondi@me.com.

¹An investigation of the relationship between hindlimb lameness and saddle slip, L. Greve and S.J. Dyson, Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7UU, UK.

BCF Technology has launched the Mindray DP-50 veterinary ultrasound system, a black and white entry level system that can be used in both the small animal and equine general practice.

According to the company, the DP-50 offers excellent black and white abdominal and cardiac images and the menu system for performing measurements, calculations and image review is very intuitive. The system allows you to save images and video clips to internal memory, as well as exporting to USB. 

Nigel Perry from BCF said: "This is an excellent entry level system that provides high quality images at a great price - only £6,500 for the system including one probe. The Mindray DP-50's easy to use menu system and superb image makes this scanner such a useful tool for a general veterinary practice."

Angus McPherson from Lomond Hills Veterinary Practice in Fife said: "We were looking for a scanner that was mobile, easy to use and most importantly gave a good image. The scanner was delivered at 9.00am and by 9.30am we had used it on two dog cases. One with a pyometra and one with an enlarged abdomen."

The DP-50 is exclusively available through BCF. For more information, call +44 (0)1506 460 023 or visit www.bcftechnology.co.uk.

The British Equine Veterinary Association is encouraging members to continue to reduce their use of critically important antibiotics by inviting them to attain the BEVA Antibiotic Champion Award.

Last year BEVA received a national Antibiotic Guardian award from Public Health England in recognition of its work to promote responsible use of antibiotics. It was the only organisation from the veterinary profession to be shortlisted. BEVA launched its Protect ME antimicrobial campaign in 2012 to coincide with European Antimicrobial Awareness day. The Association has launched additional resources each year to facilitate compliance and educate the public about the importance of antimicrobial awareness. 

This year, to recognise World Antibiotic Awareness Week (16th to 22nd November, 2016) and European Antibiotic Awareness Day (18th November), BEVA is encouraging members to document their efforts to reduce the use of critically important antibiotics.

To enter for the award, veterinary surgeons need to share practice sales data (in mls) of chosen antibiotics. Practices that document a reduction in antibiotic sales of these drugs will be presented with a BEVA Antibiotic Champion Award to endorse their commitment to responsible use of antibiotics and to help promote public awareness of the campaign. Members are also encouraged to sign up to be antibiotic guardians at www.antibioticguardian.com

Gayle Hallowell, Co-Chair of the BEVA Health and Medicines Committee said: "We are extremely proud of the equine veterinary profession’s commitment to the responsible use of antibiotics. We hope the introduction of our Champion Award will inject new vigour into efforts to continue to reduce the use of our precariously limited antibiotic resources."

To apply for BEVA Antibiotic Champion Award status visit http://www.beva.org.uk/Antibiotic-Champion-Award The BEVA Protect ME toolkit is free to BEVA members and can be downloaded at www.beva.org.uk.