Bimeda UK has announced that Endofluke 100mg Oral Suspension has been approved for use in dairy cows, with a milk withdrawal period of 45 days + 48 hours.
Endofluke is licensed for use in cattle and sheep and its active ingredient, triclabendazole (100mg/ml) kills all three stages of liver fluke.
Bimeda UK Sales Manager, Andrew Lane said: "This is great news for the UK's dairy farmers. Endofluke has long been favoured by British & Northern Irish farmers as a liver fluke treatment, due to its ability to offer complete chronic and acute fluke control in both sheep and cattle. It is proven to be highly effective against early-immature, immature and adult liver fluke, and to now be able to extend these benefits to dairy cows, is fantastic news for the UK's dairy farmers."
Endofluke is a POM-VPS product.
For more information, visit www.bimeda.co.uk or contact Bimeda UK Sales Manager Andrew Lane, on alane@bimeda.com or on 07917 208524.
Medivet has announced that the Pilgrims Veterinary Clinics based in Dartford and West Kingsdown have become the 100th and 101st practices to join the Medivet Veterinary Partnership
Arnold Levy, Managing Director of Medivet said: "We are delighted to welcome the Pilgrims group. Medivet was founded in 1986, and we have been growing steadily ever since. Our model is based on acquisition or partnership with existing practices. That means we are still entirely vet owned and vet managed - and I strongly believe this traditional partnership model is the reason for our success."
He added: "We invest alongside our partner practices. We share the cost of investment for new equipment, and we share the profits. This has been a consistently successful approach for us. It's given our group the resilience to thrive whatever the competition, or the state of the economy."
Petplan is making a last call for entries to its Veterinary Awards, which recognise members of the veterinary profession who continually go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Nominations for the awards close on 31st January.
Nominations for all categories which include Vet of the Year, Vet Nurse of the Year, Vet Practice of the Year, Vet Support Staff of the Year, Practice Manager of the Year and Petplan Insurance Advisor of the Year are judged by an independent panel of industry experts. Every nominee receives a Petplan certificate so even if your nominee isn't one of the lucky finalists they'll still know and feel appreciated that someone has taken the time and effort to nominate them.
Petplan's Head of Sales and Partnerships, Simon Masding said: "Petplan knows that the veterinary world is full of brilliant professionals. The Petplan Veterinary Awards create a wonderful opportunity to recognise high performance, and demonstrate to your clients and to the wider industry what a great job your staff do. As well as the feel-good factor, there's a commercial benefit for being nominated too, one previous winner saw a 30% growth in their business as a result of winning. So if you would like to be in with a chance, you have just one month left to encourage your clients and staff to nominate!"
Finalists are invited to attend an award ceremony held at the Birmingham Town Hall on Thursday 3rd April 2014.
To nominate a friend or colleague, or register your interest in attending the awards evening, visit www.petplanvet.co.uk.
Ceva Animal Health has launched Adaptil Stress Relief Now, a non-pheromone tablet to help dogs cope with predictable but unavoidable short-term stressful situations such as vet visits and car journeys.
The new product contains GABA, which, according to Ceva, plays a central role in relaxation by limiting the nerve cell activity in the areas of the brain associated with anxiety.1 It also contains L-tryptophan to increase serotonin synthesis1 and reduce stress-related behaviours in dogs.2 It also contains T-theanine, which Ceva says increases the release of GABA and inhibits the binding of the excitatory neurotransmitter L-glutamic acid to its receptors,1,3 with the effect of reducing anxiety and improving learning abilities.4 Finally, the product also contains B Vitamins (B1,B3, B6, B8 and B12), which the company says helps the body cope with the effects of stress.5
Ceva says that by administering the tablets to dogs two hours before any predictable stressful event and boosting levels of these naturally occurring substances, Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets have been shown to help 80% of dogs remain relaxed in stressful situations, with the effect lasting up to four hours after administration.6
Sarah Endersby, Senior Veterinary Advisor at Ceva said: "Pet owners often want advice from their vets to help their dog's cope with a potentially stressful event that is approaching. Many want a reliable and quick-acting solution, especially if the event is infrequent or of a short duration. An oral anxiolytic can be really useful in this situation, and can be used alongside targeted behavioural training to help the dog cope."
According to the company, study trials have proven a high safety margin, with no recognised side effects and no impact on clinical parameters.6 In palatability trials, 90% of dogs chose to eat them with no prompting.6
Ceva recommends the new product is used alone or in combination with other products in the existing Adaptil range for common stressful situations for dogs, including: house parties / visitors, fireworks, thunderstorms, noise phobias, travel, veterinary visits and visits to groomers.
For more information about Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets, including client literature, please speak to your local Ceva representative.
References
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Cyclo Spray, an antibiotic spray for veterinary professionals treating hard to reach sites when handling cattle, sheep and pigs.
Dechra says the new product has been developed for use at any angle, even upside down.
Cyclo Spray (chlortetracycline hydrochloride 2.45%) is indicated for the treatment of superficial claw and hoof infections and the prevention of infections of superficial traumatic or surgical wounds.
Dechra Veterinary Products Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: "Vets dealing with livestock can often find that they are twisting themselves into awkward positions to get to hard to reach sites with traditional spray can treatments. Not only are they having to find the right angle to ensure the can works, but also potentially the treatment can drip or take time to dry.
"We've introduced Cyclo Spray to our portfolio to help combat some of those difficulties - it is a new 360 degree spray can allowing users to mark the site of application with confidence from whatever angle. It is non-drip, fast-drying with excellent adhesive characteristics and contains a non-toxic colouring agent."
Cyclo Spray is available in 211ml and 422ml can sizes. No withdrawal days are required for meat and milk.
To promote the launch of the new product, Dechra has also launched a competition giving entrants the chance to win a two day trip to London for two people to ride the London Eye and experience the capital from a 360 degree vantage point.
To enter the competition, with the prize including return rail travel, and dinner, bed and breakfast in a 4* hotel, visit www.dechra.co.uk to download an entry form.
The Kennel Club has announced the launch of a new, internet-based research and knowledge sharing hub designed to bring researchers, veterinary surgeons and dog owners together.
The Kennel Club says that one of the key benefits of the Bio-Acquisition Research Collaboration (BARC), will be the ability for users to request and share tissue samples to assist with canine research. Researchers will be able to post requests for samples based on particular specifications, such as the health status of the required dog(s), the age and sex of the dogs, and how the sample should be preserved. This will simplify the process for researchers looking for samples to aid their work, which will ultimately benefit canine health research on a larger scale.
Aimee Llewellyn, Kennel Club Health Information Manager said: "BARC will be a unique online platform which will facilitate bringing together researchers and clinicians with the aim to promote dog health and unite those interested in canine health research.
"It will be a place for researchers to request the samples they need to undertake current research and will allow for vets and members of the public to offer such samples where possible in order to enable this. If, for example, a dog sadly passes away through a little known illness or disease, its owner could, when appropriate, contact researchers who are working on finding a cure, so the problem of one dog could potentially help solve the problem of many.
"The research exchange facility will also be a great way for vets to go over and above what they do in their day to day work, and we hope to see a real collaboration of those dedicated to improving dog health across the board."
Dr David Sargan, a respected scientist and senior lecturer from the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine, said: "BARC is an exciting venture. There is currently nothing like it in the UK to facilitate the sharing of canine research and I have no doubt that it will truly support canine science by creating a network of research and sample sharing. I would recommend other researchers utilise this platform to assist with their work and to find out what others are doing. Ultimately this will benefit canine health research across the board."
To visit the BARC research exchange, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/barc
For further information on the Kennel Club's work on canine health and research, visitwww.thekennelclub.org.uk/vets-researchers.
Poor sex education amongst cat owners may be leading to more than 200,000 unplanned litters - or 850,000 kittens every year in the UK, according to research published online in the Veterinary Record today.
Authors Dr Philippa Welsh, Professor Tim Gruffydd-Jones, Margaret Roberts and Dr Jane Murray based their findings on a survey of almost 10,500 UK households and more than 3000 completed returns (30% response rate).
Information was gathered on pet ownership, with specific questions asked of owners of female cats about how many planned or accidental litters their pets had had. The survey also aimed to probe the prevalence of common misconceptions about the breeding patterns of cats.
In all, data was collected from 715 cat-owning households, of which 426 owned one or more female cats. Around 1 in 8 (13%) of these owners said that their pets had had one or more accidental litters.
A total of 128 litters had been produced by 91 (out of 552) female cats; 65 of these had given birth to 102 unplanned litters, meaning that just under 80% of all litters had been accidental.
Unplanned litters were more than twice as likely in households owning more than one cat and more than four times as likely if the owner mistakenly believed that a female cat should have a litter before being neutered, the responses showed. Men were more than twice as likely as women to hold this belief.
The authors calculate that if this belief were dispelled, there could be around 213,000 fewer litters and more than 851,000 fewer kittens born in the UK every year.
Half (49%) of 682 cat owners surveyed believed that cats should either have a litter before being neutered (23%) or were unsure if they should (26%), despite there being no evidence whatsoever that this benefits feline health.
Similarly, among the 659 owners who answered the question about puberty, most (83.5%) mistakenly believed that the youngest age at which a cat could get pregnant was five months, with a further one in four (26%) believing that an unneutered female cat (queen) couldn't get pregnant before the age of 12 months. The authors point out that whilst it is not common for a four month old kitten to get pregnant, it does happen.
Furthermore, one in seven cat owners incorrectly thought that unneutered related cats wouldn't mate with each other, and a further one in four (24.5%) were unsure.
The authors said: "The vast majority of litters born to cats in the UK are not planned. This study suggests that improving cat-owner knowledge of the reproductive capacity of cats is likely to have a significant impact on the numbers of accidental litters."
The authors concluded that dispelling the commonly held belief that cats should have a litter before neutering would probably have the single biggest impact on the figures.
Read the full paper
The RCVS is seeking the views of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and members of the public about proposals for a new Royal Charter which would clarify and underpin the role of the College and give it formal recognition as regulator of the veterinary nursing profession.
The new Charter, approved at a meeting of RCVS Council in November, would replace the 1967 Supplemental Charter, with the most far reaching change being a proposal to make veterinary nursing a formally regulated profession on a similar footing to veterinary surgeons. Veterinary nurses would become associates of the College and have the post-nominal letters RVN. The List and the Register of Veterinary Nurses would also be effectively combined, meaning that the 1,100 listed veterinary nurses would join the 10,500 already on the Register.
Under the proposals registered veterinary nurses would continue to need to fulfil certain responsibilities, including abiding by the Code of Professional Conduct and completing an average of 15 hours a year of continuing professional development, and would be subject to RCVS disciplinary procedures.
What's new is that individuals struck off from the Register for serious professional misconduct would no longer be able to give medical treatment or carry out minor surgery under veterinary direction.
As well as changes to the regulation of veterinary nursing, the proposed Charter would also more clearly state the role and remit of the RCVS, for example, in advancing standards through the promotion of continuing professional development and the Practice Standards Scheme.
Professor Stephen May, a member of RCVS Council who led the Legislation Working Party that developed the new Charter proposals, said: "The proposed new Charter represents an historic opportunity to affirm the role of the RCVS, and to provide a modern framework for the future regulation of the professions. I call on veterinary surgeons and nurses, together with other interested stakeholders, to read the consultation documents and support our proposals."
Speaking about the need for change, RCVS President Neil Smith added: "The consultation paper explains why it is time to replace the 1967 Charter with a new version which sets out the role of the College. The present Charter doesn't explain what objects the RCVS should set out to achieve, and it is silent about veterinary nurses. The remit of the College should include being the regulator for the veterinary nursing profession, and we want a new Charter to recognise registered veterinary nurses.
"We hope that the new Charter will provide a solid basis for the work of the College for years to come. We would urge members of the professions and the public to let us know what they think and help us to make sure that we have got it right."
The consultation paper, which contains further details about the proposed Charter, is available to download at www.rcvs.org.uk/consultations. Those who wish to have their say must respond to b.myring@rcvs.org.uk with their comments by Friday 7 February 2014.
The RCVS will also be organising a meeting and a webinar during the consultation period for those who wish to ask questions about the proposals. Those interested in attending a meeting should email b.myring@rcvs.org.uk. The webinar will be held early in 2014 - further details will be on www.rcvs.org.uk in due course.
Zoetis has announced the results of a YouGov survey it commissioned to look at pet owner compliance.
The survey, which formed part of the company's 'Respect Antibiotics' campaign, indicates that owners believe they are reasonably compliant. 55% of those surveyed had administered antibiotic tablets to their dog. 88% of those claimed not to have missed a dose, 87% claimed not to have any medication left at the end of the course and 89% administered medication at the same time each day.
Nevertheless, the majority of owners (52%) said they struggled to give their dog a pill and 19% believed they had insufficient information from their vet on the importance of accurate dosing and course completion. 47% said they would prefer to be offered a single treatment given by their vet and most (52%) were prepared to pay a premium for this option.
When it comes to osteoarthritis (OA) medication, the survey found that dog owners are slightly less diligent. Of the 41% surveyed that had given OA/pain medication at some point, 79% claimed not to miss a dose, 62% claimed to finish the course and 87% claimed to administer the medication at the same time each day. Once again, convenience was important, with 48% preferring a monthly treatment, rising to 57% for a long term condition and 52% being prepared to pay a premium for it. Only 17% opted for daily medication.
Andrew Page, product manager for Convenia and Trocoxil said: "We are aware that there may be a disconnect between what pet owners claim to do and what they actually do, especially as nearly half of those surveyed (49%) admitted to forgetting their own daily medication. However, the message that comes out loud and clear is that dog owners would like to be offered medication that can either be given less frequently or administered by their vet, especially as over half of those surveyed had struggled to give antibiotics to their dog and 45% had difficulties giving OA/pain medication."
The BVA has welcomed a Scottish Government consultation on the compulsory microchipping of all dogs in Scotland, launched by Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead on 27th December.
Microchipping of all dogs is already a legal requirement in Northern Ireland and will become a requirement in Wales in 2015 and in England in 2016.
BVA President Robin Hargreaves, said: "BVA has long supported the compulsory microchipping of all dogs as a significant welfare measure and so we are delighted that the Scottish Government has launched this consultation.
"Every vet in practice will tell you what a highlight it is to be able to reunite a lost dog and its owner quickly and easily. The more dogs that are microchipped, with correct details on the database, the easier that process becomes meaning fewer dogs sent to kennels and charities."
Ronnie Soutar, President of BVA Scottish Branch, said: "Microchipping is a safe, effective and permanent way to link dogs with their owners and it is an essential part of responsible ownership. It is a small cost in terms of dog ownership with veterinary practices in Scotland offering microchipping at a very reasonable price or at a discount or free as part of a practice promotion. "It is important to remember that microchips are only as useful as the information held on the database and so we must work together with the Scottish Government to ensure that dog owners understand the importance of keeping this information up to date."
The consultation also asks for views on dog licensing and compulsory muzzling of dogs in public areas - measures that BVA has not supported.
Mr Hargreaves said: "We have some serious reservations about the call for all dogs, or dogs of a specific breed, to be muzzled in public areas.
"Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act dogs are afforded the right to exhibit normal behaviour which could be compromised by the requirement to wear a muzzle at all times outside of the home. We hope that respondents to the consultation reject this idea."
The BVA says it will be consulting its members to respond in full to the consultation.
Protexin Veterinary has launched CystoPro, a new product to aid in the management of urinary tract infections in dogs.
According to the company, the key active ingredients in the new product are proanthocyanidins (Type A PACs), derived from cranberries, which work by reducing the ability of E.coli bacteria to infect a dog's urinary tract.
In addition, CystoPro contains the probiotic Enterococcus faecium (NCIMB 10415) E1707 which Protexin says reduces pathogenic bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract thereby lessening the risk of ascending UTIs of faecal origin.
The product also contains Mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), which Protexin claims binds E.coli and upregulates the innate immune system by attracting phagocytes to opsonise the bacteria.
Lastly CystoPro contains N-acetyl D-glucosamine which is said to reinforce the structure of the Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer that lines and protects the bladder urothelium.
CystoPro is available in boxes of 30 and 120 capsules.
The RCVS has extended the deadline for nominations for the RCVS Queen's Medal to 31 January, to allow time for the nominations paperwork to be completed on return from the Christmas and New Year break.
RCVS CEO Nick Stace said: "We received more enquiries about the Queen's Medal over the Christmas period but appreciated that people might welcome a little extra time in the new year to complete and submit their nominations. We're certainly keen to allow anyone who wishes to make a nomination for this very special award the chance to do so."
The Queen's Medal, launched at the House of Lords last November, is a new Honour that will be awarded to a veterinary surgeon for a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the profession and who has dedicated their career to working above and beyond the call of duty in the fields of veterinary medicine or science, or related areas.
It is the most prestigious Honour that the RCVS can bestow, and will be awarded at RCVS Day in London in July.
Full details about the nominations process are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/Queensmedal). Nominations should be received by the RCVS no later than 5pm on Friday, 31 January 2014.
Fifty young people from low and middle income backgrounds will have the opportunity to learn what it takes to become a vet and prepare to apply to a veterinary school, at a summer school run by the Sutton Trust and the Royal Veterinary College.
The RVC joins nine other UK universities in providing 1900 summer school places this year, helped by a three-year grant of £750,000 to the summer school programme from Barclays.
Each year, around 1,500 applicants apply for 664 places at the seven veterinary schools in the UK.
The 50 successful applicants to the RVC summer school this year will enter a week-long residential course with all expenses covered. The academic programme will focus on Bioveterinary Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Nursing taught by full-time academic staff. It will include practical dissections, clinical skills, farm-based sessions and laboratory periods. The participants will also be given sessions on the application process and interviews.
Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation, said: "I'm delighted that the Royal Veterinary College has joined the Sutton Trust UK summer school programme. Veterinary courses are highly competitive, but it is vital that young people from low and middle income backgrounds have a fair chance to access them.
"Veterinary life is an attractive career choice for many bright young people, not just for the interest and variety of the work but also for the earning opportunities. The 50 students who enrol at the Royal Veterinary College this year will be given the best opportunity to prepare for university courses through our highly successful summer school model." Professor Stuart Reid, Principal at the Royal Veterinary College, said: "For many years the Royal Veterinary College has been focused on widening access to veterinary education to the most able students regardless of their background. The Sutton Trust has a long and successful tradition of supporting under-privileged students into higher education and we are proud to be working with the Trust's summer school programme.
"We hope that the summer school will demonstrate the broad range of exciting opportunities available to students with an interest in veterinary science and encourage more students from non-traditional backgrounds to consider a veterinary career."
Young people interested in applying to Sutton Trust summer schools can find more information at http://www.suttontrust.com/students/uk-summer-schools/
Zoetis has launched Suvaxyn Parvo/E, a combined vaccine which it says provides the earliest protection of gilts against parvovirus and erysipelas.
Parvovirus and erysipelas infections occur primarily in gilts and sows, negatively impacting their reproductive success and the health of their litters - inevitably reducing profitability.
Nigel Lodge, National Veterinary Manager for Zoetis, said: "The combined vaccine will help ensure the health of gilts and sows is not affected by these two infections which are widespread in the pig herd.
"Suvaxyn® Parvo/E gives the earliest protection so that the ability to vaccinate gilts at five months of age will help ensure a good start to their reproductive life. Up to half of all pigs may be carriers of erysipelas and importantly the vaccine has licensed efficacy against both Erysipelothrix serotypes 1 and 2.
"This brings another vaccine to our portfolio, making it one of the largest in the pig sector and confirming the ongoing commitment of Zoetis to the health and welfare of pigs."
Suvaxyn® Parvo/E is an inactivated combination vaccine approved for immunising gilts and sows to prevent reproductive disorders caused by porcine parvovirus and reduce clinical signs caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.
Primary vaccination is recommended from five months of age, with two injections given three to four weeks apart, ensuring the second dose occurs at least four weeks before mating. Revaccination should take place three to four weeks before each subsequent mating.
The vaccine comes in 10-dose and 2 X 25-dose packs. For more information, contact your Zoetis Pig Key Account Manager.
Two equine journals have joined forces to create a free online collection of their recent articles on endocrinology to raise awareness of these common disorders and to provide veterinary surgeons with what they say is a definitive source of references all in one place.
The collection of references published by Equine Veterinary Education (EVE) and Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) covers a range of topics within the field of endocrinology and includes authoritative review articles on insulin dysregulation2, glucocorticoids and laminitis3 and paraneoplastic syndromes4.
The initiative has been made possible with the support of British Equine Veterinary Association Trust and has been compiled by leading international authorities on equine endocrinology, Professor Philip Johnson, of University of Missouri and Professor Nicholas Frank of Tufts University, Boston and the University of Nottingham.
They say that equine endocrine disorders, such as Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), are becoming more promptly identified and treated, thanks to ongoing research and advances in diagnosis, pharmacokinetics and management protocols.
PPID, or Cushing's, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is more easily recognised in its advanced form in older horses. Surveys show a PPID prevalence rate of up to 22% in horses over the age of 155, with the odds of developing clinical signs associated with PPID increasing by approximately 20% per year after this age.
Insulin dysregulation (ID), characterised by increased insulin response to oral sugars, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, is identified in both PPID and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)2. Both PPID and EMS have been linked to the development of recurrent laminitis with subsequent high risk of mortality6. The exact mechanisms which link insulin to laminitis remain to be clarified1 but this online collection highlights several studies, which partially address this important jigsaw7-12.
Best practice for the management of EMS is outlined by Professors Nick Frank and Ray Geor in the December issue of EVE13. The first goal is to induce weight loss, and guidelines for designing diets for obese equids are provided. Exercise and dietary management14 have been shown to reduce the clinical signs and indices of inflammation in equine metabolic syndrome13 - 15, however, further studies are needed to quantify the efficacy of these management changes on long-term outcomes.
The online collection also includes several studies addressing the diagnosis of PPID. The value of plasma adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), when interpreted with seasonally adjusted reference ranges, is discussed by several authors18-20. Professors Frank and Geor advocate it as the most readily accessible test for monitoring PPID cases in a field setting, although they maintain that the thyrotropin- releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test is more sensitive and therefore has advantages when diagnosing PPID in its early stages13.
Pergolide has emerged as the drug of first choice for treatment of PPID13. While many vets recommend the early introduction of medication in the hope that it may avert the specter of laminitis, at present, there are no trials comparing pergolide with alternatives. Furthermore, there have been no long-term studies to show that horses treated with pergolide before the onset of clinical signs of PPID have better outcomes, including a reduced incidence of developing laminitis, than horses in which treatment is delayed until clinical signs become apparent.
Professor Celia Marr, Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal said: "Better control of PPID and insulin dysregulation should lower the risk of laminitis to help improve the health and longevity of many predisposed horses and ponies.
"Raising awareness of the benefits of early diagnosis and sharing the latest research on these and other associated conditions are imperative to provide horse owners with the best diagnostic and treatment programmes for their horses. However, it is easy to under-estimate obesity: horse owners need to think about improving management of their horses' feeding and exercise in order to avert problems before they become a veterinary issue."
Animalcare has announced the launch of Thiafeline (Thiamazole 2.5mg and 5mg) for the management of hyperthyroidism in cats.
An estimated 12% of UK cats over the age of nine suffer from hyperthyroidism², which could equate to almost 350,000 cats³. In one study, 92% of cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism were stable after four weeks treatment (on the twice daily 2.5mg dosing) with thiamazole¹
Thiafeline is presented as a blister pack, which Animalcare says offers the benefits of easy dispensing, improved stock control and no nurse exposure during dispensing for increased safety in practice. This format also allows pet owners to monitor the dosage and quantities easily, for an uninterrupted course of medication.
Animalcare says that whilst many of the clinical signs for hyperthyroidism are easily recognised, it understands that diagnosis is not always straightforward. For this reason, the company has produced support materials for Thiafeline users including diagnosis best practice charts for use within practice and a pet owner awareness package for use in waiting rooms.
Beverley Hammond, Product Manager for Thiafeline said: "While initial signs associated with hyerperthyroidism can appear quite mild it is important for pet owners to understand that if left untreated the condition can lead to serious secondary complications. It's easy for owners to assume that the signs they are seeing are simply related to old age so our campaign will aim to increase the amount of owners bringing their cats for senior pet checks and also ensure that vets are following the best practice procedures to reach a definitive diagnosis."
The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has announced the results of a survey of 2000 pet owners which found that 77% believe their pet's health is as or more important than their own, with 16% even claiming to visit the vet more often than their doctor.
The survey marks the launch of NOAH's newly revamped website: www.pethealthinfo.org.uk and the second year of its 'I Heart My Pet' campaign. The campaign is designed to encourage owners to seek expert preventative healthcare advice for their animals and was created in response to NOAH figures which show that despite our love for our pets, many owners neglect to take preventative healthcare measures such as vaccination and worming.
The survey also showed that vets remain the most trusted source of advice about pet healthcare (86%), despite the rise of the Internet. Other pet and animal experts came second at 53%, followed by independent pet healthcare websites in third (47%).
The survey usefully identified the three priorities pet owners have when choosing a veterinary practice:
NOAH Chief Executive, Philip Sketchley said: "Once again we're encouraged by how seriously British pet owners take the healthcare needs of their animals and the love they clearly have for their pets. As we move into the second year of our 'I Heart My Pet' campaign, we're calling on all pet owners in the UK to share this love by getting involved with the campaign and visiting our revamped www.pethealthinfo.org.uk site for independent, expert advice to keep their pets happy and healthy all year round. We're encouraging veterinary and pet professionals to get involved and join the conversation on the site as well as through our social media communities on Twitter (@IHeartMyPet) and Facebook (IHeartMyPetUK).
"The website continues to include a wealth of completely unbranded information on animal healthcare as well as exciting resources for owners, but is now in a fresh new format - much more interactive and designed for use with mobile devices. We still encourage vet practices and pet businesses to link to the site, and to recommend it to support their own advice and information", he added. "In addition, we can offer veterinary and pet professionals materials such as campaign window stickers to help engage their audiences."
The BVA has called on the Government to introduce a ban on the keeping of primates as private pets.
Veterinary surgeons at the BVA have been considering the potential welfare concerns of such animals in response to an Efra select committee inquiry on the issue. They have concluded that it is almost impossible for private owners to provide primates with appropriate care as defined by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
BVA President Robin Hargreaves said: "We appreciate that many people who keep primates privately care deeply for their pets and do their utmost to provide for them appropriately. However, primates are long-lived, intelligent, socially-complex animals and we can think of no circumstances where they would benefit from being kept as a pet.
"Primates cannot be kept on their own. They need at least one companion in order to express natural behaviour. They require both an indoor and outdoor enclosure to ensure adequate exercise and exposure to UV light, and each species has specific dietary requirements.
"These animals are not domesticated companions like dogs and cats, or even livestock, and are extraordinarily difficult to care for properly. Very few people can provide the necessary resources to meet their welfare needs. We therefore favour a ban on the keeping of primates as private pets."
The Association says that as part of the consultation, it considered the possibility that primate welfare could be improved through better regulation or licensing but members did not feel these options went far enough given the difficulties involved in meeting primates' basic welfare needs.
The only exception to the ban recommended by the BVA would be to allow individuals who are working in partnership with accredited zoos to breed primates for conservation purposes.
BVA also recognises that a ban could not be enforced immediately and effective plans, including an appropriate transition period, would be needed to secure suitable accommodation for existing pet primates.
As the House of Lords begins its debate on the religious slaughter of farm animals, the RSPCA is calling for all to be pre-stunned.
More than 900 million farm animals are slaughtered for meat in the UK every year. The vast majority are stunned pre-slaughter. However, the law permits the Jewish and Muslim communities to kill animals by religious methods without any form of pre-stunning.
The RSPCA says that while it recognises that religious beliefs and practices should be respected, it also believes that animals should only be slaughtered under the most humane conditions.
RSPCA Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA's farm animal science department said: "Farm animals deserve to be treated with care and respect throughout their lives, from the time they are born right up to their final moments in the abattoir.
"We want to see all animals rendered unconscious before slaughter. Until that time we are calling for clear labelling so shoppers are armed with information that can enable them to make an informed choice about whether they buy meat from animals which have not been stunned before slaughter.
"Until there is better, universal labelling, shoppers should look for the blue and white Freedom Food label. Meat produced under this RSPCA assurance scheme comes from animals inspected to the RSPCA's farm animal welfare standards which do not permit slaughter without pre-stunning."
According to the charity, scientific research shows that slaughtering animals without pre-stunning (to render them insensible to pain and distress) can cause unnecessary suffering.
David Bowles, head of public affairs for the RSPCA, who has written a report for the House of Lords debate, added: "We know this is a subject that our supporters feel passionately about. We share their welfare concerns and that is why we have continued to campaign for religious slaughter to be discussed at the highest possible levels."
The RSPCA works with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to publish the results of the FSA's Animal Welfare Survey undertaken in abattoirs across Great Britain.
The latest survey* results shows:
The RSPCA believes mandatory labelling should be introduced so that all meat that has not been stunned is labelled and says it will press for European rules on this in 2014.
Ceva Animal Health has announced that it has made its cardiology webinar series, first broadcast in November and December 2013, available to view on demand at: www.cardaliscpd.co.uk.
Featuring some of the UK's leading veterinary cardiology specialists, the webinars that can be watched on demand include:
Each webinar lasts for around 1.5 hours. CPD certificates are then available after answering questions relating to each webinar.
Senior product manager Fraser Broadfoot MRCVS said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response to this webinar series, which shows how strong the demand is for high quality cardiology CPD. Ceva remains committed to continue supporting veterinary professionals by carrying out ongoing cardiology seminars, webinars and online CPD programmes."
For further information, please email Ceva Animal Health on customerservicesuk@ceva.com.
The RCVS has launched a survey asking recent graduates from UK veterinary schools to share their experiences of the role played by extra-mural studies (EMS) while studying for their degree.
The aim of the online survey, which has been emailed to all of the 2012 and 2013 UK veterinary graduates for whom the College holds email addresses, is to take a snapshot of how EMS placements - whether pre-clinical or clinical - are working in practice and their value in educational terms.
Christine Warman, RCVS Head of Education, said: "In 2009 we carried out a review into EMS arrangements and, in light of this, we want to gather evidence on current practice in order to build up a picture of how EMS is now working and the role that it plays in the learning process for veterinary students. This evidence will inform any future discussions about EMS.
"So, for example, we would like to find out what students gained from EMS that they could not have learnt from their core studies alone and gather further information on the process of identifying and arranging EMS placements."
Recent graduates taking part in the survey, which takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, can supply their name and email address or, alternatively, there is the option of responding anonymously. The survey should be completed by Friday 14 February. Those 2012 and 2013 graduates who have not received an email with the link to the survey, and who wish to take part, should email: education@rcvs.org.uk
For more information on EMS, or the survey, contact the RCVS Education Department on 020 7202 0791 or education@rcvs.org.uk. Further guidance about EMS for both students and placement providers can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/ems which includes a link to the RCVS Find a Vet service where students can search for practices providing EMS.
Veterinary Practices are being urged to come forward and enter their PR campaigns for this year's Veterinary Marketing Association (VMA) PR Award for 2013.
The aim of the PR Award is to recognise the value that media and public relations can add to the marketing mix, says award sponsor, Jane Manning of Splash Communications.
Jane said: "PR comes in many forms, including social media, but you don't always need big budgets to deliver the most effective campaigns. Regional press, newsletters and radio or local TV broadcasts are all ways that vets can promote their business or specific initiatives. We know that many practices are highly active across many of these mediums, helping to promote the practice or specific initiatives to a local audience."
She added: "The award is given to the company, organisation or veterinary practice that has delivered the most innovative and effective PR campaign during the previous year, as judged by a panel of industry professionals. This can be a single 'one-off' event or article, or a sustained campaign over a given period".
The winner and two highly commended entries will be announced at the VMA Awards on Friday 14th March 2014, at The London Lancaster Hotel.
Deadline for entries is Friday 31st January 2014. Further information on the awards and ticket application forms are available at the VMA's website: www.vma.org.uk or by calling 0844 561 6157.
The Animal Health Trust is calling for all small animal practitioners to help with a prospective survey study on breed differences in clinical features in canine hyperadrenocorticism.
The Trust is asking vets that diagnose a case of spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism to complete an online questionnaire at bit.ly/aht-cushing.
The questionnaire should take 10 minutes to complete and all the information will be processed anonymously. Each questionnaire submitted has a chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher. On completing the survey, participants can ask to be notified of the results of this study when available.
Researchers say they hope this data will help veterinary surgeons in the diagnosis of canine hyperadrenocorticism, and ask that everyone helps spread the word about the study.
If you have any queries about this study, please contact michael.bennaim@aht.org.uk
Petplan has been voted Best Insurance Provider in the seventh annual Your Cat and Your Dog Product Awards.
This is the sixth consecutive year Your Cat and Your Dog readers have voted Petplan number one, in response to a survey completed by thousands of pet owners.
Isabella von Mesterhazy, Head of Marketing at Petplan said: "To be independently voted number one provider by pet owners means so much, particularly as this is the sixth time we have been awarded this honour.
"Petplan's Covered for Life policy is the original lifetime policy - we were the first insurer to offer this type of policy and cover. This, combined with over 36 years' experience in the pet insurance marketplace means Petplan truly understands what pet owners need and want from their pet insurance. We settle 97% of claims successfully and 90% of customers renew each year. Moreover, we paid out over £180 million in claims in 2013, the majority directly with the vet, which leaves owners able to concentrate on supporting their pet back to full health rather than worrying about vet bills."
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.”
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