Animalcare has announced the launch of Identichip Ultra, a new slimline microchip with enhanced read range for smaller species
The new microchip is 1.4mm wide and is inserted with a 15 gauge needle which is 50% slimmer than the needle used with standard microchips. The length of the mini microchip has been increased to 10.3mm to accommodate a longer ferrite rod which boosts the signal to the microchip scanner.
Animalcare says Identichip Ultra has been designed to offer a slimline microchipping solution for small species and breeds with a reduced compromise on read range.
Beverley Campbell, Identichip and Anibase Product Manager said: “We recognised the increasing trend for slimmer microchips and the benefit this offers for small species and breeds. We also know that mini microchips have a reduced read range which could ultimately lead to a microchip not being detected so we wanted to challenge this and bring a solution to the market.
"Identichip Ultra is as slim as the other mini microchips currently being offered but the increased length gives us a read range up to 24% further1. We firmly believe that there is a place for mini microchips in the market and while we have enhanced the read range versus other mini brands we still believe that standard size microchips should be used in larger animals. We would encourage implanters to always choose a microchip size suitable for that particular animal in relation to its size now and when fully grown.”
With compulsory microchipping of dogs due to be introduced in England, Scotland and Wales from April 2016 awareness of microchipping is increasing. However, Animalcare says it still feels there is a lot of education needed to ensure dog owners are prepared for the legislation. For this reason, it has produced a range of promotional materials including leaflets, posters, letter templates and digital stickers.
Identichip Ultra is available in a sterile packed syringe style implanter with a detachable needle for sharps disposal.
For further information speak to your Animalcare Representative.
1Based on a laboratory trial comparing mini microchips (1.4mm x 8.5mm), standard microchips (2.1mm x 12.5mm) and idENTICHIP Ultra (1.4mm x 10.3mm) using three different microchips scanners (RT100-V5, Halo Scanner and idENTICHIP Pocket Reader)
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has announced that it will be launching Bovela, a new viral diarrhoea (BVD) vaccine, to farmers during April 2015.
Allan Henderson from Boehringer said: "BVD remains the most common viral disease affecting cattle throughout Europe, despite vaccines being available for over 15 years. We asked farmers why this was the case and, without exception, they remarked that current vaccine protocols are unwieldy, requiring precise timings making them hard to follow.
"Bovela is a unique one-shot vaccine that can be used in cattle from three months of age and also whether pregnant or not. Other, currently available vaccines require a two-dose primary course with boosters annually or even every six months thereafter."
BVD is spread within herds and to new herds through the presence of persistently infected (PI) animals. PIs can look relatively healthy and show no outward signs of infection but, as they were exposed to the virus as a foetus, have become virus carriers. If they are born alive, they will shed virus consistently throughout their lives so perpetuating the cycle of infection.
Alan said: "The foetal control delivered by Bovela gives absolute confidence that cows will not produce PIs. This, alongside the drastically improved convenience will undoubtedly make Bovela the natural choice for many farmers, both on beef and dairy farms."
According to Boehringer, around 60% of cattle in the EU test positive for exposure to the BVD virus and, although BVD type 1 is currently the most common form, outbreaks of BVD type 2, were confirmed in 2013 and 2014 in Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. BVD type 2 is generally a more serious disease, with high levels of mortality and while the virus has been identified in UK, it has not yet been identified as the cause of serious outbreaks of disease in cattle.
Alan said: "Bovela is the first and only vaccine in UK which has been proven to protect cattle from BVD type 1 and 2. It has been in development for 17 years and, gained a marketing authorisation following assessment of an unprecedented quantity of data generated in both beef and dairy herds.
"Work has looked at the efficacy of Bovela in preventing the production of PI calves and against type 1 and 2 BVD as well as confirming its efficacy in young calves as young as three months of age as their natural maternal protection wears off. Trials also confirmed vaccine safety generally and during various stages of pregnancy. We do not believe that any other BVD vaccine has been tested as rigorously."
RCVS Knowledge launched the Canine Cruciate Registry on the Amplitude pro registry platform last year.
The automated registry, the first of its kind in veterinary medicine, allows the profession to evaluate the success of surgical techniques, and practitioners to benchmark their performance.
In June, RCVS Knowledge had a poster detailing the purpose, impact and aspirations of the registry accepted at the PROMs research conference, which before now typically only accepted submissions from the field of human medicine.
This, says Amplitude, marks the first step in sharing information about running registries designed to identify best practice in the care and treatment of both animals and people.
Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, said: "RCVS Knowledge is proud to be leading the development of clinical audit and registries to support the veterinary professions on their journey to continually improve the care they deliver.
"Registries are key in supporting the professions in understanding first-hand information about our patients with certain conditions, both individually and as a group, contextualizing with information from their owners, and over time, to increase our understanding of that condition.”
Over the next few weeks, experts from the fields of veterinary science, academia and government will be offering sector-specific insight into key achievements, latest research and future action needed to tackle AMR through a number of blog posts published on www.bva.co.uk/BVA-blog.
Bloggers will include BVA President John Fishwick, presidents of several BVA specialist divisions, leading academics, and heads of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) and the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), among others.
AMR poses a global threat to human and animal health and requires concerted efforts across the medical and veterinary professions to steward responsible use and prescription, as recognised in the UK Government-commission global Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, chaired by Lord O’Neill (May 2016).
The veterinary profession in the UK has been committed to the responsible use of antimicrobials, with the Chief Medical Officer publicly recognising the concerted efforts to reduce antibiotic usage in agriculture. BVA is a member of RUMA and has been working closely with stakeholders in government and industry to develop appropriate and evidence based targets across the livestock sector, which will be announced tomorrow (27 October) at a conference in London.
British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Gudrun Ravetz said: "AMR is a serious global One Health issue that the veterinary profession is deeply concerned about, as it threatens our ability to treat animals and protect human health, and it is an issue BVA is addressing through joined-up working with UK governments, industry and other health sectors. Increased collaboration between the health sectors, underpinned by a commitment from each of us within the veterinary profession to maintain the highest standards of stewardship in using antimicrobials, most especially Critically Important Antibiotics, is the only way we can preserve these essential medicines for future generations.
"The blog series highlights various aspects of AMR by experts in their field, and we hope that throwing a spotlight on various sectors’ achievements so far and suggested steps for the future will help keep this important issue on all of our agendas, where it should be."
AMR discussions will continue at BVA Congress at the London Vet Show (16-17 November) with a Friday afternoon session on ‘The psychology of antimicrobial resistance: what can social science tell us?’, featuring David Brodbelt, Professor of Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine at Royal Veterinary College; Ian Donald,Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Director, Mulberry Research & Consulting Ltd, and Kristen Reyher, Senior Lecturer in Farm Animal Science at the University of Bristol.
To read Nigel Gibbens’s blog and other blogs from the series, see https://www.bva.co.uk/news-campaigns-and-policy/bva-community/bva-blog/safeguarding-the-future-of-antibiotics-is-our-moral-responsibility-as-vets/ and follow the ‘#AMRinfocus’ hashtag on social media.
The company says it is launching the new slCT after achieving success imaging horses in collaboration with its UK-based clinical trial sites.
The new standing CT scanner has a unique low, flat platform for quick and easy entry and exit of the standing sedated horse.
The system uses a dual-concentric ring design which enables the detector plate to remain very close to the region of interest, thereby improving image quality.
Hallmarq says slCT is a good fit for equine practices wanting to step up to 3D imaging in the evaluation of their lameness cases.
Bell Equine in Kent, Sussex Equine in Ashington, and Berkshire- based Donnington Grove Equine were involved in early trials of novel system.
Dr Elisabetta Giorio from Donnington Grove says slCT complements their sMRI which highlights soft tissue and metabolic changes: “The combination of MRI and CT was a useful tool to have and helped with surgical planning and decision making".
For more information, visit: https://hallmarq.net/
Adam, who is one of only 17 ECC Specialists in the UK, will be developing an ECC service at Lumbry Park.
Following graduation and an internship at the Royal Veterinary College, Adam worked in hospital and emergency general practice. He completed his residency in Emergency and Critical Care in 2013 becoming board certified the same year. He also completed a Master’s in Veterinary Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College.
Adam became an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care in 2015. In his most recent role, he was Group Head of Emergency and Intensive Care for four RCVS-Recognised hospitals and branches and oversaw standards of out-of-hours provision to 50+ sites. He also led the development of the first specialist 24-hour veterinary intensive care unit in central London.
Ray Girotti, Hospital Director, said: "Adam will be working with our multi-disciplinary team to offer a dedicated point of contact for emergency referrals, a move which will enhance the provision of critical care for our sickest patients. We are delighted to welcome a Specialist of his calibre to Lumbry Park."
Adam said: "The leadership on all issues relating to patient care shown by CVS’ Clinical Advisory Committee was inspiring and, with its full support, I have been offered an unrivalled opportunity to develop a leading ECC service at Lumbry Park. I’m really looking forward to my new role and to participating on the Clinical Advisory Committee to enhance ECC services right across CVS."
Rodolfo said: “We are the only independent specialist veterinary hospital in the area with the equipment and experience to diagnose and manage neurological issues in pets.
"With a custom-built veterinary hospital and the expertise to help vets get the best results for their patients, we will provide the next level of affordable, specialist care for owners and their pets with the transparency that our independent status enables.
“We will work hand in hand with referring vets, consulting with them on the best approach for their clients and always keep them fully updated on progress as each case unfolds.
"Initially, we are offering neurology services, but we plan to quickly upscale our operations and offer other services like orthopaedics soon.”
Pets suffering from symptoms including seizures, pain, difficulty walking and problems with balance and orientation can be referred.
"Any peripheral nervous system problems and neuromuscular diseases outside the spinal cord area can also be identified and treated.
Rodolfo added: “My focus is on pure collaboration with the vets that refer to us and their owners.
"I’m wholeheartedly motivated by providing the very best service at accessible prices.
"With a focus on communication and compassion – we will always work with the first opinion vet to put the best interests of their clients’ pets first.
www.southeastvetreferrals.com
Merial has announced the launch of Viral Cats, a national campaign designed to educate one million cat owners about the importance of vaccination.
According to PDSA research, approximately 3.9 million cats in the UK are not up to date with their vaccinations and around 2.7 million cats have never been vaccinated1.
As part of the campaign, Merial is pushing a series of animations to cat owners via Facebook, which link to the campaign website: www.viralcats.co.uk. The website offers detailed information about the importance of vaccination and interactive content including a 'risk checker' quiz.
The 'risk checker' quiz will ask owners a series of questions to find out whether their cat is up to date with its vaccinations. If not, they'll be directed to speak to their vet. If the vet recommends restarting the primary vaccination course, owners will be able to download an amnesty voucher – directing them to participating practices to get their pet back on track. For those who are up-to-date with their cat’s vaccinations, but want to help spread the word, there will be a competition and prize.
Aiz Baig, product manager at Merial, said: "This campaign is really exciting for Merial, offering us a great opportunity to reach and educate cat owners on the importance of vaccination, which of course will drive footfall into practices."
There are several ways veterinary practices can get involved with the campaign:
To find out more about the campaign, or take part, contact your regional Merial Territory Manager.
References:
Sophia Salmon MRCVS from Central CPD said: "All of the major corporate chains in the UK now deliver a significant proportion of their clinical and non-clinical staff training via online learning platforms. These systems form an important part of professional development, training standardisation and even performance evaluation.
"However, learning platforms can be expensive to procure and develop, as well as being time-consuming to maintain, and therefore may not be viable for smaller businesses."
Central CPD has used its experience providing online learning to several of the UK’s major corporate veterinary groups to create 'Central CPD On-Demand', which features over 1500 clinical and non-clinical CPD videos for vets, nurses, managers and receptionists.
There's a new practice subscription package which, developed with whole-team learning in mind, costs £2000 per year for up to twenty people (veterinary surgeons, nurses or management staff).
Central CPD says the new package allows individuals and practices to set their own learning plan for the year, and for mentors to build and supervise training programmes for other staff members.
Practices can add their own content, such as policy documents, in order to assist with the delivery of compulsory elements of staff training.
Central CPD says its service is a fraction of the cost of procuring and populating an off-the-shelf learning platform, and the company is staffed by vets and vet nurses who are available to provide one-to-one advice and support to help practices set up their team’s platform and get the most out of the system.
For more information, visit: https://centralcpd.co.uk/
Andy, who was previously the Junior Vice Chair of the association, has been a member of BVOA for over 25 years, during which time he's been instrumental in organising scientific meetings and starting the popular BVOA discussion forum.
He is an RCVS and ECVS Specialist and in 2017 was made a Fellow of the RCVS for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.
He has taught numerous surgical residents and is widely published in many areas of orthopaedic surgery.
In 2023 he opened the Moores Orthopaedic Clinic, a dedicated orthopaedic-only referral clinic near Basingstoke in Hampshire.
Andy said: “It’s a great honour to take on the role of chairman for an organisation that I am so fond of.
“I am passionate about education and have taught, lectured and published widely.
"In my role at the Moores Orthopaedic Clinic I am always happy to discuss cases and assist colleagues as much as possible.
"I truly believe sharing knowledge is essential to successful patient outcomes, and BVOA allows this in numerous ways.
"My thanks go out to the rest of the BVOA committee for continuing to ensure we have a strong and vibrant Association, especially to Mark Bush my predecessor and to Sarah Girling who has left the committee this year after serving as Senior Vice Chair.”
All veterinary professionals with an interest in orthopaedics are welcomed and encouraged to join BVOA.
https://bvoa.co.uk/
The campaign came after the company surveyed livestock farmers in January, February and March this year, and found that cattle producers are struggling to implement changes.
The survey, which received 190 responses, investigated the extent to which beef and dairy producers are aware of methods to sustainably control parasites, how many are following best practice techniques, and what advice and support they need to make a change.
Sioned Timothy, Ruminant Technical Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health said: “Reassuringly, 70% of respondents who are the main decision maker indicated that they were either very concerned or a little concerned about wormer resistance on farm. This level of awareness is positive since wormer resistance is on the rise, and the livestock industry must make changes to parasite control if we are to safeguard the effectiveness of wormers."
However, the survey indicated that farmers are not asking professionals such as their vet or SQP for advice on parasite control as much as they could. Only 55% of main decision maker respondents asked their vet for advice on parasite control planning as part of overall herd health planning, and that dropped to 21% for specific parasite control advice.
In addition, only 65% of main decision makers sought advice from an SQP when purchasing worming or fluke products, despite SQPs being qualified to provide parasite control advice at the point of prescription and supply.
Positively, over 60% of main decision maker respondents had already implemented some methods of sustainable parasite control, including quarantining and treating bought-in animals, managing pasture use, and calibrating and testing dosing guns.
However, more than half of the same respondents were aware of but had not implemented several other methods, including weighing or tracking growth rates of youngstock, testing individuals or groups of animals for parasites, and using preventative methods such as vaccinating for lungworm.
Sioned pointed out that nearly 25% of main decision makers had not implemented the calibration or testing of their wormer dosing guns, and a further 12% were not even aware of the practice. She said: “These producers are missing a simple opportunity to ensure that their cattle are dosed correctly. Under-dosing is one of the factors that drives resistance to anthelmintics on farm, and over-dosing increases costs unnecessarily.”
When respondents were asked why they haven’t implemented changes to their parasite control methods, 22% said they did not believe they needed to make changes, 20% don't have the necessary equipment or buildings, 37% said the cost of installing new/better equipment was a barrier, and 32% cited the cost of additional diagnostic tests or treatments.
The survey did highlight some positives. Victoria Hudson, Senior Brand Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, said: “Respondents indicated a good appetite for change provided they could access the appropriate advice and support, including implementing weighing and tracking growth rates of youngstock (53%), testing for parasite burdens in individual animals (52%) and testing for parasite burdens in groups of animals (43%).
“Just over a third of respondents felt they might be able to quarantine and treat bought-in cattle, manage pasture, and use vaccination or other preventative measures. However, only 31% of main decision maker respondents felt they could make the easiest and simplest change: calibrating and testing dosing guns before use.”
One method of sustainable parasite control, targeted selective treatment, where the best performing animals in a group are left untreated, was not well understood or implemented by respondents (30% had implemented, 36% were aware of it but had not implemented, and 33% were not aware of it), and just under 35% felt that even with advice and support they would not be able to implement this method within the next three years.
Victoria said: “Unsurprisingly, over half of main decision maker respondents cited they needed funding to support new equipment/infrastructure to help them make changes to their parasite control practices, but there is a desire for more advice and support.
“Nearly 49% want help in understanding the parasite challenges on their farm, 54% want advice on which changes will most benefit their cattle, and just over 33% want more information on the different types of wormer products.
“However, survey results were conflicting on how farmers would get this advice and support since only 13% wanted more visits from their vet, and 11% from their SQP, despite these professionals being best placed to provide advice at an individual farm level.
“It shows that there is more work to do to help beef and dairy producers make the most effective and sustainable changes to parasite control. This is why we have launched Change One Thing, a campaign to support farmers in understanding and implementing the options available to improve the sustainable control of parasites.”
The campaign is also calling on farm vets to Change One Thing, relating to the information, support and advice that they give livestock farmers.
Victoria said: “It can be difficult for vets to have conversations with farmers about making changes to their parasite control practices, so we urge them to think about changing their approach to discussing the topic, especially if their client/customer has so far resisted making any changes.
“Being inquisitive, and asking questions, can be more effective than ‘telling’, and it’s important that farmers believe in the need to make the change, and that they can practically do it. Even small changes can make a big difference, and testing and trailing strategies tailored to an individual farm will help the farmer to see the benefits for themselves.”
Boehringer says that changes that farmers could make to improve their parasite control in a sustainable way, include:
Resources for farmers, vets and SQPs to Change One Thing are available on the Beat the Parasites website: www.beattheparasites.com/change-one-thing.
The two-day ‘Save A Life Today’ (SALT) courses are being run in partnership with the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER).
Vets and nurses are encouraged to attend together, as well as individually, so that they can go back to practice and share their learning as a team.
On day one, delegates will cover the practical aspects of resuscitation.
The second day will be focused on effective leadership during and after CPR and the critical care of patients that survive CPR, with an emphasis on techniques used in general practice.
The courses will be led by Emily Thomas BA VetMB FHEA DACVECC DECVECC MRCVS Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care at Dick White Referrals, supported by Kathryn Latimer DipAVN DipHE CVN CertEd CertVN (ECC) RVN, Head of Nursing Services at North West Veterinary Specialists in Cheshire.
Charlotte French (pictured right), Operational Head for Improve International in the UK, said: “When CPR is attempted, it can be stressful and distressing for those involved.
"It’s also a situation in which clear thinking and teamwork can save lives.
"Through our partnership with RECOVER, we hope to increase the competence and confidence of veterinary staff globally in conducting CPR and to facilitate the building of team-working which will radiate into other areas of day-to-day practice."
Emily Thomas said: “CPR training for vets and nurses has traditionally focused on individual tasks such as chest compressions.
"However, we’re now realising that human factors such as organisation, teamwork, and leadership are equally integral to success.
"This is an area of particular interest for me, and I’m hoping to bring some simple, evidence- based ideas to this course to help people improve these non-clinical aspects in their own practices.”
The course is comprised of an online training module, followed by a face-to-face course which together account for 20.5 hours of CPD. Successful delegates will become Basic and Advanced Life Support RECOVER Rescuer Certified.
The event is merging with the new northern VETcpd Congress to give attendees a broader range of CPD subjects.
In the wound management streams, which are for both nurses and vets, Shelly Jefferies (pictured right) will run a series of workshops on: ‘Wound preparation for optimum healing’, ‘Wound dressing selection’ and ‘Building a better bandage’.
On the first day of the lecture programme, Samantha Bell will be looking at various different aspects and considerations for wound management through all stages, from initial presentation and assessment of the traumatic wound patient, including lavage and debridement techniques, to selection of dressings for open wound management, to surgical closure.
Other speakers in the wound management stream will cover topics such as acute wound management in rabbits and other exotic species, coping with eye problems and what to do and what not to do after oral surgery to allow healing.
Alongside the wound management programme will be two streams for veterinary surgeons – open to nurses as well – with Dr David Williams (ophthalmology), Dr Bob Partridge (dentistry), Dr Molly Varga (rabbits and exotics), Dr Fergus Allerton (antibiotics and immune-mediated diseases), Professor John Innes (orthopaedics), Professor Jon Hall (small animal surgery), Dr Joanne Harris (cardiology), Dr Alison Hayes (oncology), Dr Samantha Lane small animal surgery), Dr Anita Patel (dermatology) and Angie Lloyd-Jones (ultrasound).
On day two, David Williams will conduct an interactive session on ethics in which he will present a series of cases and ask the audience to discuss what they would do in each.
There will also be a series of workshops on ultrasound, covering basic system controls and image optimisation, abdominal ultrasound assessment techniques, and other aspects.
Lastly, there will be a stream specifically for equine practitioners featuring Professor Michael Schramme of the University of Lyon, Dr Alison Talbot of the University of Liverpool, Dr Lesley Young from Newmarket, Dr Gemma Pearson from Edinburgh, David Green from the VDS and Philip Cramo of Hambleton Equine Clinic.
Accommodation is available in the Hilton Garden Inn on-site at £105 per night or £125 per night for double occupancy. This rate is available by emailing HGIreservations@doncaster-racecourse.co.uk, quoting VETcpd.
Early bird two day passes cost £285+VAT for veterinary surgeons and £195+VAT for veterinary nurses, with one day tickets also available.
www.vetcpdcongress.co.uk.
Given that vapocoolant is effective immediately, compared to EMLA cream which is recommended to be applied 60 minutes beforehand, the study suggests that in dogs at least, vapocoolant may be the better option in practice.
For the study, researchers from the Royal Veterinary College assessed 83 dogs and 18 cats requiring intravenous catheterisation for either blood donation collection or as oncology patients.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either EMLA cream or a swab saturated with vapocoolant spray (Ethycalm / Invicta Animal Health) applied before catheterisation, and their reactions were assessed during initial restraint, limb handling, swab application and skin puncture.
Overall, there was no significant difference between vapocoolant spray and EMLA cream, and neither method appeared better at improving patient tolerance of intravenous catheter placement.
Vapocoolant spray was less effective than EMLA cream in reducing adverse reactions to skin puncture during catheterisation in cats, suggesting that EMLA may be preferable for feline patients.
Dogs that received vapocoolant spray showed a greater adverse response during swab application compared to those receiving EMLA, possibly due to the coldness of the swab.
Success of intravenous catheter placement was identical for both anaesthetics.
Dr Richie Trinder, lead author of the study, said: “The study is the first of its kind comparing vapocoolant spray and EMLA, and suggests in this context that the use of vapocoolant spray provides a similar degree of relief as EMLA, but with the added advantage of being instantaneous, instead of needing to wait the recommended 60 minutes for EMLA.”
Reference
Hill's Pet Nutrition is running an interesting prize draw to highlight a recent study which shows that by using Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare, sterile struvite uroliths can be dissolved in as little as 14 days.1
Send a canine or feline urolith for analysis at the Minnesota Urolith Center by the end of June, and you'll be entered into the draw to win a sparkling diamond worth £2000 (or €2000 in the Republic of Ireland. And no, Hill's hasn't explained why it's a cheaper rock up for grabs in Ireland).
You can download a form at www.hillspet.co.uk/urolith or www.hillspet.ie/urolith to send along with the uroliths.
Almost 80 percent of veterinarians polled on-line recently, used dietary means, either all or some of the time to treat FLUTD.2 It has been suggested that stones account for just 10 percent of non-obstructive and 15 percent of cases of obstructive FLUTD.3
Hill's says that along with its ability to dissolve sterile struvite stones in as little as 14 days, Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare dry pet food also has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that help to break the cycle of inflammation and reduce discomfort in cats with FIC, making it an appropriate choice in most cases of FLUTD.
References
Woodley Equipment has launched ImmunoComb diganostic test kits for FIP, canine Leptospira and Ehrlichia
Woodley says the kits are easy to use and provide results within 20 minutes. No specialist laboratory equipment is required as the kits are self-contained with all the necessary reagents. The diagnostic kits determine the animal's antibody titre levels, in the case of the canine Ehrlichia as early as 7 days after infection, giving veterinary surgeons the opportunity to act more quickly in developing a prevention/treatment program.
Tests can be performed singly or up to 12 simultaneously.
For more information about ImmunoComb Diagnostic kits email sales@woodleyequipment.com or call: +44 (0) 1204 669033 Option 1. Alternatively visit http://www.woodleyequipment.com/
Jason has a very personal reason for supporting the charity: his wife is one of the 100 people diagnosed with MS each week: "My wife, Adele, was diagnosed with MS a few years ago and the support and information we have received from the MS Trust has been invaluable in helping us as a family to come to terms with the condition."
The MS Trust offers trusted information, a friendly voice to speak to and the funding and training of vital MS nurses. Each month the charity responds to on average 271 enquiries and sends out around 3,700 information booklets.
To support Jason's efforts, visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jasondavidson
The five-year strategy outlines actions required from the group and its members until 2025, as well as focusing on changing wider public attitudes to extreme conformations in brachycephalic dogs.
It identifies three core challenges:
Some of the actions committed to include working to prevent the inappropriate use of imagery of brachycephalic dogs in advertising, promoting relevant health testing schemes and sharing research with breeders and would-be owners, alongside developing and promoting a Brachycephalic Health Assessment veterinary consultation framework.
Dr Dan O’Neill, chair of BWG said: “BWG understands that the serious health problems associated with the flat-faced body shape can cause many dogs to suffer and considers that the health and welfare problems linked to breeding for a flat face are one of the UK’s leading canine welfare priorities.
"This new strategy lays out a plan to redress many of these issues and we call on everybody to ‘Stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog’.”
www.ukbwg.org.uk/?page_id=801
George won the Best Medicine Award for: 'Predictors of clinically significant bleeding in dogs with severe thrombocytopenia'.
Kathryn won the Best Practitioner Award for: 'Reflecting on first opinion clinical improvement project across 39 UK vet practices to support diagnosis and management of OA.'
Sebastian won the Best Surgery Award for: 'Complications and outcomes following surgical management of Achilles Tendon injury'
The Best Student Award was won by Michelle Demkova for: 'Lifting the flap on otitis externa in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK – the VetCompass view'.
In addition, Clare Jones RVN won the Best Poster Award for: 'Confidence with CPR within Veterinary Professionals. Would standardised CPR training help confidence within Veterinary Professionals?'
Submissions for the 2025 Clinical Abstracts will open on 9th September 2024, and will close on 18th October, and those chosen will present their work at BSAVA Congress 2025, in Manchester on 20th – 22nd March.
https://www.bsavacongress.com/register-interest
Britain's dairy industry is doomed unless it takes more effective steps to control the spread of endemic diseases like tuberculosis and bovine virus diarrhoea, according to a leading cattle vet.
At a conference on infectious disease at the Royal Veterinary College last week, Devon practitioner Dick Sibley warned that the management and economic trends in the UK dairy industry are increasing the risk of disease transmission - and its potential impact once it does enter a herd.
Figures he obtained from the British Cattle Movements Service show that about four million cattle, or half the total UK cattle herd, are moved from one premises to another each year. Those being sent for slaughter were unlikely to spread infections but moving cattle of unknown disease status to new premises greatly increased the risk of bringing in new diseases. "If you set out to design a system that guarantees that we will continue to have problems with endemic disease then I could not think of a better one than this," he said.
Cattle numbers are increasing in those areas like Devon and Cheshire which already have among the highest population densities for dairy animals in the world - and are also the main hot spots in the current bovine TB epidemic. Farmers feel compelled to buy in heifers from as far afield as Germany and Holland to replace animals culled as TB reactors, as they will lose bonus payments from customers who demand that they maintain constant levels of production.
Several other factors also increase the likely impact of disease in a previously healthy herd - the concentration of cattle numbers into fewer but larger units, the growing emphasis on cattle kept indoors all year round and breeding for high yielding animals that are more vulnerable to disease. Meanwhile, a shortage of skilled manpower means that half the available stockmen are shared between farms and can therefore be responsible for bringing in disease.
But farmers have little or no control over some of the more important risk factors - particularly movements of badgers and the presence of diseased herds on neighbouring premises. "So these farmers with big herds in high density areas and neighbours that have the disease are done for unless we can do something serious to manage the risks."
Dairy farmers can work with their veterinary advisers to reduce risk using the four main pillars of disease control - improved biosecurity, better surveillance, appropriate vaccination and containment of disease transmission within the herd. But diseases also had to be tackled on a national level and if DEFRA is unwilling to take on the task, he proposed the creation of an independent livestock disease agency with sufficient staff and resources to carry out its remit. The costs of running such a body should be shared among all those stakeholders with an interest in preserving an economically viable dairy industry, including, for example the cereal producers who provide the dairy industry with much of its food materials, he suggested.
The course is comprised of a 14-module programme of lectures, case discussions and practical sessions, during which Improve says delegates will learn how to approach the dog, cat and exotic patient presenting with manifestations of oral pathology in a logical and scientific manner.
Lecturers for the programme, which starts in January 2020, include Bob Partridge and Rachel Perry (pictured right), both European and RCVS Specialists in Veterinary Dentistry, and Owen Davies, an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Oncology.
Each module will be supported with an online learning management platform offering additional learning resources, together with a subscription to Harper Adam’s online e-library which gives access to scientific articles and abstracts for those progressing to a PgC. All delegates have a dedicated Programme Tutor.
Juliet Pope, Operations Manager at Improve International, said: "The diagnosis and management of dental and oral disease is a significant – and growing - component of small animal practice.
"The programme we have developed offers a thorough case-based approach and includes the opportunity to practice oral surgery in a wet-lab environment.
"It will support general practitioners in taking a more well-informed clinical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of these cases and give them confidence to manage some cases that they might otherwise have felt they should refer."
The survey of 2067 past or present adult dog owners, of which 1,170 had experienced the loss of a dog, also found that about half had experienced barriers to opening up about their feelings following the death of their pet.
Some of the reasons given for not opening up included believing others wouldn’t understand their feelings (22%), fear of being judged for being upset (15%), feeling embarrassed about their levels of distress (12%) and not being able to find the right words to describe their feelings (13%).
74% felt they could turn to close family to share feelings of grief over the loss of the dog, but only 13% felt they could discuss it with employers and colleagues.
Samantha Davis, Legacy and In-Memory Manager at Dogs Trust, says: “The loss of a pet dog can be as devastating as losing a family member.
"Dogs hold a special place in our hearts, offering unconditional love and companionship, and when they pass away, the grief can be profound and, sadly for some, isolating.
“It's really important that owners who experience the loss of their canine companions can open up and share their feelings with friends and family.
"Many will find solace in knowing they are not alone."
To support people who have lost a dog, Dogs Trust is holding a 3.5km walk to bring people together to share their memories of their beloved animal.
Walk for Our Old Friends (WOOF) will take place in Salcey Forest, Northampton, on Sunday 6th October 2024 between 4pm-7pm.
As walkers make their way through the forest, there will be opportunities for moments of remembrance and celebration.
The charity will also provide support resources for those participating with a team onsite as well as online information to help people cope with their loss.
Dogs Trust is also providing online resources for people to organise their own walk in memory of their much missed four legged friends.
https://events.dogstrust.org.uk/event/walk-for-our-old-friends
COMMENT
Was this survey desperately flawed, or has our relationship with our dogs become unhealthily anthropomorphic?
It's hard to think of any other explanation for why such large proportion of people equate the death of a dog with the death of a brother, sister, parent or child.
Surely the death of a close family member is in an altogether different league than the death of even the most beloved dog.
If people are developing unhealthily close relationships with their animals, the question is why?
Are they being pushed by commercial interests which encourage people to think of themselves as 'pet parents' in order that they feel compelled to spend more on their 'child'.
Or is there some other factor in play?
Does it matter anyway?
Perhaps not.
But more and more we hear stories of people saddling themselves with crippling levels of debt on treatment because they cannot face the inevitable.
Perhaps it is time to return to a more healthy, more matter-of-fact relationship with our pets.
No less loving, just tempered by the acceptance of the fact that it is not human. It's a dog.
Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched a dermatology e-newsletter called Under The Skin, designed to help veterinary professionals stay informed and up to date on a wide range of skin conditions.
Featuring a guest editor for each edition, experts will review interesting case studies and research papers and discuss diagnosis and treatment options.
The launch issue focuses on otitis and is edited by Dr Peri Lau-Gillard DerMedVet CertVD DipECVD MRCVS, European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology.
Topics include a review of a clinical case - Pseudomonas otitis in a Cocker Spaniel called Rosie, a video otoscopy before and during Rosie's ear flush, information on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a discussion on whether to carry out in-house ear cytology, product information on Surolan and a review of the causes of otitis.
The newsletter also features hints and tips on how to prevent contamination of ear medication/ear cleaners, the importance of marking products with expiry dates, information on applying topical ear cleaners/ear medication and owner education on how to apply the medication.
To receive priority notification of future editions of Elanco's 'Under The Skin' e-newsletter, register at www.thewebinarvet.com/elanco
For further information please contact your local Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or phone 01256 353131.
Under the direction of Hilary Jackson and Rosanna Marsella, the manual has been revised and updated to provide a resource focused on the clinically relevant aspects of dermatological diseases. It also includes several new chapters and various sections have been expanded.
This new edition keeps the same format as the third edition. The initial chapters review the basic structure and function of the skin, discuss a logical approach to history-taking and outline the core investigative tests that can be performed. A separate chapter on skin cytology has been added to this edition, providing information on common skin diseases which the association says should be useful to all practitioners.
The introductory section is followed by chapters taking a problem-oriented approach to common dermatological conditions, including papules and pustules, scaling, and erosions and ulcerations. The chapters on pyoderma, ear disease and atopic dermatitis have been expanded and there are two new chapters dedicated to feline dermatological conditions.
A chapter covering the indications for allergy testing and the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy is also new to this edition. The main purpose of an allergy test is to confirm the clinical diagnosis of atopic disease and to identify the relevant allergens, which can then be selected for allergen-specific immunotherapy.
The final section of the manual focuses on the major skin diseases encountered in dogs and cats, and includes a chapter on topical treatments, which have an increasingly important role in the management of small animal dermatology patients, either as a sole therapy or as part of a multimodal treatment regime.
The BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dermatology is available as a print edition (£90; £60 to BSAVA members), which can be bought at the BSAVA online shop, and a digital edition (£90; £60 to BSAVA members), accessible via the BSAVA Library.
Ceva Animal health has launched Marbox, a broad-spectrum anti-infective, based on marbofloxacin, for the rapid treatment of bovine mastitis and respiratory disorders. According to the company, Marbox effectively provides two products in one bottle because it can be used as a high dose single injection or administered at a lower dose over several days.
Ceva says mastitis and respiratory disorders currently account for around 60% of antimicrobial prescriptions. Marbox can be used intramuscularly as a single injection for the treatment of respiratory infection. Alternatively it can be used for the treatment of acute mastitis; intravenously for the first injection and then subcutaneously at a lower dose over three days. It has a milk withdrawal of just 36 hours after subcutaneous injection.
Marbox is presented in an ergonomic CLAS vial which makes for light and shock-resistant handling, resulting in fewer breakages and reduced costs. It is available in 100 and 250 vial sizes and contains 100mg marbofloxacin per ml.
Marbox can be used in combination with Meloxidyl, Ceva's new, single shot anti-inflammatory. The product joins Ceva's bovine range of anti-infectives, which includes Cevaxel, Florkem and Spectam Injectable.
For further product information contact CEVA Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG, telephone 01494 781510 or visit the website at http://www.ceva.uk.com/