Braving the elements, a record 12 candidates sat the examinations for the Certificate in Veterinary Practice Management last week, seven of which passed their selected elements, and four of which have been awarded their certificate.

The new CVPMs are, Julie Beacham at Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre in Aylesbury, Liz Howes at The Oxford Cat Clinic in Oxford, Helen Kington from Hungerford and Renay Rickard at the Pelyn Veterinary Group in Lostwithiel. An official presentation of the awards will take place at the Veterinary Practice Management Association Congress Dinner on 28^th January 2010 at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

The candidates are managers in very different types of veterinary businesses, which the VPMA says is confirmation that the CVPM is applicable and has wide appeal in veterinary management. 

Lucy Bartlett of CVS (UK) Ltd, Straight Mile Equine Clinic, Lisa Marter of The Arundel Equine Hospital and Steven Broomfield of The Blue Cross, were also successful in achieving a pass in the written and oral sections of the examination and will be able to complete the CVPM by submitting and passing the portfolio section of the exam next year.

There are now 61 holders of the CVPM since its inception in 1996.  The next examination session will be held on 2^nd December 2011.

With the end of the vector-free period and the threat of more cases of bluetongue, organisations from across all elements of the livestock sector have come together to launch a Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB), with the strapline ‘don’t hesitate, vaccinate’.

The organisations involved, which represent livestock farmers, livestock markets and meat and dairy processing as well as the veterinary profession, all fully support the joint industry/Defra vaccination plan for bluetongue and are committed to working together on the campaign to achieve the mass vaccination of bluetongue susceptible animals, including goats and camelids.

JAB is now embarking on a major campaign to urge all farmers with susceptible livestock to vaccinate their animals as soon as vaccine is available and the BVA, along with our relevant specialist divisions, is committed to ensuring that vets have all the information in advance so that they are in a position to deal with their clients’ questions.

According to BVA President Nick Blayney: "Colleagues should be aware and look out for meetings being organised around the country, courtesy of the VLA and others, and led by vets where they can learn the latest information. The BVA website also carries useful and up-to-date information and links  (http://www.bva.co.uk/policy/bluetongue_jab.asp). Practices are seen as the cornerstone of vaccine delivery, proper usage and monitoring for efficacy and BVA would encourage them to offer their clients the ability to register an interest in vaccine supply in advance of its arrival. Such a forward order book will speed up the delivery of the vaccine once it is available."

The RCVS Charitable Trust is seeking two creative and energetic UK-based veterinary students to attend the British Science Festival in Aberdeen from 4-9 September 2012.

The Trust says that the students will be required to use their observations and experiences to help it develop future outreach activities to inform and inspire public audiences about aspects of veterinary clinical practice and research, and will have all their expenses paid by the Trust.

Entrants need to write to the RCVS Charitable Trust to say how they would go about meeting this challenge, ideally giving examples that demonstrate their proven innovative abilities. The deadline for entries is 9 July, after which the entries will be considered by a competition panel who will decide the winners. Entrants must be able to commit to attending the entire festival and to deliver a feedback presentation to the competition panel on 31 October. Entrants should also be willing and able to compile a video diary or blog to feedback their experiences.

Further information and details about how to enter are available at http://trust.rcvs.org.uk/home/. The successful applicants will be announced at the end of July.

Postgraduate Glasgow student Hamaseh Tayari MRCVS, who holds an Iranian passport, was caught up in Donald Trump's ban on nationals of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Libya entering the US last Saturday, as she tried to return home from holiday in Costa Rica via New York.

Talking to The Guardian, Hamaseh said: "This has really shocked me. We just discovered at the airport when we went to check in. I want people to know that this is not just happening to refugees. I am a graduate and I have a PhD. It has happened to a person who is working and who pays tax."

Hamaseh, who thought she'd have to find thousands of pounds to pay for an alternative flight home via another country, was quickly saved by a crowdfunding appeal by Women for Independence, which raised over £6000 in a matter of hours. The charity says it is donating everything in excess of the £2600 needed to get Hamaseh home to the Scottish Refugee Council.

Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal of the University of Glasgow, said: "When I became aware on Saturday evening that one of our postgraduate veterinary students, Dr Hamaseh Tayari, was being prevented from travelling back from a holiday in Costa Rica through the United States and on to Glasgow I was both concerned and appalled. Concerned for the safety and well being of a young woman who, through no fault of her own, was stranded in Central America. Appalled because the reason for her predicament was not because she had done something wrong. Not because she was a danger to the security of the United States. But simply because she holds an Iranian passport."

He added: "Having spoken with Hamaseh I have been hugely impressed at how she is coping with the nightmare situation in which she finds herself. But I have been impressed too by the huge outpouring of support that has been shown across Scotland and the UK, particularly on twitter and through direct emails that have come in to the University from people who are outraged and want to help. All of this, I know, has greatly touched and heartened Hamaseh. I think it also confirms what we all like to believe is true. In this country we value individuals for what they are and the worth they bring, not for the stamp on their passport, the colour of their skin or the religion they practise."

Photo courtesy University of Glasgow

Janssen Animal Health has launched a new website providing information on the subject of coccidiosis in calves and lambs: www.takingcareofcoccidiosis.com.

The website builds on the findings of an expert workshop on bovine coccidiosis held at the First European Buiatrics Conference, which was facilitated by Janssen. In particular, the site looks at all of the areas that the experts focused on as being especially problematic, including immunity, sources of infection, risk factors, prevention and treatment.

According to the company, arriving at a diagnosis of coccidiosis is not always straightforward: it must be supported by history and clinical signs, as well as evidence of pathogenic species of the Eimeria parasite. Interpretation of oocyte counts can be particularly difficult and results have to be viewed in the context of the farm situation. The site contains explanations about the timing of sampling and how that can impact upon the results.

Janssen adds that treatment has traditionally relied on fluid therapy and the use of sulphonamide drugs but recommendations on the use of more recently introduced treatments such as diclazuril (Vecoxan) focus on single dose treatments administered 14 days after a stress factor - such as moving to a higher risk environment, weaning or transportation. The various treatment strategies including prophylactic and metaphylactic approaches are described for those who have experienced problems with coccidiosis in the past and want to avoid recurrence on an individual farm.

Janssen says the site is an ideal on-line resource for veterinary professionals, SQPs and farmers looking to update their knowledge, seeking a tool that explains the disease in greater depth or just searching for specific information that helps in their own individual situation or with interpretation of a difficult case, www.takingcareofcoccidiosis.com/.

The supermarket Morrisons is to launch new pet food packaging which will alert shoppers to the ideal portion size their cat or dog should be eating, in a bid to tackle the UK's growing pet obesity problem.

Morrisons is the first supermarket to add portion control guidance to the front of their pet food packaging, and it follows research from Petplan which found that 36% of all dogs and 29% of cats treated by vets are obese. In addition, 71% of vets agree that cases of obesity are continuing to rise.

Each packet of Morrisons pet food will provide the correct portion for a healthy weight pet and, according to the company, the packaging will communicate the amount of servings each product provides clearly.

Apparently, 70% of owners believe that their dog or cat has never been overweight, which shows that there is a level of confusion amongst owners as to how much their pet is eating. A further 83% do not even worry about giving their pet too much food. Morrisons is aiming to make it easier for pet lovers to ensure their animal doesn't put on any unnecessary weight especially with Christmas just around the corner and the temptation of being fed leftovers and treats.

According to vets asked by Petplan there are five main reasons for an obesity problem amongst household pets. They are:

• Too much food
• Lack of exercise
• Not knowing the healthy weight or shape of their pet
• Snacking
• Wrong type of food

John Cannan, New Product Development Manager for Pet Food at Morrisons said: "We've had feedback from our customers which says that they are often in the dark about how much food they should be buying and giving their pet. Our new packaging will ensure that shoppers have a clearer sense of portion sizes whilst also saving them some pennies"

Brian Faulkner Petplan Vet of the Year said: "It's great to see Morrisons taking the lead on this and helping shoppers make more informed decisions about what they are feeding their pet. Whilst it's normal to give your animal a treat every now and then, pets do need to follow healthy regimes just like we do. Keeping your pet fit and healthy will ultimately save you money on veterinary bills as well."

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College are seeking the help of veterinary surgeons in the UK who are treating dogs infected with Streptococcus zooepidemicus, a potentially fatal bacterial pneumonia-type disease which they say has been on the increase over the past five years.

The researchers are also trying to raise awareness of the signs of infection amongst vets and dog owners.

Streptococcus zooepidemicus is an infection that manifests itself similarly to human Toxic Shock Syndrome, causing a severe, bloody pneumonia in dogs. It has an acute onset and in a small proportion of cases the disease has been known to kill dogs within 24 hours of contracting the infection.

Outbreaks are sporadic, but particularly occur in situations where dogs mix in groups, such as rehoming or boarding kennels and in hunting and racing greyhound communities.

Although it is rarer in family pets, researchers are still keen to highlight the signs to owners, particularly if they regularly visit kennels or attend events where large groups of animals gather.

In the early stages, signs are similar to those of kennel cough, which is seen in similar environments. However, in Streptococcus zooepidemicus outbreaks, dogs rapidly become very ill and show very severe signs, with a mortality rate of up to 50% reported. In contrast to this, in more typical cases of kennel cough, most dogs will have a relatively mild illness and deaths are rare.

Researcher and veterinary pathologist Dr Simon Priestnall from the Royal Veterinary College said: "Although Streptococcus zooepidemicus was first identified in dogs in the 1970s, veterinarians and researchers have seen the number of cases spiral upwards over the past five years, particularly within rehoming kennels and the greyhound community. This suggests that the bacterium may have mutated to become more virulent and contagious.

"There is currently very limited public awareness of the problem. Signs for owners to look out for in their pets include a fever, which is usually accompanied by sneezing and nasal discharge which is often bloody, and their animal becoming lethargic. If owners notice the rapid onset of these signs, they are advised to seek veterinary help immediately. With prompt identification, medical treatment and supportive care, dogs can make a full recovery."

Dr Priestnall and his colleagues are working alongside the Animal Health Trust (Dr Andrew Waller) and the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science (Drs Jenny Stavisky and Janet Daly) to investigate this potentially fatal bacterial pathogen.

They are developing a test that will allow them to determine, from a nasal or throat swab, how many dogs are suffering from the disease and how many are carriers. The hope is that by detecting patterns within the bacterial isolates or the infected dogs, they can uncover potential risk factors and limit the spread of the disease.

If you would like more information or to submit swab samples to help with the research into this disease, contact: spriestnall@rvc.ac.uk.

Elanco Animal Health, maker of Comfortis, Trifexis and Atopica, has launched ScratchTracker, a smartphone app designed to help dog owners with a simple way to monitor pruritus in their pet and share the results with their vet.

Elanco says ScratchTracker uses a scoring scale that has been developed by veterinary dermatologists and is proven to be an accurate and consistent way for pet owners to assess pruritus in dogs.

It's hoped the app will help veterinary surgeons track how a dog is responding to treatment and identify reasons for an increase in the dog's level of itchiness.

After downloading ScratchTracker from the Apple App Store or Google Play, pet owners are asked to rate how itchy their pet is by agreeing to a statement such as 'Extremely severe itching/almost continuous: itching doesn't stop whatever is happening, even in the consulting room' or 'Moderate itching/regular episodes: itching might occur at night, but not when eating, playing or exercising'. The reading will then be submitted and ScratchTracker will convert it to a numerical score tracking history which can be emailed from the app to the veterinary surgeon.

Alice Laurens, DVM MRCVS, product manager at Elanco Animal Health, said: "The ScratchTracker App is a useful tool to track pruritus in dogs for either a short period of time or for dogs suffering from a lifelong condition such as atopic dermatitis as part of a long term management programme."

For further information, contact your Elanco Animal Health key account manager or email: elancoCAH.uk@elanco.com

Elanco has launched the second issue of its dermatology e-newsletter 'Under The Skin', which focuses on fleas and the problem of flea infestations.

Guest edited by Dr Peri Lau-Gillard DerMedVet CertVD DipECVD MRCVS, European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology, the newsletter reviews the flea life cycle and considers their role as parasite and vector.

Other topics covered include 'seasonal treatment or year round prevention', 'treatment failure - what to consider when the fleas are still alive', 'tips and tricks - flea combing and faecal examination for fleas' and information about spinosad, the active ingredient in Comfortis.

There is also a chance to watch the recent 'real world flea control' webinar presented by flea expert, Dr Mike Dryden, together with a film demonstrating the effect of treatment with a Comfortis tablet on adult fleas.

Issue three of Under The Skin will take a closer look at the flea's role in allergic skin disease and how to manage these sometimes complex and frustrating cases.

To register to receive Elanco's Under The Skin e-newsletter, visit www.thewebinarvet.com/elanco.

H5N8 avian flu has been confirmed in a backyard flock of chickens and ducks near Thornton, Wyre, Lancashire.

A 3 km Protection Zone and a 10 km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

The infected flock contains nine birds. Defra says a number had died and the remaining live birds at the premises are being humanely culled. A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection.

Full details of the control measures in place can be found here.

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the results of an independent three-year study which demonstrates that dogs suffering from the most common type of heart failure lived longer (average time in the study of 267 days vs. 140 days) when treated with the product Vetmedin (pimobendan) compared with the ACE inhibitor benazepril hydrochloride.

According to Boehringer, results from the QUEST (Quality of Life and Extension of Survival Time) study, published in the September/October 2008 issue of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, mark a significant milestone in canine cardiac health.

25% of all small to medium-sized dogs over the age of seven are likely to suffer from heart disease at some point in their life, and 75% of those cases are caused by myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), sometimes known as "valvular insufficiency" or "endocardiosis".

Adrian Boswood from the Royal Veterinary College, London, a Veterinary Cardiology Specialist and a lead-investigator on the study, said: "With QUEST demonstrating that dogs treated with Vetmedin live on average nearly twice as long as those on benazepril, it is now time for us as veterinary cardiologists and practising veterinarians to look again at how we are treating our patients suffering from  this serious condition."

Dr. Michael O'Grady from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, a fellow lead-investigator added, "The QUEST study provides compelling evidence that dogs with the most common form of heart failure should be receiving Vetmedin^® as an essential part of their treatment regimen."

QUEST is the largest international study ever conducted looking at treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF) caused by MMVD, with 260 dogs studied in 11 countries, across three continents, over a period of three years.

The study was conducted by a team of 32 independent veterinary cardiologists from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom among other countries.

For more information on the QUEST study and on CHF caused by MMVD, see http://www.questtrial.com/

AMTRA says it has recorded the 500th staff member in a veterinary practice to qualify as an SQP, reflecting a growing trend.

According to Stephen Dawson, the organisations's Secretary General, the number of SQPs working at veterinary practices is on the rise, with about two-thirds of these working as veterinary nurses, and the remainder as other members of staff. He said: “Having an SQP in your veterinary practice allows you to offer a wider service to veterinary clients and non-clients alike.

“Vets may see this as an opportunity to get people in through the door to buy medicines and get advice. These customers may be non-clients who at a later stage will seek a veterinary consultation.”

Nicola Ackerman who is Senior Medical Nurse and an SQP at the Veterinary Hospital Group, in Plymouth, and who sits on the Veterinary Products Committee, said the role of vet nurses
has been evolving over a number of years: "More nurses are taking on consulting roles in practice, and the SQP qualification has aided these changes.

“As a nurse who regularly consults, the added SQP qualification allows me to prescribe medications to the patients that I see without the requirement of seeing a veterinary surgeon.

“Many clients seek advice on preventative medicines, and are not always aware that nurses provide these services for clients. Having SQPs in our practice has allowed our nurses to take a more proactive role in
preventative medicines, and has given them a full understanding of the underpinning knowledge required for running a dispensary as many qualified prior to the new VMD regulations occurring.”

For more information about the SQP qualification, visit: http://www.amtra.org.uk/

A new diagnostic blood test has been developed to combat the virulent horse disease Strangles.

The breakthrough has come after four years of research by scientists at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.

The blood test identifies horses that have recently been exposed to Strangles, enabling it to be nipped in the bud.

Oliver Wilson, campaign director at The British Horse Society, said: "It is fantastic news. This big breakthrough is a real boon to horse owners and I believe will lead to a significant drop in Strangles outbreaks. But there is still much to be done.

"The AHT's work to develop and test a fully effective vaccine against Strangles is ongoing. To support it we need to raise another £120,000 by the end of this year to reach the campaign target of £250,000."

For more information about the Strangles campaign, visit http://www.strangles.org/