Dechra Animal Health has published the results of a study which found that antibiotic use was reduced by 43% in beef calves treated with Solacyl, its oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID).

The company says this means that using Solacyl as an alternative to antibiotics could reduce overall antibiotic use by 4.4 tonnes a year. 

The research was carried out by dairy veterinary consultant Owen Atkinson BVSc DHCP MRCVS, an RCVS recognised specialist in cattle health and production, at three English calf rearing units between November 2017 and May 2018. It involved four groups of beef calves from different dairy farms.

The 258 calves were given Solacyl (sodium salicylate) in-feed on the five days immediately upon arrival at the units (a high-risk period for animals to contract bovine respiratory disease).

According to Dechra, the use of Solacyl resulted in a reduction in antibiotic use of between 16% and 73% (based on doses), depending on the farm. Across all groups, the reduction was 43%.

Dechra says that neither the health of the calves nor the profitability of the rearing operations were compromised. 

Owen Atkinson said: "I was involved in analysing the data and the data showed that there was no significant difference in growth rates or in mortality or in days to reach a target weight in the calves that had Solacyl, compared to previous batches of calves that had followed a prophylactic antibiotic protocol.

"I think this is an ideal protocol for those farmers who are competent, who are able to spot early pneumonia symptoms and are prepared to perhaps treat a slightly higher proportion of calves than they would otherwise have treated. They can now do that with higher confidence that their results should be as good as if they had used prophylactic antibiotics."

Dechra Farm Animal Veterinary Adviser Alana McGlade BVmedsci (hons) BVM BVS MRCVS added: "Sodium salicylate has the same fever-controlling, pain-managing and inflammation-reducing benefits in livestock as aspirin can have in humans.

"It can be administered conveniently to groups of animals, which means it can be given prior to known stress points in animals’ lives. This can be continued through and after those events, providing a welfare benefit and reducing the risk of a loss of appetite and its resulting effects.

"Solacyl can be administered without the supervision of a vet and that makes it a cost-effective and practical solution for farmers that can lead to a notable reduction in routine antibiotic use whilst protecting the welfare of a herd."

Dechra has now published a white paper which you can download here: "Enhancing welfare and combating antimicrobial resistance while maintaining productivity on calf units". 

The results of the research will be presented at the BCVA Congress in October 2018.

Jamie Rushton has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after being convicted of sexual assault and jailed for 18 months.

Mr Rushton was convicted of sexual assault after pleading guilty at Wood Green Crown Court in December 2022.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, made subject to a restraining order and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

He was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs and a £140 victims’ surcharge.

Mr Rushton did not attend the RCVS hearing, where the facts of the charge were proven by the certificate of conviction and the judge’s sentencing remarks.

In considering whether the conviction rendered Mr Rushton unfit to practise veterinary medicine, the Committee considered that the case involved the sexual assault of a vulnerable woman who was also a professional colleague, and was a serious abuse of trust, reflected in the custodial sentence.

Dr Neil Slater MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “It was evident from the judge’s sentencing remarks that [the victim] had been seriously affected by the knowledge of what had occurred on that evening.

"That knowledge was bound, in itself, to be very distressing and according to the victim’s impact statement had a long- lasting impact on the victim’s self-esteem, resilience and relationship with others.

"The victim’s level of distress can only have been increased by the knowledge that the respondent had filmed and/or photographed his activity while she was unconscious and that the images were included on a memory stick which contained a number of other voyeuristic images.”

"The Committee was satisfied that the respondent’s behaviour had caused [the victim] significant psychological injury and carried with it a risk of causing such injury.

“The Committee was also satisfied that [the victim] was especially vulnerable because of the significant quantity of alcohol that she had consumed.

"In the circumstances that evolved, she was in the respondent’s care.

"The respondent abused the position of trust and responsibility that he occupied.

"He was a senior colleague, at a professional conference.

"Instead of taking appropriate steps to secure the welfare of [the victim], he used the position in which he found himself to engage in predatory sexual misconduct.

"Furthermore, his behaviour was opportunistic and, as the judge said, “clearly driven by [his] sexual desires."

Taking into account these factors, the Committee found that Dr Rushton was unfit to practise and next considered the sanction.

The Committee found no mitigating factors regarding the conviction but did take into account the fact there had been no previous regulatory findings against him.

In deciding the sanction, the Committee also noted that there was little evidence before them that Dr Rushton had shown serious insight into the impact of his offending.

Neil added: “In this context the Committee also noted that the respondent maintained a plea of not guilty until three days before a rearranged trial was due to take place, and subsequently advanced an account of what he said was his relationship with [the victim] which the judge found to be false.

“Taking all of these factors into account, the Committee is satisfied that removal from the register is the only proportionate outcome to this case.

"This sanction is necessary to declare and uphold appropriate standards of conduct for members of the veterinary profession and to maintain public confidence in the profession.”

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings 

Virbac has launched Deltanil, a deltamethrin-based pour-on solution indicated in dairy and beef cattle for use against flies and lice with a zero milk withdrawal period. It is also effective in sheep against ticks, lice, keds and blowfly strike and against lice and ticks in lambs.

Deltanil is presented for use with the company's Farmpack and Flexibag dispensing system, which was awarded the 2014 PharmaPack Award for Innovative Packaging. Virbac says the system offers farmers a convenient approach to treatment, combining easy application with freedom of movement and the flexibility of a long stability period once the product is opened.

The Farmpack backpack holds a 2.5 litre Flexibag of Deltanil solution, sufficient for the treatment of 250 cattle.

The Flexibag is a flexible, multi-layered, multi-component bag designed to protect and preserve medication, giving Deltanil a two year proven stability period after opening. Unopened, Deltanil has a three year shelf life.

Virbac Product Manager for Large Animals Brigitte Goasduf MRCVS said: "External parasites are a year-round threat to dairy and beef herds and can have a significant economic impact on yields. With the launch of Deltanil, we are offering a new approach to product application, one which is ideally suited to the practical conditions on farm and which addresses the challenges often faced in using pour ons.

"We believe that Deltanil, with its zero milk withdrawal period for dairy cattle and sheep and innovative Farmpack and Flexibag dispensing system, sets a new standard for products of this type.

"Deltanil is based on deltamethrin, a tried and trusted parasiticide. It offers a convenient approach to administration with a 10ml dosage per cow, irrespective of weight, and is presented in two sizes - the 2.5 litre Flexibag and a 1litre dispensing bottle. The 1litre bottle offers a year's stability once opened. The dosage per sheep is 5ml, irrespective of weight, with a 2.5ml dosage for lambs."

Ceva Animal Health has extended the licence for Eprecis, its injectable wormer for cattle, so it can now be used in sheep and goats as well. 

Eprecis injection (eprinomectin) is an broad spectrum endectocide with activity against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep¹ and goats².

After Eprecis injection Haemonchus contortus in the abomasum in goats were reduced by 97.8%² and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in the small intestine were reduced by 98.7%².

In lactating dairy ewes Eprecis injection was found to be 99% effective against gastrointestinal nematodes³ and was associated with an increased milk yield of 8%⁴.

The bioavailability of eprinomectin after one Eprecis injection in goats is larger than that reported for eprinomectin pour on^{5, 6,} with Eprecis injection found to be four times more efficacious than eprinomectin pour-on across four dairy goat farms⁷. 

In sheep, the efficacy of Eprecis injection against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep is 99.6% versus 86.1% for a pour-on formulation⁸. 

Eprecis injection is associated with higher plasma levels of eprinomectin and has a higher efficacy compared to eprinomectin pour-on in dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes⁸. 

This is also achieved using five times less active than a pour-on formulation⁸.

Eprecis injection is administered subcutaneously and there is no need to part the fleece or coat along the animal’s back. 

Ceva says it has excellent syringeability⁹ and a low dose volume (0.1ml/10kg) to help with accurate dosing of animals.

Harry Walby, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health, said: “Eprecis injection is a highly effective broad-spectrum wormer that is now available in sheep and goats, as well as cattle. 

"The injectable formulation not only allows accurate dosing, but there is no subclinical dose transfer between animals.”

Eprecis injection is available in 100ml and 250ml CLAS vials.

References

1. Charlier et al (2020).  Initial assessment of the economic burden of major parasitic helminth infections to the ruminant livestock industry in Europe. Prev. Vet. Med. 182:105103.
2. Holzhauer, M., Van Schaik, G., Saatkamp, H.W. & Ploeger, H. W. (2011) Lungworm outbreaks in adult dairy cows: estimating economic losses and lessons to be learned.  Veterinary Record 169, 494.
3. Termatzidou, S.A. et al., 2019. Anthelmintic activity of injectable eprinomectin (Eprecis 20mg/ml) in naturally infected dairy sheep.  Vet. Parasitol. 266, 7-11.
4. Termatzidou, S.A. et al., 2020.  Effect of injectable eprinomectin on milk quality and yield of dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.  Vet. Parasitol. 286, 109245.
5. Eprecis 20mg/ml solution for injection for cattle, sheep and goats SPC (section 5.2).
6. Eprinex Multi 5mg/ml pour-on SPC (section 5.2).
7. Couasnon, F., 2019.  PhD thesis in French.  Translated summary from Ceva internal technical book P:47-49.
8. Bordes et al., 2020. Lack of efficacy of eprinomectin in dairy sheep and goats: resistance or poor exposition of worms to the drug? Poster presented at Congres National des GTV, Poitiers, 2020.
9. Comparison of syringeability of 3 different endectocides (eprinomectin 20mg/ml, doramectin 10mg/ml, ivermectin 10mg/ml).  Poster P04-004-079.  Presented at 29th WBC; Dublin, Ireland 2016.

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the introduction of a new and improved bottle for its respiratory vaccine, Bovalto Respi Intranasal (IN), which can be used in calves from 10 days of age.

Being an intranasal vaccine, Bovalto Respi IN triggers mucosal immunity in the nasal passages and throat area. It can be delivered from 10 days of age without the need for a booster and provides immunity for 12 weeks, from 10 days after vaccination.

Boehringer says it has also been shown to be effective in the face of MDA (maternally derived antibodies).

The new bottle now has a wider neck, which apparently makes for a better fit with the accompanying Respisafe applicator and nozzle. 

Brand manager Matt Yarnall said: "The Respisafe applicator ensures that vaccination is a comfortable process for both farmer and calf and the improved fit will make the job even easier.

"With an intranasal vaccine, it is important that the vaccine droplets coat the mucosa of the nasal passages, where they can begin to work. If they are too big, then the vaccine can run out of the nose, and if too small then the droplets are carried into the lungs and are wasted. The Respisafe system ensures that the optimum size of droplet is administered to the right place in an efficient and easy way.”

Bovalto Respi Intranasal protects against the two main respiratory viruses – RSV and PI3, and during its development it was tested against current strains, that are associated with causing disease in cattle¹.

Stock of the new bottles will start to enter circulation with vets from mid-July, with an expectation that the existing version will still be in circulation until early in the new year.

Reference

1. Philippe-Reversat et al. (2017) Acta vet. BRNO 86: 325-332

The RCVS has published a forecast of the supply and demand for veterinary surgeons and nurses up to 2035, predicting that the supply of vets will match or nearly match demand in clinical practice and charities over the period, but there will remain a significant shortage in public health, industry and universities.

The model for the forecast was developed by the College with the Institute of Employment Studies using data from the RCVS Registers, the 2019 and 2024 Surveys of the Professions, Office for National Statistics data for projected economic growth and the PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Reports.

However, the model does not take account of the impact of the increasing costs of veterinary care on pet ownership trends, the full effect of which may not yet have been felt.

The main predictions of the model are:

• In clinical practice supply is projected to increase from 91% of total demand in 2023 to nearly 99% in 2035. 
• In government service, supply will drop from 79% of total demand in 2023 to 78% of total demand in 2035.
• There will remain a significant shortage of vets in industry (approx 84% of demand) and universities / research (approx 90% of demand).
• The number of vets in clinical practice is projected to grow by 56% over the period and comprise 83% of the workforce by 2035. 
• Within clinical practice, the number of small animal vets is projected to increase by 62%, to 27,920 in 2035.
• The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) vets is projected to increase by 42% between 2023 and 2035 (compared with the growth in headcount numbers of 52%), with the average FTE falling from 0.85 in 2023 to 0.79 in 2035. 
• Amongst veterinary nurses, the model predicts a significant oversupply of 28% in private clinical practice by 2035.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, said: “In 2021, there were clear concerns about there being a workforce crisis within the veterinary professions, and while that certainly seemed to be the case, and is likely to continue to be so in the short-term, according to this model the future picture for the professions looks much better in most areas of veterinary practice.

“However, government service/public health looks to be an area where there is still a significant shortfall in supply, which is concerning considering the importance of government vets in food safety, disease prevention and international trade and we are willing to continue to work with government to find ways to remedy this shortfall.

“We are aware that there may be some concerns about the implications of the model, particularly concerning the potential oversupply of veterinary nurses.

"While we stand by the robustness of the data, demography is not destiny, and with the planned enhancement of the veterinary nurse role, and the likelihood of suppressed demand due to prior shortages, it is likely that the number of veterinary nursing roles will expand to encompass the number of veterinary nurses available to work in it.

“Finally, we are aware that there are also some limitations to the model in its current form, for example, in terms of regional data.

"This is a work in progress, and we will continue to update and improve the model as and when new data allows.”

The workforce modelling report is available to download from www.rcvs.org.uk/publications

Ceva Animal Health has launched Tulaven 100mg/ml (tulathromycin) for bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

Tulaven is licensed for the treatment and metaphylaxis of BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis.  

Tulaven can also be used to treat Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) associated with Moraxella bovis as well as Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC) associated with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Bordetella bronchiseptica. 

Tulaven is also is licensed to treat the early stages of infectious pododermatitis (foot rot) in sheep associated with virulent Dichelobacter nodosus.

Ceva highlights that Tulaven is the only tulathromycin available in CLAS (Ceva Layered Anti Shatter) vials¹, which have less impact on the environment^2, are easier to handle³ and transport⁴, and are preferred by farmers⁵.

Cuneyt Seckin, Managing Director of Ceva Animal Health, said: “Ceva has been developing its expertise in the treatment of BRD for many years, with a wide range of treatment options and autogenous vaccines available for vets. The launch of Tulaven is the next addition to this range, enabling us to offer even more support to vets and farmers.”

For further information, contact your local Ceva territory manager, call Ceva on 01494 781510 or email cevauk@ceva.com.

References

1. Cavaroc P. J. et al. – Comparative breakage study of injectable anti-infectives vials under vertical drop test by free fall under standardized conditions. IPVS Congress, 2012, 100
2. Jacquet C. et al. Comparative life cycle analysis, final report with critical review, CLAS packaging system and traditional glass packaging system. 2016, APESA 0393 Impact 2002 fig 18 p33, fig.21 p36
3. CLAS vials reference book (2012). Section 5.2: Artis Factis and Ceva developed hand zone ergonomic study (2003). P 16
4. CLAS vials reference book (2012). Section 5.4: Comparison of the weight of CLAS vials vs. glass vials showing that CLAS vials are 6 X lighter than glass vials of the same size. P19
5. Lacoste (2011) Study Report Ceva Sante Animal Health. GAL-SLA-C581.0-11030-N. Usage survey conducted on 540 farmers in France.
6. CLAS vials reference book (2012). Section 5.4: Comparison of the weight of CLAS vials vs. glass vials showing that CLAS vials are 6 X lighter than glass vials of the same size. P19

Portsmouth-based Simon Wood has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

Mr Wood was convicted of three offences which involved the download of 38 videos and 13 indecent images of children, at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court in December 2017.

In January 2018, he was sentenced to a three-year Community Sentence for each offence, to run concurrently, and was made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was also fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £340 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Mr Wood was also placed on the barring list by the Disclosure and Barring Service and required to register with the police pursuant to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of five years.

Mr Wood appeared before the Disciplinary Committee, admitted his conviction and accepted that it rendered him unfit to practise veterinary surgery.

In determining the sanction, the Committee says it took into account a number of mitigating factors: his conviction involved no actual harm or risk of harm to an animal; there was no financial gain; he had engaged in open and frank admissions at an early stage; he was experiencing mental ill-health at the time of the offence; he had taken subsequent steps to avoid a repetition of such behaviour; there had been a significant lapse of time since the incident; and he showed insight into the harm caused by his offence. 

The Committee also considered that the purpose of a sanction is not to punish, but to protect the welfare of animals, as well as maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct. On consideration of the appropriate sanction, the Committee decided that postponement of judgement was not appropriate, and that taking no action was not an option. 

The Committee then considered whether a reprimand or warning was appropriate, but they considered that would not match the gravity of the offence – a period of suspension would also mean Mr Wood would automatically return to the Register after the period of time without the College being able to review his fitness to practise, rendering it an inappropriate sanction. The Committee therefore determined that the removal of Mr Wood from the RCVS Register was the only way to protect the wider public interest and maintain confidence in the profession.

Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee has not taken this decision lightly, and, lest it be misinterpreted, it has not taken it in order to satisfy any notional public demand for blame and punishment.

"It has taken the decision because in its perception, the reputation of the profession had to be at the forefront of its thinking and ultimately it was more important than the interests of the Respondent.

"The decision is not simply based on the fact that these offences were of a sexual nature but because they were repeated frequently over a significant period of time, and at the time, the Respondent knew on his own admission that what he was doing was wrong.

"Accordingly, the Committee had decided that removal from the Register is appropriate and proportionate in this case. The Committee will direct the Registrar to remove the Respondent’s name from the Register forthwith."

Mr Wood has 28 days to appeal the Committee’s decision after which, if no appeal is received, the Committee’s judgment takes effect.

Ceva Animal Health has reformulated and relaunched Allevinix, its flunixin-based NSAID for cattle, pigs and horses.

The product was one of eight NSAIDS that had been suspended following a European ruling that an excipient, diethanolamine, may pose a risk to human health.  

Allevinix is licensed for both intravenous (I/V) and intramuscular (I/M) administration over one to three days in cattle. It has a dose rate of 4ml per 100kg liveweight in cattle, and milk withdrawal times of 24 hours after I/V injection and 36 hours after I/M injection.

Ceva says Allevinix reaches peak plasma levels (CMax) approximately 30 minutes following I/M injection. It is available in 100ml and 250ml vials. 

Peter Keyte, ruminant business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Allevinix is the only flunixin licensed for both intramuscular and intravenous administration in cattle and provides both vets and farmers with a cost-effective, fast-acting and versatile NSAID that is a useful addition to the range of NSAID options available."

For more information, contact your Ceva account manager, email cevauk@ceva.com or call the ruminant marketing department at Ceva on 01494 781510.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has ended an enquiry against a Cambridgeshire-based veterinary surgeon who had repeatedly breached court orders relating to the control of dogs, after finding that it did not render him unfit to practise.

Amir Kashiv faced a charge of being unfit to practise veterinary surgery after twice being found guilty of letting dogs roam freely on public highways or land not owned or controlled by him in Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, once on 20 April 2016 and once on 16 November 2016, and by having repeatedly breached court orders in relation to the same.

Dr Kashiv admitted the convictions, but denied that individually or in any combination they rendered him unit to practise veterinary surgery. This was therefore left to the judgement of the Committee.

In considering whether the convictions rendered Dr Kashiv unfit for practice, the Committee first considered the facts of the convictions.

Dr Kashiv had long taken in house dogs with physical and behavioural problems, at some stages having as many as 30 on his property. In 2014 neighbours became concerned by dogs escaping and noise nuisances, and on 14 November 2014 Dr Kashiv was served by the Police with a Warning Notice, requiring him to install adequate fencing within 28 days.

Four days later he was then served with an Abatement Notice for a Noise Nuisance about the dogs, and on 10 January 2015 he was then served with a Community Protection Notice requiring him to stop his dogs roaming and ensure adequate fencing.

After multiple subsequent escapes Dr Kashiv pleaded guilty of being in breach of the Community Protection Order at the Magistrates’ Court on 20 April 2016, receiving penalties amounting to £5,000 and costs of £6,000, as well as a two year Criminal Behaviour Order requiring him to reduce the number of dogs to no more than five with 28 days, and requiring his dogs to be supervised at all times while they were outside the house. 

Two months later one of the dogs was seen outside the property, resulting in another conviction for breach of the Criminal Behaviour Order on 16 November 2016, and Dr Kashiv was fined £250 as well as £250 in costs.

The Committee then considered whether this resulted in Dr Kashiv being unfit to practise veterinary surgery. It considered it a serious matter that a veterinary surgeon should allow himself to be made subject to a Warning Notice, and that, being subject to such a Notice, he should then be found in repeated breach of the Notice and invite prosecution. While the Committee accepts that it is difficult to fence his entire grounds, ten acres in total, the Committee took it as a mark against Dr Kashiv that he failed to address the concerns of the authorities by reducing the number of dogs he housed until he was compelled to do so.

Jane Downes, who was chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee regards this as a case close to borderline. These offences, involving the mismanagement by a veterinary surgeon of his animals and repeated offences demonstrate that Dr Kashiv had a less than adequate insight in 2014 and 2015 into the seriousness of the situation or into the understandable concerns of his neighbours and of the authorities. They are capable of bringing the profession into disrepute so as to undermine public confidence in it.

"But, in the end, The Committee has concluded that Dr Kashiv is not unfit by reason of these convictions to practise as a veterinary surgeon. 

"It is apparent from the material before the Committee that Dr Kashiv is a dedicated veterinary surgeon whose life’s work has been devoted to the welfare of small animals and who has gone to extraordinary lengths, at his own expense, to do all that he possibly could to alleviate the suffering of, and rehabilitate, unloved and abandoned and unwell dogs.

"In all the circumstances and in the light of all the evidence the Committee finds that the convictions, whether taken individually or in any combination, do not render Dr Kashiv unfit to practice veterinary surgery."

Davies Veterinary Specialists, which in 2018 became the first veterinary practice to get Investors in the Environment (iiE) accreditation, is now working with a leading clinical waste management company to reduce sharps injuries and waste, and share what they learn with the rest of the profession.

According to Davies, Sharpsmart is the world’s safest and most environmentally responsible sharps and clinical waste management system, proven to:

• Protect staff and patients by reducing sharps injuries by a minimum of 25% in year 1
• Reduce associated CO2 emissions by as much as 95%
• Dramatically reduce the use of single use plastics
• Remove clinical waste from the patient environment
• Reduce sharps disposal costs by an average of 30%
• Reduce total sharps management costs by up to 15%

Ellie West, anaesthetist at Davies and Green Group leader said: "We are really excited to have the opportunity to be the first veterinary centre to be working with Sharpsmart and are already seeing great results in carbon reduction and we look forward to sharing our results later in 2019."

Adrian Giles, Total Waste Program Manager for Sharpsmart added: "Working with Davies has enabled us to showcase our safety engineered sharps system in a new and exciting arena where sharps safety and sustainability are a priority.

"The transition to Sharpsmart was seamless and was completed across the centre in a day without any challenges. Face-to-face training was provided to staff along with touch point education material. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Davies over the coming months and years."

As part of its green drive, Davies will be hosting 'Sustainability CPD' for referring vets on May 2^nd 2019 at its HQ in Higham Gobion, Hertforshire.

Ellie West said: "Run by the Sustainability Leads at DVS, this evening aims to increase your carbon literacy, explore the challenges and barriers to improving sustainability in your daily practice and find some positive solutions to implement sustainability. The challenges which we have faced at DVS will be explored, along with the co-benefits of sustainability to our business, and useful resources to help your practice to be more environmentally friendly and resilient will be highlighted."

You can book your place here https://vetspecialists.co.uk/events/davies-first-sustainability-cpd-for-referring-vets/ or contact Ellie.West@vetspecialists.co.uk if you are interested in attending or would like more information.

Davies has also produced a suite of Waste Segregation Posters which are proving popular with their referring practices. You can find out more and view the posters here https://vetspecialists.co.uk/sustainability/sustainability-initiatives-at-davies-your-questions-answered/.

For more information or to receive print ready PDFs, contact marketing@vetspecialists.co.uk

Virbac has announced the launch of Zenifel, a feline facial pheromone plug-in diffuser billed as the first and only alternative to the current market leader.

Zenifel contains synthetic feline facial pheromones which imitate the facial F3 pheromone which has been found to be significantly important when it comes to cats creating areas they feel safe and relaxed in¹.

According to the company, Zenifel contains a 48ml vial of the same synthetic F3 feline facial pheromone as the market leader, but, thanks to its own diffusion system and a higher concentration of F3, lasts up to 6 weeks; i.e. 50% longer. This, says Virbac, means that Zenifel is both more economical and more environmentally friendly.

Alongside the launch of the new product, Virbac is offering a practice support pack which includes things you need to create a calm area for feline visitors and promote the benefits of pheromones to pet owners. The company is also running a promotion in which practices could be eligible for a year’s free supply of Zenifel.

For more information, contact your local Virbac Territory Manager.

Reference

1. Amat M., Camps T., Manteca X. (2016) Stress in owned cats: behavioural changes and welfare implications. J Feline Med Surg. 18(8):577-586.10.1177/1098612X15590867

Appearing as my alter ego, 'Gadget Man', I've just published a new review of the Pitpat dog activity monitor, something which could be a useful way of measuring a response to treatment for things like osteoarthritis and to increase engagement with dog owners at veterinary nurses' obesity clinics.

The Pitpat was designed in Cambridge, launched in 2016 and is now the leading dog activity monitor on the market, with over 50,000 sold. 

I was invited to review the Pitpat by one of the company's non-executive directors, Myra Forster-van Hijfte FRCVS, a European and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Medicine who was also one of the angel investors. 

I wasn't convinced that this was something every dog owner would want to use regularly. You'd have to be a bit obsessed to be routinely reviewing the activity levels of a perfectly fit young dog. But I think there is real potential for it to add value to veterinary nurses' obesity clinics and also to measure a response to treatment for things like osteoarthritis (OA). As such, it is perhaps something for practices to consider buying for themselves, and then loaning it out to the owners of dogs on a weight loss programme or which are getting treatment for OA. 

Myra said: "PitPat gives an objective measurement of the actual activity the dog has done and the app gives the owner tailored advice (based on breed, age and sex of the dog) on how much exercise their dog should be doing and an estimate of daily calories their dog has burnt. This will help owners keep their dogs fit and healthy and in the correct body condition.

"PitPat is useful in weight management clinics by improving owner engagement through the associated weight app. Encouraging exercise also provides the owner with a positive contribution towards weight management.

"Monitoring activity pre- and post treatment, for instance dogs with osteoarthritis on NSAID's, provides vet and owner with an objective measure of whether treatment is effective or not."

You can watch the full review here. If you're interested in technology that is designed to make life easier, do subscribe to the channel!

For more information about Pitpat, visit: https://www.pitpat.com/. Veterinary practices that want to buy a Pitpat for use with their clients will get a trade discount. Contact the company for more details.