Dr Berwyn Clarke, CEO of PBD Biotech, which developed the bacteriophage-based detection method, says this is significant step forward: "In situations where a farm has had an ongoing chronic bovine TB problem, APHA’s protocol offers a promising new approach to controlling the infection.
"Actiphage is now included within a series of measures that farmers can use in conjunction with their vet and with specific APHA approval as a means to improving their disease management strategy.
"For many farms that have been struggling for years it provides the first step to becoming TB free. This move by the APHA is a really positive step towards tackling this devastating disease."
Much of this new strategy, as part of a private TB eradication plan, has been driven by the success of Devon-based vet Dick Sibley, who incorporated Actiphage into a disease management strategy last Autumn to help clear a dairy herd that had been stricken with TB since 2012.
Dick said: "The approach of directly measuring the presence of live bacteria in the blood in just six hours is a totally different but complementary measurement to other technologies and has enabled enhanced testing, early detection and containment of the infected animals.
"We don’t have all of the answers yet, but it’s about predicting, preventing and managing what we can – and Actiphage has contributed greatly to the outcome we’ve been after for so long."
The Exceptional private use of non-validated tests for TB on cattle in England protocol enables any private veterinary surgeon to request APHA permission for exceptional use of Actiphage and the other non-validated tests, subject to certain criteria that include herd supplementary interferon-γ (IFN- γ) testing, discussions with the APHA Case Vet and the farmer’s written consent.
Berwyn added: "Actiphage is unique in directly detecting live mycobacteria in blood or milk, and it can also distinguish between a vaccinated and an infected animal - paving the way for new types of disease control when vaccines become available in the future.
"We are working with international governments, and the test is being trialled on bovine, ovine as well as exotic species, but we appreciate it is new to the UK market so we’re keen to answer any queries vets or farmers may have."
The new test will be profiled in the Innovation Hub at the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Show next month (27 & 28 June).
PBD Biotech says Actiphage will require further testing before it is officially approved for standard veterinary use in the UK, however under the APHA protocol it is now permitted for private use where herds have experienced persistent breakdowns and this will contribute to the evidence-base required for official validation by the OIE and acceptance by APHA.
Within this protocol, APHA has outlined a number of other non-validated tests that may be proposed for exceptional use in cattle herds with chronic breakdowns, including: the Actiphage assay, developed by PBD Biotech and Nottingham University; the Enferplex TB serological test, produced by Enfer Laboratories Ireland and approved in GB for use in camelids; and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing of faecal samples. APHA says this is not an exhaustive list and that the protocol covers any current or future non-validated tests for bovine TB.
The comparative intradermal tuberculin skin test and the IFN- γ blood test remain the only ante mortem tests currently approved for the statutory cattle TB testing programme in Great Britain.
The full Exceptional private use of non-validated tests for TB on cattle in England is available on the APHA Vet Gateway: apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/non-valid-tb-testing
Surrey vet Matthew Morgan has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after being convicted and imprisoned for four counts of pet insurance fraud.
Mr Morgan was convicted, upon his own confession, of dishonestly making false representations to make gain for himself/another or to cause loss to other/ expose other to risk on 22 July 2013 at the Central Criminal Court and, on 23 August 2013, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
The Disciplinary Committee heard that Mr Morgan, who was not present at the hearing but represented by Mr Laurence Imrie, Solicitor Advocate, had, between 13 November 2009 and 21 December 2012, taken out 18 insurance policies for veterinary cover with four separate insurance providers - Direct Line, Pet Plan, Pet Protect and Sainsbury's - in relation to a number of pets. Of these pets, only one, namely his pet cat, actually existed - the rest were fictitious.
During this period, the respondent made 50 claims on the insurance policies, seeking payment to reimburse him for the cost of veterinary treatment for the fictitious animals and also making false claims for treatment for his own pet cat, including for invented injuries 'sustained' during a non-existent car accident. As a result of the claims, the insurance companies made 54 payments to Mr Morgan to which he was not entitled, totalling £198,295.
At the time he began committing the offences Mr Morgan was working as a veterinary surgeon at a practice in Kent and, in order to support his fraudulent claims, used the practice's official stationery and stamps to fabricate invoices, clinical records and insurance claims. He continued to make fraudulent claims after leaving the practice, having taken the practice's headed paper and stamp with him.
Mr Morgan's actions came to light in December 2012 after submitting a claim to Direct Line for an operation on the spine of his own cat. The insurance company became suspicious and contacted the Kent practice which confirmed he had not treated the cat. An investigation by the insurers and, subsequently, the police began.
On 31 December 2012 Mr Morgan voluntarily attended a police station where he admitted fraudulently claiming £5,534.52 from Pet Plan and £7,610.03 from Direct Line, citing financial pressure caused by divorce, but failed to admit to the rest of his fraudulent activities. He was arrested on 25 January 2013 and, upon searching his home, police found the stamp and headed paper along with documents relating to the insurance claims.
The Disciplinary Committee, in considering the conduct of Mr Morgan, took into account a number of serious aggravating factors. This included the very high degree of financial gain from the fraudulent activities, the fact that there were 50 separate premeditated acts of dishonesty over a three-year period, the betrayal of trust of his former employer and the insurance companies, the potential reputational risk for his former employer, the abuse of his position as a veterinary surgeon and the fact that completion of insurance claims is an act of veterinary certification.
The Committee also considered, in mitigation, a letter from Mr Morgan to the Committee, three testimonials and representation from his legal representative. These cited the fact that Mr Morgan, when he committed the fraudulent activities, was heavily in debt, had serious domestic difficulties and was suffering from depression, although no medical evidence was submitted to the Committee.
However, it was the Committee's decision that the sanction of removing Mr Morgan from the Register had to be taken, in order to protect animal welfare and maintain public confidence in the profession.
Chairing and speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee its Vice-Chairman, Ms Judith Webb, said: "The Committee is of the view that the Respondent's conduct in this case was deplorable ... Such conduct can only undermine public confidence in the profession. The Respondent abused his position as a veterinary surgeon to perpetrate a deliberate long-term fraud on insurers for personal gain.
"The Committee is conscious that its role is not to punish but to protect animal welfare and maintain public confidence in the profession. Due to the serious nature of the matters before it...the Committee has no doubt that the only suitable sanction is to direct the Registrar to remove the Respondent's name from the Register."
The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
For the study, 309 university students were randomly assigned to one of three four-week stress prevention programs featuring varying levels of exposure to animal-assisted activities and evidenced-based stress management content.
The research found that students who were considered at a higher risk of poor academic performance saw a significant boost in executive function including improvements in attention, memory, self-regulation and improved cognitive function when they received exclusive exposure to interaction with the dogs.
This improvement was not seen in students who participated in a more traditional stress management learning program using lectures containing information about stress management or sessions that combined such information with lower levels of animal interaction.
Lead study investigator, Associate Professor Patricia Pendry, from Washington State University said:"Academic stress and associated negative impact on student performance is a significant issue for universities today and something we need to better address.
"While more traditional learning programs continue to play a role, the results of the study are exciting as they indicate this type of intervention can be a positive stress management tool especially for students who are at-risk of poor academic performance.
“We know from previous research the positive effects of animal visitation programs on the mood3 of college students – and even recently discovered their positive effect on stress hormone levels4. However, this is the first study to demonstrate that more frequent and regular inclusion of dogs can positively affect aspects of cognitive functioning that may be more difficult to change with existing interventions."
Study co-author and expert in Human-Animal Interaction expert Professor Nancy Gee said: "This study was informed by previous research and reinforces the growing body of evidence showing the benefits of pets for people in many different contexts and for at-risk groups.
"This type of animal-assisted stress reduction program is both easy to implement and low cost – offering a fantastic way for universities to support their students. After participating, participants feel calmer and more socially supported and this leads to an improvement in mental health and cognition.
"My hope is that evidence-based interventions which are already gaining popularity can become common practice in educational settings."
References:
The new drug represents the fruit of 8 years of product development and more than 11 proprietary studies performed by Ceva R&D teams.
Marie Boutot, development project leader said: "Isemid is an original drug developed by Ceva, and was the subject of full pivotal efficacy and safety studies."
Ceva says the new drug has been recognised by the European Medicines Agency as a "2018 Innovation, advancing animal health".
Isemid is presented as pork-flavoured, scored tablets in three strengths: 1, 2 and 4 mg. They can be administered orally once daily, with or without food. The company's research showed a 98% owner compliance (compared to 92% for furosemide, p<0.05) and 80% voluntary acceptance.
Emilie Guillot, DVM, Ceva Technical Manager for Cardiology said: "With Isemid, we seek to help veterinarians in their goal to improve survival of dogs with heart failure.
"But above all, thanks to its potent action and long half-life which allow once-daily dosing, we hope to ease owner compliance."
Scientific communications with data on Isemid were presented at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine forum in Phoenix in June and will be held at the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine congress in Milan in September.
According to the charity, FIP, which is one of a number of chronic viral infections of cats that resemble those in people, is estimated to kill up to 1.4% of cats around the world.
The infectious agent is a mutant coronavirus (FIPV) that is notoriously difficult to control: the parent enteric coronavirus is present in virtually all catteries and shelters and is shed by 60% or more of pet cats from multi-cat households,1 and vaccines are ineffective.
Among the most promising treatments against emerging viruses in humans is 'GS-5734', one of the small-molecule antivirals targeting specific proteins involved in RNA virus replication.
In studies, it has proven effective in preventing Ebola in rhesus monkeys and inhibiting coronaviruses both in tissue culture and in mouse infection models.
It was these findings that brought it to the attention of a team of veterinary researchers in the USA, led by Professor Niels Pedersen of the University of California, Davis.
Their own initial studies involving experimental FIP showed that the less chemically complex 'GS-441524', the parent nucleoside of GS-5734, was highly effective, opening the way for a field trial in cats with naturally occurring FIP, the results of which are published in this week's JFMS2.
Thirty-one cats, ranging in age from 3–73 months, were enrolled in the study, and 26 completed the planned 12 weeks or more of treatment; the remainder died or were euthanised due to their severe disease.
For these 26 cats, the clinical response was dramatic: fever usually resolved within 12–36 h, concurrent with a marked improvement in appetite, activity levels and weight gain.
In cats with the more common effusive or ‘wet’ form of FIP, abdominal effusions rapidly disappeared, starting at around 10–14 days after commencing treatment.
Encouragingly, and somewhat unexpectedly, cats with non-effusive (‘dry’) FIP and older cats responded as well to GS-441524 treatment as did cats with effusive FIP and young cats. The safety profile of GS-441524 was likewise impressive.
Currently, 24 of the 26 cats remain healthy, with one having succumbed to FIP disease and one to unrelated heart disease. Eighteen of these cats underwent just one round of treatment; the remaining eight suffered disease relapses, but these were successfully treated with a further (in two cases, a third) round of treatment at a higher dose.
Previously the prospects for cats with FIP were bleak. In a review paper on FIP published in JFMS a decade ago, Professor Pedersen stated: "no treatment has proven effective in curing cats of FIP, in spite of the claims. Cats that develop FIP inevitably die of their disease in days, weeks or months."1
Now, as he approaches the end of his professional career, Professor Pedersen is considerably more optimistic: "FIP has been my fascination for the past 50 years and I am fortunate to have reached a final stage in my career having identified safe and effective antiviral drugs. We now know that small molecules targeting specific steps in RNA virus replication are capable of safely curing various forms of FIP."
However, he cautioned: "It must be emphasised that the field trial we report was for proof-of-concept and the results cannot be immediately translated into commercially available products.
"Unfortunately, the real hope provided by these initial trials has increased, and not decreased, the desperation of owners to seek out these new drugs on the black market. As eventful as these discoveries may be, there is still much more about FIP to discover.
"I would like to thank all of the people, organizations and owners who have assisted in my research over this half century and leave remaining questions and associated discoveries for my fellow FIP researchers."
Reference
Photo: Bubba, one of the study cats, in recovery. Courtesy Adel Gastle
The main aim of the campaign is to persuade anyone thinking of getting a puppy that they should always see the animal at least once whilst it is still dependent on its mother, before they buy. That way, they'll be able to reassure themselves that they have seen the real bitch and the environment in which the puppy was bred. It will also help prevent impulse purchases.
In addition, the campaign aims to raise awareness in the veterinary profession, so that veterinary surgeons are giving this same advice to their clients.
To that end, the campaign highlights the RSPCA 'Sold a pup' report which showed that over 400,000 pups are bred for the UK market each year by unlicensed establishments, and imports from Europe have increased to an estimated 30,000 in 2015, following the change in the PETS scheme in 2012.
The campaigners say that many of these puppies are bred in truly awful conditions, often with little or no human contact, before being taken taken from their mothers too early and transported often hundreds or thousands of miles to be sold as 'family' pets. Many will need veterinary care to deal with infections, inherited issues and behavioural problems.
The campaign faces a big challenge. In the Kennel Club PAW survey 2014, 41% of people who bought a puppy didn't see the bitch and 51% didn't see the environment where the litter was bred.
To spread the word, veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and pet owners are being asked to take a pouting selfie with their dog and post it on social networks like Facebook, with the hashtags #PoutForPuppies #SeeThemSuckling, linking to the campaign website: https://seethemsuckling.com
Merial is to launch Frontect (fipronil and permethrin), a spot-on solution for dogs with dual action: treatment and prevention of fleas and ticks, and repellency against ticks, sandflies, biting flies and mosquitoes.
According to the company, Frontect kills fleas within an hour for the first week and within six hours for four weeks1. The repellent (anti-feeding) effect of Frontect prevents parasites from taking a 'blood meal' and as a result, Merial says vets and pet owners can feel confident that they are helping to protect dogs from the vectors of severe canine diseases - including leishmaniosis, dirofilariosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and borreliosis - whether travelling within the UK or abroad.
Lynda Maris, Brand Manager for Frontect said: “We are delighted to expand our Merial V-Line vet exclusive parasiticide portfolio with the addition of Frontect. Frontect both kills and repels parasites to provide visible results and help deliver client satisfaction. Frontect is ideal for active, outdoor dogs and travelling dogs at risk of exposure to ticks and vector borne diseases.”
Frontect is administered topically, on the neck and between the shoulder blades of the dog. It will be available in five different weight ranges to suit all dogs from the beginning of May 2015.
Mr Wood was removed from the Register in 2018 after being convicted of posessing indecent images of children and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.
Mr Wood first applied to rejoin the Register in 2020 but his application was rejected.
At the outset of his second application last month, Mr Wood’s counsel argued that he is professionally competent to be restored, that he had strong mitigation for his offending, that he had consistently and repeatedly expressed and demonstrated profound remorse, that he posed a low risk of re-offending, that he had proactively engaged with the Probation Service and voluntary counselling to gain further insight into his offending, and that he had completed his community sentence and was no longer subject to any of the court orders arising from his conviction.
The Committee then weighed up whether Mr Wood had accepted its original findings in 2018, the seriousness of the offences, whether he demonstrated insight, protection of the public and the public interest, the future welfare of animals should he be restored to the Register, the length of time off the Register, Mr Wood's conduct since he was removed and evidence that he had kept up-to-date with veterinary knowledge, skills and practice.
Dr Kathryn Peaty MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee is satisfied that Mr Wood has done everything required of him in order to be able to satisfy the Committee that he is fit to be restored to the Register.
“At the last application in June 2020, he was unsuccessful largely because of the outstanding ancillary Court Orders that did not conclude until early 2023. Those Orders have now concluded
“He has shown significant insight into his offending behaviour. He has been proactive in his rehabilitation and taken significant steps to ensure there would be no repetition.
“He has a small, but strong, network of people around him who appear to genuinely care about him and support him. He has worked hard at maintaining his skills and knowledge, in so far as he has been able to in light of not being able to practise as a veterinary surgeon.
“He is thoughtful and realistic about his prospects going forward. His responses to questions about addiction were appropriate and persuasive. He has expressed genuine remorse and there is, in the Committee’s view, a public interest in allowing him to be restored to the Register.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Idexx says the new test is proven to identify kidney disease earlier than creatinine1–3, enabling veterinary surgeons to intervene earlier and have a greater impact on patients' health outcomes and quality of life.
The Catalyst SDMA Test was first launched at the company's reference laboratories in 2015, since when Idexx says it has run more than 14 million SDMA patient tests, creating the world's largest database on kidney disease in dogs and cats.
The test was then launched to veterinary practices in the USA and Canada last December, where Idexx says it has now been used by thousands of practices.
Jonathan Ayers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Idexx Laboratories said: "We've seen great enthusiasm for the ability to run SDMA as part of the routine chemistry panel at the point of care, and the North American launch has exceeded our expectations.
"The Idexx SDMA Test represents one of the most significant diagnostic innovations in veterinary medicine in the last 30 years. We're thrilled to bring this essential element of the chemistry panel to our point of care Idexx VetLab suite, allowing veterinarians to utilize the benefits of SDMA immediately during the pet's appointment."
Idexx has also signed an agreement to collaborate with Yale University to explore the test's applications in human health. As a result of the partnership, the SDMA Test has been validated for accuracy in measuring SDMA in human blood samples and the results presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology last November by Yale and IDEXX researchers.
Jonathan added: "SDMA has tremendous potential benefit in human applications as well. And with the Idexx test technology now validated to be able to run on commercial chemistry systems that routinely produce chemistry results in human reference laboratories, we have greater reason to explore the clinical value of this incredible biomarker in human applications. We are excited and grateful for our partnership with Yale University."
Idexx says SDMA is now the subject of more than 30 ongoing research collaborations and has been incorporated into the veterinary profession's International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) kidney disease staging guidelines.
For more information about the IDEXX Catalyst SDMA Test, visit www.idexx.eu/sdma.
References
Having listened to the recording, it strikes me that the Veterinary Record has misinterpreted Mr Innes, and the danger is that his perfectly valid point will now get drowned in a sea of outrage.
What Mr Innes actually said was: "I think it is time to start creating a more fulfilling, more rewarding career for our nurses, and I think that the Americans are showing us the way. They have vet techs and I think that we can do that; I think that isn't the, necessarily the answer, but one it will create a much more rewarding career for veterinary nurses and also some of the reason that vets leave is because they don't like the mundane stuff, so let's give the mundane stuff to nurses.
Considering the overall context of what he said, it is glaringly obvious Mr Innes champions the idea of giving nurses a more rewarding role. So the idea that he was saying: 'Let's give the shit jobs to nurses' is frankly ludicrous.
It is obvious that what he actually meant was 'Let's give some of the stuff that vets find mundane to nurses.' He just didn't express it as well as he might have done.
Mundanity is subjective. What is mundane for a vet is not necessarily mundane for a veterinary nurse, particularly one who has been relegated to sweeping floors for any length of time.
Mr Innes has come in for quite a lot of flack for some of his comments recently. I'm not sure about the other stuff, but on this, he is clearly not guilty.
You can agree or disagree with his view that nurses could be given greater responsibility and vets could delegate some of the tasks they find mundane.
But it would be a great shame if his point got drowned in a sea of outrage over semantics.
The group reports that over 150 veterinary professionals have registered on its website and pledged their support.
The campaigners say they've been astonished with the response and believe the dozens of practices that have received legal letters and signed up so far could just be the tip of the iceberg.
Since the story first came to light, VetSurgeon.org understands IVC has sent follow-up letters to a number of practices saying it has decided to offer a stay of execution and extend the deadline to comply until the 31st December 2025, before it considers taking further legal action.
However, the campaigners estimate that to rebrand so many ‘Pet Health Clubs’ will cost £250,000 and £350,000 in total, so they have now appointed an intellectual property lawyer to provide specialist advice on whether such a common term can be protected with a word mark.
Alex Green of Broadway Vets said: “Initially we set up We Are Spartacus to bring all the affected practices together to support each other, and while we’ve done this, we’ve also brought the wider veterinary community together who want to stand up to IVC Evidensia and the ridiculous word mark.
“Lots of practices have had a ‘Pet Health Club’ for more than 10 years and the majority of those that have come forward were using the term long before IVC registered its word mark in 2019, so it’s clearly an issue that people feel very passionate about, especially when it’s likely to cost each practice a significant amount of money and time to rebrand.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have registered to support us, especially those that aren’t affected but who want to stand shoulder to shoulder with us against such an unnecessary and underhand way of doing business.
"However, there are still several practices that are affected that we haven’t heard from, and we’d urge them to come and join us now.
“We’re also keen to hear from those that received initial letters and haven’t yet had a follow-up offering a stay of execution until the end of the year.
"Whilst we’re delighted that IVC has extended their deadline, it does not resolve the fact that their threats are unacceptable when every practice in the country provides animal, or ‘pet’, healthcare, or ‘health’, in a community-based service, or ‘club’.
“They don’t need to fight or worry about this on their own and we’re stronger as a collective, especially when it comes to pooling resources and expertise.
"We’ve already appointed a specialist IP lawyer to advise us, and the view is that given the extensive prior use of ‘Pet Health Club,’ it would be crazy to allow this to escalate to court when it can be amicably resolved.
“It’s also come to light that IVC has even registered ‘It’s not what we do, it’s why we do it’ which does rather sum it all up.
Spartacus just wants to know why IVC is doing what it’s doing.”
www.wearespartacus.co.uk
Ms Gatehouse faced two charges, the first being that she inaccurately assured another veterinary surgeon that she had vaccinated a horse against influenza and tetanus when she had not, and she subsequently failed to undertake adequate checks to confirm whether she had done so.
The second charge was that she later made a false entry in the same horse’s clinical records to cover up her previous inaccurate statement.
Ms Gatehouse admitted the facts alleged in relation to both charges and also admitted that in relation to the second charge she was guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee, having heard submissions from Counsel for the RCVS and Ms Gatehouse found her guilty of disgraceful conduct in relation to the first charge.
Under the first charge the Committee found that she had breached the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons by not keeping clear, accurate and detailed clinical and client records, and by acting in a manner that was likely to undermine public trust in the profession.
They also considered that her falsehood was unpremeditated, and that the decision was made in a moment of panic. Ultimately, however, by claiming the horse was vaccinated to another veterinary surgeon and not taking the necessary steps to confirm this, she failed to put the welfare of the animal first, potentially endangering it and any other horses it came into contact with, as well as potentially jeopardising the position of the veterinary surgeon she confirmed it to.
Having found Ms Gatehouse guilty of serious professional misconduct in relation to both parts of the charge the Committee then considered its sanction against her. In mitigation the Committee considered the fact that she had been in practice for 22 years without any untoward conduct, the testimony of three witnesses who attested to her being an honest and trustworthy practitioner, and the fact that Ms Gatehouse was in a troublesome relationship with the complainant until June 2014 which led her to be reluctant to contact him to correct her initial confirmation.
In summing up Stuart Drummond, Chair of the Committee, said: "The Committee has considers that it is material to have regard to the general emotional state to which the Respondent was reduced by the controlling and debilitating conduct of her then partner when they were living together and the consequential loss of self-esteem and ability to stand up to him and his demands. The deleterious effect of an abusive relationship lingers after such a relationship ends.
"Taking into account this knowledge, the Committee considers that the period of suspension that would, in other circumstances, be entirely merited, can properly be reduced in this instance to reflect the fact that this veterinary surgeon would not have acted as she did during this period but for the fact that her judgement was adversely affected by her experience at the hands of her then former partner.
"The decision is that, whilst it is necessary, in order sufficiently to protect animals and the wider public interest, to impose a period of suspension from practice, that period can be reduced to one of two months. In so concluding the Committee wishes to make it clear that this decision reflects the special features of this case."
Ms Gatehouse can choose to appeal the decision after a period of 28 days.
Genitrix has launched Libromide, the first licensed formulation of potassium bromide for the treatment of canine epilepsy, following what the company believes to be the largest ever trial of dogs suffering from epilepsy.
Genitrix says the availability, for the first time, of a licensed formulation of potassium bromide should give veterinary surgeons and pet owners the reassurance that the rigorous authorisation process provides. It ensures, for instance, that the product has been developed especially for dogs and that it is manufactured in accordance with EU regulations. It also ensures that the product has been extensively and independently trialled, proven to be efficacious without adverse reactions, and that the necessary pharmacovigilance is in place to support it.
The company also says that the availability of a licensed product paves the way for more comprehensive information to be provided to veterinary surgeons on the use of potassium bromide in treating seizures. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) imposes restrictions on educational materials supplied by manufacturers of unlicensed products, an approach which has created a 'knowledge gap' among many veterinary surgeons in general practice, according to some canine epilepsy experts.
Libromide tablets are intended for use in epileptic dogs which have already commenced therapy with Phenobarbital. Phenobarbital acts to increase the effects of the GABA inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Potassium bromide is synergistic with Phenobarbital and raises the seizure threshold level in epileptic dogs.
Libromide is classified as POM-V and will be available in 325 mg tablets in packs of 100 and 500 tablets.
Rodolfo Cappello DVM PhD DipECVN MRCVS, RCVS and European Specialist in Neurology and Neurosurgery, Head of Neurology Services at North Downs Specialist Referrals, Surrey, said: "I've been successfully using potassium bromide for the treatment of epilepsy in dogs for over 15 years. The main problem has been that it's not been licensed as a medicine. With the launch of Libromide, potassium bromide finally achieves the status of an approved pharmaceutical. We will now be able to monitor quality, efficacy and side effects which will enable us to offer a more professional approach to the treatment of seizures."
Howard Wilder, founder and managing director of Genitrix, added: "Canine epilepsy is an all too common disease with estimates suggesting it affects four in every hundred dogs in the UK. It's also an illness which is not well enough understood with the lack of up to date information available to veterinary surgeons being a contributing factor.
We felt there was an opportunity to bring a licensed product to market and have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in the process of development and trialling Libromide. We're delighted to make it available to veterinary professionals and hope its launch will be the first step in improving treatment approaches for this distressing disease."
VetSurgeon Reactions now gives members a quick and easy way to say 'thank you' for sharing something in the forums or the photo/video galleries, and, in the future, for VetSurgeon.org itself to reward those members whose contributions are most appreciated by the community.
In addition to saying 'thank you', members can also say they 'agree' or 'disagree' with the content of a post, a far more precise expression than the previous rating system, in which 'one star' which could be interpreted as meaning almost anything.
VetSurgeon Reactions also give you a quick and easy measure of how much a contributor has been thanked, agreed with or disagreed with by other members.
With a number of new features introduced over the last year, VetSurgeon.org now offers far more compelling reasons to hold clinical discussions in its forums, rather than other other social media platforms:
VetSurgeon Profiles are visible to all logged in members, so you can see the professional credentials of the person who posted advice or opinion.
VetSurgeon 'Claim CPD' allows you to record time spent in clinical discussions, and claim a downloadable VetSurgeon CPD certificate towards your annual CPD requirement.
VetSurgeon forum discussions are far, far easier to follow and refer back to than Facebook discussion threads, which are more transient in nature.
VetSurgeon.org Co-Editor Liz Barton MRCVS said: "I think that the combination of these things mean that whilst Facebook groups can offer a great environment for chat about all sorts of professional issues, VetSurgeon.org really excels when it comes to accountable, good quality clinical discussion you can follow and refer back to.
VetSurgeon Editor Arlo Guthrie added: "As for 'thank you', I don’t know why I didn’t think of it years ago. 'Thank you' is something missing from almost every other social media platform I’ve ever seen, and yet it’s SUCH an important courtesy.
"So, remember, if you see something on VetSurgeon posted by another member which you found helpful, don’t forget to hit the 'thank you' button. If they’ve had one of those days when every client seems utterly thankless, some appreciation from their peers might make a lousy day bearable."
According to the company, stock is now at normal levels in all the major wholesalers. Laura Jenkins, Companion Animal Marketing Manager at the company added: "IsoFlo is now with veterinary customers and we have a full schedule of deliveries for 2019.
"With restocking underway and ample stock awaiting dispatch, plus enough to re-establish safety stock levels shortly, it is good to know practices will be returning to IsoFlo.
"As our teams work to get IsoFlo to you if you have any questions please do get in touch with your local Account Managers.
"We appreciate other suppliers might be sharing information on their stock and we want to reassure our customers of the immediate availability of IsoFlo and once again I would like to extend thanks to the extended team of associations, veterinary surgeons and regulatory bodies who have helped to find other solutions over the two months."
The online academy offers a range of materials to help veterinary surgeons, nurses and receptionists further their knowledge of obesity as a disease, support the running of weight clinics and ultimately help reduce the number of overweight cats and dogs.
The academy includes Weight Management Online, an interactive course which is designed to improve the management of obesity in practice. The course offers eight hours of CPD and additional support from Royal Canin's dedicated Weight Management Team via an online forum.
The course modules are: Obesity is a disease; Body Condition Scoring; Feeding for weight loss diets; Communicating the positives of weight loss; Running a weight loss clinic; and Success is a team effort.
Each module contains additional downloadable reading material and/or learning tools.
Courses run from 11th September to 1st October 2017 and 13th November to 3rd December, with three weeks given to complete the six modules.
Louise Brennan, a Weight Management Specialist at Royal Canin, said: "The prevalence of pet obesity is increasing in the UK, with at least 59% of all dogs and 39% of all cats overweight or obese¹. We have recognised the need to provide further education to help veterinary staff understand the seriousness of the disease and how to communicate this to owners."
Veterinary surgeons and RVNs that complete Weight Management Online within a three week time frame will be invited to complete the second stage, allowing them to become a Royal Canin Weight Management Counsellor.
For more information, contact your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager.
The new devices are an evolution of the original v-gel device launched in 2012, which is widely used in veterinary anaesthesia and resuscitation.
Dr Muhammed Nasir, inventor of v-gel and President of Docsinnovent, said: "Our original product has proven to be extremely popular globally because it makes airway management easier; quicker; more comfortable for patients; and most importantly, safer for patients and staff.
"However, since launch our R&D team have been hard at work to make the devices even better. They are now slimmed down so that there is more room in the mouth for dentistry; they seal even better; and they are single-use, improving standards of hygiene"
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Docsinnovent’s Marketing Manager, added: "Our newly-launched website www.docsinnovent.com includes plentiful information on the new products including two hour-long CPD webinars from Dr Ivan Crotaz detailing how the new devices can be utilised for optimal airway management in anaesthetised patients.”
Information on where to buy the new products can be found at www.docsinnovent.com/distributors
The research, carried out by PhD student, Dr Sarah Finnegan and a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, behaviourists and biologists, found that 65% of owners reported pre-seizure changes in their dog, most commonly clinginess, excessive energy, and unsettled sleep. These signs varied between dogs, with other common changes including clumsiness, excessive panting, becoming withdrawn or quiet, and lacking energy.
43% of owners also reported seizure triggers, which commonly involved stress, food and excitement. A wide range of other triggers were reported by owners including loud noises, fireworks, storms, household products (cleaning products and air freshener), and preventative healthcare including flea and worming products and vaccinations.
60% of owners believed they were able to predict an upcoming seizure in their dog by using a combination of pre-seizure changes and recognising triggers. Nearly half of these owners were able to do so 30 minutes or more before the seizure commenced.
Dr Rowena Packer, BBSRC Research Fellow and research lead in canine epilepsy at the RVC, said: "It was fascinating to discover how in-tune many owners of dogs with epilepsy are with subtle changes in their dog’s behaviour before seizures. Many of our findings echo what is seen in human epilepsy patients and add evidence to support the presence of prodromal pre-seizure periods in dogs as well as people.
"Collecting further objective data to confirm these findings and explore ways to proactively utilise this period for seizure management are of priority for future research.
“This study also highlights how crucial it is that owners of dogs with epilepsy keep good records, not just of their dog’s seizures, but also of changes in behaviour and exposure to potential triggers, to gain a better picture of patterns in their dog’s seizure activity. The RVC Pet Epilepsy Tracker app allows owners to keep records, that can also be shared electronically with their vet and with RVC for further research.”
RCVS President Neil Smith has issued a statement in response to the petition by Devon vet Jo Dyer which called for the removal of mandatory house visits from the Code of Professional Conduct and received just shy of 1300 signatures over the past 48 hours.
The statement reads:
"I am delighted to see that so many veterinary surgeons are taking seriously our call for views and evidence on all aspects of the provision of 24-hour emergency cover, including those who have signed up to veterinary surgeon Jo Dyer's petition calling for the removal of 'mandatory house visits' from the Code of Professional Conduct.
"However, I am concerned that the petition is working on a misunderstanding. Veterinary surgeons are not mandated to attend away from the practice just because an owner has requested a visit. It is a professional decision based on a range of factors.
"In fact, paragraph 3.13 of the Supporting Guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct states 'Clients may request attendance on a sick or injured animal away from the practice premises and, in some circumstances, it may be desirable to do so. On rare occasions, it may be necessary on clinical or welfare grounds. The decision to attend away from the practice is for the veterinary surgeon, having carefully balanced the needs of the animal against the safety implications of making the visit; a veterinary surgeon is not expected to risk 'life or limb', or that of anyone else, to provide the service.'
"I appreciate that recent disciplinary hearings, especially that of Mr Chikosi, have increased concerns in the profession that vets will be disciplined for not turning out to every single request for a home visit. This is not the case. In order for someone to be taken to a disciplinary hearing for refusing to attend away from the practice, first there needs to be a complaint, and second, the Preliminary Investigation Committee needs to be convinced that the veterinary surgeon could not justify their decision. Such cases are rare. In fact, last year, only 3% of the complaints we received were about 24-hour cover, and not all of those related to home visits.
"Having said this, the number of signatures received on Jo Dyer's petition, and the comments of the signatories, will be fed into the material reviewed by the Standards Committee, alongside formal responses to our call for evidence, and views gathered from animal-owner research. Clearly if so many veterinary surgeons believe that house visits are mandatory in all circumstances, the wording of our guidance needs to be reviewed, at the very least.
"It is likely that any recommendations for change in our 24/7 policy would go to the June meeting of Council, although this timetable is subject to change, depending on the nature of the report from the Standards Committee."
ECM, a French manufacturer of ultrasound devices, has launched Exago, a new mobile veterinary ultrasound device which the company says is particularly suited for use with horses and pets.
ECM says the main features of the new device are:
For more information, visit: http://www.agroscan.com/
Methadyne can be administered for analgesia of moderate to severe pain in dogs and cats, to provide neuroleptanalgesia in combination with a neuroleptic drug and as part of a patient’s premedication protocol prior to general anaesthesia.
The new presentation will now be available alongside the 10ml vial to give greater flexibility and to help reduce drug wastage and streamline controlled drug stock management.
Jurox says Methadyne has proven compatibility when combined in the same syringe with other aqueous solutions for injection containing acepromazine as maleate and medetomidine and dexmedetomidine as hydrochlorides.
Methadyne has a shelf life of 24 months unbroached, and 28 days broached. After broaching, the bung can be punctured to draw up a dose of methadone as many times as required in 28 days.
Dan Cripwell MRCVS, senior veterinary technical advisor at Jurox (UK) Limited, said: “I am delighted that Jurox can provide the UK veterinary market with this evolution in our multidose methadone formulation, which is now available in both 5ml and 10ml vials.
"We constantly strive to provide the veterinary profession with first class clinical and technical support and, in this instance, we were able to assess what improvements could be made to our existing drug portfolio and respond to the profession’s feedback to help reduce wastage of controlled drugs when they are needed in smaller volume."
For further information, contact your local Jurox account manager, phone 0800 500 3171, visit www.jurox.com/uk or email customerservice@jurox.co.uk.
Merial has announced the launch of NexGard Spectra, a broad spectrum oral parasiticide for dogs.
NexGard Spectra contains afoxolaner, which kills fleas and ticks on dogs, and milbemycin oxime, which is effective against roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.
The new product is delivered in a beef flavoured chew to help compliance.
NexGard Spectrum is available in five different weight ranges to suit puppies and dogs of all sizes.
The Disciplinary Committee heard three charges against Dr Dhami, relating to events which took place while he was in practice at Vets4Pets in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
The first charge against him was that, in November 2017, he used excessive force in kicking and stamping on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier he was treating.
The second charge was that, between in October and November 2017, he failed to pay adequate regard to the welfare of a Jack Russell in his care by leaving it in a sink without adequate reason and for an excessive period of time.
The third charge was that, between April and March 2018, he failed to have adequate regard to the welfare of a six-to-eight week old kitten, including providing bedding and warmth.
At the outset of the hearing Dr Dhami admitted to lightly kicking the dog, but denied forcefully kicking it and also denied that he had stamped on the dog, as well as denying the other two charges against him.
In considering the circumstances of the first charge, the Committee heard evidence from two of Dr Dhami’s colleagues stating that the dog had bitten him whilst he was cleaning its ears and, following this, he took the dog out of the consulting room, closed the door and whilst holding the dog’s lead then proceeded to kick her twice, knocking her along the floor both times, and then finally stamp on her when she was prone.
Dr Dhami disputed his colleagues' version of events and stated that he had only delivered two light kicks to the dog’s rump, that neither of these had made her fall to the floor and also denied in categorical terms that he stamped on the animal. Furthermore, he also denied the second and third charges against him.
In considering the evidence as to whether Dr Dhami kicked and stamped on the dog, the Disciplinary Committee found the evidence of his two colleagues to be credible and reliable, and so found all aspects of the charge proven.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee finds that the admitted kicks administered to [the animal] by the respondent were of significant force. The Committee rejects the respondent’s assertion that the admitted kicks amounted to mere taps on the backside. The Committee finds that the ‘stamping’ was also of significant force."
In regards to the second and third charges, the Committee was not satisfied that the charges had been proven by the evidence it heard and therefore dismissed them both.
Having found all parts of the first charge proven, the Committee then went on to consider whether or not Dr Dhami’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct, something that Dr Dhami, following the Committee’s decision on the facts, through his counsel, had admitted.
The Committee identified a number of aggravating factors, including the real risk of physical harm to the animal and the deliberate nature Dr Dhami’s conduct against the animal, committed in anger.
In mitigation, the Committee accepted that this was an isolated incident and that Dr Dhami had been bitten and was in pain. The Committee therefore found that Dr Dhami’s admission of serious professional misconduct was ‘properly and prudently made’.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Dr Dhami. In doing so it took into account some of the written testimonials and character witnesses called on behalf of Dr Dhami. The Committee was also satisfied that Dr Dhami had had a hitherto long and unblemished career, that he had apologised to colleagues immediately after the incident and that, since the events, he had continued to work as a veterinary surgeon without any problems.
In relation to insight about the event, the Committee accepted Dr Dhami had provided some evidence of reflection, in that he admitted kicking the dog and accepted that this conduct, once found proven, amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee decided that suspending Dr Dhami from the Register for four months would be the most proportionate sanction.
Ian Green concluded: "Having regard to all the matters urged by way of mitigation, and having taken into account all the evidence that it has heard, the Committee is satisfied that a period of suspension is sufficient in this case to protect the welfare of animals, maintain public confidence and to declare and uphold proper standards of conduct."
Dr Dhami has 28 days from being informed of the outcome of the hearing in which to make an appeal to the Privy Council.
The hearing proceeded in Ms Kay’s absence as she failed to attend. The Committee heard a number of charges relating to her practising while under the influence of alcohol, breaching undertakings to the College to abstain completely from alcohol, alleged serious clinical failings in relation to the treatment of two dogs, Izzy and Alfie, and making disparaging remarks to a client about other veterinary surgeons (the complete list of charges can be found on the College’s website: www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/).
In relation to the first charge, (that in September 2016, while a locum veterinary surgeon at Haven Veterinary Surgeons Group, Great Yarmouth, she was under the influence of alcohol), the Committee heard from a veterinary nurse at the practice who told how on different occasions Miss Kay had appeared to need more assistance than expected, was overly friendly in speaking to clients, was unable to prepare a syringe correctly, and finally, on 14 September 2016, was found asleep in the car with an open can of alcohol by her feet. The Committee also heard from a number of other witnesses from the Haven Veterinary Surgeons Group who also provided evidence of Ms Kay’s behaviour on the day in question. Following deliberations, the Committee found the first charge to be proved.
The second charge related to the breaching of undertakings which Ms Kay had given to the College to the effect that she would abstain completely from alcohol. When samples were taken on 3 August 2017, however, it was found that she had been consuming alcohol in the recent past. The Committee was therefore satisfied that the second charge was proved.
The Committee then turned to the third charge, that in March 2017 Ms Kay had displayed a number of clinical failings when performing surgery on a cocker spaniel, Izzy, belonging to Mrs Debbie Coe. The Committee found the majority of the charges proved, amongst others that she failed to obtain informed consent for surgery, performed surgery in her own home when it was not registered as a veterinary practice and it was not possible to ensure sterility, and that she failed to provide suitable post-operative analgesia to Izzy.
The College then turned to the fourth charge, which concerned her treatment of Mrs Coe’s other dog, Alfie, a Miniature Schnauzer. The charge was that in March 2017, Ms Kay euthanased Alfie in an inappropriate manner, and used a controlled drug without having a registered veterinary premise from which to dispense it. After hearing from an expert witness the Committee found the charges proved.
Finally, the Committee heard evidence relating to the fifth charge, namely that in or around July 2016, Ms Kay made disparaging remarks to Mrs Coe about other veterinary surgeons who had treated Alfie, and that between 17 March and 31 March 2017 she had sent inappropriate texts and voicemail messages to Mrs Coe about the treatment of her dogs and payments owed in relation to this. The Committee thought there was not enough evidence in relation to the voicemails, but found the remainder of the charge proved.
Taking all into account, the Committee found that Ms Kay’s conduct had fallen far short of the standard expected of a member of the veterinary profession and concluded that her conduct clearly amounts to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee considered that the only appropriate sanction is that of removal from the Register. Such a sanction is required to protect animals and to send a clear message to the Respondent, and to all veterinary surgeons, of the unacceptability of the conduct identified in this case. Such conduct undermines public confidence in the profession and fails to uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour.
"Accordingly, the Committee has decided that removal from the Register is the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case."
Ms Kay has 28 days from being informed about the Disciplinary Committee’s decision to make an appeal to the Privy Council.
Merial has announced the launch of Oncept IL-2, the first veterinary immunotherapeutic product in Europe for the management of cancer in pets.
Described by the company as a true breakthrough in the field of veterinary oncology, Oncept IL-2 is an adjunct immunotherapy for feline fibrosarcoma.
Merial says the product is based on recombinant canarypox vector technology it developed collaboratively with veterinary oncologists, and which is used in several of its vaccines, including PUREVAX FeLV and PUREVAX Rabies.
Oncept IL-2 is indicated for cats with fibrosarcoma (2-5 cm diameter) without metastasis or lymph node involvement, in order to reduce the risk of relapse and to increase the relapse-free interval. It should be used in addition to surgery and radiotherapy.
Kevin Whelan, Merial's Technical Manager said: "Following injection around the tumour surgery site, the recombinant canarypox vector virus enters the cat's cells, which then produce interleukin-2. The presence of this cytokine stimulates an anti-tumour immune response by a variety of mechanisms, including the induction of T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells."
In a field efficacy trial, a treatment course with Oncept IL-2 (consisting of 6 subcutaneous administrations in the tumour bed over a 7-week period), as an adjunct to surgery and radiotherapy, was shown to significantly reduce the risk of relapse and to increase the time to relapse.
The product is available in packs of 6 doses, which is sufficient for a treatment course. Please contact your local Merial Territory Manager for further information or email oncept@merial.com