Boehringer Ingelheim has released details of research presented at the 29th World Veterinary Congress which shows dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF)  due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) live longer when treated with pimobendan (Vetmedin®) compared with a commonly used ACE inhibitor.

The results of the QUEST trial, the largest international study of its kind to be conducted amongst dogs with congestive heart failure, are due to be published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JVIM) later this year.

The condition myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) accounts for approximately 75% of all cases of CHF in dogs2. MMVD is associated with the thickening of the cusps of the mitral valve (one of the main one-way valves within the heart), affecting the flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Although there is no cure for CHF due to MMVD, there are treatments available to manage the condition, improving the quality and length of the dog's life.

Professor Jens Häggström, lead investigator of the QUEST trial from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, commented that "the QUEST trial is a significant milestone in our efforts to reassure both, veterinarians and dog owners, that there is compelling evidence to show that pimobendan is an effective treatment for CHF that prolongs their dog's life and providing pet and owner with more quality time together."

The QUEST trial was a randomised, positive-controlled, multi-centre trial conducted at 28 sites across 11 countries, and is the largest study of its kind ever conducted in veterinary cardiology. The study compared a pimobendan group with a group treated with benazepril hydrochloride on top of background diuretic therapy. The trial spanned three years and followed dogs to death, euthanasia or treatment failure leading to withdrawal from the trial.  

Research by Boehringer has also shown that over 50% of dog owners in the UK are unaware that their dog may be at risk of heart failure. Heart disease affects one in four dogs over seven years of age, and the lack of knowledge about this serious, life-threatening condition suggests that there is a need for better education amongst dog owners on how to recognise the disease, and how to maintain their dogs' heart health.

The Born Free Foundation, British Veterinary Association, Captive Animals' Protection Society and the RSPCA have welcomed the Government's draft legislation to ban the use of wild animals in circuses in England, to be implemented in 2015.

The groups, which have worked closely together for a number of years on the campaign to seek an end to the use of wild animals in big tops in the UK said that they were "delighted" to see the ban brought forward in concrete terms.

A spokesperson, talking on behalf of all four leading organisations said: "We are pleased to see that the Government appear to have come good on their promise to ban the outdated practice of using wild animals in circuses.

"We have long argued that the complex needs of wild animals cannot be met in a travelling circus environment and were disappointed when the Government introduced a licensing regime earlier this year which appeared to legitimise a practice which we, and our hundreds of thousands of supporters, want to see abolished altogether.

"We are looking forward to seeing the ban fully implemented at the earliest opportunity".

BVA President Peter Jones said: "Whilst there are only 20 wild animals kept by two licensed circuses in the UK, their welfare is emblematic of the way we treat all animals."

The groups said that they would work to support Government in the formal enactment of the Bill and the Born Free Foundation and the RSPCA reiterated their pledge to offer to find safe homes for life for all wild animals currently being used in English circuses.

Improve International has launched an an online Postgraduate Certificate Programme, due to start in September.

The new course will be led by Dr Pedro Malho, DipECVO CES OphtVet DVM MRCVS, a European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology. It is built around 14 modules covering the embryology, anatomy and physiology of the eye, ocular pharmacology and therapeutics, together with the full spectrum of ocular diseases seen in domestic species.

Modules are delivered using a range of learning techniques, including interactive online lessons supported by notes and videos, quizzes and a forum tutored by leading specialists. 

Pedro said: “We have prepared an innovative and in-depth course to help veterinary practitioners with an interest in ophthalmology to develop their knowledge and skills in this demanding discipline. The course will enable delegates to develop a greater knowledge of ocular anatomy and physiology and master the handling of ophthalmic equipment.

“It will also help them to interpret clinical signs confidently to make a diagnosis and select the appropriate medical or surgical treatment.”

Dr Charlotte French (pictured right) from Improve, said: “With input from top global veterinary ophthalmologists, we have created an exciting and innovative learning experience that will offer maximum flexibility to veterinary surgeons keen to develop their expertise and knowledge in this field. The programme provides delegates with unique features such as the opportunity to share learning with colleagues from around the world and input from an Improve International Programme Tutor to support their studies.”

The programme, which has been submitted to RACE for approval, can also be undertaken as a face-to-face course. It offers a route to achieve academic qualifications - the General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) awarded by ISVPS and the Postgraduate Certificate (PgC), awarded by Harper Adams University. Gaining a PgC enables delegates to apply to the RCVS for Advanced Practitioner Status in the subject. 

For further information and to register, visit: https://www.improveinternational.com/uk/course/pgc-gpcert-small-animal-ophthalmology-distance-learning 

CEVA Animal Health, manufacturer of D.A.P.^® and Feliway^®, has launched a new marketing toolkit to assist veterinary practices in educating and supporting clients with noise phobic pets in the run up to the fireworks' season.

The new firework pack features an A3 waiting room poster, a range of colourful notice board display materials, reminder stickers and a pack of educational client leaflets.

Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health said: "Research has revealed that over 49% of dogs in the UK have a fear of loud noises¹, but only 50% of their owners will ask their vet for help².

"Our new marketing toolkit will help veterinary practices remind their clients of the steps that can be taken to reduce firework fear and highlight the use of D.A.P.^®, the only non-prescription product proven to reduce the intensity of fear suffered as a result of loud noises³."

As part of this year's awareness campaign, CEVA will be running a regional competition amongst veterinary practices for the best decorated waiting room.  

Copies of the fireworks' marketing toolkit can be ordered from you local CEVA account manager or by calling CEVA Animal Health on 01494 781510.

This campaign follows the wildly publicised desensitisation campaign run earlier in 2009 and will include details about using the Sounds Scary CD from Sound Therapy 4 Pets.

SPVS has launched it's 2022 Profitability Survey, which is now available to complete online. 

The survey, which is being conducted in partnership with Hazlewoods accountants, will be used to provide anonymised benchmarking information to enable vets to compare their practice profitability and help identify areas where profitability could be improved.

The survey asks questions around a range of reporting figures including gross profit margin, staffing cost levels and EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation), to allow for benchmarking in greater detail. 

The anonymised benchmarking results of the survey will be free to all participants, including non SPVS members. 

SPVS members will receive the benchmarking results together with supporting commentary.

The deadline for completion is 4th November 2022.

https://spvs.org.uk/spvs-profitability-survey 

Novartis Animal Health has launched Farming against BVD, a new initiative to help in the fight against Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).

The campaign, which is being carried out in partnership with key industry bodies, will begin with an independent survey of farmers, the results of which will be announced in April.

An expert panel, headed by Professor Joe Brownlie (Royal Veterinary College and Chairman of the BVD Scientific and technical working group), will then come together to analyse the findings, using them to shape and drive an industry response.

Professor Brownlie said: "BVD is a costly and complex disease, spread by a pestivirus that affects the reproductive and immune systems. Persistently Infected (PI) animals are the main source of infection, but can be hard to identify without testing. Only total eradication will prevent the disease from spreading. Eradication Schemes in a number of European countries have already succeeded and Scotland and Ireland have embarked on similar schemes. The information being gathered will help the industry to develop a much needed scheme for England and Wales." 

Joining Professor Joe Brownlie on the expert panel will be Dr Peter Nettleton (Moredun Research Institute), Mansel Raymond (dairy farmer and Chairman of the NFU Dairy Board), Caroline Dawson (Novartis Animal Health veterinary surgeon) and Paddy Gordon (veterinary practitioner).

Survey topics will include levels, and methods, of testing for BVD on farm, understanding of the role of PI animals and the financial impact of BVD on dairy and beef units. Farmers will also be asked who they look to for advice and how they view the role of vaccination. 

Caroline Dawson MRCVS from Novartis Animal Health said: "Countrywide eradication may not be achieved for a number of years, although individual farmers can control the disease on their own farms within 1-2 years, providing substantial cost benefits. The purpose of this campaign is to encourage farmers to take action now against BVD. By working closely with their vets, identifying and removing PI animals, BVD can be removed. Ensuring adequate biosecurity and a robust vaccination policy will eliminate the risk of bringing BVD back onto the farm." 

Professor Brownlie said: "Understanding what farmers understand about BVD, particularly the role of the PI animal, will enable members of the panel and the wider industry, including Novartis and the BVD Stakeholder Group, to meet farmer needs more accurately. Greater awareness of the problem is vital - this is the only way that progress towards eradication will be made."

81% of equine worming strategies are not effective in fight against resistance, because owners are not conducting an adequate level of faecal egg counts (FEC), according to a survey carried out by Countrywide, the supplier of equestrian products.

The company surveyed nearly 1,000 horse owners in collaboration with Westgate Laboratories, Norbrook and BW Equine Vets and found that 47% have never conducted an FEC test.

When asked about their current approach to worming, 59% of respondents said they worm at set times of the year with only 31% conducting regular FEC tests. 

Mark Hawkins, SQP at Countrywide, said: "With worms becoming resistant to some worming drugs, simply dosing all horses with routine wormers is not adequate. A targeted approach, which considers each horse as an individual, is needed."

Gillian Booth owner at Westgate Laboratories said: "The results show that the majority of horse owners are not updating their worming practice to match the increase in resistance and improvement in testing technology. Previous worming practices have led to the resistance problems we now have so it is vital that there is change." 

The survey found that veterinary surgeons and in store advisors are vital to promote change - 65% of respondents actively seek advice from their vet and Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) for worming and general health care.

Mark added: “A huge 99% of people worm their horse at least once a year; despite this 38% of horse owners do not know an accurate weight of their horse. Considering inaccurate dosing plays a large role with the increase in resistance this figure is very concerning. If you do need to treat, accurate dosing is essential.”

The survey found that 86% of respondents had wormed for tapeworm, making it the most wormed for parasite. Despite this, only 6% of horse owners had conducted a saliva test for tapeworm, and only 8% had conducted the more established ELISA blood test through their vet to prove the need for this worming dose. 

For a full breakdown of the survey results, visit: www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/wormingsurvey.

Wood Green, The Animals Charity and TotallyMoney.com have launched the Cost of Christmas Pets calculator to help prospective pet owners understand the total lifetime financial commitment involved with owning an animal.

According to the calculator, the most expensive animal is - by virtue of its longevity - the tortoise (£27,787 over 75 years), followed by a small dog (£19,224 over 15 years), a large dog (£17,234 over 11.5 years) and a medium-sized dog (£16,828 over 11.5 years). A cat comes in at £12,322 over 16 years. A chicken will set you back £4,701 (it's not clear whether they've offset the money you'll save in eggs). The cheapest is a fish, at £914.

Zoetis Business Consulting has announced the launch of a new website to showcase the services it provides for veterinary practices to help them grow their businesses.

Centering on three main areas of a practice's business - clinical experience, business performance and marketing - the website explains how the business consulting team uses quantitative and qualitative evidence to understand a practice's challenges in order to design and deliver bespoke solutions.

Nick Steele, national consulting manager said: "Zoetis Business Consulting has really taken off as more and more veterinary practices realise the benefits of working in partnership with our consultants. Since we are also launching new services, such as Profit Solver to the mix, the time was right to launch a new website showcasing how we work with practices."

For more information visit http://www.zoetis.co.uk/businessconsulting.

Janssen Animal Health has released the results of a survey which suggests incorrect worming strategies on many pig units in the UK are costing the industry dearly.

Most state they do not worm weaners, growers or finishing pigs at all and, while most sows are wormed, only a third treat newly-arrived gilts and boars in quarantine.

Phil Macdonald, UK and Ireland pig business manager at Janssen said: "Worm infestations can harm growth rate and feed efficiency, they can reduce abattoir returns and increase the cost of medication".

According to the company, the survey responses point to confusion among some producers on what constitutes a strategic worming programme. Most, 68 per cent, state they have implemented strategic programmes, but fewer than two-thirds of these cover all pigs on a unit and even fewer correctly base their programmes on the pre-patent period of worms.

Phil said: "It's important that all pigs on a unit are covered by the programme, otherwise there is a higher potential for reinfection. To be effective, the anthelmintic treatment periods need to be based on the pre-patent period of worms, so that treatment interrupts their life cycle.

"It requires a strategic worming programme with a broad spectrum anthelmintic such as Flubenol and Solubenol 100mg/g, which is the first and only water-soluble benzimidazole in the market. These are effective against larvae and worm eggs of a number of worm species as well as the large roundworm, Ascaris suum. Migrating larvae of the large roundworm cause Milk Spot lesions in pig livers, which are damaging to animal welfare and unit economics."

The make-up of UK units in the survey was 58 per cent breeder/finisher, 39 per cent finisher, 3 per cent weaner/finisher.  Most, 68 per cent, use dry pelleted feed, 16 per cent wet feed and 16 per cent have both feed systems.

There is wide variation in worming programmes among producers. Most breeders worm their sows - 17 per cent once a year, 56 per cent twice and 11 per cent three times.  With  boars, 28 per cent worm them once a year, 44 per cent twice and 11 per cent three times. But only one-third (34 per cent) of breeders worm newly-arrived gilts and boars in quarantine.

72 per cent of producers with breeding sows who responded do not worm weaners and 80 per cent do not worm growers. Of the total responses, including specialist finishers, 68 per cent do not worm finishing pigs.

Most producers, 81 per cent, stated that they are aware that livers with Milk Spot lesions have to be trimmed or totally condemned, adding significant annual costs for disposal.

68 per cent admit to Milk Spot lesion levels of 25 per cent in consignments of pigs. Another 10 per cent experience up to 75 per cent livers with Milk Spot damage, and 3 per cent have had every pig liver in a consignment trimmed or condemned because of lesions.  The feedback to producers comes from the BPEX Pig Health Scheme, of which 88 per cent of producers are members.

Only 58 per cent of producers are aware that more traditional worming methods allow pigs continuously to reinfect each other and their environment.  Traditional programmes do not take the worm's life cycle into account.

The detrimental effect of worm damage that causes most concern to producers is lost growth/poorer feed conversion (29 per cent). Others considered the most important to be:

• Cost of extra feed required to compensate for poorer growth/feed conversion (22 per cent)
• Loss of saleable carcase (18 per cent), caused by condemned livers/lighter pigs
• Penalties imposed by slaughterhouses for higher numbers of pigs failing to meet contract specification (17 per cent), and
• Higher cost of medication/labour where worm damage to lungs has made pigs more susceptible to respiratory infection (14 per cent).

Phil says research shows that losses in daily liveweight gain alone add up to £2.31 per slaughter pig where liver condemnations are 30 per cent. "The frightening fact is that the loss is for every slaughter pig, not just those with Milk Spot lesions.

"In a 300-sow herd producing 23 pigs per sow per year that's a loss of £15,939 a year.  On a 1,000-sow unit that exceeds a horrendous £53,000 annually, and these figures take no account of other areas of loss mentioned."

An adult female worm can shed hundreds of thousands of eggs each day, which pigs pass out in their dung. Worm eggs can remain infective for up to 10 years.  Other pigs ingest them and the reinfection process begins. 

Phil said: "A strategic worming programme that treats all pigs on a unit simultaneously is the only effective way to almost completely eliminate the problem. The survey has shown there is considerable potential for a large proportion of producers to improve productivity and cut costs by focusing on this critical area of management."

Centaur Services has announced a new partnership with VBS Direct which will allow the wholesaler to offer USA-based K-Laser products to its customers for the first time. 

According to VBS, the K-Laser range can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. However, the company says most practices choose to buy K-Laser so they can start osteoarthritic pain management clinics and improve post-surgical rehabilitation, often using trained nurses or physiotherapists to run the clinics.

Centaur says K-Laser offers the most advanced Class IV therapy laser platform in the world, with the team of scientists and doctors at K-Laser USA having researched, tested and implemented therapy presets that are categorised anatomically and subdivided by clinical indication. The company claims that during treatment, laser energy is absorbed in water, increasing local circulation and thereby drawing oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This, it says, creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. 

Apparently, more than 8,000 US veterinary practices and almost 100 in the UK have invested in Class IV laser therapy. 

Colm McGinn from Centaur said: "We're committed to finding innovative products and services for our customers so that we can help them to grow their businesses and succeed together.

"K-Laser, as well as being a revolutionary piece of clinical equipment, is also a fantastic revenue generator for veterinary practices and with our flexible payment options our customers are able to reap the benefits to their businesses very quickly. We appreciate that making capital investment in equipment can be a big decision and we want to fully support our customers in improving the services their practices can offer."

For more information, contact Centaur on 01963 350005 or VBS Direct on 0845 528 0336.

VetCell is celebrating a win at Cheltenham, after 'Knowhere' won the Cotswold Chase following pioneering stem cell treatment for a serious tendon injury.

Knowhere had had a good start to his racing career as a four-year-old, winning his first two races as a novice hurdler. But after his second race in 2004 he suffered injuries to both forelimb superficial digital flexor tendons. The left fore showed low grade tendonitis while the right fore had a significant percentage of fibre rupture. As a promising racing prospect, Knowhere’s connections wanted to give him the best possible chance of recovering from his injury so they opted for stem cell therapy. He was treated by Tim Beauregard MRCVS of Summerhill Farm in Gloucestershire.

Bone marrow samples were collected from Knowhere’s sternum and were processed in VetCell's laboratory over a five week period to generate millions of stem cells. Knowhere was sedated, the tendon area was anaesthetised and the leg was then surgically clipped and disinfected. Stem cells, which had been suspended in serum obtained from the original bone marrow sample, were then injected using ultrasound guidance, into the core of the damaged area of the tendon fibres.

For the first week after the implantation Knowhere was kept in his stable to allow the cells to adapt to their new environment. Each day after this he was given walking exercise in order to stimulate the activity of the stem cells, encouraging them to differentiate into tendon cells and form into strong tendon fibres. The amount of exercise was incrementally increased, building up over a three-month period from five minutes each day to 45 minutes twice a day.

By the autumn of 2005 both of Knowhere’s tendons had healed very well and showed good fibre pattern on ultrasonography. He was re-introduced to the racetrack the following year and of the 15 or so races he has been in since, he has finished in the frame on eight occasions and has amassed some £175,000 in winnings.

Vet Tim Beauregard said: “Knowhere’s successful return to the track has been exciting and immensely satisfying to follow and he showed particularly brilliant form in the Cotswold Chase. It remains to be seen whether he will be heading for the Ryanair Chase, the Gold Cup or the Grand National but all involved will be hoping for the best.”

For more information please contact VetCell on +44 207 691 2062 or 866 764 0340, email: info@vetcell.com or visit the website at http://www.vetcell.com/