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Researchers found that ticks continued to quest in woodlands throughout the year, even during the coldest months and ticks could also be detected on dogs throughout the year.
These observations concur with the results of a recent analysis of practice electronic health records which showed the presence of ticks on pets in all weeks between December and March2.
The study confirms the importance of treating dogs all year round to help reduce the risk of transmission of tick-borne diseases.
Lynda Maris, Product Manager for NexGard Spectra at Merial said: "It’s been thought for some time that ticks are very inactive or even dormant in winter and don’t present a risk. These findings show that they continue to quest in an attempt to find a host and are often successful. If ticks are attaching and feeding during the winter months, the risk of Lyme disease and babesiosis remains a real possibility. If the appropriate product is selected, the same year-round treatment programme that controls fleas and other parasites, will also treat ticks and thus help reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases."
The study recruited nine veterinary practices and monitored tick activity across three woodland sites in Southern Cumbria. In some cases multiple ticks were found on the animals – with one animal hosting an incredible 21.
Post graduate student Jessica Hall has been running the study since 2013, which has also involved running PCR for detection of DNA from Borrelia burdorferi (Lyme disease) on the collected ticks, with this data due to be released early next year. She said: "From the data we have collected in this longitudinal study we have identified questing ticks all year round at some sites and have shown that this pattern of questing activity results in pets being bitten by ticks even during winter."
References
Photo: Questing tick; Mcvoorhis, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
A total of 8,234 votes were cast in this year’s election, a turnout of 25.5%. The College says the previous highest turnout recorded this century was 22.8%, and it thinks this year's result may even be an all-time record.
It is unclear how much the results were influenced by VetSurgeon.org's reporting of the candidates standing for election, but in another first, Niall Connell was later seen sporting a t-shirt displaying the story: "Arlo said I'm 'by all accounts, something of a national treasure'. Had to do it. Got the T Shirt."
You're welcome, Niall. And huge congratulations to Jo Dyer, who is such a passionate advocate for coal face vets, and to Linda Belton too.
At the other end of the results, isn't it staggering that there are as many as 422 MsRCVS who are prepared to vote for a single non-issue candidate based the other side of the world. Who are you? Why do you do it? I mean, one can understand a few people voting for the Monster Raving Loony Party out of the general population numbering millions. But 5% of a small, highly educated and qualified profession? What on earth is that about?
The full results, in order of number of votes, are:
Niall Connell – 3,766 votes (re-elected)
Linda Belton – 3,581 votes (elected)
Jo Dyer – 3,146 votes (re-elected)
John Innes – 2,716 votes
Kate Richards – 2,283 votes
Tim Greet – 2,280 votes
Peter Robinson – 1,791 votes
John Davies – 507 votes
Tom Lonsdale – 422 votes
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for the election, said: "Congratulations to Niall and Jo for being re-elected to Council and congratulations also to Linda who we look forward to welcoming to Council at this year’s Royal College Day on Friday 12 July. I would also like to thank Kate, Tim and Peter for their contributions during their time on Council and give my commiserations to them and the other candidates who were unsuccessful this year.
"I was delighted to see that, this year, we had over a quarter of those eligible to vote doing so which means both a record number of votes and a record turnout – it seems this was assisted by our email reminders which, each time they were sent out, lead to a significant boost in uptake.
"However, we will not rest on our laurels and will continue to think about how we can further improve engagement in the election process and turnout for subsequent years."
The results of the election will be declared formally at this year’s Royal College Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and awards ceremony – which takes place at the Royal Institute of British Architects on Friday 12 July 2019 where the successful candidates will also start their new four-year terms.
No election to Veterinary Nursing Council was held this year due to the fact that there were only two candidates – Liz Cox and Jane Davidson – standing for the two elected places. Both Liz and Jane will take up their three-year terms at Royal College Day.
“Assessment of the clinical usefulness of ultrasound-guided cytological specimens obtained from gastrointestinal lesions in dogs and cats” retrospectively reviewed GI cytological samples obtained by ultrasound-guided FNCB of 25 dogs and 19 cats from a single institution between February 2014 to August 2016.
The aim of the study was to assess factors that may influence the clinical usefulness of submitted cytological samples collected from gastrointestinal lesions by ultrasound-guided percutaneous FNCB. Ultrasound-guided FNCB included a combination of FNI (non-aspiration) and FNA techniques, as the specific technique could not be determined retrospectively.
Clinical records were evaluated to obtain historical data, clinical findings, diagnostic results and patient outcomes. Clinically useful samples were defined as smears with sufficient cell yield and preservation to allow at least a tentative cytological diagnosis of the lesion character or pathological process.
Factors that may have influenced the retrieval of a clinically useful sample were assessed and included lesion location, sonographic lesion thickness, loss of or alteration to intestinal layer conspicuity on ultrasound, and the number of slides submitted to the cytologists. The thickness of lesions was further categorised as either a mass (≥20 mm thickness) or a thickening (<20mm).
Vetoquinol UK has launched Marbocyl Solo – a one shot treatment for Bovine Respiratory Disease. Marbocyl Solo is a 100mg/ml solution of marbofloxacin given as one injection IM at 8mg/kg. It treats sick animals fast, killing bacteria in one go, therefore minimising lung damage and consequential morbidity. This fast action reduces the risk of the spread of infection. On top of that, Marbocyl Solo has a meat withdrawal of only 3 days (milk 3 days). “Marbocyl is a well proven antibacterial that is extensively used in cattle practice,” explains Alvin Cerely, Marbocyl’s product manager. “Marbocyl Solo is exceptionally well placed for applying ‘concentration killing’ or a‘strike action’ strategy as opposed to a ‘long action’ strategy used by other antibiotics. Marbocyl Solo is available as a separate presentation to Marbocyl 10% to avoid confusion, particularly with farmers, on different dosage regimes and withdrawal periods.”
Marbocyl Solo is available now and details have been mailed to all cattle vets in the UK and Ireland. Please contact your Vetoquinol representative or telephone 0800 169 8197 for more details.
Direct Line has revealed the results of a small survey which found that 78% of veterinary surgeons had treated pets for ingesting human medicines in the last year.
100 vets took part in the study, of which 28% reported that they had cases where owners had deliberately given their pet human medication in an attempt to help them. Some vets described incidents of owners believing paracetamol will help conditions like arthritis and limping. In one case an owner gave their cat a quarter of paracetamol every day in an attempt to stop its pain, which instead resulted in the cat dying.
The most common types of medication ingested were:
In total, the veterinary surgeons who took part in the survey reported 243 cases of accidental ingestion of human medicines. The majority (76%) of cases involved dogs. However incidents involving cats, rabbits and guinea pigs were also reported.
The RCVS has announced a total of £1 million funding to address mental health and wellbeing within the veterinary profession over the next five years.
The RCVS Operational Board has agreed £100K of funding for the first year of the Mind Matters initiative, with a view to a similar amount per year for the subsequent four years.
Additionally, the College says it intends to contribute approximately £500K over the next five years to the Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme (VSHSP). This is a continuation of previous funding, effectively doubling the College's contribution. The VSHSP, independently run by the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, offers a confidential service that aims to combat problems with alcohol, drugs, eating disorders and other addictive and mental health issues. Neil Smith, Mind Matters' Chair said: "I am delighted that we have £500K of new funding over the next five years to dedicate to improving the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary team, together with the increase to our support for the VSHSP. It shows the College's commitment in this vital area, and is a substantial amount that will really help change lives."
The funding will be reviewed annually as part of the RCVS budgeting process.
Mind Matters activities will fall into five streams:
Mind Matters is supported by a taskforce comprising the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the British Veterinary Association, the British Veterinary Nursing Association, the Veterinary Practice Management Association, the Veterinary Schools Council, the Veterinary Defence Society, the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons and the Association of Veterinary Students.
250 mainly menopausal-aged veterinary surgeons and nurses took part in the survey.
Over 80% said the menopause had affected their health. Nearly half said the impact on their mental health had been moderate to severe. Overall, 76% said they were concerned about the impact of the menopause on their health, life and work.
You can read the full survey report here.
The most commonly reported physical symptoms, affecting over three quarters of respondents, were fatigue, irritability and difficultly sleeping. Hot flushes, night sweats and joint pain were also very common. Anxiety was the most common mental health impact, with some individuals experiencing clinical depression and, rarely, suicidal ideation.
Workplace measures said to be helpful included flexible working, help with heavy lifting and provision of fans or air conditioning. Diary management to allow breaks, and openness and understanding amongst colleagues were also valued.
Liz Barton, editor of Veterinary Woman said: “As a predominantly female workforce, we cannot ignore the profound impact the menopause can have both on individuals and veterinary teams. The effects last for an average of seven years and impact a majority of women mid-career. As a profession we have an opportunity to lead this conversation as it’s beginning to open up across the wider media."
Awareness of the impact of menopause was wide-ranging across age categories, but averaged 4.3 out of 10 for those 40 years old and under, and increased to 7.4 out of 10 for those aged 41 and over. Even with relatively high levels of awareness among respondents, 90% said they would like to know more about the impacts from either personal and/or business and human resource perspectives.
SPVS President, Anna Judson (pictured right), said: “Having experienced the effects of the menopause working as a practice owner, I wish I had known more about the impact and that I was not alone in how I was feeling. It’s time to break these taboos, open up the conversation and put in place measures to mitigate the impacts. In so doing, we will not only help individuals to continue to thrive in their careers, but also help practices to retain experienced staff at this challenging time of life."
A free access webinar discussing menopause impacts and how to mitigate is available free at: https://www.veterinarywoman.co.uk/2020/11/menopause-and-the-effect-on-veterinary-professionals-and-teams/
For the research, Purina questioned 1535 current and potential dog owners using validated scales assessing depression, anxiety, happiness, attitude and commitment toward their pet, and perceived social support.
67% of participants said they felt that COVID had had an emotional impact on them.
One-third of participants also felt that their health had been impacted by the pandemic, while 45% had experienced a financial impact.
However, it was found that dog owners had higher perceived level of social support and lower depression scores.
Francois Martin, M.A., Ph.D., applied behaviour and welfare research section leader at Purina and lead Purina scientist on the project said: "Our research showed that dog owners fared better from a social support and emotional standpoint during COVID than people who like dogs but didn’t own one during the pandemic.
"Our work adds to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the power of the human pet bond, especially in times of stress.”
Libby Sheridan MVB MRCVS, Purina Scientific Affairs Manager for the UK and Ireland said: "The research aimed to build on prior evidence that suggests that dogs can contribute to their owner’s positive affective state - a psychological term describing when people are in generally positive frame of mind like excited, enthusiastic, and inspired.
"Purina also set out to gain a better understanding of whether the power of the pet-owner bond continued to persist during the pandemic. Not only was the effect of dogs shown to be positive, it was also measurable and statistically significant.”
Purina says the results also provide an opportunity to reflect on the important contribution of veterinary professionals, many of whom continued to work throughout the pandemic to provide much needed services.
For full results, visit: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0260676
Vetericyn VF, the vet-only wound and skin care spray from Innovacyn has been named product of the year by Animal Health International, one of the world's largest food and companion animal health distributors.
Commenting on the award, Innovacyn said: "for an organisation the size and reputation of Animal Health International to give this top honour to Vetericyn is a great vindication of the product's efficacy but also the very positive feedback they have received from professional users."
Vetericyn VF is available throughout the UK from all the leading veterinary wholesalers. Further technical resources are available at: www.vetericyn.com/veterinarians or email enquiries to uk@vetericyn.com
Animalcare has announced the launch of Thiafeline (Thiamazole 2.5mg and 5mg) for the management of hyperthyroidism in cats.
An estimated 12% of UK cats over the age of nine suffer from hyperthyroidism², which could equate to almost 350,000 cats³. In one study, 92% of cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism were stable after four weeks treatment (on the twice daily 2.5mg dosing) with thiamazole¹
Thiafeline is presented as a blister pack, which Animalcare says offers the benefits of easy dispensing, improved stock control and no nurse exposure during dispensing for increased safety in practice. This format also allows pet owners to monitor the dosage and quantities easily, for an uninterrupted course of medication.
Animalcare says that whilst many of the clinical signs for hyperthyroidism are easily recognised, it understands that diagnosis is not always straightforward. For this reason, the company has produced support materials for Thiafeline users including diagnosis best practice charts for use within practice and a pet owner awareness package for use in waiting rooms.
Beverley Hammond, Product Manager for Thiafeline said: "While initial signs associated with hyerperthyroidism can appear quite mild it is important for pet owners to understand that if left untreated the condition can lead to serious secondary complications. It's easy for owners to assume that the signs they are seeing are simply related to old age so our campaign will aim to increase the amount of owners bringing their cats for senior pet checks and also ensure that vets are following the best practice procedures to reach a definitive diagnosis."
The RCVS has announced that its current Treasurer, Dr Bradley Viner, will be the College's next Vice-President after he was elected to the post at RCVS Council last Thursday.
Dr Viner has been an elected member of Council since 2005 and Treasurer since 2010 and will take up his latest position at RCVS Day - the College's Annual General Meeting - on 11 July. He replaces Professor Stuart Reid, who Council confirmed as President for 2014-15, and will take up his new role in July.
During his time on Council Dr Viner has served on all of the major committees with the exception of the Disciplinary Committee. Outside of Council he runs a group of practices in North West London and is Vice-Chairman of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
In his manifesto he set out the nature of his Vice-Presidency, stating: "My personal ethos is very much based upon continual improvement. It is only by having the confidence to discuss openly how things could have been done better that an organisation can learn how to improve.
"I also recognise the vital importance of good communications: with Council; the profession at large; Government; and with other interested organisations. I intend to do my utmost to communicate with them as effectively as possible."
At the same meeting of RCVS Council, Colonel Neil Smith, the current President, was confirmed as Vice-President from July, subject to his re-election in this year's RCVS Council elections.
In addition, Chris Tufnell was re-elected as Chairman of the Education Committee, while David Catlow was elected Chairman of Standards Committee, also subject to his re-election in this year's RCVS Council elections.
MDC has announced it will launch Smart Oxygen, a system it describes as a simple, instant and economical way to deliver oxygen or nebulising therapy to cats and other small animals, at the London Vet Show (20th/21st November London Olympia).
The system is connected directly to a transparent 3mm PVC Smart Oxygen canopy placed within one of MDC's cat baskets. The clear plastic means the patient remains in full view, allowing you to observe respiratory patterns during treatment. Venting access enables the release of excess oxygen and can be varied according to the patients' condition and oxygen percentage requirements.
MDC says Smart Oxygen is ideal for emergency situations because it requires no assembly and allows vet professionals to provide oxygen or nebulisation therapy single-handed. It also minimises stress as respiratory patients respond better without restraint - known to exacerbate symptoms. With Smart Oxygen an animal can be monitored without the anxiety associated with a nasal cannula or masking.
For more information, visit: www.mdcexports.co.uk
The competition, whi/ch is open to BVA members, has three categories:
All BVA members are encouraged to take part, whether they are a semi-professional photographer or just handy with a smart phone.
BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “This competition, showcases the unique talents, creativity and skills of BVA members.
“This year, we would love to see how our members can use their passion for photography to capture the essence of our profession. This is an opportunity to show what life as a vet is really like, to capture the hard work and challenges on camera but also to demonstrate the kindness, skills and compassion of our incredible colleagues – as well as the amazing animals they care for.
“This is your chance to show off your talents. We are so excited to see the stunning entries start to pour in and look forward to announcing the winner at this year’s BVA Live event in May.”
Images by the finalists will displayed at this year’s BVA Live event at Birmingham’s NEC on 11 – 12 May 2023.
Finalists will be contacted in advance and receive a free ticket to BVA Live so they can attend the event and the prizegiving to reveal the winners.
Winning photos will also be eligible for £250 worth of John Lewis vouchers.
www.bva.co.uk/photo-comp
The HT Vista device measures heat transfer rate differences between masses and adjacent normal tissues and then processes that data using machine learning algorithms to classify the masses.
The study evaluated a diverse canine population of 299 dogs with 525 cutaneous and subcutaneous masses.
In the study, the device correctly classified 45 out of 53 malignant masses and 253 out of 378 benign masses (sensitivity = 85% and specificity = 67%).
The negative predictive value of the system (i.e., percent of benign masses identified as benign) was 97%.
This study concluded that the data supports the use of the HT Vista device "as a screening tool and decision support tool for the everyday diagnosis of dermal and subcutaneous masses in general practice, enabling clinicians to differentiate between benign lesions and those requiring additional diagnostics".
Liron Levy-Hirsch, Managing Director of HT Vista’s UK subsidiary said: “We are thrilled to have scientific research validating the success of the HT Vista device.
"The veterinary teams who have already adopted the device into their practice are having great success with it, and with the backing of this newly published paper we hope to reach more practices and ultimately save more dog’s lives.”
www.ht-vet.com / www.ht-vista.uk
Reference
Virbac Animal Health has launched an interactive didactic atlas on canine dermatoses for practitioners at www.virbacderm.com.
According to the company, the site offers an original approach to a dermatological investigation, with straightforward flowcharts and enlarged schematics of canine skin.
Product manager Chris Geddes said: "The site brings to life many of the topics covered in the clinical handbook, and may prove particularly valuable as client educational tools. It contains several free educational tools for the dermatologist in general practice."
He added: "Virbacderm.com is already proving extremely useful both for investigating a case and also to boost online CPD. Every aspect of an investigation is included, from effective history taking, to the appropriate time for a biopsy.
"There is also an important section on what is normal for a dog. There's some interesting data on the differences between canine and human skin, and why even "baby shampoo" is not appropriate for use on dogs."
The site also provides compliance tools for clients that are free to download, together with materials provided from Virbac Territory Managers. Chris said: "These aim to ensure that the treatment course prescribed by the vet is in fact being followed correctly and fully - surveys suggest that perhaps only 50% of clients do so."
From early 2025, all vets, nurses and technicians will be required to wear a hard hat in the vicinity of a horse, pony or donkey – whether in practice, on a yard, or at a client’s premises.
It follows a three-year research project collaborating with the University of Liverpool which revealed that 90% of veterinary clinicians have experienced an injury during their career.
It is hoped that the move will reduce injuries to the head – one of the most common traumas to be suffered by equine vets identified by the research, usually sustained when examining distal limbs. CVS says that in the US, equine vets sustain on average eight serious injuries during their career, making it the second highest profession for non-fatal injuries.
The University of Liverpool research found that over 25% of equine vet injuries have led to hospital attendance. Dr. John Tulloch, Lecturer and European Specialist in Veterinary Public Health at the University of Liverpool, who led the research, said: “Vet visits are not an ‘everyday activity’ for a horse.
"As a result, many horses will be on heightened alert, and some may be more prone to unpredictable behaviour. “Vets are often in a vulnerable situation when examining a horse.
"And it’s difficult to pick up on a horses’ signals, especially when examining areas such as distal limbs. “Our research found that many injuries happen when a horse kicks or pushes a person over and the person’s head makes impact with the ground.
"So, wearing a hard hat will be a big step towards preventing traumatic head injuries if this were to happen.” Sophie Ignarski, Equine Director at CVS said: “All of our clinicians are at risk in their day-to-day work – whether they are newly qualified or very experienced.
"Other colleagues including nurses, vet techs and patient care assistants are similarly vulnerable. “We decided to make wearing of hard hats mandatory in order to protect all of our colleagues and minimise the potential risk of head injury, understanding it can never be fully eliminated.
"We recognise that this policy shift represents a degree of change but hope that it serves to further support and progress the equine veterinary industry more widely. “Our policy is evidence-based, utilising three years of rigorous research, and we will continue our efforts in the future to grow our knowledge and understanding of this important area.
"By doing so, we join other industries – such as construction – who have already adopted similar changes to the extent they are now established in their culture.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587725001266
Vetoquinol, makers of Sedalin (acepromazine), has published a free clipping guide for horse owners.
The company says the launch of the guide has been timed to coincide with the horse clipping season, when owners may be considering sedating horses to make things safer for themselves and their horses.
The guide refers owners to their veterinary surgeon for professional advice if sedation is appropriate.
The company has also produced promotional practice posters: ' Less Stress more Success'
For your poster and accompanying guides, contact your Vetoquinol Territory Manager or Teleservices directly on 01280 825424. You may also wish to put a link to a downloadable version of the guide on your practice website: http://www.vetoquinol.co.uk/clippingguide.pdf
Royal Canin is launching a new packaging format for its range of feline wet diets.
The company says the launch comes in response to research showing that more than three-quarters of pet owners (76%1) feed their cats wet food and almost half of wet cat products sold are in a canned format (48%2).
The current alutray packaging will be replaced by 195g cans, which Royal Canin says are easier to use and store, and which clients believe to be better value for money than other packaging formats.
The new cans will contain the same recipes as before, with the same balance of nutrients in each wet diet. They will consist of a loaf or mousse, providing a complementary texture to the chunks in gravy found in the equivalent pouched diets.
Royal Canin is also highlighting the benefits for veterinary practices: The cans are designed to provide greater clarity of display and on-shelf presence. They are also easier to stack for storage, and they meet an established demand.
Ian Williams, one of Royal Canin's small animal vets, said: "We believe the new packaging is an improvement on our established and popular range of wet Veterinary Diets for cats. The range is extensive which allows owners to follow a vet's nutritional recommendations without changing their pets' feeding habits, an excellent way to increase compliance."
The new canned format will be phased in as stocks are replenished, with the following cans being added to the Royal Canin range of wet feline foods: a new Renal and Urinary S/O can, joining the existing Recovery can within the range of Veterinary Diets; and a new Paediatric Weaning can within the Veterinary Care Nutrition range.
For more information about Royal Canin and the diets, visit www.royalcanin.co.uk.
Founder Professor Noel Fitzpatrick said: "It is a real joy to see the VET Festival growing and growing, not just in physical size, but from the immense goodwill that radiates from it. The weather didn’t get in the way of the wellness and there was nothing rainy about the atmosphere at VET Festival - in fact I think that the rain brought us closer together.
"I set out to build a community of compassion for our profession and I genuinely felt that there was a tangible sense of togetherness. There were loads of great conversations with each other and with the exhibitors. The educational content really was world class and the tents were packed. I hoped that VET Festival would be a breath of fresh air, where having an education event outdoors - combined with a focus on wellness of body and mind for all of us - could help vet professionals to be the very best that they could be - and so serve our patients better.
"Everyone there was part of something innovative and refreshing I felt – the delegates, the exhibitors, the team who have worked year-round to create the event, and the fantastic speakers. I’m very grateful to all of them and I sincerely hope that this feeling remains strong for each and every one all year round.
"The resonant theme this year was ‘kindness’ – to ourselves, to each other, to the families of animals and the animals we are lucky enough to take care of. Nobody is a nobody at VET Festival, and never will be. In that field, we’re all equal, no matter what we do in the vet profession - we all matter - we all want the same thing, which is wellness for each other and the animals we serve - and importantly, we’re all in it together for the greater good, rain or shine."
The survey of 97 cat owners and 156 vets conducted in June last year found that currently only 30% of cat owners give supplements to their cat but 74% would be willing to try them.
The survey also found that whilst 80% of vets thought the main reasons to be hesitant about recommending feline supplements were palatability and the owner’s ability to give products, owners were less concerned about the ease of giving the supplement (53%), and more concerned about the cost (45%) and being unsure of the benefits (39%).
Tara Evans RVN, head of sales at Vita, said: “It is interesting that the majority of vets believe that practicalities around administering oral supplements is the main drawback to giving these products, whereas only 53% of owners were concerned about this.
"Understanding owner concerns regarding efficacy and price could help vets support more owners to move forward with supplements for their cats.”
According to the survey, the most frequently used supplements, by both vets and owners are those made to support joints.
Cat owners also showed an interest in giving supplements for general wellness (61%).
Tara added: “Owners are open to supplementing for general health, as well as more specific health-related issues.”
www.vitaanimalhealth.com
The Blue Cross is calling for nominations from veterinary practices across the country for its Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award 2008.
The annual award is presented at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Annual Congress. It recognises the contribution of veterinary nurses in educating the public about responsible pet ownership and the welfare of pets in the community.
This year's Congress will take place on 10-12 October at the Kettering Conference Centre, Northamptonshire.
Last year's award was won by Anna Hatchett for her outstanding contribution to animal welfare, both within her veterinary practice and among the local community in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
Anna Hatchett was nominated by two vets, Edward Gillams and Kate Loomes, who previously worked with her at The Beck Veterinary Practice in Whitby. Ms Loomes commented: "Anna is an exceptionally dedicated and talented nurse. She has an amazing memory for clients and takes time to enquire as to how their individual pets are. She doesn't hesitate to take in and care for stray and lost animals and works well over her working hours when animals are in need of help."
Nominations for this year's award can be made by completing the nomination form on The Blue Cross website at: www.bluecross.org.uk/BVNA2008or by contacting Sally Leathem on 01993 82557. The deadline for nominations is Friday 15 August 2008.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has launched a series of information sheets written by veterinary surgeons, nutritionists and leading riders to support its muscle building supplement for horses, Equitop Myoplast Power Pearls.
Available to download as PDFs from its website - http://www.equitop-myoplast.co.uk - this resource for horse owners covers a range of feeding topics including training the young showjumper and feeding the performance horse, older horses and horses during periods of rest and recuperation.
New video and written testimonials from performance riders and veterinary surgeons are now on the website, which also offers owners advice on healthy lean muscle growth and the benefits of Equitop Myoplast. Olympic dressage rider, Emile Faurie, international showjumpers, Ellen Whitaker and Scott Brash, and show horse producer, Katie Jerram, all endorse the product.
A client leaflet has also been launched featuring the testimonials and providing owners with information on Equitop Myoplast and an online offer of £15 off their first purchase of the supplement by downloading a voucher from the website.
Boehringer says Equitop Myoplast is packed with 18 key amino acids and is scientifically designed to support lean muscle growth, not bulk. The company says the supplement is great for optimising performance in horses in intensive training and competition, as well as bringing on young, breeding and injured animals, and for older horses which lose condition easily.
For further information, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.
A new study carried out to look at the efficacy of spinosad (Comfortis) in cats has shown that they can acquire a flea infestation even when kept in a controlled laboratory environment.
The study was conducted on a laboratory colony of 15 cats that had been kept strictly indoors for at least a year, four of which had presented to the dermatology clinics of the Small Animal Hospital of the Toulouse Veterinary School, two with miliary dermatitis lesions and two with symmetrical alopecia.
Further investigation revealed that despite these animals having been confined to quarters for so long, adult Ctenocephalides felis and flea dirt were found on coat brushing.
All the cats were then combed meticulously twice at the start of the study using an extra fine comb and fleas counted before being replaced on each cat. In total 60 fleas were counted. On the cats showing no lesions there was an average of 5.2 fleas per cat and on the cats exhibiting flea allergy dermatitis it was less than one. Two of these cats had no fleas on them, probably due to excessive grooming caused by pruritus.
Spinosad was found to be 100% effective, with no adult fleas found on any cat from day 15 of the study through to day 90.
The cats with skin lesions were assessed for pruritus levels using the SCORFAD system, an extent and severity scale for feline hypersensitivity dermatitis. The SCORFAD value rapidly decreased throughout the study and achieved 98% reduction by day 90. The skin lesions in the flea allergic cats completely resolved during this time without the use of any other flea control or the use of anti-inflammatory products on the cats.
Researchers Maria-Christine Cadiergues and Charline Pressanti from Toulouse Veterinary School also noted a greater level of palatability than previously reported in clinical trials and there were no side effects in any of the cats.
Reviewing the study, David Grant MBE BVetMed CertSAD FRCVS said: "This study confirms that indoor cats, even in a tightly controlled laboratory environment, can still acquire an infestation of fleas. These can be brought in on the clothes of owners of cats if they have been in the garden, for example, particularly in the summer.
"In addition, flea allergic cats may have few fleas on them due to excessive grooming caused by pruritus, and it is often very difficult to persuade owners of the diagnosis, even more so with indoor cats. This study provides precise data to support the above statement.
"This study also demonstrates that spinosad can be used as a stand-alone treatment for mild to moderate flea infestation in an indoor environment without the need for environmental insecticides or anti-inflammatory treatment of the cats. This would be a major consideration for many cat owners."
Marie-Christine Cadiergues and Charline Pressanti, "Efficacy of Spinosad Tablets Administered to a Colony of 15 Indoor Cats Naturally Infested with Fleas," ISRN Veterinary Science, vol. 2014, Article ID 484308, 4 pages, 2014.doi:10.1155/2014/484308
BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "Veterinary View not only highlights some of the veterinary profession's fantastic work, but complements our joint project with RCVS, Vet Futures, in exploring how the profession can best shape its own future. We hope it will stimulate debate among vets, and the wider community in which we work, about both the big challenges and opportunities that the veterinary profession is facing."
The series includes a number of videos which showcase more recent industry developments:
Stem Cell therapy for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis (VetCell Therapeutics)
Pharmtrax, a mobile device for vets to record work and dispensing on the farm (Henry Schein Animal Health)
Hormone implants as an alternative to castration (Virbac Animal Health)
Practice management support from Zoetis
Preventing an epidemic of equine flu (Merial Animal Health)
Procanicare contains three canine-specific strains of Lactobacillus bacteria, which the company says are proven to improve stool consistency, accelerate recovery following acute episodes of diarrhoea and improve well-being.1
The company also points to a number of studies which it says are evidence of the importance of supporting puppies' intestinal microbiomes.
'New puppy diarrhoea' is, it says, typically due to exposure to factors that are known to risk microbiome disturbance, such as diet change and going to a new home, at a time when the microbial population is at its more sensitive.2
Animalcare says other studies show that microbiome disturbances in early life can have a significant impact on health in adulthood.2,3
James Beaumont, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: “We often hear from breeders, new puppy owners and vets that puppies which have had Procanicare seem brighter, have firmer stools and less flatulence. With the evidence mounting that the adult intestinal microbiome is shaped in early life and knowing the important and varied role that it has in wider health throughout life, we want to help vets proactively support the GI health of their youngest patients by providing Procanicare for them to trial, with no risk.”