A new study¹ published in Scientific Research has concluded that Vetoquinol's Phovia fluorescent light energy (FLE) therapy system can improve the quality of life for dogs with skin conditions, and their owners.

Phovia, which was launched in the UK last year, is a two-part FLE system consisting of a chromophore gel that is applied to the affected skin and a blue light LED lamp.

Vetoquinol says that when used together they produce light of varying wavelengths that penetrates the skin to different depths, helping to control bacteria and reduce inflammation on the surface of the skin and stimulating regeneration in the epidermal and dermal layers.

The unit is portable, and applications take four minutes once a week.

The authors of the Vetoquinol-funded study say that FLE has already been shown to support and accelerate natural skin healing, but this latest research shows that the benefits go beyond improvement in clinical signs.

The study looked at 35 dogs with a diverse range of skin conditions: 13 had interdigital furunculosis, 10 had deep pyoderma, 6 had wounds, 4 had pyotraumatic dermatitis, and 2 had perianal fistula on presentation.

Eight of 35 dogs were new cases, whereas the remaining 27 were undergoing recrudescence of a prior episode, including pyotraumatic dermatitis, wounds, deep pyoderma, interdigital furunculosis and perianal fistulae.

Thirty dogs (86%) achieved a clinical resolution: 18 with the Fluorescent Light Energy alone and 12 with the concomitant use of FLE and topical antiseptic shampoo.

Five dogs (14%) had a partial response and needed other therapies.

92% percent of owners attested to their pet’s enhanced quality of life, with 74% of dogs displaying at least a 50% improvement in owner-reported behaviour, mood, sleep and playing activities. 

The study also reported a 46% reduction in caregiver burden.

Felicity Caddick, Technical Services Manager at Vetoquinol said: “Managing skin conditions often requires the long-term use of shampoos or topical therapies.

"Many owners find this aspect of pet ownership challenging, especially with larger dogs, or less cooperative animals.

"FLE can reduce or in some cases eliminate the need for topical therapies at home, not only simplifying the treatment process but also enhancing convenience and compliance.

"Sharing responsibility for administering ongoing treatment with their vet practice also removes some of the worry associated with their pet’s health.”

Vetoquinol also highlights that Phovia can offer vets a drug-free management option for skin disorders that aligns with the principles of antibiotic stewardship. 

Reference

1. Mosca, M. , Briand, A. , Carrasco, I. , Luciani, L. and Fantini, O. (2023) Impact of Fluorescent Light Energy on the Quality of Life of Dogs with Dermatologic Disease and Their Owners. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 13, 122-135. doi: 10.4236/ojvm.2023.137011.

Invicta Animal Health has announced its appointment as exclusive veterinary distributor in the UK for Chloraprep, a licensed human product for cutaneous antisepsis, prior to invasive procedures. 

Invicta says Chloraprep is a single use, easy to apply, sterile system, available in a variety of sizes and in clear and tinted versions to enhance the visibility of the area requiring antisepsis, for instance, prior to surgery.

The sterile solution is maintained in a glass ampoule inside a protective outer case and, to prevent contamination, the patented design ensures users don't come into contact with either the contents or the patient's skin. 

Rob Watkins, Managing Director of Invicta, said: "Most surgical site infections (SSI's) are the result of contamination from a patient's own skin flora¹, a fact which highlights the importance of thorough and effective preparation of the skin as a proactive way to minimise the incidence of SSI's in patients." 

According to the company, research has shown that Chloraprep, which contains 2% chlorhexidine and 70% isopropyl alcohol, has demonstrated significantly better antimicrobial activity than other combinations².

Invicta says the way in which the solution is applied to the skin is as important as the solution itself.  Studies show that the most effective way to apply Chloraprep is with a back and forth scrubbing movement because this gives a lower microbial count on the skin than using other application methods³. Once applied, Chloraprep is active in 30 seconds and is effective for up to 48 hours⁴.

Rob said: "The majority of UK hospitals and the Blood Transfusion Service already use Chloraprep and we are pleased to make this available under the provisions of the cascade."

He added: 'The veterinary nurses I've spoken to love this product, because they're fed up of immersing their dry, cracked hands in disinfectant!'

For further information, please contact Invicta Animal Health on 01403 791313 or email the company at mail@invictavet.com.

References

1. Florman S, Nichols RL. Am J Infect Dis 2007; 3: 51-61.
2. Hibbard JS. J Infus Nurs 2005; 28: 194-207.
3. Rosenthal K. Nurs Manage 2006; April: 55-66.
4. Garcia R et al. Abstracts of the IDSA 40th Annual Meeting 2002; Abs 418.

Manchester-based Anca Bucur MRCVS has been suspended from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons for two months after she was found to have issued a veterinary prescription for tramadol intended for use by her father.

Ms Bucur MRCVS faced three charges against her.

The first charge was that in April 2024, she wrote a prescription for 60 tablets of tramadol 50mg, indicating that it was for the treatment of an animal, when it was intended for the treatment of a human.

The second charge was that she allowed the prescription to be presented at a pharmacy and/or failed to stop that.

The third charge was that her conduct, in relation to the first two charges was dishonest, and misleading, and took place in circumstances where she was not professionally qualified to write a prescription for human use.

At the outset of the hearing, Ms Bucur admitted all the charges and the Committee accepted her admissions.

In relation to charge three, the Committee found that Ms Bucur had been aware that she should not have written the prescription, that she should not have indicated that it was for an animal, that she should not have deleted the prescription for the clinical record on the practice management system, and she should not have allowed or failed to prevent the prescription from being presented for dispensing.

The Committee therefore found all charges proved.

In terms of aggravating factors, the Committee considered that Ms Bucur’s conduct had given rise to a risk of injury because she was not professionally qualified or sufficiently informed to issue a prescription for tramadol, that she had acted recklessly with regard to the potential effects of a controlled, potentially addictive drug and that her conduct had been premeditated.

It also accepted the submission that there was an abuse of Ms Bucur’s professional position as a registered veterinary surgeon, because this had allowed her to issue a prescription.

The Committee also found that Ms Bucur’s conduct was aggravated by her having involved other persons in her misconduct, namely her partner, in an attempt to have the prescription dispensed.

The Committee noted that the charges involved findings of dishonesty, which is regarded at the higher end in terms of the spectrum of gravity of misconduct.

In mitigation, the Committee took into account that the facts proved related to a single incident of the issuing and attempted use of a prescription.

The Committee was of the view that the Ms Bucur’s conduct had failed to promote protection of public health and had breached the legislation around access to controlled drugs.

Even though this was a single incident, the Committee considered that members of the public, if aware of the facts, would be alarmed and concerned at Ms Bucur’s actions.

As a result, the profession could be brought into disrepute and public confidence in the profession undermined.

The Committee therefore found that Ms Bucur’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct in a professional respect.

The Committee then considered whether there were any relevant additional personal aggravating or mitigating factors.

The Committee did not find any further aggravating factors; in mitigation it noted that Ms Bucur had no previous complaints of adverse matters in her career.

The Committee accepted that Ms Bucur had made early, open and frank admissions to her conduct.

She had also offered a fulsome and genuine apology and remorse in her witness statement and in the hearing.

The Committee also accepted that she had since worked without further incident and concluded from her witness statement and evidence that she had developed full insight into her misconduct.

She was able to provide a notable number of references and testimonials which were uniform in speaking to her positive qualities as a veterinary surgeon.

The Committee was able to conclude that this has been a very serious but single lapse of judgement, and that there was a relevant context in that Ms Bucur had clearly acted out of concerns to help her father, however misguided.

There were no suggestions of harm, or risk of harm, to animals.

However, the Committee could not ignore that Ms Bucur’s misconduct had occurred in relation to a controlled drug and had contravened important protections designed to protect the public.

Neil Slater, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee balanced the effect that a suspension would have on Dr Bucur, by depriving her of the ability to practise for a period, with the public interest.

"However, it decided that, in the circumstances, the interests of protecting the public, including the wider public interest, outweighed Dr Bucur’s interests.

“The Committee decided that, in all the circumstances, a suspension was the appropriate and proportionate sanction.

“The Committee considered for how long the suspension should be imposed.

"It considered that the suspension was not required to allow for Dr Bucur to gain any further insight.

"It would purely be required to mark the Committee’s disapproval of Dr Bucur’s misconduct, as a signal to the public and to the profession.

"The Committee concluded that the least period required in all the circumstances is two months.

“The Committee therefore directed to the Registrar that Dr Bucur’s registration be suspended for a period of two months.”

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

The British Veterinary Association has responded to the Competition and Markets Authority provisional decision, broadly welcoming measures to improve transparency but denouncing the watchdog's veterinary medicines proposals.

The CMA proposed that veterinary practices should be compelled to: 

• provide price lists for specific services
• provide itemised bills
• provide written estimates for treatments over £500
• tell owners they can get their medicines elsewhere
• cap the prescription fee
• provide info for the RCVS 'Find a Vet' page
• make it clear if the practice is part of a group
• have a complaints process that meets certain criteria
• confirm every year to the RCVS that it is doing these things

Most of these, along with the CMA's support for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, have been welcomed not just by the BVA, but by the RCVS and the BVNA which also issued their responses on Friday. 

The big sticking points, however, are the proposal that veterinary practices should cap prescription fees at £16, and that all practices should inform clients that they may buy medicines cheaper online. 

The BVA argued that the proposed prescription price cap would be unlikely to reduce costs, and that 65% of vets who took part in its Voice of the Profession Survey said it would risk practice viability.

The proposal that vets should tell clients they can buy medicines cheaper online was more controversial, because of course two of the largest veterinary pharmacies are owned by corporate groups, and it is hard to think of any other area of business where small companies are legally required to direct customers to their corporate competitors.

BVA President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS (pictured) said: “The measures outlined in the CMA’s provisional decision report are much more measured and proportionate compared to earlier proposals and that clearly shows they have listened to our concerns. 

"As vets, we welcome the measures that increase transparency and help us to better support our clients. 

"However, it’s vital that the CMA gets the detail right or it risks unintended negative consequences. 

“BVA particularly welcomes the CMA backing our calls for reform of the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act, including the need for practice regulation.

"Vets have been pressing for reform of this woefully outdated legislation for many years, and reform will go a long way to addressing many of the concerns raised throughout the CMA investigation and will help build trust with our clients.  

“We do, however, have serious concerns about the medicines proposals – it is simply unreasonable to expect vet practices to actively promote online pharmacies, which are in direct competition for customers and some of which are run by large veterinary groups.

"In addition, the proposed £16 price cap for prescriptions will be ineffective and is unlikely to lead to lower vet bills for consumers.”

https://www.bva.co.uk/media/6641/bva-bsava-bvna-spvs-vmg-joint-response-to-cma-provisional-decision-report-final.pdf 

Excel Lasers has launched Onemytis 2, a new type of electrosurgical "knife" which it claims will revolutionise veterinary surgery, in the UK.

Developed by Italian tech company, Otech Industry srl, the Onemytis 2 uniquely uses gas ionisation to vaporise tissue at lower temperatures and, claims Excel, with greater precision than is possible with conventional electrosurgery.

The knife works by a strong electromagnetic field through air. This releases plasma which vaporises tissue at a maximum operating temperature of 50°C (compared to more than 118°C in conventional electrosurgery).

During surgery, the electrode does not touch the patient. Plasma is formed when it is between 1 and 2 mm away from the patient, depending on the power setting. This means the surgeon does not apply any pressure when creating an incision, allowing greater precision. 

The Onemytis range starts from £4500 +VAT.

West Sussex first opinion vet, Julian Hoad, Head of Crossways Veterinary Group, started using Onemytis last year for a range or procedures including laparoscopic surgery and the removal of masses, often without the need for a general anaesthetic.

Julian said: "I’ve used electrosurgery for 20 years and this is an order of magnitude better. It is more precise, more reliable and results in a much better healing surface."

"I recently removed an enlarged lymph node. The mass was around the mesenteric root. Because Onemytis is so precise I was able to dissect around the blood vessels, removing tissue that was attached to them with no blood loss. Onemytis is also excellent for removing epulides. It cuts though gingival tissue with very limited burning and produces very good, pain-free healing."

"I now routinely use it for performing nostril widening surgery in brachycephalic dogs; it reduces surgery time dramatically and completely abolishes bleeding in most cases."

"I have also used it to remove a large mass from a dog’s spleen and, by using a combination of Onemytis and Ligasure, managed to do so with a total blood loss of less than 2 ml."

Steve Hayden, Director at Excel Lasers, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Onemytis 2 to the UK. An important part of our role is to identify the technological innovations we think are most likely to help vets and their patients and Onemytis really stands out. The feedback we have had from our clients has been extremely positive and we think it has a fantastic future in veterinary surgery.”

To find out more about Onemytis 2 and watch videos of it in action, visit: https://www.excellasers.com/airplasma/

The Practice Standards Group, which comprises representatives from all of the key veterinary and veterinary nursing organisations, has updated the standards of the Practice Standards Scheme and a draft of the new Manual is now available for comment.

The Scheme is a voluntary accreditation programme that aims to promote and maintain high standards of facilities and care within UK veterinary practices. When it was launched in 2005, a commitment was made that the standards would not change for five years, unless new legislation (such as the Veterinary Medicines Regulations) required it. Following a detailed review of the standards, to ensure they continue to be relevant to current veterinary practice, proposals have been made by the Group for new standards to be implemented during 2010. 

Jill Nute, Chairman of the Practice Standards Group said: "It is unlikely that any already-accredited practices will be required to invest in additional facilities or equipment to meet the new standards.

"Instead, greater emphasis has been placed on clinical outcomes and training. For example, performance review has been introduced for all clinical staff, including the Professional Development Phase for new graduates. We are keen to hear feedback on the proposed new standards."

One recommendation is that the 'tiers' should be dropped. The categories will retain their descriptive names, for example, Small Animal General Practice or Equine Veterinary Hospital. Feedback suggests that clients, and the profession, found the tiers to be misleading.

The layout of the Manual has been revamped, to include guidance that was previously available online. Guidance for each relevant standard can now be seen at a glance. There is also an icon to indicate if documentary evidence will be required by the inspector. In addition, the new format clarifies the derivation of each standard, so that legislative requirements are distinguished from those required under the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct and those indicated by better practice.

Membership of the Scheme continues to grow, with 126 applications to join the Scheme in the first six months of this year, representing 264 premises, compared with 61 applications in the whole of last year. There are currently 2,351 practice premises under the ambit of the Scheme - approximately 50%.

The draft new Manual is online at www.rcvs.org.uk/consultations.

Hard copies are available from Eleanor Ferguson, Practice Standards Scheme Manager: e.ferguson@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0720.

The deadline for comments is 31 August 2009. Responses will be considered by the Practice Standards Group at its September meeting and thereafter by Council in November.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has adjourned its hearing of an application for restoration made by a former Official Veterinarian who was struck off for falsifying certificates.

Laura Padron Vega was struck off in December 2018 after dishonestly backdating two statutory Certificates of Competence submitted to the Food Standards Agency under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations 2015.

She was also found to have failed in her duties as an OV because she was unprepared for, and unaware of, the new regulations and did not take adequate steps to ensure that the two people for whom she had given veterinary certification were licensed to perform slaughter in accordance with the regulations.

At the outset of the restoration hearing, Ms Padron Vega admitted her guilt and made representations that she appreciated the seriousness of her actions and that there was no chance of her repeating them. She also produced a number of testimonials, including some from former veterinary colleagues, in addition to evidence that she had endeavoured to keep up-to-date with her continuing professional development while off the Register although this had been difficult due to her financial circumstances.

In considering her application for restoration, the Committee found that Ms Padron Vega had accepted the reasons for her removal from the Register and the seriousness of the findings. It found that she was unlikely to repeat the behaviour and that her conduct had been entirely acceptable since she was removed from the Register. It also considered her financial and personal circumstances, noting the difficulty she had in securing well-paid, full-time employment since her removal from the Register, and the impact that this had on her being able to keep up-to-date with her continuing professional development.

However, the Committee expressed concerns over her efforts to keep up-to-date with the knowledge and skills she would need to return to practice and said she demonstrated “no real appreciation of what she needed to put in place to demonstrate that she can return to work safely”.

In particular it found that the CPD she had undertaken was unstructured and insufficient and that therefore she had not done enough at the present time to demonstrate that she was fit to be restored to the Register, especially as she signalled that, if restored, she hoped to work in small animal practice, an area that she had not worked in for some time.

Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “While the Committee did not consider that the applicant was in a position to return to practice at this point, it did consider that if the applicant applies herself to a properly structured and focused Return to Practice Plan and is able to produce evidence of how she has fulfilled the requirements of that plan, then her application could prove successful within a short time.

"The outcome of the plan for a return to practice will need to ensure the continued protection of the welfare of animals as well as the interests of clients whose animals she might be called upon to treat and, most importantly, the public interest which is founded on a belief that the veterinary certification processes are beyond question or doubt."

In order to allow Ms Padron Vega sufficient time to develop this plan, the Committee adjourned the restoration hearing for seven months (until July 2021).

Ms Jones added: “This adjournment will afford [Ms Padron Vega] an early opportunity to reflect on the concerns of the Committee… and to return with a properly supported programme for the future which will show her understanding of the problems that are likely to face her on her return to practice and her proposals to meet those inevitable difficulties.”

Ceva Animal Health UK has launched a new Galastop iPhone application to calculate the optimal date for spaying in order to reduce the risk of post-operative false pregnancy.

Enter the end of oestrus date (when the last season finished), and the app will calculate when to spay, i.e. 16 weeks later.

Ceva says it is important not to spay a bitch during a false pregnancy as post-operative chronic pseudopregnancy may develop, which can last longer and be more resistant to standard treatment. However, some cases of false pregnancy can be silent and difficult to detect. Product manager at Ceva Animal Health UK, Fraser Broadfoot MRCVS, said: "It is commonly recommended to wait until 12 weeks after the end of oestrus before spaying. However, silent pseudopregnancy can still occur at this stage so, to be on the safe side, many specialists are now recommending spaying later at 16 weeks after the end of oestrus."

Click here for more details, and to download the app in iTunes.

For further information, please contact your Ceva Animal Health UK representative or call the veterinary support team on 01494 781510.

White Cross Vets has come up with another clever team-building initiative for its staff: giving them all a £50 contribution towards a new Fitbit and then holding a competition to see which of its teams logs the most steps.

60 veterinary surgeons, nurses and other team members from White Cross practices in Tividale, Guiseley, West Derby and Alvaston have formed 20 teams of three people, logging a total of 30,000 miles since the initiative was launched in February, or an average of 11,000 steps per team member per day.

James Harris MRCVS from White Cross Vets said: "We spend a lot of the day on our feet but really had no idea about the distance that we clock up. There are about 2,000 steps in a mile so we are walking more than five miles every day! We are always encouraging our clients to make sure their pets have a healthy lifestyle, so it’s great to practise what we preach.

"As well as the steps we take throughout the day many of us are also committed to sports and exercise regimes outside work and that has helped us to reach the top of the leaderboard for a few weeks. You might even find some of us marching on the spot to boost our step-counts and heart rates, so the Fitbit challenge is definitely keeping us active."

General manager Jo Jobling said: "We understand the vital importance of both physical and mental wellbeing, and our Fitbit challenge is a great way for our teams from across our 19 practices to work together to achieve a worthwhile healthy goal, as well as creating some healthy competition with colleagues in other practices. We also have an individual steppers league table which was recently topped by one of our veterinary nurses, Katie Rose from our Tividale practice. It might have helped that she completed a half marathon over that weekend though!"

Elanco Animal Health has highlighted the results of a new study¹ which concludes that Duvaxyn IE-T Plus stimulates a highter protective antibody response than four other equine influenza vaccines commercially available in Ireland.

The trial compared the antibody responses of unvaccinated Thoroughbred weanlings following primary vaccination with Duvaxyn IE-T Plus, Equilis Resequin, Equip FT, Equilis Prequenza Te and  ProteqFlu Te.

In addition, following the first vaccination, 43% of the weanlings failed to seroconvert. However, amongst those vaccinated with Duvaxyn IE-T Plus a 100% response rate was observed. The failure rate amongst vaccines other than Duvaxyn IE-T Plus ranged between 7.7% and 78.6%. By the time of the third vaccination (31 weeks after the first) all horses had responded to vaccination.

The study, conducted by the Irish Equine Centre in Johnstone, the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Limerick and the Department of Statistics at Trinity College in Dublin, involved 66 unvaccinated Thoroughbred weanlings on four different stud farms. Following primary vaccination (V1, V2 and V3) with the five vaccines antibody responses were monitored for six months post V3 by single radial haemolysis. Elanco says that the correlation between SRH antibody levels and protection has been well-established and accepted².

Elanco also highlights a recent study³ which it says demonstrated the ability of Duvaxyn IE-T Plus equine influenza vaccine to cross protect against A/equi-2/Richmond/1/07 (H3N8) two weeks after a two dose primary course. The company says that this is believed to be the first demonstration of cross protection by a current UK equine influenza vaccine against a Florida sub-lineage clade 2 reference strain.

Anna Jackson, national veterinary manager for Elanco Companion Animal Health said: "Most studies carried out by vaccine companies take place under controlled conditions that are optimal for effective vaccination.  This latest study shows how well Duvaxyn IET plus stimulates immunity under field conditions against both vaccinal and non-vaccinal strains. Importantly, all the weanlings vaccinated with Duvaxyn seroconverted after the first vaccination, conferring earliest and most reliable protection for these vulnerable animals."

For further information please contact your local Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or phone 01256 779881.

References:

• 1. Gildea, S et al. Vaccine 29 (2011) 9214-9223
• 2. Mumford JA et al. Epidemiol Infect. (1994) 112: 421-437.
• 3. ECAH study: AHT study ID C012/01

Online veterinary triage company, Vidivet, has announced a partnership with the practice management software provider, Provet Cloud, whereby case notes from out-of-hours calls taken by Vidivet are automatically sent to the pet owner's practice so it can can follow up. 

Some 150 practices currently use Vidivet, which was set up by Ben Sweeney MRCVS (pictured) in 2020.

He said: “I started VidiVet as I wanted people to be able to access high quality, impartial care for their pets that allows them to make more informed decisions around their treatment with expert information, rather than resorting to the internet.

"As a vet I also wanted to make life easier for those working within veterinary practices.

"VidiVet relieves part of the burden veterinary practices face by offering a trusted digital triage service for their clients.

"Our digital service can provide a helpful extension to a practice which dramatically reduces admin and saves time for the in-house team.

"Crucially, we offer peace of mind and reduce anxiety for pet owners, and with over 96% of VidiVet out of hours calls redirected to the pet owner’s registered vet, it can really enhance the practice bond by using digital care to augment physical care."

Before the Provet partnership, OOH case notes were sent to client practices which then had to enter them onto their systems manually. 

Vidivet says the intregration with Provet means less admin and time savings for practices and a quicker follow up for pet owners.

https://vidivet.com 

https://www.provet.cloud 

The UK dog-owning public is being duped into buying dogs from puppy farms says Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, inadvertently fuelling the cruel trade and potentially landing themselves with huge vet bills.

In a recent survey the charity asked dog owners if they would consider buying a dog from a puppy farm. Although almost 95% said no, when asked where they had got their dog from 15.1% - potentially 900,000 dog owners - admitted they had got them from an advert in the newspaper, the internet, a pet shop or a pet superstore, all outlets often supplied by puppy farms.

In the past six months Dogs Trust has seen a marked increase in calls from concerned members of the public on the subject of puppy farming, many from dog owners whose pets have suffered illness and in some cases died as a result of having been bred at puppy farms.

Dogs Trust is calling for immediate measures to help to stop the puppy farming trade:

1. General public
Dogs Trust is introducing the term 'battery farming of dogs' to associate the practice in the minds of the public with that of battery farming of chickens, and wants to educate the public as to where they can safely go to buy a 'cruelty free dog'. 

Dogs Trust's message to the public is:

• Be wary of buying a dog from the internet, from a newspaper, from a pet shop or garden centre
• Always ask to see the puppy interacting with its mother and be concerned if excuses are made as to why you can't
• Check paperwork and be suspicious if previous owner details have been removed or disguised
• If you suspect a puppy has come from a farm don't buy it. You may be saving a dog but you'll be fuelling the battery farm trade

2. Government & Local Authorities
Dogs Trust is calling for the review of existing breeding licensing legislation.

Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust, said: "Battery farming of dogs is an appalling practice, abhorrent to all decent members of society. Breeding bitches are kept in unthinkably cruel conditions and bred from continuously until they are too old, then discarded. Puppies often suffer from medical problems and behavioural issues as a result of being inadequately socialised. While most people would never consider buying a dog from such a place, it seems that a large number are inadvertently doing so.

"Most reputable breeders would never sell their dogs through newspaper adverts, pet shops or superstores, garden centres or internet websites. Anyone who sees an animal for sale in any of these places should be suspicious. Newspaper adverts and online websites are of particular concern since unscrupulous breeders or middle men (dealers) are difficult to identify, often posing as members of the public selling 'puppies from unplanned litters'."

What's wrong with battery farms?
Breeding bitches at battery farms:

• are kept in small pens without natural daylight or contact with other dogs
• suffer the mental cruelty of having little contact with people and having no space to exercise or opportunity to play
• are bred from continuously in these conditions until they are too old, then discarded

A battery farmed puppy could have genetic or other health problems relating to its poor breeding conditions. It could also have behavioural problems as a result of being taken from its mother at too young an age.

Common problems for a puppy farmed dog are:

• Parvovirus - can be fatal but cost up to £1,000
• Worms - can be fatal but if it causes bad diarrhoea requiring a drip it could cost £500
• Hip dysplasia - two total hip replacements would cost £7,000
• Patella luxation (dislocating knee-caps) - surgery on both knees would cost £1,500
• Congenital heart problems - if surgery required would cost £5,000-6,000

Dogs Trust has published a guide for anyone looking to buy a puppy. It can be downloaded from http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/b/buyingadog/default.aspx

Lintbells has announced that it will be running it's Mobility Matters initiative, which offers practices support materials to hold nurses' mobility clinics for pets with stiff joints, in October this year.

The initiative will run until early 2019, and has been expanded to include cats as well as dogs. In the run up, Lintbells is also offering lunch and learn sessions to help practices implement the clinics.

The company reports that feedback from 50 veterinary surgeons, nurses and practice managers who took part in the initiative last year was encouragingly positive. 86% agreed or strongly agreed that they are now managing mobility issues more effectively in practice and 90% thought client compliance had increased.

96% said they thought vets, nurses and reception staff were communicating more effectively. 95% thought the training had improved staff morale. 94% of veterinary staff felt clients were more confident about managing their pet’s condition and 92% thought more mobility issues had been identified. 74% said they thought practice revenue had increased.

Lintbells Brand Manager, Gemma Cunningham said: "We’re really pleased to be able to help practices to provide support for pets with stiff joints. This year we’ve made some exciting additions to the practice pack based on our ongoing conversations and feedback. Mobility issues in cats are often overlooked and we want to raise awareness and help support owners. By including cats this time round we hope to assist practices with their efforts to encourage cat owners to have their less active and sedentary cats checked out."

Practices that want to register an interest in receiving a Mobility Matters pack can contact their local Lintbells Veterinary Business Development Executive or visit www.lintbellsvet.com.