The company says the like-for-like sales increase was at the upper end of its target of between 4% and 8%, and that it continues to see resilience in the veterinary sector, with membership of its Healthy Pet Club preventative healthcare scheme increasing in the year by 19,000 members (an increase of 4.0%) to 489,000.
CVS says its Board decided to enter the Australian marketplace because of its low levels of corporate consolidation, favourable market dynamics and strong similarities with the UK, including highly trained veterinary surgeons, shared language and culture, and the group's experience with UK vets working between Australia and the UK.
Earlier this month, the group signed agreements for the conditional acquisitions of four independent small animal first opinion veterinary practices in Australia: two in Brisbane, one in Queensland and one in Sydney, for an initial consideration of £16.8M.
Two of the acquisitions have now been completed, and the other two are expected to be completed shortly.
The company says it now plans to acquire more Australian practices in major urban conurbations, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Newcastle and Adelaide.
Ben Jacklin, Deputy CEO said: "Having worked as a vet in Australia earlier in my career, I know well their high standards of clinical care, and the dedication of highly talented veterinary professionals that work there.
"As a company dedicated to giving the best possible care to animals, I see a fantastic opportunity for us to enter this growing market, with low levels of corporate consolidation, and execute our vision of being the veterinary company people most want to work for.
"I have spent time in Australia over the last 12 months, including meeting some fantastic veterinary practices, and it is clear we have a significant opportunity.
"With the four outstanding practices that are joining us, and a strong pipeline of further acquisition opportunities, I am excited to build a significant CVS business in Australia with the same culture and values that have brought us success in the UK."
The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), the veterinary division of International Cat Care, has published Consensus Guidelines on the Practical Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Cats to help veterinary teams deliver optimal management for the diabetic cats presented in practice.
The guidelines were produced by an expert panel of veterinary clinicians and academics who reviewed clinical research studies to collate the best available evidence. They've been published in the March 2015 issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS) and are available to download free from http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/17/3/235.full.pdf+html.
The guidelines focus on the most important aspects of managing diabetic cats including weight control, use of an appropriate diet, insulin therapy (highlighting the value of longer acting insulin preparations) and close monitoring of blood glucose concentrations (including in the home environment).
The ISFM says the guidelines recognise that good diabetic control requires a long-term commitment and one of the keys to success is finding a treatment protocol that best fits in with owners' daily lives. Furthermore, owners may give up on treatment, or even elect for euthanasia of the cat, if the disease impacts too negatively on them and their relationship with their cat. However, with appropriate support and guidance from their veterinary practice, an owner can play an invaluable role in managing diabetes. A well-regulated cat will have a better prognosis and may also be more likely to go into diabetic remission, no longer requiring ongoing insulin therapy.
Among the resources available to assist owners of diabetic cats is a series of short videos produced by International Cat Care (available at http://www.youtube.com/iCatCare) demonstrating blood glucose sampling, insulin injection, and urine collection and testing.
Reference
Melissa, who was invested at the RCVS AGM last week, graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987, starting her career as a food animal intern at Iowa State University in the United States before moving into mixed veterinary practice in Ayrshire in 1990.
Over the next 25 years, she and her husband Kenny developed Oaks Veterinary Centre into a small animal practice with a focus on dentistry.
Melissa was first elected to Council in 2016, was re-elected in 2020 and has served on a number of committees including the Education Committee and Finance & Resources Committee.
Since 2019, she has served as Chair of the Standards Committee, leading the development of proposed new guidance on under care and out-of-hours emergency care and pain relief.
Melissa has also been President of the British Veterinary Association’s Scottish branch and the Ayrshire Veterinary Association and, outside of work, enjoys running, and caring for her dogs, cats and sheep.
In her opening speech as RCVS President, Melissa outlined her sense of community with her fellow vets, as a relatively small but prominent profession that punches above its weight, and how she intended to strengthen this as President.
Melissa said: “When I looked this up in June, there were over 300,000 doctors registered with the General Medical Council.
"We, the veterinary profession, have around 30,000 registered with the RCVS to look after farmed, pet, lab animal, exotic, zoo and wildlife species.
"In other words, all animals EXCEPT the human, and we protect humans too, with public health work!
“Even excluding farmed fish, over 300 million animals are being cared for by 30,000 professional veterinary surgeons and their teams.
"That is the scale of our small but mighty community.
"Being part of a community doesn’t mean we all have to be clones of each other, but a group that can agree to disagree, and is there for each other in times of need.
“With this close proximity to each other, communication is key.
"My mother has offered me many wise words over the years, most frequently being ‘engage brain before opening mouth’ but just as important as speaking is listening and actually hearing what is being said.
"So, over this year I will try to get out and about as much as possible, focus on hearing what our community is saying and engage in many conversations as we work together."
The 2016 PAW Report, in which 4252 dog, cat and rabbit owners were surveyed by YouGov, found that 24% (an estimated 5.2M) of owners did no research at all before buying a pet.
Only 5% of prospective owners spoke with a veterinary professional before buying an animal.
This raises the question of whether practices could be doing more to engage with prospective pet owners, by offering free or low-cost pre-purchase consultations with a veterinary nurse which offer advice about suitable pets and breeds to fit with the buyer's lifestyle.
The PAW Report also discovered that 65% of prospective pet owners were unaware of the five welfare needs. Many also dramatically underestimate the financial implications of owning a pet with 12% of owners believing their pet would only cost up to £500 over their entire lifetime. Overall, 98% of respondents underestimated the lifetime cost of owning their pet to some degree.
Buying pets from inappropriate sources was another major concern, with 23% of veterinary professionals identifying this as one of most critical issues which they would choose to resolve tomorrow. 50% of owners said they would consider getting a pet from a private, classified online advert. 18% of owners said they would still consider getting a puppy from a puppy farm, while others would consider getting a pet from an advert posted on social media (37%), from a pet supermarket (41%), or a pet that has been imported from abroad (28%).
A pre-purchase consultation could help address all of these issues, helping to set the owner's expectations about costs, educate them about the five welfare needs and steer them in the direction of reputable source to buy their new pet.
Such consultations would obviously need to be marketed beyond existing clients in the waiting room, but could be added to existing marketing materials used in the local media and added to the practice website ('Thinking of buying a pet, talk to us first').
To help practices that want to engage with potential pet owners in this way, the PDSA has launched a free ‘Which Pet?’ consultation framework for veterinary teams. The materials include client and explanatory vet team booklets, marketing materials and an e-learning CPD module. They can all be accessed free of charge on PDSA’s website at: pdsa.org.uk/whichpet
Commenting on the PAW Report findings, Sean Wensley, PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, said: "There is little doubt that we’re a nation of animal-lovers. But the PAW Report highlights that impulse-buying pets is still an issue of great concern, and shows no signs of improving. Little or no research before getting a pet means owners have limited understanding of what their pets require throughout their lives, which is undoubtedly leading to an array of other troubling pet welfare problems."
Other key findings:
Their study, which was published in the research journal PeerJ at the end of last year1, investigated the effects of insulin on equine hoof lamellar cells in the laboratory.
The researchers say that high levels of insulin have been known for some time to cause acute endocrine laminitis, seen when ponies and certain types of horses graze lush pasture or consume a starch- or sugar-rich diet, or when they develop Cushing’s syndrome.
Many ponies and horses at risk of the condition produce large spikes of insulin in their blood stream after consuming meals high in non-structural carbohydrates (in particular starch and simple sugars) which indicates that this could be the way in which they succumb to acute endocrine laminitis.
The mechanism by which insulin can cause effects in the foot leading to laminitis has been the subject of much debate in recent years.
Hormones like insulin must interact with a specific receptor on the surface of cells in order to produce their effects. What has confused researchers in the past is that there appear to be no insulin receptors on the hoof lamellar cells (these cells give the lamellar tissues their strength and changes to their growth or structure weaken the bonds and cause laminitis).
The researchers considered the close similarities between insulin and a growth factor hormone called insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1). There are receptors for IGF-1 on the lamellar cells, and the researchers speculated that high concentrations of insulin might be able to cross-stimulate these cells by activating the IGF-1 receptors. To investigate this possibility PhD student Courtnay Baskerville, together with her supervisor Professor Simon Bailey, developed a method for culturing lamellar epithelial cells in the laboratory, and incubated them with increasing concentrations of insulin.
They found that high concentrations of insulin stimulated the cells to proliferate. Furthermore, this effect could be prevented using an antibody that specifically blocks only the IGF-1 receptor. Further downstream effects within the cells were also shown. The changes seemed to occur mainly at very high concentrations of insulin. Similar concentration levels can be seen in ponies and horses with insulin dysregulation linked to Equine Metabolic Syndrome, but are not commonly seen in normal horses that are considered to be at lower risk of laminitis.
Further work is now ongoing to determine exactly how these cellular changes induced by sustained high insulin concentrations might cause laminitis. However, it seems that targeting the IGF-1 receptor may be an option for developing new drugs to prevent and treat laminitis.
Professor Simon Bailey said: "The information gathered in this study provides the equine industry worldwide with valuable insights into the causes of the common and serious condition of laminitis. The research group would like to acknowledge the support of the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, in particular the involvement of Professor Pat Harris.”
The book is described as giving comprehensive information to support the diagnosis and treatment of commonly seen pathologies of dogs and cats, such as haematology, immunology, diagnostic imaging, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular medicine, reproductive system disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as hepatobiliary and exocrine pancreas disorders.
Each chapter has been authored by an internationally recognised expert in their field.
Improve says its books support delegates studying for its Postgraduate Certificate, but are also a useful reference source for other veterinary surgeons.
John Douglass, General Manager of Improve International, said: "Following the positive response to our first textbook, the Improve International Manual of Small Animal Surgery, we felt it was important to follow up with a small animal medicine equivalent. We’re therefore very happy to unveil volume one of the Improve International Manual of Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine and look forward to the launch of the second volume later this year."
He added: "Our textbooks focus on the practical application of current veterinary knowledge, offering top tips and key advice throughout expressed in an engaging and highly visual format to ensure that they are perfect for those in need of a quick ‘look up’ in practice.”
The new books can be bought from www.improveinternational.com/uk/books, www.5mbooks.com or from booksellers worldwide. They are also available in Spanish with translations into additional languages planned.
In a survey conducted for the company last year, 31% of pet owners said they would wait 3 days or more before going to a vet if their pet's eye condition hadn’t improved.
The awareness week is designed to make owners more aware of their animals’ eye health, to help understand the signs and when to take action.
The campaign also offers support for veterinary practices to engage with their communities with educational displays and digital outreach.
Dr Emma Hancox, Technical Vet at Dômes Pharma said: “We know that pets often suffer in silence when it comes to eye issues, and it’s often hard for owners to recognise the signs.
“Through this campaign, we aim to equip veterinary professionals with the tools they need to educate pet owners and ultimately help to improve pet eye health across the country.”
Participating clinics can request display materials and shareable content for social media to drive engagement throughout the awareness week.
There is also a prize draw to win an ophthalmoscope for your practice.
https://domespharma.co.uk/national-pet-eye-health-awareness-week
Davies Veterinary Specialists (DVS) has confirmed its programme of free CPD for vets over the next 10 months, including a special Orthopaedics Roadshow this autumn.
The evening CPD sessions will be held in the practice's purpose-built lecture theatre and will run monthly from October 2010 until July 2011. Meanwhile the roadshows will run throughout October and November, visiting four venues in London and the Home Counties north of the city.
The CPD meetings are all free of charge. They will cover a broad range of topics including anaesthesia (21st July 2011), cardiology (21st April 2011), cytology/oncology (19th May 2011), diagnostic imaging (24th March 2011), ophthalmology (23rd June 2011), orthopaedics (21st & 28th Oct, 4th & 11th Nov 2010), medicine (20th Jan 2011), neurology (25th Nov 2010) and soft tissue surgery (24th Feb 2011), presented by leading specialists from DVS. They will be held on the evening of the third Thursday of every month, with registration commencing at 7pm.
Complimentary drinks and a finger buffet are included. The evenings will close at 9pm, including time for questions and informal discussion. CPD certificates will be provided on request. For further details please contact Marion Kitchener on 01582 883950 or email marion.kitchener@vetspecialists.co.uk
The Orthopaedics Roadshow will kick off at DVS in Hertfordshire on 21 October. DVS's veterinary orthopaedics experts Richard Whitelock, David Thomson, Rob Rayward, Manuel Jiménez Peláez and Mark Morton will then take to the road to visit Aylesbury, Northampton and North London, to share knowledge on common orthopaedic conditions.
Veterinary nurses are invited to attend DVS's in-house nurses CPD programme, free of charge, by prior arrangement. Seminars are being run monthly from 20 September until 22 November 2010. A programme for 2011 will be available in the near future, for further information contact DVS Training Manager Liz Branscombe on 01582 883950 or email lbranscombe@vetspecialists.co.uk
Dr David Gould, who organises DVS's veterinary CPD, said: "The last CPD series sparked some excellent questions and discussion. With the new programme we have decided to stick to one discipline per session rather than two, to make sure we have plenty of time to accommodate as many questions and view points as possible. The orthopaedics roadshow is a new venture, motivated by a desire to make our experience of the wide variety of interesting orthopaedics cases we have received as accessible as possible to small animal practitioners."
For further details on DVS visit the website at http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/
Dunhelm Veterinary Group in Durham has been targeted by an unusual protest, parked outside its front door.
According to a report in the Northern Echo, the van appeared outside the practice last Saturday.
One of the partners, Jack Creaner told the newspaper that there were no outstanding complaints against the practice and the protest was unexplained.
Although the van has now gone, the practice still has no idea who was behind the protest. However, it does seems to have backfired spectacularly, unleashing a wave of support on the practice's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dunelm-Veterinary-Group/299184546875132
Jack said: "We are very grateful to all the people who took time to make such lovely remarks on social media."
He added the following advice for anyone else who in the profession who finds themselves at the receiving end of this kind of behaviour: "Try not to let these things get to you on a personal level. As we saw lots more people like what we do than don't. As one client put it - you can be the ripest sweetest juiciest peach in the world but someone out there doesn't like peaches."
The company developed the new version with input from veterinary surgeons, nurses and APPCC (Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria) members.
Their recommendations, which have now been incorporated into the new design, include:
The new Pet Porters will be available from leading veterinary wholesalers from May.
However, MDC says that if you want to pre-order before the end of April, an introductory 10% discount is available on its website www.mdcexports.co.uk
Merial has announced that a recent change of licence means you can now administer the new generation NSAID, Previcox® for the relief of post operative pain associated with soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery in dogs.
Mark Riggs MRCVS, Veterinary Technical Advisor for Merial said: "Previcox (firocoxib) is now licensed for the relief of post operative pain. Oral PREVICOX can be administered starting 2 hours prior to surgery and has a rapid onset of action reaching peak plasma levels within 90 minutes. The palatable tablet can be given without food and is a realistic option which should be seriously considered when choosing pain relief for surgical patients.
"Containing the active ingredient firocoxib, Previcox is also highly COX-2 selective, being 380 times more selective for COX-2 than COX-1. As a result, it offers a highly desirable efficacy and safety profile which is particularly beneficial in cases which have gone through the additional stress of surgery.
"The recently published study by John P. Punke et al strengthens the evidence reinforcing the benefits offered by firocoxib. The research evaluated the in-vivo effects of firocoxib, meloxicam and tepoxalin in target tissues of dogs suffering with chronic osteoarthritis.
"Eight dogs were used in the cross-over study and each dog received each of the treatments (and a placebo) for seven days, with an appropriate wash out period in between. Firocoxib significantly reduced inflammatory mediators within blood and synovial fluid at all time points, whereas meloxicam only showed a significant reduction compared to baseline values at day four.
"With evidence demonstrating the speed of the anti-inflammatory effect of firocoxib, it may be time for vets to reconsider their post operative pain management. Previcox can be administered orally prior to surgery and can be given once daily for up to three days post operatively. For orthopaedic surgery this treatment schedule can be extended after the first 3 days upon judgement of the attending vet."
For further information please contact your local territory manager or call the Merial Customer Support Centre on 0845 601 4236.
In short, it's a way for equine vets, researchers and students to stay on top of the latest research without accumulating towering stacks of unread journals.
Early reaction to the publication has been very positive. Professor Renate Weller at the Royal Veterinary College said: "HoofSearch is a great tool for anybody interested in staying up to date with what work is going on in relation to horse feet. It is a trustworthy source at an affordable price.
Renate added: "I am not the only one who appreciates HoofSearch; the farriers enrolled in our new degree in research are also using it for their work."
RVC Structure and Motion Laboratory PhD candidate Amy Barstow, BVetMed (Hons), agreed: "HoofSearch gives you a straightforward, time-efficient way to stay on top of the latest research."
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Emerita Hilary M. Clayton also endorses the new publication. She said: "HoofSearch is worth its weight in gold – instead of spending countless hours scouring the literature, I just go through HoofSearch each month and find all the new publications, proceedings and patents neatly classified and enough of the abstract to convey the contents of the article."
Publisher Fran Jurga said: "Everywhere professionals are involved in helping horses with foot problems, the push is on to both be able to access and build on a comprehensive, if still evolving, body of knowledge. These reports will be useful to track how this newly expanding field of research grew and contributed to the improved welfare, longevity and soundness of horses in the future. I can’t wait to add more editions on other equine health subjects."
A subscription to HoofSearch is US$119, worldwide, for 12 editions.
For more information, visit: https://goo.gl/hJTISt
To subscribe (outside the US), visit: https://www.paypal.me/Hoofcare/119
Sarah is a Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine & Science, and leads the Nottingham Equine Colic Project, which works with organisations such as the British Horse Society to raise awareness of the condition.
Sarah's talk, 'Generating an evidence-based educational campaign on colic', will discuss new evidence from the project, and how it led to the REACT colic campaign. She will also be sharing experiences of how the campaign has worked and asking whether we can change people's attitudes and behaviours.
The evening starts at 6.15pm with food and refreshments with Sarah's talk starting at 7pm, after which there will be an update on the College’s latest projects and initiatives. That'll be followed by a question and answer session with senior officers and staff from the RCVS - including RCVS President Dr Niall Connell, and Chair of RCVS Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council Racheal Marshall.
Dr Connell said: "Thank you to Professor Freeman for agreeing to speak about the colic project which, through its Colic Awareness Week, is helping to raise knowledge of the early signs of colic amongst horse owners, allowing them to get their horses treated in good time and saving their lives.
"I also look forward to talking to members of the profession about some of the issues currently on their minds – the evening is very much led by what those who attend want to discuss – from mental health, to our under care review, to the Practice Standards Scheme. Attending the event can also count to up to three hours towards your continuing professional development (CPD) requirement."
The event is open to all members of the practice team including veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, practice managers and others. The event is free and places can be booked via the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/nottingham.
In the afternoon before the event, between 12 noon and 5pm, the College will also be holding a series of free 45-minute Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) surgeries with PSS Lead Assessor Pam Mosedale.
The surgeries are open to both RCVS-accredited practices and those considering joining the Scheme and allows delegates to discuss the assessment process, how to apply for awards, how to meet particular requirements and any other questions they may have about the PSS.
Places at the surgeries are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. They can be booked at: www.rcvs.org.uk/PSSsurgeries
The talk, entitled “Rabbit Dentistry: It Takes Two”, will be co-presented by Craig Tessyman, an exotics veterinary nurse who works alongside Molly at Rutland House Referral Hospital. Their talk will cover the diagnosis and management of dental disease. It is aimed at any veterinary surgeon or nurse who wants to learn more about best practice in rabbit dentistry.
Molly, who holds both a Certificate and Diploma in Zoological Medicine, said: "Dental disease is common amongst pet rabbits, so small animal vets often need to diagnose and treat dental problems.
"It can be challenging to manage these cases. Our aim with this talk is to help vets improve their clinical approach, and also to provide useful tips for nurses – we want to explain how the practice team can work together with these cases, along our theme of ‘it takes two’."
Molly and Craig’s presentation will cover relevant background on the mechanisms of chewing in rabbits and provide practical advice on recognising and diagnosing dental disease. Physical examination and dental charting will be discussed, as well as dental radiography.
Molly said: "Radiography can be a really useful tool to assess dental disease in rabbits. Vets often aren’t as familiar with positioning and evaluating radiographs of rabbits as compared to cats and dogs, so we’ll give some useful tips on what to look out for."
Molly will share some advice on taking good dental radiographs, and then go into the details of interpretation, explaining how to use imaging to gain a more accurate diagnosis and enable more specific treatment. After this, she will discuss how best to plan and perform dental treatment. Incisor removal, cheek tooth extraction and pulpectomy are some of the topics she’ll cover.
The talk counts for 1 hour of CPD and will be held on 11th November at 12:20pm. Those who can’t make the live session can access a recording afterwards. More information and the sign-up link is available here: https://supremepetfoods.com/rabbit-dentistry-it-takes-two/.
Virbac, maker of Pronefra for the management of CKD in cats and dogs, has launched a free app to help interpret patients' urine test results in line with the latest International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) Guidelines.
The app, which is also called Pronefra, is available for download on both the Play store and Apple store.
Simon Boulton MRCVS, Marketing Manager for Companion Animals, said: "Reference ranges supplied by machines and labs are not always appropriate for the renal patient so we wanted to help practices to interpret kidney-specific results quickly and easily in line with the latest recommendations. The Pronefra app was the result. We have received very positive feedback on the app so far and hope it will help practices improve the quality and length of life of their renal patients."
Virbac is also providing further Pronefra practice support materials, include a pet health recording book for clients to aid in compliance and other educational tools for vets, nurses and clients.
The CVS practice aimed to change its prescribing culture by adopting an evidence-based, case-by-case approach and supporting its vets in only using antibiotics where absolutely necessary.
The practice identified the use of antibiotics in the treatment of cat bite abscesses (CBAs) as worthy of investigation.
Cefovecin, a third-generation cephalosporin and critically important antibiotic, is often used in the treatment of CBAs.
The practice first sought guidance from a dermatology specialist with an active research programme involving the study of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
It then developed a clinical guideline advising that if a cat has a discrete abscess, with no pyrexia (raised temperature) and no cellulitis, antibiotics are not required.
White Lodge then conducted an eight-month clinical audit across its Exmouth Hub, with the aim of measuring the effect of the new guideline.
The practice treated patients with CBA’s with NSAIDS, lancing and flushing (if necessary), and cleaning of the abscess.
Owners were advised to flush the affected area at home once daily.
An antibiotic awareness leaflet was given to clients with an explanation of the reasoning behind not prescribing antibiotics.
Cats presented 5-7 days after treatment for a nurse re-examination.
A consultation template was created for both the vet at initial presentation and another for the nurse’s post treatment check, to gather standardised information.
The measure of successful treatment was whether, on re-examination, the CBA site appeared free from infection and wound healing was evident.
If the wound had not started to heal or if there was infection or pyrexia, the treatment was deemed to have failed and further treatment was provided.
Analysis of the results showed that of the 22 cats included in the audit, 19 (86%) did not need antibiotics to successfully treat the abscess.
There was also a 32.6% reduction in the number of times cefovecin was dispensed in the eight-month period after the audit started, compared with the previous eight months.
Emily Parr, Head Veterinary Surgeon at White Lodge, said: “We think, due to lack of confidence in treatment without antibiotics as well as client pressure or expectation, the profession tends to default to the prescribing of antibiotics.
“However, this clinical audit has given our veterinary colleagues increased confidence in treating CBA’s without antibiotics.
"There has also been an improved client understanding in accepting treatment without antibiotics.
"Clients have also been positive when minimal intervention has been required, particularly as it eliminates the cost of antibiotics.
"This has had a positive impact on the vet-client relationship and trust in our practice.
“Antimicrobial resistance is continuing to threaten the efficacy and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections.
"So we hope that our CBA clinical audit outcome results will help to set a benchmark and shape clinical guidelines for the wider veterinary profession in this area.”
Sileo provides a micro-dose of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, a selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist which Zoetis says helps a dog calm down or remain calm yet fully functional in situations involving fear-eliciting sounds.
Sileo is presented as an oromucosal gel formulation in a 3ml oral syringe that can be used to apply multiple doses.
Zoetis says that its user-friendly application means that, once prescribed, it can be given by the dog owner and used only when needed for each noise anxiety event. It takes effect within 15 - 60 minutes and last for 2-3 hours. Should the fear-eliciting noise continue, further doses can be given at two hour intervals up to a total of five times during each noise event.
The company says that even when the full dosing limit is used, the dog will remain functional during treatment; the clinical effects of dexmedetomidine are dose-dependent and the anxiolytic effect is reached before the sedative effect.
Animal behaviourist, Jon Bowen BVetMed DipAS (CABC) MRCVS, said: "Fear of seasonal loud noises such as fireworks, thunder and gunshots are known to affect around 50% of the UK dog population but the prevalence of fears of other everyday noises and the extent to which those fears contribute to nuisance and problem behaviour in dogs is something we are researching at the moment. Sileo is ideal as an acute anxiolytic for planned or expected events such as fireworks or thunder, but it has an even wider range of potential applications in planned events that involve stressful noise exposure including travel, social gatherings and even visits to the vet."
Sileo is available to order now via your veterinary wholesaler.
For more information contact your Zoetis account manager or customer support on 0854 300 8034 or visit www.zoetis.co.uk/Sileo.
Mr Wilson faced two charges. The first was that in October 2017, he provided inaccurate information to an insurer in respect of a Labrador he treated by saying that the dog was presented to him with a lame left foreleg on 13 June 2017, when in fact the dog was presented for treatment on 7 June 2017 and that his conduct was therefore dishonest and misleading.
The second charge was that between 17 January 2017 and 17 January 2018 he failed to have any arrangements in place for Professional Indemnity Insurance (a requirement of the Code of Professional Conduct) and then, that between 8 January and 5 December 2019, he failed to respond to reasonable requests from the RCVS regarding his Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Prior to the hearing, Mr Wilson made an application to the Committee to adjourn the hearing subject to the Committee accepting his undertakings to remove himself from the Register and never to apply to be restored.
Mr Wilson’s legal representative at the hearing submitted to the Disciplinary Committee that granting the application would be in the public interest on the basis that Mr Wilson was 68 years of age and had now retired from the profession and closed his practice, that he had dedicated his entire working life to veterinary practice, had a previously long and unblemished career with no other complaints, and that he was well-regarded by clients and professional colleagues.
The application was not opposed by the RCVS whose representative informed the Committee that, relating to the charge of dishonesty, the College had taken into account that the insurance claim form was not submitted by Mr Wilson himself, and that there is no evidence of any financial motivation behind the charge nor any allegation of harm to an animal.
Taking into account the submissions from Mr Wilson’s representatives and from the RCVS, as well as precedent cases for such applications, the Committee decided that Mr Wilson’s voluntary undertakings went well beyond any sanction that could be imposed by the Committee and considered that the application would protect the public interest, confidence in the profession, and the welfare of animals.
Professor Alistair Barr FRCVS, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee decided that this is not a case in which the public interest or the welfare of animals demands that there be a full hearing, with determinations made by the Disciplinary Committee. Taking into account proportionality, and weighing in the balance the public interest, the interests of justice, the need to protect the welfare of animals, as well as the interests of both parties, the Committee decided to accede to the respondent’s application.”
The full findings of the Disciplinary Committee can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The practical, wet lab, small group and 'Breakfast with a Specialist' programme has expanded to enhance the CPD experience and to meet rising demand, alongside more than 450 lectures for delegates to choose from.
Wet lab sessions, introduced at Congress 2017, will again be held at the University of Birmingham’s Medical School and include topics on cytology, haematology, basic eye surgery, rabbit dentistry and dental radiography for dogs and cats.
'Breakfast with a Specialist' sessions give delegates exclusive access to world-renowned experts to discuss challenging cases informally, in a small group setting: endocrinology cases with David Church on Friday, epilepsy cases with Holger Volk on Saturday and jaw fracture fixation in the dog and cat with Peter Southerden on Sunday.
BSAVA Congress Programme Committee Chair Sue Murphy said: "Responding to the excellent delegate feedback from 2017’s programme, we are increasing the number of practical and small group sessions to enable more delegates to benefit in 2018. These sessions represent excellent, value for money education and a unique opportunity for delegates to practice vital skills with guidance from experts in their respective disciplines.’"
Each workshop or small group is available to purchase when registering for Congress and a full summary of each practical and small group session is available at: http://www.bsavacongress.com/programme
The 61st annual BSAVA Congress takes place at the Birmingham ICC and Arena Birmingham from 5-8 April, including a new non-clinical stream on Sunday – Beyond the Clinics.
Looking at the imagery on the company's website, I'm not altogether sure I'll be able to resist it either.
The new range, which comes in chicken or tuna flavour with vegetables and rice, includes:
Urinary Care - to help dissolve struvite uroliths
Derm Defense - to support skin health
Digestive Care - for pets with gastrointestinal disorders and pets in recovery
Metabolic - a weight management diet for pets
Kidney Care - to support pets with kidney conditions
For more information, visit: https://www.hillspet.co.uk/prescription-diet/stew.
The BVA has challenged the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to take further investigative action to enable Defra to consider prosecutions against the Essex abattoir where appalling animal welfare abuses were highlighted in footage obtained by Animal Aid.
The footage shows pigs being abused and manhandled in breach of animal welfare legislation.
BVA President Harvey Locke said: "There must be confidence in the systems that regulate and license slaughter and the people responsible for carrying it out. I have written to the Chief Executive of the FSA outlining our concerns at the lack of any action towards prosecution.
"The method by which the issue was highlighted should not, in our opinion, preclude further investigation by the FSA and Defra into these incidents with a view to lawfully obtaining evidence to either support or refute the accusations arising from the Animal Aid footage."
Mr Locke added: "The UK food industry prides itself on high welfare standards. Animal cruelty is not acceptable and action must be taken. These are serious welfare issues and investigations into this sort of blatant abuse and appalling treatment of animals must be pursued vigorously."
In his letter to the FSA Mr Locke reiterated the BVA's views on the specific issue of CCTV in abattoirs at the stunning/slaughter point, stressing that Food Business Operators (FBOs) must have effective procedures in place either to constantly monitor stunning and slaughter operations, or to enable the FBO or their Animal Welfare Officer to inconspicuously observe stunning and slaughter operations at any time: such arrangements may include an aperture or window into the stunning area or the use of CCTV by the FBO for welfare monitoring and management purposes.
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The reported behaviour patterns, seen on a weekly basis, included rabbits biting the bars of their run or hutch repeatedly, fur pulling, biting, growling and hissing.
The charity says that with more than 680,0001 rabbits living alone, despite being highly sociable animals, and thousands more living in small hutches with no opportunity for exercise or mental stimulation, it is no surprise owners and vets are seeing these issues on a regular basis.
PDSA veterinary surgeon Rebecca Ashman said: "Our figures highlight that lack of mental stimulation can have a huge impact on pet behaviour. What’s most frustrating is the fact that many of these issues could easily be avoided if rabbits were given the right conditions, diet and companions to live alongside."
For this reason, PDSA is backing Rabbit Awareness Week’s #BuddiesForBunnies campaign to get solitary rabbits paired up with suitable companions from rescue centres. The charity says the findings should be a call to action for the 57% of rabbit owners who own single rabbits.
Rebecca added: "Pets do so much to enrich and improve our lives, but by not meeting their needs, their physical and mental wellbeing can be severely compromised. "Sadly, rabbits seem to be the forgotten pet". They can’t speak up and tell us if they’re unhappy, but with the right information and education, owners can make positive changes to their pets’ lives."
MSD says the new Bravecto Care Programme involves collaborating with charitable organisations and raising awareness of their mission in order to help save and improve lives of dogs and cats around the world.
StreetVet has become the first of these partnerships for MSD Animal Health in the UK, which will be supplying the charity with Bravecto and Nobivac vaccines.
Amanda Melvin, Marketing Manager for MSD Animal Health Companion Animal said: "The bond between people and their dogs can be a profound one so supporting StreetVet is a perfect collaboration for us through our Bravecto Care Programme . Every vet and vet nurse will understand the value of this vital human animal bond and our team at MSD Animal Health is excited to be providing product and looking forward to volunteering on the streets with the StreetVet team."
StreetVet co-founder Jade Statt said: "Life on the streets makes it difficult for these owners to access the care they need for their dogs, so to ensure the health and vitality of these pets we need to go to them. Having the support of MSD Animal Health helps make that care work easier and allows us to access even more homeless people as the problem grows."
For more information, visit: www.streetvet.co.uk.
The campaign, taking place in February, will underline that responsible use of antibiotics starts with newborn calves, lambs and piglets receiving the right amount of colostrum within a couple of hours of birth – something all farmers have the potential to achieve.
A number of organisations will be releasing information and promoting best practice throughout the month, mainly based around getting the 3Qs (quality, quantity and quickness) of colostrum delivery right.
The FarmAntibiotics.org information website will be signposting to these resources, as well as highlighting hints and tips for more effective colostrum management.
RUMA chairman Gwyn Jones says that as a farmer, he recognises the pressures at lambing and calving, and just how easy it can be to take shortcuts with the all-important first feed.
"But it was a wake-up call when I found out calves receiving insufficient colostrum at birth are more than twice as likely to develop respiratory disease, and can have mortality rates as high as 13%," he said.
"Too often we see the animal start to suck or we give it a feed, and don’t think about the actual quantity of colostrum it consumes immediately after birth.
"All these factors have an enormous impact on the levels of antibodies in the bloodstream 24 hours later, and on the subsequent health of the animal and its need for antibiotic treatment during its whole life.
"Better colostrum management is an incredible opportunity – not just to ensure better health for the future, but to cut antibiotic use and produce a more valuable animal for onward rearing."
Research manager Dr Jenny Gibbons from AHDB says their recent 'Calf to Calving' campaign focusing on youngstock rearing has seen nearly 40% of attendees go on to buy equipment to test the quality of colostrum.
Jenny said: "With recent figures from the Royal Veterinary College indicating just 31% of dairy farmers have been testing the quality of the colostrum before feeding it, this uptake is good news.
"Another area to tackle is time of feeding. Only 5% are feeding within the ideal two hours after birth. Changing these practices would make a huge difference to calves for onward beef rearing as well as replacement heifers."
Specialist sheep vet Dr Fiona Lovatt says lambs receiving insufficient colostrum at birth is behind one of the sheep industry’s biggest antibiotic use 'hotspots', in what is otherwise a low-use sector.
She said: "It’s largely avoidable. The reality is that we simply don’t see Watery Mouth in lambs that have taken sufficient colostrum on board in that golden 24-hour window immediately after birth."
Fiona says a 5kg lamb at birth needs 1 litre of colostrum in its first 24 hours of life to give it essential levels of natural immunity, but importantly, the first feed should be within two hours of birth.
"Antibodies – essential in protecting against all disease including E coli infections – cannot cross through the placenta, so must be transferred through colostrum.
"While thin ewes or those that are not well fed in the run-up to lambing will produce too little colostrum of low quality, more often it’s simply not getting enough colostrum into the lamb quickly enough after birth."
Fiona says the sheep sector should not be relying on use of preventative antibiotics – because of image but also the very real problem of antibiotic resistance. "We know from government data that 50% of neonatal lamb E coli are already resistant to spectinomycin, the most commonly used dose. We need to protect these antibiotics, or we will lose them."
Veterinary lead at AHDB and pig specialist Dr Mandy Nevel says baby pigs need colostrum too, to maintain body temperature as well as protect them against disease.
Mandy said: "Baby pigs are born wet and with very little energy reserve. Ideally they need to get a feed in within the first 30 minutes to prevent hypothermia. This early feed will also provide essential immunity, giving them the best chance of survival in their first few weeks of life.
"Sow vaccination is the best way to boost antibody levels in the colostrum. That is why piglets who receive good levels of colostrum early will also be the healthiest at weaning. That extra care in the first hours of life will really make a difference."
Mandy includes post-weaning diarrhoea and respiratory disease as longer term threats for piglets receiving insufficient colostrum at birth. "Colostrum really is a golden opportunity to secure lower antibiotic use and a healthier animal for its whole life."
Veterinary surgeons and farmers looking for more information should search for the #ColostrumIsGold hashtag on Twitter, or go to the FarmAntibiotics.org website to be signposted to tools, resources and case studies from 1 February.
Founded in 2005 by Jane Howorth MBE, the British Hen Welfare Trust rehomes commercial laying hens that would usually be sent to slaughter, typically at 18 months.
The charity has rehomed hens in schools, community areas, prisons and back gardens around the country, where they have plenty of life left both as egg layers and companions.
The millionth hen, named Henrietta by His Majesty, was rehomed at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire, along with 30 others earlier this month.
Jane said: “We’re thrilled that one million hens have been adopted and extremely pleased that Henrietta and her 30 feathered friends are heading to Highgrove Gardens.
"Helping a lorry load of 4,000 was my original target and we’ve exceeded my expectations by some margin!
"To think that so many hens have had a happy retirement gives me a great deal of pleasure as I’m sure it has for all the kind-hearted British supporters who’ve taken these deserving little creatures into their homes and hearts.
"From the day I started this charity, it’s been a privilege to meet and work with people who want to help hens and to work alongside the egg industry to champion hen welfare and free range eggs.”
www.bhwt.org.uk/one-millionth-hen.