Horses suffering from neurological conditions similar to those that affect humans could be helped by a breakthrough from stem cell scientists, according to a study published in the journal Stem Cells and Development.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute took skin cells from a young horse and turned them into stem cells using a technique that was originally developed for human cells. The reprogrammed cells are pluripotent, which means they can be induced to become any type of cell in the body. The team used them to create nerve cells in the laboratory and tested whether they were functional by showing that they could transmit nerve signals in a test tube.
The university says horse stem cells have been produced in the laboratory before but this is the first time that scientists have created working cells of a specific type from them. The advance may pave the way for cell therapies that target conditions similar to motor neurone disease.
In addition, the research could also benefit horses affected by grass sickness, a neurological condition that affects around 600 horses a year in the UK. Little is known about the disease, which causes nerve damage throughout the body. It is untreatable and animals with the most severe form usually die or have to be put down.
Dr Xavier Donadeu from the Roslin Institute, an author of the study, said: "Stem cells hold huge therapeutic potential both for people and animals. Our research is an important step towards realising that potential for horses and provides an opportunity to validate stem-cell based therapies before clinical studies in humans."
The completion date for the RCVS surveys of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions is Monday 8 February, and the College is urging anyone who has not yet completed their survey to do so.
The data collected will be used to help develop policy, in discussion with government and other bodies, and in response to requests from journalists and members of the public who wish to have an accurate picture of the veterinary profession today. So it's important that as many people as possible complete their surveys.
For the first time, a standard set of questions about well-being (the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale) has been included. Over time, data collected will enable the College to monitor population changes in mental health and well-being, and work with other organisations to address any issues identified.
If you have mislaid your paper copy, the survey can be completed online:
Veterinary surgeons click here: www.employmentresearch.co.uk/vs2010.htm
Veterinary nurses click here: www.employmentresearch.co.uk/vn2010.htm
All responses are confidential.
Following last weekend's Mail on Sunday revelation that a number of well-known organisations have been routinely serving meat from animals which have not been humanely slaughtered, the BVA has written to the companies involved, both to express concerns about animal welfare and to renew calls for clearer labelling.
The Mail on Sunday found that meat slaughtered under certain religious rules without pre-stunning (including kosher and some halal meat), is entering the mainstream food chain without being labelled as such. The investigation found that the meat is being used in schools, hospitals, pub chains and sporting venues.
The investigation follows news reports that GateGourmet, one of the largest airline caterers, is considering making the majority of its meals halal.
The BVA is concerned that consumers are confused by existing food labels and supports moves by the European Parliament to introduce mandatory labelling of meat from non-stunned animals, including use of the meat in other products. The BVA also supports the concept of one clear EU-wide label that would indicate higher welfare throughout the food chain.
Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "Whilst we understand the need to respect religious freedoms the BVA believes that all animals should be stunned before slaughter to ensure the highest possible welfare for the animals.
"The exemption for religious slaughter should therefore be kept to a minimum. Meat from animals slaughtered according to these religious rules should not used in the mainstream market, particularly if it is not labelled as such.
"Earlier this year the European Parliament voted in favour of the compulsory labelling of meat from non-stunned animals and the British Veterinary Association strongly welcomed this move.
"We believe that consumers do want to make choices based on higher animal welfare and not cause unnecessary suffering. They should have the right information to make those pro-welfare choices."
The first, hosted by Sam Taylor, head of veterinary specialists at ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) is titled ‘Whetting the appetite: purr-fectly feeding your knowledge of feline inappetence and why early detection shouldn’t be overlooked’.
The session, which starts at 12:30pm on Tuesday 6th, will explore the importance of feline inappetence, how it goes overlooked by owners and practices alike and why it shouldn’t be underestimated.
In the second session, which starts at 12:30pm on Friday 9th, Libby Koytzoumis, veterinary technical advisor at Dechra (pictured), will talk about one of the most commonly diagnosed endocrine diseases in dogs, Cushing’s syndrome.
Libby's webinar, ‘Are you seeing these usual suspects in practice?’ will explore the common signs, routes to diagnosis and the effective treatment and monitoring of Cushing’s.
https://thewebinarvet.com/events/virtual-veterinary-congress-2024
The Company of Animals has announced the launch of the CLIX® Car Safe Harness. Designed by Animal Psychologist and founder of The Company of Animals, Dr. Roger Mugford, the CLIX® Car Safe harness has been designed to maximise safety and comfort for dogs while ensuring easy fitting and use for owners.
Ergonomically designed from one continuous loop of approved, safety-standard seatbelt material, the CLIX ® Car Safe Harness provides maximum strength restraint in the unfortunate case of an accident. With a simple buckling mechanism, there is no need to fiddle around with the dog's legs to get them through the harness. Instead, the harness clips from either side of the dog and then plugs into the seat belt socket. Alternatively, it can be looped through the seat belt harness, easily adjusting to any type of car.
The CLIX ® Car Safe Harness has been lined with soft neoprene padding at all points of contact for maximum comfort and safety. Special attention has been paid to the cross design used to protect the dog's chest to ensure that the harness remains in place, even when the dog changes position.
CLIX® Car Safe Harness is available in four sizes and is suitable for most breeds of dog. It comes with a free guide on safe travelling with dogs full of helpful tips on car safety. The CLIX® Car Safe also doubles as a walking harness.
For more information, visit http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/clix-carsafe.php
According to the European Scientific Counsel for Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP), serious zoonotic diseases, currently rife across Europe, could be a far more serious threat to pet and human health in the UK than official figures suggest.
Vets and parasitologists at an ESCCAP meeting held in Bristol on 19th September, heard evidence that UK cases of diseases such as leishmaniosis and babesiosis are grossly under-reported. ESCCAP is urging vets and parasitologists to help raise awareness of the threat and lobby the Government to prevent further relaxation of pet movement restrictions.
According to DACTARI, the voluntary web-based Dog And Cat Travel And Risk Information scheme, just 19 cases of leishmaniosis, 10 babesiosis, 10 ehrlichiosis and one case of dirofilariosis had been recorded between 1 January 2003 and 30 September 2006, which are the latest figures reported on the Defra website.
But latest figures presented by Susan Shaw, senior lecturer in dermatological and applied immunology, revealed a screening programme underway at Bristol University casts serious doubts on the reliability of the Defra-backed service to monitor cases.
"From 2005 to 2007 we recorded 257 cases of leishmaniosis. The babesiosis cases you can multiply by about five, the ehrlichiosis cases by about 10 and dirofilariosis by three," Ms Shaw told delegates at the sixth ESCCAP meeting. "That is absolutely outrageous - we are dealing with a massive number of cases. I would be very concerned if we are making decisions for the UK based on the DACTARI figures."
Maggie Fisher, an independent consultant in veterinary parasitology and founding member of ESCCAP pointed out that the PETS (Pet Travel Scheme), has issued dogs and cats with passports for travel across Europe since 2000 and has proven immensely popular, with 76,000 dogs entering the UK in January to October 2007 alone.
"What is coming into the country with those animals is not well documented," said Mrs Fisher. Case studies point to harrowing experiences for individual families travelling with their dogs to mainland Europe unaware of the dangers. "One family thought they'd done everything they should because they followed the instructions under PETS. What they didn't realise is that they weren't protected against ticks, tick-borne diseases and worms whilst they were away and their dog picked up babesiosis."
Human health and veterinary professionals at the meeting explored the real threat and implications of parasites across Europe. Peter Deplazes of ESCCAP, Switzerland, reported that the human form of Echinococcus multilocularis claims three or four lives per year in Switzerland and is a very common endoparasitic diagnosis in dogs. Forty per cent of foxes are infected with E multilocularis.
Leishmaniosis causes renal failure in dogs, reported ESCCAP Spain's Lupe Miro Corrales, often leading to death or euthanasia. Worldwide more than 12 million people are already infected, and one in ten at risk of being infected. Stray dogs and cats are important carriers and almost 80 per cent of sero-positive dogs have no clinical signs.
Natural controls offered by the UK's island status are now under threat. Currently a derogation allows the UK, and four other EU member states, stricter controls to help maintain their Echinococcus multilocularis and tick-borne disease free status. It extends to July 2010 but comes up for review next year, pointed out Maggie Tomlinson from the Department of Health, who is taking the case to the EU Commission.
"I can say categorically that they are not keen for us to keep the derogation and it's going to be a very hard fight. We only have until January to push the Commission to make a decision."
Chairman-elect of ESCCAP Europe, James Duncan, pointed out the organisation is seeking to raise awareness of the serious risks posed by endo and ecto-parasites to human and animal health, and is developing independent guidelines and educational materials for their optimal control.
"There is no immediate panacea," he said. But those in the veterinary profession who are aware of the risks should take action. "It is up to you to lobby - put your voice to Government and influence the pet passport scheme. You can do that and it will help our cause because we are singing from the same hymn sheet."
Hill's has launched Science Plan Snacks: a new range of treats which includes light, immunity support, healthy mobility, oral care and skin & coat variants for adults, and immunity support and skin & coat variants for puppies.
Market research has shown that 76% of UK dog owners feed their pet treats, and that snacks represent 33% of total market value in the dog food segment. Hill's has identified that 84% of pet owners want their pet's snack to be healthy and 67% want the snack to meet a specific need. However, the company says many pet snacks and table scraps are high in salt, sugar and fat and overfeeding can unbalance a nutritionally balanced diet provided by the main meal, as well as being a major cause of obesity.
Adrian Pratt, Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill's said: "Owners like to treat their pets to snacks as it helps cement their close bond but they are also aware that feeding unhealthy food is a bad idea. We believe that responsible snacking is the way forward and to that end have launched Science Plan Snacks. The range is not only low in calories and made with all the optimal nutrition principles that guides the formulation of Science Plan main meal but also features on-pack guidelines to indicate the number of snacks that can be given per day. "
Hill's says the new range outperforms other mainstream biscuit treats in taste tests, being up to 79% preferred. Science Plan Snacks offer fatty acid ratios and blends to support healthy mobility and patented fibre technology in the oral product, with controlled levels of calcium and salt. The resealable bag maintains freshness and the high impact premium black packaging provides great stand out on shelf.
For further information contact your Hill's Territory Manager or Hill's customer service on 0800 282438.
Bayer Animal Health has produced a take home prescription guide to encourage pet owners to remain compliant with its antimicrobial, Veraflox (pradofloxacin).
The leaflet contains prescription details together with a treatment record and next appointment reminder. Group Product Manager Tracey Dawson said: "There is also a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section explaining why compliance is so important."
Bayer says the leaflet has been developed to help vets and VNs ensure pet owners are encouraged to be responsible with prescribed medicines. Tracey added: "The guide is designed to reinforce the information given by the prescribing vet, and answer further questions owners might have on arrival home or during the treatment."
Bayer highlights that Veraflox's mode of action helps reduce the potential for the development of resistant bacteria¹, but only if it is used correctly. Tracey said: "Although it might seem to be easy for pet owners to adhere to the advice given with prescribed medicines, especially with the more palatable options now available, it is very important that we help preserve the efficacy of the fluoroquinolone class by continuing to encourage strict client compliance through correct dosing, and finishing the course of antibiotics prescribed."
For further information, contact your Bayer Territory Manager or call Bayer Animal Health on 01635 563000.
Reference
Wetzstein HG. Comparative Mutant Prevention Concentrations of Pradofloxacin and Other Veterinary Fluoroquinolones Indicate Differing Potentials in Preventing Selection of Resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005;49(10): 4166-4173
Vetcel, the veterinary buying group, has announced a partnership with Training Progress, through which it will deliver its health and safety training information to member practices.
Training Progress is a training management system designed primarily so that veterinary managers can track their staff training. The company says the system empowers staff to drive their own training, and devolves training responsibility (where appropriate) away from senior team members.
The tie-up with Vetcel means member practices will be able to access Vetcel's health and safety training in their own own mini Training-Progress site, where they will be able to track their teams' progress and compliance.
Chris Bainton said: "The Vetcel group are delighted to be working with Training-Progress to provide a further benefit to our membership. We recognise that Training-Progress will help our members ensure that their team’s staff development and training is promoted and, specifically, that both the staff and the practices themselves are protected and enabled by monitoring and recording the health and safety training of the team.”
Training Progress will be at stand O54 at the London Vet Show.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is calling for comment on a draft Performance Protocol, which aims to manage proportionately any justified concerns about the professional performance of veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses.
The RCVS's Preliminary Investigation and Advisory Committees have been working together to develop a new protocol setting out the way in which the College will respond to ongoing performance-related concerns. There is an expectation that veterinary surgeons and RVNs are already regularly reviewing their clinical work in the workplace. This will be reinforced by the new principles-based Code of Professional Conduct, currently being finalised, which is likely to require clinical governance to be part of professional practice for veterinary surgeons and RVNs.
According to the College, the draft protocol is intended to formalise and build on the way it already manages ongoing serious performance-related concerns. It introduces new measures, including supervision and undertakings, to seek to ensure that veterinary surgeons and RVNs take reasonable steps to address any serious performance concerns. This will bring the RCVS into line with other professional regulators and enable a tailored and proportionate response to these cases to protect the welfare of animals and the public interest. The College's current system of offering advice to veterinary surgeons and RVNs will remain for complaints which are closed, because there is no indication of serious professional misconduct.
The College says that according to independent legal advice, such an approach is appropriate and necessary in order for it to fulfil its regulatory responsibilities. The draft performance protocol follows similar legal advice that supported the implementation of the RCVS Health Protocol, and both protocols clarify the College's parallel jurisdiction relating to health and performance-related issues.
RCVS President Jerry Davies said: "When veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses are unable to deal with performance-related concerns, it is important that we are able to provide a supportive framework to oversee remedial steps that are designed to address those concerns and encourage professional development. This is best achieved outside a Disciplinary Committee hearing, if at all possible".
The approved draft protocol is now open for public consultation, and may be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/performance. All comments on the draft should be emailed to Simon Wiklund, Advisory Manager at s.wiklund@rcvs.org.uk by 13 January 2012, with 'Performance Protocol' added to the subject heading.
The feedback received from the consultation will be considered by the Preliminary Investigation and Advisory Committees in January 2012, before being submitted to RCVS Council for approval in March.
The College says it hopes that a performance protocol will form part of the supporting guidance to the new RCVS Codes of Professional Conduct for both veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses.
The Pet Epilepsy Tracker, an app developed by the RVC to help pet owners monitor their dog's condition and response to treatment, is to be translated into seven languages and offered throughout Europe.
Launched during National Epilepsy Week in May last year, the Pet Epilepsy Tracker was developed in collaboration with the Epilepsy Society.
Holger Volk, Professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery at the RVC said: "The main advantage for owners will be the control of an unpredictable and previously uncontrollable disease. Additionally, vets will gain a greater understanding of medication given to a dog, with a record that allows them to spot patterns in seizures.
"The medication reminders increases an owner’s compliance by informing them how many seizures the dog had, which will in turn decrease trips to vets to monitor the disease."
Professor Volk added: “There are a few epilepsy apps in the human market but there was nothing like it for the dog market, until this app. I was proud to have been a part of the project and I am thrilled that this app will benefit pet owners in Europe as well as the UK."
The app will be demonstrated at this year’s ESVN/ECVN Symposium being held in Edinburgh (September 15-17) of which Professor Volk is the co-chair of the Scientific Programme.
The app is currently available to download in English on the Google Play store and Apple iTunes App Store. A video of Professor Volk discussing the app can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/bZDa_8a_hwM
With 2024 support payments for farmers in England now at half former levels and significant changes to subsidies for farmers in Scotland and Wales set to come into play next year, Elanco says effective flock health management to maximise efficiency and performance within flocks has become increasingly important.
Elanco's Ruminant Technical Consultant, Matt Colston MRCVS said: “Policymakers recognise the importance of animal health and welfare for better productivity and are putting an increasing onus on vets to deliver improvements, for example via the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP).”
“Its crucial vets have the knowledge and confidence to support sheep clients on important flock health issues, with worming programmes high up on this agenda.”
"By developing farm-specific worm control strategies and working closely with clients to better monitor worm burdens, you can help achieve immediate flock performance benefits and manage the longer term risks of anthelmintic resistance on that farm.”
Elanco says that by dosing lambs with its newer Group 4 wormer, Zolvix, at the right time during the mid to late grazing season, farmers can clear out any resistant worms that have survived previous treatments and see an uplift in daily liveweight gain as a result.
Matt added: “We shouldn’t wait for problems to manifest.
"By the time wormer groups have stopped working, or clinical signs of worms are visible, damage is already done; regular monitoring and early intervention is a better option.
“More farmers are Faecal Egg Counting (FEC) but many are unsure how best to go about it.
“A practical demonstration of how to collect samples, and what to collect from which animals, is often the best way to show how easy FEC can be.”
“Farmers can be cautious about change, but by taking small steps and consistently offering sound, practical advice, vets can help farmers adopt more sustainable worm control strategies and improve margins in sheep production.”
Rabbit Awareness Week (26th April - 2nd May 2010) is reportedly going to be bigger than ever this year with over 1000 vets within the industry expected to be involved.
In partnership with Burgess Pet Care, Petplan Insurance, Company of Animals, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Genitrix, PDSA, Wood Green Animal Shelters and RWAF, Rabbit Awareness Week's mission is to educate current and potential rabbit owners across the UK about the importance of rabbit welfare.
The focus of the week will be rabbit obesity. At the same time, organisers hope the week will raise the profile of rabbits as pets and encourage owners to seek the right veterinary advice about rabbit nutrition and health.
The week has been deliberately timed to happen soon after Easter, to make use of a time of year when rabbits are at the forefront of people's minds. Organisers hope to reach rabbit owners who may have bought new pet rabbits but who may not have the right information about how to keep them happy and healthy.
Throughout the week some of the UK's largest retailers, suppliers of rabbit food and welfare charities will be providing valuable feeding knowledge and information, along with a range of deals and offers to vets and pet owners.
Organisers are asking veterinary practices to get involved by offering Free Health Checks for pet rabbits, and by providing free advice about vaccinations, husbandry and diet. To help, there is a range of display and training materials to help you run your Free Health Checks together with promotional materials such as newsletter templates and press releases. You can also register your event for free on the Online Event Locator.
The display kit includes shelf wobblers, barkers, posters, appointment flyers, Health Check Certificates and an A3 size Free Health Check window sticker. You'll also receive additional items to give away to rabbit owners, including Excel samples, RAW care guides, car stickers and branded bags.
For more information and to find out what special trade offers are available to vets during the week register at http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has increased its range of marketing and educational materials about heart disease and the use of Vetmedin.
The materials include canine heart disease awareness posters for either the waiting room or consult room which feature 'static cling' technology, enabling them to stick to any surface without adhesive, as well as information leaflets, owner booklets, health diaries and dog tags.
Materials for dog owners are designed to inform about the signs to look out for with heart disease, and the steps involved in the diagnosis and management of the condition. There's a post-prescription owner booklet which features a health diary for dog owners to fill in, allowing them to track any changes in their dog's condition, as well as details on the telltale signs of heart failure and the benefits of Vetmedin.
Also available in the range are materials to help make prescribing the optimum dose of Vetmedin as easy as possible, including dose optimisation mouse mats, dose dials, treatment algorithms and interactive dose calculators on CD for those veterinary practices without internet access.
For further information, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.
Vetlife's campaign included talks at various veterinary events, an awareness video, a series of lived experience blogs, and a downloadable resource for individuals and workplaces, all made possible by grant funding from the Zoetis Foundation.
Kirstie Pickles, Vetlife Trustee and project lead for the neurodiversity campaign said: “To be shortlisted was an honour, but to win this award is just incredible and is a testament to the dedication and passion that the team put into the campaign.
"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to lead this project and share this much needed information with the veterinary community.
"It is our hope that this campaign and its resources will enable and initiate discussions within teams to ensure that all within our wonderful veterinary professions can thrive."
https://www.vetlife.org.uk
Woodley Equipment has announced that it has become the exclusive authorised distributor of Crony IR202 series and Saturno analysers, parts and consumables in the UK and Ireland.
Under the partnership agreement with Crony Instruments, Woodley will also provide service, support and maintenance for the analysers from this Italian manufacturer.
The arrangement covers the new Crony Saturno 100 Vet wet chemistry analyser, which is currently undergoing evaluation on site and will be available from Woodley Equipment in January 2010.
For more information, contact Woodley Equipment on 01798 813659 or email sales@quantumvetdiagnostics.com. Alternatively, visit: www.woodleyequipment.com/quantumvet
The RCVS is reminding veterinary surgeons that the retention fee payment deadline is 31 March. Fee payments received after 1 April are subject to an extra £35, and veterinary surgeons whose fees remain unpaid after 31 May are removed from the Register.
Veterinary surgeons also need to confirm or update their Register details annually as part of renewing their registration. Although the deadline for this is 30 September, members may find it convenient to do this at the same time as making fee payments. UK- and overseas-practising members need to confirm additionally that they have met the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. Renewals can be made either online or via the form included with the annual renewal notice, regardless of how payments are made.
Fees can be paid through the RCVS website, by cheque, direct debit (which will need to have been set up in advance) or bank transfer. Particularly relevant for those making payments on someone else's behalf, is to remember to write the vet's name and Register number on the back of the cheque, or as a bank transfer reference. The RCVS processes over 22,000 registrations every year and needs to know to whom each payment relates.
For those who have set up a direct debit, the RCVS generally aims to take the payment on 31 March. As this will be a Sunday this year, the payment will be taken as soon as possible afterwards. To set up a bank transfer (which can be from a bank account online, telephone banking, or a branch, depending what the bank offers) the RCVS account details are available by telephoning the Finance Department (020 7202 0723). Payments cannot be taken over the phone.
A veterinary surgeon's registration acts as a licence to practise and those removed from the Register may not practise unless and until they have been restored.
Pet Protect has launched a new website which includes a tool to compare the benefits of its pet insurance policies with others in the market.
The comparison deliberately excludes the cost of the policies. Pet Protect says that the aim is to "overcome the current preoccupation with price as principal means by which competitive products are evaluated".
It would be interesting to know what your experience is, talking to clients about insurance. Do you think that clients are receptive to buying insurance for the benefits, or do you think that price will always be their main concern?
Defra has announced the detection of Bluetongue in 18 imported cattle on premises near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. The animals originated from within the BTV8 Restricted Zone in Germany and were detected as a result of post-import testing carried out by Defra on all Bluetongue susceptible animals arriving from Continental Europe.
This is the fourth incidence of infected animals being imported to the UK. Alongside the premises in East Sussex, Hertfordshire and Devon identified in August, the imported animals will remain under restrictions.
As of 1 September the whole of England and Wales is now in a Protection Zone and approximately 30 million doses of vaccine have so far been made available to farmers throughout England and Wales to protect their stock. However, it may take up to six to eight weeks from now for livestock keepers in the North of England and Wales to have had sufficient opportunity to vaccinate their livestock and to gain immunity (at least three weeks in sheep, and six weeks in cattle).
To allow livestock keepers in those areas sufficient opportunity to protect their animals, and while further veterinary investigations are carried out, these particular infected animals will remain under restriction until late October. Any further positive import cases detected may also be restricted for a period of time depending on veterinary risk assessment, while vaccination continues.
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Alick Simmons said: "This incident shows how important it is for farmers to consider potential disease risks when buying stock, regardless of source. Buyers need to consider how best to protect their own businesses and those of their neighbours and make sure they are clear about the stock they are intending to buy.
"I also want to remind farmers about the importance of vaccination. It is the only effective tool to protect susceptible animals from Bluetongue. Recent evidence indicates a drop or delay in vaccine take-up in counties recently brought into the Protection Zone. Sales data for some of those counties suggest that the number of animals vaccinated in these areas could be as low as one in three, and in Northumberland and Cumbria, the most recent counties brought into the Protection Zone, as low as one in five.
"The threat from Bluetongue is present and real, as shown by the most recent import cases. Vaccination as a preventive measure is therefore more important than ever, so the message to the industry remains clear: don't hesitate, vaccinate".
The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation has awarded Dr. Bruce Smith, director of the Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, a two-year grant totaling $118,848 to test a new therapy for treating bone cancer in dogs.
According to the University, the research could one day be broadened to include many other kinds of cancer - and possibly cancer in people.
The treatment consists of a virus normally used as a hepatitis vaccine in dogs that has been modified to only make copies of itself inside bone cancer cells. The virus ruptures the cancer cells, releasing thousands of copies of the virus from the tumor cells, killing them.
Dr. Smith said: "By using this approach, we turn the cancer cell into a 'factory' that produces more virus. You could say that we help the cancer cell become an agent of its own death."
Bone cancer, or osteosarcoma, accounts for around 5% of tumours in dogs. More than 90% of dogs with this tumour have had tumour cells migrate into their lungs, creating what are known as micrometastases, at the time of diagnosis.
Dr. Smith said: "This therapy attacks those metastases and will hopefully eliminate them or make them more sensitive to chemotherapy."
The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, or AURIC, was founded in 2012 to accelerate translation of cancer innovation from the laboratory to the clinic. AURIC embodies "One Medicine" - the concept that sees human and animal health as a single field where discoveries in one species advance health in both species.
Petplan is making a last call for entries to its Veterinary Awards, which recognise members of the veterinary profession who continually go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Nominations for the awards close on 31st January.
Nominations for all categories which include Vet of the Year, Vet Nurse of the Year, Vet Practice of the Year, Vet Support Staff of the Year, Practice Manager of the Year and Petplan Insurance Advisor of the Year are judged by an independent panel of industry experts. Every nominee receives a Petplan certificate so even if your nominee isn't one of the lucky finalists they'll still know and feel appreciated that someone has taken the time and effort to nominate them.
Petplan's Head of Sales and Partnerships, Simon Masding said: "Petplan knows that the veterinary world is full of brilliant professionals. The Petplan Veterinary Awards create a wonderful opportunity to recognise high performance, and demonstrate to your clients and to the wider industry what a great job your staff do. As well as the feel-good factor, there's a commercial benefit for being nominated too, one previous winner saw a 30% growth in their business as a result of winning. So if you would like to be in with a chance, you have just one month left to encourage your clients and staff to nominate!"
Finalists are invited to attend an award ceremony held at the Birmingham Town Hall on Thursday 3rd April 2014.
To nominate a friend or colleague, or register your interest in attending the awards evening, visit www.petplanvet.co.uk.
Poor sex education amongst cat owners may be leading to more than 200,000 unplanned litters - or 850,000 kittens every year in the UK, according to research published online in the Veterinary Record today.
Authors Dr Philippa Welsh, Professor Tim Gruffydd-Jones, Margaret Roberts and Dr Jane Murray based their findings on a survey of almost 10,500 UK households and more than 3000 completed returns (30% response rate).
Information was gathered on pet ownership, with specific questions asked of owners of female cats about how many planned or accidental litters their pets had had. The survey also aimed to probe the prevalence of common misconceptions about the breeding patterns of cats.
In all, data was collected from 715 cat-owning households, of which 426 owned one or more female cats. Around 1 in 8 (13%) of these owners said that their pets had had one or more accidental litters.
A total of 128 litters had been produced by 91 (out of 552) female cats; 65 of these had given birth to 102 unplanned litters, meaning that just under 80% of all litters had been accidental.
Unplanned litters were more than twice as likely in households owning more than one cat and more than four times as likely if the owner mistakenly believed that a female cat should have a litter before being neutered, the responses showed. Men were more than twice as likely as women to hold this belief.
The authors calculate that if this belief were dispelled, there could be around 213,000 fewer litters and more than 851,000 fewer kittens born in the UK every year.
Half (49%) of 682 cat owners surveyed believed that cats should either have a litter before being neutered (23%) or were unsure if they should (26%), despite there being no evidence whatsoever that this benefits feline health.
Similarly, among the 659 owners who answered the question about puberty, most (83.5%) mistakenly believed that the youngest age at which a cat could get pregnant was five months, with a further one in four (26%) believing that an unneutered female cat (queen) couldn't get pregnant before the age of 12 months. The authors point out that whilst it is not common for a four month old kitten to get pregnant, it does happen.
Furthermore, one in seven cat owners incorrectly thought that unneutered related cats wouldn't mate with each other, and a further one in four (24.5%) were unsure.
The authors said: "The vast majority of litters born to cats in the UK are not planned. This study suggests that improving cat-owner knowledge of the reproductive capacity of cats is likely to have a significant impact on the numbers of accidental litters."
The authors concluded that dispelling the commonly held belief that cats should have a litter before neutering would probably have the single biggest impact on the figures.
Read the full paper
The University of Glasgow, School of Veterinary Medicine, is calling for help with research into the prevalence of pseudopregnancy in spayed bitches.
The research takes the form of a survey being conducted amongst a representative sample of veterinary surgeons by Pippa Hutchison, Dr Tim Parkin, Caroline Warnes and Dr Philippa Yam.
In particular, the research aims to gather data looking into how often veterinary surgeons are diagnosing and treating pseudopregnancy, and how frequently the condition occurs both before and after spaying.
Tanya Leslie MRCVS from Ceva Animal Health, sponsors of the work, said: “Ceva is delighted to have been given the opportunity to support this work to investigate and raise awareness of this important issue”.
The questionnaire is being sent out towards the end of this month. If you're one of the recipients, there's the added incentive of being entered into a draw for a £300 cash prize if you complete the questionnaire and return it by the 13th November.
The researchers say that after this initial work, they plan a prospective study establishing the wider incidence of pseudopregnancy in both entire and spayed bitches.
Dogs which survived the devastating earthquake in the Zun Dao township of Sichuan, China have a new lease on life after the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and local officials announced an agreement to end the cruel killing of dogs and instead address public health concerns through an IFAW sponsored anti-rabies vaccination and veterinary aid programme in the 20,000+ population.“This agreement is a major breakthrough,” said Jackson Zee, IFAW rescue leader. “Chinese media have been filled with reports of people evacuating with their pets, being comforted by their pets, and even saved by their pets after their homes collapsed, so we are delighted to see this next step as local officials are acknowledging that humane care of dogs, cats and livestock can benefit both animals and people.”After the devastating earthquake that claimed around 80,000 human lives, IFAW rushed close to £100,000 in aid and sourced over six tonnes of animal food for some of the hardest-hit areas within Sichuan province.IFAW met with local government officials in Zun Dao and offered humane alternatives to the dog culls presently in effect in much of the devastated areas. Officials agreed to halt any dog culling operations in the area and are welcoming IFAW’s efforts to address the present public health concerns by conducting an anti-rabies vaccination and veterinary care programme in the area.Accompanied by local veterinarians, IFAW began visiting villages immediately and on the first afternoon provided food, collars, leads and appropriate vaccinations for at least 50 family owned dogs. There are an estimated 4,000 owned dogs and 1,000 strays in Zun Dao and surrounding villages and relief efforts are expected to increase in the coming days.In addition to the efforts in Zun Dao, IFAW has been providing humanitarian aid in the region by meeting some of the most basic and urgent needs. From cooking oil to laundry detergent, mosquito repellents and toys for children, these much-needed supplies are helping families get back on their feet and take care of their pets and backyard farm animals. Desperately needed supplies such as 100 water pumps, fencing, generators and other supplies have also been rushed to Mianyang to help rescue animals in advance of anticipated flooding while additional support has been given to the acclaimed Giant Panda Nature Reserve in Gansu province.IFAW is appealing for public support to increase the amount of aid for animals and people in the earthquake region. To donate or view more information on current rescue efforts, visit www.ifaw.org.