They say that dogs which lose sensation following damage to the spinal cord from a slipped disc have a prognosis for recovery of about 50%.
However, there is no reliable way of determining which dog will recover and failing that, owners must wait weeks to months to see if there are any signs of recovery, during which time dogs may need anaesthesia, surgery, and intensive nursing care.
The researchers say that the stiffness of an organ can be a marker of how damaged it is.
So, for the research, a new ultrasound machine equipped with an advanced piece of software (known as ‘shear wave elastography’) – will be used to measure the stiffness of a dog’s spinal cord during surgery.
The dog’s recovery to walking after surgery will then be monitored routinely.
The results will allow researchers to see if a relationship between spinal cord stiffness at time of surgery and recovery exists.
If successful, this would help them provide a more accurate prognosis for dogs with spinal cord injury in the future.
If you have a case suitable for this study, CVS says they will receive a gold standard treatment for spinal cord injury, which will include spinal surgery.
They will also have an ultrasound of the spinal cord performed during surgery, a procedure taking approximately 15 minutes.
Contact referrals@highcroftvet.co.uk or nicolas.granger@bristolvetspecialists.co.uk.
BVS Neurology study from CVS (UK) Ltd on Vimeo.
The session will provide a practical guide to dealing with various emergencies that may present to vets and nurses across multiple disciplines.
The full schedule includes:
Arlene Connor, Interim Hospital Director at Hamilton Specialist Referrals, said: “Being presented with an emergency patient can be an intense and high-pressure situation, and it’s one that all vet professionals should do their best to prepare for so they are comfortable making decisions under pressure.
"We have a brilliant team here at Hamilton Specialist Referrals, all of whom are well equipped and very experienced when it comes to dealing with emergencies and this is an unrivalled opportunity to learn from them.”
Tickets cost £80+vat, including lunch and refreshments
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-emergency-patient-tickets-861637851007
www.hamiltonspecialists.vet
Fourth year veterinary students from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Veterinary Science have produced a nude calendar in which they use a variety of strategically placed animals to protect their modesty.
The calendar, called Under the Overalls, features a variety of animals, including three lucky (depending on your point of view) llamas, a calf, three sheep and a rather unfortunate fish.
It's all in aid of charity. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/undertheoveralls, or you can buy the calendar for $20 at www.undertheoveralls.com.
Picture: House of Cameo
Mark Colonnese, Aquarium’s Sales and Marketing Director said: "As someone who owns two dogs, the results of the survey have not come as too much of a surprise to me, but I know that some of my colleagues were pretty surprised just how important we think our pets are."
The survey showed that the feelings were even stronger among women, 71% of whom would regard a pet death as equally upsetting to that of a family member’s, compared to 55% of men.
Mark added: "Our results really highlight the sensitivity of issues surrounding a pet’s death. While this would be obvious to, for instance, a life insurance company, our survey reinforces the need for an empathetic customer journey among pet insurers. The first step of this process is ensuring a smooth, seamless process to minimise stress for newly bereaved pet parents."
Davies Veterinary Specialists has announced that it will be launching a new referral service in the heart of London at an event being held at the Institute of Physics at 7:00pm on 15th February.
As part of the preparations, the multi-discipline referral centre has published a very polished video which you can view here.
The launch event includes some free CPD: "Challenges in Urology", together with drinks and nibbles.
Equine vets at the Animal Health Trust are appealing to horse riders to help with a research project, to assess the interaction between horse, saddle and rider.
Dr Sue Dyson, Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust and Line Greve, PhD student, are conducting the study to find out how the horse, rider and saddle can influence each other. They are trying to understand better why a saddle may persistently slip to one side in some horses.
Line said: "Saddle slip is a problem seen in all sorts of horses and ponies and can contribute to back pain and thus impaired performance. Research suggests that 25% of British dressage horses have a history of back-related problems and subsequent reduced performance. Our preliminary studies involve just over 700 riders but for a more accurate picture we would like to bump this figure up to 1000 plus. We are urging all riders, whatever their level or ability, to help by completing the questionnaire."
The online questionnaire should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and all answers remain anonymous. The questions cover saddle types, fitting, use and maintenance; rider experience, training and 'handedness'; as well as horse type, use and any previous lameness or back-related problems.
To take part in the study, complete the questionnaire here: http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/premise_questionnaire.html. The AHT says that by doing so, you'll be helping to protect and improve the future health, welfare and longevity of the ridden horse.
The results will be presented at the Saddle Research Trust Conference in 2014.
Dechra Veterinary Products (maker of Cardisure) has launched a new online CPD course which consists of a series of short presentations about treating congestive heart failure in dogs, developed with cardiology consultant Mike Martin.
According to the company, approximately 10% of dogs presented to first opinion practices have heart disease. The majority of cases are suffering with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) or, less commonly, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Mike said: "This is a series of short presentations with audio, that covers the common challenges, issues and questions that we all encounter in clinical practice. Aimed squarely at the very busy practitioner, this 'piece by piece' course will help you differentiate between cardiac and respiratory cases, update you on the current ACVIM guidelines on the treatment of heart failure in dogs and how best to monitor your patient in the short to long term. It's been a fun series to put together with the help of Dechra – enjoy."
Craig Sankey, Business Manager for Cardiology at Dechra said: "This series of bite-sized videos highlight the importance of diagnosing, treating and monitoring congestive heart failure in dogs in an interactive e-learning environment, topped with quizzes and drag and drops to test ones knowledge.
"Furthermore, the beauty of this format means Veterinary Professionals can dip in and out of each section depending on the area they need to build their expertise, without the pressure of completing the whole course all at once’.
The course equates to one hour CPD and can be found on the Dechra Academy: https://academy.dechra.com/learn/course/external/view/elearning/718/cardiology-piece-by-piece
More information about Cardisure can be found at www.dechra.co.uk/Cardisure
The VetGDP, which replaced the Professional Development Phase (PDP), provides a period of structured support to aid the transition of newly-registered veterinary surgeons from veterinary studies to life in the workplace.
VetGDP is being rolled out during 2021 and this year’s veterinary graduates will need to enrol on it.
One of the main features of VetGDP is the requirement for a trained VetGDP Adviser to be available in the practice to provide their new graduate with one-to-one, meaningful support and guidance, to help develop their confidence and capabilities.
In order for veterinary surgeons to become VetGDP Advisers they must complete an online training package being developed by the RCVS and formally commit to supporting new graduates.
Practices that have trained VetGDP Advisers and make this commitment will receive the status of an RCVS-Approved Graduate Development Practice.
The original plan was that practices who wish to employ this year’s cohort of graduates should have obtained RCVS-Approved Graduate Development Practice status by June 2021.
This has now been amended in recognition of the additional pressures that veterinary practice teams are under as a result of the pandemic.
Practices who employ graduates this year will now have until December 2021 to achieve this status, provided they have started to work towards RCVS-Approved Graduate Development Practice status and commit to supporting their new graduate while they do so.
Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS Director of Education, said: “The ongoing pandemic restrictions, specifically changes made by the government to veterinary professionals’ key worker status on 13 January, means that there are now significant additional pressures on practice teams, particularly in terms of staffing, as many members of the profession will be balancing their work with caring responsibilities. We recognise this and, as such, we have updated the timeframe for the completion of our training for VetGDP Advisers.
“I would also like to personally thank the 850 vets who have already registered their interest in becoming VetGDP Advisers. It is very reassuring to see so many members of the profession committed to supporting new members of the profession, and wanting to engage with the training and with VetGDP to help nurture and develop our future vets through their first few years in practice.”
The College will be holding three VetGDP workshops in February. Each workshop will feature the same content, so there’s no need to attend more than one.
They take place on:
The workshops are open to anyone in the veterinary team including veterinary surgeons who may be considering becoming a VetGDP Adviser, practice managers and others involved in graduate recruitment and anyone else who would like to find out more about VetGDP.
The sessions will be interactive and there will be a significant portion of time given over to Q&As. The RCVS Chair of Education Committee, Dr Sue Paterson FRCVS, and Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, will be available to answer any questions which can be submitted live during the event. You can also submit questions as you register for the workshop at: www.rcvs.org.uk/vetgdpworkshops.
For more information, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/vetgdp
The RCVS said: "We understand that there are very strong opinions about the ban, and we respect the rights of individuals to make their own decisions.
"However, expressing these opinions can never justify or include the harassment and abuse of individual vets, vet nurses or their practice colleagues."
The BVA added: “The Government’s XL Bully ban is also placing additional pressure on veterinary teams who are doing their best in very challenging circumstances to help keep responsible XL Bully owners with their pets wherever possible.
"Their commitment extends to supporting clients with any decision-making around euthanasia in individual cases.
"It’s simply unacceptable for these professionals to face additional challenges through abuse, intimidation or threats.
"Such actions can have a hugely negative impact on individual vets and the wider team."
Resources:
Photo: Dlexus
Fort Dodge has announced that a challenge study has demonstrated the ability of Duvaxyn® IE-T Plus equine influenza vaccine to cross protect against A/equi-2/Sydney/07 (H3N8) two weeks after a two dose primary course. This strain was responsible for the financially devastating equine influenza outbreak in Australia in August 2007.
Duvaxyn IE-T Plus is an inactivated whole virus equine influenza vaccine, adjuvanted with an aqueous-based adjuvant. According to Fort Dodge, experts at a recent WHO meeting on human vaccines expressed the view that whole virus vaccines have the potential to induce a stronger and more broadly based response to circulating influenza strains than those contained in sub-unit vaccines because of the presence of the full set of virus proteins in the vaccine*.
The study, conducted by the Animal Health Trust, involved two groups of EIV seronegative horses. The first group, consisting of seven vaccinates, were given two dose of Duvaxyn IE-T Plus, 28 days apart, and challenged with A/equi-2/Sydney/07 (H3N8) virus strain 14 days after the second vaccination. The second group of unvaccinated horses was challenged at the same time. Duvaxyn IE-T Plus caused a statistically significant reduction in both clinical signs of the disease and in viral shedding.
Helen Barnes, EMEA Equine Business Manager for Fort Dodge, said: "The results of this challenge study provide reassurance for owners that horses vaccinated with Duvaxyn will be protected against circulating strains of equine influenza, including the Sydney strain which proved so damaging.
"As the benefits offered by whole virus technology are increasingly recognised, the popularity of vaccines based on this technology is re-emerging, particularly to combat a potential pandemic.
"The entire Duvaxyn range of equine vaccines, including the recently licensed Duvaxyn WNV for West Nile Virus, are based on the whole virus approach as we believe it offers a broad and consistent level of protection."
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and British Small Animal Veterinary Association have issued a joint statement concerning the postgraduate qualifications CertAVP, PGCertSAM and PGCertSAS.
The statement follows the introduction earlier this year of the BSAVA's Postgraduate Certificates in Medicine and Surgery.
Dr Frances Barr, BSAVA's Director of Education (pictured right) said: "There has been a natural interest in how the BSAVA PGCertSAM and PGCertSAS compare with the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP). Detailed discussions over the last few months between BSAVA and the RCVS have resulted in agreement that the two qualifications are academically equivalent, as outlined in a formal position statement. Individuals can therefore choose to study for the qualification which suits them best."
For thirty years, veterinary postgraduate qualifications at certificate level have been available within the UK; until recently, these were organised through and awarded by the RCVS. In recent years the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice has been introduced, with assessment of accredited modules by a range of universities, and the final award made by the RCVS. With the development of the BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate programmes, questions have naturally arisen regarding the equivalence of these two programmes, and whether a stated requirement for 'a certificate' for a particular purpose refers to the general level of postgraduate qualification or to one particular qualification. It is natural that prospective candidates and employers should ask such questions when considering options for postgraduate study.
The joint position statement by the RCVS and the BSAVA:Representatives from the RCVS CertAVP subcommittee and BSAVA have therefore discussed the RCVS and BSAVA certificate programmes in detail. The statement here is intended to set out agreed principles which might be needed to allow resolution of any future questions about equivalence or accreditation.
The 'middle tier' postulated in the current RCVS Consultation on Specialisation, and the proposed 'acknowledged veterinarian' status under consideration in Europe, are not currently sufficiently defined to allow a position to be agreed.
The Education team will be talking to delegates about applying for 2013 places for the Postgraduate Certificates, its webinars and the new VN Merit Awards on the BSAVA Balcony at Congress from 11th-15th April.
The Saddle Research Trust has announced the launch of a new paper to help vets understand the significance of saddle fit on the health and welfare of horse and rider.
Saddle fitting, recognising an ill-fitting saddle and the consequences of an ill-fitting saddle to horse and rider was written by equine vet Dr Sue Dyson together with Master Saddlers and saddle fitters Mark Fisher and Sue Carson.
The paper has been published in the Equine Veterinary Education Journal, the official education journal of the British Equine Veterinary Association and is free to view until April 2016.
The paper encourages vets to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with saddle fitters, trainers and physiotherapists, to help educate horse owners about the multiple problems that can be caused by ill-fitting saddles.1
Key advice includes:
The paper also includes a glossary of saddlery terms, an explanation of saddle fit accessories, a range of informative photographs and a section on who is qualified to provide professional advice on saddle fit.
The paper concludes: “Correct saddle fit for horse and rider is an important equine welfare issue and the veterinary profession needs to recognise this and be at the forefront of helping to educate the horse owning public. Ideally veterinarians should work in conjunction with professional saddle fitters, trainers and physiotherapists to improve both horse and rider comfort.”
Ed's note: If you read the article to which this news story refers, don't forget to come back to VetSurgeon.org and use the 'Claim CPD' button above to add the time spent to your VetSurgeon Personal Development Record.
Dr Crespo appeared in front of the Disciplinary Committee earlier this week with two charges against her. The first was that, in November 2015, she dishonestly and falsely made an online representation to the College that she had no criminal convictions, cautions or adverse findings despite having been convicted, in January 2015, of failing to provide a specimen of breath. The second charge against her was that, in March 2016, she once again dishonestly and falsely failed to declare her conviction when renewing her registration.
During the hearing the Committee had two main considerations in respect of both charges – as to whether Dr Marin Crespo had been dishonest in failing to declare the conviction and as to whether the respondent ought to have known that her representations were false. Regarding the dishonesty element, the Committee found the College had not sufficiently proven this, as it accepted Dr Marin Crespo’s evidence that she did not believe she needed to declare a motoring-related offence as it was not relevant to her professional practice.
However, the Committee found it proven that the respondent ought to have known that the representations were false, taking into account that Dr Marin Crespo made admissions that she ought to have checked the guidance on declaring convictions, cautions and/or adverse findings and ought to have been aware that making such declarations is a requirement of the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct.
Having found the parts of the two charges relating to false representation proven, the Committee then considered whether this constituted serious professional misconduct.
Judith Webb, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said:"The Committee considers that the false declarations made by the respondent were born of a careless disregard for the disclosure process. The Committee notes that the respondent could easily have checked online, and/or by telephone, as to what she was obliged to do when making the relevant declarations. She failed to do that.
"In these circumstances, the Committee considers that the respondent’s conduct fell far short of that which is to be expected of the veterinary profession. Therefore, in the judgement of the Committee, on the facts found proved, the respondent is guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect."
In considering Dr Marin Crespo’s sanction the Committee took into account a number of mitigating factors including her full cooperation with the College’s investigation, her hitherto unblemished career, her testimonial evidence which it felt demonstrated her dedication and professionalism, and the fact that she has displayed remorse and insight into her conduct.
Judith Webb concluded: "The Committee notes that the respondent’s conduct caused no harm, or risk of harm, to animals or humans. The Committee also notes that there is no charge arising out of the criminal conviction itself. The Committee considers that, if the respondent had answered the online questions correctly, it is unlikely that the respondent would have appeared before the Committee.
"Every veterinary surgeon must ensure that they adopt a careful and accurate approach to the self-certification exercise, which is crucial if the public and the College are to have trust in that process. In these circumstances, the Committee considered that the proportionate sanction in this case is that the respondent be… reprimanded for her conduct."
The event, which was cancelled last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is the first opportunity for the profession to get back together after the past two turbulent years. To mark BEVA’s 60th Birthday, special celebrations are in the pipeline as well as the 13th International Equine Colic Symposium taking place during the event.
BEVA President Lucy Grieve said: "We are all so excited that BEVA Congress is back this year, albeit that it will be a little bit different. You can expect the same event we all know and love but with a few new measures in place to ensure we can all stay safe during these uncertain times. We are also offering a virtual option for those that can’t attend in person, so that no one misses out.”
Congress Committee co-chair Tim Barnett said: “My co-chair Ceri Sherlock and I have been working hard over the past few months to put together a programme that rivals anything we’ve had before. You can expect lectures, discussion and debates on a number of topics including learning from mistakes, working in teams, and a dedicated stream of nursing lectures.”
This year Lucy has selected teamwork as the theme for BEVA Congress 2021, in celebration of the Association’s 60th anniversary. She said: “In modern day veterinary medicine, no one person can satisfactorily deliver all that is required.
“Without a team approach, from vets, nurses, practice managers, farriers and paraprofessionals the potential to maximise the health and welfare of horses cannot be fulfilled.
"This year, we intend to celebrate 60 years of teamwork and how we can do far more to serve our patients as a harmonious team than if we work alone.”
Early bird tickets for BEVA Congress are available from 19th April until 16th August 2021. Tickets provide access to all three lecture halls and exhibition halls as well as the virtual congress hub. They also include a complimentary ticket to the 13th International Equine Colic Symposium.
Early bird BEVA member prices are £499 for vets and £187 for vet nurses for all 3 days (with concessions available for those in their first three years of graduation or on a lower salary). Virtual tickets are £99 for BEVA members.
BEVA has introduced a 'peace of mind' bookings policy to reassure those whose personal situation may change between booking their ticket and the event.
Full details of the BEVA Congress programme will be announced shortly. To find out more and to book your tickets visit http://www.bevacongress.org/
Vygon Vet has launched a procedural custom pack service.
Vygon Vet's procedural custom packs contain all the single-use devices required for a specific procedure enclosed within a sterile wrap. Components available include draping material, theatre clothing, swabs, kidney dishes, forceps etc. Vygon Vet says the service has been developed to reduce infection risks, but also to help manage staff resources more effectively and identify total procedure costs for billing purposes.
The first custom pack is now being used by the team of clinicians at Charter Veterinary Hospital. Dave Tittle BVetMed MRCVS said "The pack contains everything we need, designed to our specification, and will save us theatre preparation time and added expense".
A number of customers have committed themselves to the new service and by the end of 2010 Vygon Vet aims to have many more practices on board. The custom pack service supports Vygon Vet's range of theatre draping packs already available.
For more information, visit www.vygonvet.co.uk
The British Safety Council has launched a new qualification to help people who drive as part of their work stay safe on the roads.
According to the organisation, the Level 2 Award in Safe Driving at Work provides work drivers with key knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with driving and equips them with valuable guidance on the measures available for reducing these risks, such as vehicle inspection, behaviour and defensive driving.
According to estimates from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), up to a third of all road traffic accidents in Britain involve someone involved in work-related activity. In 2013, according to government figures, 1,713 people died on the road, with the total number of casualties standing at 183,670.
The Ofqual-regulated qualification, which is designed to be delivered by employers or training organisations, instructs learners on a range of topics including the particular risks associated with vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, the importance of regular vehicle safety checks and how to adapt driving style in response to changes in driving conditions or the actions of others.
Alex Botha, the British Safety Council's Chief Executive, said: "Driving can be a risky activity, a fact borne out by the high number of injuries and fatalities that occur annually on our roads.
"However, simple steps can be taken by employers and drivers to manage and reduce this risk. Our new Level 2 Award in Safe Driving at Work provides learners with all the essential knowledge to help them stay safe on the roads.
"Learners can expect to leave the qualification with a thorough knowledge of the main risks posed by driving - whether to themselves or other road users - and how to reduce them.
"Once registered with us, employers or training centres deliver the training using the high-quality teaching and student materials provided. Qualifications are assessed through a 45-minute multiple-choice examination that can be either taken online or on paper.
"This is a stand-alone qualification designed for delivery as a short course. It is also well-suited for integration into wider vocational programmes of study or, for example, as part of an induction programme. Students need no former knowledge or experience, so can come from a diverse range of educational and employment backgrounds.
"Safer driving habits should also feed through into workers' personal lives, providing employers with a valuable corporate social responsibility tool to help make our roads safer in and out of work."
Ceva Animal Health has launched Marboxidin chewable tablets for dogs and cats for the treatment of micro-organisms susceptible to marbofloxacin, including skin and soft tissue infections (in cats and dogs), respiratory tract infections (in dogs and cats) and urinary tract infections (in dogs).
Containing marbofloxacin as its active ingredient, Marboxidin has a taste-masking lipid coating to ensure that its bitterness is not detected. In palatability trials over 90% of dogs and 80% of cats voluntarily consumed Marboxidin chewable tablets from the hand or in food1. Ceva says that Marboxidin is also very cost-effective, with an ongoing discount using the new CevaSave rebate scheme.
Marboxidin chewable tablets are available in three tablet sizes (5mg, 20mg and 80mg).
For further details, contact your Ceva Territory Manager or telephone the customer support team on (01494) 781510.
References
TVM, which has a wide range of products in ophthalmology, neurology, geriatrics, gastroenterology, anti-poison management and health and wellness, says that the acquisition is designed to boost the company's international scope, building market share and expanding its leadership in the fields of ophthalmology and neurology beyond France.
The acquisition will also strengthen TVM’s position in the area of animal anti-poison treatment as Forum Animal Health already supplies a canine emetic which it has been marketing in the UK for three years with an awareness campaign about the dangers of toxic products to dogs. This, the company says, has contributed to a significant increase in early interventions by veterinary surgeons in cases of poisoning. A similar campaign is currently being led in France by the TVM laboratory.
To accompany the change, Forum Animal Health is adopting a new visual identity, shown above right.
Tom graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2017 and joined Synergy Farm Health full-time in 2018, after completing his postgraduate diploma (PGDipVCP) with the RVC.
Nominated by his practice, Tom is described as a fine example of a dedicated caring professional who is passionate about sustainability, has a keen sense of his clients’ needs, and has developed strong working relationships with the farms under his care.
The judging panel found that Tom uses data effectively in herd health planning to highlight areas of improvement, working in partnership with his clients to promote disease prevention and profitability.
Tom’s clients spoke of his knowledge and caring attitude and how much he is valued as part of their team.
Tom said: “It was a privilege to be a part of the awards and to see farmers and businesses acknowledged - farmers don’t always get the recognition they deserve and seeing British dairying showcased was amazing.
"I hope winning is reward for the time and effort colleagues at Synergy put into young vets too, and that I can put it to good use supporting clients and working with other organisations within the dairy industry.
"My aim as a vet has been simply to support clients the best I could, both clinically and emotionally, so to have won made it a fantastic night and one I won’t be forgetting!”
The runner up as Charlie Mays of LLM Vets, who the judging panel praised for making effective changes on farm towards preventive healthcare and using data to assist with health and profitability.
Charlie also lobbies government to support the interests of the farmer and the industry.
Sabrina Jordan from Virbac said: ‘Virbac has been supporting dairy vets with products and services for over 50 years and recognise the commitment of young dairy vets to the profession.
"The standard of nominations into this category was outstanding, and our winner and highly commended nominees are a true credit to the veterinary profession, both are shining lights of the future’.
Virbac is running a promotion through which practices can claim a model showing the anatomy of a healthy dog ear canal on one side, and the changes associated with chronic damage on the other.
Product Manager Chris Geddes MRCVS said: "The models are about 15cm high and provide a useful visual aid to show clients the consequences if chronic ear disease is not kept under control. They can also be used to help show clients how to administer their pet's treatment correctly.
"These models will be a useful tool for practices to help improve client compliance. Also, we know that some dog owners find a course of ear treatments tricky, and either give the wrong dose or give up altogether, which is why we designed EasOtic to dispense the exact dose in one simple 'squirt', with one complete course in each bottle".
For details of how you can obtain a model for your practice contact your local Virbac territory manager or call Virbac on 01359 243243.
Protek Biochem Ltd., a company set up by champion horse-rider Debbie Topping, has won the rights to sell Envirocair Veterinary, a new range of disinfectants and sanitisers targeted at dogs, cats and other domestic pets, as well as horses and farm animals.
The product is claimed to kill 99.99% of all viral, bacterial and fungal infections, and lasts for 14 days.
Debbie said: "I did not consider myself a businesswoman, just a normal horse-rider and animal lover. However, I was so impressed when I tried Envirocair Veterinary that, when I was offered the opportunity to become the main UK distributor, I jumped at the chance."
According to the company, the product is being used by a number of the horses and trainers heading to the London Olympics in 2012. It is now being rolled out across the rest of the UK's animal care sector.
Debbie says that veterinary surgeons, farmers, dog kennels, animal rescue centres, breeders and others will all be able to benefit from the new product: "Envirocair Veterinary doesn't harm skin or irritate the respiratory tract, so you don't need to get dressed up in special clothing every time you use it.
"Used properly, it quite literally kills the threat of major animal diseases such as parvovirus in dogs, which can otherwise be fatal in less than 72 hours.
"It's not an exaggeration to say that Envirocair will protect the health and even save the lives of countless numbers of animals across the UK."
Debbie signed the distribution agreement with the manufacturer Biotech International Ltd last month, before officially launching Envirocair Veterinary this week.
For more information on Protek Biochem Ltd or Envirocair Veterinary, visit http://www.protekbiochem.com/.
By offering an alternative to face-to-face consultations, VetHelpDirect's online consultation platform provides a means to continue to care for animals while protecting both clients and vet practice staff and still maintaining revenue streams.
The system can be used by clients on most smart phones or tablet devices. Clients can book online or be sent a link by the practice, and payment taken online before the consultation starts.
Transactions on the platform are subject to a 4.8% platform fee and at the end of the 3 month free period, the service costs £20 per month. In addition, to continue using the service, practices need to be registered on the VetHelpDirectory, which costs £38 per month for the first branch and £16 for each additional branch.
For more information, visit: bit.ly/VHD_registration, where you can 'self onboard'. On which note, I will disembark.
The first webinar will be run by Dr Sarah Caney (pictured right), the CEO and founder of Vet Professionals, and Dr Hannah Newbury, technical lead vet at MSD Animal Health.
It will cover how telemedicine can benefit you, your practice and your patients. Sarah and Hannah will offer practical tips on how to set up a remote consultation, what you can do via telemedicine during the UK lockdown, and how to carry out these consultations and provide care during this time. There will also be an opportunity to ask specific questions in advance.
The series will also explain the financial benefits of remote consulting and the release of a new telemedicine platform.
To register for the first webinar, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4735768510902351372.
Click here to submit your questions before the webinar: https://getfeedback.com/r/hBY8qihT/q/1.
Virbac Animal Health has launched a new pet owner information pack to help practices raise awareness of reproductive health issues in dogs and cats.
The pack consists of a leaflet holder with four different leaflets covering unwanted sexual behaviour, castration, prostate disease and misalliance. The holder has a small footprint so will sit nicely in any practice reception area.
Product manager Chris Geddes MRCVS says that the pack will make it easier for vets and VNs to raise the sensitive issue of pet reproductive health with owners. "For example, prostate disease in men is well documented and public knowledge is high, but we believe that few people know that it can affect pets too.
"It is estimated that 80% of male dogs over the age of five suffer from prostate problems, but experts agree that it is underdiagnosed at present. This is possibly due to a combination of a lack of awareness and client unease on discussing reproductive subjects at their vet practice."
To obtain your free pack or for further information, please contact your local territory manager or call Virbac on 01359 243243.
Bayer Animal Health has announced the launch of, Dinalgen (ketoprofen), an NSAID injection approved for use in cattle, pigs and horses.
Dinalgen is available as a 150mg/ml Solution for Injection, and Bayer says the more concentrated format allows the product to provide the smallest dose, fast relief NSAID currently available for cattle in the UK.
In cattle, Dinalgen is licensed for the reduction of inflammation and pain associated with lameness, post-partum, and musculoskeletal disorders; the reduction of fever associated with bovine respiratory disease; and the reduction of inflammation, fever and pain in acute clinical mastitis in combination with antimicrobial therapy where appropriate. The withdrawal period for milk is zero hours and for meat two days.
In pigs, Dinalgen is licensed for the reduction of pyrexia in cases of respiratory disease and postpartum dysgalactia syndrome in sows, in combination with antimicrobial therapy.
In horses, Dinalgen is licensed for the reduction of inflammation and pain associated with osteoarticular and musculoskeletal disorders, including lameness, laminitis, osteoarthritis, synovitis, and tendinitis. It also aids the reduction of visceral pain associated with colic.
Sharon Cooksey, MRCVS, FAP group product manager at Bayer, said: “We are excited to have this new addition to our portfolio. It is a good fit with our existing products.
"A recent field study*, carried out by Nottingham university, has shown that NSAID (ketoprofen) treatment maximises the chance of recovery from lameness in dairy cattle. Lameness remains one of the “big three” issues in dairy practice so maybe it is time we moved on from hoof blocks and/ or trimming in isolation and onto a more multi-layer approach. We have some great support tools in the pipeline to help both vets and farmers recognise and manage animals at risk for lameness.”
For further product information visit www.noahcompendium.co.uk or contact your local Bayer territory manager.