Elanco Animal Health is reminding vets about the importance of correctly interpreting oocyst counts in the diagnosis of coccidiosis during the post lambing period.
The company says scouring lambs that are failing to thrive should immediately ring the alarm bells for coccidiosis. Typically, oocyst counts of >20,000 per gram are cited as diagnostic for coccidiosis in sheep, but counts of up to 100,000 oocysts per gram have been reported in apparently healthy lambs and disease can also occur in the presence of low or negligible counts where there is gut damage but before oocysts have been shed.1 These discrepancies can lead to misdiagnosis and as such, oocyst counts should always be interpreted with care.
Oocysts of the fourteen Eimeria species described as specific to sheep are indistinguishable from each other by eye and only two species - E. ovinoidalis and E. crandallis, are actually pathogenic.1 For this reason, diagnosing coccidiosis based on clinical signs of diarrhoea and oocysts in their faeces alone can generate false positives. This could lead to important differentials, such as Nematodirus battus infection (for lambs at pasture) being left untreated.
According to the company, false negatives are also a concern, particularly as prompt treatment of clinical cases with an anti-coccidial, such as diclazuril (Vexocan® 2.5mg/ml oral suspension) has been proven to reduce the convalescence period.2 Shedding of oocysts varies with disease progression and faecal counts can fluctuate significantly.3 For example, a delay between the development of clinical signs and oocysts appearing in faeces is common. Another possibility is sub-clinical disease, with affected lambs showing no typical outward signs. The gut damage caused by the parasite can be significant in these animals though, adversely affecting growth rates.
Elanco says that for reliable diagnosis of coccidiosis, faecal oocyst counts should be considered alongside disease and farm history, followed with Eimeria species identification if possible. The disease typically affects groups of lambs aged between 3-8 weeks old and is often triggered by a stressor such as castration, weaning, turnout and/or bad weather. If clinical signs appear around three weeks after such an event, the suspicion of coccidiosis can be heightened. For some farms, predictable stressors cause disease outbreaks year after year and in these cases, a metaphylactic dose of Vecoxan® can be administered to susceptible lambs 14 days after the trigger event.
Finally, the company says veterinary surgeons should also not forget the importance of good management when advising farmers about coccidiosis control. Lambing pen and high traffic area hygiene and age batching lambs are essential for long term control.
References
In common with the various other telemedicine platforms which have come to market in recent months, the app will allow veterinary professionals to give help and advice to clients and maintain a revenue stream whilst maintaining social distancing.
VisioCare is highlighting a number of features over and above standard video conferencing, including the ability for the clinician to take photos, video and produce a case file that can be added to the clinical record. The system also allows vets to access the client's smartphone and zoom into areas that need to be examined or turn on a flashlight to improve visibility.
Visiocare says it has also been able to address limitations in clarity due to poor smartphone reception.
Linkyvet includes a payment module - which will be integrated free of charge for orders taken during April - so practices can charge for services provided remotely.
Alexander Arpino, Managing Director of Veterinary Insights, said: "During the current COVID-19 situation, Linkyvet has real potential for triage, as well as enabling routine consultations, without putting anyone at risk. It's good news for patient care, staff wellbeing and also ensuring that the practice remains a viable business that's still there for everyone to return to when life returns to normality.
"Outside crisis times, the tool has ongoing value, providing a great way to generate revenue from services such as advisory consultations and follow ups provided remotely and giving clients a convenient alternative to visiting the practice."
VisioCare Linkyvet is available as a standalone tool or can be included in a bundle with other VisioCare products such as VisioCare Consult, which provides explanatory animations and videos that support clinician recommendations and the myBuddy app, which provides a secure and personalised communication channel between clinic and pet owner.
For more information, visit www.visiocareservices.com or contact your VisioCare Business Development Manager: telephone 01403 800135 or email enquiries@visiocareservices.com.
The PIC decision marked the conclusion of its investigation into a concern that was raised formally last November involving allegations of bullying at Professor Argyle’s workplace, the University of Edinburgh.
Professor Argyle, who had previously decided to step aside from his JVP and Council duties until the concern was investigated and concluded, said: “Despite this outcome from the PIC discussions, I have now made the challenging decision to stand down from my position at the RCVS. This is to ensure there is no further distraction to the College’s important work and activities and that whoever becomes the next JVP has the full support of Council and RCVS members.
"It is also to reduce the toll this situation has taken on my family, colleagues and students, and on me personally. I am proud and privileged to have served on RCVS Council for nearly ten years and wish it well as it navigates the next chapter in its history."
RCVS President Mandisa Greene said: “I appreciate that this has been an exceptionally difficult situation and very upsetting for all involved.
"I understand why David has taken the difficult decision to stand down from RCVS Council and would like to thank him for his many years of service to the RCVS since joining Council in 2012.
"I would also like to reassure colleagues once again that, throughout, the College has remained firmly committed to following due, proper and fair process in all its regulatory activities."
Following Professor Argyle’s decision to step down, the process for electing a new JVP for the current presidential year will commence.
As Professor Argyle was a Veterinary Schools Council appointee on RCVS Council, it will be for that body to elect a replacement Council member.
Further details will be announced in due course.
The specialist-led lectures will start on 5th May and run until October 2021, with a session every couple of weeks, alternating between vets and nurses.
RCVS-recognised specialist in ECC, Tobias Grave, and Racheal Marshall RVN, head of clinical nursing at Vets Now, are among the speakers who will be covering topics such as damage control resuscitation, traumatic brain injury and neurotoxins. You can view the full programme here.
Dan Lewis, ECC specialist at Vets Now, who devised this year’s veterinary CPD programme, said: “Because emergencies don’t only happen out of hours we’re committed to working with general practitioners to deliver the best possible care to pets at the time they need it most. With that in mind, we are also committed to bringing relevant and pioneering CPD and training to veterinary clinicians and vet nurses.
“As emergency and critical care experts, we appreciate the value of flexibility and are always looking to adapt our services. In 2021, with social distancing still expected to be the norm, we’re offering two CPD streams, available live and on-demand.
“We delivered a successful interactive learning experience for virtual delegates through our ECC Congress at the end of last year, so we have a strong foundation from which to build on innovative and expert virtual CPD, and we’ll aim to leave delegates feeling well-informed and assured.
“We will obviously miss seeing everyone in person but gathering together online like this is beneficial as we can reach more vets and vet nurses with valuable CPD. Importantly, the format can fit around busy schedules, with all content available as videos after the events have taken place.”
Dan added: “Delegates from our ECC Congress commented on some added benefits of the virtual format including things like less environmental impact and waste through less travelling, and more flexibility due to being able to look back on the content after the event. Delegates also felt it was easier to ask questions of the speakers without feeling intimidated.”
The event series is priced at £72 for the vet stream (working out at £12 per session) and £60 for the vet nurse stream (£10 per session). You can also attend both for £110 (working out at £9.16 per session).
You can book your place at www.vets-now.com/bitesize.
The updated indications reflect the recognition that Stelfonta may be used in any case where surgery may not be an option:
For the treatment of non-metastatic (WHO staging) mast cell tumours that are either non-resectable or those that are resectable but where surgery is not considered the best option, specifically: cutaneous mast cell tumours (located anywhere on the dog) and subcutaneous mast cell tumours located at or distal to the elbow or the hock.
Tumours must be less than or equal to 8 cm 3 in volume, and must be accessible to intratumoral injection.
Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Manager at Virbac said: “Stelfonta offers veterinary surgeons a medical option for the successful elimination of mast cell tumours.
"The extended labelled indication demonstrates the wide variety of cases that can benefit where medical treatment is preferred, such as; tumour factors (location and size) making surgical margins difficult, patient factors (concurrent disease and risk of anaesthesia), clinic factors and the simplification of this medical treatment and owner factors, where there is a preference to avoid surgery."
Stelfonta is administered by injection directly into the tumour mass and Virbac say that generally, dogs do not require sedation or local or general anaesthesia during treatment.
The active ingredient, Tigilanol tiglate, works largely through specific protein kinase c (PKC) activation, in which it locally stimulates the immune system, resulting in destruction of the tumour and the tumour’s blood supply, followed by rapid healing of the site with minimal scarring.
www.virbac.co.uk
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Buprenodale, an opioid analgesic for cats, dogs and horses presented in a 10ml multi-dose vial.
Carol Morgan, Brand Manager said: "Following on from the introduction of Comfortan and Anesketin, our Buprenodale Multidose, 0.3 mg/ml solution for injection for dogs, cats and horses, is the latest addition to the portfolio.
"The active substance in Buprenodale is buprenorphine, the most commonly used opioid analgesic in small animal practice in the UK.
"Buprenodale Multidose joins a portfolio of Dechra products covering a wide range of species, different levels of analgesic efficacy and duration of action.
"The product is now available in a 10 ml multidose vial. It is suitable for post-operative analgesia in dogs and cats; post operative analgesia, in combination with sedation, in horses and potentiation of the sedative effects of centrally acting agents in the dog and horse."
For more information www.dechra.co.uk .
The centres have cutting-edge facilities, including high-tech audio-visual equipment with ceiling-mounted cameras to relay demonstrations, phantom models for abdominal ultrasound training and advanced simulators for practicing echocardiography.
The courses will be taught mainly by clinicians from across the IVC Evidensia network,
IVC says the centres will deliver 20,000 hours of CPD for its staff this year, and it aims to make its training available to the broader veterinary community towards the end of 2025.
Daniella Dos Santos, Director of Professional Culture at IVC Evidensia, said: “These centres will allow us to provide tailored training, whether you’re just starting your career or you’re looking to develop new skills and techniques.
"The training will help us deliver exceptional care for pets and their owners by ensuring our colleagues and eventually the wider profession continue to grow and develop their expertise.”
The Royal Veterinary College has announced the appointment of Professor Stuart Reid as its new Principal and the successor to Professor Quintin McKellar.
Professor Reid BVMS, PhD, DVM, DipECVPH, FRSE, MRCVS, joins the RVC from the University of Glasgow, where he was Professor of Veterinary Informatics and Epidemiology and Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine. He will take up his new role on 1st January 2011.
Professor Reid began his career in 1987 as an Assistant Veterinary Surgeon before joining the University of Glasgow as a Clinical Research Scholar in 1988. In 1992 he assumed the role of Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the University and was promoted to Senior Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in 1994. He was appointed to the first joint Chair between the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow in 1997, as Professor of Veterinary Informatics and Epidemiology. In 2004 he became Associate Dean of Research and, in 2005, he became Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow.
"I am delighted and honoured to be joining the Royal Veterinary College at this important time." said Professor Reid. "The RVC has an enviable heritage and is a world leader in terms of its innovation and leadership in veterinary education, research and clinical service. I recognise that I am enormously privileged to be moving from a great School to a great College and I look forward to building on the successes achieved by RVC under Principal McKellar at the same time as rising to the challenges of a new funding environment."
Professor Quintin McKellar was appointed Principal in August 2004. He leaves the RVC to take the post of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire.
Chairman of the RVC Council, The Right Hon the Baroness Shephard of Northwold, said: "Great strides have been made under Professor McKellar's dynamic leadership, and I am sure I speak for all at the College when I say we will be sad to see him go. We look forward to welcoming Professor Stuart Reid, and firmly believe that his experience and distinguished academic record will assist the Royal Veterinary College in strengthening its position over the coming years."
The Open Access Publication Charge (OAPC) initiative was introduced in 2021 to cover the fees for the company's employees to publish in prominent peer-reviewed veterinary journals, which can cost up to £3,000 per paper.
Funding was approved for 29 employees to have their work published in eight journals last year, covering topics such as canine mast cell tumours, imaging of canine intracranial intra-axial haemorrhages, electrochemotherapy as a treatment option for feline nasal melanoma and antimicrobial use in female canine urinary tract infections.
The OAPC scheme has now been extended with a fund of at least £30,000 available this year.
The initiative was introduced by Professor Luisa De Risio, Clinical Research & Excellence Director at Linnaeus and a specialist in veterinary neurology (pictured right).
She said: “By publishing in open access journals, we are ensuring that research at Linnaeus is freely available across the veterinary profession and the scientific community.
“Being able to publish high-quality research in prestigious scientific journals supports the career development and job satisfaction of our Associates and fulfils the requirements of those training to become specialists.”
Dr Fabio Stabile, a neurology specialist at Southfields Veterinary Specialists, has been researching how dogs with reactive seizures can be treated with levetiracetam.
He said: “By publishing through open-access journals, I hope to support as many peers as possible with treating canine reactive seizures, which can be extremely stressful for our patients and their owners. It is always great collaborating with Luisa in developing my research, which was as valuable as the OAPC funding itself.”
In addition to the funding scheme, Linnaeus has also appointed Hannah Sargent as Clinical Research Associate to help researchers in areas such as study design, ethical review and statistical analysis.
For more information, visit https://www.linnaeusgroup.co.uk/medical-and-nursing/clinical-research.
MSD Animal Health (Merck in the US and Canada), has launched Finadyne (flunixin), the NSAID for cattle, as a pour on.
According to the company, Finadyne Transdermal is the world's first non-parasiticide cattle product to be made available as a pour-on.
Dr. Martin Behr, technical manager at MSD Animal Health said: “Finadyne Transdermal is uniquely designed for rapid absorption into the bloodstream and its antipyretic effect has been demonstrated as early as two hours after treatment. This is because innovative penetration enhancers are included in the formulation to improve the absorption of the active ingredient flunixin through the skin.”
The new product comes in pre-calibrated packaging and uses a bottle designed for easy application along an animal’s back.
Dr. Behr added: “It’s much simpler for farmers to treat cattle in this way – as opposed to administering an injection, which can also mean needle-site lesions that can reduce the value of a carcass or compromise hide quality.
“The time taken to handle and treat animals will be much reduced with a transdermal NSAID. There will also be a saving on syringes and needles.”
Finadyne Transdermal (POM-V) is available now from veterinary wholesalers. Further information is available from the MSD Animal Health veterinary support group on 01908 685685.
Mr Beveridge had been removed from the Register following a disciplinary hearing in May 2013 in which he was found guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect with the Committee finding that he had treated clients badly, kept inadequate clinical records, was dishonest in his dealings with the College and that animals in his care were placed at risk. He subsequently appealed to the Privy Council but this was later withdrawn, resulting in him being formally removed from the Register in March 2014.
He first applied to be restored to the Register in 2015 but his application was refused by the Disciplinary Committee at a hearing in November 2015. At the time the Committee found him unfit for restoration to the Register because, following his removal, his veterinary medicines account had been used on an unauthorised basis to order prescription-only veterinary medicines, which reflected a "cavalier attitude to practice". Furthermore, the Committee found that he had not fully accepted the Committee’s original findings, had made inadequate effort in regards to engaging in continuing professional development (CPD) and also considered the seriousness of the original findings.
At the opening of his second hearing Mr Beveridge, who represented himself, sought to address the concerns that the Disciplinary Committee had outlined upon refusing his first application for restoration. Regarding his acceptance of the original findings, the Committee heard that he now apologised "unreservedly for his failings that led to erasure of his name from the Register" and the Committee considered that he had demonstrated a significant change in attitude from the previous restoration hearing where he had not fully accepted the reasons for being removed.
In considering issues of public protection the Committee also accepted that Mr Beveridge, until his original Disciplinary Committee hearing, had an unblemished professional record and had run a successful small animal practice for over 30 years. It considered numerous client testimonials as well as a petition signed by 600 clients from 2013.
The Committee also considered that there was no risk to the future welfare of animals in the event of Mr Beveridge being restored to the Register, noting the testimonials and references to satisfactory care and treatment given by Mr Beveridge to his patients.
Regarding CPD, Mr Beveridge produced evidence before the Committee that he had attended courses run by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA). The Committee accepted that he had made "considerable progress" in terms of CPD.
In concluding the hearing Judith Way, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "It is the judgement of the Committee that the conduct which resulted in the applicant’s name being removed from the Register is unlikely to be repeated. The applicant has satisfied the Committee that he is fit to be restored to the Register."
At the outset of the hearing, Mr Kashiv, from Vets & Pets, Broxbourne, denied all aspects of the charges against him. During the course of the inquiry, some heads of charge were not pursued and some he admitted, leaving the remaining heads of charge to be determined.
The charges concerned the treatment of a Scottish Terrier, called Tanzy, whose owner, Mrs Greenhill, brought her in to see Mr Kashiv on 5 March 2015. Mrs Greenhill was concerned about blood in Tanzy’s urine and swellings in her mammary glands. After carrying out a cytopathology test, Mr Kashiv advised Mrs Greenhill that Tanzy would require surgery to remove the mammary glands. There were no further tests conducted, and no alternatives to surgery suggested.
On 13 March another veterinary surgeon at Vets & Pets therefore undertook a right-side mammary strip on Tanzy, discharging her the following day. On 17 March Mrs Greenhill brought Tanzy back in for a post-operative check and was seen by a locum veterinary surgeon, who found her to be in good condition.
On 20 March Mrs Greenhill then became concerned about Tanzy’s deteriorating condition and returned her to see Mr Kashiv. He admitted Tanzy for observation over the weekend but did not conduct any further tests at that stage, apart from radiography on 22 March. The hospitalisation records were of poor quality and substantially incomplete.
On 23 March Mr Kashiv then informed Mrs Greenhill that Tanzy could be discharged, although he recommended an MRI scan to assist in the diagnosis; this was declined on cost grounds. He did not however explain clearly to Mrs Greenhill that Tanzy’s prognosis was bleak, and did not give adequate home care instructions.
Tanzy continued to deteriorate, and on 24 March Mrs Greenhill took Tanzy to the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital where a veterinary surgeon conducted tests which showed that Tanzy was in renal failure. The veterinary surgeon then called Mrs Greenhill and recommended that Tanzy was put to sleep, which was then performed in Mrs Greenhill’s presence.
The Committee found that Mr Kashiv had failed to conduct the necessary investigations when Tanzy was admitted from 20 to 23 March 2015, being satisfied that, by the time Tanzy had been hospitalised for a period of three days, it was mandatory for a blood test to have been performed, given her marked deterioration.
The Committee also found while Mr Kashiv did express his opinion that Tanzy’s prognosis was poor, he did not give the full explanation required in the circumstances of this case to enable Mrs Greenhill to understand fully the prognosis. The Committee also considered that Tanzy was not in a fit state to be discharged on 23 March 2015, and that he had failed to keep sufficiently clear and/or detailed and/or accurate records.
After full consideration, the Committee found that Mr Kashiv’s actions amounted to serious professional misconduct, and was satisfied that his actions fell far short of the conduct to be expected of a reasonably competent veterinary surgeon in respect of heads of charge 1, 2 and 3 but not 4.
Although it was concerned "about the culture of care in the practice, in particular not having in place proper protocols and procedures and without necessary support from properly trained staff", in deciding on appropriate sanction, the Committee was satisfied that there were "a number of serious misjudgements by Mr Kashiv in this case".
The Committee decided to postpone judgement for a period of two years, whilst recommending that Mr Kashiv agree to undertake a structured programme to benefit his clinical practice including a Personal Development Plan, mentoring, practice visits, additional CPD and regular reports to the Disciplinary Committee.
Non-compliance with these undertakings may result in the hearing being resumed at a date earlier than the two-year period.
Stuart Drummond, Chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee considers that Mr Kashiv is a dedicated veterinary surgeon, as evidenced by the large number of testimonials, and that he provides a valuable service to the community, particularly with rescue animals.
"Nevertheless, the Committee considers that there were a number of fundamental failings in Mr Kashiv’s clinical competence which are required to be addressed during the period of postponement. For the reasons set out above the Committee considers that Mr Kashiv’s clinical practice will benefit from a structured programme over the period of postponement, whilst protecting the welfare of animals, maintaining public confidence in the profession and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct."
For the full charges, findings and decisions, see: http://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/
The aim of the week is to help pet owners identify common symptoms of eye disease and to seek prompt veterinary attention where appropriate.
To support the initiative, TVM UK is supplying veterinary practices with a kit to create their own waiting room display to inform owners about the common symptoms of eye disease. Pet owners can obtain further, more in-depth information by scanning a QR code on their smartphone camera which takes them directly to the webpage www.tvm-uk.com/eyehealth.
There is also a ‘Who’s Got Their Eye on You’ mini quiz to help engage clients to see if they can spot one of their pets in the animal line up.
Will Peel, Product Manager at TVM UK said: "Eye problems in pets can sometimes be hard for pet owners to pick up so we have launched Pet Eye Health Awareness Week to raise awareness of common symptoms of poor eye heath so problems can be identified early and pet owners can seek veterinary advice quickly."
For more information, contact your local territory manager, email help@tvm-uk.com or call 0800 0385868. You can find additional eye-health related social media content at: www.tvm-uk.com.
The gallery was traditionally held in-person at the NAVC’s annual Veterinary Expo & Meeting (VMX) in Florida.
Now, for the first time since it began in 2012, the gallery is accessible to everyone everywhere months before the live event in June.
The new Virtual VMX New Product Gallery went live this week and will run until 3rd September 2021. It showcases 21 new product innovations from the following companies: BioNote; Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health; Dechra Veterinary Products; Epicur Pharma; GVL; Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.; Merck Animal Health; Neogen Corporation; Ogena Solutions; Purina; Royal Canin; Vetoquinol; Zoetis Petcare.
NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill said: "Each year, NAVC’s panel of experts select the most innovative new products and services to be showcased as part of the VMX Expo. We are excited to take this VMX staple and, for the first time, make it universally available to members of our global veterinary community everywhere.
"And they don’t have to wait until June to learn about and try these important new products. The VMX Virtual New Product Gallery launch is part of the NAVC’s expanding virtual portfolio which breaks down barriers of geography and time to make the best products the veterinary industry has to offer available to veterinary professionals worldwide.” The gallery is free to access. You can register here: https://vmxvirtual.simexpo.com/page/100
The company has also carried out research amongst 60 practices which found that despite the fact that over 80% of dogs over the age of three reportedly suffer from dental disease1, only 48% opened discussions about dental care at the earliest opportunity: vaccination time. 16% only discussed dental care if the dog developed a dental problem and 52% also admitted that they did not follow up discussions on dental compliance.²
Eleanor Workman Wright, Product Manager at Animalcare, said: "The key to successful dental care is to start early, both in educating owners and getting puppies and kittens used to brushing or other forms of dental care. If discussions are delayed until the animal is a year old, it is possible that some disease may already be present while the animal may be less receptive to brushing or other efforts to care for their teeth.
"We see the dental sector as important and one that is likely to grow, particularly in the light of the pandemic-induced increase in the number of dogs and cats. We hope that our new Owner Guide will support veterinary teams in initiating early discussions with owners about the importance of dental care, while the addition of an affordable and effective oral gel in Orozyme, to our range will give them a key tool to offer to owners to use as part of their homecare routine."
For more information, contact your Animalcare Territory Manager or visit: www.animalcare.co.uk .
Reference
The project, which is funded by the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative, is designed to find out about current attitudes, beliefs, and alcohol use behaviours of those working in clinical settings within the UK veterinary sector.
Researchers Dr Jennifer Seddon, Olivia Cormier MRCVS, and Dr Emma Davies, from Oxford Brookes University are inviting people aged 18 and over who are working in the UK veterinary sector, including vets, veterinary nurses, practice managers, veterinary care assistants, receptionists, and those undertaking other in-practice roles, who currently drink or have drunk alcohol in the past three months to take part in an online survey which takes no more than 15 minutes.
Olivia said: “Evidence from research conducted in 2009 showed that veterinary professionals may be more likely to drink at risky levels compared to people in the general population.
"There is a vital need for new research in this area, not only so we can better understand what the current situation looks like, but so that we can learn how best to provide tailored support to this group.”
The survey is anonymous and confidential, and no personal data will be gathered or shared with MMI or the RCVS.
After completing the survey, participants can choose to enter a prize draw to win one of three £100 Amazon vouchers.
https://brookeshls.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0pHn8qy4ZIVTTgy
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
Pooch & Mutt has 20x 40-day trials of its new joint & bone supplement, Mobile Bones Concentrate, to give away to veterinary professionals.
Guy Blaskey from Pooch & Mutt said: "At The London Vet Show vets and vet nurses told us that they loved the new Mobile Bones Concentrate because at just £9.99 per month it costs less than other joint supplements (whilst having the same high quality ingredients), it takes up a very small amount of shelf space and it doesn't involve the client having to either change their dog's food or stuff pills down their dog's throat."
In response to requests from vets and vet nurses to try the new joint supplement, Pooch & Mutt have set up a dedicated website at www.jointsupplementfordogs.com where you can apply from one of twenty 40 day trials.
Guy continued, "We did not want to simply send samples out to everyone. By setting up the site we can choose a variety of dogs from different breed and with different conditions to send a full 40-day trial to. We hope to get regular feedback from the vets, vet nurses and dog owners involved in the trial and publish it on http://www.jointsupplementfordogs.com/ for everyone else to see."
The trials are available to all veterinary professionals and can be for their own dogs, or dogs belonging to their clients.
Elisa, pictured right next to Bill Oddie, is the founding member of a craft conservation charity called Blankets for Baby Rhinos. In less than three years the group has amassed a Facebook community of around 3,500 members, primarily knitters, crocheters and crafters, to make blankets and other items to supply to wildlife centres taking in orphaned and sick rhinos in Africa, as well as other wildlife threatened by poaching.
Originally from South Africa, Johannesburg-born Elisa had planned to work as a vet treating wildlife but found herself working in small animal practice in Cape Town before moving to the UK.
Still, colleagues and friends often told her of the injuries they saw inflicted on rhinos targeted for the illegal trade in their horns, so she and a friend decided to help.
After building a following and supplying thousands of blankets for a growing number of wildlife orphanages in Africa, she wanted to harness the enthusiasm of members to help meet the other practical needs of the centres, as well as helping rangers and dogs working in anti-poaching units.
Now a registered charity, members supply all kinds of equipment including animal feed, medicine and veterinary supplies to a wide list of centres, as well as food for anti-poaching dogs while continuing to run appeals which crafters can assist with. Currently they are asking knitters to knit hats, scarves and blankets in black or dark colours for rangers, so they can keep warm at night without being spotted by poachers.
James Sawyer, UK Director of IFAW, said: "Elisa’s pioneering approach to harnessing practical public support to help rhinos and other rescued African wildlife is really impressive and she is a great example of animal welfare in action. We hope her efforts will inspire the next generation of animal welfare and conservation campaigners. She is a very deserving winner of IFAW’s Vet of the Year Award."
The College has confirmed that it has now received an official complaint about the matter and it is now investigating under its normal 'concerns' investigation process.
Professor Argyle made a private statement about the allegations to RCVS Council at its meeting today, having already answered written questions from a number of Council members in the preceding days.
The Council did not ask Professor Argyle to step aside, but acknowledged that this was his choice, made for personal reasons.
The College said that in line with its normal protocols, and to ensure fairness for all parties, it will not make any further public comment about the investigation for the time being. However, it wanted to stress that it remains firmly committed to following due and proper process in all its regulatory activities.
The study1 took the form of an online survey of over 5,500 owners, which exploring the the early socialisation, health and behaviour of ‘pandemic puppies’ purchased in 2020 compared to 2019 puppies.
The study found that puppies bought during the pandemic in 2020, in comparison to pre-pandemic in 2019, were more likely to have been ‘designer crossbreeds’, for example a Cockapoo or Cavapoo, instead of Kennel Club registered purebred dogs.
The 2020 cohort of pandemic puppies were also more likely to already hold a pet passport at purchase, indicating they may have been imported from Europe – perhaps illegally – to meet the greatly increased demand and prices for puppies.
Amongst the positive findings was the fact that many of the health and socialisation experiences examined didn’t vary significantly between puppies purchased in 2019 and 2020.
However, researchers say there was still a concern that 2020 ‘pandemic puppies’ were less likely than 2019 puppies to attend puppy training classes or to have experienced visitors to their homes (under the age of 16 weeks in both circumstances).
This, they say, means pandemic puppies may be more likely to experience stranger-related fear and anxiety and other behavioural problems related to insufficient socialisation, from being unable to attend puppy classes under 16 weeks of age; a critical period for the development of puppies.
In addition, those puppies sourced from Europe may have been transported over long distances without their mother, a stressful experience which the researchers say could cause problem behaviours in the future.
Pandemic puppies may therefore need extra support from the veterinary profession, particularly those specialising in animal behaviour.
Dr Claire Brand, Researcher in Canine Welfare at the RVC said: “Despite many owners’ concerted efforts to raise their puppies as well as possible, some puppies missed out on key experiences of puppyhood, such as going to puppy classes, or experiencing visitors in their homes.
"This has potential consequences for the future behaviour of ‘pandemic puppies’ and so we are encouraging owners to seek out training and behaviour advice from accredited professionals so that these now adult dogs can learn to live happily in our post-lockdown world.”
From the start of 2016, the RCVS will no longer allow veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses to enter undocumented continuing professional development (CPD) on their records.
Under the RCVS Codes of Professional Conduct, veterinary surgeons are required to record a minimum of 105 hours of CPD over a three-year period, while veterinary nurses are expected to carry out 45 hours of CPD over the same period.
Historically, vets and nurses have been able to record 10 and 5 hours as undocumented private study per annum respectively. The RCVS Education Committee decided to discontinue the allowance for vets in May and the Veterinary Nursing Committee followed suit in June.
Julie Dugmore, RCVS Head of Veterinary Nursing, said: “As with the veterinary surgeons, this decision was made because it was felt that all CPD, including private study, should be properly documented on the CPD records of veterinary nurses.
“This change, however, is not intended to discourage private study which we recognise extends across a range of different types of learning, including reading, and can be very valuable for personal development, but merely that it should be properly documented.”
The College says it hopes the changes will also clear up uncertainty around the respective allowances for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, as some were under the impression that private study, even if it was documented, could only be classed within that category.
The Education Department is also in the process of reviewing the information available to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses regarding what counts as CPD, in order to clear up uncertainty and provide more specific examples for each learning category.
Information about CPD for veterinary surgeons can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd, while for veterinary nurses the information is available at www.rcvs.org.uk/vncpd
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.
The company surveyed 1979 pet owners last December and found the main reason they didn’t take their cat to the vet more often was because the animal appeared to be healthy and therefore didn’t need medical attention.
The second biggest barrier to more regular vet visits was cost. Although almost half of the cat owners surveyed had pet insurance, almost a quarter said cost prevented them from taking their cat to the vet more often.
Despite there being 760 cat-friendly clinics across the UK and Ireland, 13% percent of owners said the stress put them off making more frequent trips to the vet.
If they were unable to take their cat to the vet, 40% said they would arrange for a vet home visit, 29% said they would search for information online and 26% would turn to friends and family for advice.
The survey also found that 11% of owners believed that their cat was overweight. However, according to a 2018 study, 39% of cats are overweight in the UK, which would suggest that over a quarter of cat owners surveyed were unaware that their cat was above a healthy weight.
The company announced last month that from 1st January next year, practices will have to order companion animal and ruminant products via either MWI or NVS (who will also fulfil the order), but will be invoiced direct by MSD.
Pig products will join aquaculture and poultry products to be supplied directly to customers by MSD Animal Health.
In its announcement, the company said that the new structure would allow the company to enhance the customer experience and more quickly adapt to changes in the market to better serve its customers.
VetSurgeon.org contacted the company for further clarification about how the customer experience would be improved.
The company explained that the two main benefits of the new structure concern price visibility and stock control.
A spokesperson for the company said: "Currently, customers may get a discount from us and separately a discount from wholesaler. With our new distribution model we will invoice monthly and all discounts will be on one invoice, so it will be easier to determine the actual price paid."
The spokesperson explained that with the old model, once stock was sold to wholesalers it would be allocated to customers, so there would be some held by MSD, some allocated and some in distribution: "The benefit of the new model is we will have full oversight of stock as it will be in our own warehouses or with distribution partners. If there are disruptions in the market, we will have better awareness of in market demand and we can allocate stock appropriately".
The new 'SMART goals tool' is an addition to the charity's Farm Vet Champions programme, which supports veterinary teams with knowledge and resources to ensure antimicrobials are used responsibly.
To support the take-up of the new SMART goals tool, RCVS Knowledge will be running a free webinar on Zoom at 12:30pm on Tuesday 17th May (register here).
Fiona Lovatt, Farm Vet Champions Clinical Lead, said: “It is such a critical time to ensure we are using antimicrobials responsibly so that they will work when patients really need them.
"We all have a responsibility to fight antimicrobial resistance. The good news is there is a lot we can do – one of those things is getting involved with Farm Vet Champions, enhancing our skills and adapting our practice.
“I am so excited to see the launch of our SMART goal tool. It is both engaging and simple to use, and I expect it will encourage practice teams to motivate each other to track their progress in their stewardship activities.
Fraser Broadfoot, Head of Antibiotic Use and Stewardship Team at Veterinary Medicines Directorate, said: “We are really supportive of this important initiative.
"In the UK we have seen a 52% reduction in antibiotic use for food producing animals since 2014, and this has been driven by vets and farmers working together to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics and with a strong focus on disease prevention.
"However, as highlighted in the RUMA sector targets, there are still areas where improvements can be made and where antibiotic use data is lacking.
"This SMART goals tool therefore provides an easy-to-use and practical resource that is designed to help and motivate vets and practice teams to set, monitor and accomplish goals and build on the tremendous progress that they have already achieved.
"This will not only help the livestock sectors to achieve their targets, but will result in improvements in animal health and, by reducing the burden of resistant bacteria, have public health benefits too.”