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

1. 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

    

HT Vista has launched HT Vista Academy, a free online learning platform designed to provide extensive support, education, and resources to users of its cancer screening device.

The new platform offers video tutorials, podcasts, webinars, scientific studies, blogs and downloadable resources, all designed to ensure users understand how the HT Vista screening device can support their day-to-day work.

Users can also ask for a free one-on-one training call with HT Vista for personalised guidance.

HT Vista’s Managing Director, Liron Levy-Hirsch said: “We’re excited to introduce this new platform for veterinary professionals alongside our latest diagnostic update to the device.

"Our goal with HT Vista Academy is to support users in expanding their expertise, not just in operating the device but also in understanding the technology behind it and learning the best practice of dermal and subcutaneous mass management.

"By offering valuable educational resources and hands-on support, we hope to enhance the overall experience for veterinary teams and, ultimately, the care they provide to their patients.”

The company says the screening device is being widely used in nurse clinics around the world and its academy is suitable for both vets and veterinary nurses.   

www.ht-vet.com/academy

Boehringer Ingelheim has launched a new competition for vets and nurses to win a £1,500 Thomson 'Round The World' travel voucher.

The competition is called 'Celebrate Life with Norman', the knitted star of the Vetmedin advert. To enter, you need to take a photograph of a cardboard cutout of Norman (sent to all practices, and also available from Boehringer Territory Managers) whilst 'on your travels'. Then upload your photo to www.vetmedin.co.uk by June 30th, 2009.

You can then follow Norman on his QUEST (Quality of Life and Extension of Survival Time, geddit), and vote for your favourite QUEST adventure.

The competition is open to UK and ROI practising vets and nurses.

For more information please contact your Boehringer Territory Manager or visit the Vetmedin® website.

Hill's Pet Nutrition has reported some early results from its '60 Tonnes in 6 Months' pet weight loss campaign, which started 2 months ago.

The company says that although there is only preliminary data available from 33 practices, it's clear that the campaign is working, with each practice involved reporting on average over 10 Kg weight loss from their patients. However, many practices are holding on to send in results until their patients have reached their final targets, so more data is expected. 

Hill's says that some practices have had great success using its PR kit, generating positive coverage in local newspapers. Sara Locke, Associate Customer Marketing Manager is reminding practices that January is the traditional time for 'dieting fever' to hit the headlines after the indulgencies of the festive season. She said: "If you have one of our PR kits, don't forget to send out your pro forma press release - it's not a big task to customise it with your practice details and you could find yourself making a big splash locally at a time when we know interest will be heightened."

As part of the campaign, Hill's has also produced a series of nurse webinars, the last of which was on exercise and rehabilitation programmes for overweight pets and contains tips on how to develop a personalised exercise programme that fits with the owner's lifestyle and reflects the pet's capabilities and level of mobility. The webinar can be viewed here: https://hillsvet.webex.com/hillsvet/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=EC&rID=13881732&rKey=E1182C100CB53476

Further information is available from local Hill's Territory Managers or by calling Hill's on 0800 242438 or in ROI 1 800 626002.

Dômes Pharma has produced a range of support materials to help vets educate pet owners on the early signs of eye conditions during National Pet Eye Health Awareness Week which this year runs from 16th – 22nd September.

The materials include a social media toolkit and a board kit, both designed to encourage owner awareness and more frequent conversations on eye health.

There is also a new CPD module, focused on ophthalmology.

The company is running a webinar on 24th September which focuses on management of dry eye and corneal ulcers for brachycephalic dogs

Campaign materials & VPD module: https://www.tvm-uk.com/national-pet-eye-health-awareness-week 

Webinar: https://thewebinarvet.com/webinars/take-a-closer-look-big-eyes-big-problems-ocular-issues-of-the-brachycephalic 

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Trust is looking for a vet with a particular interest in veterinary education, professional development and research, to be a new trustee.

The RCVS Trust is an independent small charity that provides two key services to the veterinary profession to further education and animal welfare: an educational grants programme and a Library and Information Service.  It is seeking a trustee who can bring new contacts and ideas relevant to the work of the Trust.

The Trust is also seeking further 'lay' trustees with experience of library services, fundraising and grant-making.

The current Board members have a wide range of experience from academia, government, animal health and small and large animal practice, and veterinary nursing. However, there is room for some new Trustees to join and bring the Board up to full strength.

Stephen Ware, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said: "The Trust has an important role in supporting practising vets, veterinary nurses, researchers, students and academics through its grants programmes and library and information resources." 

"We are looking for a veterinary surgeon who is actively involved in the wider profession through networks and specialist interest groups, and who is willing to promote the work of the Trust, for example, at veterinary congresses.  Given the nature of the Trust's work, the new trustee should also have experience of postgraduate education or research.

"We need someone who has the energy and experience to get things done - and who can work with other trustees in a collegiate style."

Trustees serve an initial three-year term, spending around six days a year at meetings in London and conferences.  Reasonable expenses are reimbursed. Experience of charity governance and finance is not necessary as training and support will be given. 

Those interested in the role can contact Cherry Bushell, Director of the RCVS Trust, for an informal discussion and an application form.  The closing date for applications is 30 April.

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.

VetSurgeon.org and Clinical Partners have joined forces to offer the profession two new sources of help coping with physical or mental illness in practice.

Clinical Partners is the UK’s largest private mental healthcare partnership, founded by VetSurgeon.org Editor Arlo Guthrie’s brother, Barny.

In addition to providing treatment for a wide variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and addiction, Clinical Partners has now launched a ‘pay as you go' occupational health service through which practice principals and managers can get advice and support in dealing with illness in an employee. 

Helen Humphreys (pictured right), who heads the new service at Clinical Partners, said: "Working with employers, our job is usually to assess an employee’s fitness to work and then smooth their passage back to it, helping both parties through what can be a very difficult time."

In addition, Clinical Partners also offers Occupational Health Audits, for practices that want to make sure they are adhering to the highest standards when it comes to ensuring the health and wellbeing of their staff. 

To provide further support with matters relating to health and wellbeing in practice, VetSurgeon.org and Clinical Partners have launched a new Occupational Health Forum, where both practice owners/managers and employees can come and discuss workplace health issues (anonymously if needs be).

Arlo said: "Our forums have always been a popular place for members to come and seek the support and advice of others in the profession in times of need. My hope is that this new forum will not only continue that tradition, but also help promote and share best practice when it comes to keeping everyone mentally and physically well."

Visit the new forum here: https://www.vetsurgeon.org/uk/practice_management/f/208.aspx 

RCVS Knowledge has launched a new initiative to support the veterinary sector in delivering contextualised care.

The initiative seeks to understand the barriers and enablers to delivering contextualised care in companion animal practices, and to set out what contextualised care looks like when done well.

As part of the initiative, RCVS Knowledge is gathering perspectives from across the veterinary community and from pet owners to design a roadmap for the profession.

The work started last week at the National Forum for Contextualised Care in London, which brought together more than 60 people from across the veterinary sector, including leaders from veterinary associations, veterinary educators, students, practice staff, veterinary charities and rescues, pet insurers, regulators, representatives from corporate and independent practices and animal owners.

RCVS Knowledge will now be working with an independent research partner to conduct focus groups, surveys and interviews to gather a representative range of views from across the sector and pet owners.

The work will culminate in a summit in the summer that will use the findings of the research to design recommendations on:

• How veterinary professionals’ and pet owners’ perspectives and circumstances can be better brought together in reaching decisions about the most appropriate care for the individual animal.
• The barriers and enablers to implementing contextualised care in practice. 
• What needs to be done, and by whom, to support veterinary teams to deliver contextualised care and shared decision-making as part of good-quality veterinary care.

Sally Everitt, Clinical Lead – Evidence at RCVS Knowledge said: “Contextualised care is the way of delivering veterinary care that acknowledges that there are different ways to approach the diagnosis and treatment of an animal, depending on the circumstances of the individual animal and their caregivers and the context in which the care is delivered.

"The term has been used increasingly over the past year, and is now the subject of much debate, alongside other aligned terms such as ‘spectrum of care’ and ‘pragmatic medicine’.

"However, we need to better understand what constitutes good-quality contextualised care, and the barriers and enablers to its delivery in practice.”

Katie Mantell, Chief Executive of RCVS Knowledge, said: “As an independent charity with a mission to advance the quality of veterinary care, we believe RCVS Knowledge is well-placed to bring together all parts of the veterinary community to seek consensus on what good-quality contextualised care looks like and how it can be delivered in practice.

"Our aim is to take a collaborative, robust approach to co-producing a roadmap for contextualised care that will support its widespread delivery for the benefit of animals, the veterinary professions and animal owners.”

To be updated about the progress of this work, and to hear about opportunities to take part in the focus groups, interviews and surveys to follow, sign up to receive RCVS Knowledge’s monthly email newsletter intheKNOW.

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".

Dechra Veterinary Products has launched a range of support material to help educate owners about pet ear health.

Senior Brand Manager at Dechra Veterinary Products, Larry King, said: "This extensive range of new material will help veterinary professionals raise client awareness of ear infections and also help owners understand why ear health is important.

"The information available includes a leaflet for owners on how to treat their pet's ear infection as well as a guide to effective ear cleaning, which is also available as a video for practice and client use."

Videos entitled: 'How to clean your dog's ears' and 'How to clean your cat's ears are available to view at www.dechra.co.uk/How-to-Guides/Dechra-how-to-videos-guides.aspx

The It's Time to Change campaign offers best practice guidelines and information on ear disease in cats and dogs. It provides assistance in helping to diagnose the organisms associated with infection, support in choosing the correct approach to control as well as help in educating owners to apply and use treatments correctly.

More information on the support material can be found at www.dechra.co.uk/timetochange  or veterinary professionals can contact their local Dechra representative.

Ceva Animal Health is calling on vets to talk to dairy farmers about the role of NSAIDs after hosting a conference at which many vets said they assumed that farmers know what NSAIDs are, but at the same time reported that even proficient and knowledgeable farmers were confused between antibiotics and NSAIDs!

In addition, some delegates at the ‘Break the Pain Conference and Round Table’ event, which took place last month, said that they sometimes assume that farmers are worried about the cost of medication, which discouraged them from talking about it.

Katherine Timms, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health, which manufactures the NSAID Ketofen, said: “The Stride UK dairy mobility report 2024 revealed that 7% of dairy farmers were not using NSAIDs in any lame cow, yet foot care and lameness management should be included in their herd health plans to meet the Red Tractor Dairy Standards and the standards of their milk buyer.

“Farmers want an easy and cost-effective solution when it comes to offering pain relief to their herds due to other priorities on farm and using NSAIDs strategically have shown a substantial return on investment of £1.66 for every £1 invested¹. 

"Vets should be leading discussions on pain relief to change their clients’ mindset with the goal of providing gold standard care for the long-term health and welfare of the nation’s herd.”

Sam Bowker, vet surgeon at Blackdown Farm Vets in Devon, who attended the conference, said: “It was a good challenge to us as vets to lead on the use of NSAIDs and pain relief on farm.

"We had a good discussion about protocols we have in the practice, particularly around the use of pain relief when called to assisted calvings and all agreed to use them ongoing. 

"The other good reminder was not to assume that farmers won’t want to give pain relief because of cost, and to consider both the welfare and production benefits of their use.”

www.wavegoodbyetopain.co.uk

Reference

1. Wilson JP, Green MJ, Randall LV et al.  Effects of routine treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at calving and when lame on the future probability of lameness and culling in dairy cows: a randomised controlled trial.  J Dairy Sci. 2022; 105(7):6041-6054.  https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21329 

NoBACZ Healthcare has launched Ambugreen, a waterproof and antibiotic-free gel barrier for livestock.

The new gel is made from natural resin combined with zinc salts which NoBACZ says provides both physical and microbial protection.

NoBACZ says that unlike water-based gels and sprays, including aerosols, that dilute in water and wash away, Ambugreen’s natural resin is hydrophobic which improves contact times between the product and the skin in wet conditions.

The gel barrier can be used anywhere on the skin where a bandage or spray has conventionally been used for protection, such as the management of lameness and to protect sore skin in livestock and to manage udder cleft issues in cows.

Ambugreen also offers fly protection and is suitable for use on all livestock, including copper-sensitive sheep breeds.

Dr David Charles, veterinary surgeon and international business development manager at NoBACZ Healthcare, said: “Ambugreen provides farmers with next generation protection for their livestock and is the perfect antibiotic-free tool to help protect wounds from bacterial ingress from the environment; enhancing the health and welfare of animals whilst preventing economic losses.”

Laura Donovan, veterinary surgeon and partner at Nantwich Farm Vets, adds: “We were lucky enough to have trialled Ambugreen with our dairy clients who have successfully used the gel barrier for udder cleft dermatitis and were very pleased with the results.”

www.nobacz.com