Bayer Animal Health has launched a new marketing campaign for Drontal that celebrates the special roles pets play in people's lives.
As part of the campaign, the company has carried out research amongst 2,000 cat and dog owners to discover how owning a pet changes behaviour and positively impacts their daily routine.
The survey found that 76% of dog owners say their four-legged friend is like a personal trainer that motivates them to take exercise, with one in four saying they've lost weight since getting their pet. Of these, one in ten say they've lost half a stone or more.
As part of the Special Roles campaign, Bayer has launched a competition to find the nation's most interesting pets. People can upload their favourite pet photo and explain what it is that makes their animal so important to them. The winner of the Special Roles competition will be chosen on the 31st July by a judging panel which includes the editors of Your Cat and Your Dog magazines.
The winner will receive £500 as well as the chance to appear in a Drontal advertorial. The two runners-up will be decided by public vote and will receive £250 worth of vouchers to spend in Pets at Home. Entries to the competition can be submitted here: http://woobox.com/uahgp5
The Special Roles theme is being supported by a new TV and print advertising campaign that celebrates the role our pets play in our lives. The ad communicates the importance of regular worming with Drontal, with the tagline: "It's their job to be special, it's our job to keep them that way". The print and TV campaign will run for 2 weeks, from 14th April.
Kathrin Tetzner from Bayer said: "The Special Roles campaign for Drontal celebrates the joy, love and humour pets bring to our lives, while reminding owners that it is their responsibility to keep them happy and healthy in whatever role they play. The Special Roles competition will give pet owners nationwide the chance to show off their pet's special role and help us celebrate a nation of happy and healthy pets."
Merial Animal Health, makers of Previcox® have launched a new technical manual containing expert thinking on canine osteoarthritis (OA) and other orthopaedic subjects.
Recipients will also have the opportunity to test themselves and their colleagues on the technical content for their chance to win £500 worth of CPD vouchers.
Previcox product manager Claire Parry-Baggott said: "We have been very fortunate in being able to work with some of the UK's most highly regarded experts in the field of OA.
"The first issue just released contains two papers, the first from Gareth Clayton-Jones, BVetMed DVR DSAO HonFRCVS, RVC specialist in both small animal othopaedics and diagnostic imaging. Mr Jones discusses anterior cruciate ligament rupture, including examination, radiography and treatment options.
"The second paper in this first edition is from specialist in small animal orthopaedics Prof. John Innes BVSc PhD CertVR DSAS(orth) MRCVS, of the University of Liverpool, who looks at elbow dysplasia. In his paper Professor Innes provides a detailed but practical guide to the condition."
Additionally to support Gareth Clayton-Jones' first issue there is a DVD highlighting common clinical presentations of dogs suffering from stifle disease.
Claire said: "With two papers in this first issue there's a total of £1,000 of CPD vouchers up for grabs."
"Each paper has a related quiz containing key questions from the discussion. The winner will be the first correct entry drawn at random," she explains. "Other topics to be covered in the series include Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD); pain and analgesics; rehabilitation; hips; and spines.
"The manual is set to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date practical guide to OA and related conditions. Subsequent papers will be issued on a quarterly basis and will also contain a quiz sheet with the opportunity to win £500 of CPD vouchers," concludes Claire.
If you haven't already received your copy, contact your local Merial territory manager or call the customer hotline on 0870 6000 123.
The British Veterinary Asssociation and British Small Animal Veterinary Association have strongly welcomed moves to tighten up the rules on dog breeding in Wales with the publication of the proposed Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2011.
The draft proposals follow a report by an expert Task and Finish Group, including veterinary representatives, which made recommendations for new legislation to tackle the significant problem of puppy farming.
The BVA and BSAVA were both represented on the Task and Finish Group and have welcomed the proposals, which include:
The draft legislation is now out for consultation until 13 January 2011.
Harvey Locke, BVA President, said: "The Welsh Assembly Government should be congratulated for driving forward legislative changes to tackle the abhorrent practice of puppy farming.
"The Task and Finish Group brought together everyone with an interest in dog health and welfare so the Minister should be confident that these proposals will gain widespread support.
"Puppy farming is not only a problem in Wales and it is clear that the rest of the UK is now lagging behind. We will be encouraging England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to follow suit and ensure dog health and welfare is promoted across the country."
Grant Petrie, President of BSAVA, added: "Vets are often faced with the terrible consequences of puppy farms and bad breeders, which can lead to suffering for both the animals and their owners.
"We are delighted that this action is being taken by the Welsh Assembly Government.
"The compulsory microchipping of dogs and puppies on licensed premises is a particularly welcome move but the veterinary profession will continue to campaign for this to be extended to all dogs."
The nomination period runs up until 5pm on Tuesday 31 January 2017. In order to stand, candidates need to submit a nomination form, submit a short biography and personal statement and supply a high resolution digital photo.
Each candidate also needs two nominators who are veterinary surgeons on the College’s Register but who are not current RCVS Council members.
Dr Chris Tufnell, RCVS President, said: "As someone who has been a member of Council since 2009 I can honestly say that the discussions you have and the decisions you make through both Council and its various committees do have a tangible impact on the future of the profession.
"For example, in my relatively short time as a Council member I have been involved in the review of specialisation in the profession and the setting up of Advanced Practitioner status, the championing of primary care as a valuable discipline in its own right and overseen the delivery of an ambitious Strategic Plan through my position on the Operational Board.
"These are all areas that I never imagined I’d be able to influence from my position as a practising vet in general practice. So, if you are interested in having a say in issues as varied as CPD policy and how we respond to the challenges and opportunities of Brexit, then please put yourself forward for Council."
Prospective candidates are invited to attend a ‘Meet the RCVS Day’ at the College’s offices in Belgravia House, London, on Wednesday 23 November 2016 where they will have the opportunity to talk to RCVS President Chris Tufnell and find out more about the role of the College, its Councils and its committees.
Those interested in attending should contact Emma Lockley, RCVS Events Officer, on e.lockley@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0773. Reasonable expenses for travel will be reimbursed.
The election period starts around mid-March and will run until 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017. Ballot papers will be sent to veterinary surgeons who are eligible to vote in the week commencing Monday 13 March 2017.
Nomination forms, guidance notes and frequently asked questions for prospective RCVS Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil17.
The company says the new diets are based on a formulation high in protein and low in carbohydrate, of which 90% of the protein is of animal origin, providing clinical nutrition closest to the needs of dogs and cats as carnivores.
Virbac adds that the compact range allows veterinary practices to meet the main nutritional needs encountered in practice with just 15 products, making it easier for practice teams to navigate, whilst also reducing stock holding requirements.
Andrew Connolly, Pet Food Manager at Virbac, said: "We’re really excited to introduce our new clinical diets to the profession as a genuine advancement in clinical nutrition."
He added: "We regularly hear from practices who are frustrated with working hard to promote diets only to lose the sale to alternative channels. This doesn’t have to be the case and I would encourage any practices in a similar situation to speak to their Virbac Territory Manager to see how we can help."
Pam Mosedale, Lead Practice Standards Scheme Assessor, said: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but based on the UK Government’s advice and our duty of care to our team of Assessors, as well as team members and clients at veterinary practices, our only option was to postpone and reschedule all visits in the short-term.
"Although we have cancelled all assessments until the end of April, we will be constantly monitoring the situation over the coming weeks, and it is likely that there may be some further postponement of assessments planned for May and beyond."
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which carries out assessment inspections of veterinary premises that are not within the ambit of the Practice Standards Scheme, has also confirmed that it has postponed its forthcoming inspections. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-vmd-remains-open-for-business.
The RCVS Practice Standards Team can be contacted on pss@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0767 for further advice.
To enter the draw, visit http://www.noble-futures.com/veterinaryCPDgiveaway before the 31st March 2021 and complete the form.
There are ten £250 vouchers for Improve's modular programmes and fifty £50 vouchers for its Practical Surgery and Ultrasound short courses up for grabs.
Tony Noble, Managing Director at Noble Futures said: "At Noble Futures, we care deeply about the veterinary profession.
"Those who work within it are at the heart of our business and we are dedicated to looking after those that work in our industry.
"Recently we made the exciting move into recruitment for clinical veterinary roles, to support our long-standing success in recruitment for industry-based roles and with our huge £5,000 Improve International CPD Giveaway we are looking to give something back to the brilliant veterinary surgeons to whom we owe so much, not only for being at the heart of our business but also for the care and protection that they provide to the many animals in our lives."
The company says the sessions will help veterinary staff learn more about the condition - which affects up to 20% of dogs in the UK annually1 - the causes and consequences of osteoarthritis pain, the main predisposing risk factors and the impact of chronic pain on central sensitisation.
The CPD will look at what steps practices can take to mitigate animal suffering and increase long-term owner compliance and will encourage practices to look at their current osteoarthritis management strategy.
Kai Crawshaw, Brand Manager at Animalcare, said: "Canine osteoarthritis is a growing concern for UK vets – latest figures suggest that over two million dogs are suffering, based on current population figures.
"Managing these cases can be challenging, but through this lunch and learn session, we aim to support veterinary staff and help them to expand their knowledge and implement an improved approach for managing canine osteoarthritis.’
www.animalcare.co.uk/lunch-and-learn
Reference
VetSurgeon.org has launched a new register of veterinary locums as a resource for practices that need to find a locum quickly and at no cost.
Veterinary locums can add themselves to the register free of charge, and include full details of the service they offer.
Practices that need a locum can then search the register by area. After they've used the locum, they are encouraged to comment beneath the locum's entry on the register.
At the time of writing, about a dozen locums have added their details to the register, so it's still early days. Hopefully, however, this will grow into a really valuable resource for both practices and locums.
To add your name to the register, click here and follow the instructions linked to from the right hand side.
The RCVS Charitable Trust is offering two 'Blue Sky' grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 for basic or pure research intended to advance veterinary science.
Applications may be made for either an 'open' grant or a Robert Daubney Fellowship. Both are open to academic staff and students within UK veterinary schools. However, the Robert Daubney Fellowship is granted specifically for research within the fields of virology and helminthology, and has additional criteria including that applicants must be on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Surgeons, and hold a postgraduate veterinary qualification.
Cherry Bushell, the Trust's Director said: "This funding is offered for veterinary scientific research projects which meet our interests in innovation and development. In particular, pilot projects aiming to show a 'proof of concept' as a first stage of a more substantial project will be looked on favourably - if the project can then attract support from major funders this is likely to have more impact over the longer term."
The Trust aims to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with grant recipients, and innovative and exciting projects which can respond to these objectives through the grant-giving process and beyond are also preferred.
Further information, including full application criteria, is available from www.trust.rcvs.org.uk/grants. Preliminary applications should be made via the head of a UK veterinary school, and submitted to the Trust by 20 May 2011.
Elanco (maker of Comfortis) has released the results of a survey of 1006 dog owners which showed that nearly half are not aware that turning on their central heating can cause pupal fleas to hatch and go in search of a host to feed on.
50% of those questioned said their dog has had fleas at some point. Of those, 79% said their dog gets infested at least once a year. 20% said they did not believe fleas would be found in the carpet, dog bedding and soft furnishings, and over a third didn't treat their carpets or soft furnishings when their home became infested.
Elanco says it has extended its range of practice support materials available to help educate dog owners about flea infestation and the benefits of veterinary prescribed flea treatments. They include client leaflets, waiting room posters and assistance with bespoke direct mail client communications.
For further information, contact your local Elanco Animal Health key account manager.
The event, sponsored by Provet Cloud, will include interactive workshop sessions on ‘Finding Flexible Working Solutions’, ‘Financial Security and Negotiation Skills’, and ‘Developing Your Personal Brand’.
Women from all areas of the veterinary industry will also be sharing their inspirational career stories.
The speaker line-up for the event includes Flexee’s Silvia Janska, who takes a look at ‘Finding Flexible Working Solutions’, including how they can be implemented in practice to empower individuals and teams, and benefit the business.
Katie Ford and Paul Horwood from VetYou, will be addressing overcoming barriers in talking about, navigating, and creating security with money to arm delegates with negotiation tools and useable resources in their workshop session on ‘Financial Security and Negotiation Skills’
Hamzah Malik from Regent Animal Health will lead a workshop on ‘Developing Your Personal Brand’ to build delegates’ confidence in ways to explore and articulate personal identity and strengths, and apply brand marketing principles to boost career success.
The event will also feature ‘Seeing is Believing’ breakout sessions with female speakers from all spheres of veterinary practice, business, industry, nursing and education, sharing their career stories and taking part in Q&A sessions.
The event is suited to all those thinking about the next career step, considering leadership roles or already working within leadership positions in the veterinary sector.
Veterinary professionals and students can take advantage of an early-bird rate until 20th November.
For more information and to register for the event, visit: https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/7528/home/
The new system integrates with the Merlin practice management system and pet owners can access the MWI Pet portal to view and book available appointments with their veterinary surgeon via any connected device.
David Tinsley, Vice President, MWI Animal Health U.K., said: “As providers continue to navigate a changing industry and evolving consumer expectations, veterinary practices need access to technologies that help them better serve the needs of both their staff and their clients.
“MWI Pet will help practices meet consumer demands for digital-driven convenience and foster deeper relationships with their clients, while freeing up more time for staff to focus on delivering high-quality care.”
To set up a demo of the new system: https://abc1.jotform.com/222564512240850
In contrast to the British Veterinary Association, The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has welcomed the decision by DEFRA not to proceed with the proposal contained in the draft Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2010 to prohibit the advertising of antimicrobials to farmers.
NOAH says it believes the proposal would have had a negative effect on farmers' ability to maintain their knowledge and awareness of animal health and welfare issues, and did not believe that it would reduce antimicrobial resistance profiles.
NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: "Farmers, as professional producers of food, need to be kept well briefed on the antimicrobials they use, following prescription by their veterinary surgeons. Promotion by our members plays a key role in this and in educating farmers about animal welfare and disease."
NOAH members follow rigid rules on advertising and promotion through the longstanding Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines.
Phil added: "The NOAH Code already goes beyond the Veterinary Medicines Regulations and is reviewed each year - this year we will be particularly looking to ensure that it fully reflects the industry's commitment to disease education and information on responsible use, particularly in relation to antimicrobial promotion. We have planned, at our Code review meeting in February, further discussions within NOAH and with the VMD to finalise how this can best be achieved.
"Importantly we must always remember that antimicrobial medicines for all animals are POM-V, meaning they have to be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon, and therefore it should be the vet who makes the decision on whether an antibiotic is needed. If such therapy is indicated, the most appropriate antibiotic for an animal or group of animals is selected by the veterinary surgeon based on the clinical signs shown, the current disease situation on the farm and in the area and where appropriate and feasible, is based on bacterial culture and sensitivity testing."
Using promotion to encourage responsible use, NOAH launched its 'Use Medicines Responsibly' campaign in 2009. A recommendation was made that members include a strap line on promotional material advising users to 'use medicines responsibly'.
NOAH was a founder member of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) and continues to be a strong contributor to and supporter of RUMA's communications to farmers including the antimicrobial guidelines. These guidelines are not intended to influence the veterinary surgeon's decision to prescribe but help support ways that the veterinary surgeon and farmer can work together to reduce the need to prescribe antimicrobials whilst ensuring they are used responsibly once prescribed in line with the principle of 'as little as possible but as much as necessary'.
Phil said: "Antibiotics are essential for the health and welfare of the UK's livestock population. NOAH accepts that antimicrobial resistance is a serious and growing subject of discussion for the medical and veterinary professions and we need to continue to take this matter seriously."
A Europe-wide survey has found that speed and accuracy are the key features that farm animal veterinary surgeons and farmers want from diagnostic tests
More than 334 individuals from 8 countries were asked about their current usage and knowledge of diagnostics, and asked what they would like to see in the future. Greater accuracy was the number one need among veterinary surgeons, mentioned by 37%, followed by more speed (22%); cost savings (16%) and greater confidence in the results (8%) were other features that they would like to see improved.
The survey, which was commissioned by global biotechnology company Life Technologies, showed that most test results are currently available in one to three days, but still a significant proportion have to wait three to six days for results (39%) or even more than six days (20%). Only 10% currently get their results within 24 hours.
Although many of the vets were aware of modern molecular diagnostics tests such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) which generally offer quicker results than culture testing, most did not know which were used most often. The vast majority of farmers were happy to leave the decision on type of diagnostics test to their veterinarian.
Frederic Bar, Sr. Marketing Manager EMEA at Life Technologies said: "The results show that veterinarians are looking for the speed and accuracy that modern molecular diagnostics, such as PCR, can provide, but this technology is still not being used as widely as it could be."
"One way in which veterinarians could get faster, more accurate-results would be to specify PCR when they submit samples to diagnostic laboratories.
"Diagnostics have really moved on in recent years and the modern tests can give very reliable results, often in just one day, so veterinarians and farmers can make herd health decisions more quickly."
The survey found that BVD, IBR and MAP tests were the most commonly used in cattle, while PRRS, Influenza A and Salmonella topped the list for swine. For sheep and goats, Salmonella, MAP and Chlamydia were the most frequently mentioned tests; for horses, EHV, equine infectious anaemia and Salmonella were most common. Avian influenza was by far the most commonly tested disease in poultry.
VetsSouth, the new CPD congress and commercial exhibition being held in Exeter on 11th and 12th February, has announced that it will lead with a discussion about what practices can do to reduce bovine TB in clients' herds in 2015.
The congress, which is open to practising vets throughout the UK but aimed specifically at those in the west and south of the UK, will have three-and-half hours of discussion led by Roger Blowey (pictured right) and Richard Gard, with contributions from a number of practices in Gloucestershire, Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.
During a day on "cattle" on the Wednesday, Roger Blowey will also lead two sessions on "Recent dramatic changes in our understanding of cattle lameness", covering anatomy and foot lesions in the first and moving on to digital dermatitis and other infectious lesions in the second.
The rest of the programme is concerned mainly with small animals, the line-up of speakers including Dr David Williams on ophthalmology, Matthew Oxford on dentistry, Dr Andy Sparkes on feline medicine and surgery, Sarah Health on canine and feline behaviour and Anthony Chadwick on dermatology; plus six speakers from the Bristol veterinary school: Dr Jo Murrell and Gwen Covey-Crump on pain management, Dr Domingo Casamian Sorrosal and Dr Sonia Fonfara on cardiology, and Guillaume Chanoit and Ivan Doran on soft tissue surgery.
In addition, Professor John and Mrs Margaret Cooper will lead a day-long seminar on veterinary forensic medicine; the VDS will be running half-hour one-on-one sessions on improving consultation techniques; and there will be workshops on "ocular examination and pathology", "cat-friendly clinics" and "practical tooth extraction".
Exhibitors include Langford Veterinary Services, Vets4Pets/Companion Care, Protexin, Summit Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Dechra Veterinary Products, Royal Canin, Bayer Animal Health, Natures Menu, Pet Medic Recruitment/Mi Vet, Teignview Veterinary Group, Henry Schein Animal Health, Axiom Veterinary Laboratories, iM3 Dental, Medimark Scientific, Merial Animal Health, Nova Laboratories, Improve International, DVH Veterinary Sales, Centaur Services, A. Menarini Diagnostics, The Webinar Vet and Improve International.
The event is being run by VP CPD in association with Improve International and The Webinar Vet, with generous sponsorship from Dechra Veterinary Products. Attendance on both days is priced at £145 (plus VAT); one-day passes cost £80 (plus VAT) with additional charges for the workshops and VDS sessions. The prices include speaker notes, refreshments throughout each day and a buffet lunch. CPD certificates will be sent on request after the event.
Full details and a booking form are on www.vetssouth.com.
pet-gp.co.uk offers a 12 month subscription for £4.50 per month, or owners can seek one-off advice from its team of veterinary nurses (not veterinary surgeons as the name implies) for £12.50.
The company implies says on its website that the average vet bill is £300, and that 2 out of 3 visits are unnecessary anyway, so a quick call to them first could represent a considerable saving.
However, VetSurgeon.org sees a number of flaws in this logic:
BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "Although triage phone lines have been used in the NHS for several years, for pets these can be more problematic as animals are unable to speak themselves, and many symptoms may be subtle signs that will only be picked up in an examination by a vet."
Dave (pictured right) says he has created the group to address two problems. Firstly, the chronic lack of support for new graduates in their early years leading to avoidable levels of stress and burnout. Secondly, the knock on side-effect of this poor support, that many graduates turn their back on the profession for good, leading to a national skills shortage and recruitment crisis.
Dave said: "Veterinary graduates across the UK have been crying out for more support for years and this lack of support is the main reason for career dissatisfaction and burnout.
"Through a coordinated program of lectures blended with group mentoring and access to a like-minded peer network beyond university, VetX delivers a level of support that is simply not available through any other current means."
Dave is quick to avoid pointing any fingers of blame at practices, saying: "In my experience employers start out with good intentions, but then the reality of clinical life sets in and most just run out of time to deliver the support required. VetX solves this problem by taking much of the mentoring workload away from the practice."
Although the programme is open to all and is designed to complement in-house training, Dave says VetX gives smaller, independent practices the chance to compete with larger corporate groups which offer in-house mentoring schemes in a very cost-effective way.
The VetX programme is now open for enrollment and will take in a maximum of 50 new or recent graduates beginning in September 2017. Dave says early enrollment is advised as places are filling fast.
For more information about VetX or enrolling on the new programme, visit: http://www.drdavenicol.com/vetxclinics
The survey, which is being carried out throughout June, was also conducted back in 2016 and is now being repeated to identify any developments and outcomes that have been made over the past four years, a time in which several new epilepsy management options have emerged.
The survey asks vets to prioritise how important they feel different areas of epilepsy research are and assess how much they think new therapies might improve epileptic dogs’ lives. This includes emerging therapies like MCT oil, cannabidiol oil, vagus nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation, for which studies are currently being conducted across the globe.
The aim of the survey is to identify the priorities for future research for owners, vets and neurologists alike, and to see if there are any differences in their priorities.
Dr Rowena Packer, BBSRC Research Fellow and research lead in canine epilepsy at the RVC, said: "This survey was inspired by similar prioritisation activities undertaken by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) for human epilepsy patients. At the RVC, we believe that the benefits of such an open approach can be truly valuable for veterinary medicine too, and ensure a diversity of views influence future epilepsy priorities."
Dr Gareth Jones, Small Animal Intern at the RVC who is running the study, said: "While many have already undertaken the survey, we are keen to hear from more participants so I would like to implore any general practice vets to please help contribute to our work by taking part in our short survey."
To take part in this survey please visit www.rvc.uk.com/epilepsy-future, and do share this news story with colleagues. If you have any questions about the research, e-mail Dr Gareth Jones atgjones1@rvc.ac.uk.
Research published this week by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), with funding from the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA), confirms what many veterinary professionals will already know from first-hand experience - many elderly people are suffering from distress after being forced to give up much-loved pets to move into care.
The study of 234 care homes and sheltered housing units in six UK cities revealed that only 29% routinely allowed pets, despite the growing body of evidence of the health and social benefits of pets to older people. And many of these facilities specifically excluded cats and dogs even though these are the most commonly kept species of pet. The importance of pet ownership seemed to be largely ignored with only 24% of facilities asking potential residents whether they have a pet and only 35% having any formal policy about pets.
Chairman of SCAS Elizabeth Ormerod BVMS MRCVS said: "Many vets will already be aware that the importance of pets to older people cannot be understated; for some they are their best friend, their family and their only lifeline to the outside world. People of all ages should have the right to benefit from animal companionship, as long as this is managed responsibly. So we're encouraging all housing and residential care providers to develop clear and carefully considered pet policies."
The SCAS study was carried out by psychologist Dr June McNicholas B.Sc.Ph.D, a renowned researcher of the human-animal bond. She contacted 44 veterinary surgeries in the study area to investigate the implications of these pet policies for animals, and veterinary surgeons reported that they were presented with between two and four pets per month for euthanasia for the known reason that an elderly owner was going into care. This equates to over 1,000 pets per year in the study area alone and many thousands more across the UK.
Elizabeth Ormerod continued: "Sadly, it is common practice for animals to be given up to an animal shelter or presented at a veterinary practice for euthanasia because their elderly owners are going into care. The impact on the owners is devastating. But vets should be aware that many care facilities do now take pets and if not, it may be possible to rehome them through charities like The Blue Cross."
Vets questioned in the study said that they tried to avoid the euthanasia of healthy pets except when they were very elderly or infirm and would therefore be difficult to rehome. But both vets and vet nurses expressed concerns that pets were sometimes brought in by the relatives of an elderly owner, who may have been unaware of the fate of their beloved pet.
The ‘Pets and Older People in Residential Care' research findings are published in full on a dedicated area of the SCAS website (www.scas.org.uk/petsforlife), which also offers essential information for veterinary practices, care home providers and older people who are thinking about moving into care. This includes:
A leaflet has also been produced with key advice for older people and contact details for more information. This is being distributed to veterinary surgeries but is also available to download free from the website or it can be ordered by calling SCAS on 01993 825 597. A SCAS publication ‘Older people and pets: a comprehensive guide' is also available to order online or by phone for £12.50 plus postage.
Denmark-based consulting firm praQtice has launched a subsidiary in the UK to offer veterinary practice management consultancy services. The company says it concentrates on six business areas: strategy and business development, marketing, employee and manager development, finance, research and analysis, and training. praQtice says it has worked with a wide range of practices, from the small local practice to the large hospital, helping them bring together their mission and vision. The company also has the benefit of having an in-house marketing and communication department which it says has had considerable success - not only in Scandinavia, but in the UK when last year praQtice won a Veterinary Marketing Association award. The launch in the UK will primarily be driven by three praQtice consultants - founder and business developer Christian Kolthoff, Marketing Consultant Mario Riewerts and Business Developer Helen Kington.
Helen said: "This will be great for UK vets, largely it has been the same group of consultants working with the same thoughts and ideas for the last 10 years. We need to look beyond our borders in order to evolve. In Scandinavia you can only put a mark up of 5% on your drugs, which does not make you a profit. Thus they have learnt to be much better in delivering and pricing for their professional service, I am sure we can learn a lot from them. What we also see all over Europe is that practices are getting bigger and bigger. But as the practices grow, so does the number of problems and the partner's income rarely follows. praQtice is about quality of life and allowing yourself to dream, we then give you the tools along with helping you through the implementation to make those dreams and ambitions come true.
You can meet the team at the VPMA Congress in Oxford (28th-30th January), where founder and CEO Christian Kolthoff will be speaking. Meantime, if you would like more information about praQtice, visit www.praqtice.co.uk or telephone Helen Kington on 07765 338 607
Virbac Animal Health is offering a client e-shot and text alert service for practices taking part in its Canine Prostate Awareness Month initiative this year.
Canine Prostate Awareness Month takes place during November 2012 following its debut last year when more than 400 practices signed up to support it.
Timed to coincide with 'Movember' when thousands of men grow moustaches to raise funds for male prostate and testicular cancer, Canine Prostate Awareness Month aims to highlight the prevalence of the disease in dogs and to encourage practices and owners to test for it. In addition to the new e-shot and text alert service, Virbac already provides post card reminders; free dog leads; educational and display materials and a press release for use by practices with their local media.
Participating practices that diagnose a dog with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia during Canine Prostate Awareness Month are being asked to contact Virbac with details, as the company plans to collate a series of case studies from the initiative this year. The five best cases studies submitted before the end of the year will win Love2Shop vouchers to the value of £50.
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Virbac Product Manager, said: "There's a lot of interest already in this year's Canine Prostate Awareness Month so we're working hard to ensure it's even bigger and better than last year.
The serious message is that more than 80% of entire male dogs over the age of five suffer from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia¹. Canine Prostate Awareness Month gives practices a reason to highlight the risk and encourage owners to test for it. Timing Canine Prostate Awareness Month to coincide with Movember is a good way to interest dog owners at a time when some might be considering the state of their own prostate."
For further information on Canine Prostate Awareness Month, email cpam@virbac.co.uk; contact your Virbac Territory Manager or contact the company direct on 01359 243243.
1. O'Shea J.D. Studies on the canine prostate gland: Factors influencing its size and weight. J. Comp. Pathol. 1962 72: 321-331.
In their report, RCVS assessors highlighted the calm and professional environment at Lumbry Park, which they said, taken together with the enthusiasm of the team provided a very positive overall feel. Its provision of separate dog and cat patient visiting rooms was also singled out as a good use of space and support for clients, especially with the potential for long stay cases.
Lumbry Park Hospital Director Ray Girotti said: "We wanted to participate in the Practice Standards Scheme to benchmark the service we offer to our patients and their owners against the best veterinary hospitals in the country. The whole team has worked together to get us to this stage and we are delighted that our efforts have been recognised by the RCVS with the award of Hospital status."