AviPro Salmonella vac E, the live oral vaccine against Salmonella enteritidis made by Lohmann Animal Health, is now available in larger size vials of 5,000 doses, supplied in packs of ten.

More information from: Anna-Christina Riebau, Lohmann Animal Health, Germany. Telephone: +49 (0) 4721 747 217

Genitrix has announced the launch of Prilben (benazapril hydrochloride). The product joins its 'Standards' range, created to offer veterinary practices cost-effective versions of frequently used products.

Prilben is indicated for the treatment of congestive heart failure in dogs and for chronic renal insufficiency in cats.  It is provided in packs of 14 x 5mg tablets at a veterinary list price of £4.50, which equates to 32p per tablet.

Rob Watkins, Marketing Director at Genitrix, said:  "Benazapril hydrochloride is a tried and trusted medicine used in countless practices and homes across the country every day. Prilben offers a win for both practices and pet owners because its pricing structure enables practices to maintain profitability on the product whilst still providing their clients with an economical alternative."

The first product in Genitrix' Standards range, Dormilan, was launched in late 2009 and offers fast-acting sedation and analgesia for dogs and cats.

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has written to Public Health England to ask if they would be prepared to review their risk assessment for front line staff in veterinary practices (i.e. veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and receptionists) regarding pre-exposure rabies vaccination.

The letter points out that the changes to the Pet Travel Regulations, brought in on 1st January 2012, make it possible for dogs, cats and ferrets to enter the UK from an EU country only 21 days after vaccination, with no requirement for blood testing and a 6-month wait.

The risk assessment undertaken by Defra at that time acknowledged that this would lead to an increase in the risk of introducing rabies to the UK, but this risk was still considered to be very low.

However, this risk assessment made a number of assumptions, including that there would be full compliance with the regulations. Since that time it has become apparent that not only have these changes led to a significant increase in the number of animals entering the UK, but that a number of these animals do not fully comply with the regulations.

According to BSAVA, current evidence suggests that increasing numbers of puppies enter the UK from abroad, particularly Eastern Europe, and that these are often presented with illness at veterinary practices by their new, and often unsuspecting, owners. While it has been assumed that animals entering under the Pet Travel Scheme pose a low risk of carrying rabies, the recent case of two puppies imported into The Netherlands from Bulgaria which tested positive for rabies indicates that the disease may occur even in puppies that were vaccinated and travelling legitimately.

While a great deal has been achieved in the control of rabies in the EU, there is increasing expansion in member states to include countries such as Bulgaria and Romania in which rabies remains endemic. Moreover, sporadic cases continue to occur in countries within this region (i.e. Italy and Greece). Animals imported into the UK from these regions could potentially introduce rabies into the United Kingdom.

While importation of affected animals remains a remote possibility, the likelihood is that an affected animal would present for veterinary treatment and that frontline veterinary staff may be at greatest risk of exposure. Some veterinary practices that deal routinely with imported pets adopted from the street or animal shelters in other countries, have staff that may be at even greater risk.

BSAVA President Professory Michael Day, who signed the letter on behalf of the Association and its members, said: "As a result of the current conditions in which veterinary professionals find themselves, BSAVA, in our letter sent on 12 November, has urged Public Health England to consider adding veterinary staff who may come into contact with imported animals to the list of those entitled to receive pre-exposure rabies vaccination."

'Get Well Friends', a new retail opportunity for veterinary practices, has now officially launched with a new website: www.getwellfriends.com  

Described by their inventor, childrens' author Kes Gray, as "the ouch factor mixed with the aah factor", Get Well friends are a new and unique range of soft toy poorly animal characters for veterinary surgeries to sell. Each character is as cute as it is accident prone, and comes complete with a prescription from mouse Nurse Nibbles.

"For all kinds af reasons a young child may have to leave their pet with a vet. Under such circumstances, they can now depart from the surgery with a soft toy animal character that they themselves can nurse back to good health."

The Get Well Friends.com website has been set up to try and lower the blood pressure of long suffering veterinary waiting room staff, with online games for children to play and activity sheets for surgeries to print off.

First shown at the London Vet Show, the current gift range comprises 5 soft toy characters and a 'childrens picture book entitled 'Who's Poorly Too?' The recommended retail price for each 8" soft toy characters is £11.99. (Trade price £5.50 per unit not inclusive of Vat.) The 'Who's Poorly Too' paper back picture book has an RRP of £5.99 and a trade price of £3.60 per unit.

Kes Gray's wife and co-founder of Get Well Friends said: "The spinner is our recommended  display method. It has a strong and colourful retail presence. It holds fifteen toys and fifteen picture books, and can be bought for a special intoductory offer price of just £157.50. If a surgery waiting room is pushed for space, we can offer our striking 10 unit counter display boxes, or if preferred we can supply any combination of characters loose."

Click here to download the brochure and trade price list.

If you would like to place an order or make an enquiry contact Kes & Claire direct at info@getwellfriends.com.

Market research company Bax Interaction has made a last call for veterinary surgeons to take part in a survey about parasite control practices for beef cattle - with a chance to win a £500 cash prize.

The research aims to establish:

• which products and methods being used to treat fluke, worms and external parasites, and the reasons for selecting them
• the key factors in the decision to buy or recommend parasiticides
• what issues are currently being experienced with parasite control, and market needs for future. 

To take part in the survey, which takes between 10 and 15 minutes, click here.

Photo: I, Flukeman

Bayer Animal Health has signed a deal to sponsor GMTV's pet clinic to promote its market-leading wormer, Drontal.

Running from Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February, the pet clinic will feature TV vet Emma Milne advising viewers on the health and welfare of their pets.

The pet clinic slots will run twice a day throughout the week on GMTV and Drontal will be featured in the end credits. The advertising will target the product's core target audience - housewives with children - with key messages on the importance of regular worming with Drontal. In addition, GMTV will also include details on Drontal on its website - www.gm.tv, where pet owners will be able to follow a link to www.drontal.com.

Dan White, Drontal's product manager said: "By sponsoring GMTV's pet clinic, Bayer is highlighting the benefits of worming and encouraging pet owners to regularly worm their pets. The advertising features the iconic schnauzer (the face of Drontal's "Worms? Absolutely Not!'' campaign) and will serve to drive clients into practices asking for Drontal. This will not only result in healthier dogs and cats but also ultimately reduce the environmental reservoir of eggs."

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

    

Animalcare has announced that Buprecare buprenorphine single dose ampoules are now back in stock and ready to order from all veterinary wholesalers.

Production of the product had ceased in July 2011, when the company's previous manufacturer closed its sterile production unit.

Animalcare says that since then, it has been working to identify a reliable, high quality manufacturer which will be able to meet demand. The company has now signed a new contract with a German company which operates a substantial sterile injectables manufacturing facility in France. This facility is approved to manufacture Buprecare single dose ampoules and has produced, tested, quality assured and shipped its first batches.

Stephen Wildridge, CEO of Animalcare Group plc, said: “It was very disappointing to lose our marketing leading product Buprecare ampoules so abruptly. However after some excellent work from the Animalcare team in identifying and working with a very competent manufacturer we are now back in a market that has been eagerly awaiting our return and with a supplier that puts us in an even stronger position. It’s a very good way to start 2013.”

Available in the familiar 5 x 1ml pack, the Buprecare single dose ampoules now have a ‘one-point-cut’ design giving greater assurance of a clean ‘snap’ when opening the ampoule, enhancing the safety of the user.

Additional support is also now available to veterinary practices that purchase Buprecare ampoules or multidose vials, including CPD pain management talks and a peer-reviewed pain assessment chart.

Pfizer has released the results of its first Performance Index (formerly the Fort Dodge Index) which shows mildly improved trading conditions for the companion animal veterinary market in the first quarter of 2011. 

Those aspects of veterinary business that showed an improvement in the first quarter of 2011 include: turnover growth (+0.8%, up from -0.1% in March 2010); client retention (+0.1%); the average number of visits per year (+ 0.17%); annual transaction value (+ 1.1%); average transaction value (+0.8% to £41.74); fee per product service (+0.2%) and products and services sold per visit (+0.6%).

Leveraged sales (typically pet-care products), which were down 2% (from 40% to 38%) in 2010, have increased 0.9% in the first quarter of 2011 to make up 39% of practice transactions.

Less positively and pointing to the need for veterinary practices to implement ongoing marketing initiatives, the number of new clients coming into practice is down (-0.4%) as is the number of active clients (-0.26%). Revenue from loyal clients (those that visit the practice for additional products and services, particularly vaccination and other preventative healthcare programmes) was static. Although flat growth is an improvement on previous reports, this is still a concern, as it is these clients who are the driver for revenue growth in many practices. 

Pfizer Business Consultant, Simon Fowler said: "Although the figures are only very slightly improved this does mirror what we are seeing in practices that we visit. Practice turnover growth of 0.8%, while only small, is much better than any quarter in 2010. So we may be seeing the first green shoots of recovery, but there's still no room for complacency. Before we all breathe a collective sigh of relief, however, it should be remembered that as this is the first report for 2011 it is only an early picture, while a fuller story will be gleaned from the second report, which will show results from the first six months of the year.

"What is clear is the need for practices to market themselves in order to attract new clients, increase growth from active clients and increase client loyalty. VetSupport+ includes a range of marketing services to help practices in this respect. A practice has already achieved TV coverage via our Public Relations support service, while others are using PressRoom newsletter templates to keep potential and existing clients up to speed with the practice's news."

Further information about Pfizer's VetSupport+ service is available at www.vetsupportplus.co.uk.

The RCVS has published its 2014 Survey of the Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing Professions, a snapshot of the demographics of the profession, and the educational and work status of its members.

The results, which gauge individual views on the current state of the profession, are used to inform the College's future policy and activities.

6,988 veterinary surgeons (27% of the profession), 3,612 registered/listed veterinary nurses (31% of the profession) and 1,792 student veterinary nurses took part in the surveys, which are conducted once every four years by the Institute for Employment Studies.

This year's surveys included a set of questions about 24-hour emergency cover, which contributed to the recent review of the College's guidance in this area, and, for the first time, questions from the government-backed Social Mobility Toolkit, which aim to assess the social background of members of the profession.

Highlights from the survey of veterinary surgeons included:

• For the first time, this year more than half (53.8%) of the respondents were women - in line with the long-term trend towards the 'feminisation' of the profession.
• Since the 2010 survey the share of respondents employed in mixed animal practices has declined from 22.1% to 15.8%, while the proportion of respondents employed in small animal/exotic practices has increased from 48.9% to 53.6% in the same period
• The proportion of respondents in part-time work is currently at 19%, compared to 16% in 2010 and 14% in 2006. Female veterinary surgeons accounted for 73.2% of those in part-time work.
• Although over half (52%) of recently qualified veterinary surgeons went straight into practice work, some 17.8% reported they were unable to find employment after graduation - compared to 13.6% in 2010.
• The average amount of time taken for a graduate to find their first position after they started to look was three months.
• Although almost 90% of respondents stated that veterinary work is stressful, a similar proportion said that veterinary work gives variety and over 80% said it provides job satisfaction.
• Other issues highlighted by respondents included the need for better pay and remuneration and the high demands placed on them by clients.

Highlights from the survey of veterinary nurses included:

• There was a noticeable decrease in the proportion of veterinary nurses who are employed full-time - from 74.7% in 2010 to 67% this year. Full-time work is less common amongst those under 20 (which includes students) and older VNs.
• Veterinary nurses are generally more positive about the profession this year compared to the 2010 survey. For example, 60% said they would choose to become a VN again if they started their career over, compared to 54% in 2010. However, poor pay and stress were highlighted as issues.
• There was a significant shift away from employer-funded CPD to free provision. In 2010, 57% of CPD provision was employer-funded (and in 2008 this stood at 84%), while this year, it was 43%. The proportion of free CPD has increased from 29% in 2010 to 41% this year.
• For student veterinary nurses, the proportion intending to remain employed at their Training Practice after qualification has fallen from 61% in 2010 to 52% this year.

Both the Survey of the Veterinary Profession and the Survey of the Veterinary Nursing Profession, together with a report that brings together common themes, can be downloaded from the RCVS publications page.

HT Vista will be offering a prize of one free HT Vista cancer screening device, plus a year's subscription, to one BSAVA delegate this year.

The HT Vista device is used by vets and vet nurses to screen dermal and subcutaneous masses on dogs. 

The company says that with a negative predictive value of 98% clinicians can confidently classify a mass as benign without the need of further invasive tests.

HT Vista also says that, according to a recent client survey, the main features which practices value are the nurse-led ability which is maximising nurse clinics and streamlining efficiency, justification in sampling masses even when they feel innocuous, and the rapid speed of image acquisition and results.

To be in with a chance of winning the device and subscription, delegates must attend the 15-minute Ultra Demo at stand B300 on Friday 22^nd March at 4pm.