Fort Dodge Animal Health has launched the UK’s first free diagnostics service to assist vets in diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs.

The introduction of the new Lyme Disease Surveillance Service (LDSS) reflects concerns that the increasing incidence of the disease in humans could be followed by a similar increase in dogs.

Canine Lyme disease, while still rare in the UK, is known to be difficult to diagnose with vague symptoms and a variety of clinical presentations.

Infest-Nation, the ProMeris Parasite Report launched in late 2007 and based on interviews with 2,000 vets and pet owners, cited figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) which reported 768 cases of human Lyme disease in 2006, an increase of 263% since 2003. The increase in human incidence is believed to be attributable to an increase in the human population, better diagnosis and more favourable climatic conditions for ticks as the vector for the disease.

According to Fort Dodge, it’s possible that the increase in Lyme disease in humans will be mirrored in the canine population. Forty per cent of vets contacted for Infest-Nation had reported a significant rise in the tick problem over the last five years and 75% of dog owners didn’t know how to check their dogs for parasites and didn’t treat them as frequently as the recommended once a month.

Participation in the LDSS is free for veterinary practices registering with the scheme. You can do this by contacting Fort Dodge on 01489 781711 or by email at fortdodgeuk@fdah.com. You will then be provided with testing kits and full instructions on the submission of blood samples.

CPD Solutions has announced an eight module course on Feline Medicine starting in September. The company says that the course, with Tim Gruffydd-Jones of Bristol University, will help vets to ensure that their knowledge and clinical skills are up to date in this fast-moving area. 

The new course is designed for vets working in first opinion practice, who want to develop their skills and the services that they can offer to their cat-owning clients. A comprehensive grounding in all of the important areas of Feline Medicine is combined with areas in which there have been significant advances recently, such as infectious diseases, emerging endocrine disorders, blood groups and blood transfusions. Problems that owners find particularly distressing, such as adverse behaviour and lower urinary tract disease will be addressed in detail, together with emergency presentations and strategies to cope with them effectively.
 
Vets can enrol on the whole course or select individual modules for their own tailored CPD programme.
 
Susie Coughlan, Managing Director of CPD Solutions said: ‘We have put together key topics in feline medicine, with an emphasis on updating current approaches to the most commonly encountered feline problems. We will also cover the newly recognised disorders that vets are very likely to encounter in first opinion practice. Our aim is to help vets to develop a practical and effective approach to all of their feline patients'.

More information on the course, Keysteps Feline Medicine, is available from CPD Solutions on 0151 328 0444 or on the website at www.cpd-solutions.com.

A new study has revealed that owners of obese dogs which successfully lose weight notice significant improvement in their dogs' quality of life too.

The study, published in The Veterinary Journal and available online here, was conducted by scientists from the Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic at Liverpool University in conjunction with the Pain and Welfare Group at the University of Glasgow and the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition. It looked at fifty obese dogs that had been referred to Royal Canin's clinic.

The results showed that quality of life improved in the dogs that successfully lost weight, demonstrated by increased vitality scores and decreased scores for emotional disturbance and pain.  The improvements in vitality score were greater the more body fat the dogs lost. The research also found that the dogs that failed to complete their weight loss programme had lower vitality and higher emotional disturbance scores than those successfully losing weight.

Dr. Alex German, Royal Canin senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool and lead author of the study, said: "Obesity is a risk for many dogs, affecting not only their health, but also their quality of life. The results indicate that, for obese dogs, weight loss can be important for staying both healthy and happy."

Owners completed a questionnaire to determine the health-related quality of life of their dog prior to weight loss, with a follow-up questionnaire for the owners of the thirty dogs that successfully completed the weight loss programme to reach target weight. The completed questionnaire responses were converted into scores corresponding to a range of factors, including vitality, emotional disturbance and pain.

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

A live eight-foot snake has been found in a cardboard box sent from Harlow to Exeter by post.

The albino reticulated python was spotted through an X-Ray machine at Stansted Airport, where it was due to be put onto a plane last Friday to complete its journey. The reptile is commonly kept as a pet and had already spent eight hours in the postal system.

As Royal Mail will not allow the transport of live animals by post, RSPCA inspector Steve Reeves was called to rescue the snake. He said: "It may sound strange, but it would have been easy to miss the fact that there was such a large snake in this parcel. It was just curled up and was very still - so the mailmen picking up the parcel would have had no reason to know what was inside.

"All the machine picked up was that there was something organic in the shape of a snake - so they must have got quite a shock when they opened up the package. It makes you wonder what could go undetected."

Luckily this snake was unharmed, and was taken to a wildlife centre in Essex while its owner was traced. It had been bought via the internet and the new owner has since organised for a specialist courier to pick the snake up.

The Kennel Club has called for greater awareness about child safety around dogs following the release of figures showing that 16% of incidents involving dogs happen to under 10 year olds.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) has revealed that under 10's accounted for the highest rate of admissions per age group for bites and strikes from dogs. The Kennel Club is urging people to communicate with their children about safety around dogs with help from the Kennel Club's Safe And Sound scheme.

The Safe And Sound scheme has been specially created by the Kennel Club to educate children about the correct behaviour around dogs. As well as teacher's notes and literature, the scheme includes an online game called the Safety Factor Challenge.

The Safety Factor Challenge takes children through a number of scenarios and asks what they would do in each - such as if a dog is in a child's way and eating its dinner, the game then asks the child what they should do. The Kennel Club says it is not unusual for children to think that moving the dog is a good idea; however the game shows the possible negative reaction a child could get if they chose this option and instead are advised to wait for the dog to finish.

Elaine Quickfall, a home tutor with Gateshead Behaviour Support Service said: "We take it for granted that our children should know how to behave, but if they have no prior knowledge why would they? Games like this are great as they provide a visual example of the consequences of choosing different actions."

HSCIC has revealed that of the 6,450 admissions to hospital for dog bite and strike injuries, 1,040 involved a child under the age of 10. The Kennel Club believes that with better communication with children about appropriate behaviour around dogs could dramatically reduce this figure and is calling on all parents to ensure that their children know how to behave around dogs.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: "Dogs are a big part of our lives and it is likely that every child will come across a dog at some point this year, at home, at a friend's or just out on the street. During the summer holidays is a great time to sit down with your child and speak to them about dog safety, and using the tips and game available through the Kennel Club's Safe and Sound Scheme is a great way to clearly illustrate to your children the best way for them to behave around dogs."

The Safe And Sound Scheme is available online by visiting: http://www.safetyarounddogs.org.uk/.

The RCVS has called for comments on a Concept Note which considers how the Practice Standards Scheme might develop in the future.

The Scheme is administered by the RCVS and the detailed Standards are decided in consultation with the Practice Standards Group (PSG), which includes representatives from all of the key veterinary organisations.

The PSG is considering the future direction of the Scheme as part of the second five-year review that has been undertaken - the first resulted in a new Manual and Standards in 2010.

The proposal this time is to move to a more modular approach, with greater flexibility and an increased focus on behaviours. The proposals also aim to address some of the perceived shortcomings of the Scheme, for example, that it is a 'box-ticking' exercise; that the Scheme puts too much emphasis on paperwork requirements; and, that it is inflexible, particularly at Hospital level, meaning that to qualify, practices would have to purchase expensive equipment that they would never use.

PSG Chairman, Peter Jinman said: "Although the fundamental aim of the Scheme remains to raise and maintain high standards, the PSG recognises that it's important to address criticisms that may be acting as barriers to new members joining.

"It is hoped that changes can also be made that will provide a pathway for existing members to attain higher, more meaningful standards, which are directly relevant to animal care."

The Concept Note is available on www.rcvs.org.uk/consultations, and feedback should be sent to Practice Standards Scheme Manager Eleanor Ferguson, at e.ferguson@rcvs.org.uk, or to a Practice Standards Group member (as outlined in the Concept Note), by 20 December 2012.

This feedback will inform the development of more detailed proposals, which will be put out to full consultation in due course.

The RVC is addressing a worldwide shortage of scientists who have the specialist skills necessary for research into the spread of infectious disease with it’s MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology.

According to the RVC, by June 2008, more than 60 countries had been affected by outbreaks of bird flu, resulting in millions of birds dying or being destroyed. A total of 14 countries had suffered human cases by the end of 2007, with a large proportion of cases being fatal. In 2006, bluetongue virus was introduced to Northern Europe and spread rapidly, so that by the end of 2007 over 50,000 outbreaks were reported from cattle and sheep farms in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, Germany, France and the UK.

“The RVC has seen interest in epidemiology increase dramatically, but there still aren’t enough skilled professionals to service this growing global need.” said Professor Dirk Pfeiffer, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College. “The course provides specialist training that integrates scientific knowledge from microbiology, ecology, social sciences and animal husbandry in order to understand how diseases such as avian flu and bluetongue are spreading.”

“At a time when such diseases are increasing globally it is vital that we have scientists that are able to understand how the infections are spreading and how outbreaks can be contained. The RVC is looking to hear from graduates in veterinary science, biological science, medicine, mathematics or statistics, who are ready to take up the challenge of this fascinating field of study.”

The RVC’s course is unique in that it is taught by 4 organisations; the RVC (animal epidemiology), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (human epidemiology), the Veterinary Laboratories Agency – VLA- (veterinary surveillance and epidemiology), and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Defra - (UK government animal disease surveillance).

The course attracts between 10 and 15 students per year. Successful candidates can move into roles in a variety of UK, European or international governmental organisations such as Defra, the VLA and the World Health Organisation, in addition to the prospect of working in academic or purely research environments.

Funding from the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) has enabled the RVC to offer 4 full-time scholarships for students resident in the UK to study veterinary epidemiology at postgraduate level. The scholarships cover the course fees and upkeep for the year of study, and are between £14,000 and £19,000 per candidate.

More information can be found at: http://www.rvc.ac.uk/postgrad

Defra has announced a consultation which seeks to strengthen the regulations around dog breeding and pet sales in order to improve animal welfare.

The consultation proposes to make it a requirement for anyone producing three more more litters a year to be licensed, and to clarify existing rules that require breeding businesses to be licensed.

The consultation also seeks to formalise the adoption of existing model conditions on good breeding health and welfare by making it a requirement of breeders to comply with the conditions and for local authorities to use them.

It is hoped that a consequence of any new regulations would be that local authorities can better target their enforcement activity by directing less resource at responsible businesses, for example those who are controlled by the Kennel Club’s UKAS-accredited Assured Breeders’ Scheme. This will free up resources to follow-up on reports of poor welfare at backstreet breeding establishments.

For the first time, the consultation will also clarify that online retailers selling puppies should be treated in the same way as high street pet shops by local authorities – meaning they must abide by the same licensing and welfare regulations.

Animal Welfare Minister George Eustice said: "We are aiming to reform the licensing regime we have so that smaller puppy breeding establishments must abide by the same regulations and licensing rules as bigger breeders so that the worst offenders can be dealt with more quickly.

"We are also reviewing other animal related licensed activities such as pet sales to address problems associated with the growing trend for internet sales that can contribute to impulse buying."

BVA President Sean Wesley said: "We welcome the consultation to strengthen the regulations around dog breeding and pet sales. It represents a valuable opportunity to improve licensing regulations and ensure all breeding establishments are producing only healthy, well-socialised puppies. Vets see first hand the tragic consequences that can result from irresponsible breeding, as owners are faced with serious and avoidable health and behavioural problems in their new pets. "

To take part in the consultation online, visit: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/consultation-on-the-review-of-animal-licensing 

Photo courtesy www.gov.co.uk Crown Copyright

Elanco is calling on vets to engage with sheep farmers about effective worm control programmes as significant shifts in farming subsidies squeeze farm profitability.

With 2024 support payments for farmers in England now at half former levels and significant changes to subsidies for farmers in Scotland and Wales set to come into play next year, Elanco says effective flock health management to maximise efficiency and performance within flocks has become increasingly important.

Elanco's Ruminant Technical Consultant, Matt Colston MRCVS said: “Policymakers recognise the importance of animal health and welfare for better productivity and are putting an increasing onus on vets to deliver improvements, for example via the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP).”

“Its crucial vets have the knowledge and confidence to support sheep clients on important flock health issues, with worming programmes high up on this agenda.”

"By developing farm-specific worm control strategies and working closely with clients to better monitor worm burdens, you can help achieve immediate flock performance benefits and manage the longer term risks of anthelmintic resistance on that farm.”

Elanco says that by dosing lambs with its newer Group 4 wormer, Zolvix, at the right time during the mid to late grazing season, farmers can clear out any resistant worms that have survived previous treatments and see an uplift in daily liveweight gain as a result.

Matt added: “We shouldn’t wait for problems to manifest.

"By the time wormer groups have stopped working, or clinical signs of worms are visible, damage is already done; regular monitoring and early intervention is a better option.

“More farmers are Faecal Egg Counting (FEC) but many are unsure how best to go about it.

“A practical demonstration of how to collect samples, and what to collect from which animals, is often the best way to show how easy FEC can be.”

“Farmers can be cautious about change, but by taking small steps and consistently offering sound, practical advice, vets can help farmers adopt more sustainable worm control strategies and improve margins in sheep production.”

Merial has announced that it has joined forces with the Animal Health Trust to hold Equine Flu Awareness Month in April. 

Organisers say that the aim is to increase awareness, understanding and virus surveillance of this highly contagious evolving disease.  

The AHT’s head of epidemiology and disease surveillance, Dr Richard Newton said: "The creation of Equine Flu Awareness Month is an important step forward for the equine industry. There have been 52 recorded outbreaks of equine influenza in the last two years, and whilst this may sound considerable, we believe it’s actually just the tip of the iceberg."

Equine Flu Awareness Month will integrate the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) Equine Influenza Surveillance Programme at the AHT with disease outbreak alerts and horse owner education to increase awareness of flu surveillance and vaccination.

The surveillance programme provides ongoing free sampling to all practices registered to the service. 

Richard added: "We are fortunate that the HBLB invests in this important scheme which also benefits the industry as a whole. We know that just 40% of the total UK herd is vaccinated, so when you consider that all racehorses and many other competing and performance horses are vaccinated under compulsory rules, that leaves the remainder of the herd even less protected and the total percentage well short of the 70% required in order to prevent an epidemic¹^,².

"All isolated viruses in the recent outbreaks are known to be of the Florida Clade 2 sublineage of H3N8 equine influenza, and nearly all outbreaks were in unvaccinated horses or in those whose vaccinations were not up to date³. 

"Historical models indicate that an epidemic occurs every 10 to 15 years⁴. The last large outbreak in the UK, which affected vaccinated racehorses, occurred in 2003, so surveillance of virus activity, vaccination and development of vaccines to match the circulating strains are key to preventing another outbreak.

"Many horses that don’t travel are still at risk of equine influenza, but frequently go unvaccinated. These animals are not only at risk of contracting and amplifying virus from their stable-mates that do travel, but are also at risk of airborne infection as equine flu is capable of travelling over a mile as an aerosol on the wind." 

Equine Flu Awareness Month will include a focus on practice vaccine amnesties and practice promotional tools with the objective to increase awareness among horse owners, for them to better understand the risks and signs of equine flu. 

Louise Radford MRCVS from Merial said: "In addition to the HBLB funded surveillance scheme providing free registration and virus testing, other services include Tell-Tail™ alerts for practices when there is an outbreak in the region, and Tell-Tail™ links to alert clients to outbreaks of equine flu and encourage them to vaccinate."

She added: "Tell-Tail™ Links is a great way to let your clients know when there is an increased risk of equine flu due to an outbreak in the area. When the first broadcast was launched, a text was sent from a practice in Cardiff to 777 horse owners and within 2 weeks, 47 new horses were booked in for a primary vaccination course." 

As part of the initiative, Merial is also running a draw to win one of three BEVA vouchers worth up to £1000. To enter, sign up or renew your Tell-Tail™ registration during April 2016 at: www.equinefluawareness.com. 

To sign up to the free HBLB Equine Influenza Surveillance Service run by the AHT, visit: www.equiflunet.org.uk

References

1. Baker D. Equine Vet J 1986;18(2):93–96. 
2. Merial Proactive Insight benchmarking 2015.
3. Equiflunet. Available at: http://equiflunet.org.uk/ (Accessed December 2015).
4. Elton D, Cullinane A. Equine Vet J 2013;45(6):768–769

RCVS Knowledge is looking to fill two new volunteer Trustee positions. 

The charity – whose mission is to advance the quality of veterinary care for the benefit of animals, the public, and society – is currently governed by a board of 11 Trustees chaired by Amanda Boag.

It is now looking for driven individuals to help expand its impact and influence in two new roles - ‘Digital and Communications Trustee’ and ‘Lay Trustee (Finance)’.

The Digital and Communications Trustee role will support the development and implementation of an integrated strategic digital and communications plan to advance brand identity of the organisation, and increase its visibility and accessibility across a wider veterinary audience.

The Lay Trustee (Finance) role will support the Treasurer in the overarching strategic management of the organisation’s financial resources.

Trustees are expected to contribute actively to the Board by giving strategic direction; helping shape overall policy; defining goals and setting targets; evaluating performance; ensuring the charity’s effective and efficient administration and financial stability.

Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, said: “This is a great opportunity to join the RCVS Knowledge Board of Trustees and help us develop and champion the advancement of veterinary care. We are looking for enthusiastic and committed individuals to contribute to the governance of the charity, focusing on Finance, Digital and Communications. There is no need to have previous trustee experience, as training and support will be provided.”

The posts are unremunerated but reasonable expenses will be paid.

Applications are now open and will close on Monday 9th August. More information about the available roles and how to apply can be found on RCVS Knowledge’s website: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/home.