People are invited to organise or join a walk to raise money for Canine Arthritis Management and its work to educate both dog owners and veterinary professionals about how even the smallest of changes can help to enhance the life of a dog with arthritis.
CAM highlights recent work from the Royal Veterinary College and University of Sydney through VetCompass, which highlighted some of the biggest welfare challenges facing our pet population including obesity, dental disease and osteoarthritis, with osteoarthritis identified as one of the most severe conditions.
Hannah said: "We need to start more conversations about arthritis; both dog owners and vets need to be more aware of the steps we can take to help prevent arthritis, and where dogs are affected, how we can take positive action to help them live fulfilled and comfortable lives."
Hannah says that arthritis is currently one of the biggest causes of owners choosing to euthanise their dogs, and she hopes that owners taking part in the walks will help spread the word that arthritis can be managed.
To find out more about the Big September Walks visit www.facebook.com/CAMBigSeptemberWalks
A new equine parasite supplement to the online peer-reviewed publication Parasites and Vectors has been published by Fort Dodge.
Entitled "Equine parasites: diagnosis and control - a current perspective," it contains papers on a range of topics including a major European resistance study into key anthelmintic molecules. It is authored by equine parasitology experts and opinion leaders from around the world and was first published in September 2009. It is freely available at http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/
Written in association with Dr Elinor O’Connor, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, the guide is designed for anyone with an interest in the wellbeing of the veterinary team. It provides practical advice to veterinary workplaces on managing stress and promoting wellbeing, alongside examples from the three winning practices of the 2016 MMI/SPVS Wellbeing Awards.
Elinor said: "Addressing stress in veterinary work not only has benefits for the health and wellbeing of each person in the veterinary team, but the business case for reducing work-related stress is clear; stress is associated with poorer performance, increased absenteeism and higher employee turnover. The wellbeing guide provides information about proven techniques for reducing stress at work combined with suggestions for how they might be applied in veterinary workplaces."
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO and Mind Matters Director, said: "Stress at work is an important issue right across the veterinary team. It is sometimes considered just an acceptable part of working in an environment that can be difficult to control, but things can change.
"By making wellbeing a priority practices can support individuals and help their team work better together, and thus provide the best treatment for the animals under their care. This leaflet unpacks some of the root causes of work-related stress and may be of particular interest to practice managers, line managers or health and safety officers."
Good to see that the guide includes a recommendation that practices have measures in place to identify and resolve conflict at work and a clear policy on harassment or bullying, something which research by VetSurgeon.org, VetNurse.co.uk and ex-BSAVA Head of Scientific Policy, Sally Everitt MRCVS found correlated with reduced reports of sustained unpleasant behaviour in practice, a significant source of stress.
The guide can be downloaded here: https://www.vetmindmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/MMI-12pp-web.pdf.
The Essity Veterinary Academy covers four topics of education: Anatomy and Physiology of Wound Healing, Infection Management, Exudate Management and a Wound Assessment Workshop.
Richard Barker, Account Sales Executive said: "Essity Veterinary Academy events allow us to educate veterinary professionals with a full, comprehensive day of wound management.
"We have run our Academy events for the last two years and the feedback we have had has always been positive, therefore the decision to run four events again this year was an easy one.
"The events offer a great opportunity to share best practice with other veterinary professionals, and to obtain invaluable information from our Medical Education Manager, who has vast experience in dealing with all areas of wound management. We are very lucky to be able to offer these events free of charge and we can’t wait for the first event to begin on 18th June."
Essity is hosting these events across four venues, with the days running from 09:00 – 16:00, refreshments and lunch provided. The venues available this year are:
18th June, Huntingdon Racecourse
9th July, West Midlands Safari Park
17th September, Durham Cricket Club (Emirates Stadium)
24th September, Edinburgh Zoo
To book your place, email animalhealthcare@essity.com, giving your name, job title, practice details, telephone number and any dietary requirements.
Alternatively, if you would like further information please dial 01482 670124.
Rachel has also qualified as a member of the dentistry chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, and regularly tends to the oral health of zoo and sanctuary animals, including bears, cheetahs, tigers and snow leopards.
She said: "I’m excited to be joining North Downs, which is renowned as a centre of excellence for specialist veterinary care, and I’m really looking forward to this new role. There is a clear benefit in having a multidisciplinary team on site to approach oral surgery cases.
"Dentistry is such a rewarding area and can deliver immediate changes to our patients’ health and well-being.
"Many dental diseases can also be prevented, so I am committed to educating owners about their pets’ oral health and also veterinary surgeons and nurses, about new techniques, best practice, materials and equipment."
North Downs hospital director Terry Emmerson said: "Our aim is always to provide first-class care for our patients and to give an excellent service to their owners and the vets who refer cases to us.
"Rachel’s new dentistry service will be yet another specialist discipline on offer at North Downs to further extend the excellent care and treatment we offer here."
The appointment means that North Downs has a total of 11 specialist services, and makes it one of only a handful of centres in the UK that offer a dentistry service run by a dentistry specialist.
The charity, which helps around 200,000 cats and kittens in the UK each year needs someone with animal welfare skills to join its team of nine trustees who are responsible for the charity’s strategy, policy and oversight.
The ideal candidate will have a degree in veterinary medicine, animal behaviour or an equivalent qualification, together with an understanding of the voluntary sector and management experience gained at a large national organisation, university or veterinary practice.
Sue Field, Cats Protection’s Director of Volunteering, said: "This is an exciting role which focuses on further improving cat welfare, whether that be cats in Cats Protection’s care or the services that we offer to cat owners to help them better care for their pet.
"We deliver our work through over 10,000 volunteers and staff so we’re hoping to attract a strong team player who would enjoy the challenge of shaping strategy and policy across our large and multi-faceted organisation.
"In return we can offer the opportunity to develop new and existing skills at trustee level plus the opportunity to make a real difference to the welfare of cats and kittens. If this sounds like a challenge you’d relish, then we’d love to hear from you."
To apply for the role, visit https://www.cats.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/find-an-opportunity?id=3954.
If you would like an informal chat about the role, contact Clare Radlett on 01825 741211 or email: claire.radlett@cats.org.uk
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 19th February 2018.
Jon (pictured right, in blue) has devised the fundraising event as part of his BEVA Presidential year. He has put together three routes in Yorkshire to suit all abilities, over the same roads used by Ron Kitching, the champion 1930s road racer. Each route starts and finishes at York racecourse and will be supported with signage and feed and watering stops along the way.
Participants can choose from a 35 mile largely flat 'trot' which takes in the city of York, a 66 mile slightly hilly 'canter' skirting the Yorkshire Wolds and a 91 mile 'gallop' over the Rosedale Chimney, which, according to Jon has "enough ascent to make Sir Chris Bonnington happy!"
There will also be a short family ride on the afternoon of 2nd June so that children and less practised cyclists can get involved.
To enter visit http://www.wheelsinwheels.com/BEVA_Presidents_challenge_Sportive_UK.php
For further information visit www.beva.org.uk
Ceva Animal Health has announced the launch of Vectra Felis, a new spot-on flea treatment for cats.
The new product contains two active ingredients: dinotefuran and pyriproxyfen. The first is an adulticide which Ceva says kills fleas on contact, thereby stopping fleas biting before they die. The second ingredient is an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) which prevents flea reproduction and adult flea emergence, so protecting the cat and its environment from future flea attacks.
According to the company, Vectra Felis ensures that over 95% of fleas are killed within two hours and the effects last for a month.
In addition, Ceva highlights the product's patented applicator, which has an elongated smooth tip for quick and easy application. The company says it also provides accurate dosing and facilitates clean administration as nothing comes out until the tube is squeezed. Kittens can be treated from seven weeks of age (weighing at least 0.6kg).
For further information on Vectra Felis, contact your local Ceva territory manager or call 01494 781510.
The charity points out that with the arrival of winter, so comes an increase in the number of cats poisoned by antifreeze. For this reason, it has produced the poster to try and raise awareness of the fact that due to their specialised metabolism, a teaspoon or less of antifreeze can be enough to cause serious illness or death and even a curious lick of a small spillage can be enough to poison a cat.
The poster can be downloaded free of charge here: https://icatcare.org/sites/default/files/PDF/antifreeze-campaign-poster.pdf.
Alternatively, a hard copy can be ordered from the iCatCare shop for a small fee to cover postage: https://icatcare.org/product/antifreeze-poster
More information for pet owners can be found at: https://icatcare.org/advice/keeping-cats-safe/antifreeze
Paragon’s head of neurology, Massimo Mariscoli, says it will deliver better results for pets, improve the health and well-being of the surgeons using it, and improve the hospital’s ability to deal with complex spinal and brain surgeries.
Massimo, an EBVS and RCVS specialist in veterinary neurology said: “The operative microscope is an essential piece of equipment in the modern neurosurgical theatre.
“It delivers good magnification, good illumination without significant aberration or production of excessive heat and has a great internal stability which allows operational flexibility.
“There is also direct visual control of the instrumentation with the possibility to have magnifications up to 10 times with a good depth of field allowing a more natural three-dimensional vision.
“In addition, surgical microscopes allow multiple different magnifications while maintaining constant working distances which leads to excellent flexibility and versatility during surgical procedures.
“For example, low magnification is used during the drilling of the vertebral laminar or the skull and to ensure that the whole surgical field is clean before suturing the muscle layers.
“Higher magnification is used while dealing with delicate structures such as the spinal cord or brain.
“The higher magnification coupled with a good depth of view and stable three-dimensional vision also increases the security and safety when manipulating micro-surgical instruments near the nervous tissue.”
Massimo says that while the microscopes are not common in veterinary practices, he strongly believes they are an essential piece of equipment when dissecting close to the brain or spinal cord in small animals.
He also says that veterinary surgeons benefit from the technology: "The operative neurosurgical microscope is fixed to a self-levelling tripod, allowing multiple spatial configuration to ensure a perfect vision of the surgical field.
“This has a positive outcome on the health and well-being of the surgeons, with a 2013 study showing that, for nearly 85% of the time spent operating, surgeons have symmetrical, non-neutral, head-neck posture.”
For more information, visit www.paragonreferrals.co.uk.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is warning veterinary surgeons to be on their guard after it came to light that a fraudster is charging a £150 'non-refundable application fee' for an RCVS 'internship' which does not exist. Apart from anything else, the RCVS does not offer internships.
Information about the fake internship has been sent to individuals registered with German website http://www.vetcontact.com/. It includes details about the Royal Veterinary College and the RCVS, but is basically fiction. It refers to a made up 'RCVS Hospital' in the 'Flint Hills of London'.
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Head of Professional Conduct said: "So far, only a handful of veterinary surgeons - all based overseas - have contacted us regarding the internship and queried the request for a non-refundable 'application' fee, although we are concerned that others may have been caught out.
"We would advise any veterinary surgeon to think twice before paying for a third party to facilitate an application for any placement or internship, and reiterate that the RCVS does not offer any such programmes."
The College is following up the situation with http://www.vetcontact.com/ and, if appropriate, will notify the police. In the meantime, anyone who is concerned that they may have fallen victim to the hoax should contact the RCVS Professional Conduct department on 020 7202 0728.
The company says the new range performs as well as the leading brands and delivers consistently reliable sterilisation, but at a much lower price point than the market has seen before. The entry level 8 Litre machine retails at £1,100.
The Yeson machines range in size from an 8 litre to a 22 litre capacity and offer quiet Class B operation, 7 pre-set sterilisation programs, B&D Helix testing and a choice of printer or USB reporting.
Yeson UK MD Will Thomas said: "The autoclave market has been dominated by a few major players for many years and until now they’ve been largely unchallenged. Many people are now asking “why should I pay thousands more for a utility machine such as an autoclave? We’re just hoping that we can meet the demand."
For more information, visit www.yeson-uk.com
The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Dr Martin Whiting, considered two charges against Mr Shah.
The first charge alleged that in June 2018 Mr Shah allowed a kitten to be anaesthetised for a castration without having first undertaken a clinical examination.
Then, having failed to locate a second testicle during the surgery, it was alleged that Mr Shah failed to contact the owner to inform her of this failure and to discuss the treatment options arising as a result, before ending his attempts at the castration.
The charge then alleged that Mr Shah failed to devise an adequate plan for the completion of the castration, failed to take adequate steps to ensure that the owner was fully informed of the details of the surgery, and failed to make adequate clinical notes in relation to the kitten.
The second charge alleged that, in relation to the conduct in charge one, Mr Shah failed to have adequate regard to previous advice and warnings from the RCVS about his conduct in relation to neutering surgery and related clinical note-keeping and communication with clients.
In particular, this related to a reprimand issued in September 2016 by the Disciplinary Committee following its finding of disgraceful conduct with regards to his discharge of a dog following castration in 2014, and advice issued to Mr Shah by letter of 21 March 2018 by the College’s Preliminary Investigation Committee with regards to circumstances surrounding canine spay surgery performed by him in 2016.
At the outset of the hearing Mr Shah denied all of the charges.
Nevertheless, the Committee found the following charge one sub-charges proved: that Mr Shah allowed the kitten to be anaesthetised without having first undertaken a clinical examination of the kitten and/or ensuring that they had undergone a clinical examination by another veterinary surgeon; that Mr Shah failed to devise an adequate plan for the completion of the castration, that he failed to take adequate steps to ensure that the owner was fully informed post-operatively of the details of the said surgery; and that he failed to make adequate clinical notes in relation to the findings of his examination under anaesthesia, his surgical approach, post-operative communication with the owners and his plan for completion of the castration.
The Committee also found all of charge two proved.
The Committee then went on to consider whether or not, in relation to the proved charges, Mr Shah’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct.
In considering the aggravating factors, the Committee took into account the risk of injury to an animal, the contravention of previous advice given by the College, lack of insight, and the previous adverse findings of the Disciplinary Committee and the Preliminary Investigation Committee.
With regards to mitigating factors, the Committee accepted that the conduct was not premeditated, that there was no financial gain and that, notwithstanding the contents of charge two, the first charge was a single and isolated incident.
Considering both the aggravating and mitigating factors, the Committee was satisfied that Mr Shah’s conduct fell far below the standard expected of a registered veterinary surgeon and consequently that it amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Mr Shah. The Committee first considered lesser sanctions, including postponement with undertakings and a reprimand and warning. Neither would be sufficient to protect animals and the wider public interest and uphold proper standards because Mr Shah had already been given a reprimand and warning in 2016, which appeared, to the Committee, to have had no effect.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Dr Whiting said: "It is clear to the Committee that in this case, the respondent has failed to demonstrate any insight into the seriousness of his misconduct.
"In this case, the Committee considers that there is evidence of a harmful deep-seated personal attitude problem so far as the respondent is concerned. His pervasive denial of wrongdoing and lack of insight, in spite of the findings of this Committee, is of grave concern.
"The respondent’s persistent abdication of personal responsibility and accountability for anything that went wrong, coupled with his sustained blaming of the nursing staff with whom he worked, displays an attitude which is fundamentally incompatible with being a member of the veterinary profession.
"The Committee cannot be confident that there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour in the event that suspension was found to be the appropriate sanction and that the respondent is fit to practise after any period of suspension.
"This is particularly due to the fact that Mr Shah has failed to have adequate regard to previous advice and warnings from the RCVS, coupled with multiple previous adverse findings of the Disciplinary Committee and the Preliminary Investigation Committee. The Committee has reached this conclusion having regard to the seriousness of its findings in this hearing, and the previous advice and warning given to the respondent, none of which appears to have been recognised or heeded."
The Committee therefore concluded that the only sanction which reflects the seriousness of this case, in the light of the previous findings and advice given to the Mr Shah by the College, is to remove him from the Register.
The Committee’s full facts and findings can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary.
Petplan's Veterinary Awards are designed to celebrate the nation’s most outstanding vets, vet nurses, practices, practice managers and support staff who are nominated by their colleagues and clients for continually going that extra mile, keeping pets healthy and giving owners peace of mind.
The independent panel of judges said that Johanna's nomination stood out for her ability to create a balance between leading a practice which maintains incredibly high clinical standards along with a welcoming, caring ethos with patients at the heart of everything they do.
Johanna said: "I’m absolutely ecstatic! I wasn’t expecting to win at all, so this is a real surprise – I just want to say thank you to those who nominated and all my staff for supporting me every day. What a brilliant feeling!"
The other big winner on the night was 387 Veterinary Centre. Two members of staff, Nicky Smith RVN and Joanne Civil, won 'Veterinary Nurse of the Year' and 'Veterinary Practice Support Staff of the Year' respectively, and the practice also took the overall 'Veterinary Practice of the Year' award.
'Veterinary Practice Manager of the Year' went to Anne Corson of Pennard Vets in Tonbridge.
Miss Panait faced the charge that on 3 April 2018, at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, she was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving for which she was sentenced to 10 months in prison, disqualified from driving for 41 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140.
At the start of the hearing Miss Panait admitted to the charge against her which related to an accident on 15 May 2017 in which, following an attempt to overtake a number of vehicles, she lost control of her car and collided with a vehicle on the other side of the road, causing serious injuries to herself and life-changing injuries to the other driver. The Committee subsequently found this charge to be proved.
The Committee then considered whether the charge found proved made her unfit to practise veterinary surgery.
In doing so, it took into account the fact that Miss Panait was convicted of a serious crime which resulted in serious harm to another and for which she received a custodial sentence.
The Committee decided that the criminal conviction and the custodial sentence fell far below the standard expected of a veterinary surgeon and therefore rendered her unfit to practise veterinary surgery.
In considering her sanction, the Committee heard directly from Miss Panait who attended the hearing having been released from prison on licence.
Stuart Drummond, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "After the submissions the respondent spoke directly to the Committee. She was understandably emotional and was remorseful and apologetic. She acknowledged that she had made a mistake and apologised for bringing the profession into disrepute…. To the Committee her sense of personal responsibility or shame was palpable."
The Committee also took into account other aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.
The Committee recognised that it was a serious offence with significant consequences for both the victim and Miss Panait but accepted it was a single isolated incident, that Miss Panait has made efforts to avoid repetition of the incident by undertaking further driving instruction and recognised that she had displayed full insight and remorse. Furthermore, it also considered the many testimonials from colleagues and clients and that she had received significant support from her employers.
Mr Drummond added: "The Committee came to the conclusion that this was one of those exceptionally unfortunate and sad cases where it is appropriate and proportionate to take no further action. The respondent has insight and is deeply remorseful and has accepted full responsibility for what has happened.
"In the circumstances of this case the Committee determined that the public interest has been met by the finding that the respondent’s conviction renders her unfit to practise. The Committee was of the view that to impose any sanction now would be disproportionate."
The Westpoint Veterinary Group and Eville & Jones, a veterinary control provider, have joined forces to form Xperior Farm Health, which will bid for appointment as a Delivery Partner for bovine TB and other farm animal disease testing under AHVLA's Veterinary Delivery Partnership Programme.
The Delivery Partnership Programme, under which the AHVLA will cease to contract OVs directly and instead procure disease testing services from around ten Delivery Partners, is expected to roll out in the summer.
Eville & Jones is an experienced service provider in inspection and testing services in the fields of animal health, public health and animal welfare. The company employs more than 450 veterinary staff nationwide and already provides fully managed Official Veterinarian (OV) services to UK Competent Authorities.
Westpoint Veterinary Group is a specialist, farm-animal-only veterinary practice operating from 17 sites countrywide to provide farmers with specialist and locally based services. It is the largest veterinary group in the UK specialising in production animals, employing more than 50 veterinary surgeons.
Veterinary Director Phil Elkins MRCVS says the resources and experience of the two parent companies in both farmer-facing and back office dimensions make Xperior Farm Health well equipped to fulfil a Delivery Partner service expected by AHVLA. He said: "Our ambition is to provide an exemplary standard of accurate and trustworthy on-farm animal health testing services, where possible using subcontracted practices. If appointed, of course, these will be farmer friendly, provide an ongoing source of work and revenue to subcontractor Official Veterinarians, and represent excellent value for money to the taxpayer."
The group attributes part of its success to the various initiatives it runs for employees, including a scheme through which every member of its 220-strong team is allowed five fully paid donation days each year so they can volunteer to support meaningful local causes.
Employees also receive a £500 cash gift when they become new parents or adopt a child and can take 'peternity leave', which offers anyone with a new pet two fully paid days off work to help the animal settle into their new home.
Team members also get birthdays off (with cakes), a health care scheme, subsidised Fitbits and gym memberships.
Tim Harrison, managing director at White Cross Vets, said: "Making White Cross Vets a great place to work is vitally important to us, especially because our people are such a fundamental part of our success. Plus we’ve just launched the second of five new practices that will open during a 12-month period, so we’re continually expanding and recruiting.
"Being at the forefront of the veterinary industry with a wide range of innovative and high-quality employment initiatives, many of which are ideas from individual team members, helps us to attract and retain the best people. This enables us to grow quickly whilst fostering a close-knit and highly motivated team. This ethos also translates into the level of care and standard of service that our clients receive, which is something we’re very proud of."
The new methods, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, use a simple swabbing technique to gather samples from the environment which FMD-susceptible animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs commonly make contact with, such as water troughs.
Researchers say the technique requires very little expertise, which makes the sampling method far more accessible, allowing a higher frequency of samples to be collected and processed during an outbreak.
FMD virus is able to survive long periods of time in the environment in the right conditions (up to three months depending on environmental factors such as pH, temperature and relative humidity), so sampling areas where infected animals may have shed virus allows scientists to detect the presence of FMD even if the animals on the farm are no longer showing clinical signs.
The researchers say that novel surveillance techniques such as this can help support a robust response to outbreaks in FMD-free countries, and can also be implemented in endemic areas, such as parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as part of surveillance programs to supplement current information about the spread of FMD.
Dr Claire Colenutt, who led the research at Pirbright said: "Current surveillance methods rely on the recognition of FMD infection in susceptible animals in addition to the collection of samples from the animals which requires veterinary expertise. In keeping the approach simple, samples can be taken by individuals without prior expertise, increasing the number of potential samples, and relieving pressure on veterinary services."
Photo: FMD. Dr. D. Denev
The new range allows for gradually increasing support for the CKD patient according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage, reducing phosphorous levels whilst avoiding early protein reduction and the associated lean mass loss correlated to a reduction in life expectancy.
Virbac says Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint contains high quality protein, of which more than 85% is of animal origin, to support body condition and limit renal workload.
All of the products in the range contain Mobility Plus Complex, a mix of chondroprotective agents for joint support which are designed to increase joint flexibility and mobility with high levels of Omega 3 and DHA.
Dan Johnson, Product Manager at Virbac said: "CKD is the first cause of mortality at, or after, 5 years of age and osteoarthritis is highly prevalent but under-diagnosed in senior cats, with most cats being diagnosed at an advanced stage.
"So with Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint, Virbac hopes to provide clinicians with a significant advancement in the nutritional management of these feline pathologies."
Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint is presented in three dry and two wet formats:
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is now supplying Cepravin dry cow antibiotic treatment in a new 'flexi-cap' tube which offers two ways of infusing the product into the cows' teats.
According to the company, the new cap is easier to remove and can be quickly flicked off with a fingernail, whilst the shorter, thinner nozzle option may reduce the chances of damaging the teat canal and teat end. Farmers can be assured that administering Cepravin dry cow therapy with a shorter, thinner nozzle still delivers the antibiotic where it needs to be, and at the correct dose.
Jennifer O'Connor, vet adviser at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health said: "The teat canal is a vital barrier to infection. A gentle infusion technique is essential to avoid causing damage, reducing its ability to close properly and form a keratin plug to help keep infection out. We are delighted to be introducing an innovative development for one of the UK's most widely used dry cow tubes."
Invicta, the new, independent veterinary pharmaceutical company, has launched ChroMyco Duo, the first duo plate dermatophtye fungal test to help veterinary professionals identify the source of skin abnormalities in-house without the delay and cost of sending samples to a laboratory.
According to the Sussex-based company, ChroMyco Duo has been designed to aid practices in the accurate identification of fungal skin infections in dogs, cats, horses and all small animal species.
ChroMyco Duo is a dual plate test with dermatophyte test media (DTM) on one side and an Enhanced Sporulation Agar (ESA) on the other. Invicta says it's this dual test capability which greatly reduces the risk of false positive results. The test is performed by veterinary staff taking a pluck of fur or skin scrape from the lesion and innoculating both sides. After three to six days, if dermatophytes are present, the DTM will turn red and the ESA will turn blue-green.
Once a colour change is identified, a sample of the culture can be taken from the ESA, a media prolific in growing dermatophytes. Veterinary staff are then able to examine the fungus microscopically and identify the species of dermatophyte before advising on treatment.
Invicta has prepared a free fungal identification chart to assist practices with the identification of cultures and is providing free updates to subscribers, as images of new fungi are submitted by practices using the kit.
The ChroMyco Duo test is supplied in boxes of five units, each individually wrapped to allow a one year shelf life. It costs £5 per unit, which Invicta says makes it very cost-effective when compared to laboratory charges. It is incubated at room temperature so no specialist equipment is required.
Rob Watkins, Managing Director of Invicta, said: "The incidence of fungal infections in practice is significant and growing. Antifungal treatments already account for more than £1m sales in the UK veterinary sector. The problem is that dermatophyte presence is often misdiagnosed.
"Until recently vets have had to rely on either single test kit, or for a full diagnosis, by sending a sample to laboratory where tests cost up to £20 and can take 14 days to complete.
"With the launch of ChroMyco Duo, we're giving practices the capability to test reliably, simply and cost-effectively for the first time."
For further information on ChroMyco Duo or Invicta, please contact the company on 01403 791313 or email them at mail@invictavet.com.
Despite the fact that homeopathic preparations are supposed to be diluted to the point where none of the original ingredient remains, the FDA says it has received increasing reports of products containing distinctly unhomeopathic quantities of things like belladonna being associated with serious adverse events.
The FDA has also had to issue warnings about homeopathic zinc-containing intranasal products which may cause a loss of the sense of smell and other homeopathic remedies which contain potentially toxic ingredients, such as nux vomica, which contains strychnine.
However, it is not just products with safety concerns that the new proposals are designed to address. Following in the footsteps of the NHS, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee and more recently, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), the new FDA proposals highlight the risk from homeopathic remedies being marketed for serious diseases or conditions when they have not been shown to offer clinical benefits.
The proposals also highlight the risk to vulnerable populations that: "may also be at greater risk of harm as a result of foregoing the use of medical treatments that have been found safe and effective."
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. said: "In recent years, we’ve seen a large uptick in products labeled as homeopathic that are being marketed for a wide array of diseases and conditions, from the common cold to cancer.
"In many cases, people may be placing their trust and money in therapies that may bring little to no benefit in combating serious ailments, or worse – that may cause significant and even irreparable harm because the products are poorly manufactured, or contain active ingredients that aren’t adequately tested or disclosed to patients.
"Our approach to regulating homeopathic drugs must evolve to reflect the current complexity of the market, by taking a more risk-based approach to enforcement. We respect that some individuals want to use alternative treatments, but the FDA has a responsibility to protect the public from products that may not deliver any benefit and have the potential to cause harm."
VetSurgeon.org supports the Campaign for Rational Veterinary Medicine.
Photo: Multicolored homeopathy tubes isolated on a white background. Lush. Shutterstock.
SPVS has announced that Professor Noel Fitzpatrick will appear ‘In Conversation’ with Martin Whiting, lecturer in ethics at the RVC, at the SPVS/VPMA Congress at the Celtic Manor Resort on 29/30th January 2016.
Noel is both an inspirational and a controversial figure. Few would question that his orthopaedic and neurology work has been both brilliant and life saving. Anyone close to him will tell you he is a dedicated workaholic who believes passionately in the sanctity of life.
However, some would argue that programmes like the BBC’s Bionic Vet and Channel 4’s Super Vet may raise expectations among pet owners as to what the average vet practice can do. And then there's the question of just how far practitioners should go to save / prolong an animal's life. Just because you can, does it mean you should?
These are the areas that will be explored in this hour long ‘conversation’ in a format borrowed from literary festivals. There will be an opportunity for the audience to submit their questions from the floor.
For further details and to to book, visit www.spvs-vpma-events.co.uk or call 01453 872731.
Bayer Animal Health has launched four short youtube films about parasites, fronted by celebrity veterinary surgeon, Scott Miller.
The press blurb says the films "will provide pet owners with an amazing and educational journey into the world of parasites and highlight the need for the control of these often unwelcome pests", which I would normally translate as: "will provide anyone with too much time on their hands with a rather dull five minute advertisement for our flea treatment".
But no. The big surprise is that in addition to the slick production values, these films actually are rather interesting. I've just watched the first, and learned a bit about the vampire bat. There's some compelling infra-red footage of some of them feeding on a sleeping horse.
Elsewhere in the You Tube clips, Scott discusses other parasites including fleas, ticks and worms, and shows the harm they can inflict if owners don't sufficiently protect their cats and dogs with appropriate treatments. On that score, he urges owners to seek veterinary advice. Scott also discusses the threats posed by the increasing urbanisation of foxes and by exotic diseases that are now being found much further north as a result of climate change.
Matt Frost, UK marketing manager at Bayer Animal Health, says: "The clips, all of which are around four minutes in length, provide an opportunity for pet owners to learn more about parasites in a novel and entertaining way. We hope that viewers will learn more about the inherent dangers some of these creatures pose to pets and the steps that can be taken to protect against them.
The other clips can be viewed online at www.youtube.com/user/parasitesundercover1. You might even like to embed them from youtube into your own practice website.
Alasdair qualified from Cambridge in 1990. After graduation, he joined Bristol Vet School, first as an intern and then as a resident.
He then became a Lecturer and Senior Clinical Fellow in small animal surgery at Langford from 1997 to 2009.
He was also the Programme Director of the veterinary nursing degree and led years 3-5 of the BVSc programme.
He then moved to private practice, becoming Head of Referral Surgery at Bath Vet Referrals, and then Group Veterinary Advisor and member of the Clinical Advisory Board when it was acquired by IVC, after which he moved to Vale Referrals.
He received his Fellowship for Contributions to Clinical Practice in 2017 and is an Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery.
Alasdair will mainly be helping to develop Brains & Drains, a new library of peer-reviewed clinical demonstrations published on YouTube for the benefit of practitioners around the world.
He’ll also be helping to steer the development of other content on VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk
Publishing Editor Arlo Guthrie said: “Alasdair and I first collaborated nine years ago to make a film called: Total Ear Canal Ablation and Lateral Bulla Osteotomy.
"Who’d have that would be such a box office hit, with over 90,000 views on Facebook!
“Now we’re stepping up production, both by filming our own content and inviting all vets and nurses to film demonstrations themselves and submit them for peer review.”
Arlo added: “In recent years, there's been an explosion in the number of social media groups for the veterinary profession, primarily on Facebook and Instagram, which has led to a real fragmentation.
It’s as yet unclear whether that'll always be the case. Certainly young people are already migrating elsewhere, both because it’s not very hip to be on the same platform as your parents, and also a growing awareness of some of the harms of Facebook on mental health."
“Either way, with so much fragmentation, it is clear we need to offer more by way of quality content on VetSurgeon.org than we have in the past, and I’m really excited to be working alongside Alasdair to do just that, so that whatever the ups and downs of other social media, VetSurgeon and VetNurse remain reliable, transparent places for good quality information sharing.”