Intervet reports that a clinical trial of 489 cows on dairy farms in the south west last spring and summer has demonstrated some excellent efficacy levels for treating and preventing intramammary infections in the dry period and early lactation.

The trial compared Cephaguard® DC and a 600mg cloxacillin dry cow tube (OEDC) on its own, and in combination with a teat sealant. Cephaguard DC demonstrated superior efficacy in terms of infection prevention during and after the dry period relative to cloxacillin alone, and was statistically equal to the combination treatment group.

Indeed, cows treated with cefquinome (Cephaguard DC) were around half as likely to develop mastitis in the first 100 days post calving than those treated with cloxacillin alone.

The trial also demonstrated excellent efficacy levels against existing Strep. uberis infections when compared with cloxacillin (see table).

DRY PERIOD CURE RATES (%) OF KEY MASTITIS PATHOGENS

Intervet’s large animal veterinary adviser Rosemary Booth said: "With Intervet’s Cephaguard bacteriology scheme showing that Strep. uberis is responsible for 18% of high cell counts and 23% of clinical cases, the dry period offers a fantastic time to treat this persistent pathogen." 

She added: "Several weeks of exposure to an effective dry cow antibiotic provides a particularly good opportunity to kill the cow-adapted strain of Strep. uberis. It lives quite happily in the udder and is tougher and harder to kill than the environmental strain."

The cloxacillin-treated group was significantly more likely to develop clinical mastitis compared to the cefquinome-treated group, as is shown in the table below:

First quarter clinical mastitis cases up to 100 days post calving in quarters not sampled in transition

According to Intervet, the study results suggest that reviewing dry cow therapy this summer, and moving to a cefquinome-based treatment may help reduce the incidence of mastitis.  Further information on the study will be presented at the Large Herd Seminar on 30 June 2008 and is available from Intervet.

Dechra Veterinary Products is encouraging veterinary practitioners to find the cat that has been treated with Felimazole^® for the longest period of time, for the chance to win a luxury chocolate hamper.

The company wants to gather profiles of hyperthyroid cats undergoing treatment, including their age and length of treatment, so that it can further inform the veterinary profession about feline hyperthyroidism, the most at-risk cats and how to successfully treat the condition with the leading product Felimazole.

Practitioners simply need to provide details of their patient's age, when the cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and how long it has been treated with Felimazole. Submissions will be entered into a prize draw with the first placed practice and cat's owner each winning a luxury chocolate hamper, while second and third places will receive luxury chocolate boxes.

Carol Morgan, Felimazole product manager at Dechra Veterinary Products says: "The majority of cats suffering with hyperthyroidism are over seven years of age, so we are interested in finding the longest-treated and the current ages of cats on Felimazole. The information we receive from practitioners is invaluable, so we will collate and report our findings to the veterinary profession to ensure it has the most up-to-date information about the disease."

For details of how to enter the competition, contact your local Dechra territory manager, call Dechra on 01743 441632 or email marketing@dechra.com.

Ceva Animal Health, maker of the veterinary behaviour products DAP and Feliway, is once again sponsoring the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors' series of one day behaviour seminars to keep veterinary professionals up-to-date with companion animal behavioural issues.

Featuring presentations by top pet behaviourists, the seminars will cover a range of topics based on questions that pet owners frequently ask veterinary professionals in practice.   

Contributing to six hours CPD per event, the topics covered in the seminars are: 

• My dog is aggressive - what should I do? - Dr Rachel Casey - 13 May - South Hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire
• General 'house problems' with dogs and cats (part one) - Claire Hargrave - 10 June - Mere Golf and Country Club, near Manchester, Cheshire
• Breeds and their needs - Clare Wilson - 8 July - Henley Golf and Country Club, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
• 'Best practice' opportunities for practices regarding puppies - Clare Wilson - 9 September - Henley Golf and Country Club, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
• Common behavioural issues with small furries - Dr Anne McBride - 21 October - South Hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire
• General 'house problems' with dogs (part two) - Kendal Shepherd - 11 November - Mere Golf and Country Club, near Manchester, Cheshire

Places on the seminars cost from £70.  For further information, please contact the APBC on 01386 751151 or visit http://www.apbc.org.uk/

The British Equine Veterinary Association is encouraging members to continue to reduce their use of critically important antibiotics by inviting them to attain the BEVA Antibiotic Champion Award.

Last year BEVA received a national Antibiotic Guardian award from Public Health England in recognition of its work to promote responsible use of antibiotics. It was the only organisation from the veterinary profession to be shortlisted. BEVA launched its Protect ME antimicrobial campaign in 2012 to coincide with European Antimicrobial Awareness day. The Association has launched additional resources each year to facilitate compliance and educate the public about the importance of antimicrobial awareness. 

This year, to recognise World Antibiotic Awareness Week (16th to 22nd November, 2016) and European Antibiotic Awareness Day (18th November), BEVA is encouraging members to document their efforts to reduce the use of critically important antibiotics.

To enter for the award, veterinary surgeons need to share practice sales data (in mls) of chosen antibiotics. Practices that document a reduction in antibiotic sales of these drugs will be presented with a BEVA Antibiotic Champion Award to endorse their commitment to responsible use of antibiotics and to help promote public awareness of the campaign. Members are also encouraged to sign up to be antibiotic guardians at www.antibioticguardian.com

Gayle Hallowell, Co-Chair of the BEVA Health and Medicines Committee said: "We are extremely proud of the equine veterinary profession’s commitment to the responsible use of antibiotics. We hope the introduction of our Champion Award will inject new vigour into efforts to continue to reduce the use of our precariously limited antibiotic resources."

To apply for BEVA Antibiotic Champion Award status visit http://www.beva.org.uk/Antibiotic-Champion-Award The BEVA Protect ME toolkit is free to BEVA members and can be downloaded at www.beva.org.uk.

TVM UK has announced that is taking its 'Lunch and Learn' CPD sessions, which normally take place in practices, online.

The sessions, which are delivered by the company's territory managers and cover things like toxicology, ophthalmology and the management of epilepsy, will now be streamed live to computers, tablets or smart phones.

Product Manager Will Peel (pictured right) said: "We know that concerns over coronavirus are affecting our customers so we want to make it as easy as possible for them to benefit from the information imparted in our Lunch and Learn sessions while normal service is disrupted.

‘We hope that these measures will also help us offer more virtual workshops in the future to make our sessions more accessible for busy veterinary staff and we are looking at the possibility of organising virtual drop ins from our sales team in the future.’

For more information visit: https://www.tvm-uk.com. To rearrange a previously booked session contact your local territory manager or email help@tvm-uk.com.

CVS Equine practices are undertaking a collaborative clinical study to improve our understanding about the clinical signs and aetiology of equine pastern dermatitis (EPD).

Despite being a common disease, CVS says very little research has been undertaken into EPD in the UK.

In addition, numerous different treatments are currently used for EPD, for which there is not always robust scientific evidence.

The CVS study, which started in 2022 and will continue till early 2024, involves 20 practices.

Samples have been collected from over 70 cases from horses that have been diagnosed by EPD throughout the UK.

Full blood profiles have been assessed, in addition to bacterial culture analysis of the lesions, PCR analysis for dermatophytes (ringworm fungi), microscopy for ectoparasites (mites) and skin cytology.

An owner questionnaire has also been completed to gather information on EDP management.

Each horse’s lesions have been graded and descriptive data relating to the lesions were recorded.

Data collection is now complete and a team of researchers, led by vet Manuela Diaz Ramos, has started analysing the data.

A full report on the findings, along with treatment and management recommendations, is expected to be presented at a scientific conference later this year. 

Animalcare has launched Florgane, a novel, patented, long acting florfenicol 300mg/ml suspension which the company says has significant advantages over existing organic solvent-based florfenicol products on the market when used for the treatment and prevention of bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

Florgane is an aqueous, low viscosity advanced formulation, which, claims Animalcare, means that it is easier to inject even at temperatures as low as 5°C. Low temperature syringeability is important, as a large number of calves may need to be treated during colder weather at a time when the challenge from infectious agents is greatest. A syringeability study apparently demonstrated that Florgane is up to five times faster to administer when compared to the leading florfenicol non-aqueous formulation.

A paper on the treatment of naturally occurring respiratory disease with Florgane was presented recently at the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) Congress in Torquay. According to the company, the multi-centre field studies in Belgium, Germany and Italy, in over 400 cattle with bodyweights ranging between 73-180kg, demonstrated that Florgane given by a single intramuscular injection, at a 25% lower dose of 30mg/kg, is as efficacious as non-aqueous florfenicol 40mg/kg administered by subcutaneous injection, measured by treatment success and relapses.

Post mortem examination at day 27 (meat withdrawal of 37 days) confirmed that, despite being given via the intramuscular route, Florgane is well tolerated at the site of injection due to its aqueous base and physiological pH. Maximum volume per injection site is 15ml allowing calves up to 150kg to be treated.

Animalcare adds that a further advantage of Florgane is that it persists in plasma above the MICs for the three most common pathogens for significantly longer than conventional extended action 300mg/ml florfenicol solution preparations -  thereby prolonging bacterial killing time. Therefore, owing to its improved bioavailability and excellent pharmacokinetics, Florgane can be given at an easy to remember dose of 1ml per 10kg.

Tony Liepman, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: "Using Florgane will result in faster administration, resulting in less stress for the calves and a saving in time and money for the farmer."

Florgane is presented in polypropylene 100ml and 250ml multi-dose vials with a three year shelf-life.

For more information, visit www.animalcare.co.uk

Invicta Animal Health has announced that that EquiChek test kits are now validated for use with synovial fluid, having originally been validated for whole blood only.

EquiChek is an animal-side test to assess the level of Serum Amyloid A (SAA) which is a major acute phase protein of inflammation in horses.  

Invicta says that it has been shown that SAA levels in synovial fluid are not influenced by arthrocentesis*, which makes SAA an ideal biomarker to measure whilst monitoring or assessing joint function.

The company says this is the first test which is able to provide a visual semi-quantitative result within 15 minutes. The test will display 4 lines for a normal level of SAA and sequentially fewer lines depending on the severity of the inflammation.

Rob Watkins, Managing Director of Invicta, said: "EquiChek has proved to be a useful tool in the ambulatory toolkit. The validation of synovial fluid extends the use by allowing real-time monitoring of lameness and intra-articular therapies. Normally whilst medicating joints, excess synovial fluid is discarded. Now this can be utilised to assist diagnosis or to assess the response to medication."

Invicta will be at Stand A16 BEVA Congress 2013.

For further information see www.invictavet.com/  or ring 01403 791313

3,357 members of the profession, 69% of them veterinary surgeons and 30% veterinary nurses, have responded to the RCVS consultation asking for their views on proposals to move towards a more structured approach to continuing professional development.

Organisations including British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) also responded to the consultation on behalf of members.

The College’s Education Department is now in the process of analysing the consultation responses.

Christine Warman, Head of Education at the RCVS, said: "We are very pleased with the number of responses we have received to this consultation which demonstrates what an important issue CPD, and our approach to it going forward, is for the profession. I am also glad that there was a good split of responses between veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses as it is important we get as wide a range of views as possible from a wide range of individuals. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to give us their views.

"Over the coming weeks we will be going through each response with a view to preparing proposals on the next steps for our CPD Working Party’s September meeting."

Proposals are expected to go to the Education Committee and to VN Council in October and then to the November meeting of RCVS Council.

The Worldwide Veterinary Service, the charity founded by Luke Gamble MRCVS to support animal welfare charities globally, is celebrating a donation of products including dog and cat wormers, skin and joint supplements and NSAIDs, by Ceva Animal Health.

The donated products were dispatched to the WVS’s own centres and shelters in Thailand, including its 'Care for Dogs' shelter in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as well as to over 60 animal welfare charities around the world, all of which have registered a wish list of items to the WVS.

One of the charities that benefited from the company's donation of over 1,000 Milbactor worming tablets to the WVS was the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS). Dogs are often kept in horrendous conditions in Liberia and LAWCS provides responsible dog ownership education, free veterinary care and treatment and community outreach feeding programmes to pet owners. The WVS’s donation helped enable LAWCS to reach and provide free veterinary care and treatment to 420 dogs in the country.

Luke Gamble, chief executive and founder of WVS, said: "The donation from Ceva is fantastic and we can’t thank the company enough. Its support means so much to the charity and enables us to help animals in tough places where veterinary support is hard to find. Ceva has always supported WVS and its generosity in giving us another donation like this is simply amazing."

Cuneyt Seckin, managing director at Ceva Animal Health said: "Our donation to WVS helps charities and organisations whose veterinary resources can be scarce or extremely difficult to fund improve the welfare conditions of animals that are often kept in horrendous conditions. 

"Treatments like wormers are the most requested items by WVS’s associated charities, so we are delighted that our donation has been able to impact the welfare of individual animals to greatly improve their quality of life."

Some interesting statistics from insurers Petplan today. Turns out that almost a third of 3000 pet owners surveyed by the company admitted accidentally injuring their pet, resulting in an average vet bill of £170.

Nearly 6 out of 10 owners admitted stepping on their pet, while 21% confessed to dropping them. The next biggest threat posed to pets by their owners was accidental poisoning. 

The survey found that dogs are most likely to be stepped on, whilst guinea pigs are most likely to be dropped by their overly affectionate owners.

The survey also found that 1/3rd of pets hurt themselves jumping off furniture, and one in five have been injured running in front of a car.

More than a third of pets injure themselves eating something they shouldn't, including the dog that swallowed a pair of knickers, which ended up costing £1,200 to retrieve.

Novartis Animal Health has announced the results of a survey of dairy and beef farmers which found that 39% of those who found Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) present in their herd did not then go on to test for persistently infected (PI) animals.

Any calf born from a BVD persistently-infected cow will be born Persistently Infected with the virus and cannot be cured. As a result, future vaccination of this animal against the virus is rendered ineffective and the affected animal will be a source of the virus, spreading infection within the herd.

With young cattle being the source of PI's and reservoirs of infection within a herd, failure to test, identify and then deal with PI livestock represents the most significant problem facing the industry when trying to eradicate BVD.

Professor Joe Brownlie from the Royal Veterinary College and current chairman of the BVD Scientific and Technical Working Group, said: "Of the 61% of farmers that did do follow up tests for PI's once BVD had been detected in their herd, one third found one or more PI's within the stock holding.

"However, one third of farmers who identified having active BVD infection in their herd then failed to go on and carry out individual animal testing; of those that did, nearly half discovered one or more individual PI's within their herd".

"It just shows that the disease can be hidden, and farmers could be in the dangerous position of potentially missing PI animals that are in their herd; PI's that can continue to spread the BVD virus amongst other cattle and pass on their PI status to any calves they produce. It is hugely important to be thorough and consistent in your testing as part of an agreed herd health plan"

The survey also indicated that action needs to be taken to educate farmers about what to do once BVD and, most significantly, PI's are discovered amongst a herd. 

Professor Brownlie said: "There is much evidence from this survey to encourage the industry in how it is tackling this disease, however there is still a great need for clear direction.  The survey indicated that 20% of farmers wrongly believe that PI animal's will eventually become non-infective and that 25 % believe that calves born of PI cows will not always have PI calves themselves.

"All of these perceptions are incorrect and can lead to reservoirs of the disease being allowed to remain not only within individual herds, but geographical regions as well; seriously hindering the eradication of the virus in England and Wales".

With nearly half of farmers saying that they talked to vets - their main source of information about BVD - only once or less a year, Professor Brownlie said it is unsurprising that many farmers did not show a greater understanding of BVD beyond biological side effects present in the infected cattle: "About 50% of farmers surveyed were unsure as to what types of tests need to be carried out to detect the infection in their livestock and 32% of respondents were unaware that correct vaccination of livestock against BVD can protect both the cow and unborn calf".

Novartis says that while BVD is still regarded by farmers as one of the top bovine diseases, other health issues such as mastitis and tuberculosis are given much greater attention. This lack of focus on BVD is exacerbated by the lack of sound information of the financial implications of the infection on their herd. 

Professor Brownlie said: "The side effects of BVD appear to be overlooked in financial terms, but the infection can severely hinder a herd's financial productivity due to poor health, reduced milk yield and loss of reproductive efficiency.  

Caroline Dawson from Novartis Animal Health said:"Perhaps by aiding understanding of the financial cost of the virus, we can encourage farmers to take more proactive steps to combat BVD. As such, I am pleased to announce that that the FAB panel has initiated a follow on project to carry out detailed research with regards to the financial impact of BVD on farms and is due to report findings in the new year". 

(Photograph shows, left to right, James Russell MRCVS (McMurtry & Harding), Caroline Dawson (Novartis Animal Health), Tony Brooks (Brighthams Farm), Professor Joe Brownlie(RCVS)