Blue Cross has announced the results from its National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) which show that lameness is three times more likely to be caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis in the limb rather than problems in the foot.

Blue Cross runs NEHS in May each year, in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA). It is sponsored by SPILLERS and Zoetis and supported by the UK’s leading equestrian organisations and charities. This year saw a 35% increase in participation compared to 2014, with survey records returned for almost 15,000 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

The charity says that whilst of course the horse’s foot is fundamental to soundness and performance, NEHS results have shown consistently that limb lameness, as opposed to foot lameness, is in fact the biggest syndrome affecting horses.

In the latest survey, conducted in May, a total of 18% were recorded as lame. 13.5% of these were recorded as suffering with lameness such as osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease (13.9% in 2014 and 14.8% in 2013).

Meanwhile foot lameness was recorded in 4.5% of returns, a similar figure to previous years.

Josh Slater from the Royal Veterinary College, who is member of BEVA’s Health & Medicines Committee and analysed the NEHS data, said: “NEHS is now producing important evidence that is replacing subjective opinion. While the lameness figures were initially surprising, given that the foot has been generally regarded as the main problem area, the fact that these figures have remained consistent over the past three years gives constructive credibility to the data. Our findings will help owner vigilance with day-to-day healthcare as well as help prioritise on areas for future veterinary education and research.”

The six most notable disease syndromes identified in the 2015 National Equine Health Survey were:

1. Lameness 18% with 13.5% having limb lameness such as osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) not relating to the foot, compared to 14.8% in 2014, 14.8% in 2013 and 9.3% in 2010-12 and 4.5% with foot lameness compared to 4.6% in 2014, 3.8% in 2013 and 4.5% in 2010-12.
2. Skin diseases 17.2% (sweet itch, mud fever and external parasites) compared to 18.3% in 2014, 14.6% in 2013 and 15.2% in 2010-12.
3. Back problems 7% compared to 7.7% in 2014, 5% in 2013 and 3% in 2010-12. 
4. Recurrent Airway Obstruction 6.7% was the most frequently recorded respiratory problem, compared to 6.9% in 2014, 4.2% in 2013 and 3.6% in 2010-12. 
5. Laminitis 6.4% compared to 7.1% in 2014, 4.4% in 2013 and 3.6% in 2010-12.
6. PPID (‘Equine Cushing’s Disease) 6.4% confirmed or suspected compared to 5.6% in 2014, possibly reflecting increased surveillance through sponsored testing programmes as opposed to true increases in prevalence from the pre-2014 surveys. 

23.2% of horses were reported as being overweight with a Body Condition Score of 3.5-5, continuing the upward trend seen in previous years (16.9% in 2014 and 7.8% in 2013). Next year’s survey will explore links between obesity and the possible associated rise of obesity-related diseases such as equine metabolic syndrome (which was reported in 2.4% of 2015 returns) and laminitis.

The survey also enables participants to report on any health problems not covered in the survey questions, giving them a chance to shape future survey subjects.

Gemma Taylor, Education Officer at Blue Cross explains: “This year 11% of our free text answers mentioned gastric ulcers giving a valuable insight into the prevalence gastric ulcer syndrome in the principally leisure horse NEHS population. As a result we will be adding new questions to the 2016 survey to help us find out more.”

The 2015 NEHS survey results are now available from http://www.bluecross.org.uk/nehs2015results. To register for next year’s survey, visit www.bluecross.org.uk/nehs

Zoetis has released new surveillance results which show that Mycoplasma bovis is becoming an increasingly significant pneumonia pathogen in cattle¹.

In more than 2,500 samples submitted by vets for analysis during 2014, 45% were positive, compared with 41% in 2013.

According to Dr Tim Potter MRCVS from Westpoint Veterinary Group, Mycoplasma bovis has emerged as an important pathogen of calves worldwide². He said: "It is associated with a number of clinical presentations including respiratory disease, otitis media and arthritis.

"The role of Mycoplasma bovis in pneumonia is well established and there are a number of reports in the literature of respiratory disease outbreaks where it was the predominant bacterium isolated. However, as with most causes of pneumonia, colonisation by Mycoplasma bovis alone is not always sufficient to cause disease and it may present in combination with other respiratory pathogens."

For other pathogens, the surveillance found 83% of samples positive for Para-influenza 3 virus (Pi3v), 76% Bovine Respiratory Syncytial virus (BRSv), 32% IBR, and 25% for BVD. Apart from BVD, which saw a three-point reduction from 28% the previous year - these show little change from 2013.

According to Zoetis vet Carolyn Hogan, in pneumonia outbreaks involving Mycoplasma bovis, many of the clinical signs are similar to those caused by other pneumonia pathogens: coughing, raised temperature, rapid breathing and lethargy.

She said: "This can make it difficult for farmers and vets alike to identify Mycoplasma bovis as a possible cause of disease based on clinical signs alone, unless calves are also showing some of the other distinguishing signs associated with Mycoplasma infection.

"These include ear infections, head shaking or tilting, and arthritis. Poor response to treatment, with resulting chronic respiratory cases, may also be suggestive of Mycoplasma infection. For a definitive diagnosis, of course, analysis of blood or respiratory tract mucous is required."

Whilst vaccination protection is available against the viruses (BRSv, Pi3v, BVD and IBR) and Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica, Carolyn points out that there is no ‘off the shelf’ vaccine available for Mycoplasma bovis. She adds that treatment can be challenging due to the insidious nature of disease, and lack of effectiveness of some antibiotics.

Once Mycoplasma bovis is present on a farm, Carolyn cautions that eradication can be very difficult. "It can be transmitted in milk from carrier cows, and in saliva among calves, particularly when multiple animals suckle the same teat feeders.

"Minimising this pathogen's impact on health and productivity relies on reducing its exposure to susceptible animals and maximising their resilience against it. For a comprehensive programme of control measures, farmers should consult their vet."

Carolyn suggests that such a programme is likely to include: testing the farm's Mycoplasma bovis status; effective biosecurity; not feeding infected milk; ample ventilation for adults and youngstock alike; rapid spotting of sick animals, isolation and vet-prescribed treatment; vigilance for poor response to treatment and development of chronic cases; vaccination against main viral pneumonia pathogens; and low stress through good stockmanship.

References

1. Zoetis, April 2015. Pneumonia pathogen surveillance. Data on file.
2. Dr Tim Potter, October 2014. Mycoplasma bovis in calves. Presentation at BCVA Congress. Westpoint Veterinary Group.

Photo: By Y tambe (Y tambe's file) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Ceva Animal Health has announced that Cevac Chlamydia, its EAE (enzootic abortion of ewes) vaccine, is back in stock.

Following stock challenges earlier in the year, the company is now urging vets to encourage farmers to vaccinate their flocks to prevent abortions during lambing.

• The vaccine can be used no later than four weeks before the rams go in
• Shearlings (one year plus) and older can be vaccinated within four months before tupping
• Ewe lambs can be vaccinated with Cevac Chlamydia from five months of age

Roy Geary, regional director for Northern Europe at Ceva Animal Health, said: “While we realise that the temporary delay of Cevac Chlamydia has been inconvenient to our valued sheep farmers we would like to thank all our customers for their patience and support during this challenging time. 

"The vaccine supply is now available in the UK for the latter end of the season. 

"Farmers tupping later in October should therefore be encouraged to vaccinate their flocks to protect their ewes from this devastating disease.”

www.enzooticabortion.co.uk

US veterinary equipment manufacturer Midmark is holding a draw for a Matrx VMS anaesthesia machine, open to all UK veterinary practices.

Click this link, enter your details, and the winner will be announced on 7th July 2010.

The Veterinary Management Group (VMG) is calling for applications for its 2020 research grants. 

Practice staff, managers, clinicians and researchers are invited to apply for an award of up to £2,000 to fund a research project to support the development of best practice in any area of veterinary business, leadership and management. 

The VMG launched its Research Grant Scheme in 2019 to encourage research that enhances understanding of the veterinary sector, including strategy, people, finance and marketing, or exploring how management and leadership theory can be applied to the sector’s everyday work.

Topics being researched by 2019 grant holders include gender and entrepreneurship, corporatisation, and career pathways. The three recipients will report on progress later this year, prior to presenting their full results and recommendations at a new Evidence-Based Practice Showcase during VMG-SPVS Congress in January 2021.

VMG President Rich Casey said: "The veterinary sector was already changing rapidly with the COVID-19 pandemic serving only to further accelerate the changes. The leaders of our profession have a critical role to play in helping us to overcome and embrace the challenges of our changing and increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.

"We believe that the VMG is uniquely placed to support not only our own members, but also the whole profession in building an evidence base of best practice in veterinary leadership, management and business and our Research Grant scheme will, of course, contribute to this. We were delighted at the response to last year’s call for proposals and look forward to receiving some equally exciting bids this year.”

Further information, including the Call for Proposals, Application Form, and Guidance Notes are available here: https://vetmg.com/vmg-research-awards/

The deadline for applications is 28 August 2020.

The Animal Health Trust's (AHT) Dr Sue Dyson has been awarded a place in the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame, in recognition of her contribution to hoof care in horses.

Sue, who is Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the AHT, has lectured internationally and is known for both her clinical work with horses and an extensive research record, having published more than 200 refereed papers on lameness and diagnostic imaging in scientific journals. She has also co-authored several veterinary textbooks as well as training and competing as a high-level rider in international events.

Established in 1997, the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame honours veterinary surgeons who have contributed to the knowledge and recognition of proper hoof care for horses. Vets are nominated either as practicing equine vets who work closely with farriers in the field, or as college and industry vets involved in teaching, research or other important aspects of equine veterinary and hoof care.

Anyone can nominate an equine vet for the award, which is sponsored by the American Farriers Journal, but selection is completed by previous inductees into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame. Awards are presented each year during the International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sue said: "I was completely surprised, but absolutely thrilled, to learn that I had been selected to join the distinguished list of people who have previously been appointed to the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame.

"I think it is very humbling to recognise that, despite the knowledge that my team and I have amassed in the last 30 years, there is so much more to learn. From every new finding come many more questions. I hope that the enthusiastic dedication of my team will continue to result in learning and discovering more, and inspire others to do likewise, to the ultimate benefit of the welfare of our great friend, the horse."

Sue has has worked at the AHT for 30 years and is currently researching the association between hindlimb lameness and saddle slip. She has observed some association between the two for several years, however saddle slip has traditionally been attributed to an ill-fitting saddle, asymmetry of the horse's back shape or a crooked rider.

In 2011 Sue carried out a prospective research project with Intern Line Greve: 'Saddle slip may be an indicator of the presence of hindlimb lameness'. It was presented at the 51^st Annual Congress of the British Equine Veterinary Association, Birmingham 2012, and identified that in some cases, saddle slip was directly linked to the presence of hindlimb lameness.

Research results showed that of 128 horses assessed for lameness grade and degree of saddle slip when ridden by two riders, the saddle consistently slipped to one side in 54% of the horses with hindlimb lameness, in comparison to just 4% of the horses with forelimb lameness. Diagnostic analgesia to abolish the hindlimb lameness eliminated the saddle slip in 97% of the horses observed in the study.

Sue and Line are currently undertaking further research to measure movement of the back, and forces under the saddle, with the aim of explaining biomechanically what is happening during the occurrence of saddle slip.

CVS has launched a new Pregnancy Loss webinar and guidance to help its managers support staff who lose a baby, whether because of a miscarriage, still birth or terminating for medical reasons.

Sally Linghorn, Senior RVN at CVS and one of the team behind the initiative, said: “As far as we know, no other veterinary company has policy, support and specific training and guidance on this topic, in our female-biased profession.” 

“We recognise how devastating pregnancy loss can be.

"Last year we launched a policy to provide special paid leave for pregnancy loss.

"But since implementing this we have noticed a gap.

"We felt our managers needed guidance and support on how to provide the more practical and emotional support on a day-to-day basis, if someone in their team experienced a loss."

The new guidance contains advice on how to understand each individual’s experiences and needs, help in the immediate situation of pregnancy loss at work, treat and record any time off directly related to a loss, understand how pregnancy loss can affect mental health, talk about pregnancy loss, facilitate a return to work and the importance of regular follow-ups and check-ins. 

Hill's Pet Nutrition and Cat Professional are working in partnership to improve knowledge of feline lower urinary tract disease by giving complimentary copies of 'Caring for a cat with lower urinary tract disease' by UK feline specialists Dr Sarah Caney and Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore to veterinary professionals and owners of cats affected by the condition.

Feline lower urinary tract disease is thought to affect up to 10% of cats, with particular prevalence in the indoor cat population and it is often a complex and distressing condition for cat owners to tackle. 

Hill's has sponsored 1000 copies of 'Caring for a cat with lower urinary tract disease' , and is giving away vouchers which allow the recipient to visit the Cat Professional website (http://www.catprofessional.com/) to download an interactive copy of the book. 

'Caring for a cat with lower urinary tract disease' is the third title in the successful 'Caring for a cat' series. Renowned cat behaviourist and bestselling author, Vicky Halls reviewed the book in glowing terms: "Feline lower urinary tract disease is a complicated subject for owners to fully appreciate so it is wonderful, at last, to have one book that contains all the necessary information that can be recommended to everyone"

Hill's Pet Nutrition are distributing the complimentary vouchers to owners who contact their customer service freephone line for advice on the condition (0800 282438 - 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday).  Veterinary Professionals using the free Urolith Analysis Service offered by Hill's, or the Hill's Veterinary Technical Enquiry Line to gain help and advice on nutritional management of Feline Lower Urinary Tract diseases are also able to claim a complimentary voucher to redeem.

Adrian Pratt, Veterinary Affairs Manager for Hill's comments "FLUTD is a difficult disease to manage, let alone explain to fully to an owner. What Sarah and Danielle have done here is fantastic and will help owners better understand their cat's problem. That can only be good for the pet"

The Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA) has produced a new webinar on the subject of client debt management and made it available for members and non-members alike. 

The 45-minute webinar: Debt Management: Prevention Is Better Than Cure is presented by Mike Brooks from veterinary-specialist debt recovery agency, dsl.

VPMA President Renay Rickard (pictured right) said: "Debt can affect any business, but, because of the role vets play as care-giver in an emotionally-based animal-owner relationship, we are particularly vulnerable. This is something that is commonly brought up by members at our regional meetings and events, and it’s a real dilemma for them how to juggle being strict with payment policies against owner expectations and misperceptions of the cost of veterinary medicine.

"This has been a very popular topic in both our regional meetings and with our webinar and we wanted to open it up to more people to help them tackle this topic in their practices. The feedback on this webinar has been very positive. Mike gives clear guidance on how to set up payment protocols that will minimise debt in such a way that maintains the client-practice relationship. There’s also information on how to recover existing debts. It makes sense to prioritise tackling this issue as if we’re not paid, then we can’t deliver the service that we are expected to, and that our patients need.

"We’re pleased to open this webinar up to all practices as a Christmas gift, and hope it will also highlight the support that is available through VPMA membership."

The webinar can be accessed through a link on the home page of the VPMA website www.vpma.co.uk.

Dermatologist Anthony Chadwick, aka the webinar vet, is offering VetSurgeon members a 30% discount on the cost of a forthcoming series of webinars. Just enter the word vetsurgeon in the discount box at webinarvet.com.

The series kicks off on the 17th June, when John Innes from Liverpool University will be talking about diagnosing forelimb lameness. On the 24th, Alan Robinson will be talking about pet healthcare schemes and on July 1st, Pip Boydell will discuss vestibular disease. Finally, on July 8th, Anthony will close the second series with a look at atopic disease, focusing on new and novel treatments.

For those of you that haven't yet experienced a webinar, and would like to 'try before you buy', there is a free webinar on 10th June (9pm-10pm), in which Martha Cannon, one of only 3 feline specialists in the UK, will present an update on feline infectious disease. Click here to register and if you enjoy the presentation, you will still be able to register for the series at the discounted price.

Improve International has announced the launch of a new master's degree designed to enable veterinary surgeons in general practice to achieve a higher qualification without taking excessive time out of their practice.

The Master's Degree in Advanced Veterinary Practice Sciences is the result of a collaboration between Improve International, which delivers the taught clinical modules, the European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ESVPS), which acts as the assessment partner and Harper Adams University, which offers guidance on the research-based modules and provides validation and academic regulation under the QAA Framework. 

Candidates for the new qualification can select modules from a wide range of species and discipline subjects based around their areas of special interest. They must complete at least two clinical programmes from a range of ten subjects and undertake a research module based on their clinical work.

David Babington, MRCVS and Managing Director of Improve International, said: "The launch of this new Masters is a big step forward for the concept of lifelong learning in our profession. Candidates can spend five or even ten years working towards this higher qualification with achievable 'stepping stones' along the way.  

"Their studies will equip them with new skills, give them the latest veterinary knowledge and help enhance their ability to provide a superb clinical service to their clients. During the journey they have the opportunity to achieve a respected, valuable and recognised PgC (60 academic credits); a PgD (120 academic credits) and, finally, a full Masters Degree (180 academic credits)."

Dr Erica Martin, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing at Harper Adams, said: "We are delighted to be collaborating with Improve International and ESVPS on this innovative new qualification. We welcome the opportunity to help the profession increase  'evidence-based'  veterinary practice through clinical development and the advancement of research skills in a way that is both accessible to vets in practice and that leads to a qualification that recognises the commitment and work involved. These postgraduate qualifications join the MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy, the MSc in Veterinary Pharmacy and the MSc in Veterinary Nursing which are delivered by Harper Adams University."

David added: "Candidates can spread the cost of the Masters across the training period and recoup the investment easily by implementing new services they learn within the practice.  The initial response to this unique qualification has been very positive with our first candidates embarking on their studies during November 2013."

For further information or to register, email enquiries@improve-international.com; visit www.improvecpd.com or call 01793 759159.

CEVA Animal Health, manufacturer of pheromonatherapy products, D.A.P.^® and Feliway^®, has launched a new website - http://www.petfireworkfear.co.uk/ - and a new leaflet and waiting room poster to support its ‘Remember, remember your pets this November' campaign which is backed by the PDSA, FAB (Feline Advisory Bureau), the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors) and Sound Therapy 4 Pets.

The website features a comprehensive range of information including hints and tips on preparing pets for the firework festivities, how to spot signs of stress in cats and dogs, what to do if pets go missing or are injured, fireworks and the law and information on pheromonatherapy.

"The new site is a one stop shop for information on how to look after pets during the firework season and the precautions that owners should take to help pets cope with their fear of loud noises," says Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health.  "Veterinary practices can help highlight these precautions by linking their websites to the ‘Remember, remember your pets this November' site."

A downloadable PR toolkit is also available from the website to enable veterinary practices to highlight the campaign to local pet owners.  To request a copy of the ‘Remember, remember your pets this November' information pack, which includes details on CEVA's ‘Promote Your Practice' competition, please call Lucy Brett at CEVA on 01494 781510.