Ceva Animal Health UK, makers of Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs, has launched an online petition calling for the Government to force all fireworks manufacturers to carry information about pet and wildlife safety both online and on packaging and is calling for the veterinary industry to back the campaign.
Ceva says the campaign is designed to highlight the stress that Bonfire Night can cause to pets: according to the company's research more than 80 per cent of owners say their pet is afraid of the noises associated with firework season.
The petition states: Over 80 per cent of pet owners have a pet that is afraid of fireworks. Fireworks manufacturers need to accept their responsibilities and publicise pet safety information on packaging and on their websites. Adaptil call (sic) on the Government to make this a mandatory requirement.
However, that rather beggars the question: "What pet safety information?" After all, there isn't that much pet and wildlife information you can fit on packet of bangers (especially after you've added the elf 'n safety information for half-wits, like: "This product may go bang"). So perhaps the amount of pet and wildlife safety information that could be included on a firework would be limited to something like: 'Remember to check there aren't any pets about before using this firework'. But that's something most concerned pet owners do anyway, and adding the instruction to the side of a firework surely isn't going to make a blind bit of difference.
Nevertheless, Sarah Endersby at Ceva Animal Health UK, said: "This will be the second year running we have called upon the fireworks industry to recognise its responsibilities when it comes to protecting pets and wildlife during what is the most stressful season for them. For example, many dogs find fireworks distressing and may go on to develop noise phobia.
"Many owners will seek advice from pet specialists such as vets, vet nurses, pharmacists and pet shop staff. However, by producing warnings on the packaging, fireworks manufacturers can also help advise and guide pet owners to minimise the stress caused to pets."
Ceva has also produced a range of materials for fireworks to help educate owners on firework fear and how to calm and soothe their pets. There's a marketing pack which can be placed in veterinary practices which includes leaflets, a leaflet dispenser, stickers, bunting and notice-board materials.
To request a pack, please email retailuk@ceva.com or call Ceva on 01494 781 510
You'd better hope though that Ceva isn't too successful with its campaign to highlight the stress caused to pets by fireworks. If people really do become more careful about how they use fireworks, nobody will need to buy Adaptil or Feliway!
This year’s programme includes five live streams running in parallel throughout the conference with clinical research presentations also returning after the Covid-enforced hiatus.
The first plenary lecture will be presented by Pat McCue who will review events that have shaped current practice in equine reproduction before looking at what the future holds.
The second plenary lecture, being delivered by Celia Marr, will look at 'evidence in perinatology'.
David Lloyd, Congress Scientific Programme Chair, said: “Whilst we are sure most delegates will be clamouring to attend the lectures and discussions in Liverpool in person, the programme also includes a virtual stream available live online.
“Also, to help reduce our carbon footprint, we are holding one virtual session concurrently across all lecture theatres.
"Global leaders in the field of infectious disease, imaging, nursing, reproduction and sports medicine and rehabilitation, will present virtually to the lecture hall rather than travelling to the congress.
"This session will have 25 of the “best of the best” speakers, presenting and discussing topics that challenge us in practice.”
Early bird tickets for BEVA Congress are available from 28th February 2022.
Early bird BEVA member prices are £499 for vets and £187 for vet nurses for all three days (with concessions available for those in their first three years post graduation or on a lower salary).
Virtual tickets are £199 for vets and £40 for nurses.
BEVA has a 'peace of mind' bookings policy to reassure those who are concerned that the Covid-19 situation may change between booking their ticket and the event.
For more information, or to book, visit http://www.bevacongress.org/
Animalcare has announced the launch of a new epilepsy monitoring programme to support users of its Phenoleptil (phenobarbital) tablets.
As part of the programme, veterinary surgeons can have patients' phenobarbital plasma levels analysed by Carmichael Torrance Diagnostic Service (CTDS). CTDS Veterinary Director Nick Carmichael (RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Clinical Pathology) and his team will also be available both to interpret results and discuss all aspects of therapeutic monitoring at no extra cost.
In addition, veterinary surgeons can opt for additional chemistry, including bile acids to assess hepatic function plus haematology. All Phenoleptil users are eligible for 50% discount off these services.
Animalcare has also expanded the Phenoleptil range and launched new strength tablets of 25mg and 100mg. Presented as new "snap- tabs" with a four-way score for more accurate dosing, whatever the weight of the dog, this enables fine adjustments to be made thereafter, reducing the risk of sub-optimal dosing.
The 100 tablet packs are designed for quick and easy dispensing with flavoured tablets to aid compliance. The 12.5mg and 25mg strengths are the only phenobarbital tablets licensed for dogs under 12kg and make it possible to treat dogs as low as 2.5kg (assuming a 2.5mg/kg bid starting dose) in weight. The 100mg tablets are useful to treat larger dogs.
For more information, contact your local Animalcare representative.
Merial has announced the launch of Nexus (http://merialnexus.co.uk), a new online information resource which offers large animal vets and Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs) CPD training modules, webinars, technical articles, product information, marketing tools and support materials.
Victoria Hudson, Marketing Manager for Merial’s Large Animal Portfolio said: "We know that it can be difficult for busy vets and SQPs to find the time to attend CPD sessions in the evenings. Our new Nexus online portal gives access to resources and training modules that can help vets and SQPs stay up-to-date with the latest thinking, best practice, and enhance their knowledge in the field of large animal health at a time that suits them.
"Merial is committed to providing high quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD); bringing the knowledge, expertise and experience which backs up our well-known brands online, to help support professional development."
The Nexus portal includes a range of online courses and modules aimed at SQPS in particular, participation in which can earn AMTRA points. The company says it will be adding further CPD throughout the year, including AMTRA accredited courses.
Merial is offering the chance to win £200 in Amazon vouchers to eligible individuals who register at merialnexus.co.uk from now until the 22nd April 2016.
ATOP 7 Mousse and PYOclean Mousse are presented as a ‘dry shampoo’ in foam form for cats and dogs. They join the company's Dermoscent portfolio of companion animal products, developed to help with the management of scaling disorders, atopic or allergic skin disease and infections.
Both products contain a blend of plant extracts and essential oils from Hemp seed, which LDCA says has a moisturising and restructuring action on the skin. Atop 7 contains lemon tea tree extract, which the company says boosts anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic activity. PYOclean contains lavender and manuka, which are claimed to have an anti-bacterial action.
LDCA says it has designed the two non-rinse mousses with owner compliance in mind; that used twice-weekly twice-weekly alone or in combination with other supplements or treatments as part of a skincare protocol, they can extend the time between shampoos. They can also be applied quickly to speed patients’ discharge from hospital or used when animals are boisterous or dislike baths.
According to the company, a 2-week veterinary-supervised study looking at the effect of ATOP 7 Mousse on the skin of flea-allergic and atopic dogs, reported a veterinarian general satisfaction score of 8.7/10. Owners of the dogs on the trial reported an 8.7/10 general satisfaction score and a similar score for the product’s ability to soothe irritated skin.¹
The full Dermoscent range, including the new mousses, is available through Vet Direct as well as Henry Schein (selected products) or as a special order through Centaur. ATOP 7 Mousse and PYOclean Mousse are both available in 150ml packs and are priced at £7.94 + VAT each (list price).
For more information visit: http://www.dermoscent.com. A clinical case study by Dr Jean-Loup Mathet on the use of PYOclean Shampoo, Spray and Mousse in a 14-year old West Highland White Terrier with chronic, recurrent, inflammatory, pruritic and seborrhoeic dermatosis is also available online or by request.
Reference
ViVet (derived from the Latin word ‘vivet’ meaning ‘it will thrive’) will, says the College, provide a variety of resources and support to help the professions keep pace with change and remain at the forefront of animal healthcare provision.
Chris Tufnell, RCVS Senior Vice-President, helped develop the scope of the ViVet programme during his presidential year. He said: "This is an ambitious project for the College to embark upon but also very important for the future relevance and survival of the professions. Technology in the animal health sector is developing rapidly, such as the growth of telemedicine, wearable and implantable devices to gather health-related data from our animals, and low-cost genomic sequencing.
"These technologies could have a disruptive effect on the veterinary sector, so it’s important to encourage and support veterinary input at an early stage to enable the professions to shape their development and ensure that animal health and welfare is a foremost consideration.
"ViVet will help veterinary professionals to engage proactively with innovation in animal health, so that they can embrace and drive change and are not side-lined by it."
The Vivet website (www.vivet.org.uk), which was launched simultaneously at the College's inaugural Innovation Symposium in London today, contains a number of resources to showcase new technologies and innovative business models.
Anthony Roberts, Director of Leadership and Innovation at the College, said: "The aim of these resources is to help veterinary professionals harness the immense opportunities that innovation can bring to animal health and welfare by providing practical advice on areas such as launching new products and services and, in turn, encourage innovators to think about how the expertise and knowledge of the veterinary professions could input into new technologies.
"Furthermore, the programme will also help the College gain insights into the animal health market and how it is evolving. This will allow us to develop a regulatory framework that is relevant and adaptable to 21st century technology, while continuing to foster and support responsible innovation."
ViVet will also continue to organise events like today’s live-streamed symposium, which brought together thought-leaders from across the animal health, technology and business sectors, and provided a forum to discuss the opportunities and threats presented by innovation in the veterinary sphere, the impact it may have on the professions and how they are regulated.
Further details about the RCVS Innovation Symposium, including the full programme and speaker profiles, are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/innovation. Videos of speakers and a written report of the proceedings will be available from www.vivet.org.uk in due course.
Before joining Defra, Christine served as the CVO for New South Wales, Australia, a position she'd held since August 2016. During her tenure there, she led the implementation of new outcome-focused and risk-based biosecurity legislation, online animal certification processes and improved evidence- and risk-based disease control approaches.
Christine comes from a farming family in the south of Scotland, with a background in beef cattle and sheep.
Prior to moving to Australia, she worked for a number of years in private practice in Scotland and the north of England with specific interest in research, meat processing and livestock genetics. She then joined the Animal Health agency (now part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency) in 2008 as a Divisional Veterinary Manager in Scotland. She also led Defra’s Animal Traceability and Public Health policy team, detecting and responding to new and emerging diseases such as Schmallenberg and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea.
Christine said: "I am delighted to have been appointed. It is a privilege to take over from Nigel and lead my veterinary colleagues to support our farming and food industry on the UK reputation for high health and welfare of our animals.
"I am very much looking forward to working again with the team at Defra, its agencies, the devolved administrations and all the individuals and groups who will contribute to meet future challenges.
"Our Secretary of State has confirmed he wants to cement the UK’s place as a world-leader on animal health and welfare as the UK leaves the European Union, and I’m delighted to have an opportunity to play a part in that."
Merial has announced that a recent change of licence means you can now administer the new generation NSAID, Previcox® for the relief of post operative pain associated with soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery in dogs.
Mark Riggs MRCVS, Veterinary Technical Advisor for Merial said: "Previcox (firocoxib) is now licensed for the relief of post operative pain. Oral PREVICOX can be administered starting 2 hours prior to surgery and has a rapid onset of action reaching peak plasma levels within 90 minutes. The palatable tablet can be given without food and is a realistic option which should be seriously considered when choosing pain relief for surgical patients.
"Containing the active ingredient firocoxib, Previcox is also highly COX-2 selective, being 380 times more selective for COX-2 than COX-1. As a result, it offers a highly desirable efficacy and safety profile which is particularly beneficial in cases which have gone through the additional stress of surgery.
"The recently published study by John P. Punke et al strengthens the evidence reinforcing the benefits offered by firocoxib. The research evaluated the in-vivo effects of firocoxib, meloxicam and tepoxalin in target tissues of dogs suffering with chronic osteoarthritis.
"Eight dogs were used in the cross-over study and each dog received each of the treatments (and a placebo) for seven days, with an appropriate wash out period in between. Firocoxib significantly reduced inflammatory mediators within blood and synovial fluid at all time points, whereas meloxicam only showed a significant reduction compared to baseline values at day four.
"With evidence demonstrating the speed of the anti-inflammatory effect of firocoxib, it may be time for vets to reconsider their post operative pain management. Previcox can be administered orally prior to surgery and can be given once daily for up to three days post operatively. For orthopaedic surgery this treatment schedule can be extended after the first 3 days upon judgement of the attending vet."
For further information please contact your local territory manager or call the Merial Customer Support Centre on 0845 601 4236.
The RCVS has announced a number of senior staff changes.
Gordon Hockey has been ratified by Council as Head of Legal Services and Registrar. This is a new role created when the post of Registrar and Secretary was split into two: Chief Executive and Secretary; and Head of Legal Services and Registrar.
Gordon, who was previously Assistant Registrar/Head of Professional Conduct, and then Acting Registrar, will have oversight responsibility for registration and professional conduct.
At the same time, Eleanor Ferguson, formerly Acting Head of Professional Conduct, has been confirmed in the position.
The post of Head of Registration has been made redundant, with a new role of Customer Experience Manager created to ensure that the customer (public and profession) journey improves across the organisation. This position will also report into Gordon Hockey.
There have been other changes on the Senior Team at the College. The post of Head of Corporate Services that had been vacant since the departure of Richard Holford last December will not be filled, and Head of Finance Corrie McCann has been promoted to the new role of Head of Operations, which will incorporate finance, corporate services (IT, mailing, reception) and facilities.
Two other posts have been made redundant: Special Projects Manager and RCVS Charitable Trust Director. A new post of Executive Director for the Trust will be developed, with a view to taking the Trust through a full strategic review.
Chief Executive Nick Stace said: "I believe that an engaged and well-purposed team of staff, with a focus on customer service and driving improvements, lies at the heart of any successful organisation. These changes will enable the College to move into the next stage of its development towards becoming a first-rate regulator."
The changes will mean that the Senior Team is reduced from 11 people to seven, being the Chief Executive plus Heads of Legal Services, Operations, Human Resources, Education, Veterinary Nursing and Communications.
Fort Dodge (makers of Equest equine worming brands, and Deosect), is launching a new Equine Parasites Reference Manual.
The manual, which is supported by AHDA, AMTRA and BEVA, is billed as 'an objective and comprehensive reference guide covering endoparasites and ectoparasites and their control, as well as offering prescribing tips, a glossary of terms and reference sources'.
Fort Dodge has produced the manual to provide an ‘all in one’ guide to support veterinary professionals and Suitably Qualified People (SQPs) involved in prescribing equine parasite treatments. It brings together, in an A5 spiral bound booklet, all the information they may need on the full range of licensed veterinary medicines to control equine parasites of concern in the UK. It will be launched at BETA (17-19 February at the NEC).
For further information about the manual (or to get a copy), please contact Fort Dodge on 01489 781711.
Each candidate will produce a written reply to two questions of their choice, which will be included on their candidate profile webpage ahead of the start of the election.
The 14 candidates who are standing in this year’s election for the three available elected places on RCVS Council are:
The biographies and election statements for each candidate are available to read at www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote24.
The three candidates with the most votes will join Council for their four-year terms at the College’s AGM in July.
The College says it will only accept one question per person and questions must be decent.
Offensive, defamatory and inaccurate questions will not be passed on to candidates.
You can email your question to: vetvote24@rcvs.org.uk
Britain's dairy industry is doomed unless it takes more effective steps to control the spread of endemic diseases like tuberculosis and bovine virus diarrhoea, according to a leading cattle vet.
At a conference on infectious disease at the Royal Veterinary College last week, Devon practitioner Dick Sibley warned that the management and economic trends in the UK dairy industry are increasing the risk of disease transmission - and its potential impact once it does enter a herd.
Figures he obtained from the British Cattle Movements Service show that about four million cattle, or half the total UK cattle herd, are moved from one premises to another each year. Those being sent for slaughter were unlikely to spread infections but moving cattle of unknown disease status to new premises greatly increased the risk of bringing in new diseases. "If you set out to design a system that guarantees that we will continue to have problems with endemic disease then I could not think of a better one than this," he said.
Cattle numbers are increasing in those areas like Devon and Cheshire which already have among the highest population densities for dairy animals in the world - and are also the main hot spots in the current bovine TB epidemic. Farmers feel compelled to buy in heifers from as far afield as Germany and Holland to replace animals culled as TB reactors, as they will lose bonus payments from customers who demand that they maintain constant levels of production.
Several other factors also increase the likely impact of disease in a previously healthy herd - the concentration of cattle numbers into fewer but larger units, the growing emphasis on cattle kept indoors all year round and breeding for high yielding animals that are more vulnerable to disease. Meanwhile, a shortage of skilled manpower means that half the available stockmen are shared between farms and can therefore be responsible for bringing in disease.
But farmers have little or no control over some of the more important risk factors - particularly movements of badgers and the presence of diseased herds on neighbouring premises. "So these farmers with big herds in high density areas and neighbours that have the disease are done for unless we can do something serious to manage the risks."
Dairy farmers can work with their veterinary advisers to reduce risk using the four main pillars of disease control - improved biosecurity, better surveillance, appropriate vaccination and containment of disease transmission within the herd. But diseases also had to be tackled on a national level and if DEFRA is unwilling to take on the task, he proposed the creation of an independent livestock disease agency with sufficient staff and resources to carry out its remit. The costs of running such a body should be shared among all those stakeholders with an interest in preserving an economically viable dairy industry, including, for example the cereal producers who provide the dairy industry with much of its food materials, he suggested.
Medivet Veterinary Partnership has announced the acquisition of a two-branch practice in Bedfordshire, Ridgeway Veterinary Centre, Flitwick, and Kempston Veterinary Clinic, Bedford, belonging to John Wakely, BVetMed MRCVS.
Current practice vets, John Wakely and Leo Weindrich, as well as all the nursing and reception staff, will remain at the practices. John said: "We are very pleased to be joining the Medivet Group. We will be able to offer our clients a wider range of services and expertise, as well as pass on price reductions for some services, which being part of a larger group enables us to do."
"On a practical level, our clients won't notice much difference. Our staff will remain the same and I will still be their main vet. On a professional level, because the day-to-day administration will be handled by the Medivet head office, I am looking forward to spending more time being a vet. It will give me the time to acquire more expertise in the areas I have always been interested in."
Medivet partner John Smithers said: "John Wakely's practices enjoy an excellent reputation. They will remain local veterinary practices, based, as they always have been, on the high standards of care and strong relationships the staff have developed with their patients and clients over many years. Becoming part of a group will give the practices access to additional skills, facilities and support of staff at other local branches."
This acquisition brings the total number of practices Medivet owns in Bedfordshire to four, the others situated in Biggleswade and Sandy, and brings the total number of practices in the Medivet group to 80.
The University of Bristol's Langford Veterinary Services (LVS) has announced the completion of its new clinical facilities.
The first phase of the £13 million development includes a new small animal surgery building, comprising five theatres, an ICU, a dedicated anaesthesia induction and recovery and an imaging suite.
The imaging suite comprises a 16-slice CT scanner, for small animals and horses, conventional digital radiography with a DR system, a high-resolution fluoroscopy, diagnostic ultrasound, echocardiography, scintigraphy and a high resolution 1.5 tesla MRI scanner available seven days a week.
Lynne Hill, Chief Executive of LVS, said: "The new facility provides state-of-the art diagnostic imaging facilities at all times, to help the animals under our care."
LVS highlights the case of Gainsborough, an eight-year-old Irish draught gelding, to illustrate the benefits of its new facilities. The horse, used for jumping and endurance, was initially presented to the Equine Hospital in October 2010, with clinical signs including nasal airflow obstruction and discharge, which was limiting his athletic capabilities.
Using videoendoscopy and radiography, a space-occupying mass was diagnosed in the paranasal sinuses impinging into the nasal cavity. With the horse conscious, but sedated, using regional local anaesthetic nerve blocks, the bulk of the mass was removed and he returned to work. However, the owner reported a recurrence of the clinical signs and he was returned to the clinic for reassessment.
The new imaging suite, only one of a few such units in the UK, has been adapted to enable the imaging of a horse's head while conscious using a frictionless air plinth. The adaptation allows detailed imaging of both bone and soft tissue structures within a horse's head, without requiring a general anaesthetic.
Using the new imaging suite, Gainsborough's CT examination revealed a portion of the mass, which had been inaccessible to the previous keyhole surgery, had expanded into the nasal cavity. The detail of the images enabled careful planning of a second operation that facilitated removal of the large remnant of the mass, which appeared to be benign, with minimal collateral trauma.
In addition to imaging the heads of conscious horses, dogs and cats are able to undergo complete body scans using the same unit while anaesthetised. As well as enabling detection and diagnosis of lesions without invasive or painful tests at an earlier stage, the unit will facilitate operative planning and add to the body of knowledge of disease pathogenesis.
For more information about LVS, visit: http://www.langfordvets.co.uk/
Virbac has announced that it is to support the work of Glasgow student vets buy supplying their homeless project with vaccines and parasiticides.
'Trusty Paws' was set up last year by fourth year veterinary student Ruby Shorrock and a group of her fellow students to provide basic veterinary care to dogs belonging to homeless people in Glasgow.
Working with organisations which help the homeless, the students provide monthly clinics during which they give free vaccinations and flea/worm treatments to animals owned by the homeless. They also microchip them and give out bedding, food and clothing for the dogs and their owners.
Virbac is providing its Canigen DHPPi and Lepto vaccines to Trusty Paws, as well as its recently launched Milpro wormer and its Effipro spot-on flea treatment.
Royal Canin is also supplying marketing assistance to help Trusty Paws spread its good pet-care message and encourage those in need to visit the clinic. They will also provide clinical diets to those pets in need of specialised nutrition.
Ruby Shorrock: " Glasgow is in desperate need of this service as there is very little in place to help homeless people with animals - not even a dog-friendly hostel. We provide preventative care for their dogs in a friendly environment where they can also have a warm drink, a sandwich and a chat. We rely on fundraising and donations to keep the clinics running and also fundraise to help any dogs with major health problems so that they can made more comfortable for their hard life on the city's streets.
"For many homeless people, their dogs are a treasured companion. Protecting them from disease and parasites is the most important thing we can do to help them continue to benefit from this companionship.
Simon Boulton MRCVS, Head of Marketing (Companion Animal Business Unit) at Virbac, said: "In setting up Trusty Paws, Ruby and her colleagues are providing a vital service to animals in dire need of basic veterinary care. They are also extending the hand of friendship and support to homeless people in Glasgow, who already face a difficult life and value the unconditional love they get from their pet so highly. We were inspired by the fantastic work they are doing and are delighted to support them by donating our vaccines and parasite control products to them."
Originally known as ‘Our Dumb Friends League’, the Blue Cross was formed in 1897 to help the working horses of London, who were often underfed, struggled to carry heavy loads and became injured on slippery asphalt roads created for new motor vehicles.
Bill Bailey said: “I had a great time transforming into a Pearly King! I love all animals, so having an opportunity to celebrate Blue Cross’ heritage and highlight the support that they have continued to offer to horses, and other animals, since their inception was really special."
Iain Heaton, Deputy CEO and CFO at Blue Cross, says: “We are delighted to share these recreated historic images with our supporters, beneficiaries, and the British public. Bill, David, Lauren, and our hard-working rehoming team have done a phenomenal job at demonstrating how we have supported both pets and people over the last 125 years, and we can’t wait to see people’s response.
To learn more about the Blue Cross's heritage, visit: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/125-years-of-blue-cross
For the study “Comparative accuracy of two veterinary-calibrated point-of-care glucometres for measurement of blood glucose concentration in dogs” blood was sampled from client and staff-owned dogs above 6 months of age, of various breeds and health status.
The samples were then used to compare the accuracy of both PGBMs against a reference method - the hexokinase reaction method.
The authors say this was the first study to investigate AccuTell and the first published evidence comparing AlphaTrak2 with a reference method.
The study also sought to determine how useful the monitors are in clinical decision making and to assess the effect that packed cell volume (PCV) (known to affect the reliability of blood glucose concentration measurement in dogs) has on blood glucose concentration using the two PBGMs.
AccuTell was found to be more accurate and useful in a clinical setting than AlphaTrak2.
Both PBGMs were inaccurate in comparison with the hexokinase reaction method, and although they have potential for standard clinical use, unexpected blood glucose concentrations need to be checked by the hexokinase reaction method.
In addition, measurement of blood glucose concentration by the AlphaTrak2 was affected by PCV whereas measurement by the AccuTell was not.
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP said: “We oftentimes think that an instrument that is developed specifically for our patients will provide satisfactorily results on most occasions.
"Instead, studies such as the one presented here, are critical to understand whether the ‘numbers’ provided by an instrument are reliable for clinical use.
"The authors provided 95% limits of agreements to their results.
"This value is of great help for clinicians, since it shows the difference expected between the instrument and the reference standard in the majority of occasions.”
The study can be read online here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jsap.13491
The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) has added Metacam for Horses to its 'list of detection times'.
According to the manufacturer, Boehringher Ingelheim Vetmedica, Metacam (meloxicam) is the first preferential COX-2 inhibitor to be added to this list, and has stated plasma and urine detection times of 72 hours administered intravenously or orally1. This is the shortest urine detection time of the NSAIDs available for use in horses, and compares to the 168-hour (7 days) detection time for phenylbutazone stated by the FEI.
Craig Beck, equine sales and marketing manager for Boehringer Ingelheim in the UK and Ireland said: "We have been very happy to work in partnership with the FEI to provide the robust data that has supported the FEI in their analysis of Metacam. Metacam is an important addition to the FEI list, that will help vets treating competition horses. There is now a modern and proven NSAID which extends the therapeutic options available to vets."
Metacam is licensed in horses for the alleviation of inflammation and relief of pain associated with musculo-skeletal disorders or colic.
For further information, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.
1 Detection Time agreed with the European Horse Racing Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC)
Animalcare has been found in breach of Clause 18.2 of the NOAH Code of Practice for offering and supplying infusion pumps/equipment in exchange for veterinary practices entering into written contracts for the purchase of a range of its products, including the POM-V Benazecare.
The value of the equipment offered by Animalcare equated with a discount agreed with the veterinary practice, and was applied as medicinal products were purchased. The equipment was supplied on the signing of a contract. The terms of the contract required a particular quantity of medicinal products to be purchased, and if the veterinary practice failed to meet that requirement, there was a liability to pay a pro-rata element of the equipment purchase price.
The Code of Practice Committee was of the view that a piece of equipment was neither 'price' nor 'product' within the meaning of Clause 18.2 of the Code of Practice; and as such amounted to a gift being offered in relation to the sale; or purchase; or prescription of animal medicine. The Committee took into account that Guidance Note 4, paragraph 7, states that the word "gift" includes any pecuniary advantage being offered, with the exception of price or product itself.
To comply with Code of Practice Clause 18.2, the offer or inducement based on price had to be one of cash as rebated discount. If then there were facilities to enable the veterinary practice to use that rebated discount to purchase the equipment from the supplier, that might be acceptable, but there was a necessity for cash as rebated discount to be provided in the first instance.
Full details of the Committee's rulings are available on the NOAH website at www.noah.co.uk/code.
Virbac has announced the launch of what it describes as an affordable ciclosporin for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis.
Called Cyclavance, the new product will make its debut at the London Vet Show (Nov 20th/21st at London Olympia).
Cyclavance is presented in a liquid formulation for precise dosing, in a container with a new 'AdaptaCap' designed to ensure leak proof dispensing and give the product a 6 month shelf life after being broached. Cyclavance is offered in four size presentations - 5 ml, 15 ml, 30 ml and 50 ml - to give practices maximum flexibility in its use.
Sarah Walker MRCVS, Product Manager, said: "Atopic dogs present at practices across the country on a daily basis. It is a challenging condition which can be hard to treat successfully because owner compliance is so important. By offering Cyclavance at a great price to give greater appeal, allowing a wider scope of use, and with innovative features, such as the unique AdaptaCap, we aim to help practices achieve better outcomes for their patients and increase the number of clients it is available to.
The day included a number of CPD sessions on parasitology from ESCCAP board member Dr Hany Elsheikha, Associate Professor of Veterinary Parasitology at Nottingham University. In between, delegates were put through their paces by former Bake-off winner, Nancy Birtwhistle, after which there was a competition which Derek and Vici won with their pet- and parasite-themed cup-cakes.
Josien Woolmer, Virbac Senior Territory Manager, said: "Awareness and knowledge of parasite diseases in companion animals is increasing both in Europe and in the UK so it’s more important than ever that veterinary professionals are kept up to date with the latest developments. With the start of the 2016 series only weeks away, we thought we’d ‘spice up’ this CPD session by inviting delegates to show Nancy their baking skills. We also asked them to show creativity in carrying the pets and parasites theme across to their cup-cakes and they certainly rose to this challenge!"
Picture shows: Monique Noronha MRCVS from the Park Veterinary Centre in Watford with some of her creations.
The existing MSD Animal Health Connect Bursary and Ruminant Research Bursary have been combined into the new MSD Animal Health Research Bursary which is designed to support the future of the veterinary profession through research.
The student arm of the new Research Bursary will award £1,000 to the five best research project applications received from veterinary students across all UK veterinary schools, with an opportunity for an additional £1,000 top prize and £500 runner-up prize.
The veterinary surgeon arm of the Research Bursary will offer three awards, consisting of two ruminant awards and one companion animal award, of up to £4,000 each. The veterinary practitioner proposals will be judged by University academics to ensure independent assessment.
Michelle Townley, Veterinary Advisor at MSD Animal Health said: "Our existing Research Bursaries are well known amongst students and practitioners, having run for over 25 years for the student bursary and 6 years for the ruminant bursary. To increase our support for the veterinary profession through research we have decided to combine our Research Bursaries and add some new categories to help appeal to as wide an audience as possible. This way we can offer a broader level of support for both existing companion animal and ruminant practitioners and our veterinary surgeons of the future. We aim to engage as many people as possible so the MSD Animal Health Research Bursary will be supported by a new website page and social media package to encourage as much interest from students and practitioners as possible."
Student bursary applications are now invited, with a deadline for entries of Friday 26th May 2017. Veterinary practitioners will be invited to apply in September 2017.
For further details go to the MSD Animal Health Research Bursary website at www.msd-animal-health.co.uk/researchbursary.aspx.
The GDP offers one-to-one mentoring, alongside professional and clinical skills development in primary care practices across the UK.
Chloe Roberts, clinical and educational development manager at Linnaeus, said: “This fourth cohort of graduates is looking likely to be the biggest yet, which is testament to how successful the programme has become over recent years.
“We’ve received so many high-quality applications and look forward to welcoming many of them into our practices.
“There’s still time left for people to apply via our online portal, so we’d love to hear from any prospective candidates interested in roles in the Midlands and Yorkshire.”
Linnaeus delivers all clinical training in-house through its extensive network of specialists, referral clinicians, certificate holders and experienced primary care clinicians.
Graduates take part in 20 core educational days as part of their clinical and professional skills training, with access to an additional 10 CPD days to undertake training of their own choice over the course of the programme.
For more information about the Graduate Development Programme, visit https://graduates.linnaeusgroup.co.uk.
Photo: Bristol University graduate Abigail McCarthy, a vet at Blacks Vets in Dudley
The programme is for vets who are more than five years qualified, and thus not eligible for BEVA’s Leg Up coaching.
It has been developed in response to numerous BEVA members reporting periods of feeling lost or adrift in their career as life progresses after graduation, particularly following a career break.
The programme is led by a team of individuals who have experienced the challenges of working in equine practice and have all undergone extensive coaching training.
It takes the form of group sessions where participants can discuss, learn and share knowledge in a workshop style environment.
Lucy Grieve, Veterinary Projects Officer at BEVA said: “Back in the Saddle provides a safe, supportive and encouraging environment to help individuals understand what it is they want from their career, following a break, for example for parental leave or injury.
"By reflecting on their career achievements, learnt skills and professional needs, in the context of their life as it is now, it enables them to prioritise appropriately, create achievable goals, and find their place in the profession again.
“Our coaches are professionally trained, friendly and empathetic, and the nature of group coaching means peer support opens up to all involved.
"This helps counter feelings of isolation and self-doubt and enables a sense of purpose and confidence to return and develop further.”
The first Back in the Saddle programme starts on 11 June 2024 – applications are now open and will close on 17 May 2024.
https://form.asana.com/?k=5BoRR89NDXQ_CAsWZ-g-HQ&d=11947487954206