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VetSurgeon.org publishes a curated feed of veterinary news for practising veterinary surgeons, with a primary focus on the UK profession.
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We report across all areas of practice, including companion animal, farm, equine and exotic species.
Our editorial approach is deliberately selective and concise. We prioritise clarity and relevance over volume, aiming to make each story worth your time.
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Companion Care Vets has reported a record calendar year in 2010, with 15 new surgeries opened taking the network up to 69.
Companion Care also welcomed 17 new joint venture partners, increasing the total number of partners to 87. The company expects to double the number of surgeries over the next 3 years following the announcement that it is to open standalone practices alongside the in-store Pets at Home surgeries.
According to the company, the opening of 15 new full service surgeries represents an investment of approximately £3 million during the year. More than £340,000 of that investment went on state-of-the-art digital x-ray imaging equipment - a feature of all new surgeries.
Managing director, Jane Balmain, said: "The in-store model has been hugely successful and we will continue to accelerate our growth plans for in-store surgeries as the Pets at Home store footprint expands.
"The launch of our new standalone division provides a solution for the vets and nurses who are looking for a partnership but whose preference is for a more traditional standalone style surgery. The level of interest since our announcement has been massive and we will be looking to capitalise on this in 2011 and beyond.
"Our vision is for Companion Care Vets to become a truly national leading veterinary group and with the record year in 2010 and our plans for 2011 and beyond, we are now well on the way and confident of achieving this."
Extensively updated, the new edition reflects the increasing sophistication of reptile medicine and surgery and acknowledges the expanding range of reptile species kept as companion animals.
Part one covers the husbandry aspects of reptile care, including captive maintenance and nutrition, plus a new chapter dedicated to anatomy and physiology.
Part two contains the details necessary to carry out successful clinical examination, anaesthesia, surgery (including endoscopy), treatment (including emergency and critical care), non-invasive imaging, laboratory testing and post-mortem examinations, as well as humane euthanasia.
Part three addresses disease by organ system, covering parasitology and infectious disease.
New to this third edition are also chapters on marine turtle rehabilitation and crocodilians, as well as updates on the handling of venomous reptiles.
Simon Girling said: "This third edition of the BSAVA Manual of Reptiles is another milestone in the commitment of the BSAVA to exotic species medicine. Reptile medicine and surgery is now being accepted as a mainstream discipline within the veterinary world, reflected in the growing number of textbooks and the appearance of postgraduate qualifications."
BSAVA says the new manual will benefit both the general practitioner seeing a small number of reptiles or a more specialist practitioner dealing with these species on a daily basis.
The new GPCert programme, led by course director Owen Davies MA VetMB MVetMed MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine) DipACVIM (Oncology) (pictured right), consists of 12 modules covering key clinical subjects in veterinary oncology delivered over 14 months.
Each module consists of nine lessons, two case studies, course notes and weekly summary videos.
Lessons are supported by notes and videos, quizzes and a forum tutored by leading specialists.
Owen said: “Half of all canine cancers are treatable if caught early enough and new treatments are continuously being researched.
"The programme will guide delegates through the latest knowledge in state-of-the-art, compassionate cancer care for animals, helping them to provide safe and comprehensive diagnostics and treatments.”
For more information, visit: https://www.improveinternational.com/uk/course/oncology-online-learning/
Strangvac has been in development for over 25 years and Dechra says it's the first and only intramuscular vaccine to help protect against strangles.
Strangvac contains recombinant proteins CCE, Eq85 and IdeE from Streptococcus equi and has DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) capability.
The vaccine contains no live bacteria or bacterial DNA, so will not trigger positive culture or PCR tests.
In trials the new vaccine protected more than 94% of horses1.
Dechra says it reduces the clinical signs of strangles including a high temperature, coughing, inappetence, difficulty swallowing and changes in demeanour, while also reducing the number of lymph node abscesses.
Strangvac can be given to foals from five months of age and two injections should be given at a four-week interval.
Horses at high risk of Streptococcus equi infection, such as those in livery, should be revaccinated after two months.
Based on measured antibody titres, immunological memory was found in horses following repeated vaccination six months after primary vaccination.
Dr Andrew Waller, chief scientific officer at Intervacc AB, the company that developed the vaccine, said: “Strangvac is a ground-breaking new vaccine which, alongside good stable management and biosecurity procedures, can play a really important role in improving herd immunity and reducing the number of strangles cases in the equine population, thereby preventing major economic loss to the equestrian industry.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/equine/vaccines
This season, the podcast will explore:
Listeners can also access free, downloadable support resources from the Dômes Pharma Vet Vault—including client handouts, treatment guidelines, and clinical checklists that align with podcast content.
Emma Hancox MRCVS, Technical Vet Advisor at Dômes Pharma said: “Epilepsy cases can be intimidating and challenging for many first-opinion vets.
“Our goal is to make it more approachable, practical, and even enjoyable—by combining expert discussion with down-to-earth advice you can use the next day in practice.”
https://domespharma.co.uk/synaptic-tails-our-neurology-podcast
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has set up a new Veterinary Legislation Group to consider proposals for changes in veterinary regulation, in the light of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's inquiry into the current Veterinary Surgeons Act, and the Government's response to the EFRA Committee's report.
The new group, which will be chaired by RCVS Council Member and Dean of Glasgow Veterinary School, Professor Stuart Reid, will be tasked with taking a fresh look at changes that need to be made to the current legislative framework, and how these might be accomplished. It will not restrict itself to looking at a replacement for the Veterinary Surgeons Act, but will consider other ways that changes can be made in the short- and long-term.
The Group will meet in September, and comprise RCVS Council members and non-members - both lay people and veterinary surgeons. Once the RCVS position has been clarified, further discussion will follow with DEFRA, the BVA and the profession.
Responding to the Government's response to the EFRA Committee report, RCVS President Jill Nute said: "We welcome the fact that DEFRA is willing to consider any detailed proposals that might come forward from the profession, although we accept that DEFRA itself does not have time or resources to be proactive at this stage.
"We are also pleased that Government acknowledges that the veterinary nursing profession has come of age and that the time is right for the regulation of veterinary nurses to be taken forward, although again it is disappointing that DEFRA does not have the resources to progress this at present.
"Finally, we welcome the suggestion that the Presidents of the BVA and the RCVS meet with the Chief Veterinary Officer to discuss plans and to what extent DEFRA can help us - accepting the fact that DEFRA, like the RCVS, feels that a piecemeal approach may not be the most effective," she concluded.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has granted MSD Animal Health a provisional UK marketing authorisation for Bovilis SBV, the first vaccine specifically targeting the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in cattle and sheep.
SBV, which emerged in late 2011, is transmitted via insect vectors, mainly midges and causes transient clinical symptoms in adult cattle and sheep, such as fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk yield, as well as congenital malformation in newborn calves and lambs. As of March 31st 2013, 1753 cases of SBV had been confirmed throughout the UK. SBV has now been detected in every county in England and Wales.
Andras Bolcskei, Country Manager, MSD Animal Health UK said: "On behalf of Merck MSD, we would like to thank the VMD for its partnership and support to fast track the availability of Bovilis SBV to the market. There was a tremendous urgency for a SBV vaccine in the UK especially given the marked increase in confirmed cases over the past year and the increasing importance to help control this devastating disease."
MSD says that studies it conducted in support of the provisional marketing authorisation showed that all animals responded with formation of virus neutralizing antibodies. During the studies, reduced viraemia against SBV was observed in sheep vaccinated once and prevention of viraemia was observed in cattle vaccinated twice, whereas all animals in the control groups developed infection and became viraemic. In studies to date, Bovilis SBV has been shown to be efficacious in cattle and sheep.
The vaccine is based on wild-type SBV that has been inactivated and contains an adjuvant that stimulates the immune response.
The vaccine will be available in 20ml and 100ml vials. Bovilis SBV is indicated for the active immunisation of cattle to prevent viraemia against SBV and for the active immunisation of sheep to reduce viraemia against SBV.
MSD says it is working diligently to expedite stocks to the UK, and expects Bovilis SBV to arrive in the UK in the coming weeks.
Zoetis has announced the availability in the UK and Ireland of Poulvac IBQX, the first specific vaccine against the QX strain of the infectious bronchitis virus.
For the past two years the vaccine has only been available with a special import certificate from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for use on flocks where the QX virus has been isolated.
According to the company, this variant IB strain has been an increasing problem in European countries over the last 10 years and was first seen in the UK in South-East England in 2007. Since then QX has been isolated from a number of commercial layer and broiler flocks, leading to inferior performance and increased mortality.
James Porritt, Zoetis Poultry Manager for the UK and Ireland said: "Poulvac IB QX adds another protection dimension to our extensive IB vaccine portfolio. The Zoetis IB portfolio offers the widest choice and with Poulvac IBMM + ARK we have the UK's only bivalent live vaccine licensed for day-old use providing a Massachusetts strain and protection against 793/B/91 variant type strains lasting for six weeks post vaccination. Other IB Vaccines include Poulvac H120 and the UK's only other bivalent live vaccine Poulvac IB Primer."
Poulvac IB QX vaccine is based on a live attenuated virus and is administered as a coarse spray to broilers from day-old and to layer pullets or broiler breeders from seven days of age. Protection has been demonstrated by challenge study to last for 63 days after vaccination.
Zoetis says the vaccine is often used on the farm, but can be administered to chicks at the hatchery if adequate controls are in place to avoid spread to other chicks that will be moved to non-QX exposed flocks.
Dr Stuart Andrews, Poultry Veterinary Manager for Zoetis said: "In countering the QX virus strain some existing vaccines have been used to provide a degree of cross-protection. However, it is important to appreciate that Poulvac IB QX is a vaccine homologous to any IB QX field strain and so will provide even better protection.
"Furthermore, our in-house PCR and DNA sequencing service allows us to monitor carefully the field situation to ascertain which IB strains are currently causing field outbreaks and enable us to recommend adaptations to particular vaccination programmes.
"The full approval for the Poulvac vaccine will make it easier and more effective to tackle specific QX infections without having to apply for an import certificate."
Headed by Stephanie Lalor, a European Specialist in Internal Medicine, the clinic provides initial assessment and treatment - from blood work and blood pressure - to ongoing care.
Suitable for cats with a wide range of medical conditions, including respiratory tract disease, gastrointestinal conditions and endocrinopathies, the clinic is housed in Willows iCatCare certified ‘cat-friendly’ facility, which has its own cat ward and waiting area.
Stephanie, who completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Edinburgh University (funded by International Cat Care) in 2014, and then completed the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine last year, said: "Here at Willows we do all we can to minimise the difficulties that cats and their owners might encounter when they come to see us.
"Our staff are trained to be aware of their needs and we have put in place not only the necessary facilities but also specific working practices in order to make any visit as stress-free as possible.
"These cat-specific clinics will be yet another string to our bow and we will work closely with referring vets to ensure that we meet each patient’s unique needs – providing a detailed written report following each visit."
For more information about the cat-specific internal medicine clinics taking place at Willows, or to make a referral, call 0121 712 7070.
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net.
According to the company, the new Avacta Allergy+ offers:
Existing customers will be getting a launch pack this week, which comes with a box of Yorkshire teabags (as that's where Avacta heralds from) and a pack of chocolate biscuits so practice staff can take break whilst they peruse details of the new portfolio and accompanying support materials.
To encourage the reuse of the old Avacta submission boxes, the company is also running a competition where practices can win a £100 Amazon gift voucher if they come up with the most practical and imaginative reuse idea. Full details can be found at avactaanimalhealth.com/news.
For more information visit www.avactaanimalhealth.com.
Mike, an RCVS Queen’s Medal winner, will be in conversation with Catheryn Partington BVSc CertAVP(VC) MSc MRCVS, Jose Matos DVM DipECVIM (Cardiology) MRCVS European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Cardiology (canine and feline cardiology) and Paul Freeman MA, VetMB, Cert SAO, Dip ECVN, MRCVS (European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology) (canine and feline neurology).
During the event, they will be explaining how Improve's new Academy Series can help vet professionals meet their annual CPD targets, learn through self-assessment and reflective study, and bring them to the forefront of medicine in several specialist areas.
Heber Alves, CEO of Improve International, said: “Here at Improve International, we are proud to be providing CPD training alongside the historic and prestigious University of Cambridge for our first Academy Series.
"We are excited to be working with many of its pioneering specialists at the Department of Veterinary Medicine and, as a former vet myself, I look forward to hearing how my fellow veterinarians handled the most difficult challenges of their careers.”
www.improveinternational.com
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!
A new study published in Equine Veterinary Journal's (EVJ) in partnership with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, has shown that a wireless, inertial sensor-based system can effectively measure a horse's response to a flexion test.
The authors say that opinions on the value of flexion tests in assessing equine lameness have been divided for many years, but their research should turn what has always been regarded as a subjective process into a wholly objective one.
Flexion tests are used routinely in horses with subtle or imperceptible lameness, to exacerbate the problem and make it apparent to the observer. The test involves applying a short period of pressure to the joints of the limb before re-examination, and evaluating any change in gait. However, flexion tests rely on the ability of the observer to identify and interpret changes in the horse's gait and in that respect these tests are subjective and not necessarily consistent between observers.
The research study was conducted by orthopaedic surgeons based at the University of Glasgow's School of Veterinary Medicine1. A total of 17 healthy adult horses, all in work, were fitted with sensors before being trotted in a straight line. The sensors measured vertical pelvic movement asymmetry for both right and left hind limb strides and the average difference in maximum and minimum pelvic height between right and left hind limb strides. A hind limb was randomly selected for 60 seconds of proximal flexion, after which the horse was trotted for a minimum of 10 strides. Response to the flexion was blindly assessed as negative or positive by an experienced observer.
John Marshall, lecturer in equine surgery at the University of Glasgow, who led the study, said: "A positive response to flexion resulted in significant changes to objective measurements of pelvic symmetry, supporting the use of inertial sensor systems to objectively assess response to flexion tests."
Professor Jim Moore, North American Editor of the EVJ, said: "The introduction of an objective approach to documenting lameness examination will not only help vets and trainers to investigate equine lameness more accurately. It will also serve as an unbiased method of communicating lameness examination findings among vets, trainers, farriers and other professionals."
The next phase of research will be to establish cut-off values for objective assessment of other equine lameness diagnostic procedures, such as nerve blocks.
Reference
The recall is for the following batches only:
Petlife is contacting retailers, veterinary surgeons and wholesale dealers to examine inventory immediately and quarantine products subject to this recall.
For further information, contact Dr J M Ballany on +44 1333 720257 or email: johnballany@btinternet.com.
The broached bottle must be kept refrigerated between 20C and 80C until the next use.
Virbac says that whilst this may not seem a huge change, it significantly increases the cost-effectiveness and convenience to farmers.
The SPC changes mean that
Bovigen Scour is available in 5 and 30 dose bottles.
The advert appeared in three separate issues of Veterinary Times (15, 22 and 29 September 2014), on the rear back cover of the 2014 BEVA Congress proceedings, and on the inside back cover of the 2014 Congress Planner. It contained the phrase “Neuraminidase antibodies provided a degree of protection in the case of HA strain/vaccine mismatch”, when viewed against the context of the advertisement headed ‘Why have part when you can have it all?”.
The Committee’s view was that the item in the context of the advertisement was intended to mean, and did convey, the meaning that the inclusion of NA antigens in an equine vaccine gave that vaccine a clinical advantage over vaccines which did not. This claim was not substantiated. Accordingly, the Committee found the phrase in breach of Code of Practice Clauses 4.1(iii) misleading, 4.1(vi) contained an exaggerated claim, 4.1(vii) implied it had a special merit which was not substantiated, 4.2(i) was not accurate and 4.2(ii) was not based upon an up-to-date evaluation of all the evidence.
Full details of the Committee’s rulings can be found on the NOAH website at www.noah.co.uk/code. The full report of this particular case will be available shortly.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has agreed to accept undertakings from a Dorset veterinary surgeon, Philippa Ann Rodale MBE, in which she requests that her name is removed from the RCVS Register of Veterinary Surgeons with effect from 31 July 2015, and undertakes never to apply to be restored to it.
The Committee met on Monday 17 August, resuming a hearing which had been adjourned on 20 July. The adjournment had been made to allow Ms Rodale time to submit formal responses to the charges against her and indicate whether she agreed with them. In the event, as outlined by a letter from her solicitors received by the College on 14 August, Ms Rodale declined to comment on the charges and did not admit to any of them.
Ms Rodale did not attend the hearing on 17 August, however, the Committee decided to continue in her absence, on the understanding that, as evidenced by her solicitors’ letter, she was fully aware of the hearing and had voluntarily waived her right to be presented and represented.
The original charges related to Ms Rodale’s standards of practice (in relation to issues such as biosecurity, hygiene, in-patient facilities, drug storage and the disposal of hazardous waste, among other things) and also to a test for Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin. The charges relating to her standards of practice did not have complainants, as the College raised the matters itself; with respect to the Tuberculin test charge, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, as the relevant body, raised no objection to the proposed course of accepting undertakings.
In accepting the undertakings, the Committee felt that a contested hearing that could take up to seven days and involve up to eight witnesses for the College and up to three for the Respondent would not be in the public interest. Furthermore, since the 20 July hearing, Ms Rodale had retired and closed her practice. The Committee also noted that there had been no previous disciplinary findings against her, in what was otherwise a long and unblemished career.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee is satisfied that the undertakings offered by the Respondent protect the welfare of animals since the Respondent has now retired and is no longer in practice. It is also satisfied that the reputation of the profession is upheld since the undertakings offered go beyond any sanction which the Committee could impose at the conclusion of a contested hearing, were any of the Heads of Charge to be found proved. It considers that it would not be proportionate or in the public interest for there to be a lengthy contested hearing.”
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.
Judges for the UK Rabbit Vet of the Year, the Rabbit Nurse of the Year and the Rabbit Veterinary Practice of the Year awards will be looking for exceptional knowledge of rabbit care and husbandry, and evidence of the winners’ continued commitment to educating the public on how to care for rabbits correctly.
Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRCVS, awards judge and Veterinary Director at Burgess Pet Care said: "These awards are our way of saying ‘Thank You’ to the veterinary professionals that are helping to improve the lives of pet rabbits."
Rae Todd, Director of the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund said: "Rabbits make absolutely fantastic pets but research continues to show that there are still too many rabbit owners failing to meet the correct needs of their rabbits. We’re incredibly grateful for the growing number of vets that are working hard to address this, whether that’s by utilising the available rabbit CPD, taking part in events like Rabbit Awareness Week or generally making their practices more suitable environments for rabbit-owning clients."
Veterinary surgeons and nurses can self-nominate for these awards, and nominations are also being sought from the public.
The winners will each receive a cash prize of £500.
To enter the awards, visit www.burgesspetcare.com/excel-vet-awards.
The 10 minute survey seeks to capture the current level of understanding and feelings around the deployment of AI tools across the veterinary industry.
VetCT says the purpose of the survey is to start some discussion and identify areas where training and support could help veterinary practitioners.
Julien Labruyère, Chief Innovation Officer at VetCT (pictured), said: “AI is here to stay and will increasingly become part of all aspects of veterinary medicine.
"Indeed, it’s vital to help us solve some of the workforce pressures the profession is facing globally.
"We will increasingly be using the outputs of AI tools to inform our clinical decisions, and yet the mechanisms and algorithms can be something of a black box of mystery.
“We want to understand the needs of clinicians in understanding how to apply AI safely, effectively and with confidence to support good clinical practice and ultimately, improve animal welfare.
"The results will be published and freely accessible.
"Our hope is to encourage a collaborative effort to support veterinary teams with embracing the full potential of AI, yet also providing the safeguards and education to the clinicians applying this technology to their patients.”
The survey is here: https://bit.ly/VetCT_AI_Survey.
The maker, MSD Animal Health, says Numelvi is "the first and only second-generation Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor indicated from six months of age (and 3kg) for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis, including atopic dermatitis, as well as the clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis in dogs. .
It is given once daily and MSD says it is clinically effective after the first dose.
The company says itch relief begins within 2–4 hours and dosing is one tablet a day from day one.
MSD claims Numelvi is at least 10 times more selective for JAK1 compared with other JAK family members (JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2).
Numelvi can be used concurrently with vaccines (including rabies) and other common treatments such as ectoparasiticides, with no requirement for routine blood and urine monitoring.
Dermatology specialist Dr Debbie Gow said: “Second-generation JAK inhibitors are selective — specifically, in this case, more selective for JAK1 than other JAK enzymes.
“The high selectivity for JAK 1 contributes to the favourable safety profile of Numelvi.”
Dr Sue Paterson MA VetMB DVD DipECVD FRCVS added: “Treating canine allergic dermatitis means offering treatment which relieves itch and inflammation, whilst managing any unwanted side effects.
"We want to inhibit JAK 1 to reduce itch and inflammation, whilst having little to no effect on other JAK family members.”
MSD Animal Health will host a lunch-and-learn digital launch event with The Webinar Vet on Thursday 26 March, aiming to set a Guinness World Record for a veterinary educational launch event.
Janssen Animal Health has made what I am told is a 'very large' donation of Ripercol, a pour-on 20% levamisole w/v broad spectrum anthelminitic for cattle, effective against gastro intestinal nematodes and lungworm, to the Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) – a UK registered charity (No.1100485) committed to improving the treatment and welfare of all animal species throughout the world.Nigel Underwood, Livestock Marketing Manager at Janssen said: 'We are very pleased to be able to help improve the health of animals in the developing countries and in turn to help those people who need it most. I’d encourage other pharmaceutical companies and practices to support WVS whenever they can, as they do a fantastic job.'Annie Cook, WVS Director of Veterinary Operations said: 'So far this year we have been able to help over 64 associated charities with nearly £73,000 worth of donated items. This incredibly generous donation of Ripercol from Janssen Animal Health will allow us to provide production animal welfare charities in India, East Africa and South America with a much needed resource'.WVS is currently arranging a Disaster Emergency Response team of veterinary professionals to visit the Internally Displaced People Camps in Kenya created following the election violence. Luke Gamble, WVS Chief Executive Officer, who will be coordinating the team said: 'The high concentration of animals in these camps combined with poor sanitation will promote the spread of disease between animals and is also a public health concern. Simply deworming these animals will improve their productivity and survival, which is vitally important as they are an essential resource to the people in the camps.'
The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has approved a new Health Protocol, which formalises a more compassionate approach to veterinary surgeons with health problems.
The Protocol will allow - in appropriate circumstances - veterinary surgeons (and, from next year, registered veterinary nurses) who suffer from health concerns affecting their ability to practise safely, to have the matter dealt with confidentially, without going to a full public Disciplinary Committee hearing.
It will allow individuals to access appropriate support and help away from the public spotlight, while ensuring that they do not put animals or the public at risk.
According to independent legal advice sought by the College, such an approach is appropriate and necessary in order for the College to fulfil its regulatory responsibilities - similar systems exist within other regulators.
The draft Protocol was the subject of consultation amongst the profession and the public over summer. Proposed amendments to the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct, to support the introduction of the Health Protocol, were also approved in the November meeting.
RCVS Head of Professional Conduct, Gordon Hockey said: "The Protocol encourages anyone coming into contact with veterinary surgeons - including other veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, members of practice staff, clients and healthcare professionals - who have concerns about a veterinary surgeon's health to report those concerns to the RCVS as soon as is reasonably practicable.
"Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are concerned about the health of a veterinary surgeon must also take steps to ensure that animals are not put at risk and that the interests of the public, including those of their colleagues, are protected."
Boehringer Ingelheim VetMedica has published its equine endocrine webinars online for veterinary professionals to view on demand at www.prascend.co.uk/webinars.
The webinars, which cover 'Diagnostic challenges in equine endocrine disease', presented by equine internal medicine specialist Andy Durham from the Liphook Equine Hospital, and 'A problem-based approach to equine laminitis', presented by equine internal medicine specialist Dr Catherine McGowan from the University of Liverpool, are each one hour long.
Participants will each receive CPD certificates for participation.
Jonathon is an RCVS & EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, with a particular interest in MRI of the distal limb and has published scientific work on this subject, among others.
With the increase in availability and accessibility to CT for horses, VetCT says this hot topic will be well received by equine vets at all levels of experience.
VetCT’s Equine Teleradiology Manager, Charlotte Graham, said: “We can guarantee a highly engaging talk with plenty of useful tips on case selection for each modality as well as some interesting discussions in the Q&A session.”
To register for the webinar on 18th April and receive links to recordings of this and previous webinars in the 2023 series, sign up here: https://vetct.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zkctYZYWRUmRVIFTxrvvsA
www.vet-ct.com