The affected batches are: IsoFlo 250 ml 58006XN, 60003XN, 59005XN, 60006XN, 61001XN, 60016XN, 60017XN, 61018XN, 61015XN, 61016XN, 61017XN, 6062216, 6062225, 6062226, 6062217, 6063738 and Isothesia 250ml 6062335, 6063318.
Manufacturer Zoetis says there were a small number of reports of veterinary surgeons having difficulty in re-sealing the bottles after initial opening as the thread on the screw cap had not been fully formed. This defect does not impact the safety and efficacy of the product for animal use but the concern was related to potential evaporation from opened bottles which did not re-seal fully when closed.
Veterinary surgeons are asked to return any unopened bottles to the wholesaler and dispose of any opened bottles in the usual way. They will be fully reimbursed for the stock.
Zoetis says it has already addressed this packaging issue at the manufacturing site so that new batches of the product are unaffected.
Practices requiring further information on the matter should call Zoetis Technical Services on 0845 300 8034.
Jonathan will be taking part in the VETFest Conversation on the Friday evening: a relaxed conversation with event founder Professor Noel Fitzpatrick in an intimate setting which organisers say allows delegates to really feel and be part of the conversation.
Noel and Jonathan will be reflecting on some of the common experiences, fears and thoughts all people from all walks of life share.
Noel said: "We are so excited that Jonathan has agreed to join us for the official launch of the VETFest Conversation on Friday night. Jonathan will offer an illuminating new perspective on some of the matters we will all relate to professionally and personally. This is so much more meaningful than just a chat between two people. We want everyone present to feel part of the conversation and converse together as openly and comfortably as is we were in your living room. This is what the VETFest Conversation is about, a really special experience.
"VET Festival has always and will forever be about providing a dynamic and engaging event that empowers all veterinary professionals who attend to leave the field with not only educational development but deep personal enrichment too. We all feel the stresses and strains of failure, financial stress, management challenges, difficult interpersonal relationships, self-confidence, fear and even depression. We lose our connectedness to each other with the weight of these burdens.
"This conference isn’t just about Veterinary Education for Tomorrow – it’s about looking after each other. With the VETFest Conversation, we are aiming for something new; something that depends entirely on raw emotion, passion, knowledge and willingness to share. We want to be the best we can be, together in the open air surrounded by kindness and collegiality.
"Together we hope to entertain and inform, and in doing so join together with everyone present not only as a profession but as a global community. If you are struggling, professionally and/or personally, we want to reach out a hand and reassure you that you are not alone – we are all in this together.
"Whether you are a vet, a nurse, a rehab professional or a TV presenter, we share fears and disappointments as well as joy and fulfilment. Our motivation is to collectively become a positive force for good, so that every one of us, our friends and family, our work colleagues, our businesses, our profession and even our world may benefit.
"There is nothing out there like this – and we want to lead the way in setting the agenda that this really does matter and create a lasting and meaningful community of compassion."
The VETFest Conversation is open to all delegates at VET Festival and takes place after the clinical programme on Friday 8th June at 6.00pm – 6.45pm.
VET Festival tickets are available to buy on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vet-festival-2018-tickets-35876825551
This, says the company, highlights the need for increased awareness of MCTs, which, accounting for up to 21% of skin cancer cases2 in dogs, are the most common form of canine cutaneous neoplasia.
The incidence of MCTs is highest in dogs aged 6 to 10 years old3,4 with predisposition in some of the UK’s most popular breeds such as Labradors, French Bulldogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Golden Retrievers.
Virbac says that until the launch of Stelfonta, surgical removal of tumours was the standard of care, but surgery can pose challenges for the veterinary surgeon, such as the accessibility of the tumour in order to obtain sufficient margins and anaesthetic risks, particularly in senior and brachycephalic pets.
Apparently, however, 77% of delegates at London Vet Show said they were either likely or very likely to use Stelfonta on their next mast cell tumour case.
To help veterinary professionals and pet owners identify skin masses, Virbac has created a range of resources available at: vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta/education.
References
The new chews incorporate Fr3sh technology, which Virbac says cleanses, cools and addresses the digestive causes of bad breath.
According to the company's research, the new chews provide significant daily breath improvement from Day 1 for a full 24 hours1, as well as continued breath improvement over a 2-week period. 90% of owners highlighted an improvement in bad breath following use of the chews1.
Virbac says the product is also scientifically proven to reduce calculus and plaque when given daily.2
Product Manager Claire Lewis said: "With 2 out of 3 pet owners having a least one dog with bad breath3, we are delighted to be able to add new VeggieDent Fr3sh to the Virbac range of oral healthcare products."
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
References:
Dechra says that Dexacortone, which is presented as a flavoured double-divisible tablet, is approximately 25 times more potent than short-acting substances such as hydrocortisone.
Dechra Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: “Dexamethasone works to suppress the inflammatory response and should be combined with treatment of the underlying disease.”
The chewable tablets have been developed with a chicken flavour to encourage greater acceptance by animals and have Dechra’s double divisible SmartTab format to help accurate and flexible dosing.
Dexacortone is available in blister packs.
Carol added: “The dose and duration of treatment should be determined by the veterinarian based upon the desired effect and on the nature and severity of each individual case and our SmartTab format makes Dexacortone tablets easily divisible. The tablet portions have a six day shelf life that also reduces the wastage of medicine.”
For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk
GRAM (Guidance for the Rational use of AntiMicrobials) is a 500-page guide written by a panel of 10 independent European experts from the fields of microbiology, pharmacology and dermatology, all of whom are specialists in internal medicine, surgery and epidemiology. Based on rational use with compliance at the forefront, GRAM provides tools for improved diagnosis and positive treatment outcomes.
The guide consists of 37 disease fact sheets, 29 practical recommendations and six reference synopses. It features a range of topics including:
Andy Forsyth, senior technical veterinary advisor at Ceva said: "Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a concern in both human and animal health. GRAM will help educate veterinary professionals on how they can play their part in creating sustainable antibiotic use."
To request a copy of GRAM or for further information on sustainable antibiotic use, contact your local Ceva Animal Health territory manager.
The UK has now seen a total of 169 confirmed cases of Alabama Rot across 38 counties, since 2012. Six cases were confirmed in 2012, climbing to 40 in 2017 and 46 so far in 2018.
The new research, which was carried out in conjunction with the Royal Veterinary College, found that almost 95% of confirmed cases of Alabama Rot have occurred between November and May, with the highest number of cases being reported in February.
It also found most of the cases have been confirmed in western and southern parts of England, with the highest number found in West Sussex, Dorset, southern Hampshire, Greater Manchester and Monmouthshire. Far fewer cases have been reported from the eastern half of the country and East Anglia in particular.
David Walker, Head of medicine at Anderson Moores and co-author of the research, said: "This research, which was funded by the New Forest Dog Owners Group and the charity Alabama Rot Research Fund, was designed to look for geographical patterns, as well as environmental and climatic risk factors.
"A distinct seasonal pattern is suggested, with the vast majority of cases occurring between November and March, and limited cases over the summer months – just 6.5% of cases have been confirmed from June to October.
"In the scientific world a lot of research is not earth-shattering, but it all builds together and little by little we make progress.
"This information is good in terms of how we manage the next stage of research, however we need to be careful and not jump to any conclusions at this point".
Researchers say the disease has been reported in a wide range of breeds (35 in total) but, due to the small number of cases, it is not yet possible to say with any certainty whether a specific breed has an inherently increased or decreased risk of the disease. Any patterns may simply be the result of varying breed populations in different parts of the country.
Dr Huw Stacey, vet and director of clinical services at Vets4Pets, has been supporting research on the condition for a number of years. He said: "Since we held the first Alabama Rot conference in May 2017, vets and relevant professionals have been working hard to understand more about the condition.
"We know how the disease presents and how it affects dogs internally, and this research adds some interesting information that may help to increase vets’ index of the suspicion for the disease.
"The information on climate and ground type will help us further explore possible triggers for the disease, but at the moment we can’t say if any breeds are more likely to develop the disease.
"The first sign of the disease that is normally seen is a skin sore or lesion that isn’t caused by a known injury. Most commonly these sores are found on the lower half of the leg and appear as a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin or are open and ulcer-like.
"With 46 cases in 2018 already, it is understandably very worrying for dog owners, but we think the increase in cases is partially due to an increased awareness of the disease.
"However, this disease is still very rare, so we’re advising dog owners to remain calm but vigilant, and seek advice from their local vet if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.
"While this research may be a stepping stone to finding the cause of Alabama Rot, there is currently no known way to prevent a dog from contracting the disease."
*also clinically known as
Norbook has added a 200ml oral suspension for dogs to its Loxicom range.The company says the new presentation provides a cost-effective way to supply long-term dosing for pain management in dogs. It also says the new size will allow vets to be more efficient with stock space and animal owners will save money with less frequent repeat purchases.
Norbook veterinary advisor Rebekah Dudek said: "With winter upon us, the colder weather can cause symptoms of arthritis to worsen. With over 20% of dogs, 50% of adult cats and 60% of horses affected by arthritis now is the time to find out why so many vets are choosing Loxicom as their choice for pain management.
"This extension to the popular Loxicom range allows vets the opportunity to offer users a range of options when dispensing pain relief medication. The 200ml bottle is a cost-effective solution for long term treatment which will please both vets and pet owners."
For more information, visit: www.norbrook.com.
Veterinary students Harry Pink and Meg Coram have won the third Sutton Bonington Science Cake competition for their entry: Rhinos Should Be Horny (pictured right, click to enlarge).
The competition was held on the 12th March in aid of Comic Relief, with entries in six different categories (Veterinary Medicine, Animal & Agriculture, From Farm to Fork, Infection, Cakes for Animals, Comic Relief).
The entries, which ranged from nesting chickens, ringworm in cats and sows with piglets to beautiful vegetables and gardens, were prepared by students and staff at the campus. They were evaluated by 9 judges including members from both schools of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine.
The cake competition also made it onto national TV this year. Apparently, Comic Relief loved the photos from the last two bake off competitions and asked for one of the bakers to design a cake for the special Comic Relief episode 'The Great British Bake Off'. Last year's public vote winners Rachael Lowton and Jennie Stoddart accepted the challenge and produced 'Just Your Everage Cake' in homage to Dame Edna.
You can see photographs of all the 2015 entries here: http://www.sbcakeoff.co.uk/entries
You can support SB Cake Off for Comic Relief here: https://www.justgiving.com/sbcakeoff/
The award, which is sponsored by Zoetis, was given online this year at an event hosted by sports television presenter Mark Durden-Smith and Chloe Ryan, the editor of Poultry Business.
William was brought up on a sheep farm in Nottinghamshire and as a youngster bred rare breed poultry, selling eggs to local people in the village. He graduated at Nottingham University, did a poultry internship with a practice in the North West and worked there initially. Four years ago, he set up his own practice Avivets, at High Legh in Cheshire, dedicated to the poultry and game bird sector. He guest lectures at the Universities of Nottingham and Surrey and is an official veterinarian for avian exports. He sits on the RSPCA’s technical standards advisory board and was recently appointed veterinary advisor for the NFU poultry board.
Chloe Ryan said he had impressed the judges ‘with his enthusiasm for poultry veterinary knowledge and entrepreneurship. He has shown an excellent level of dedication, enriching his experience and qualifications through continuous professional development to farms and flocks as evidenced by glowing praise from a long list of clients.’
Lucy Berriman, Zoetis UK poultry national account manager, said: “Zoetis is proud to be sponsors of this new award for the industry’s poultry vets.
"It gives hardworking individuals the chance to shine and illustrate their commitment to the poultry industry. Congratulations to Will for this fabulous achievement, and well done to the other two finalists."
The other finalists were Helena Brewer, who joined the Poultry Health Services team at Sheriff Hutton, near York, after studying at the Royal (Dick) School at Edinburgh and the Royal Veterinary College, and Henry Lamb, who has worked at Crowshall Veterinary Services in Norfolk since graduating at the Royal Veterinary College.
Vetoquinol UK Limited has launched Ceftiocyl: a ready-to-use formulation containing 50mg/ml ceftiofur for use in cattle and pigs.
In cattle, Ceftiocyl can be used for the treatment of respiratory disease, acute interdigital necrobacillosis and acute post-partum metritis. In pigs, Ceftiocyl is licensed for the treatment of respiratory disease. Ceftiocyl has the added benefit of traceability stickers which are attached to each vial making it easier and quicker to record and monitor on-farm usage.
Susan Mitchell, Large Animal Product Manager at Vetoquinol UK Ltd said, 'We are delighted to be expanding our large animal anti infective range offering. Marbocyl 10% has been used for acute mastitis in the dairy sector for many years, the addition of Ceftiocyl to our portfolio enables us to provide a cost-effective treatment for both metritis and lameness.'
1. Willshire, J.A. & Bell, N, J. (2009) An economic review of cattle lameness. Cattle Practice 17, 136-141.
Alfaxan 10mg/mL solution for injection for dogs and cats is licensed as an induction agent prior to inhalation anaesthesia and as a sole anaesthetic agent for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia for the performance of examination or surgical procedures. Jurox highlights that it has been safely used in patients from 12 weeks of age, for the induction of anaesthesia prior to delivery of puppies by caesarean section and for maintenance anaesthesia in procedures lasting up to an hour.
Jurox offers the following advice: "Part 1 (2) of Schedule 4 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations states that 'if there is no authorised veterinary medicinal product' then the cascade may be followed. Alfaxan is an available and authorised veterinary medicinal product with very similar indications and therefore there is no clinical need to resort to non-licensed formulations of propofol, under cascade, for veterinary intravenous anaesthesia."
The company says that its UK team of veterinary surgeons will again respond proactively to the propofol shortage by delivering educational support to veterinary professionals and assisting them through the change to another veterinary licensed product for the anaesthesia of cats and dogs should they wish.
If you would like to discuss specific cases or need support using Alfaxan for the first time, contact Jurox on 0800 500 3171 or email alfaxan@jurox.co.uk
Following legislative changes, the British Veterinary Association has updated its 'Good Practice Guide to Handling Veterinary Waste' for England and Wales.
Supported by the Environment Agency the Guide primarily consists of a quick-reference poster enabling vets to categorise and segregate veterinary waste in line with Environment Agency requirements. The poster defines the types of hazardous waste, outlines the types of containers required and sets out the appropriate classification codes.
The Guide is complemented by more detailed web guidance which incorporates useful templates to download.
BVA President Carl Padgett said: "All businesses have a duty of care to ensure that all waste is stored and disposed of responsibly, that it is only handled or dealt with by those authorised to do so and that appropriate records are kept of all waste that is transferred or received.
"The BVA Guide has been a popular resource for the profession since we first launched it in 2008 making it considerably easier for vets to comply with Hazardous Waste Regulations. The revised poster is hopefully an incentive for practices to check if their requirements have changed and ensure they're still up-to-date."
The poster and web advice are available at http://www.bva.co.uk/activity_and_advice/1641.aspx and BVA members will receive a hard copy of the poster to display in their practice.
A survey published today by the veterinary recruitment agency recruit4vets has found 45.8% of salaried veterinary surgeons earning less than £35K per annum.
251 veterinary surgeons in full-time permanent employment took part in the survey, the largest number (37%) working in the south east and London.
The survey found that the typical starting salary was £31K per annum, rising to 41K for a more experienced vet in small animal practice, and £44K for more experienced large animal practitioners. The survey also found that senior vets with over 20 years experience earn up to £69K.
The survey also looked at locum charge-out rates, which varied from £220-£230 per day (17%) to over £250 (15%), with the greatest number (29%) charging between £240-£250.
62% of locums said their hourly pay rate had not changed in the last 12 months, compared to 45% of permanent staff who said their salary was unchanged over the period. This despite 65% of vets saying that the demands on them within the practice had increased in the last 12 months.
Recruit4vets has produced a couple of video presentations about the results, locum pay covered here and permanent pay covered here.
Visit VetSurgeon.org Jobs for the largest selection of classified jobs for veterinary surgeons.
Speaking at Improve International's OV Conference last week, Dr Wright cited increased pet travel and importation as key risk factors, including the growing number of rescued dogs arriving in the UK from countries in Europe and further afield.
Dr Wright highlighted the Rhipicephalus tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) as being a particular cause for concern, as it can transmit Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Rickettsias, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon.
Dr Wright said that Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys are among the most common tick-borne diseases in imported dogs, particularly those arriving from Eastern and Southern Europe. There were also three cases of Hepatozoon canis in 2018, caused by dogs ingesting Rhipicephalus ticks while grooming.
According to figures from a Bristol University Pet Travel survey, 54.5% of dog travel on the Pet Travel Scheme from the UK is to France with Southern European countries also popular destinations. These are all countries in which Rhipicephalus is present and on the increase. Dr Wright said that the ticks are moving north into Austria, Switzerland, Central France, Romania and Bulgaria.
During the last few months, he has also been alerted to ticks found on dogs coming in from North America, Latin America and Africa. These bring with them the risk of new diseases, including a variety of zoonotic rickettssial pathogens, such as Rickettsia Rickettsii, which causes Rocky Mountain Spotty Fever.
To address this issue Dr Wright urged vets to redouble their efforts on tick prevention. In particular, he recommended tick prevention pre/during and post travel, using products that offer rapid kill and repellency in order to reduce transmission, repellents being especially important in Leishmania infantum and Rhipicephalus-endemic countries.
Dr Wright recommended drilling clients and staff on tick removal and reminding them that finding a tick on a pet is not a failure as no product is 100% reliable and it is easy to miss them in long-haired dogs. He also suggested asking clients to take photos of any ticks they find on their pet while abroad so that their vet will know on their return what pathogens they may have been exposed to. If necessary, the Public Health England Tick Surveillance Scheme can help with identification.
Dr Wright suggested that legislation to enforce tick treatment on entry was a poor strategy used in isolation as pets would still be exposed while abroad and no product is completely reliable. It would be useful however, to raise awareness and show that we are taking the issue of tick-borne disease seriously.
He said: "We’re seeing a significant increase in pet travel and import a wider range of countries from which dogs are being imported and this is significantly increasing our exposure to exotic ticks.
"What’s news about this is that while you could argue that diseases such as Lyme Disease are ‘lifestyle’ diseases because people and dogs are exposed to our native ticks while out enjoying the countryside, the Rhipicephalus tick comes to your home, exposing you to a wealth of rickettsial diseases for the first time. We are already seeing instances of this in France, Germany and Scandinavia and, as pet travel continues to grow, the risk here will only increase. It’s equally possible that a dog with a native tick could travel aboard and return hosting a new pathogen.
"The only way to manage this risk is to provide consistent advice to the public and to support increased disease surveillance. Vigilance is key – assume that any travelling dog may have ticks and do not assume that because it is tick-treated, it’s a case of ‘job done.’"
He said: "Put the onus on clients - gently. Remind them to seek advice, to check for ticks and to keep tick treatments up to date. Also remind them to visit the practice with their dog as soon as possible on their return. If you do find exotic ticks, please send them to the Tick Surveillance Scheme for identification."
He added: "If you know an owner who is planning to adopt a dog from abroad, explain the risks to them and encourage them to adopt from the UK. If they are determined to go ahead, work with them to ensure that you reduce the risk of exotic ticks arriving with their new family members. The risk to human and animal health from an infestation should not be underestimated."
French veterinary surgeons went on strike yesterday, and 10,000 marched on the streets of Paris in protest at Government plans to restrict their ability to supply certain farm animal antibiotics.
According to the National Union of Practicing Veterinarians (SNVEL), French veterinary surgeons saw the Government plans as an attack on their integrity and competence, and called for the strike, the first of its kind in history.
As a result of the strike, French Ministers have apparently pledged to retract their plans, something which was welcomed by veterinary representatives at the end of the march to the Ministry of Health (see right; click to enlarge).
At the same time, the SNVEL organised a 'Day Without Veterinarians' in all the French Departments. Given that there are only 11,000 practicing vets in France, 10,000 of whom were in Paris, that bit can't have been a particularly difficult logistical challenge.
Krka says Milprazon Chewable is the first wormer in its category with proven palatability for dogs based on EMA Testing Guidelines.
In a study¹, more than 85% of dogs ate the tablet ‘voluntarily’, with 75% taking it unprompted from their food bowl.
Milprazon chewable is available in a range of presentations suitable for puppies from two weeks old (0.5kg) and kittens from six weeks old.
Milprazon comes in colour-coded packaging for easier dispensing.
Will Ridgway, Krka’s National Sales Manager said: "Milprazon Chewable is a premium product.
"It offers pet owners the reliability of Milbemycin oxime and Praziquantel, together with enhanced palatability, while supporting practice profitability."
Reference
Elanco says OA is a condition which is estimated to affect one in four dogs, but it is often labelled by owners as "just old age". This, says the company, may lead to missed diagnosis and dogs not receiving the care they need.
To try and help address the issue, Elanco has partnered with the founder of Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon and veterinary communications consultant, Zoe Belshaw to produce a number of online and in-practice tools.
The first of these is a worksheet to help veterinary surgeons explain the impact of OE on the client's dog, both in and outside the home. It provides a template for creating a tailored management plan and a guide to the home adaptations owners can make to help improve their dog's quality of life.
The company has also produced a infographic fact sheet which explains the subtle signs of OA, designed for vets and nurses to use as part of their regular interactions with owners.
Elanco has also designed a range of digital materials for veterinary practices to use on their websites and social media feeds to increase awareness of the condition among their online communities.
Hannah Capon said: "Arthritis affects every dog differently – a dog may be full of life but lame, quiet, unenthused and slow to move, or somewhere in-between.
"Home management needs to be tailored to each dog’s needs and adapted in the same way it would be for a person, to prolong life and minimise pain and further injury."
Lastly, Elanco has also produced a film in which Zoe Belshaw gives advice about the language and strategies veterinary surgeons can use to help improve communication with dog owners about OA.
Zoe said: "My research identified that many owners do recognise their arthritic dog has a problem before it’s diagnosed. Many will have seen that their dog is stiff, or ‘slowing down’ but they may not associate this with lameness, or pain.
"That’s why vets, nurses and practices play a critical role in raising awareness of how the condition impacts dogs every day."
To access the suite of assets visit: www.myelanco.co.uk
Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched Recuvyra 50mg/ml transdermal solution for dogs, the first transdermal fentanyl solution to be licensed for the control of postoperative pain associated with major orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.
Recuvyra is a schedule two controlled drug which contains fentanyl, a pure μ-agonist synthetic opioid with a potency 100 times that of morphine1. Applied to the area between the shoulder blades by a needleless two-pronged adapter two to four hours prior to surgery, Elanco says Recuvyra provides at least four days of opioid analgesia, which is mainly due to the activation of the μ-opioid receptors inhibiting the perception of pain and the transmission of pain signals in the spinal cord and dorsal horn2.
Elanco says Recuvyra's unique formulation provides long-lasting analgesia by establishing a depot of fentanyl within the stratum corneum. The fentanyl in this depot undergoes passive diffusion down a concentration gradient, and is steadily released into the general circulation over a number of days.
Ed Whittle MA VetMB MRCVS, technical consultant at Elanco said: "Fentanyl is widely used in human health and its powerful analgesic properties are well known amongst veterinary surgeons1, 3, 4. Recuvyra is a ground-breaking veterinary product that will provide long-acting post-operative pain control in dogs while reducing the need for repeated, invasive administration of analgesics in the practice and improved client compliance and the potential for mutimodal analgesia once a dog returns home."
To ensure proper use of Recuvyra, Elanco has produced a mandatory online training programme for veterinary surgeons to complete before ordering the product. The brief online training module, which can be viewed at www.recuvyratraining.eu, features information on the presentation, correct preparation and administration of the product, and the safe handling of patients that have been treated with Recuvyra. Once veterinary surgeons are trained, it is their responsibility to train their staff on the in-practice use of Recuvyra and Elanco has produced a training presentation to help educate veterinary professionals about the product.
To support the launch of Recuvyra, Elanco has produced a dosing calculator, cage cards and client information sheet. For further information on Recuvyra, please contact your Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or email elancocah.uk@elanco.com.
The new app, which is being being made available in the run up to Pet Diabetes Month in November, allows owners to track water and food consumption, exercise, glucose levels and insulin injections on their smartphone or tablet. It can also send reminders for veterinary appointments and insulin injections, and creates charts that clients can share with their veterinary surgeon.
MSD says the Pet Diabetes Tracker will help improve client reporting and compliance, resulting in improved pet welfare and a reduction in risk to pets through its alert system.
Caroline Darouj, Product Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "To help ensure the long-term health and well-being of a pet, successfully managing the various facets of the disease and treatments is critical.
"With proper management and monitoring a dog or cat with diabetes can lead a healthy, happy and active life, and the Pet Diabetes Tracker can help make it happen. This is an incredibly useful tool that links the pet owner with the vet and puts all the pertinent diabetic health information at their fingertips. It’s all about setting habits that save lives!"
The Pet Diabetes Tracker can be downloaded from iTunes, here: https://itunes.apple.com/uk/app/pet-diabetes-tracker-uk/id1284472796?ls=1&mt=8.
MSD says an Android version will also be available soon.
For more information, visit www.petdiabetesmonth.co.uk or contact your MSD Animal Health account manager.
Policyholders will get unlimited access to Joii Pet Care’s video consultations with UK veterinary surgeons, which usually cost £24 per call.
Pet owners with Asda Money pet insurance will also be able to access Joii Pet Care’s symptom checker, which is designed to help pet owners pinpoint issues from their home.
Paul Hallett, co-founder of Vet-AI, said: “We’re delighted to announce this major partnership, which completely opens up access to professional vet care for thousands of pet parents who will benefit hugely from accessing regular, preventative veterinary care from the comfort of their homes.
“Many pet owners are now facing high vet bills and difficulties accessing in-practice veterinary care.
"Both Markerstudy Broking and Asda Money share our commitment to put animal welfare first, and collectively we’ll ensure more owners have easily accessible choice to receive the very best care for their pets.”
EnteroZoo is a dietary supplement composed of organic mineral and purified water in a gel suspension. Enteromed says it works by binding bacterial toxins as it passes through the animal's digestive tract, thereby helping to maintain a healthy gut and intestinal balance.
Enteromed says that compared to old classic adsorbents, such as clay or charcoal, EnteroZoo can be used long-term and is gentle on an animal's intestines.
The company points to a new in-vitro study from Brighton University School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences which has shown that EnteroZoo adsorbs E. coli, Shigella and C. difficile toxins1 – common causes of gastrointestinal infection and diarrhoea.
EnteroZoo is suitable for all animals including pregnant and nursing females. It is tasteless and odourless and the company says animals generally accept it without any problems. It can be administered in various ways: directly into the mouth, mixed into feed, put on a treat, mixed in an appropriate amount of water or administered with a plastic syringe into the oral cavity.
For more information, contact: enterozoo@enteromed.co.uk, or visit: www.enterozoo.co.uk
The company says that of the 249 responses to its Puppy Tooth Census received so far (of which 40% were from vets, 21% vet nurses, 2% other veterinary professionals and 37% puppy owners), 25% were poodle crosses.
This, says the company, is in line with anecdotal reports that vets are seeing more dental conditions in poodle cross puppies.
VisioCare is now calling for more vets to take part in the survey at https://bit.ly/Visiocare_PuppyToothCensus.
With very few studies that address dental disease in puppies and a lack of current data, it is hoped that the survey will advance understanding and improve oral health and welfare.
Every veterinary respondent will be given access to a pack of educational materials to use in the consulting room, including digital animations and dental images that can be used to enhance client communication around the topic, together with explainer videos and puppy owner fact sheets and leaflets.
In addition, each month for the next three months, all responses will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a £50 John Lewis gift voucher.
VisioCare is also offering a free webinar: "Challenges in Puppy Dentistry and Malocclusion" presented by Ingrid Tundo, Head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department at the Royal (Dick) Vet School, viewable at: https://veterinarywebinars.com/register/puppy-dentistry-malocclusion.
Finally, Nicky Diver-Clarke, Marketing Manager at VisioCare Services is also offering a free marketing CPD session for practices that want to find the best way to amplify awareness of the Puppy Tooth Census within their practice.
Anyone interested in accessing the free support can contact her at nicky@visiocareservices.co.uk.
The company said:"The RSA Referral Vet Network has been established to give customers access to a trusted network of vets that provide a high standard of service and value for money. However we do understand that in some cases where the primary vet recommends a referral practice and circumstances dictate that our nearest Network partner is not suitable, we will allow our customers to make a choice without being penalised.
If the treatment in question is covered under the policy, there will be no additional fee charged whether or not they choose to use a Network practice."
Vets For Choice, a group of referral practices campaigning against RSA's Preferred Referral Network, welcomed the news.
However other brands, such as MoreThan, Tesco and Argos, have proceeded with the penalty.
Clive Elwood, one of the referral practitioners behind Vets For Choice, said: "The big question to ask now is if John Lewis can opt out of the fines why can’t Tesco and Argos?
"John Lewis clearly does not agree with springing extra charges on their customers at the point of need and this seems to be in line with their reputation for better customer service.
"MoreThan, Tesco and Argos customers should rightly ask why they are being treated differently to John Lewis customers."
In a press release, Vets For Choice highlighted RSA's July announcement that it was extending its then 29-practice strong referral network by 24, noting that only weeks later it announced its group operating profit was up 20% to £312 million.
In a robust response, an RSA spokesperson said: "The handful of vets behind Vets for Choice have point blank refused to discuss the real issue with non-emergency referrals - the huge variation in costs being charged to pet owners by some vets and paid for by insurers. Vets for Choice has refused to address this issue with us either directly or indirectly, and their desire remains to have a complete lack of transparency about their costs and charges. We are no longer prepared to duck the issue of cost and the lack of transparency in vets’ charges. This impacts on pet owners and means their cover limits do not go as far as they should.
"Our network partners recognise that for pet insurance to remain affordable, the veterinary and insurance industry needs to work more closely together on behalf of customers. Vets for Choice are happy to discuss any issue but the real one and they continue to knowingly distort the facts. The reality is that we have now had 12,700 referral claims from our Network partners, with only 79 customers choosing to pay the £200 charge to use a non-Network partner – well under one percent of all customers. The reality is there is no huge public outcry. The reality is that we have not seen any rise in complaints. The reality is that is our customers are more than happy to have our Network partners treat their pets, knowing that their cover limits are going further.
"Vets for Choice also mentioned our 20% rise in Group Operating Profit. The key word here is Group – the fact is the majority of our profit was made from our international markets. Group operating profit bears no relation to how our UK pet insurance business performed and it is disingenuous to link the two. It is also disingenuous to imply that all brands should act in the same way as their business models differ according to the customer segment they wish to attract. As ever, the choice remains with the customer."
Ludivine, who graduated in 2008, has come over from America to take up the new post, having just completed a three-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
She said: "I’m really enjoying working as part of a great team and working with the various different disciplines here.
"I’m passionate about my ECC speciality and I have a keen interest in respiratory diseases, trauma and acid base disturbances.
"I also like teaching and being updated about the most recent studies in ECC to ensure I can deliver the most up-to-date care possible for our patients."
Ludivine was born in France and originally studied at her home town university in Lyon, progressing to a rotating internship there after graduation.
In 2012, she worked as an emergency veterinary surgeon in several general practices across France and Switzerland, before moving to the United States in 2014 to see how ECC medicine was practiced overseas.
First, she undertook an ECC internship at the University of California, followed by a three-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
Away from work, Ludivine enjoys horse riding, running, work-outs and practising her skiing in the French Alps. She also has two dogs Dalhi her Golden Retriever and Baya her German Shepherd.
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net/en-GB/specialist-services.