Martin McDowell's Activities

Nobivac and Canigen Lepto 2 discontinued

Martin McDowell — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:13:04 GMT

Saw a letter sent to a. Linic but not all. Just wandering if everyone is aware the L2 will be discontinued by the end of 2024. Do a lot of you still use it? Some clinics I work with seem to have just a small batch for the puppies for which the breeder recommends.

Will clinics all just give L4 as standard or will they go for an alternative? Is there actually an alternative?

Anyone seen mast cell masses coming and going?

Carl Gorman — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 11:46:43 GMT

I am seeing a miniature Schnauzer bitch which his having some odd mast cell masses. About a year ago she had been having some vomiting and regurgitating ongoing issues. I checked a small mass on her flank and diagnosed an MCT which I removed. Pre-treating with antihistamines relieved the symptoms and she hasn't had a recurrence of GI issues.

On a few occasions since then, she has developed subcutaneous swellings - popliteal LN areas, groin, thigh. On a couple of occasions we have performed FNA, found many mast cells and scheduled surgery only for the swellings to disappear before we could operate.

She is well and has no recurrence of the GI signs.

Is there a syndrome where more innocent mast cell accumulations occur? We haven't instigated chemotherapy and she hasn't had advanced imaging as the owner is not keen. The original MCT was sent for history and classified as intermediate.

Any thoughts?

Carl

Does anyone have a replacement battery cover for Suresense Microchip Reader?

Martin McDowell — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 15:54:32 GMT

Does anyone have a Suresense Microchip Reader that is no longer working or just the battery cover?

The plastic battery cover on mine has broken and Sureflap doesn't make them anymore and hence no spare parts available.

Thank you

Martin

Oral cat anti-diabetic Velagliflozin (Senvelgo)

Martin McDowell — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:13:22 GMT

Boehringer this week announced the launch of the oral once daily anti-diabetic for cats. Just wanted to let you know as it seems this has been missed from the news section or even Vet Times for that matter. I suspect we will hear all about it at the 2023 LVS in London.

Looks like the UK not likely to stay behind as the VMD is showing it as licensed with the 1st authorisation date of Aug 1st 2023

www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/.../A013166

https://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/productinformationdatabase/files/SPC_Documents/SPC_2606066.PDF

https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health/companion-animals/pets/cat-feline-diabetes-medication-treatment-fda-approval

https://www.dvm360.com/view/fda-approves-first-oral-liquid-medication-to-treat-diabetes-in-cats

PS I'm not paid by Boehringer in any way.

Safety in the consult room

Martin McDowell — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:34:22 GMT

Hi guys

I would realy welcome your input on this - I have tried to find the answer in the RCVS GPC. What do you do in situations where your safety could be at risk in the consult room either from the animal or, even worse I would say, from the owner.

I aplogize if this is more of a beginners question but I have asked a colleague who was also unsure about this. Can you refuse examination if you don't feel that your and the owners safety is compromised?

How far can you go with your demands? For example, an animal can be much more difficult to examine on the floor than on the exam table, an animal is more difficult to examine if the owner has more than one animal with him/her or has friends or family that distract the owners attention to ther pet.

Can you ever achieve the 100% safe examination environment - the question already implies the answer to be - Probably not. But how do you best prevent from getting hurt.

The reason I ask is I got bitten in the face by a border collie who has never shown any signs of aggression and despite my precautions of trying to control the animals head while I was listening to its chest, still managed to have a go at me. Luckily my saftey precautions prevented the dog from getting a good bite.

Struck off for vaccination of puppies

Glenn Hodgson — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:12:00 GMT

Reading the VDS newsletter this year.....

What am I missing.. What did Mr Docherty do other than not be a policeman? Is it because it was 2 litters/week? Really did not think this was our job to police.

Treatment for Trombicula autumnalis (Harvest mite)

Martin McDowell — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:49:13 GMT

I have a confirmed case of a cat with a Trombicula infestation. However when it comes to the treatment I am a bit lost. It seems that the new products aren't licensed to treat it but please correct me if I am wrong.

All I can still find is that good (not) old (definitely) fipronil still kind of works on it. - And I mean the spray, not the spot on. Preferably directly applied to the affected skin.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

The cat has already had Bravecto that didn't help so much.

Martin

Case advice please: lethargic Cockerpoo with voice change

Clare Smith — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 17:32:44 GMT

Any opinions/advice would be gratefully received regarding the following case:

Benji is a 7yo neutered male cockerpoo. Body condition score 6/9.

At the end of Nov 21 he presented with a history of a gradual onset of lethargy and voice change over a few days. There was no coughing or vomiting and no known history of trauma or chewing/playing with sticks. Nothing abnormal was found on clinical exam apart from a very slightly enlarged left submandibular lymph node. A tentative diagnosis of canine infectious respiratory disease was made and Doxycycline and meloxicam were prescribed.

There was no improvement after treatment. Benji was reported to be more lethargic than normal. with a picky appetite ( though the owner reported that he had never been good eater) and the high pitched bark persisted.

He was examined by a colleague who thought there was increased respiratory effort and recommended bloods and chest radiographs.

Bloods (haematology and biochemistry including electrolytes) were unremarkable.

Nothing abnormal was detected on radiographs (3 views, inspiratory) of the chest.

On extubation, the larynx was observed and there was a suggestion of reduced abduction of the left vocal cord on inspiration. There was no lymphadenopathy detected at this time. No abnormalities were detected on cardiac or lung auscultation.

There were no other signs of peripheral neuropathy and no tumours were seen. There had been no change in weight. Bloods were taken to check thyroid function.

The total T4 was low but TSH was normal so non thyroidal illness was suspected

After discussion with the owner a trial of oral prednisolone was started. and Benji's bark soon returned to normal, he became more lively and his appetite improved.

After a gradual reduction of the prednisolone, Benji's voice become more high pitched again. He was reasonably lively when out on walks but was unusually quiet indoors. There were no abnormalities detected on clinical examination.

T4 and TSH were repeated 2 weeks after cessation of prednisolone treatment (and 3 months after the first assay) and revealed low normal t4 but normal tsh once again.

The owner's main concern is the persistent high pitched bark, lethargy and poor appetite.

Benji is not Insured for veterinary fees and the owner is reluctant for referral.

I am considering an ACTH stim test (4 weeks after cessation of prednisolone) to ensure I'm not missing an atypical Addison's case. On reviewing the haematology from Dec 21 I notice that there is a lack of a stress leucogram.

As the signalment is unusual for laryngeal paralysis, I think it would be useful to re-examine the larynx under light anaesthesia.

Does anyone have any recommendations on how best to proceed with investigations on a limited budget?

Hints and tips on recording xray exposures

Beats — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 19:08:47 GMT

Any hints and tips on recording xray exposures would be appreciated.

Paragon vets remove 5kg monster of a tumour from Dalmatian

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 11:00:00 GMT

David Barker MRCVS, a soft tissue surgeon at Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Wakefield, has removed a whopping 5kg tumour from a four-year-old Dalmatian called Penny.

David, who was assisted by Dan Kenny and Kat Grzywa MsRCVS, said: “Penny presented with suspected ascites, given a large volume of peritoneal effusion. Her abdomen was very swollen and taut

“We performed a contrast-enhanced CT scan with an iodine-based contrast to help highlight the areas of the body we needed to examine and the results were startling.

“The mass was enormous. It almost completely filled the abdomen.”

CT images showed that the mass had originated in the right kidney, which had been displaced into the left side of the abdomen, and also compressed the rest of Penny’s internal organs.

There was no evidence of metastatic disease.

David added: “A right ureteronephrectomy was performed and the large cystic parts of the tumour were dissected free from the omentum, the peritoneum and the retroperitoneal vasculature.

“The surgery was really difficult because the mass was so large and heavy, and it required extra surgeons to hold and manipulate the mass, while its vasculature was dissected and ligated.

“The weight of the mass on the diaphragm also made the anaesthesia challenging but surgery went very well.

"Once the surgery was over, the weight of the mass was confirmed at nearly 5kg.

“Penny made a good recovery from the anaesthesia, her blood renal parameters remained normal throughout her recovery, and she was discharged 48 hours later. Histopathology later confirmed the mass to be renal carcinoma.”

Vetoquinol's new three monthly feline parasiticide gets marketing authorisation

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 10:45:00 GMT

Vetoquinol has been granted EU marketing authorisation for Felpreva (tigolaner/emodepside/praziquantel) for spot-on prevention and treatment of mixed parasitic infestations/infections in cats¹.

Felpreva is the first spot-on parasiticide for cats that covers tapeworms in addition to other endoparasites including gastrointestinal roundworms and lungworms, and ectoparasites (fleas, ticks and mites) for up to three months with a single dose.

It is licensed for treatment of cats with, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infestations/infections, including:

Endoparasites
Gastrointestinal roundworms: infection with Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina and Ancylostoma tubaeforme
Lungworms: infection with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior
Tapeworms: infection with Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis
Ectoparasites: Flea (Ctenocephalides felis), tick (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes holocyclus) and mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestations, as well as mild to moderate cases of notoedric mange (caused by Notoedres cati). It can also form part of a treatment strategy for flea allergic dermatitis.

Matthieu Frechin, Vetoquinol CEO, said: “Marketing authorisation is a pivotal achievement for both Vetoquinol and Felpreva.

"It is a breakthrough treatment with convenience and simplicity of use combined with long-lasting efficacy.

"We believe that Felpreva will be a real game changer for this area of veterinary medicine, demonstrating our commitment to the parasiticide market.”

It is anticipated that Felpreva will be available in Europe early in 2022.

Reference

European Commission Union Register of Veterinary Medicinal Products – Felpreva. 2021. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/v277.htm [Accessed 16 November 2021].

RCVS commits to consult with the profession over proposed changes to standard of proof in disciplinaries

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 16:34:00 GMT

The RCVS has issued a statement in which it commits to consult with the profession over a proposal to change the standard of proof required in disciplinary proceedings from the criminal standard to the lower civil standard.

The proposal seems to have its roots in the First Rate Regulator initiative announced by Nick Stace in November 2012. As part of the initiative, the College commissioned Sally Williams and Associates to conduct research amongst stakeholders and report back with recommendations for being a first rate regulator.

One of those recommendations was to move to the civil standard of proof (page 33/34 here). There is no stated rationale for this recommendation, other than: "The majority of other professional regulators have moved to the civil standard of proof".

Nevertheless, the recommendation then found its way into the RCVS 2017-2019 Strategic Plan.

The proposal was then mentioned in the published summary of the Legislation Working Party's meeting in December 2017:

"In considering reform to the disciplinary process, the Registrar noted that the RCVS is one of the only regulators (and the only healthcare-based regulator) still using the criminal standard of proof (‘beyond all reasonable doubt’) when determining the facts of a case. Most other regulators used the civil standard of proof (‘on the balance of probabilities’) when making their determinations. Consideration of moving to the civil standard has also been carried over from the College’s previous Strategic Plan and the Registrar agreed to review the last six months’ cases to assess what the likely outcome of those cases would have been under the civil standard, and the cost of change. The Working Party also decided to contact other regulators about their disciplinary processes, in order to gather information about their experiences of what does and does not work, both for long-standing issues and new reforms."

The proposal then resurfaced last week in the Veterinary Record, which reported that the College is in 'advanced discussions' about adopting the lower standard (Standard of Proof for disciplinaries could change).

The College has now issued a statement to VetSurgeon.org as follows:

"The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is currently very much in the minority of regulators still using the criminal standard of proof ('beyond all reasonable doubt') in its disciplinary proceedings, rather than the civil standard of proof ('on the balance of probabilities').

"By comparison, all nine of the healthcare regulators in the human field (as overseen by the Professional Standards Authority) have moved to the civil standard, as have other regulators such as the Bar Standards Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

"In our last two strategic plans we have committed to considering whether or not the RCVS should change the standard of proof in line with other regulators and these discussions have been taking place as part of the ongoing deliberations around legislative reform.

"A change to the standard of proof would require an amendment of our 2004 Procedure and Evidence Rules via the Privy Council rather than new primary legislation, but we would consult with the profession before any such changes were made and, at present, this matter has not been put before RCVS Council for a decision."

COMMENT

So, as it stands now, no evidence has yet been presented to the profession which supports the need for - or benefits of - a change to the standard of proof required in disciplinaries. The idea that it should be done simply because 'that's what the other regulators are doing' does not hold water. The veterinary profession is unique. According to the College's own research, it enjoys a remarkably high level of trust amongst the public. But at the same time, it also suffers one of the highest suicide rates.

Clearly Council will need to reflect extremely carefully on whether the members of such a widely trusted profession should face an even greater threat of losing their career, particularly when they seem to be at such a risk of vexatious complaints, fear of a disciplinary is already so high, and the consequences of this change on mental health in the profession could be so profound.

It may even be true to say that lives could depend on this decision.

When will Galliprant be available?

Martin McDowell — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 11:03:33 GMT

Has nayone had any information on when Galliprant will be available in the UK and EU? I have tried contacting Aratana and Elanco and both have kept shtum.

Seems promising as should have less GI repercussions and have mentioned it to a few clients but would look forward to trying it out.

Thanks

Ovarid discontinued

Martin McDowell — Wed, 24 May 2017 15:30:28 GMT

I might be late on this news. Perhaps I just don't prescribe it as much but Ovarid has been discontinued by Virbac. Spoke to Virbac who told me its not coming back. At least not by them but no mention of any alternatives.

There is a human product. Looked at Megace 160 mg but that would be difficult to dose to cats as its 32 times bigger than the 5 mg Ovarid tablet.

Has anyone have any advice on alternatives besides the obvious other skin treatment like Cortavance, Atopica, preds etc?

Any news on the epilepsy diet?

Martin McDowell — Mon, 15 May 2017 16:20:38 GMT

It was mentioned at a CPD event that a specific commercial diet will be available to help combat canine epilepsy. Specifically Purina was mentioned as the manufacturer. However it looks like its only available in the States. I called the Purina helpline who couldn't give me anymore info.

Does anyone else know more?

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-facilities/clinical-investigation-centre/news/nutrition-breakthrough-to-help-manage-dogs-with-epilepsy

http://marketplace.dvm360.com/product/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-nc-neurocare