Apparently, there were over 100 times more recorded outbreaks of equine flu across the UK in 2019 than the year before1, and numerous equestrian events were cancelled as a result.
The company says that despite this, as of 2019, only about half of all UK horses are vaccinated2.
Blaise Scott-Morris MRCVS, Equine Marketing and Technical Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Last year’s outbreaks of equine flu rocked the equine world, raising important animal welfare issues and costing the racing industry millions.
"Furthermore, they highlighted the need for good preventative healthcare and, in particular, vaccination. It’s vital that more owners are encouraged to vaccinate and those that already have, to keep up with their annual vaccinations and health checks so we don’t experience the same suffering again."
MSD's campaign invites horse owners to join the movement to #fightequineflu, and there is a range of materials to help practices promote the campaign and encourage clients to talk about vaccination and preventative healthcare, including an educational infographic poster, a social media pack and new resources on the Chameleon appointment reminder system.
MSD will itself be promoting the campaign on social media (Facebook: @Keeping Britains Horses Healthy, Instagram: @KeepingHorsesHealthy), and through partnerships with consumer channels such as Horse and Country TV.
There is also a new information resource online at www.kbhh.co.uk/achoo, which offers horse owners links to a range of other educational preventative health materials and horse care advice.
To request your Fight Equine Flu practice pack, speak to your MSD account manager.
References
Currently fewer than one in ten veterinary students opt to go into equine practice. BEVA says it hopes that the new scheme will provide a broader base of students with an insight into the world of equine veterinary medicine and open more eyes to what’s great about being an equine vet.
Katie Roberts the President of the Association of Veterinary Students said: "This is a very exciting opportunity for students. Anecdotally, we know that some students can feel very daunted by equine practice, especially if they don’t come from a traditionally horsey background. Being able to become involved with BEVA at no cost means that they can get a true taste of the equine veterinary world in addition to their experiences on EMS, and I’m sure this will pique the interest of our members."
As part of their free membership, students will also have access to:
The initiative has been made possible with sponsorship from Baker McVeigh, CVS Group, IVC, Newmarket Equine Hospital, Rossdales, VetPartners, and XLVets.
For further information about student membership of BEVA visit: https://www.beva.org.uk/Join-BEVA/vet-student
The guidelines, which have produced by a panel of clinicians and analgesia researchers, summarise the current evidence and offer expert opinion and best practice recommendations for the use of analgesics for common scenarios.
Recommendations include:
Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the EVJ said: "The BEVA primary care clinical guidelines provide up-to-date clarity on the fundamental aspects of equine pain management for the clinician and are essential reading for all those in first opinion ambulatory roles."
The guidelines are the first in a series being produced for primary care vets by BEVA. They can be downloaded here: https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.13198
The scheme uses a traffic light colour system of vaccination reminder stickers which veterinary surgeons can place on the front of passports at each vaccination appointment. If the 6-month pilot is a success, the initiative will be rolled out across the UK in the summer.
BEVA says that despite the best efforts of numerous equine welfare charities to address the obesity issue, a significant proportion of owners are either not recognising obesity in their horses, or not being motivated to take action.
For this reason, the Association decided to try and confront the problem in a different way, using knowledge gained from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) – a government think tank specialising in behavioural economics and psychology.
Lucy Grieve, President Elect of BEVA and part of the Association’s obesity campaign working group, said: "Determined to look at new ways to positively engage with horse owners, we harnessed the BIT’s experience of what methods work most effectively and came up with a simple, practical scheme revolving around vaccination visits, which could be affected by vets themselves."
The idea is to use the routine annual or six-monthly vaccination visit as a time to assess a horse’s body condition. After the vaccination is given and the body condition assessed, a colour-coded vaccination reminder is stuck to the front of the passport, both to remind the owner when the next vaccination is due and to start a conversation about body condition.
A green sticker indicates a ‘healthy’ body condition. Amber means the horse is carrying too much fat tissue and needs moderate changes to diet, exercise, management, rugging and clipping regimes. Red implies that the horse is carrying excessive amounts of fat tissue which are placing the horse in morbid danger.
Amber or red stickers provide the opportunity to talk about the potential impact on the horse’s health and what needs to be done.
If there isn't enough time to talk about it during the appointment, the sticker includes a colour-specific QR code which the owner can use to access additional information via their smartphone in their own time.
One of three short, colour-specific videos will explain the reason their horse has been designated the colour of sticker on their passport, leading to a link to more specific advice on what the owner needs to do next. Having swotted up on the background information beforehand, the owner can then discuss the various management options with their vet at a convenient time.
Lucy said: "The first challenge is helping owners recognise when their horse is overweight. Once this has been established then we can make a plan to correct the problem as a team.
"The owner needs to be on board and committed in order to carry out the tough task of reducing the weight of their horse. We hope that owners will be ‘nudged’ by the sticker intervention to consider the information they have been offered and start to tackle the problem before it causes life-threatening disease."
Nine equine veterinary practices were invited to participate in the pilot scheme, including Loch Leven Equine Practice in Kinross. Managing director Liz Somerville said: "We have been focusing on equine obesity for the last couple of years including running a #FitnotFat campaign last year to try to highlight the growing obesity problem in our horses. Unfortunately, it sometimes feels that we are banging our heads against a brick wall so when BEVA came up with a new approach to try and get the message through to our owners it was too good an opportunity to miss."
BEVA says that at the end of the pilot, it will assess how well the project has worked for the vets involved, what proportion of owners used the QR codes, visited the advice pages and sought guidance from their vets.
For more information, visit: https://www.beva.org.uk/Resources-For-Vets-Practices/Clinical-Practice-Guidance/Obesity-in-horses
Rominervin contains 10 mg/ml romifidine hydrochloride, equivalent to 8.76 mg romifidine, presented in a 20 ml vial.
It can be used as a sedative to facilitate handling, examination, minor surgical interventions and minor procedures or as a premedication prior to administration of injectable or inhalation anaesthetics.
Rominervin can also be used in combination with synthetic opiates such as butorphanol to provide deeper sedation or analgesia.
Dechra Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: "Rominervin is highly effective as it has a longer duration of action than other alpha-2 agonists1. It starts to work within one to two minutes with maximum sedation achieved between five and 10 minutes.
"It is yet another valuable addition in our equine anaesthesia and analgesia range that has been designed to provide vets with the therapies they need to operate successfully in day-to-day practice."
Rominervin can be used in conjunction with Dechra’s equine anaesthesia and analgesia app, designed to help veterinary professionals choose optimal anaesthetic protocols and calculate anaesthetic drug doses and administration rates.
For more information visit: www.dechra.co.uk/products/equine
The research is being conducted by Sarah Mansell under the supervision of Dr. Malgorzata Behnke. They say this parasite hasn't been studied in depth in the UK since the 1970's, because the symptoms can be controlled by routine worming measures. However, as the industry moves away from routine worming as a measure of reducing the risk of parasites developing resistances to treatments, a condition such as this which is now considered to be quite rare in the UK can start to re-emerge.
Sarah is asking vets to fill out a short questionnaire to assess awareness of Onchocerca Cervicalis in veterinary practices. The survey includes specific questions about the parasite as well as questions about cases of unresponsive skin conditions because a similarity in symptoms can lead to misdiagnoses that could, in fact, turn out to be Onchocerca Cervicalis.
Sarah said: "Hopefully the findings will raise awareness of this problem and help shape future research in this area."
She added: "I want to get vets thinking about this issue much more than perhaps they are at the moment."
To take part in the survey, visit: https://harper-adams.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/assessing-the-awareness-of-onchocerca-cervicalis-amongst-e-2
Neil, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, is an equine veterinary surgeon who has worked in large and small animal practice in the UK and Australia. Neil is clearly multi-talented: on top of his many and various career achievements, he was in the Cambridge Footlights and has performed in four Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows. He also plays the piano.
Danny is another multi-talented veterinary surgeon, currently working as an equine locum and well-known in the profession as an RCVS Council Member, the founder of Veterinary Voices and a campaigner against irrational forms of veterinary medicine such as homeopathy.
Ian Fleming is a Senior Vet at the PDSA, standing as an independent candidate for the Halesowen and Rowley Regis constituency.
If I was a betting man, my money would have to be on Neil: Penrith and the Border has been held by the Conservatives since 1950, most recently by Rory Stewart. Danny, on the other hand, needs to overturn a 7200 Conservative majority in his constituency, something which the latest polls suggest is a bit of an outside bet. Still, stranger things have happened.
Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters: Our Commitment to the Future represents the first time that such a broad and influential group has united in support of a single issue in the veterinary profession.
The publication contains a number of case studies which illustrate the impact that evidence can have – and has had – on animal health and welfare. It also provides a rationale for veterinary professionals to contribute to the evidence base and put evidence into practice, to the benefit of animals, owners and veterinary teams themselves.
The signatories to the commitment are:
Animal and Plant Health Agency
British Cattle Veterinary Association
British Equine Veterinary Association
British Small Animal Veterinary Association
British Veterinary Association
British Veterinary Nursing Association
RCVS Knowledge
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Royal Veterinary College
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
University of Liverpool
University of Nottingham
University of Surrey
Veterinary Policy Research Foundation
No sign of the BAHVS, I see.
Jacqui Molyneux, Chair of the Board of Trustees of RCVS Knowledge, said: "Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters is a milestone publication for the professions, representing the first time the majority of the key institutions have aligned under the same EBVM banner.
"A celebration of decades of incredible discoveries, achievements and improvements in animal health, it also serves to remind us that even the earliest forms of veterinary medicine were underpinned by evidence."
UK Chief Vet Christine Middlemiss said: "What’s the evidence? An evidence-based approach is vital in all areas of our profession, whatever is keeping you awake at night. For me, it is the threat of African swine fever and avian flu. The evidence I rely on comes from our specialist surveillance monitoring and testing, veterinary epidemiologists and disease modellers. It enables me to make timely, proportionate risk-based decisions that stand up to scrutiny.
"If you are managing veterinary care in practice, the evidence you rely on to underpin your standards of clinical care comes from multiple sources too. Evidence-based veterinary medicine allows us to refine and tailor strategies to be effective and efficient, making full use of existing and new technologies.
"The profession has taken great strides towards embracing evidence-based veterinary medicine and building on this will strengthen the links between clinical decision-making, policy development and future research."
Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, added: "We are impressed by the contributions from our co-signatories, which clearly demonstrate the phenomenal impact on patient outcomes that conducting research and using evidence can have. We are also delighted that Sense about Science, a flagbearer for evidence, transparency and rational thinking, has joined with us to highlight the many benefits EBVM can bring.
"The publication also makes a strong case for much-needed funding for research to grow the evidence base, which would put powerful, robust data into the hands of veterinary professionals as they make critical decisions that can affect patient outcomes.
"It is our hope that the calibre, diversity and sheer number of the organisations putting their name to this commitment will galvanise all vets and their teams to expand their use of evidence in practice."
Rebecca Asher, Deputy Director at Sense about Science, said: "This is a showcase of game changers in veterinary care and we hope it will inspire and motivate everyone in the profession.
"We were delighted that RCVS Knowledge approached us to collaborate with them and other leading institutions in the veterinary research community to affirm their commitment to an evidence-based approach to veterinary medicine.
"Everyone expects treatment for humans to be underpinned by evidence. We now expect the same of the whole veterinary community when it comes to the treatment of animals."
The full commitment and portfolio of case studies can be read in Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters, available for free online: bit.ly/EBVMMatters.
Sarah is a Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine & Science, and leads the Nottingham Equine Colic Project, which works with organisations such as the British Horse Society to raise awareness of the condition.
Sarah's talk, 'Generating an evidence-based educational campaign on colic', will discuss new evidence from the project, and how it led to the REACT colic campaign. She will also be sharing experiences of how the campaign has worked and asking whether we can change people's attitudes and behaviours.
The evening starts at 6.15pm with food and refreshments with Sarah's talk starting at 7pm, after which there will be an update on the College’s latest projects and initiatives. That'll be followed by a question and answer session with senior officers and staff from the RCVS - including RCVS President Dr Niall Connell, and Chair of RCVS Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council Racheal Marshall.
Dr Connell said: "Thank you to Professor Freeman for agreeing to speak about the colic project which, through its Colic Awareness Week, is helping to raise knowledge of the early signs of colic amongst horse owners, allowing them to get their horses treated in good time and saving their lives.
"I also look forward to talking to members of the profession about some of the issues currently on their minds – the evening is very much led by what those who attend want to discuss – from mental health, to our under care review, to the Practice Standards Scheme. Attending the event can also count to up to three hours towards your continuing professional development (CPD) requirement."
The event is open to all members of the practice team including veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, practice managers and others. The event is free and places can be booked via the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/nottingham.
In the afternoon before the event, between 12 noon and 5pm, the College will also be holding a series of free 45-minute Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) surgeries with PSS Lead Assessor Pam Mosedale.
The surgeries are open to both RCVS-accredited practices and those considering joining the Scheme and allows delegates to discuss the assessment process, how to apply for awards, how to meet particular requirements and any other questions they may have about the PSS.
Places at the surgeries are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. They can be booked at: www.rcvs.org.uk/PSSsurgeries
The toolkit has been developed in conjunction with the RSPCA and includes a welfare workflow, quick download guides and welfare case forms. It can be downloaded here .
Merry Smith, a BEVA council member who led the project on behalf of BEVA, said: "Welfare assessments can sometimes be intimidating and it’s natural to feel vulnerable, particularly when circumstances are difficult. Our new Welfare Case Toolkit gives you access to the information and resources, even when you are on the road, to support you in dealing with a welfare case."
The interactive Welfare Workflow provides a step-by-step guide to what happens when a vet is called upon to provide an opinion on the health and welfare of the animals involved. It has been produced in a mobile-friendly format or can be printed out and kept in the car. Supporting the Workflow is a series of quick downloads, covering all aspects of the process:
Approach to the welfare case
Letter of instruction
Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act (2006) certificate
Witness details sheet
Witness statement form
RSPCA vet exam form
Guidance notes on how to complete a vet exam welfare case form
Caroline Allen, Chief Veterinary Officer at the RSPCA said: "Vets are absolutely critical to the work of the RSPCA and while we know many vets get a lot of satisfaction from this work saving animals from cruelty and suffering, we know that this work can sometimes be daunting and the law confusing. We are delighted to have worked with BEVA on providing this guidance and hope it is the first step in us providing more support to vets doing this vital work- we literally couldn't do it without you"
The Welfare Case Toolkit is available free to BEVA members https://www.beva.org.uk/Resources-For-Vets-Practices/Clinical-Practice-Guidance/Welfare-guidance/Welfare-toolkit
This year the event delivered more than 90 hours of CPD lectures, workshops and practicals across six separate streams, over three days. Over 100 veterinary industry leaders showcased their wares in the commercial exhibition hall and there were a number of social events for delegates.
Delegates awarded the scientific programme an average score of 4.7 out of 5 stars, and 94% of delegates said they will put what they learnt into practice and use it in their day-to-day role. 94% also said Congress was good value for money.
Swissvet, a company which makes power dentistry equipment, won the Veterinary Practice Best New Exhibitor Award. CEO Dr Ruedi Steiger said: We have distributors throughout Europe, but it is the first time Swissvet has exhibited at BEVA. It has been a fantastic experience and I am thrilled to have won this award. I definitely plan to come back next year."
Next year’s BEVA Congress will be held in Birmingham from 9-12 September 2020. For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.
Photo: David Boughey
The survey is open to all veterinary surgeon members and participants will be entered into a free prize draw to win £500 of BEVA CPD vouchers.
As we all know, antibiotic resistance is increasing throughout human and veterinary medicine, and there are few new antibiotics being produced. As BEVA says, it’s therefore imperative for vets to protect the usage of antimicrobials to maintain their effectiveness for the future.
To that end, the purpose of the survey is to help fill in gaps in knowledge about how antimicrobials are being used and also the current landscape of resistant infections encountered in equine practice.
The survey has been designed by Amie Wilson and Dr Gina Pinchbeck at the University of Liverpool and Tim Mair the incoming President of BEVA.
Tim said: "This survey will assess any changes in prescribing of antimicrobials in equine practice since the last survey in 2009. In addition, we will collect data on the current frequency and types of antimicrobial resistant infections seen by clinicians in all areas of equine practice and what infection control and audit practices are currently using to combat this."
The survey results should lead to a greater understanding of the role of antimicrobial treatment in the overall epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in horses and will help protect antibiotics for the future of equine and human health.
To take part in the survey, visit: https://liverpool.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/beva-questionnaire-2019-final
The results will be announced to coincide with European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November 2019.
If you have any questions about the survey you can contact the researchers direct: Amie Wilson, University of Liverpool A.wilson3@liv.ac.uk; Dr Gina Pinchbeck, University of Liverpool ginap@liv.ac.uk; Tim Mair, British Equine Veterinary Association tim.mair@btinternet.com
Tim took over the role from Renate Weller at the end of BEVA Congress last week. Lucy Grieve, of Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons became President Elect.
After leaving Bristol in 1989, Tim worked in mixed practice before joining Bell Equine in 1993, becoming a partner in 1995. He led the hospital services at Bell Equine, as well as supervising the practice’s residency, intern and extern programmes, until it was bought by CVS in 2016. He continues to work as a clinician at Bell Equine whilst also working as the Equine Veterinary Director of CVS.
Tim is an RCVS Specialist in both equine internal medicine and equine soft tissue surgery and is a founding diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine; he became an Associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2011. He is an honorary Professor of the Royal Veterinary College and became a Fellow of the RCVS in 2016.
Editor of Equine Veterinary Education, the official journal of the British Equine Veterinary Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners for the past 23 years, Tim has particular interests in clinical research, clinical standards and evidence based medicine, and has published widely in the professional veterinary literature, as well as authoring and editing several textbooks. He has been a member of the RCVS Practice Standards Group since 2012.
Tim has been chair of BEVA’s Education Committee since 2014, and says that during his presidential year he is keen to continue to develop BEVA’s educational activities for members at all stages of their careers.
In particular, he says he is particularly looking forward to supporting recent graduates in equine practice with relevant CPD and mentoring. He also hopes to advance the use of evidence-based veterinary medicine, and promote quality improvement in equine practice.
Tim said: "Equine practice is continuing to change and evolve with some rapidity. An important part of my focus will be on our Equine Veterinary Horizons Project, looking at anticipated advances over the next 10-15 years, what they will mean to individual practitioners and to practices and how we can adapt to and accommodate them to best advantage."
For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.
Nerfasin vet is available in two concentrations - a 100 mg/ml (10%) solution for cattle and horses and 20 mg/ml (2%) solution for cattle, horses, cats and dogs.
Nerfasin vet is on sale in 25 ml vials.
For more information visit: www.dechra.co.uk.
The review, announced earlier this year, was recommended to RCVS Council by its Standards Committee following its exploration of the implications of new technologies for both animal health and welfare and veterinary regulation.
The main areas under consideration include the provision of 24-hour emergency cover and the interpretation and application of an animal being under the care of a veterinary surgeon.
The initial stages of this review had been drafted for Standards Committee to consider at its meeting on 9 September, where the outline timetable was also discussed.
Standards Committee Chair Melissa Donald, said: "This is set to become one of our most fundamental reviews of RCVS guidance in recent years.
"Considering the complexity of the issues in question, and their importance to animal owners and the professions alike, it is vital that we allow ourselves enough time to ensure this review is as thorough and comprehensive as possible.
"We have a clear responsibility to seek, understand and, where we can, accommodate the opinions and experiences of as many different people from within and around the professions and the public as possible. I would urge my fellow vets and vet nurses to please find some time to consider these issues very carefully over the coming weeks and months, and to send us their views."
The review will comprise several stages and is expected to take around 12 months to complete. The outline timetable, which may be subject to change, is as follows:
October 2019 – January 2020: six-week Call for Evidence, followed by independent qualitative analysis of all evidence received
February – March: Select Committee-style meetings and independent qualitative analysis of additional evidence gathered [NB this stage is subject to Standards Committee requirements, depending on the evidence gathered.]
April – June: Consider all evidence and draft any new policy
July – August: six-week public consultation on draft policy
September – October: independent review of consultation responses, and production of any proposals for change
November 2020: Finalise any proposals for change and publish any new guidance
To support and promote the various stages of the review the College is also planning a programme of stakeholder engagement, and will also provide regular updates on progress to both Council and the wider profession.
Members of the professions and the public will be able to follow the progress of the review via the RCVS website at: www.rcvs.org.uk/undercare
As part of the programme, BEVA is giving the coaches workshops, discussion forums and online toolkits to develop their mentoring skills. Having been trained by a specialist mentoring professional, the coaches are then paired with recent graduates to give them guidance and support during the foundation years of their careers.
The project, called 'Leg Up', has been driven by BEVA President Renate Weller, and is being trialled over the next 12 months before being rolled out more widely.
Renate said: "All professionals, but especially new graduates need support in navigating their journey through their chosen career.
"With the veterinary industry’s rapidly changing landscape and rising concern around wellbeing, consistent support and guidance have never been more relevant."
Coaching is open to BEVA concessionary members who have graduated within the past three years. They will be able to self-select a preferred coach on a first come, first served basis from the Leg Up section of the BEVA website.
Renated added: "To date access to targeted careers support has most often depended on where you work and who you know. We hope the scheme will encourage and support those entering the profession, giving them the opportunity to discuss their training, development, career progression and self-care with trained professionals who were once in their shoes."
To find out more and to sign up for the Leg Up programme visit https://www.beva.org.uk/Careers/Leg-Up
Dexafast is an injectable corticosteroid with potent, medium-acting, anti-inflammatory activity, indicated for the treatment of a range of inflammatory and allergic conditions in both small and large animal clinical practice.
Dr John Henderson, Large Animal Product Manager at Forte Healthcare Ltd said: "Dexafast 2mg/ml is an excellent addition to our range. This formulation of dexamethasone is used across many species on a daily basis, and Dexafast 2mg/ml gives vets a high-quality presentation of a staple medicine."
Dexafast is available in a 50ml bottle.
For further information, contact your local Forte Territory Manager, visit: https://www.fortehealthcare.ie/product/dexafast-uk-only, or email: enquiries@fortehealthcare.com.
The small animal and business meeting takes place on the 2nd and 3rd October. The farm and business national meeting is on the 18th and 19th September, and the equine and business meeting is on the 9th and 10th October.
The small animal meeting will also cover other topics such as the art of conversations to dentistry, while the farm meeting will focus on team working, competitive advantage, genomics and mental resilience.
All three events include a team-based activity and a social evening which offers the chance to network and exchange experiences and ideas.
Susan Goodfellow, the Chief Marketing Officer at XLVets said: "It's fine to know what we do but to actually experience it as part of our community is quite different. We know that talking to members and being part of a group of individuals that come together to determine their own future is the best way for veterinary professionals to see what's possible and how we strive for excellence together."
XLVets is also encouraging anyone who is thinking about starting their own practice to attend the events; the company has a number of programmes designed to support prospective owners with things like finding funding, identifying the right financial set up, and acquiring the skills needed to lead a team effectively.
Susan says many vets have a strong entrepreneurial mindset but lack support or know-how to allow them to take the first step to ownership: "Locum roles and mobile set ups are often stepping stones to practice ownership but the barriers can seem significant, not to mention any personal reservations people might have about all it entails. Support from like-minded colleagues who can openly share their experiences can help to make it seem possible, desirable and achievable."
Veterinary professionals wishing to attend one of the meetings should contact Colm McGinn, Chief of Implementation, in confidence, at colm.mcginn@xlvets.co.uk or call 01228 711788.
Fynadyne had been removed from sale last year after the Veterinary Medicines Directorate suspended the sale of any medicinal products containing the excipient diethanolamine (DEA), following advice to the European Medicines Agency that it could pose a risk to human health.
Finadyne 50mg/ml Solution for Injection is indicated for the alleviation of acute inflammation and pain in both cattle and pigs. It is also indicated for the alleviation of inflammation and pain associated with musculo-skeletal disorders and colic in horses.
The reformulated product has a shelf life of three years and is now available from wholesalers in 50ml and 100ml vials.
For further information, contact your MSD Animal Health account manager.
Tranquinervin, which contains 10 mg/ml acepromazine, is indicated for anaesthetic premedication, tranquilisation and sedation.
Emma Jennings, Brand Manager at Dechra said: "Tranquinervin provides tranquillisation or a mild sedation for several hours, making it a valuable tool for many day-to-day veterinary scenarios.
"At low doses, acepromazine reduces anxiety which is beneficial for use in horses prior to shoeing or transportation. At higher dose rates, it is an effective sedative for use in situations like dentistry or handling. The relaxant effects also aid examination of the penis in horses and the treatment of tetanus and choke.
"There is also reduced anaesthetic risk reported following sole premedication with acepromazine in healthy horses1."
Tranquinervin is available in a 20 ml vial with a 56 day broached shelf life. It can be used in conjunction with Dechra’s equine anaesthesia and analgesia app which is designed to help you choose optimal anaesthetic protocols and calculate anaesthetic drug doses and administration rates quickly and easily.
For more information, go to: www.dechra.co.uk/products/equine
Reference
A test by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) of samples from a newly prepared batch of Bova’s 100mg/ml injectable omeprazole formulation did not detect testosterone, and Racing New South Wales has now released a statement that the product can continue to be used in racehorses following the guidance of Australian Commonwealth and State legislation.
Nick Bova, managing director of Bova UK, said: "Traces of testosterone in the previous batch were less than one millionth of the internationally accepted standard for impurities.
"Independent experts confirmed that there could be no adverse effects on equine health or equestrian sport, however, we have taken steps to identify and completely eliminate the excipient ingredient that contained traces of testosterone."
Nick added: "Bova can confirm that new batches of this product will not contain the previous trace levels of testosterone and therefore Bova are confident there will be no antidoping issues, no matter what the equestrian pursuit is."
The Disciplinary Committee heard three charges against Dr Jones.
The first and second charges were that, in March 2018, Dr Jones made signed entries in the passports and made corresponding entries in clinical records of four horses indicating that he had administered an influenza vaccination booster to each horse on 15 March 2018 and in relation to another horse a tetanus booster, when in fact he had administered the vaccination boosters on 21 March 2018, and that his conduct was misleading, dishonest and undermined the integrity of a vaccination process designed to promote animal welfare.
The third charge was that, on or around 21 March 2018, Dr Jones failed to make any entries in the clinical records for a horse in relation to an examination on 21 March 2018.
At the outset of the hearing Dr Jones admitted the facts in the first and second charges, and accepted that his actions were misleading, dishonest and that they undermined the integrity of a vaccination process. However, he disputed certain aspects of the written statements of the College’s witnesses. In particular he wanted his conduct to be taken in the context of the pressures that he was working under on that day, primarily that he was in a stressed state having had to euthanase a valuable stallion at the conclusion of his previous client appointment.
Dr Jones did not admit the third charge, explaining that he did not remember examining the horse on 21 March 2018 as alleged.
Based on Dr Jones' own admissions, the Committee found the first and second charges proven.
Regarding the third charge, the Committee heard evidence from the horse’s owner who said they were present during the examination taking place and the Committee was satisfied that the respondent did examine the horse on 21 March 2018 and that he had a duty to make a brief clinical note on the examination. As Dr Jones admitted that he made no such note, the Committee found the charge to have been proven to the requisite standard.
Having found the charges proven, the Committee then went on to consider whether or not Dr Jones’ proven conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct. The Committee, having considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, found that Dr Jones’ conduct as found proved in relation to both charges one and two, did constitute serious professional misconduct.
However, with regards to charge three, the Committee accepted that the respondent simply forgot that he had examined the horse and, therefore, the Committee was not satisfied that the failure to compile a record entry covering the horse’s examination constituted serious professional misconduct.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Dr Jones in relation to the facts found proven in charges one and two. In doing so it took into account the 78 written testimonials and 4 character witnesses called on behalf of Dr Jones.
Ian Green, who chaired the Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The Committee’s decision on sanction has been based on an acceptance that the respondent’s conduct on this occasion was out-of-character, as the evidence of his character witnesses and the contents of the letters submitted in his support by his clients and other veterinary colleagues assert. The Committee also accepts that the respondent self-reported himself to his employer and to the College and has made a full and frank admission of his wrongdoing.
"Consideration was given to whether the sanction of a reprimand and/or warning as to future conduct would adequately reflect the gravity of the misconduct, however, after careful reflection it was concluded that such a sanction could not be justified. The reason is that acts of falsification involve acts of dishonesty by a professional person acting in a professional capacity, and the gravity of the matter arises not simply from the dishonesty but also from the possible consequences of the false certification. It should be clearly understood by members of the veterinary profession that, in appropriate false certification cases, the sanction of removal from the Register is one which may well be imposed."
The Committee therefore decided that suspending Dr Jones from the Register for two months would be the most appropriate sanction.
The divestment is expected to be concluded in mid-2020, and Bayer intends to exit its stake in Elanco over time.
Bayer says that combining Elanco and Bayer Animal Health will create the number two animal heath company, with top three positions across a broad range of species and geographies. It also enhances Elanco’s portfolio of leading global brands and bolsters its innovation capabilities and R&D pipeline.
Jeffrey N. Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Elanco, said: "Combining Elanco’s strong relationship with veterinarians and Bayer’s leadership in retail and e-commerce will ultimately benefit all our customers. We look forward to joining our complementary portfolios and capabilities to build a fully focused animal health company, providing a sustained flow of innovation for farmers, veterinarians and pet owners."
After the contamination was first identified, sales of the product in Australia were stopped immediately and Bova initiated an investigation.
The British Horseracing Authority then conducted its own analysis of samples of the UK product, discovering that it too was contaminated with testosterone.
However, Bova says the levels of testosterone in the end product were confirmed to be 400-700 pg/ml, which is less than one millionth of the internationally accepted standard for impurities (1 picogram being equal to one billionth of a milligram).
Nick Bova, managing Director of Bova UK, said: "We have consulted veterinary pharmacologists and sports medicine specialists who have given their opinion that these levels are within accepted standards and could neither have a clinical effect nor result in a positive blood or urine test for testosterone in competition horses.
"The levels of testosterone within the product are inconsequential compared to endogenous production in mares and geldings as well as stallions and higher levels are found frequently in feed and water sources; testosterone being a common compound produced by humans and animals from multiple organs."
The source of the contamination was traced to the excipient used in the product, which was used by Bova Aus and Bova UK. Both companies have now switched their supplier of this excipient. Bova says all testing done on the new supplier has shown no traces of testosterone, even with the new extra sensitive method of analysis which is capable of reaching picogram levels.
Nick added: "Whilst we hope to reassure you that the use of long acting injectable omeprazole will not have had adverse implications for your patients or clients we can also reassure you that we are not complacent about the presence of impurities in any of our products, particularly an impurity that is of such significance to equestrian sport.
"Although the level of impurities is well within the accepted international standard, we have changed the supplier of the excipient in question. We have established an analytical method capable of testing down to picogram levels, which has been used to test the end product to ensure there are no further concerns with future batches.
"We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this issue may have caused. Many vets and horse owners now rely on long acting injectable omeprazole for horses that do not respond to oral treatment and we can reassure anyone who has used the product in recent months, or has product that they are due to use, that they can do so safely.
"However, we would draw attention to the recent statement from the BHA that they do not wish the product to be used in horses in training currently."
Visit www.bova.co.uk for further information.
Ophtocycline is licensed for the treatment of keratitis, conjunctivitis and blepharitis caused by Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Proteus spp., and/or Pseudomonas spp.
Dechra says chlortetracycline hydrochloride works against both aerobic and anaerobic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
The recommended dosage is four times a day for five days. The 10 mg/g ophthalmic ointment has a 14-day broached shelf life. There is a one-day withdrawal period for meat and offal.
Dechra Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: "Ophtocycline provides veterinary professionals with a targeted treatment to effectively tackle the growing and reproducing bacteria that causes these eye conditions.
"Chlortetracycline is a bacteriostatic antibiotic which interferes with bacterial protein synthesis in the rapidly growing and reproducing bacterial cell and has both time-dependent and concentration dependent effects.
"We are very pleased to be able to roll out this product to the UK market as part of our ophthalmic range alongside popular products such as Isathal."
For more information visit: www.dechra.co.uk