A three and a half year old white German shepherd dog from Dorchester, Dorset, has become the first in the world to have an ankle amputation prosthesis.

Mitzi Davis was trampled by a horse which crushed her foot, tearing off all blood and nerve supply, back in October 2010.

In a pioneering procedure, Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick from Fitzpatrick Referrals fitted a titanium implant to the bone below her joint - the first time a prosthesis has been put in a fully articulating bone of a dog.

The ITAP implant (which stands for Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prosthesis) is a new way of attaching prosthetic limbs. It involves implanting a titanium rod in the bone, onto which skin can attach just like a deer's antler, leaving a "peg" sticking out of the skin which can't get infected because of the resilient seal. The technology was developed for dogs by Professor Gordon Blunn at University College London (UCL) in association with Dr. Fitzpatrick.

The "exo-prosthesis" or foot is then screwed onto the peg and can be changed and modified as necessary. First Mitzi's gait had to be modelled on a computer, much like in a CGI movie. Then a foot was made using computer finite element analysis, designed so that the material of the foot would absorb shock from the ground and, most importantly, snap and break before the implant in the bone or the bone itself.

Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick said: "Today of course has implications not only for animals but for human amputees in the future and I will continue to work closely with Professor Blunn and the Stanmore Implants team to advance this technology to improve the quality of life for animals and eventually, for humans."

The ITAP technology is being tested in humans and has already been used to create a prosthetic for a woman who lost her arm in the July 2005 London bombings.

Professor Blunn said: "Humans and other animals share a large number of degenerative musculo-skeletal conditions. The repair process of the musculoskeletal system is essentially the same whether in a dog, cat or human being.  Reconstruction of the musculoskeletal system share common problems and the interchange of information between both veterinary and human orthopaedics is very important. Therefore treating animals is not only ethical in its own right but is a useful paradigm for human orthopaedics.

"Treating Mitzi with an ITAP device has proved to be beneficial and the information learned from this case has been directly applied to human surgery.  Mitzi's ITAP is made from titanium alloy which is attached to the residual bone. The surface of the implant is coated with hydroxyapatite which enhances bone attachment, securing the implant in place. Part of the implant just underlying the skin has a surface which encourages dermal and epidermal attachment. This ties the skin into the implant and produces a seal preventing infection. This implant has been adopted for human use."

Bayer Animal Health has taken over the marketing and sales of the antibiotic Nisamox (tablets containing Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid), from Fort Dodge Animal Health.

Under the new arrangement, the design of Nisamox tablet packaging will change to reflect the change of ownership, however, Bayer says the quality of the tablets and the competitive pricing remain unchanged.

Nisamox tablets are licensed for use in cats and dogs to treat infections of the skin, urinary tract, and respiratory tract caused by susceptible Staphylococci, and also to treat enteritis and urinary tract infections caused by susceptible E.coli.

Nisamox tablets will continue to be available in three strengths: 50mg, 250mg, and 500mg. For information on Nisamox tablets, contact your Bayer territory manager.

Novartis Animal Health UK Ltd has announced the launch of CLiKZiN Pour On for sheep, a short meat withhold period (MWP) product that can be used throughout Spring and Summer for the prevention of blowfly strike in sheep and lambs.

CLiKZiN is a ready-to-use water-based product that protects sheep for eight weeks, and has a meat withhold period of seven days. The product is a line extension of CLiK which offers a longer period of protection at 16 weeks and has a longer withhold period of 40 days. Novartis says that used in conjunction with CLiK, CLiKZiN offers versatile protection throughout the year.

The launch of CLiKZiN comes at the same time that Vetrazin has been reformulated, resulting in a longer meat withhold period for sheep treated with the product.

Thomas Tiley MRCVS from Novartis Animal Health said: "Farmers need reliable protection from the repugnant threat of blowfly strike. CLiKZiN provides eight weeks blowfly prevention together with the trusted performance and safety record associated with CLiK. It also offers the greater flexibility of a seven day meat withhold.

"This makes CLiKZiN ideally suited for a variety of production schedules and stock including lambs for slaughter and pre-shearing ewes."

Blowfly strike can be devastating to sheep, causing severe impact on the welfare of the animal. Within days of a blowfly laying its eggs, clinically normal sheep can be afflicted with flesh eating maggots. This makes prompt and effective treatment critical.

National Sheep Association Chief Executive Peter Morris said: "Fly strike is a terrible burden to the sheep industry both in terms of the welfare of the sheep and economically.

"Having a product available that gives effective prevention against fly strike whilst at the same time having a withdrawal period which does not impinge on the ability of the sheep farmer to market lambs is very welcome. The sheep farmers' armoury against the every day afflictions which affect sheep has been significantly enhanced."

Hot on the heels of Eurovet, Ceva Animal Health has launched Emeprid, containing the anti-emetic and pro-kinetic metoclopramide.  Emeprid is licensed in cats and dogs for the symptomatic treatment of vomiting and reduced gastro-intestinal motility associated with gastritis, pyloric spasm, chronic nephritis and digestive intolerance to some drugs.

There are two formulations available; a 10ml multi-dose vial containing 5mg/ml metoclopramide for IV, SC or IM injection and a 125ml 'sweet orange and apricot flavoured' oral solution containing 1mg/ml metoclopramide. They are priced at £7.99 for the 10ml injectable bottle and £9.99 for the oral solution.

For further information, please contact your Ceva Animal Health representative or call the veterinary support team on 01494 781510.

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has launched an online version of the Codes of Practice on equine diseases, ready for the 2011 Thoroughbred breeding season.

The website, codes.hblb.org.uk is a replica of the 2011 booklet, but with an easy to use navigator and built-in text search.

The 2011 online Codes of Practice set out minimum recommendations for the prevention and control of disease. Applying to all breeds of horse and pony, and to both natural mating and AI, the Codes cover:

• Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
• Equine viral arteritis (EVA)
• Equine herpesvirus (EHV)
• Equine coital exanthema (ECE)
• Equine infectious anaemia (EIA)
• Guidelines on strangles

The increasing mobility of horses creates a subsequent increased risk of spreading infectious disease. In recent years, most countries with active horse populations have seen incidents of these diseases, including in Britain the notifiable diseases of CEM, EIA and EVA.

Any of these diseases can have serious consequences for horse and pony breeding, compromising welfare, disrupting breeding activity and causing economic loss and distress.

Professor Willie Donachie, Chairman of the HBLB's Veterinary Advisory Committee said: "We recognise the changing ways in which vets, studs and individual breeder's access information. The new online version of the Codes is designed to reflect this and ensure that the Codes of Practice, a vital resource, are available where and when they are needed."

National charity Canine Partners, which provide specially trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities, will benefit from an Eastbourne vet's efforts to run the Brighton Marathon on Sunday 10th April in less than 3.5 hours.

Simon DeVile is undertaking a gruelling training scheme, covering up to 50 miles a week, to ensure peak performance when he takes to the streets to raise money for Canine Partners - a charity close to his heart.

Simon, 44, is one of the partners at St. Anne's Veterinary Group in Eastbourne. He started running to keep fit in 2006 and has since run the London Marathon twice and the Beachy Head Marathon three times. Simon regularly comes into contact with canine partner puppies because a local fundraiser and puppy parent is one of his clients. His own dog is also part of a locally bred litter, five of which went on to train as canine partners.

Simon said: "I wanted to enjoy a new marathon experience this Spring and Brighton proved very popular last year.  My aim is to enjoy the race but hopefully get below 3hrs 30 mins and raise money for Canine Partners.  I am very aware what an important role these dogs play in the lives of a person with disabilities. I am also continually impressed with the way Canine Partners look after the dogs in their care so well."

If you would like to support Simon's efforts, visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Simon-DeVile

Canine Partners still has charity places available for The Brighton Marathon. If you would like to take up the challenge, please contact Jill Green on 01730 716014.

Vets Now Referrals has launched a new specialist veterinary referral service to serve Aberdeen and the North.

Richard Coe MA VetMB CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS (pictured right) and Professor Stuart Carmichael BVMS MVM DSAO MRCVS will attend Ardene House Veterinary Hospital in Aberdeen on a monthly rotational basis to offer specialist care to pets from the area. Richard is a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and Professor Carmichael is an internationally recognised expert in veterinary orthopaedics.

By bringing these two specialist surgeons to Aberdeen, it will mean that vets can refer their clients to have their initial consultations and diagnoses locally by either Richard or Stuart, reducing the need for a lengthy journey to Vets Now Referrals in Glasgow where they are usually based. Vets Now says that where possible, treatment plans will be carried out in Aberdeen, however complex treatments may require the facilities and high tech equipment at its Glasgow Hospital.

Any vet wishing to make an enquiry about referring to Richard or Stuart should call 01224 478 041. Further information about the service can also be found on www.vetsnowreferrals.com/aberdeen.

Tricia Colville, Hospital Manager of Vets Now Referrals, Glasgow, said: "We are delighted to now be able to offer our specialist service for vets in the North of Scotland to utilise for their clients. The Vets Now Referrals Hospital in Glasgow has been so successful since it opened over a year ago, benefiting hundreds of pets and their owners. Bringing the service to Aberdeen and the surrounding region will provide vets with local access to Richard Coe and Professor Stuart Carmichael who are both renowned in their fields and for their clients this provides a convenient option which will greatly reduce time-consuming, distressing and costly journeys for them."

DG Sanco, the EU Directorate General for Health and Consumers, has launched a worldwide photo competition to mark World Vet Year: 'Vets in your daily life'

Entries need to be photos of a vet (or vets) at work or in any situation which shows the diverse nature of the job. Five winners will win 1000 Euros worth of photographic equipment. The overall winner will win an additional 2000 Euros worth of photographic equipment. All winners will also be given travel and accommodation for the awards ceremonies in Paris and Brussels.

Anyone (except for employees of the European Institutions, and their families) can enter the competition, which closes on 31st March 2011. More details can be found at: www.vetsinyourdailylife.org.

Here's the promotional video for the competition:

Ceva Animal Health has announced that it will be bolstering its spring Feliway TV advertising campaign with a campaign across the London Underground to help extend its reach to light TV viewers.

The campaign will once again feature the brand's 'That Purple Cat' character. Highlighting stress-related feline behaviour problems and encouraging cat owners to talk to their vet about Feliway, the advertisement will appear on channels such as ITV2, E4, More4 and Channel 4 (London only) from 14 February until 27 March.

The campaign will also be running on 50 high impact TV screens on the London Underground from 28 February until 13 March and 18 April until 1 May. So, according to the company, the ad will not only reach over 1.2 million people who commute and use the Underground every day, but will also be seen by millions on one of the busiest days of the year on the Underground, the Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

Julia Wood, product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "By extending our advertising campaign across the London Underground we are complimenting our TV campaign and targeting commuters with busy lifestyles - who spend little time watching TV - during a unique point in their day."

To support the campaign, Ceva is offering veterinary practices free merchandising material including client leaflets, double sided A3 posters and A5 window stickers. A range of offers are also available for free mini merchandisers and digital photo frames in return for purchasing product. In addition, Ceva is running a prize draw for £250 worth of Champneys Spa vouchers for that 'purrfect' pampering session.

For more information, please contact your Ceva account manager or call 01494 781510.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has re-launched its Vetmedin website: www.vetmedin.co.uk.

Boehringer says the new site has been designed as a resource for veterinary professionals to help educate clients with dogs suffering from congestive heart failure. It includes an animation about heart disease, together with hints, tips and videos covering exercise, diet, treatment and how to monitor the condition.

To support the relaunch of www.vetmedin.co.uk, Boehringer is offering veterinary professionals a £25 money-off voucher towards the NEW edition BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiorespiratory Medicine. To qualify for the voucher you need to recommend www.vetmedin.co.uk to two separate dog owners being prescribed Vetmedin for congestive heart failure in their pets and then record any feedback at their next appointment. Faxback forms on which to record this feedback are being sent out to all vets around Valentine's Day but extra copies are available from Boehringer direct.

The company says a Vetmedin eCPD professional resource will also be launching on the new site later in the year, featuring an online radiograph viewer, technical dossiers and information on published studies such as QUEST.

For further information, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.

BVA President Harvey Locke used his annual London dinner speech last night to urge the Government to take action on veterinary student fees and the welfare of dogs, and respond to the consultation on dangerous dogs.

Guests at the dinner included The Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Defra, parliamentarians, veterinary surgeons, and representatives from the agri-food industry, pet industry, welfare charities, research and veterinary education.

Mr Locke began by raising concerns over cuts to animal health and welfare and disease surveillance budgets: "In the Comprehensive Spending Review Defra took one of the biggest hits. The profession remains deeply concerned that cuts in research and development and disease surveillance could have catastrophic consequences. Right now the UK enjoys some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world and so it is in all of our interests to ensure the viability of the farming sector amidst massive competition from abroad, where those standards may not always be as high."

On veterinary student fees, Mr Locke outlined the 'double whammy' of a long course and compulsory Extra Mural Studies in the holidays: "Our role as the guardians of animal health and welfare faces an uncertain future following the announcement that the cap on tuition fees will be raised to between 6 and 9 thousand pounds a year. We fear this could have a huge impact on the decisions of A-level students, with fewer and fewer opting for an expensive veterinary science degree.

"Although the plans are not yet finalised we are bracing ourselves for veterinary degrees, which are costly to run, to be priced at the top of the scale, meaning veterinary students of the future will graduate with at least £45,000 of debt in tuition fees alone. Faced with these levels of debt, our concern is that those who do make it to graduation won't opt for the food animal practice and public health roles that attract smaller pay packages. We need to think carefully about how we can secure the future provision of large animal practitioners."

On companion animal issues Mr Locke asked Defra not to defer all decisions on dog welfare to the newly-formed Dog Advisory Council: "While the BVA fully supports the Advisory Council, we would urge the Government not to use it to delay decisions that might improve the health and welfare of dogs now. At a recent meeting of the Associate Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare (APGAW) ...there was overwhelming support for provision for healthy breeding to be brought into Defra's welfare codes.

"We have long maintained that to ignore breeding in the dog welfare code is a serious oversight by Defra. In England we already have regulations that protect our farmed animals from breeding procedures that cause suffering or injury, but not for our pets.  This contradictory approach makes little sense. Updating the welfare codes to include breeding would send a clear message that the Government is committed to improving the health and welfare of man's best friend."

On dangerous dogs Mr Locke renewed the BVA's call for the Government to respond to the Defra consultation, which found 77% in favour of scrapping breed-specific legislation: "Despite this overwhelming call from the public, the Government has kept its powder dry, repeatedly promising to announce its response soon.

"Secretary of State I would like to assure you that the BVA is prepared to work with all of the other organisations with an interest in dog welfare and public safety to find an effective solution. We all want to see people protected on private property; legislation that targets irresponsible owners and not just the way a dog looks; and tools that allow the police and other enforcement agencies to act swiftly to protect the public.

"And, crucially, we all want to work with you to achieve these aims."

Some big names from the art and entertainment worlds, including Cheryl Cole, Tracey Emin, Twiggy and Jamie Oliver are donating their own paintings and drawings of hares to raise money for two new operating theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

One of these A4 canvases would be a great addition to a veterinary practice waiting room. It would be sure to create an interesting talking point, particularly if you specialise in leporids. 

If you're interested in buying one, they go under the auctioneer's hammer both online and at the 'Hare Ball' at the Dorchester Hotel in London on May 26th 2011.

The Hare Styling Celebrity Canvases Appeal is the brainchild of hairdresser Michael Van Clarke whose daughter Angelica was given a lifesaving operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital when she was just two days old. Now 15 years old, Angelica has drawn a hare to help raise funds for the hospital that saved her life. The hare has been reproduced on A4 canvases which have been sent to well-known names in the public eye inviting them to create an original artwork.

Other celebrities who have already donated include Stella McCartney, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Terry Venables and HRH Princess Beatrice The Duchess of York. Many more are expected ahead of the March deadline. All of the canvases will be displayed at a central London gallery exhibition and most will be included in a hard bound book printed to raise further money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Michael Van Clarke said: “The pioneering work carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital provides hope to extremely sick children and their families. My family knows first-hand the incredible difference the hospital can make and I am always looking for ways to show my gratitude. When we first came up with this Hare styling idea, we weren’t sure how it would be received, but we have been overwhelmed by the response from the recipients of the canvases.

"The fundraising potential of these canvases is huge and we are so grateful for the time and effort people have put in to creating them. We are also looking forward to handing over a big cheque to the charity once all the canvases have been sold.”

For further information or to see a selection of the canvases, please visit http://www.harestyling.com/.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has launched a series of information sheets written by veterinary surgeons, nutritionists and leading riders to support its muscle building supplement for horses, Equitop Myoplast Power Pearls.

Available to download as PDFs from its website - http://www.equitop-myoplast.co.uk - this resource for horse owners covers a range of feeding topics including training the young showjumper and feeding the performance horse, older horses and horses during periods of rest and recuperation.

New video and written testimonials from performance riders and veterinary surgeons are now on the website, which also offers owners advice on healthy lean muscle growth and the benefits of Equitop Myoplast.  Olympic dressage rider, Emile Faurie, international showjumpers, Ellen Whitaker and Scott Brash, and show horse producer, Katie Jerram, all endorse the product.

A client leaflet has also been launched featuring the testimonials and providing owners with information on Equitop Myoplast and an online offer of £15 off their first purchase of the supplement by downloading a voucher from the website.

Boehringer says Equitop Myoplast is packed with 18 key amino acids and is scientifically designed to support lean muscle growth, not bulk.  The company says the supplement is great for optimising performance in horses in intensive training and competition, as well as bringing on young, breeding and injured animals, and for older horses which lose condition easily.

For further information, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.