A survey of more than 4,000 members of the public by the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) has revealed that 90% of people think that separation from a pet is traumatic for older people entering residential care or sheltered accommodation.

The TNS research carried out in March 2010 also found 83% agree pets make their owners happier and 54% think pet owners should be able to make the choice about entering care facilities after seeing the accommodation policy. 

According to the PFMA, the benefits of pet ownership for elderly people include a lower risk of heart attack and stroke, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol, improved recovery from heart attacks and strokes, better social interactions in people with dementia, and fewer GP visits. In addition, those who keep pets when entering care homes enjoy a smoother transition into residential care,

The PFMA says this survey has helped shape its goal to ensure all leading UK housing providers implement responsible pet policies that enable older people to make an informed choice about their future.  This commitment is part of the organisation's 2020 vision to 'make a better world with pets', launched to mark its 40^th anniversary.

The PFMA also says it is working closely with SCAS (Society for Companion Animal Studies) and MPs - including Ian Cawsey, Nick Palmer and Nigel Waterson - all striving for fairer treatment of the older pet-owning public.

Ian Cawsey, MP for Brigg and Goole, said: 'Today we have more than 11 million elderly adults living in Britain, of whom approximately 25% are pet-owners. This figure is estimated to rise to 14 million by 2026 and the majority of these people will eventually require some form of residential care. Unfortunately growing older often involves inevitable heartache and loss but being separated from a pet when entering care facilities should not be part of it. This is why I welcome the PFMA's 2020 goal to ensure care facilities implement responsible pet policies over the next decade."

PFMA, Chief Executive, Michael Bellingham, explains: "Having analysed the research and consulted SCAS we are delighted to announce our 2020 ambition to ensure fairer treatment of the older pet-owning public.  The importance of pets to people in care facilities cannot be under-estimated. Over the next ten years we want to make a big difference to the lives of older pet owners."

This latest call to action follows the successful passing of shadow minister for older people, Nigel Waterson's bill - Care Homes and Sheltered Accommodation (Domestic Pets) Bill - which aims for a more "enlightened and responsible" policy for allowing pet owners in residences to keep their beloved animals.

Vetoquinol has introduced a new smaller pack size for Reprocine, to help prevent wastage.  The new 6 x 10ml pack is now available from wholesalers.

Reprocine is licensed in the cow for uterine atony during the puerperal (post-parturient) period, placental retention as a consequence of uterine atony and initiation of milk ejection in a stress-induced agalactia or in conditions requiring udder emptying.  In the sow, Reprocine is licensed for uterine atony during the puerperal period also, supportive therapy of mastitis-metritis-agalactia (MMA) syndrome, initiation of milk ejection and for shortening of parturition period.  Reprocine is an intraveneous or intramuscular injection and has the added advantage of no milk or meat withdrawal.

Susan Mitchell, Vetoquinol's Large Animal Product Manager said: "The new pack size reduces wastage which provides an instant cost-effective advantage.

"Reprocine is rapidly distributed and slowly eliminated.  Efficient parturition and milk ejection is essential for newborn welfare and ultimately provides an economic benefit.  Reprocine can be utilised in many reproductive associated conditions."

Reprocine is also available in 50ml bottles.

Davies Veterinary Specialists (DVS), the multi-specialist small animal referral centre based on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border, has announced a restructuring of the ownership and management of the practice.

Following 12 years of successful operation, DVS welcomes new shareholders from the Directorial team, in order to secure the future success of the practice.

Clive Elwood succeeds Jerry Davies as Managing Director; as a consequence Clive will have a reduced clinical commitment. Richard Whitelock takes on the new role of Deputy Managing Director while remaining full time in the clinic; Mike Thomas continues as Financial Director and Jerry becomes Chairman of the Board, with some clinical and representative duties. Drs David Gould and Nat Whitley have joined Clive, Richard, Mike and Jerry as shareholders, while the Board of Directors remains unchanged.

Clive said: "This exciting development represents the next phase in the evolution of the practice and will allow a progression of management and ownership without disruption to staff or clients so that we continue to deliver leading multi-specialist care."

Jerry Davies said: "I am proud of what the practice has achieved. I am confident that the new management structure will maintain the practice ethos and bring fresh ideas that will ensure we stay at the forefront of veterinary specialist practice. As Chairman, I will continue to enjoy contributing to the growth and success of the practice that bears my name."

For further details on DVS visit the website at http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/

Vets and vet nurses are being asked to take part in a survey which aims to help the industry get a better understanding of canine reproduction health issues.

The survey is being conducted by Virbac Animal Health as part of its reproductive health awareness campaign.

Product manager Chris Geddes MRCVS said: "Following a series of CPD seminars on reproduction, it is evident that the views and experiences of vets vary considerably when it comes to companion animal sexual health.

"The aim of the survey is to obtain a clearer picture of the thoughts and experiences of vets and VNs on the neutering of dogs in the UK. The questionnaire will help us gain a better understanding of practice needs in this often sensitive area, and help provide improved support for vets and pet owners alike. 

"Whilst attitudes on neutering vary from country to another, it is clear that within the UK, opinion among vets and pet owners is wider than perhaps we currently realise. The UK currently has the highest canine male and female neutering rate in Europe. What this means will depend on your viewpoint and experiences, however we know that some practices are beginning to offer clients a wider range of options."

He added: "As a veterinary-focused business our aim is to provide solutions which will help support and develop the relationship between practice and client. This survey is part of that continuing process."

All those completing the questionnaire will receive a Cadbury's chocolate bar for taking part, with one lucky person winning £250.00 of M&S vouchers.

If you would like to take part please visit http://www.virbacsurvey.animaloracle.com/

An online quiz by the RCVS has shown that veterinary surgeons generally have good understanding of the Guide to Professional Conduct, but that misconceptions about the role of the college are rife.

Around 850 people completed the quiz since it was launched in November 2009, with veterinary surgeons accounting for 70% of those that took part. The average score was 20 out of 25

Despite the high average score, there were several questions which a very significant number of people got wrong. The worst related to the role of the RCVS: 76% of people wrongly thought that the College's remit included negligence, whilst 66% believed that the RCVS could not consider criminal convictions (it can).

Nearly half of those taking part were not aware that the standard of proof to which the RCVS Disciplinary Committee must be satisfied is 'so as to be sure' - the same as for a criminal court.

Other questions poorly answered related to 24-hour cover, delegation to paraprofessionals, consent and ownership of records. The RCVS Communications Board will consider how to improve communications in these areas.

In terms of age, the highest scoring age-band was 51-60, achieving an average of 20.5 right answers; the lowest was '30 or under', at 18.7.  However, this is not backed up by distribution of complaints to the RCVS, where only 27% of complaints relate to those who have less than ten years' post-qualification experience, although this group makes up 43% of registrations.

The results indicate that there is no significant difference between the genders in terms of Guide knowledge, at 19.54 right answers for men and 19.46 for women. Meanwhile, only 34% of complaints to the RCVS are made about women, while they account for 51% of the Register. However, as women tend to dominate the younger end of the profession, this statistic may be linked to the fact that a greater percentage of complaints relate to older individuals, more likely to be men.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Head of Communications said: "We hoped the quiz would offer a light-hearted way for vets - and others - to review their knowledge of the Guide, which can be a dry read, and have been pleased with the response.

A new eBook from electronic publisher Quicklook Books aims to give outsiders a broad overview of the veterinary profession.

According to author, veterinary surgeon Bob Lehner, Quicklook@Vets offers readers the opportunity to get below the surface of the veterinary working practice and gain insight into the profession, without becoming 'bogged down' in complicated medical terminology.

He said: "The veterinary world, although considered by many to be an enthralling subject, is accessible to very few people. Texts are, more often than not, written for veterinary graduates instead of the general public.

"In Quicklook@Vets, I wanted to explore all the aspects of this exciting subject in a clear, coherent manner, without unnecessary jargon, to enable anyone to read and learn about the captivating world of veterinary practice."

As a vet with over 35 years of experience, Bob Lehner worked with a wide range of animals and has experience in commercial deer farming, working with zoo animals and as a veterinary surgeon for the pharmaceutical industry. Now retired, Bob Lehner works part-time in practice, as an inspector for the RCVS Practise Standards Scheme and work with an animal charity in Botswana neutering feral village dogs.

The book is available for download here 

Nestlé Purina is launching a new diet this month which, according to the company, helps delay the canine brain ageing process.

The diet, Pro Plan Senior 7+ Original, is enriched with medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). Research carried out by Nestlé Purina and published online in the British Journal of Nutrition (here's the abstract), apparently demonstrates improvements in senior dogs' memory, learning capacity and ability to adapt to novel situations when fed on this MCT-enriched formula.¹ According to the company, the MCTs provide neurons with a readily accessible source of energy to counteract the decline in glucose metabolism that occurs naturally in ageing dogs, thus maximising brain function with demonstrable improvements in cognitive function.

Veterinary surgeon, Barton Stephen, BVM&S MRCVS, veterinary columnist for The People said: "When treating brain ageing or CCD in senior dogs I believe we vets need to adopt a more holistic approach. We can treat diseases like heart failure and kidney disease and offer advice on exercise, joint care and weight control. All of these can improve quality of life and encourage a pain free existence, but until now we have had nothing proven to help dogs stay younger for longer. This innovative new dog food has the added advantage of staving off cognitive decline which owners find very distressing."

For more information on Pro Plan Senior 7+ Original and the Pro Plan, diet range, please contact your Veterinary Business Development Manager or contact Nestlé Purina PetCare, telephone: 0800 212 161 (Freephone)

Reference:
^¹ Dietary supplementation with medium-chain TAG has long-lasting cognition-enhancing effects in aged dogs. British Journal of Nutrition (Pan et al 2010)

Following a nationwide search to find the UK's top veterinary professionals for 2010, Petplan has announced the winners of the Veterinary Awards. 

The Petplan Veterinary Awards recognise and applaud staff and practices throughout the country that have delivered an exceptional level of care to the nation's pets and their owners.   

Alison Andrew, Petplan's Marketing Manager, says she is thrilled by the ongoing success of the awards. "Britain is known to be an animal-loving nation and with millions of households owning cats and dogs, pets play a central part in family life. The Petplan Veterinary Awards give us the opportunity, on behalf of all pet owners across the UK, to thank the veterinary profession for the outstanding service they provide to our pets.

"This is the 11^th year of the awards and we received over 1800 nominations, which really highlights the high regard that the profession and pet owners have for these awards."

VET OF THE YEAR
Mike Hewitt, Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre, Buckinghamshire
Having worked in the profession for over 20 years Mike is highly respected by clients, valued by colleagues and loved by pets. Having received so many heartfelt customer nominations, Mike's constant professionalism and approachable manner shone through.

VET NURSE OF THE YEAR
Louise Want, Feldon Veterinary Centre, Warwickshire
The constant support and care Louise provides to both her colleagues and clients really stood out. She is a great inspiration to all and having worked in the veterinary profession for 30 years, Louise is as passionate and dedicated, as when she first started.

VET RECEPTIONIST OF THE YEAR
Carol Dawson, Kingsteignton Veterinary Group, Devon
Carol's compassionate and professional manner really impressed all the judges. Clients instantly feel at ease because of her caring smile and welcoming attitude, while her colleagues find her a great inspiration.

VET PRACTICE OF THE YEAR
Mill House Veterinary Surgery and Hospital, Norfolk     
Mill House Veterinary Surgery and Hospital provides an incredibly high level of service to their clients, and as a collective are extremely dedicated and welcoming. Taking pride in their work they are known by their clients for being efficient, friendly and helpful.

CEVA Animal Health has updated its practice support materials to include an all-encompassing D.A.P. client leaflet, a website and a new vet detailer.

The new materials, which also include a D.A.P. and Feliway reference guide containing details of 31 published trials into the practical applications of pheromones, focus on using D.A.P. to prevent stress at key stages of a dog's life. Particular attention is paid to the benefits of fitting a D.A.P. Collar during early puppy consults in order to help prepare dogs for the modern world and helping to prevent anxiety-related problems such as separation anxiety and noise phobia, developing in later life. In addition, the vet brochure will draw practitioners' attention to the times in a dog's life when owners are particularly concerned about their dog becoming stressed including events like trips to boarding kennels.

Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health, said: "Over the last three years eight different trials have been published looking at the use of pheromones to reduce canine stress. The latest data backs up what we have believed for some time - that the management of stress during socialisation is vital if dogs are to grow into emotionally balanced and confident adult dogs.  We now have a much better idea of the impact of allowing puppies to get stressed or overwhelmed during socialisation and the difference providing pheromone support in the form of a D.A.P. Collar can make."

For further details, or for information on CEVA's range of educational resources for veterinary professionals interested in feline and canine behaviour, please contact your CEVA Animal Health representative or call 01494 781510.

Bayer Animal Health, manufacturer of Advocate, is launching an advertising campaign to support its 'Be Lungworm Aware' initiative, which aims to educate pet owners on the spread of Angiostrongylus vasorum and encourage them to seek advice from their local veterinary practice.

The campaign will see a new TV 'public information' style advertisement targeting dog owners.  It will air on 20 national TV channels during April including ITV1, 2 and 3, Sky 1, 2 and 3, More 4 and Film4, with air time dedicated to GMTV and daytime ITV.

The TV advertising campaign will focus on the parasite's intermediate hosts - slugs and snails - and the ease in which dogs can become infected with the parasite by picking up something as simple as a toy with a slug attached to it.

Print advertisements will also be running in national newspapers and women's consumer magazines with a focus on publications read by pet owners.

Marketing support material is available for veterinary practices wishing to participate in the 'Be Lungworm Aware' initiative.  For further details, or to order the new practice materials, please contact your Bayer representative or ring 0845 2574798 quoting 'Be Lungworm Aware'.

A Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons audit panel is to visit UK veterinary schools to assess how Extra-Mural Studies (EMS) is being carried out, identify good practice and make recommendations for improvement. The exercise is part of a package of measures which aims to improve the way that EMS helps veterinary undergraduates to gain skills and knowledge in a practice environment.

RCVS Council agreed to the implementation of proposals made by a Working Party set up to review the whole EMS process in November 2009. While the EMS system was largely agreed to be valuable and working well, some areas were identified for improvement. Many of the recommendations centred on a better understanding amongst all parties involved - students, practices and vet schools - of the aims and objectives of EMS for the student, and improved communication about expectations and outcomes.

As a first step, the Education Policy and Specialisation Committee has put in place an audit of EMS at the veterinary schools. It has commissioned Dr Barry Johnson, who led the original Working Party, together with practitioners David Black, David Wadsworth and Dr Chris Chesney, to follow through individual cases, talking to the students, practitioners and clinical tutors and EMS co-ordinators at the vet schools, to build a picture of how administration, communication and follow-up is managed.

Barry said: "The objective of the audit is to identify areas of good practice that can be shared, and identify where improvements could be made - it will also promote dialogue between practices and the schools. The exercise will be repeated over the next couple of years to track changes."

The first audit took place at the Royal Veterinary College in February, as part of the full RCVS visitation of the undergraduate degree programme. The EMS audit panel will report its initial findings in June.

The full report and recommendations from the EMS Working Party can be viewed at www.rcvs.org.uk/EMS.

US company Midmark is running a UK prize draw to win a Cardell 9401 blood pressure monitor worth nearly £2000.

To enter the draw, click here.

Dogs Trust has come out firmly against RSPCA-supported proposals to re-introduce the dog licence.

The dog welfare charity says it does not believe re-introducing the dog licence would provide a welfare benefit for dogs. It has also expressed surprise at the RSPCA position, which is that: "a licence would be hugely beneficial in addressing many animal welfare concerns stemming from overbreeding of dogs to a lack of traceable ownership." Dogs Trust has said this view is extremely naïve, that responsible owners might struggle to pay what is likely to be a punitive annual licence, and that a licence is simply a tax on dog ownership. 

Meanwhile, the RSPCA has announced the results of a survey in which 2 out of 3 pet owners said they would be in favour of a licence scheme. 76% said that a dog licence should be enforced in England to help curb problems such as 'puppy farms', stray dogs, stolen dogs and animal abandonments.

The RSPCA also says that research carried out on its behalf by Reading University clearly shows that an affordable and well-enforced dog licensing scheme could provide funding for a range of issues, most of which are currently funded poorly by central and local government. Professor Emeritus Martin Upton from Reading University's school of agriculture, policy and development, said: "Our study into the potential costs and benefits of dog licencing and registration found that such a scheme could greatly contribute to responsible dog ownership and animal welfare."

Dogs Trust says the dog licence has been shown to be an ineffective measure in the UK. In Northern Ireland, where the dog licence is still a requirement, only an estimated one-third of all dog owners currently have their dogs licensed. Northern Ireland still has the highest number of stray dogs per head of population of any region in the UK and the number of dogs put to sleep in the region represents a staggering 34% of the total UK figure.

The charity recommends compulsory microchipping as the most effective means of registration as well as identification of a dog. Unlike the dog licence, which involves an annual fee, microchipping involves just a small one-off fee (Dogs Trust offers microchipping at its centres for £10).  The benefit to responsible owners and their dogs is therefore relatively cheap and effective. Microchipping a dog should infer legal ownership and reinforces the responsibilities of the owner under the Animal Welfare Act. The introduction of compulsory microchipping would allow stray dogs to be quickly returned to their owners, make easier the identification of owners who persistently allow their dogs to stray or cause nuisance, and make all puppies traceable to their breeder, helping to reduce the widespread problem of battery farming of dogs.