International Cat Care has announced that the Classic Animal Hospital in South Korea has become its 1000th 'Cat Friendly Clinic'.

The charity launched the 'Cat Friendly Clinic' accreditation scheme in 2012, in order to raise standards and reduce the stress experienced by cats (and consequently their owners) when visiting clinics.

In order to be accredited as a Cat Friendly Clinic, a clinic must not only meet high standards of cat care in terms of facilities and equipment, but staff must also demonstrate an understanding of the needs and behaviour of cats and put in place measures to ensure that visits to the clinic are more cat-friendly.

In the six years since its inception, the scheme has become a well-recognised standard in feline veterinary care, with accredited clinics all over the world. 

The Classic Animal Hospital in South Korea (wow, see the architects' photos here), was founded in September 2017 and consists of three vets, eight nurses and three receptionists. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the clinic's goal is to "provide outstanding veterinary care using the most advanced medical techniques and equipment in an environment that is both comfortable and welcoming for owners and their loved companions’. Currently, about 30% of the clinic’s clients are cats, and this percentage is continuing to grow.

Park Sungwon, owner of the clinic and Chief of Surgery, said: "Since more and more Koreans are having cats as their companion animals, there is growing interest in the Cat Friendly Clinic programme. So many veterinarians who have just started or want to start their own clinic share information about becoming a Cat Friendly Clinic. I also found out about the Cat Friendly Clinic scheme on the vet internet community. When I decided to open my clinic, I planned to become a Cat Friendly Clinic. So I took ISFM’s requirements into consideration when I designed my clinic."

When asked what cat owners think of the clinic’s Cat Friendly status, Park said: "They are very satisfied with our separated, quiet, cat-only waiting area and large hospitalisation facilities. They think that their cats definitely feel more comfortable at my clinic than they feel at other clinics in my town."

Sarah Endersby, International Cat Care’s Veterinary Development Manager, said: "We are delighted to have accredited the 1000^th Cat Friendly Clinic. It is fabulous to know that many veterinary clinics around the world are thinking about how they can make feline visits less stressful, benefitting not only the cats themselves, but their owners and the veterinary team. We have many clinics looking to become a Cat Friendly Clinic, so the community is growing quickly - hopefully we will be welcoming the 2000^th clinic in the not too distant future!"

To find out more about the Cat Friendly Clinic scheme, visit catfriendlyclinic.org.

The scheme is supported by six official partners: Boehringer Ingelheim, Ceva, Elanco, Idexx, Merial and Royal Canin.

Registered VN Lindsay Newell has been found guilty of six counts of cruelty to animals at Stafford Magistrates' Court, following an investigation by the RSPCA.

The charges related to a ewe, two lambs, a Welsh pony, a goat and a pig at the Burton Wildlife and Animal Rescue Centre, a sanctuary founded in 2008 by the 27-year-old nurse in memory of her murdered grandparents.

The pig had made headlines in the Daily Mail in 2012 when Newell rescued it from a Derby council house.

Newell was given a 2-year conditional discharge, ordered to pay £2000 in costs, and disqualified from keeping sheep, equines, goats or pigs for five years.

Passing sentence, district judge David Taylor said: "These were not deliberate or intentional acts. They were a consequence of you trying to take on too many animals of a wide range."

Newell was cleared of 25 other charges of failing to feed the animals in her care properly.

RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford who led the investigation said: "We are satisfied that the court has found the defendant guilty of six charges of unnecessary suffering. The scene the RSPCA discovered when they visited with Police, Derbyshire Trading Standards and an independent vet were quite shocking. 

"This was an extremely disturbing case where there was clear neglect and mistreatment of animals by a registered veterinary nurse.

"I am sure she set up this centre with the best intentions but things got totally out of control."

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Hampshire-based Robert Russell has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after he was convicted of possessing indecent images of children and extreme animal abuse.

Dr Russell, 64, who waived his right to attend the hearing, was convicted in 2023 of three offences: making indecent photographs of a child, possessing 2,280 prohibited images of a child and possessing 109 extreme pornographic images that included moving images that were grossly offensive.

After pleading guilty to making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornographic image/images portraying sexual acts with an animal, Dr Russell was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to a two-year community order, a 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, 150 hours of community service and a forfeiture and destruction order of Seagate Drive, Toshiba hard drive and Lenovo tablet.

In addition, he was required to register with the police for 5 years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.

He was also required to pay prosecution costs of £425 and £60 victim surcharge.

Counsel for the College submitted to the Disciplinary Committee that the nature and circumstances of the offences rendered Dr Russell unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.

The Committee considered there to be several aggravating factors including, actual (albeit indirect) injury to an animal or child; the risk of harm to an animal or child; sexual misconduct; premeditated conduct; and, that the offences involved vulnerable children and animals.  

Neil Slater, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee has reached the conclusion that Dr Russell’s behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon, namely grave offences of a sexual nature.

"Dr Russell’s behaviour was so serious that removal of professional status and the rights and privileges accorded to that status is considered to be the only means of protecting the wider public interest and of maintaining confidence in the profession.

“The Committee has not taken this decision lightly, and, lest it be misinterpreted, it has not taken it in order to satisfy any notional public demand for blame and punishment.

"It has taken the decision because, in its judgment, the reputation of the profession has to be at the forefront of its thinking and ultimately this is more important than the interests of Dr Russell.

"The decision is not simply based on the fact that these offences were of a sexual nature but because they were repeated over a significant period of time and at a time when Dr Russell must have known, on his own plea of guilty, that what he was doing was wrong.

"Further, the Committee can discern no evidence that Dr Russell has insight into the gravity of the offence he has committed.

"The Committee has therefore directed the Registrar to remove his name from the Register forthwith.”

Dr Russell has 28 days from being notified of his removal from the Register to lodge an appeal with Privy Council.

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists has revealed the results of some research indicating that Alabama Rot, acka* Cutaneous Renal and Glomerular Vasculopathy, is a seasonal condition.

The UK has now seen a total of 169 confirmed cases of Alabama Rot across 38 counties, since 2012. Six cases were confirmed in 2012, climbing to 40 in 2017 and 46 so far in 2018.

The new research, which was carried out in conjunction with the Royal Veterinary College, found that almost 95% of confirmed cases of Alabama Rot have occurred between November and May, with the highest number of cases being reported in February.

It also found most of the cases have been confirmed in western and southern parts of England, with the highest number found in West Sussex, Dorset, southern Hampshire, Greater Manchester and Monmouthshire. Far fewer cases have been reported from the eastern half of the country and East Anglia in particular.

David Walker, Head of medicine at Anderson Moores and co-author of the research, said: "This research, which was funded by the New Forest Dog Owners Group and the charity Alabama Rot Research Fund, was designed to look for geographical patterns, as well as environmental and climatic risk factors.

"A distinct seasonal pattern is suggested, with the vast majority of cases occurring between November and March, and limited cases over the summer months – just 6.5% of cases have been confirmed from June to October.

"In the scientific world a lot of research is not earth-shattering, but it all builds together and little by little we make progress.

"This information is good in terms of how we manage the next stage of research, however we need to be careful and not jump to any conclusions at this point".

Researchers say the disease has been reported in a wide range of breeds (35 in total) but, due to the small number of cases, it is not yet possible to say with any certainty whether a specific breed has an inherently increased or decreased risk of the disease. Any patterns may simply be the result of varying breed populations in different parts of the country.

Dr Huw Stacey, vet and director of clinical services at Vets4Pets, has been supporting research on the condition for a number of years. He said: "Since we held the first Alabama Rot conference in May 2017, vets and relevant professionals have been working hard to understand more about the condition. 

"We know how the disease presents and how it affects dogs internally, and this research adds some interesting information that may help to increase vets’ index of the suspicion for the disease.

"The information on climate and ground type will help us further explore possible triggers for the disease, but at the moment we can’t say if any breeds are more likely to develop the disease.

"The first sign of the disease that is normally seen is a skin sore or lesion that isn’t caused by a known injury. Most commonly these sores are found on the lower half of the leg and appear as a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin or are open and ulcer-like.

"With 46 cases in 2018 already, it is understandably very worrying for dog owners, but we think the increase in cases is partially due to an increased awareness of the disease.

"However, this disease is still very rare, so we’re advising dog owners to remain calm but vigilant, and seek advice from their local vet if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.

"While this research may be a stepping stone to finding the cause of Alabama Rot, there is currently no known way to prevent a dog from contracting the disease." 

*also clinically known as

VetSurgeon member Alex Gough MRCVS, Head of Medicine Referrals at Bath Veterinary Referrals, has published his second historical thriller, Bandits of Rome, available for pre-order now in paperback (£7.99) or Kindle (£1.99) from Amazon.

The book picks up the story of Gaius Valerius Carbo as he leaves Rome with his family for the Italian countryside, only to be set upon by masked bandits. 

Alex's first thriller, Watchmen of Rome, went to the top of the Amazon bestseller charts and has achieved reader reviews of an average 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Apparently the more people that pre-order the book before the 26th August, the higher it'll go up the charts. So if this sounds like it could be up your street, buy it today and you'll give a colleague a helping hand up the ladder at the same time.

Urging vets to 'get off their backsides and respond to a VMD consultation' on the introduction of a new POM-EA category (Vet Times, 19^th October) is premature.

Contrary to the report, the VMD has not yet launched a formal consultation.

Jo Cawthorne from the VMD said: "In fact, we've only launched an informal consultation on a concept note amongst a small group of key stakeholders from the RCVS, BVA,  RPSGB, AMTRA, AHDA  and NOAH, in order to decide whether  this is a viable idea and merits a formal consultation."

She added: "There is no need for vets to respond to a consultation which doesn't yet exist. If there is a formal consultation, it will be announced formally on our website and everyone will be given the opportunity to respond."

Norbook has added a 200ml oral suspension for dogs to its Loxicom range.

The company says the new presentation provides a cost-effective way to supply long-term dosing for pain management in dogs. It also says the new size will allow vets to be more efficient with stock space and animal owners will save money with less frequent repeat purchases.

Norbook veterinary advisor Rebekah Dudek said: "With winter upon us, the colder weather can cause symptoms of arthritis to worsen. With over 20% of dogs, 50% of adult cats and 60% of horses affected by arthritis now is the time to find out why so many vets are choosing Loxicom as their choice for pain management.

"This extension to the popular Loxicom range allows vets the opportunity to offer users a range of options when dispensing pain relief medication. The 200ml bottle is a cost-effective solution for long term treatment which will please both vets and pet owners."

For more information, visit: www.norbrook.com.

Medivet has reported a wide range of public reaction to the recent Panorama programme 'It shouldn't happen at a vets', most of which has been at one extreme or the other. 

On the one hand, says the company, many clients have gone out of their way to show their support, whilst on the other, staff have faced considerable anger from members of the public (not known to be Medivet clients).

After transmission, staff at a handful of practices received abusive comments and threatening behaviour. The day after transmission, a veterinary nurse in uniform who was not shown in the programme was called 'dog beater' in the street in Oxford, leaving her feeling very shaken. Staff from other branches have received similar treatment when out in uniform; Medivet recommended that its staff cover up their uniforms when outdoors, and has been working with the Metropolitan Police and other forces.

Two individuals named in the film - Arnold Levy, Medivet's managing partner, and a veterinary nurse who was shown admitting to having struck a dog - received emailed death threats. The nurse has since resigned.

At practices, a receptionist was sworn at, several received abusive phone calls and one of Medivet's kennel staff in Oxted, Surrey was woken in the early hours one morning by people banging on the doors and shouting abuse. Most incidents occurred within the first 48 hours following the programme.

In contrast, Medivet says several practices have been overwhelmed by the level of support shown to staff by clients. Some have brought in gifts of flowers, biscuits and chocolates, and one client visited his practice specifically to tell staff of his and his wife's support.

Staff and managers have received many supportive emails, cards, letters and verbal comments contrasting between the picture portrayed by the programme and their personal experience of Medivet and the level of care their pets receive.

Medivet says that discussions with clients about the programme have been balanced, with many appreciating that the programme was not made in a balanced or fair way. The company also says it believes that, in the vast majority of cases, the strength of the relationship of trust between clients and the teams that look after their pets has not been undermined.

Norbrook is expanding its NSAID range with the launch of Loxicom Injection for cattle, pigs and horses.

Norbrook says the new product, which will be available to veterinary surgeons from mid-October, offers treatment for a range of symptoms including pneumonia, acute mastitis and calf scour in cattle, swine locomotor diseases such as lameness and MMA syndrome, acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders and equine colic.

Rebecca Pullon, Norbrook Product Manager said: "Loxicom is our tried and trusted NSAID range which has been available in suspension or injection for cats and dogs and which has proven exceptionally popular with veterinary practices. According to the GFK data, Norbrook is the most successful generic manufacturer of Meloxicam, by some distance.

"I am delighted that we can now extend this range to include a Loxicom Injection for Cattle, Pigs and Horses, which I am confident will prove equally as popular."

"As a bio-equivalent product, Loxicom Injection for cattle, pigs and horses is as effective as the pioneer product. There is a misperception that a bioequivalent product is somehow inferior to the pioneer product, which is untrue. In order to attain a license, a company must prove that a bio-equivalent product is at least as effective as the pioneer. With Loxicom Injection for cattle, pigs and horses, it comes with the added reassurance that it has been produced by Norbrook, a world leader in animal health and veterinary pharmaceuticals manufacture."

Parasitologist Dr Ian Wright, head of the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites UK and Ireland (ESCCAP), has warned of a growing threat from exotic ticks arriving in the UK.

Speaking at Improve International's OV Conference last week, Dr Wright cited increased pet travel and importation as key risk factors, including the growing number of rescued dogs arriving in the UK from countries in Europe and further afield.

Dr Wright highlighted the Rhipicephalus tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) as being a particular cause for concern, as it can transmit Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Rickettsias, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon.

Dr Wright said that Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys are among the most common tick-borne diseases in imported dogs, particularly those arriving from Eastern and Southern Europe. There were also three cases of Hepatozoon canis in 2018, caused by dogs ingesting Rhipicephalus ticks while grooming.

According to figures from a Bristol University Pet Travel survey, 54.5% of dog travel on the Pet Travel Scheme from the UK is to France with Southern European countries also popular destinations. These are all countries in which Rhipicephalus is present and on the increase. Dr Wright said that the ticks are moving north into Austria, Switzerland, Central France, Romania and Bulgaria.

During the last few months, he has also been alerted to ticks found on dogs coming in from North America, Latin America and Africa. These bring with them the risk of new diseases, including a variety of zoonotic rickettssial pathogens, such as Rickettsia Rickettsii, which causes Rocky Mountain Spotty Fever.

To address this issue Dr Wright urged vets to redouble their efforts on tick prevention. In particular, he recommended tick prevention pre/during and post travel, using products that offer rapid kill and repellency in order to reduce transmission, repellents being especially important in Leishmania infantum and Rhipicephalus-endemic countries.

Dr Wright recommended drilling clients and staff on tick removal and reminding them that finding a tick on a pet is not a failure as no product is 100% reliable and it is easy to miss them in long-haired dogs. He also suggested asking clients to take photos of any ticks they find on their pet while abroad so that their vet will know on their return what pathogens they may have been exposed to. If necessary, the Public Health England Tick Surveillance Scheme can help with identification.

Dr Wright suggested that legislation to enforce tick treatment on entry was a poor strategy used in isolation as pets would still be exposed while abroad and no product is completely reliable. It would be useful however, to raise awareness and show that we are taking the issue of tick-borne disease seriously.

He said: "We’re seeing a significant increase in pet travel and import a wider range of countries from which dogs are being imported and this is significantly increasing our exposure to exotic ticks.

"What’s news about this is that while you could argue that diseases such as Lyme Disease are ‘lifestyle’ diseases because people and dogs are exposed to our native ticks while out enjoying the countryside, the Rhipicephalus tick comes to your home, exposing you to a wealth of rickettsial diseases for the first time. We are already seeing instances of this in France, Germany and Scandinavia and, as pet travel continues to grow, the risk here will only increase. It’s equally possible that a dog with a native tick could travel aboard and return hosting a new pathogen.

"The only way to manage this risk is to provide consistent advice to the public and to support increased disease surveillance. Vigilance is key – assume that any travelling dog may have ticks and do not assume that because it is tick-treated, it’s a case of ‘job done.’"

He said: "Put the onus on clients - gently. Remind them to seek advice, to check for ticks and to keep tick treatments up to date. Also remind them to visit the practice with their dog as soon as possible on their return. If you do find exotic ticks, please send them to the Tick Surveillance Scheme for identification."

He added: "If you know an owner who is planning to adopt a dog from abroad, explain the risks to them and encourage them to adopt from the UK. If they are determined to go ahead, work with them to ensure that you reduce the risk of exotic ticks arriving with their new family members. The risk to human and animal health from an infestation should not be underestimated."

Elanco, the maker of Onsior, has launched a campaign to help practices educate owners about canine osteoarthritis.

Elanco says OA is a condition which is estimated to affect one in four dogs, but it is often labelled by owners as "just old age". This, says the company, may lead to missed diagnosis and dogs not receiving the care they need.

To try and help address the issue, Elanco has partnered with the founder of Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon and veterinary communications consultant, Zoe Belshaw to produce a number of online and in-practice tools.

The first of these is a worksheet to help veterinary surgeons explain the impact of OE on the client's dog, both in and outside the home. It provides a template for creating a tailored management plan and a guide to the home adaptations owners can make to help improve their dog's quality of life. 

The company has also produced a infographic fact sheet which explains the subtle signs of OA, designed for vets and nurses to use as part of their regular interactions with owners. 

Elanco has also designed a range of digital materials for veterinary practices to use on their websites and social media feeds to increase awareness of the condition among their online communities.

Hannah Capon said: "Arthritis affects every dog differently – a dog may be full of life but lame, quiet, unenthused and slow to move, or somewhere in-between.

"Home management needs to be tailored to each dog’s needs and adapted in the same way it would be for a person, to prolong life and minimise pain and further injury."

Lastly, Elanco has also produced a film in which Zoe Belshaw gives advice about the language and strategies veterinary surgeons can use to help improve communication with dog owners about OA. 

Zoe said: "My research identified that many owners do recognise their arthritic dog has a problem before it’s diagnosed. Many will have seen that their dog is stiff, or ‘slowing down’ but they may not associate this with lameness, or pain.

"That’s why vets, nurses and practices play a critical role in raising awareness of how the condition impacts dogs every day."

To access the suite of assets visit: www.myelanco.co.uk

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has launched Prescription Diet Derm Complete food, described as the world’s first and only nutritional solution that is clinically proven to tackle both food and environmental sensitivities in dogs.

Hill's says the new diet, which has been through three clinical trials over four years, contains nutrients to help strengthen the skin's natural barrier against environmental allergens and the Histaguard complex with bioactives and phytonutrients to help manage a dog's response to environmental allergens.

Prescription Diet Derm Complete also uses egg as its single intact animal protein source, which Hill's says avoids 96% of adverse food reactions¹ and has shown the ability to dampen the inflammatory response in dogs and reduce itching.

Hill's says the new diet represents a real breakthrough, both because it simplifies treatment and because it's the first dietetic food for both adverse food reactions and  environmental sensitivities.

Michael Unsworth, Hill’s Vet Affairs Manager, UK & Republic of Ireland said: "Supporting patients with skin sensitivities can be extremely challenging. Not only is it uncomfortable for the pet themselves, but it can cause a lot of distress for owners who just want to give their dogs a happy and healthy life. There can be a lot of pressure to find a quick, effective and affordable solution.

"Our new Prescription Diet Derm Complete is truly a ground-breaking product; the result of years of trials and clinical studies that has seen visible skin healing in dogs with AFR in as little as 21 days2 and not a single dog showing signs of recurrence after using the product.

"We’re thrilled to introduce this innovative, life-changing product to the market, to the benefit of dogs, dog-owners – and of course veterinary professionals - everywhere."

Accompanying the launch, there's a free webinar taking place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 23 February (tomorrow) for veterinary surgeons in which Sarah Warren BVetMed MSc (Clin. Onc.) CertVD MRCVS will look at the complex nature of canine allergic skin disease and the importance of individualised treatment plans. To register, visit: https://www.veterinarywebinars.com/hills/canine-dermatitis-hills/

For more information about Prescription Diet Derm Complete, contact your Hill’s representative.

Reference

1. Mueller RS, Olivry T, Prélaud P. Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Vet Res. 2016;12:9.

According to Mandadeals.co.uk, CVS has agreed to buy Veterinary Enterprise and Trading, including it's 27 surgeries in the South East of England which operate under the Pet Doctors brand and Greendale, its diagnostic and laboratory business, for £12.2M.