The company, which was founded by scientists from the human field, managed to raise £8 million of Series A funding by February this year. It is now seeking further investment for an extension to that Series A funding by the autumn.
The company's Chief Scientific Officer is Professor Allan Bradley, Emeritus Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and a Fellow of the Royal Society (pictured right). He spearheaded the development of mouse transgenics and their translational use, which provided the basis for developing canine monoclonal antibody therapies.
Allan said: "We are growing a world-class scientific team that will enable PetMedix to become a global leader in the development of novel monoclonal antibody therapies for the expanding animal health market. In the short lifetime of the company we have attracted huge talent in both our scientists and executives, and moved into the heart of the Cambridge biotech sphere with its excellent facilities and networking opportunities. The recent appointment of Dr. Fabian Kausche to the board marks our intent to become a global leader in animal health."
CEO, Dr. Tom Weaver added: "We have the people and the technology in place, and are champing at the bit to progress these therapies to reach the pets that could benefit. We know this technology has transformed the treatment and survival of human patients with a variety of conditions and we want to create the same paradigm shift in veterinary treatment options to improve welfare, quality of life and longevity for our dogs and cats."
PetMedix says it is interested in hearing from potential investment partners, and mergers and acquisitions. Contact Jolyon Martin via email: jolyon.martin@PetMedix.co.uk or telephone: +44 (0) 1223 734140,
Avonvale’s nurse dental champions are RVNs who have a special interest in dentistry. They receive additional career development and training, both in-house and via webinars. They also attend practical workshops.
They also get training and support materials from specialists at Eastcott Referrals, in Swindon.
They're then tasked with educating colleagues and clients about dental care and disease prevention.
Nurse dental champion, Jasmin Legge (picture right), said: "We increase owners' knowledge of what dental treatments can be performed at Avonvale and highlight the welfare benefits of dentistry to them.
"We give our patients a free consultation and take a look to see if they have any dental issues.
"If we believe they do, they will be referred to a vet for this to be confirmed and for them to assess what work is needed.
"We are also able to carry out scale and polishes on animals and we follow this up with educational post-dental checks, giving advice to owners on how to maintain good dental hygiene.
"Dental disease is a common problem and can cause misery for a lot of pets, which is why we want to do all we can to help alleviate the problem and to educate owners on how they can play their part.
"Here at Avonvale, when you have a particular area of interest, you are given amazing opportunities to help develop it. Nurse dental champions are a prime example of this."
The company says the reason for the change is so that it can dedicate additional resources to the business.
Samantha Williamson, UK Country Manager at Animalcare, said: "Through our identichip microchips and our identibase pet database, we provide one of the UK’s longest-established pet microchipping services and are helping to reunite owners with their lost pets every single day.
"The pet reunification sector is evolving rapidly thanks to technological advances. We believe that the creation of identicare will facilitate the concentration of resources and expert knowledge needed to fuel the growth in our identichip business and continued enhancements to the identibase pet database. identicare will share the same passion and values as Animalcare and there will be no outward change for our customers.
“We look forward to continuing to deliver our ambition of delivering the highest quality pet reunification service under the identicare banner.”
The new company is part of the Animalcare Group.
Eprecis injection (eprinomectin) is an broad spectrum endectocide with activity against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep1 and goats2.
After Eprecis injection Haemonchus contortus in the abomasum in goats were reduced by 97.8%2 and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in the small intestine were reduced by 98.7%2.
In lactating dairy ewes Eprecis injection was found to be 99% effective against gastrointestinal nematodes3 and was associated with an increased milk yield of 8%4.
The bioavailability of eprinomectin after one Eprecis injection in goats is larger than that reported for eprinomectin pour on5, 6, with Eprecis injection found to be four times more efficacious than eprinomectin pour-on across four dairy goat farms7.
In sheep, the efficacy of Eprecis injection against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep is 99.6% versus 86.1% for a pour-on formulation8.
Eprecis injection is associated with higher plasma levels of eprinomectin and has a higher efficacy compared to eprinomectin pour-on in dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes8.
This is also achieved using five times less active than a pour-on formulation8.
Eprecis injection is administered subcutaneously and there is no need to part the fleece or coat along the animal’s back.
Ceva says it has excellent syringeability9 and a low dose volume (0.1ml/10kg) to help with accurate dosing of animals.
Harry Walby, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health, said: “Eprecis injection is a highly effective broad-spectrum wormer that is now available in sheep and goats, as well as cattle.
"The injectable formulation not only allows accurate dosing, but there is no subclinical dose transfer between animals.”
Eprecis injection is available in 100ml and 250ml CLAS vials.
References
Vetnapp offers a secure alternative to traditional paper records, allowing for the entry of drugs administered, recording of physiological parameters (for example, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure), and recording complications occurring during an anaesthetic.
The final anaesthetic chart can be converted to a PDF and attached to patient records, simplifying the paper trail.
Alastair, who works at Willows Referrals, says his motivation for developing the app was born out of frustration with handwritten anaesthetic records which can often be incomplete, illegible and easily lost.
Alastair said: "Vetnapp is excellent for ease of data entry via the use of sliders and drop-down lists. It also stores records, allowing easy retrieval, which is not possible with paper records.
"Now the app is available for both Apple and Android devices, it is much more accessible. I have even had people downloading it in Australia, America and China, which is fantastic."
"It’s still very much early days and I hope its popularity grows over time. Ideally, I would like it to be downloaded by veterinary groups, as well as independent practices."
To download Vetnapp, visit the App Store or Google Play and search 'Vetnapp'.
Norbrook Laboratories has launched a long-acting cattle bolus which it says will reduce the risk of Milk Fever.
According to the company, Calcitrace D3 is the first and only long-acting bolus to offer slow and fast releasing calcium to provide sustained calcium levels for 48 to 72 hours. In addition, Calcitrace D3 provides Magnesium, Phosphate and Vitamin D3 making it the most comprehensive bolus available.
Calcitrace D3 is smooth gelatin coated bolus with a rounded tip designed for easier administration. Norbrook says it is smaller than other boluses making it less likely to cause trauma on the orpharynx during administration.
Dr Barry McInerney, Norbrook's GB Veterinary Advisor said: "Milk Fever is a common metabolic disorder in dairy cattle which generally affects older, high producing cows and is caused by a rapid decrease in calcium concentrations in the blood just before calving. It is estimated that 3-10% of cows are affected by Milk Fever with a cost of more than £200 per incident so it is crucial that farmers and vets reduce the risk as effectively as possible.
"Norbrook's new Calcitrace D3 bolus which should be administered just before calving, provides higher calcium blood levels during the critical 12 - 48 hour post calving period and provides sustained increased levels for well beyond 48 hours. With the addition of Magnesium, Phosphate and Vitamin D3, Calcitrace D3 provides additional protection against Milk Fever."
Andrew Hillan MVB MRCVS, Director of Veterinary Sciences at Norbrook, led the development of Calcitrace D3. He said: "The launch of Calcitrace D3 is another illustration of the very high quality of technical expertise that exists within our research and development department and underlines Norbrook's commitment to developing high quality and innovative products. It comes from a strong and exciting pipeline of new products which we will bring to the market over the next couple of years."
The Westpoint Veterinary Group and Eville & Jones, a veterinary control provider, have joined forces to form Xperior Farm Health, which will bid for appointment as a Delivery Partner for bovine TB and other farm animal disease testing under AHVLA's Veterinary Delivery Partnership Programme.
The Delivery Partnership Programme, under which the AHVLA will cease to contract OVs directly and instead procure disease testing services from around ten Delivery Partners, is expected to roll out in the summer.
Eville & Jones is an experienced service provider in inspection and testing services in the fields of animal health, public health and animal welfare. The company employs more than 450 veterinary staff nationwide and already provides fully managed Official Veterinarian (OV) services to UK Competent Authorities.
Westpoint Veterinary Group is a specialist, farm-animal-only veterinary practice operating from 17 sites countrywide to provide farmers with specialist and locally based services. It is the largest veterinary group in the UK specialising in production animals, employing more than 50 veterinary surgeons.
Veterinary Director Phil Elkins MRCVS says the resources and experience of the two parent companies in both farmer-facing and back office dimensions make Xperior Farm Health well equipped to fulfil a Delivery Partner service expected by AHVLA. He said: "Our ambition is to provide an exemplary standard of accurate and trustworthy on-farm animal health testing services, where possible using subcontracted practices. If appointed, of course, these will be farmer friendly, provide an ongoing source of work and revenue to subcontractor Official Veterinarians, and represent excellent value for money to the taxpayer."
The research also found that awareness of feline hypertension amongst cat owners is very low, with 80% of those questioned unaware that cats could have high blood pressure and nearly 20% believing that it was only an issue in humans.
Amongst those cat owners who are aware of feline hypertension, only 25% said they would consider asking their vet for a blood pressure check for their pet.
However, once made aware of the risks of high blood pressure, including blindness, seizures and kidney disease, 83% of owners said they would ask their vet for a blood pressure test for their cat.
Dr Natalie Borrill MRCVS, veterinary technical manager for cardionephrology at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Feline hypertension is a common condition in older cats; it is estimated that one in five cats from nine years of age are at risk of suffering from the condition3, but there is a low level of awareness amongst cat owners about this condition.
"By increasing awareness of the disease amongst owners, they will be more inclined to visit the vet with their older cat for regular blood pressure checks. It can also be very helpful for an owner to be present when blood pressure is measured because this can help reduce stress and anxiety in their cat. For more information cat owners can visit amadeus.vet."
The research results were released as part of Feline Hypertension Month, which is running until the end of May to raise awareness of hypertension and improve the detection and management of high blood pressure in cats. As part of the campaign, veterinary practices are being urged to measure their feline patients' blood pressure in cats over the age of seven.
Ceva says it will continue its Mercury Challenge throughout 2019 to increase veterinary professionals' confidence in measuring blood pressure and identifying feline hypertension. Participating practices are given the opportunity to win diagnostic tools to help them identify feline hypertension.
For information, contact cevauk@ceva.com or visit mercurychallenge.ceva.com.
Virbac has launched Deltanil, a deltamethrin-based pour-on solution indicated in dairy and beef cattle for use against flies and lice with a zero milk withdrawal period. It is also effective in sheep against ticks, lice, keds and blowfly strike and against lice and ticks in lambs.
Deltanil is presented for use with the company's Farmpack and Flexibag dispensing system, which was awarded the 2014 PharmaPack Award for Innovative Packaging. Virbac says the system offers farmers a convenient approach to treatment, combining easy application with freedom of movement and the flexibility of a long stability period once the product is opened.
The Farmpack backpack holds a 2.5 litre Flexibag of Deltanil solution, sufficient for the treatment of 250 cattle.
The Flexibag is a flexible, multi-layered, multi-component bag designed to protect and preserve medication, giving Deltanil a two year proven stability period after opening. Unopened, Deltanil has a three year shelf life.
Virbac Product Manager for Large Animals Brigitte Goasduf MRCVS said: "External parasites are a year-round threat to dairy and beef herds and can have a significant economic impact on yields. With the launch of Deltanil, we are offering a new approach to product application, one which is ideally suited to the practical conditions on farm and which addresses the challenges often faced in using pour ons.
"We believe that Deltanil, with its zero milk withdrawal period for dairy cattle and sheep and innovative Farmpack and Flexibag dispensing system, sets a new standard for products of this type.
"Deltanil is based on deltamethrin, a tried and trusted parasiticide. It offers a convenient approach to administration with a 10ml dosage per cow, irrespective of weight, and is presented in two sizes - the 2.5 litre Flexibag and a 1litre dispensing bottle. The 1litre bottle offers a year's stability once opened. The dosage per sheep is 5ml, irrespective of weight, with a 2.5ml dosage for lambs."
The companies are encouraging the use of CT to direct early, targeted surgical intervention and improve outcomes.
Dr Dean Felkler, Founder and CEO of Exotic Vet Support and senior clinician at Tai Wai Small Animal and Exotic Hospital in Hong Kong, says a recent case of his highlights the importance of accurate and early diagnosis.
A 7yr old rabbit was presented for anorexia and hadn’t passed faeces for over 12hrs.
Dean said: “A full diagnostic investigation was performed.
"From the radiographs it is difficult to appreciate the GDV.
"However, on the CT scan, reported by VetCT, it was very obvious when compared to the normal stomach orientation.”
After initial stabilisation the patient underwent surgery to re-orientate the stomach and an incisional gastropexy was performed.
Following surgery the rabbit recovered well and was eating and passing faeces within 24 hours.
Dr David Reese, Director of VetCT Australia and exotics expert said: “We are able to identify several life-threatening pathologies much more accurately with CT than radiographs.
"This is vital for early correction of acute surgical abdominal conditions to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.”
VetCT is offering a free trial of its specialist teleradiology and teleconsulting services at: www.vet-ct.com
Photo: VetCT report of a CT scan showing GDV in a rabbit - The pylorus (lime green star) denoted by the thick pyloric wall is located on the left side of the abdomen and the fundus (dark pink star) is right laterally located.
Merial Animal Health has been found in breach of the NOAH Code of Practice for literature promoting the wormer Ivomec Super.
In the literature, Merial stated that Closantel injection (Janssen Animal Health) was effective against flukes aged 9 weeks or older, when in fact, at the time the undated brochure was distributed, Closantel was effective against flukes aged 7 weeks or older.
Merial did not dispute the facts alleged: the company had relied on an out-of-date detailer. The NOAH Code of Practice Committee emphasised the need for members to ensure, when giving comparative data in promotions, that up-to-date data is used. The SPC of any authorised product can be viewed on the VMD's website.
The Committee did commend Merial Animal Health for taking corrective action within two days of notification by the Complainant.
NOAH encourages those interested in finding out more to read the full details of the Committee's rulings on the NOAH website at www.noah.co.uk/code.
Cat Henstridge, a small animal vet from South Yorkshire, has started a Facebook page to add the veterinary profession's voice to the campaign against the practice of puppy farming.
Cat said: "I write a blog on my website and recently touched on the subject of puppy farming. I was contacted by members of the 'PupAid' organisation and was shocked to learn that the veterinary community has no real public opinions on the subject. I found it really surprising that none of our professional bodies had spoken out, especially as we are supposed to be the bastions of animal welfare and see the consequences of poorly bred puppies all the time in our clinics."
"I am hoping the Facebook page will just be the start of a movement within the profession. Not only can we add our very powerful opinions to the discussion but this will be a way of driving the general public into our clinics to ask our advice, before they purchase a poor quality, sickly puppy and find themselves in trouble.
"Please join the page, add your stories about these dogs (we all have one!). At the risk of sounding cheesy, by coming together, we can really make a difference!"
The awards are designed to recognise successful implementation of quality improvement (QI) in veterinary practice, which can reduce avoidable errors, ensure practice is based on the best available evidence and, ultimately, save lives.
Entrants will need to demonstrate the impact that QI methods have had in their practice, such as increased efficiency, improved clinical or financial effectiveness, the development of a culture of continuous improvement, support in the use of evidence-based approaches, or a general bettering of excellence in care.
The awards are open to any member of a practice, including veterinary surgeons and nurses, practice managers, receptionists, locums, students, and more. You can also nominate a colleague, or vice versa.
Individual winners will get free tickets to an upcoming RCVS Knowledge event and be given a plaque pronouncing them a 'Knowledge Champion', while one team will scoop Knowledge’s 'Champion Practice' award.
RCVS Knowledge Executive Director Chris Gush said: "These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the good work that is going on in practice and to highlight examples of quality improvement.
"I would encourage all – from quality improvement experts to QI beginners – to get involved and enter the awards."
The closing date to submit an application is 1st November 2018, allowing plenty of time for those interested in introducing a quality improvement initiative in their practice to do so and apply for the awards at a later date.
To learn more about QI and how you can get started, visit RCVS Knowledge's QI pages.
Alternatively, you can enter the awards here: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/grants/available-grants/
With at least 65% of dogs and 39% of cats reported as overweight (1&2), the competition is designed to promote a healthy body shape for cats and dogs, and reward the hard work of pet owners and veterinary nurses for achieving and maintaining a pet’s healthy weight. It is open to patients that are starting out on a weight loss programme, those maintaining a healthy body shape following weight loss and even those who have always been a healthy weight and shape.
Six finalists will be selected from all the entries and invited to attend an awards lunch where the overall winner will be announced. All finalists will receive a £100 shopping voucher and the overall winner will receive a £1000 holiday voucher.
Caroline Burke, Weight Management Specialist at Royal Canin said: "The Healthy Weight Competition is the perfect opportunity for veterinary nurses and owners to tackle this serious disease and prevent it occurring.
"There are many health issues associated with an animal being overweight as well as affecting quality of life, longevity and the welfare of the pet. The Healthy Weight Competition is an ideal opportunity for practices to identify the overweight patients, enrol them on a weight loss programme and enter the competition. It also enables them to reward those cats and dogs who have maintained an ideal body shape and weight over a period of time."
The competition is open until 31st of August 2018.
For more information, visit: www.royalcaninhealthyweight.co.uk or contact your Veterinary Business Manager.
Reference
Organised by The Veterinary Edge in association with Simon Guiton of VETcpd, there will be three streams running throughout, with delegates able to gain 14 hours of CPD – or 16 if prepared to skip the tempting two-course lunches.
Speakers include:
Sessions run from 10am to 6pm on the first day (followed by a happy hour in the exhibition) and from 9am to 5.15pm on day two.
A two-day pass for vets costs £285 and a one-day pass £170 plus VAT.
The prices will increase after 31st August.
Passes include access to all three streams, a two-course lunch, other refreshments and the congress handbook, which will include summaries of the sessions.
Accommodation is available at the recently opened Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at Sandy Park; other hotels nearby include a Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express.
www.theveterinaryedge.com.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has refused an application for restoration to the Register by Mr Joseph Holmes, who was struck off in 2011 for serious professional misconduct associated with surgery he had carried out on a dog and two cats.
At a two-week Disciplinary Committee hearing that concluded on 14 January 2011, two separate complaints had been considered against Mr Holmes, formerly of Waltham Veterinary Clinic, Grimsby. These involved a total of 31 charges, of which 28 were found to amount to serious professional misconduct. Mr Holmes was found to have advised on and undertaken surgical procedures without sufficient clinical grounds or consideration of alternative treatment options; failed to obtain the informed consent of his clients; undertaken procedures outside his area of competence; failed to refer or discuss the option of referral to a specialist; and, failed to provide his patients with adequate pain relief.
The then-Committee directed Mr Holmes' name be removed from the Register, whereupon he appealed to the Privy Council, who dismissed his appeal on 22 December 2011, concluding that removal from the Register "was the only disposal which could properly reflect the primary need to serve both the interests of animal welfare and the reputation of the veterinary profession".
At the hearing last week the Committee considered several factors in relation to Mr Holmes' application for restoration. Although Mr Holmes gave assurances that he accepted the findings of the original hearing, this contrasted completely to the robust way in which he had challenged all of these at that hearing and the majority in his appeal. Mr Holmes had been off the Register for only 12 months - just over the minimum period before an application for restoral was permitted. The Committee took the view that the application was premature and was not satisfied that Mr Holmes truly appreciated the seriousness of the findings made against him.
In response to questions from the Committee, Mr Holmes showed deficiencies in his knowledge, such as not knowing all of the constituents of the human drug, Anadin Extra, in spite of having produced a record of continuing professional development (CPD) on analgesia and having prescribed it to a dog in the original complaint. He did not provide records of CPD for 2010, 2011 and 2012, and although recognising that working in isolation from the majority of his fellow practitioners had contributed to his failures, he had made very limited efforts to observe first-opinion veterinary practice.
The Committee accepted at face value Mr Holmes' statement that he had not worked as a veterinary surgeon whilst de-registered, and accepted that removal from the Register had had a profound effect on Mr Holmes and his family, including the sale of his practice. It noted that Mr Holmes produced only the testimonials previously submitted to the Privy Council, which were of limited scope.
Professor Peter Lees, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee said: "Having regard to all the factors set out above, the Committee regrets that it is not satisfied that the applicant is fit to be restored to the Register. Accordingly, the application is refused."
Jack Fellows, Elanco swine sales leader, said: "With the potential zinc oxide restrictions coming into place next year, it’s crucial that vets work with their farmers to start trialling alternative PWD prevention strategies now, while the use of zinc is still permitted.
“Keeping PWD at bay going forward will require a multifaceted approach to piglet management. Gradually reducing the level of zinc oxide, while simultaneously incorporating alternative preventive techniques, will reduce the likelihood of problems arising during this transition.
“It’s far more convenient to have the vaccine in a 200 head dose, rather than the current pack size that offers 50 treatments. This will greatly cut down the time required to dilute and stabilise multiple individual packs, while helping to minimise any margin of error during administration."
Research has shown over 90% of farmers1 would head to their vet as the first port of call when it comes to advice on treating PWD.
“It’s crucial that vets are aware of all the preventive tools and options for managing the disease as over half of farmers surveyed2 also said they would treat PWD with antibiotics, which is obviously something we’re trying to steer away from as an industry, and why vaccines play such an important role going forwards.
“The Coliprotec vaccine is proven to prevent against these issues, delivering healthy pigs that reach a heavier market weight up to 7 days earlier3, while substantially reducing the in-nursery use of antibiotic treatments."
To mark the launch of the new 200 dose pack size, Elanco is offering veterinary practices the chance to buy five packs for the price of four, a total of 1000 doses, through their wholesaler.
For more information, contact Jack Fellows at jack_michael.fellows@elancoah.com or call 07771 798157.
Louise is an RCVS and EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and a Past President of the Pain Medicine Section Council at the Royal Society of Medicine. She has also been an invited examiner on the European Diploma examination and a Treasurer of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists. She has headed the anaesthesia team at Davies since 2007.
Her tips are:
A You Gov poll commissioned by Intervet/Schering Plough in the run up to National Vaccination Month (1st-30th June) shows the degree to which the recession is now biting into veterinary spending, and the impact it's having on vaccination levels.
The You Gov survey found that 19% of pet owners nationwide admit they have cut back on veterinary expenses such as vaccinations, health checks and treatments. Just under half are failing to vaccinate their animals with 53% of those polled not vaccinating their pets due to cost.
Other key findings of the You Gov survey include:
The You Gov survey also highlighted a lack of awareness among younger pet owners about pet health. Of the 18-24 year olds polled who had not taken their pet to be vaccinated, 44% said it was because they were unaware of any disease risk to their animals, compared to just 13% of those aged 55 and over. 22% of 18-24 year olds surveyed were not aware of zoonoses such as fleas and worms and diseases such as ringworm and Toxocara.
Matt Brash, BVetMed MRCVS, who runs a small animal veterinary clinic in North Yorkshire and is star of the TV show 'Zoo Vet at Large' said: "These figures are concerning and we could be sitting on a ticking time bomb. The simple fact is that many pet owners don't realise that their pets are at risk of disease. Less than half of all dogs and cats are vaccinated, which is well below the amount needed to protect the pet population through herd immunity."
Paula Boyden, a vet and Business Development and Corporate Marketing Project Manager at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, who has steered the campaign for the company said: "There are clearly some strong messages coming out to vets here, not least where and how the credit crunch is hitting pet owners. The underlying message that National Vaccination Month offers a way of supporting pet owners during these difficult economic times is obviously important. While the data shows that pet owners will still make considerable sacrifices to care for their pets, it also highlights that vaccination is falling by the wayside. Clearly, practices will need to work harder than ever against the background of the credit crunch to bring home the message to pet owners that their pets are at risk of serious and often fatal disease and that cutting vaccination is a false economy. The You Gov poll also highlights the urgent need to educate the younger section of pet owners about the disease threat faced by their animals."
TV wildlife and science presenter Kate Humble, who with Matt and Clare Brash is spearheading the National Vaccination Month Campaign, said: "The really sad aspect is that people who are reducing veterinary care due to the recession may be making a false economy by putting their pets at risk of serious disease, which may lead to treatment at far greater cost than the price of the annual jab."
The You Gov survey suggests that where people have had to pay for unexpected vet bills they are paying for them on credit cards. One had to put the family pet down and many revealed that they had made personal sacrifices in order to keep looking after their animals including stopping smoking, cutting out luxuries, clothes and socialising.
The You Gov survey highlights how, despite lavishing affection and presents on their pets, people are not taking adequate steps to protect them from preventable killer diseases. The survey reveals that 65% of pet owners consider their animal to be an extremely important member of the family with over half (54%) buying them Christmas presents. However, only 56% of pets were vaccinated with just under a quarter (22%) of owners unaware of any disease risk.
Currently, an estimated 3 million dogs, 6 million cats, 1.8 million rabbits and 500,000 horses are unvaccinated.
In answer to this disease threat and to help owners during the recession, around 2,000 veterinary clinics across the UK have so far signed up to part in the National Vaccination Month campaign, offering pets a full vaccination course against a range of fatal diseases for the cost of a booster.
To participate in National Vaccination Month (www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk) - the biggest national consumer campaign of its kind, please contact your Intervet/ Schering-Plough Animal Health account manager or call Intervet/ Schering-Plough's Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685, option 4.
A major consultation of the National Occupational Standards required by veterinary nurses will take place throughout April 2010, giving veterinary nurses, employers and organisations the opportunity to ensure their ways of working are accurately reflected.
Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries, is leading the UK wide project, which will lead to a revised list of skills needed for student and registered veterinary nurses to be able to do their job properly. Lantra is seeking individuals and organisations representing veterinary nursing and veterinary surgeons to participate in the online consultation and help ensure that National Occupational Standards fit modern business needs.
Lisa Jarvis, Industry Partnership Manager for veterinary nursing at Lantra and a RVN herself, said: "The National Occupational Standards identify the detailed knowledge, understanding, ability and experiences somebody needs to carry out their job effectively and they also form the basis of veterinary nursing qualifications. Industry input is critical for this review and so now is the time for you to go online and have your say."
Many employers and industry representatives from across the UK are supporting this extensive review.
Catherine Corden, a Veterinary Surgeon at the Northlands Veterinary Hospital, said: "I decided to get involved with this review so that I can actually contribute to the changes in the standards, instead of moaning about them afterwards. I think they are really important for industry as they maintain the standards of veterinary nurse training and I think industry should be getting involved with the upcoming consultation to help ensure these changes are relevant to the profession at large."
The online consultation will take place from Thursday 1 April to Friday 30 April, and will give all those interested parties the opportunity to review and comment on the standards for veterinary nurses.
Lisa said: "National Occupational Standards cannot be developed without your help. Only by working together can we ensure that the revised Standards will take into account any new business practices and make them fit for purpose and valued by employers."
To take part in the consultation and help industry get the most out of the skills system, visit www.lantra.co.uk/vn-nos. For more information about National Occupational Standards, email standardsandquals@lantra.co.uk, or call Lantra on 02476 858 424.
The disease, which originally appeared in the late 1980s, was first detected in the UK in 2012. It affects the kidneys and has a 90% mortality rate.
The team at Anderson Moores, which has been leading research into this disease, wants to alert colleagues to these new cases, which have been confirmed since 1st January.
By comparison 18 cases were reported in the whole of 2018, 19 in 2019, and 47 in 2020.
The new cases have been identified in Herefordshire, Greater London and Exeter.
David Walker, American, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores Vet Specialists and is the UK’s foremost authority on the disease. He said: “We’re very sad to confirm three new cases of CRGV already in 2021. Unfortunately, we find ourselves at the time of year when cases are most commonly identified.
"As well as these confirmed cases, we are awaiting results on a number of other dogs that have sadly been euthanised with suspected CRGV. It is understandably a worrying time of year for dog owners with regards to CRGV; however, the disease remains rare.
"We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.”
Previous cases have been identified in Gloucestershire, Surrey, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cornwall, Devon and Staffordshire.
Mr Walker added: “If a dog becomes affected by CRGV, the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive veterinary care which may be best provided at a specialist facility such as Anderson Moores.
“Treatment primarily revolves around intensive management of the acute kidney injury and is sadly only successful in around 10% of cases.
“However, the team here at Anderson Moores successfully treated a suspected case of CRGV in a Labrador Retriever. Molly was referred to our internal medicine team just before Christmas due to limb swelling and a deep, painful ulcerative lesion on one of her legs.
“Following four days’ intensive treatment, her condition started to improve and we began to cautiously hope she would survive the disease.
“Molly continued to slowly improve and, after two nerve-wracking weeks, she was discharged to continue her recovery at home."
To find out more about CRGV, visit www.andersonmoores.com and the Alabama Rot Research Fund at www.arrf.co.uk.
Ceva Animal Health has introduced an improved version of Hepatosyl, its liver support supplement for horses.
Hepatosyl Plus for horses contains the same antioxidant ingredients as the original version but now also contains Silybin, the most active isomer of Silybum marianum (milk thistle)1.
According to Ceva, the addition of Silybin gives new Hepatosyl Plus a triple antioxidant approach to liver support to help neutralise free radicals within the liver. Free radicals are produced by hepatocyte mitochondria and cause oxidative damage to cell membranes, protein and DNA.
The company says Hepatosyl Plus's triple approach includes S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), in a stable, pure and absorbable form, which is converted into the potent liver anti-oxidant glutathione and also helps to maintain bile flow; Vitamin E, which is well-known as a potent liver antioxidant, and Silybin, which works as an antioxidant by increasing cellular superoxide dismutase.
Hepatosyl Plus remains the only liver supplement to contain Vitamin K which is needed by the liver for the production of many essential clotting factors, such as factors II, VII, IX and X, making it ideally suited for pre and post anaesthetic liver support.
Ceva says an independent trial2 on horses with confirmed liver disease has demonstrated the benefits of Hepatosyl. Conducted by European Specialist in equine internal medicine Dr Tim Brazil, the trial involved seven horses of various ages and types. All animals were given Hepatosyl in addition to treatment with antimicrobials, corticosteroids, a low protein diet and vitamin B supplementation. Post SAMe supplementation tests revealed a notable reduction in raised liver enzymes, serum proteins and bile acids and the seven horses showed obvious improvements including better appetite, weight gain and demeanour.
For further product information contact Ceva Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG, telephone 01494 781510 or visit the website at http://www.ceva.uk.com/
References1 Flatland B (2003) Botanicals, Vitamins and Minerals and the Liver2 Brazil T (2007) S-adenosylmethionine liver support supplement trial in horses
The modules, which are presented by US veterinary oncology specialists Dr Chad Johannes and Dr Sue Ettinger, are titled: ‘Mastering Mast Cell Tumours’, ‘Treating Canine Mast Cell Tumours’ and ‘Stelfonta’.
Each of the modules offer 30 minutes of bitesize, interactive CPD and are suitable for both veterinary surgeons and nurses.
Dr Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: ‘We appreciate that for the majority of veterinary teams, finding time for CPD is pretty challenging at present. We therefore hope that the bitesize, on-demand format of these modules can provide the perfect solution, whilst still delivering high quality CPD’.
The modules can be accessed at: vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta/education
Virtual lunch and learn meetings are also available from Virbac Territory Managers.
For more information, speak to your Virbac Territory Manager, or visit vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta
MSD Animal Health has announced the European launch of Activyl, a novel flea and tick treatment containing indoxacarb, an active that is new to animal health and which - uniquely - is activated by flea metabolism.
Activyl is licensed to treat and prevent flea infestations in cats and dogs. Activyl Tick Plus (indoxacarb + permethrin) controls fleas and ticks in dogs.
According to MSD, Activyl is the first flea control product to use metabolic activation, or bioactivation, to kill fleas. It is a topical, once-a-month ectoparasiticide containing indoxacarb, an agent that, because it is new, has no known flea resistance. Following application, indoxacarb is taken up by fleas where it is converted into an active metabolite. This metabolite causes fleas to stop feeding and they die within hours. Unlike insects, mammals mainly convert indoxacarb into non-toxic metabolites so they are not exposed to the active insecticide.
MSD says that Activyl also disrupts the flea life cycle by inhibiting the development of flea larvae. This aids in the environmental control of flea infestations and helps prevent re-infestation for up to four weeks. It may also be used as part of a treatment strategy for flea allergy dermatitis. In laboratory and field studies, Activyl has been shown to have a fast initial and persistent speed of kill that results in greater than 95% efficacy in preventing flea infestation for a full four weeks (MSD Animal Health, data on file).
Dr. Linda Horspool, BVMS, PhD, DipECVPT, MRCVS, global technical director for companion animal pharmaceuticals and parasiticides at MSD Animal Health said: "This innovation is the first time that a pro-insecticide, requiring activation by flea enzymes to produce a highly insecticidal active metabolite that kills adult and developing stages of fleas in the immediate environment of treated pets, has been used to provide flea control in dogs and cats."
Dispensed in clear pipettes that can easily be opened with one hand, Activyl is fragrance-free, dries quickly and remains effective following shampooing, swimming and exposure to sunlight. Seven sizes are available to treat small to extra-large dogs (five sizes) and small and large cats (two sizes). The product is approved for use in puppies and kittens from eight weeks of age.
Activyl Tick Plus is exclusively for dogs. In addition to indoxacarb, Activyl Tick Plus contains permethrin, an acaricide with proven efficacy against ticks. Studies have shown that Activyl Tick Plus kills more than 90% of common tick species including those known to carry such diseases as Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease (MSD Animal Health, data on file).
Once applied, Activyl Tick Plus kills fleas for up to four weeks and kills and repels ticks for three to five weeks. It remains effective following swimming and exposure to rain or sunlight. The product is also provided in easy to use applicators in a variety of different sizes and has been approved for use in puppies from as young as eight weeks of age. Activyl Tick Plus is not for use on cats.
David Hallas, BVSc and companion animal franchise leader at MSD Animal Health said: "Both products will be available strictly through licensed veterinarians, benefiting dogs and cats and their owners by controlling fleas in an innovative way."
In the study1, which was funded by Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), an online questionnaire was completed by 744 snake owners worldwide but predominantly from the UK (68.8%).
The questionnaire investigated housing and husbandry practices and snake health and welfare as measured by clinical signs and behavioural indicators.
Associations between clinical signs, behavioural indicators and housing and husbandry aspects were tested for the three most common snake families: Pythonoids, Boids and Colubrids.
The study found 54.7% of snakes were kept in enclosures shorter in length or height than their body, preventing them from stretching out fully.
10.2% of snakes in the UK were kept in enclosures that do not comply with current recommended guidelines (minimum enclosure length <0.66 of snake length).
Whilst most snake owners (93.1%) reported measuring the temperature in their snakes’ enclosures, 24% of these checked less than the recommended once daily.
When looking at the most commonly owned snake species (royal pythons, corn snakes and common boa constrictors), 47.2% were kept in sub-optimal temperatures for their species.
Furthermore, 48.1% of owners reported not measuring the humidity in their snakes’ enclosure.
Owners reported that many snakes experienced at least one of the listed clinical signs, with the most common issues being skin shedding (28.2%), parasites (11.2%), rostral cuts and scrapes (7.4%) and respiratory problems (5.6%).
Snakes that were kept in enclosures <1 snake length had significantly more clinical signs compared to those snakes kept in enclosures >1 snake length.
Similarly, most snakes were reported to experience at least one of the listed negative behaviours, most commonly interacting with transparent boundaries (52.8%), wincing or withdrawal of head when gently touched (52.4%), putting the head under the substrate (52.1%), unusually high level of activity (51.1%) and attempting to escape (45.9%).
All these negative behaviours have previously been described as associated with captive stress.
Snakes that were reported as having more clinical signs tended to show more reported negative behaviours.
Dr Nicola Rooney, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife and Conservation at Bristol Veterinary School and corresponding author for the paper, said: “Our study has highlighted various concerns for snake welfare.
"The first of these relates to enclosure size, with snakes commonly being kept in vivaria preventing straight-line postures and movement.
"Snakes that were unable to stretch out fully had more clinical signs than those that were able to stretch out fully.
“Whilst we did not find a significant association between temperature or humidity and measures of health and welfare in this study, it is a concern that many snakes were housed in conditions considered sub-optimal for their species.
"We know that appropriate temperature and humidity is vital for maintaining the health of snakes and it would therefore be prudent to investigate these associations further, using methods other than owner reporting.”
Dr Huw Golledge, Animal Welfare Editor-in-Chief, said: “Until now, there has been little empirical data on the housing and husbandry practices of privately kept snakes, and how these impact on their welfare.
"As the first study of this size, this research provides valuable baseline data against which future surveys or welfare interventions can be compared.
“As this survey relies on owner-reported information, it is very likely that many of the frequencies of clinical and behavioural signs are underestimated.
"This demonstrates the need for evidence-based recommendations, and the importance of such recommendations being made accessible to owners to improve snake welfare.”
Photo: Brown and Black Snake in Close Up Photography © deedee Pexels