The 2012 edition of the NOAH Compendium of Data Sheets for Animal Medicines has been published and a free copy sent to each veterinary practice in the UK.

This edition has a new look – the cover has changed and it bears a new design, developed for NOAH’s 25^th anniversary which took place this year.

In these digital times, the book remains a welcome and essential information source for busy vets in practice. It is of course fully supported by the online edition at www.noahcompendium.co.uk.

The data sheets, from 32 companies, can be easily accessed through colour-coded indexes and the book includes the up-to-date edition of NOAH’s Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines.

NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: “This book – along with the online version – is a major part of NOAH’s efforts to help provide prescribers and users of animal medicines with information to assist the appropriate and responsible use of all animal medicines.”

He urged prescribers not to forget the back-up that company advisors can give to assist a prescribing decision.

“The compendium also includes another vital resource – the contact details for each company. Company veterinary and technical advisors have detailed knowledge about their company’s medicines at their fingertips. They are ready to talk to prescribers about the use of a medicine in a particular animal or in a particular situation, as well as to explain any queries about the data sheet,” he said.

If your practice has not received its copy, perhaps because you are a new practice, or have changed address in the past year and not told NOAH, please contact Ruth Herbert at NOAH (r.herbert@noah.co.uk).

Extra copies are also available to order now, for £42 – many veterinary surgeons choose to buy extras: perhaps one for the car or one for each consulting room. There are special prices for bulk orders.