10 new poisoning modules from VPIS to be released on Vetacademy

The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) has announced a collaboration with online content supplier Vetstream to develop a series of ten CPD modules covering the most common types of poisoning to animals.

The modules will be hosted on Vetacademy, a Vetstream service which provides e-learning modules and online videos in partnership with some of the world’s leading veterinary CPD providers.

For a full list of modules read more.

British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) comment on horse meat scandal

Defra Minister David Heath has announced the latest bute (phenylbutazone) test results. The presence of bute has been confirmed in 8 samples out of 206 tests.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has stated that horsemeat containing phenylbutazone presents a very low risk to human health.

Responding to these latest developments BVA and the BEVA have issued the following statement.

Guidance notes are available via the BEVA’s Medicines Page.

@parvoalert effective in identifying canine parvovirus (CPV)

A Twitter-based early warning system to alert vets and dog owners of cases of canine parvovirus (CPV) in their area has warned of cases in 61 postcode areas in the three months since it was launched.

Be sure to follow @parvoalert for all the latest updates.

Phenylbutazone presence in horses prompts RCVS to remind vets of responsibilities

A small number of horses have tested positive for the presence of phenylbutazone, which, if consumed, can be harmful to human health.

Defra and the FSA have asked for the assistance of the profession in ensuring that treatment with phenylbutazone is properly recorded in Horse Passports and have said that they are working together to understand the cause of the positive tests, and what longer term measures can be put in place to stop this happening.

Read more at RCVS.

Mandatory microchipping for all UK dogs by 2016 welcomed by BVA and BSAVA

Veterinary associations have hailed the introduction of compulsory microchipping for all dogs in England as a giant leap forward for dogs and their owners. The new law is designed to reduce the number of strays who currently make up over a third of all dogs in the UK.

Defra has announced that from 6 April 2016 all dogs will be required to have a microchip, giving owners over 3 years to comply with new legislation that will be drafted by Defra. Dog owners who fail to comply will be met with a fine.

Commenting, BVA President Peter Jones, said:
“Microchipping is a safe and effective way to link dogs to their owners and is an essential part of responsible ownership.”

For more information visit the Microchipping Alliance.

British Horse Society to use posters on buses to avoid horse injuries

The British Horse Society is hoping that posters placed on the back of buses will help raise awareness of the plight of horses and riders on the road.

Ask any horse rider and they will tell you about an incident they have been involved in while riding on the road. The British Horse Society wants drivers to be aware of the need to be careful when they meet horses on the road. It is not only horse and rider that can be injured; a horse colliding with a vehicle can cause significant damage to a vehicle and its occupants.

To tackle this problem, the Society has recently trialled a pilot equestrian road safety advertising project in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The ‘Hit the Brakes, not my Horse’ poster was displayed in the region on the back of ten buses for four weeks. The project was enthusiastically welcomed by the horse owning community in the area and much interest has been expressed from other regions in running a similar project.

For more information visit Horse Accidents.

MRSA superbug highlights antibiotic overuse

The Soil Association is calling for the government to investigate British farm animals carrying MRSA and act to stop the overuse of antibiotics in farming.

This follows new research from the University of Cambridge revealing the first cases of MRSA ST398 have been found in UK livestock. First found in pigs in the Netherlands in 2003, MRSA ST398 has since become epidemic in European and North American pig populations and has spread to poultry and cattle.

The superbug can cause serious and occasionally deadly infections in humans and is becoming a cause of mastitis in cows. The high level of antibiotic resistance makes this infection difficult to treat, and the Cambridge scientists say their finding is therefore ‘of significance to both veterinary and human health’.

For more information visit The Soil Association

British Horse Society identifies additional risks to horses and consumers

The recent revelations concerning horse meat being identified in various meat products has highlighted concerns about meat traceability and equine welfare according to The British Horse Society.

The UK’s largest equine charity believes that a number of serious food hygiene issues need addressing as a matter of urgency. The 2012 Defra decision to withdraw funding from the National Equine Database, and the subsequent loss of that database, has given rise to concerns that it is possible for contaminated horsemeat to enter the human food chain.

Abolishment of Dog Control Orders concerns Kennel Club

The Kennel Club has responded to the Home Office Affairs Committee’s call for evidence on the Government’s draft Anti-Social Behaviour Bill with serious concerns regarding the abolishment of Dog Control Orders, which it feels can be used effectively by councils to promote responsible dog ownership when used correctly.

It also does not believe that the new proposals outlined in the Bill would be more effective in tackling dog related anti-social behaviour.

More information on the draft Anti-Social Bill can be found on the UK Parliament website.

The Kennel Club’s full response is available on the Kennel Club website.

Animal Health Trust (AHT) Hydrotherapy team celebrate record-breaking year

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) in Kentford, Suffolk, is celebrating its first year in its purpose built Hydrotherapy Centre, with the news that the team has treated a record number of patients in 2012!

In the last 12 months, the team has treated over 700 cases with hydrotherapy. Animals can be referred for hydrotherapy treatment for a number of different reasons including: spinal injuries, arthritis, obesity, hip dysplasia/ hip replacements and general strains and pains.

Find out more about the AHT.