BVA to determine member satisfaction and the relevance of benefits In a move to assess the value of its membership, the BVA will be conducting spot checks using external research agency Research by Design to ask members for detailed feedback on the services they receive. Practicising members and veterinary students in their final year can all [...]

Catch up on any lecture you miss BEVA has released webcasts for anyone who missed lectures at BEVA Congress 2011. BEVA 2011 was extremely busy and there was plenty to see; even vets can’t be in two places at once. If you missed a lecture, or if you’re interested in attenting BEVA 2012 but aren’t sure [...]

The Kennel Club will no longer accept registration of puppies with two merle parents The merle mutation is triggered by a dominant gene which causes dapple colouration and is associated with a number of health risks including sight and hearing loss. Some breeds have already received a formal ban on merle mating, and the Kennel Club [...]

Veterinary associations welcome Welsh government proposals Veterinary associations including the Kennel Club and BVA have wholeheartedly supported the Welsh government’s proposals to introduce compulsory microchipping. The new proposals will ensure all dogs are stored on a microchip database, making it far easier for owners to find their lost pets whilst cutting costs for local authorities in [...]

The PDSA need your advice in the latest PAW report Feedback from vets and vet nurses will shape the PDSA’s wellbeing policies and advice to owners, and will help the PDSA analyse the true state of pet care in the UK. Vets and vet nurses have a unique insight into the world of pet care. If [...]

RCVS Council election ‘fair’ despite duplicate ballot papers Concerns over voters potentially dual-voting due to duplicate ballot papers and multiple votes online have been discounted by Electoral Reform Services (ERS), who concluded ‘it was not possible to say there had been instances of dual voting’. The ERS estimates the number of duplicate papers sent to voters [...]

Advertising your services online is important, but are you wasting your money? Throwing a marketing budget at an online directory provider might seem like a quick way of marketing your practice, but how much of what is sent out will actually lead to an increase in sales? ReachLocal highlights the importance of directed and sensible advertising in [...]

Reforms to dangerous dog laws are welcome but further action is needed, say Kennel Club New guidelines will target irresponsible dog owners rather than dogs themselves. Under new legislation the penalties applied for owning a banned breed will also be applied to owners of dangerous dogs of any kind. This new legislation will make it easier [...]

Novartis Animal Health recommend vigilance as changing weather could increase risk of nematodirus worms Changing temperatures increase the risk of nematodirus worms, which require a period of cold weather followed by an increase of over 10 degrees to hatch. Nematodirus is especially dangerous to lambs, with a high mortality rate if measures are not taken to [...]

Kinetic Technologies announced the launch of Opti Vet AR- Allergy Relief Eye Drops for dogs and cats formulated with Naphazoline HCl and Pheniramine Maleate. The company also launched the EquiShield CK line of topical antiseptics containing 2% Chlorhexidine and 1% Ketoconazole.

(Source – Brakke Consulting)

PetMed Express, Inc. announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. Net sales were $238 million, an increase of 3% compared to the year ended March 31, 2011. Net income was $16.7 million compared to net income of $20.9 million for the prior year

(Source – Brakke Consulting)

Hill’s Pet Nutrition announced the launch of new Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat GI Restore Canine to support the care of dogs with gastrointestinal conditions like pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia and protein-losing enteropathy. The Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat formula contains omega-3 fatty acids to help break the cycle of inflammation; prebiotic fiber to restore the [...]

Henry Schein, Inc. reported record financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Global Animal Health sales of $526 million increased 15%. Internal growth in local currencies included 16% growth in North America and 14% International growth.

(Source – Brakke Consulting)

Animal Welfare Foundation’s (AWF) annual Discussion Forum to focus on the use of animals for human benefit The AWF’s Discussion Forum will highlight the use of animals in horse racing, livestock shows, hobby farming and ‘super dairies’. The event will take place in London on 14 May 10:30 – 17:00. View the full programme BVA-AWF [...]

NationWide Laboratories and Cambridge Specialist Laboratory Specialist merge met with success at BSAVA

The laboratories were officially merged with Dechra Specialist Laboratories at BSAVA where feedback from delegates, particularly delegates in Denmark, Sweden and Belgium, was overwhelmingly positive.

The merger comes as Dechra invests in new laboratory equipment to modernise its diagnostic facilities.

Vets call for faster, more accurate diagnostic tests Currently results from diagnostic tests can take from one to six days with varying degrees of accuracy depending on the tests used. 334 individuals across Europe were surveyed by Life Technologies as to how best to improve veterinary diagnostics, 37% of whom asked for more reliable tests and [...]

Feed originating from ethanol production waste contains antibiotics Ethanol production requires the use of antibiotics to prevent bacteria outbreaks that lead to decreased yield. Pencillin and erythromycin are commonly used to ensure levels of bacteria are kept low. However ‘distillers grains’ are a byproduct of ethanol production and are sold as livestock feed due to their [...]

How many patients can be realistically cared for in an average day? Getting new clients and a steady flow of patients is a vital part of making a name for your practice and keeping yourself afloat financially. However is there a point when you have too many patients and can’t possibly provide adequate care for them [...]

Diamond Pet Foods announced it is expanding a voluntary recall to include one production run and four production codes of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light formula dry dog food, as well as several lots of Puppy Formula dry dog food. One bag of the product has tested positive for Salmonella. No [...]

Scientists at Plum Island Animal Disease Center have developed a foot-and-mouth vaccine that contains only part of the virus and cannot replicate. The vaccine also includes an antibody test that will enable regulators to tell the difference between a vaccinated and naturally infected animal. The vaccine is expected to be licensed in the next few [...]