Invicta Animal Health appointed exclusive UK distributor of EquiChek

EquiChek is a novel rapid screening test, using whole blood, to assess the level of Serum Amyloid A (SAA) which is a major acute phase protein of inflammation in horses.

Importantly, EquiChek is the first test which is able to provide a visual semi-quantitative result within 15 minutes. The test will display 4 lines for a normal level of SAA and sequentially fewer lines depending on the severity of the inflammation.

For more information visit Invicta Vet

‘I heart my pet’ campaign to encourage pet disease prevention

Pet owners across the UK will be encouraged to seek expert advice on preventing disease in their pets as the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) embarks on a new campaign, due to launch in late November 2012. The “I heart my pet” campaign follows extensive NOAH research during 2007 and 2011, which found that while both groups of pet owners clearly loved their pet, and whilst all pet owners considered themselves responsible, some do not see regular preventative healthcare as part of that responsibility.

The campaign will be built around a specially created seasonal healthcare calendar with tips, advice and activity ideas for pet owners and their animals. This will be available to download at Pet Health Info or on request, in poster form.

A new world-class School of Veterinary Medicine will be launched at the University of Surrey in 2014

The new School will embrace the ‘One Health – One Medicine’ philosophy and will include the development of a unique research-led veterinary medicine degree programme with an emphasis on research, veterinary pathology and livestock medicine.

Currently there are only seven Schools of Veterinary Medicine in the country, and the development of the eighth school will be the first of its kind in South East England.

Professor John Fazakerley, Director of The Pirbright Institute, said: “This is good news for the UK veterinary research community. The Pirbright Institute currently works in close collaboration with the University of Surrey on research that benefits animal health and welfare; we very much look forward to building on this established and growing association as the new school of veterinary medicine is launched. There is an important place for trained veterinarians in scientific research and we are delighted that the University has decided to emphasise these areas in particular.”

Throughout the next twelve month period the University will be involved with the recruiting of new academic staff, attracting the first cohort of students, and beginning building works in preparation for the first cohort of students in 2014.

For more information visit the University of Surrey.

Following Countryfile coverage research into ‘mystery illness’ highlighted

The Animal Health Trust has visited sites where Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) has been reported however much is still not known about the illness.

What little we do know can be found on Vetstream and in the following video from the Animal Health Trust:

More and more people are choosing to own a dog over having children and want to see Britain adapting by being more dog friendly, according to research conducted by the Kennel Club

The research, carried out ahead of the Kennel Club’s Open for Dogs Week from 20-26 August, found that two-fifths of people say owning a dog is a happy alternative to having children, and one in four say that a dog fits more easily with their lifestyle. Furthermore, a quarter of Brits with children say that whilst their children always come first, they prefer to do things with their dog.

It is not just children that are going down in the pecking order when compared to Fido. Eight out of ten say that their dog is attentive and loving when out and about, whereas just over half say that the same is true of their other half!

However, despite the central place that dogs hold in their owners’ hearts, many people experience difficulty taking their dogs out and about, particularly to restaurants. Two fifths of people say that they have problems finding a place where their dog is welcome while they eat, and almost half say that they’d like to see a wider variety of restaurants open their doors to dogs.

Learn more about Open For Dogs.

Larges European award celebrates veterinary innovation

Vets, scientists and veterinary students that are carrying out innovative research that will help to improve dog health have the chance to receive funding and a prestigious award for their work, thanks to the launch of the largest veterinary awards in Europe.

Nominations for the new Kennel Club Charitable Trust Veterinary Awards, underwritten by a major gift from the Vernon and Shirley Hill Family Foundation, are now open and will close on 30th November 2012.

The Awards have been created to recognise innovative researchers, veterinary scientists and students from around the world, who have carried out research that has helped to improve the health and wellbeing of dogs.

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The latest developments in the field of equine imaging techniques and infectious diseases were the focus of a European Veterinary Symposium hosted jointly by Pfizer Animal Health and the Hippolia Foundation

More than 150 delegates from 10 European countries travelled to Deauville, Normandy to attend the two day event which included practical equine demonstrations. The meeting came just four months after the announcement of a strategic partnership between Pfizer and Hippolia to advance equine health through research and educational programmes.

For more information on infectious equine disease visit Vetstream Equis.

For equine veterinary CPD take a look at Vetacademy.

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Researchers find link between dog-associated dust and reduced asthma rates in children

Research conducted by the University of California in San Francisco has found a link between homes with dogs and natural protection against respiratory synctial virus (RSV) which leads to the development of asthma. The composition of dust from homes that own a dog or cat is different to homes that do not.

Tests so far have only been conducted on mice and the actual microbes that provide resistance to RSV have yet to be identified, however the research definitely shows promise.

For full conclusions of the study visit Vetscite.

SPVS welcomes RVC clincial data usage scheme

The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) is proud to announce their support for the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) VetCompass project (VetCompass 2011) that shares primary practice clinical data for large scale epidemiological research. SPVS believes that primary practices across the UK hold vital data on disorders affecting the animals that they treat but which are not currently being used in a meaningful way to inform on national disease levels.

VetCompass collects and collates this de-identified clinical data from participating practices into a single secure research database that is analysed to identify risk factors for a range of conditions as well as disorder prevalence levels.

Sensor attached to dog’s collar to monitor effect of osteoarthritis treatment

The RVC is working with Lintbells, a firm that supplies supplements, to monitor how effective osteoarthritis treatment is in a day-to-day home environment. Currently vets can only carry out limited examinations that don’t always provide conclusive results.

The 12 week study will analyse Lintbell’s joint and mobility supplement Yumove and record the effect of the supplement using the sensor.

It’s hoped this revolutionary test will show, for the first time, the real effects of osteoarthritis treatment in dogs.