National equine survey uncovers common conditions
Findings from this year’s national equine survey have found a close association between lameness and back pain in horses. Analysis of the health status of more than 15,000 horses found up to 26 per cent with back pain also had lameness. While the findings do not prove the two issues are related, they support a pattern observed by equine researcher Sue Dyson at the Animal Health Trust (AHT). Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the AHT, said: ‘It is a common observation that horses with lameness stiffen the back as a protective mechanism and develop muscle pain which may be mi...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research

'Dogs can mirror our stress say owners
Two thirds of dog owners believe pets can suffer mental health conditions – such as separation anxiety, stress and depression – according to a survey by Direct Line Pet Insurance. Most owners seek veterinary advice for pet health concerns, but nearly a fifth (16 per cent) of 1000 owners surveyed said they sought advice from dog behavioural or psychological therapists. (Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research

Fines for dog fouling scheme scrapped by council
The Kennel Club has welcomed the decision by Thanet District Council to scrap its controversial dog fouling scheme. The council announced the scheme back in April in a bid to target irresponsible owners who let their dogs foul and do not ‘bag and bin it’. The council was encouraging dog owners to submit their dogs’ DNA to create a DNA database, so that dog foulers could be identified and charged. The Kennel Club saw the scheme, which was expected to cost £20,000 a year, as a tax on responsible dog owners – as the irresponsible minority would continue to flout the law. It also believed the init...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research

Annual CPD audit underway by RCVS
Keeping up to date in practice doesn’t have to be expensive and doesn’t even have to involve clinical review. That was the message from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) as it reminded vets of their professional obligation to update every three years. Under the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, all vets are expected to demonstrate that they are keeping their skills and knowledge up-to-date by engaging in at least 105 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) every three years. The college is about to undertake an audit of compliance across the profession. It will conduct checks on the CP...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research

CSI Surrey: new integrated forensics venture launched
A new one-stop shop forensics service is aiming to increase the success rate of prosecutions against people who abuse animals. ArroGen Veterinary Forensics offers a wide range of forensic pathology and science services to agencies that deal with, or investigate, crimes against or involving animals. These include forensic veterinary pathology, crime scene investigation, blood pattern analysis and forensic firearms services. Officially launched last week, the service is a joint venture by the University of Surrey and the independent forensic science company ArroGen Forensics. Led by vet Alexander Stoll and forensic scientist...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research

Charities 'thrilled as animal cruelty sentencing set to increase tenfold
Animal abusers in England could face up to five years in prison under new plans unveiled last week. Currently, the maximum sentence for animal cruelty is six months, but the government plans to introduce new legislation that would increase this to five years. Environment secretary Michael Gove announced the plans at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week. He said: ‘We are a nation of animal lovers and so we must ensure that those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals face suitably tough punishments. ‘These plans will give courts the tools they have requested to deal with the mo...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research

News section
(Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research

Dogs should look like dogs
How many of you have colleagues – vets or nurses – who own or even breed brachycephalic dogs? This was a question asked by Brenda Bonnett, CEO of International Partnership for Dogs, to an audience at the joint World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA) congress last week. She was speaking in a panel discussion on the vet’s role in tackling the problem of brachycephalic dogs. I was surprised – the raised hands indicated almost everyone in the room. Some might defend their position if the dog in question was from a...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Jarvis, S. Tags: Comment Source Type: research

Working on the wild side
With a final goal of working with wildlife, Justine Shotton built her career on travel, experiences and making the most of opportunities (Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - October 6, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Vet record careers Source Type: research

A vet who embraced what it meant to be part of the veterinary family.
Many of us within the veterinary family are feeling a deep sense of personal loss following the sudden death of our friend and colleague, Jane (Jean) Allardice Wales (née Gentles) at the age of 53. Jean had a passion for life and every task she involved herself in. She had a drive to do everything as well as she possibly could, setting a gold standard for the rest of us to aspire to. Jean graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1986 and set out to gain clinical experience in veterinary practices in Scotland and England as well as Dervock, County Antrim. In 1991, she moved back to Northern Ireland with her husban...
Source: Veterinary Record - September 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Doherty, S., Huey, R., O'Kane, S., O'Neill, J. Tags: Obituary Source Type: research

Anaesthetic monitoring survey
WE wish to notify readers of our study, the purpose of which is to ascertain the extent of anaesthetic monitoring and confidence level of personnel who monitor anaesthetics. The study also aims to identify particular strengths and any areas of weakness; attitudes and opinions towards monitoring of anaesthesia and has an overall objective of optimising student education and promotion of professional development, if necessary. We hope this data will give us a deeper insight into the conduct of anaesthetic monitoring in small animal practice within the UK. To our knowledge there is no published data on this subject at present...
Source: Veterinary Record - September 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Richardson, E. Tags: Letters & amp; Notices Source Type: research

History of dry cow therapy
Andrew Biggs’ interesting history of dry cow therapy has stimulated memory. 1, 2 Escherichia coli is found in the colon contents and faeces of all mammals. Bovine mastitis caused by E coli udder infection was first recorded by Kitt in 1896,3 but did not emerge as a major cause of clinical bovine mastitis in the UK until the 1970s. Strains recovered from mastitis were of faecal origin from a faecally contaminated environment.4 Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus were the major UK mastitis pathogens until the 1970s. Subclinical infection with these persisting contagious pathogens elevated milk somatic ce...
Source: Veterinary Record - September 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Jones, T. O. Tags: Letters & amp; Notices Source Type: research

Unusual presentation of myxomatosis
MYXOMATOSIS is a severe disease of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and brown hares (Lepus europaeus).1 It is caused by infection with myxoma virus which originates from South and Central America and California, and causes cutaneous fibroma, but not systemic disease, in Sylvilagus-species rabbits. When myxomatosis first appeared in the UK in 1953, it was estimated to have killed 99.8 per cent of the wild rabbit population.2 Over subsequent decades, wild rabbits have developed a degree of immunity and less virulent strains of the virus have emerged. Nevertheless, outbreaks of the disease continue to occur throu...
Source: Veterinary Record - September 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Simpson, V., Everest, D. J., Dastjerdi, A., Davies, H., Hargreaves, J. Tags: Letters & amp; Notices Source Type: research

Selected highlights from other veterinary journals
This study aimed to develop a better understanding of cat and dog owners’ self-reported beliefs and factors that influence owner behaviour around feeding and exercising their pet cat or dog. Seven focus group discussions with 43 pet owners were conducted. Questions were asked on views and decisions on pet neutering, feeding and weight control, and pet exercise. A topic guide was used during the focus... (Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - September 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Research digest Source Type: research

Field study on the safety and efficacy of intradermal versus intramuscular vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
The present study compares the safety and efficacy of a needle-free, intradermal Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine to an intramuscular one. 420 piglets (21+3 days of age) were randomly assigned to two vaccination groups (intradermal vaccination V1 (n=138), intramuscular vaccination V2 (n=144)) and one unvaccinated control group (CG, n=138). As safety parameters clinical observations, local injection site reactions (ISR) and rectal temperatures were assessed. Average daily weight gain (ADWG) and pneumonic lung lesions (LL) were measured as efficacy parameters. ISRs were minor in V1. After both vaccinations, no adverse impact...
Source: Veterinary Record - September 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Beffort, L., Weiss, C., Fiebig, K., Jolie, R., Ritzmann, M., Eddicks, M. Tags: Paper Source Type: research