Labelling of meat from non-stun slaughtered animals
In the article ‘Meat from non-stun slaughtered source "must be clearly labelled" for consumers’ (VR, September 16, 2017, vol 181, p 278), the presidents of both the BVA and the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) are reported as being of the opinion that the introduction of such labelling would be facilitated by the UK leaving the EU. Furthermore, it is suggested that the introduction of such labelling would require agreement by all member states. As far as I can discover, there is no basis for this opinion. The Council Regulation on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing, in Article 26 (2), p...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Wilson, A. J. Tags: Letters and notices Source Type: research
Ornamental Fishes and Aquatic Invertebrates: Self-Assessment Color Review, 2nd edn
With an international list of contributors, reading as a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of ornamental fish vets, this small volume packs an amazing amount of information into its 221 clinical cases. As the editor, Gregory Lewbart, states in the preface, the changes and expansion that have occurred in ornamental fish medicine since the first edition was printed in 1998 make the second edition timely and prudent. This is demonstrated by the inclusion of aquatic invertebrates, species that would have rarely sparked veterinary interest then, along with greater insight into treatments, surgery, therapeutics and facilit...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Walster, C. Tags: Books Source Type: research
The End of Animal Life: A Start for Ethical Debate
You’d do well to pick up ‘The End of Animal Life: a Start for Ethical Debate’ by Meijboom and Stassen because the idea of reading a 260-page book about killing animals is not an attractive one. Do so, however, and you will find this volume goes some way to advance the area of ethical study in a neglected subject, which is both divisive and subjective. Reading this book makes you question your own rationale in killing animals. Individuals have contrasting opinions on killing for disease control, killing ‘waste’ animals in food production, killing pets and killing pest animals. This volume addre...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Smith, B. Tags: Books Source Type: research
Selected highlights from other veterinary journals
This study aimed to assess the association between rabies vaccine and all-cause mortality in dogs, stratified by age group (0 to three months, four to 11 months and 12 months and older), and controlling for the effects of sex and number of dogs in a residence. Data collected over a four-year period (2012 to 2015) from an observational study of the health and demographics of a population of owned, free-roaming dogs in a... (Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Research digest Source Type: research
Sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of dexmedetomidine infusions randomly receiving, or not, butorphanol in standing horses
Dexmedetomidine (DEX) alone, or combined with butorphanol (BUT), may be administered by constant rate infusions (CRIs) in standing horses. This blinded, randomised, crossover study in six healthy adult horses aimed to determine the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of DEX (dexmedetomidine (3.5 µg/kg+5 µg/kg/hour CRI) and DEX/BUT (dexmedetomidine (3.5 µg/kg+3.5 µg/kg/hour CRI) and butorphanol (20 µg/kg+24 µg/kg/hour CRI)). Head height above ground (HHAG), ataxia, responses to tactile/auditory stimuli and cardiopulmonary variables were recorded before, at 5/15/30/60/90 minutes and after...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Medeiros, L. Q., Gozalo-Marcilla, M., Taylor, P. M., Campagnol, D., de Oliveira, F. A., Watanabe, M. J., de Araujo Aguiar, A. J. Tags: Paper Source Type: research
Levetiracetam monotherapy for treatment of structural epilepsy in dogs: 19 cases (2010-2015)
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam monotherapy in dogs with structural epilepsy. Retrospective case series. Nineteen client-owned dogs with structural epilepsy. Seizure frequencies after initiation of treatment were used to evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam monotherapy. Seizure control was considered good if no seizures occurred within three months of starting treatment or poor if seizures returned within one month of starting treatment. Tolerability was evaluated by considering the occurrence and severity of any reported side effects. Ten of the 19 dogs were considered to have a good response ...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Kelly, D., Raimondi, F., Shihab, N. Tags: Paper Source Type: research
Clinician attitudes to pain and use of analgesia in cattle: where are we 10 years on?
Pain in cattle can arise though disease or injury or may result from veterinary or husbandry procedures. Controlling pain is important to safeguard animal welfare. Previous studies indicated that the use of analgesics in cattle has lagged behind use in companion animals. Over the last decade, more analgesic products have become available for use in cattle and there have been increased efforts to communicate the importance and benefits of analgesia. A questionnaire (based on that used in a similar study published in 2006) was sent to UK cattle practitioners asking them to score pain severity for several conditions of cattle...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Remnant, J. G., Tremlett, A., Huxley, J. N., Hudson, C. D. Tags: Paper Source Type: research
Clinicians attitudes to pain and the use of analgesia in cattle
There is now unequivocal evidence demonstrating the benefits of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the management of bovine disease. This includes mastitis,1 respiratory disease2 and more recently lameness.3 However, there is also good evidence that the use of these NSAIDs has a benefit in routine procedures such as disbudding and castration.4 NSAIDs have a range of actions including anti-inflammatory action and anti-pyrexic properties, as well as pain relief. It is not always clear which of these properties are responsible for the benefit seen, but most importantly there is a net benefit to the health and w...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Reader, J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Gove announces plans to ban sale of ivory
THE sale of ivory items of any age could be banned in the UK under Government plans announced last week. There is currently a ban on the sale of ivory items produced after 1947, but the sale of ‘worked’ items (works of art, ornaments) created before this date is permitted. The new plans, which were announced by environment secretary Michael Gove, will make it illegal to sell ivory of any age. Gove said: ‘The decline in the elephant population fuelled by poaching for ivory shames our generation. The need for radical and robust action to protect one of the world’s most iconic and treasured species is ...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research
Meet El Rey Magnum
This is El Rey Magnum RCF, a nine month old colt, bred by Orrion Farms, a specialist Arabian breeding farm in Ellensburg, Washington USA. Valued at several million dollars, he was launched to the world this month with a video called ‘The King’ and a strapline saying ‘You won’t believe your eyes’ (www.orrionfarms.com/our-horses/el-rey-magnum-rcf). The Arab show horse has been bred to achieve the sort of look that is popular with breeders and trainers - the face shape is considered a goal for a lot of breeders. Doug Leadley, Farm Manager and primary breeding adviser for Orrion, the largest Arabi...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research
Demand for pets creates online pet sales epidemic
Online classified adverts are now the top method used to purchase a pet in the EU. Over 400,000 dogs and over 100,000 cats are advertised online on any given day. In addition, the vast majority of online pet adverts across the EU lack basic information on the animal’s health and needs, and are for animals that are too young to be separated from their parents, in poor health or for banned breed types. These were the findings by the Blue Cross and the EU Dog and Cat Alliance, an alliance of companion animal welfare organisations, in a report released last week. ‘Online pet sales in the EU: what’s the cost?&...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research
Aggressive or threatening behaviour a 'weekly occurrence for vets in practice
Nearly nine out of 10 vets report that they or a member of their vet team have felt threatened by someone’s language or behaviour while in practice, according to figures released by the BVA to mark National Work Life Week (October 2 to 6). The most recent BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, which had over 1600 respondents, revealed that veterinary teams were experiencing a high level of intimidation from clients bringing their animals into practices across the UK. While around half of the vets had felt threatened by their clients’ actions or language, many vets commented that support staff such as re...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research
Raw feeding of pets: safe and nutritious - or reckless and irresponsible?
‘Feeding raw meats to pets is reckless, irresponsible and ethically questionable.’ That is the opinion of Mike Davies, an RCVS-recognised specialist in veterinary nutrition. He stated that view during a discussion forum on raw feeding at the British Veterinary Nursing Association congress last week. The well-attended session heard arguments both for and against the practice, which has been growing in popularity among pet owners in recent years. Building a case against raw feeding, Davies emphasised the public health risks: ‘When we give an animal a raw food that contains an infectious agent, that animal s...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research
News section
(Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research
Tackling brachycephaly head on
A WORKING group set up this year, made up of vets and breeder representatives is the most significant development in tackling brachycephaly since Pedigree Dogs Exposed. That is the view of Sean Wensley, senior vet at the PDSA and a BVA past president. He described the group and what it is trying to do during a session at the British Veterinary Nursing Association’s congress last week. The Brachycephalic Breeds Working Group was set up in 2016 following the BBC investigative documentary ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ in 2008. It examined the health and welfare issues facing pedigree dogs in the UK. Wensley explai...
Source: Veterinary Record - October 13, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research
