Month: April 2021



Animalcare has sponsored the planting of 200 trees in the grounds of Pocklington CE VC Infant School close to its York HQ, as part of its commitment to run its business more sustainably. The saplings, all native British species and UK-grown, include Aspen, Crab Apple, Field Maple, Goat Willow, Hazel, Rowan, Sessile Oak and Silver Birch. They were planted on Friday 23 April with support from Kai Crawshaw, Commercial Analyst, Felicity Caddick, Senior Veterinary Manager and a team of staff and pupils from the school. As they grow, they will create wildlife habitats, encourage biodiversity and offer educational experiences to the children.

During 2020, Animalcare worked with sustainability consultants Carbon Footprint Ltd to undertake an assessment of its carbon emissions before instituting the measures necessary to become a carbon neutral organisation. To support a further reduction of carbon in the atmosphere in the UK, the company has teamed up with Carbon Footprint and Tree Appeal, which organises the planting of native broadleaved trees on behalf of environmentally responsible companies, for the tree planting in Pocklington.



Commenting, Kai Crawshaw said: “We were delighted to support this tree planting project to help offset our carbon use. Trees sequester carbon and, in so doing, help to mitigate the impact of human activity. They also help to preserve the natural environment and we hope they will be greatly enjoyed by the school’s children and by many generations to come.

“Last year we made a commitment to plant more than 200 native trees in the local area – and we can’t thank Pocklington CE VC Infant school enough for allowing this to happen on their grounds. The kids were brilliant and so enthusiastic about nature and getting their hands dirty to plant the trees.

“Almost serendipitously, it was Earth Day last week, a day that inspires action towards the protection of the environment and the focus on the need for conservation. We believe we are the first UK pharmaceutical company to achieve carbon neutral status and we will continue to work to improve our performance in this area.”

Dr Lynn Bartram, headteacher at Pocklington Infant School, said: “We had a lovely afternoon at Pocklington Infants thanks to the Tree Appeal and the sponsors the Animalcare. All the reception and Year One children planted a tree in our grounds, which will really help keep Pocklington green into the future.”

More images from the day



Animalcare has launched a campaign to ‘Make Senior Easier’ in a bid to improve the quality of life of older pets. The company has developed a suite of resources to help practices enhance the level of care they provide to animals as they age and to educate owners as to steps they can take to maintain their companion’s wellbeing and welfare during their ‘golden years.’ Make Senior Easier

Greater longevity for dogs and cats brings with it a corresponding increase in the incidence of conditions associated with older animals. Hyperthyroidism, for instance, is prevalent in more than 11% of cats aged over ten years¹. Yet the symptoms and signs of these conditions can go unnoticed or be dismissed by owners as a normal part of ageing. Animalcare hopes that its ‘Make Senior Easier’ campaign will shine a spotlight on the importance of offering appropriate care to older animals. It will also provide an opportunity to remind owners that some problems they put down to ‘old age’ could be caused by manageable conditions.

The company is inviting vet practices to request their free resource pack by visiting: www.animalcare.co.uk/makesenioreasier. The pack will support practices in building stronger client relationships by offering a proactive approach to the care of older animals. It will also support owners in caring for their animals as they get older. It includes:

• A video offering top tricks and tips to help practices get the best out of the ‘Making Senior Easier’ campaign
• Health check materials, including a ‘senior triage form’ to be completed by owners and a ‘senior pet assessment form,’ which can act as a checklist for practice staff
• Condition handouts for owners, detailing common age-related problems
• Engaging social media posts
• Generic short articles on age-related issues for use in e-newsletters and on websites.

Kirsty Cavill RVN commented: ”In my role as a RVN and canine rehabilitation therapist I often come across senior pets with underlying conditions which are adversely affecting their health but could be managed successfully through a multimodal approach and structured treatment plan. By adopting a proactive approach to senior pet care and by helping owners to understand how to best support their pets through this life stage, we will strengthen the bonds with our clients, to ensure the highest standard of care is afforded to all senior patients.”


Commenting, James Beaumont, Product Manager, said: “Unfortunately, some signs of a gradual decline in the health of senior patients can go unnoticed. Other changes, perhaps behaviour-related or toileting accidents, can have a significantly adverse effect, not just on the animals but on their owners too. This is why proactively addressing some of the signs of an animal ‘just getting old’ is an important tool for building existing client relationships, as well as making a difference both to animals and their owners. 

“As life expectancy increases and numbers of senior pets continue to grow, veterinary care tailored to the needs of these animals has never been more relevant and it is also a huge business opportunity for practices. To help them capitalise on this opportunity, we have created our Make Senior Easier campaign and hope that the resources we have created will improve owner awareness and give practices the tools they need to achieve the best clinical outcomes for older pets and their owners.”

Practices are asked to contact their Animalcare Territory Manager or contact Animalcare’s head office on 01904 487687 for further information. They can also visit www.animalcare.co.uk/makesenioreasier

¹ Caney, H.C., et al. 2016 AAFP Guidelines for the Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 18(5), 400-416.