News

Educating Pet Owners on Essential Hydration for Pets

We all know that hydration is essential to support our vital bodily functions, but do you know how much cats and dogs need to drink to stay hydrated, and, more importantly, do your clients know?

Oralade® from Animalcare is an oral rehydration drink designed specifically for dogs and cats and is formulated to provide the essential hydration that pets need.

To support patients, Animalcare has created two free waiting room posters with an easy-to-read hydration chart for dogs and cats.

 

These posters will educate pet owners about what their pet should be drinking on a daily basis, according to their weight.

Animalcare’s Oralade® range includes Oralade® Advance RF+ which helps support kidney and urinary function in cats while  Oralade® Advanced GI, is an oral rehydration product with gut support. Both products benefit from 100% natural and hypoallergenic chicken flavoured taste. The unique formulations ensure rapid hydration, while electrolytes, simple sugars and essential amino acids support healthy bodily functions.

Practices can support their clients with these waiting room posters and help them improve their pets’ hydration. Animalcare is also offering practices the opportunity to download its rehydration social media pack. Posters can be requested and social media packs downloaded by visiting  https://www.animalcare.co.uk/oralade-poster/.

 

 

Following the success of Animalcare’s first three Osteoarthritis (OA) CPD workshops, the company has announced the addition of three further events, which will take place in Darlington, Edinburgh and Bournemouth.

Each event is designed to be interactive to encourage audience engagement and comprises advice and information on the condition. Highlights include:

• Current insights into canine osteoarthritis and the diverse array of treatment modalities available
• Insights into pet owner motivations and effective strategies to bolster adherence to treatment plans
• Maximising the effectiveness of practice teams to deliver tailored care for each patient

To further benefit practices, each attendee is supported on their OA management journey with a complimentary annual Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance (VOA) membership.

Kai Crawshaw, Animalcare Brand Manager says:

‘We had excellent feedback from our first workshops, so we’re pleased to be able to reach veterinary practices in more locations around the UK.  We also have plans to run more across the rest of the year. We hope that these events will lead to veterinary staff becoming more confident in dealing with OA in dogs and helping owners understand the options open to them.’

The next three workshops are:

• Darlington:                  11 June 2024
• Edinburgh:                  12 June 2024
• Bournemouth:              26 June 2024

 

All events start at 7:30pm (arrival from 7pm) and will finish approximately at 9:30pm. Hot food and drinks will be provided for attendees.

 

For further information, to request an event in your area or to book your place, visit: https://www.animalcare.co.uk/oa-workshops.

Easter is nearly upon us, which means that chocolate, raisins, and other sweet treats are everywhere and as we all know, dogs aren’t exactly great at resisting temptation! Research has shown that cases of dog poisoning soar at this time of year*, so Animalcare, the UK veterinary pharmaceutical company, has launched Clevor®, a fast-acting emetic in a patient friendly eye drop onto the UK market, just in time for the Easter holidays.

 

The active ingredient of Clevor® is ropinirole, which is a full dopamine agonist with high selectivity for dopamine D₂-type receptors¹. This means that Clevor® only activates the receptors in the brain necessary to trigger emesis. Clevor® is also the only emetic product in the UK which is licensed for repeat-dosing¹.

 

Clevor® is available in packs of three eye dropper vials. Each vial contains enough active ingredient to dose up to three, 20kg dogs at once, including a second dose if necessary¹.

 

Kai Crawshaw, Animalcare UK Brand Manager said:

 

‘It’s hard to keep pets away from toxic substances so we are pleased to be able to offer vets a new treatment option for pet poisoning, just in time for Easter. Clevor® is revolutionary in the field of emetics, offering veterinary practices a highly selective product with a non-invasive method of administration. We are confident that Clevor® will quickly become a tried and trusted product of choice for those emergency situations.’

 

Visit https://www.animalcare.co.uk/learn-more-about-clevor for more information, to book a meeting with an Animalcare Sales Representative or to download the product detailer.

 

* https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media-centre/2023/april/easter-poisoning-statistics/

 

1. The efficacy and safety of Clevor^® were assessed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical field study with 100 dogs receiving Clevor^® eye drops. Suokko, M et al. Vet Rec (2019), doi:10.1136/vr.104953.

In a bid to strengthen the effort of the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance in achieving their goal for improved welfare for osteoarthritic patients; they have announced the strategic partnerships with industry leaders Animalcare UK Ltd and Vetoquinol UK Ltd.

 

Animalcare UK and Vetoquinol UK have become the first industry partners of the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance (VOA). Their support and involvement add another level of cooperation for the alliance. This collaboration marks an exciting venture where the combined expertise will tackle challenges, push boundaries, and deliver additional value to VOA members.

Industry has and always will have an important role in the improvement of disease management. Greg McGarrell, CEO of Nupsala and Director of the VOA managing Industry relations says “Industry Members bring a wealth of resources to the Alliance. Industry is at the forefront of innovation, research and development in the field of Osteoarthritis. Augmenting current ways of treating Osteoarthritis with new developments or improved knowledge and application of current ways is critical to achieving the aim of the VOA.”

Animalcare will join the Alliance as Gold Level members, following their support of the VOACON in 2023. Colin Capner, Senior Veterinary Manager at Animalcare, said: “We recognise the multifaceted nature of osteoarthritis, and are pleased to partner with VOA. We share the view that the whole of the veterinary and allied professions will be important in finding optimal outcomes for affected animals”.

The primary effort and purpose of the VOA is the creation of a platform to advance the management of osteoarthritis by developing theoretical and practical training opportunities, by providing access to the latest research, evidence and technologies and by the facilitation of a multi-professional collaboration to address and improve the results of disease management.

VOACON 2024, the annual conference for the VOA ( https://vet-oa.com/voacon/) will host the first Industry Member workshop where all industry partners come together to discuss topics affecting industry and the veterinary profession in a bid to collaborate and improve patient welfare. A level of collaboration never seen before and brought together through the VOA.

 

The Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance, founded in 2016 by Professor Stuart Carmichael and Greg McGarrell.

 

The VOA supports education of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and paraprofessionals working with osteoarthritic patients through individual pathway to the Blue Paw award or Practice Accreditation. Both awards demonstrate knowledge assimilation and application.

 

VOACON the annual conference for the VOA is on the 22^nd and 23^rd May 2024 at the Grand Hotel Leicester.

Animalcare UK has announced that from 01 January 2024, it will be partnering with Macahl Animal Health, manufacturers of the Oralade® range, to supply and support the UK market.

 

Animalcare UK will distribute the GI+ and RF+ oral rehydration therapy solutions. Both products in the range have been developed specifically with palatability in mind to ensure that it’s appealing to cats and dogs, making it easier for owners to administer.

 

Oralade® Advanced GI+ is the UK’s leading veterinary oral rehydration product, and ensures a balanced uptake of water, essential electrolytes, and microenteral nutrition.

 

Oralade® Advanced RF+ is a fast-acting isotonic formula featuring 100% natural chicken flavour with essential amino acids tailored for felines, supporting eyes, heart, and urinary health.

 

Kai Crawshaw, Animalcare UK Brand Manager said:

‘We are pleased to welcome the Oralade® products into the Animalcare UK family. Animalcare already works closely with Macahl Animal Care in five European countries and has seen great success, so we are looking forward to replicating this success in the UK. The products have an excellent reputation, so we are pleased that they are joining our product range.’

 

Anthony Mackle, Macahl Animal Health Managing Director said:

“We are so excited to start this new venture with Animalcare UK to take Oralade to even greater heights. Animalcare are a fantastic company to work with and we have already seen great success working with them in Europe. We are looking forward to building on this in the UK.”

For further information or for orders, please contact your local Animalcare territory manager or email animalcare@animalcare.co.uk.

 

Animalcare UK has released the results of a ground-breaking survey which set out to uncover the dosing preferences of pet owners.

The study reached out to a diverse range of dog owners, intentionally avoiding any product bias, age, geographical, or breed-specific criteria to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive analysis. The survey was completed by 2,008 dog owners, making it the largest survey of its kind.

The survey uncovered some interesting and surprising results.

When questioned; 72.3% of dog owners expressed a clear preference for weekly dosing when it comes to long-term condition management, in comparison to daily administration.

 

Owners aged 30 to 44 exhibited the strongest inclination towards a seven-day dosage schedule, with over 80% choosing this option. Dog owners over 60, were 68% in favour of weekly dosing.

Additionally, a remarkable 83.2% of dog owners preferred to manage their dog’s treatment at home on a weekly basis rather than making monthly visits to the vet. Age also played a role in this choice, with older pet owners showing a higher preference for at-home administration.

 

The survey also investigated the barriers to compliance and revealed that worries about missed doses of daily medications were a key factor in the owner’s treatment decision. 48% of owners cited missed doses as the main reason they would prefer a weekly regime. In addition, the capacity to administer the medication and the apprehension regarding potential stress experienced by the animal during this process, constituted a concern for 31% of the pet owners surveyed.

 

 

Kai Crawshaw, Brand Manager, said:

‘This survey has provided us with valuable insight into pet owners dosing preferences. It has given us the information to help veterinary staff better understand their clients’ concerns over dosing and provide them with the information to make informed decisions. That includes tailoring treatment plans, monitoring efficacy or the impact of dosing preferences on the practice itself.’

 

In response to this survey, Animalcare has developed a free pet owner decision flow chart, available to assist veterinary staff in discussing dosing preferences with their clients effectively. This tool aims to facilitate informed decisions that prioritise the health and well-being of dogs while also addressing the concerns of pet owners. Vets are also encouraged to book a meeting with a member of our sales team to facilitate how to best use this information in practice.

For more detailed insights and to access the free pet owner decision flow chart, and to book a meeting, please visit- www.animalcare.co.uk/dog-owner-survey/

 

We are pleased to announce that we have once again achieved carbon neutral status and has reduced our total emissions by 18.7%.

 

After a 12-month assessment carried out by Carbon Footprint, which helps organisations reduce the environmental impact of their activities, Animalcare was able to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the environment.

 

 

 

To date, we have offset 372 tonnes of CO2e by supporting a reduced deforestation project in Brazil and a solar power initiative in India as well as planting over 400 native broad-leaved trees in the UK.

 

Moving forward, we will be offsetting emissions by undertaking further commitments including supporting a campaign promoting improved cooking practices in Nigeria which involves replacing existing inefficient cookstoves with highly efficient alternatives. The company will also continue to support local environmental initiatives.

 

Rachel Smithson, GM UK at Animalcare, said:

‘It’s important for us to run our business sustainably and we are proud to have achieved carbon neutral status once again. As well as helping us to protect the environment, the projects we have undertaken locally have been great experiences for us as a team to get together and get involved in the local community.

‘We are dedicated to being as sustainable as possible and are constantly looking at ways to reduce the impact we have on the natural world.’

We have launched a new ‘Lunch and Learn’ CPD for vets and RVNs, interested in learning more about canine osteoarthritis, which affects up to 20% of all dogs in the UK annually¹.

The session will help veterinary staff learn more about the condition; the causes and consequences of osteoarthritis pain, the main predisposing risk factors, as well as the impact of chronic pain on central sensitisation.

This CPD will look at what steps practices can take to mitigate animal suffering and increase long-term owner compliance and will encourage practices to look at their current osteoarthritis management strategy and encourage changes where necessary.

Kai Crawshaw, Brand Manager at Animalcare, said:

‘Canine osteoarthritis is a growing concern for UK vets – latest figures suggest that over two million dogs are suffering, based on current population figures.

‘Managing these cases can be challenging, but through this lunch and learn session, we aim to support veterinary staff and help them to expand their knowledge and implement an improved approach for managing canine osteoarthritis.’

To book your Lunch and Learn, please contact your local Animalcare territory manager or email animalcare@animalcare.co.uk. Alternatively sessions can be arranged here.

Animalcare is the distributor of Daxocox®, the first and only weekly oral NSAID, which is designed for consistent osteoarthritis pain and inflammation management and provides effective pain relief in all disease stages.

 

 

 

1.Anderson, K.L., O’Neill, D.G., Brodbelt, D.C., et al, 2018. Prevalence, duration and risk factors for appendicular osteoarthritis in a UK dog population under primary veterinary care. Scientific reports, 8(1), pp.1-12.

 

Animalcare, the UK veterinary pharmaceutical company which is based in York, recently took part in a scrub clearing operation in Barlow Common Nature Reserve to remove Himalayan Balsam, an invasive species of plant which, if left untreated, can cause riverbank degradation and prevent indigenous plants from growing.

 

Barlow Common in Selby is part of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, a charity dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring wildlife and wild places in Yorkshire and encouraging people to have a genuine and meaningful connection with nature.

The scrub clear was part of Animalcare’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. The company has achieved carbon neutral status and is continually working to ensure that it integrates social and environmental concerns in its business operations.

 

 

 

Kai Crawshaw, Brand Manager at Animalcare said:

‘As a business, we strongly feel that we need to play a part in protecting the natural world and ensuring that we operate in the most environmentally friendly way possible. It was great to be able to take part in the scrub clear, particularly since it’s near our headquarters.

‘We’d encourage other businesses to get involved, not only is it worthwhile, it’s also a lot of fun!’.

 

For more information on The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, please visit: www.ywt.org.uk.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has elected a new leadership team, including a new chair. Ned Flaxman, UK country manager for Krka UK Ltd, was elected as the organisation’s new chair for 2023/24 at the association’s AGM. He was previously NOAH’s vice-chair.

In addition, Caitrina Oakes (from Vetoquinol) was elected as past chair, Gerard Ensink (Boehringer Ingelheim) as vice-chair and Matthew Frost (Elanco) as treasurer.

Oya Canbas (Zoetis) and Rachel Smithson (Animalcare Ltd) were also elected to the NOAH board of management.

NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard said: “I congratulate Ned Flaxman as our new chair, the new officer team and board members on their election and look forward to working with them to deliver on NOAH members’ priorities.

“I would also like to note the contribution made to the association over the past two years by outgoing chair Caitrina Oakes and thank her for her great support.”

NOAH represents the UK animal health industry, promoting the benefits of licensed medicines and solutions for the health and welfare of animals.