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Vet Sustain is a UK-based social enterprise working to enable and inspire veterinary professionals to continually improve the health and wellbeing of animals, people and the environment. They produce tools, training and communications for veterinary professionals centred around their six Veterinary Sustainability Goals (SDGs) which are aligned with the UN’s SDGs.

Animalcare became the first UK veterinary pharmaceutical company to achieve a carbon neutral status in 2020 as part of their long-term commitment to running their business more sustainably. In April of this year Animalcare UK were able to plant 200 native British broad-leaved trees at a school close to their Headquarters.

Animalcare will now benefit from expertise and insights from the Vet Sustain group through their new range of supporter packages, which include joint events, in-house training and marketing. It is envisaged that this partnership will help Animalcare to identify and implement key changes to optimise the sustainability of their own operations, and support a transition towards more sustainable products and services for the wider veterinary industry.

Sustainable development is becoming a much-discussed topic within the veterinary sector, with 89% of vets in a recent British Veterinary Association survey saying they would like to play a more active role in the UK sustainability agenda.

Gudrun Ravetz, Chair and Director of Vet Sustain, said

“Veterinary professionals are concerned about sustainability, and veterinary businesses are increasingly recognising that there is both an opportunity and a societal responsibility to lead the way on environmental and ethical issues.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Animalcare – and this represents the first of several exciting partnerships we are developing with progressive companies, to support them on their sustainability journeys. Through their financial contributions, they are also supporting Vet Sustain to build our not-for-profit social enterprise, to enable and inspire veterinary professionals to drive sustainability through their work.”

 

Animalcare are proud to be official supporters of Vet Sustain, with their proven commitment to ensuring the sustainability of their business, including achieving carbon neutral status. Kai Crawshaw, sustainability lead and Commercial Analyst at Animalcare, said

“As the first UK veterinary pharmaceutical company to achieve a carbon neutral status we believe that we have a duty to lead, support and educate. Whilst on our sustainability journey we quickly identified Vet Sustain as an organisation that aligned with our goals and will enable Animalcare to extend our commitment to running our business more sustainably to being able to support sustainability in the vet sector as a whole. We are delighted to become the first company to partner with Vet Sustain and are excited of what we can achieve together over the next 12 months.”

 

If any commercial businesses would also like to benefit from Vet Sustain’s range of supporter packages including sponsorship, joint events, and in-house training, they should get in touch by emailing hello@vetsustain.org.

 
 

Animalcare is offering practices the opportunity for a bitesize learning session on the latest canine osteoarthritis (OA) treatment over the lunch of their choice. The company recently launched the first weekly oral NSAID, Daxocox®, which achieves not only significant improvement in the clinical signs associated with the pain of OA in dogs1,2, but may also help to reduce the risk of OA breakthrough pain.
Animalcare Marketing Manager, James Beaumont explained:

“Practice life is busier than ever and we know that practice teams are working very hard. It’s important that they are well-fuelled, so we aim to nourish their bodies and minds with our new Daxocox® ‘Bitesize Lunch and Learns’.  We’re simply asking practices to tell us their lunchtime desire and we’ll make sure that it’s delivered direct to their door.

“Then, in less time than it takes for them to demolish their feast, we’ll explain how breakthrough pain could be haunting their canine OA patients and, more importantly, how our new weekly NSAID, Daxocox®, can help.”

 

Practices can register for a lunch and learn and submit their lunch order by registering at www.daxocox.co.uk  or contacting Animalcare on 01904 487687.

 

Terms and conditions apply.

¹IInternal report: DA/197/C, pending publication 2. Internal report: DA/184/C, pending publication

 

Felicity Caddick, our Senior Veterinary Manager , has raised more than £500 for StreetVet, our charity of the year, by completing her first Ironman event on 25 July in Nottingham. She finished the gruelling event in 14 hours and 16 minutes, having:

  • Swum 3.8 km at the Regatta Lake at the National Watersports Centre
  • Cycled for 180 km through the Nottinghamshire countryside
  • Run a marathon (42 km) along the River Trent path.

An experienced runner and cyclist, Felicity trained alone and virtually for much of the build-up, especially as swimming was not possible until recently.

She said: “On the day, the water felt warm for what turned out to be a really lovely swim.  The 180 km bike ride was tough but it was an interesting course and, by the time I got to the run, I was able to enjoy myself. I have run multiple marathons so have experience of the distance.

“Having spent all week looking at weather reports of thunder, lightning and extreme weather warnings I had purchased multiple rain jackets to keep me dry and warm on the bike and run.  Of course, what actually happened was that it was really sunny so I had to hastily apply sunscreen mid-race.  At the end we had to run round the lake twice and, with all of the supporters cheering so loudly, it really built a feeling of anticipation for the finish.

“Once I’d crossed the line and found my supporters, I put my water on the ground to pose for a photo and my spaniel Sprocket drank it.  I guess she deserved it after a hard day’s watching me. I was very tired but very happy too – and I’m delighted to have raised these vital funds for StreetVet.”

StreetVet is a charity offering professional veterinary care and support to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness. It has recently launched an accredited hostel scheme and is working to encourage more hostels in the UK to become pet-friendly so that homeless people do not have to choose between their best friend and a roof over their head. Funds raised by Animalcare will help it to continue to provide vital veterinary support. Animalcare also provides its identichip® microchips, microchip scanners and a free lifetime change of address service for StreetVet clients. As they try to rebuild their lives, homeless people often move through different accommodation, so the lifetime change of address is really significant to support them and their pets.

Did you miss our free virtual CPD event led by RCVS & EBVS European Veterinary Specialist in Anaesthesia & Analgesia, Matt Gurney? A link to the recording is available below.

The webinar, which was the first of several communication events that will focus attention on patients owned by the estimated 80% of owners who feel that their pets with canine osteoarthritis (OA) may be suffering from off-days that can be associated with breakthrough pain.¹

The session was the first in a series of Accelerator events run by London Vet Show which address areas of growing importance in veterinary medicine and will culminate in a roundtable later in the year in which experts will address the most relevant and current information on the topic. The topic certainly qualifies as being of interest to the profession, as 87 per cent of vets agree that avoiding osteoarthritis breakthrough pain is critical to the management of canine OA.²

 

Speaker, Matt Gurney is President of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia and through his Zero Pain Philosophy programme has been working with veterinary professionals around the world to achieve excellence in their approach to pain management. During the virtual session, Matt will explain the impact breakthrough pain has on the pet and owner and how to approach it more effectively using analgesic and rehabilitation tools and strategies.

Watch the recording here  https://tinyurl.com/43bm8mdx.

 

References

Daxocox® Pet insight Executive Summary (N=200) January 2021
Daxocox® Vet Insight Executive Summary (N=200), January 2021.

Animalcare is raising awareness of the need to avoid osteoarthritis breakthrough pain, starting with a free virtual CPD event led by RCVS & EBVS European Veterinary Specialist in Anaesthesia & Analgesia, Matt Gurney. The webinar is the first of several communication events that will focus attention on patients owned by the estimated 80% of owners who feel that their pets with canine osteoarthritis (OA) may be suffering from off-days that can be associated with breakthrough pain.¹ Veterinary professionals can register for the event, which takes place on 13th July at 7pm (BST) at https://tinyurl.com/43bm8mdx. All those who register will also be able to view a recording and enter a free prize draw for the chance to win tickets to attend London Vet Show live in November.

The session is the first in a series of Accelerator events run by London Vet Show which address areas of growing importance in veterinary medicine and will culminate in a roundtable later in the year in which experts will address the most relevant and current information on the topic. The topic certainly qualifies as being of interest to the profession, as 87 per cent of vets agree that avoiding osteoarthritis breakthrough pain is critical to the management of canine OA.²

Marketing Manager at Animalcare, James Beaumont, says that addressing breakthrough pain is of importance, both for patient welfare and client confidence,

“Veterinary surgeons have told us that they estimate that nearly half of their canine OA cases on daily NSAIDs experience breakthrough pain.² Additionally, a proportion of pet owners state their dogs experience off-days and believe their pet suffers as a result of the condition.³ We’re very pleased to be bringing this important issue to the forefront of attention and making it a talking point for the profession.”

Key factors in the presence of osteoarthritis breakthrough pain in dogs can include variable plasma drug levels between doses, intermittent treatment protocols or poor owner adherence with the vet’s recommendation, flare-ups and disease progression.

Speaker, Matt Gurney is President of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia and through his Zero Pain Philosophy programme has been working with veterinary professionals around the world to achieve excellence in their approach to pain management. During the virtual session, Matt will explain the impact breakthrough pain has on the pet and owner and how to approach it more effectively using analgesic and rehabilitation tools and strategies.

The event is open to veterinarians throughout Europe and beyond who aspire to deliver quality care and support their canine osteoarthritis cases more effectively, with registration now open at https://tinyurl.com/43bm8mdx.

 

References

Pet insight Executive Summary (N=200) January 2021
Daxocox® Vet Insight Executive Summary (N=200), January 2021.

New weekly NSAID helps stop breakthrough pain haunting dogs with osteoarthritis

Animalcare is excited to launch Daxocox® (enflicoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor), the first and only weekly oral NSAID. Daxocox not only achieves significant improvement of clinical signs associated with the pain of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs,1,2 but also helps reduce the risk of breakthrough pain.

Breakthrough pain is defined as “an abrupt, short-lived, and intense pain that breaks through the analgesia that controls pain”.3 Risk factors for breakthrough pain in cases of canine OA include poor owner compliance, variable plasma drug levels between doses, natural or exercise induced flare-ups and disease progression. Vets estimate that nearly half of their canine OA cases on daily NSAIDs experience breakthrough pain,4 with owner reports placing potential prevalence much higher, at 80 per cent.5

As well as compromising patient welfare and increasing the risk of clinical consequences such as wind-up pain (hypersensitisation), breakthrough pain risks owners losing confidence in their vet and/or the recommended treatment plan for their dog. This may lead owners to independently stray from the treatment plan, with potentially damaging consequences. 87 per cent of vets agree that avoiding breakthrough pain is critical to the management of canine OA.4

Daxocox helps reduce the risk of breakthrough pain by providing consistent pain control with a single weekly dose, given at home by the owner. This is achieved thanks to its 7-day phasic pharmacology. Therapeutic plasma levels are kept stable for 7 days due to phases of slow formation, binding (to red blood cells and plasma proteins) and slow elimination of the active metabolite.6 This metabolite has COX-2 inhibitory action, and so the clinical effects also last for 7 days. Meanwhile, the parent drug levels are reduced to basal levels before the next dose is due, so Daxocox can be given continually, with no risk of over-accumulation or need for mandatory treatment ‘breaks’.6

With adverse effects noted as no different from any other NSAID1,2 and no increase in treatment related adverse effects at up to 5 times the recommended dose,7 Daxocox® has a broad margin of safety and is well tolerated by dogs.7

James Beaumont, marketing manager at Animalcare explains more about Daxocox®’s unique offering:

“Daxocox®’s weekly administration of a flavoured tablet addresses some of the challenges of managing canine OA that I’m certain most vets will identify with. Breakthrough pain is a real problem and by being able to provide consistent pain control, in a compliance friendly formulation, Daxocox® is a real game changer for canine OA management.

“We’re really excited to bring this product to market and the potential that it has to improve the lives of dogs living with OA,”

 

More information about Daxocox can be found at www.daxocox.co.uk or by contacting your local Animalcare territory manager, or Animalcare’s head office on 01904 487687.

 

References:
1. Internal report: DA/197/C, pending publication.
2. Internal report: DA/184/C, pending publication.
3. 2014 WSAVA Guidelines for recognition, assessment and treatment of pain
4. Daxocox® Vet Insight Executive Summary (N=200), January 2021.
5. Daxocox® Pet Owner Insight Executive Summary (N=200) January 2021.
6. Internal report: PK_001_2018, pending publication.
7. Homedes J, et al. Long-term safety evaluation of Daxocox® tablets (enflicoxib) in dogs after weekly oral administrations for seven months. BMC Veterinary Research (2021) 17:205
 

In recognition of the fact that supporting a puppy’s intestinal microbiome sets up their digestive and wider health for life, Animalcare is giving free pots of GI support product, Procanicare™, to vet practices. Free pots can be claimed on our website.

‘New puppy diarrhoea’ will be a familiar concept to small animal vets. It is typically due to exposure to factors that are known to risk microbiome disturbance, such as diet change and going to a new home, at a time when the microbial population is at its more sensitive.1 This sign of the microbiome’s distress may be more significant than just a self-limiting inconvenience however, as many studies demonstrate that microbiome disturbances in early life can have a significant impact on health in adulthood.1,2

It has been shown that dogs with more ‘sensitive’ guts have a lower number of Lactobacillus bacteria in their commensal microbiome population.3 This may stem from early life, as the microbial population acquired (and/or assaulted) as a result of environmental exposure when young, is reflected in the composition of the intestinal microbiome long into adulthood.1,2


It is also becoming increasingly clear that early colonisation of the gut coincides with a potentially time-limited period when the immune system is permissive to microbial instruction.1,4 Emerging evidence suggests that these changes last into adulthood too, creating a ‘window of opportunity’ for immune education to occur, influencing resistance or susceptibility to disease later in life.1 This is further supported by human studies that demonstrate a strong link between disturbance to the intestinal microbiome in early life, and increased risk of diseases later in life, including respiratory, GI and metabolic disorders.1,2

There is also a lot of evidence to support the important role of the intestinal microbiome in normal neurodevelopment – hugely important at a time when puppies are learning social and behavioural boundaries.2,4

Proactively supporting the intestinal microbiome of young puppies is not only important for the health status now but also in their future.

James Beaumont, Marketing Manager at Animalcare says;

“We often hear from breeders, new puppy owners and vets that puppies which have had Procanicare™ seem brighter, have firmer stools and less flatulence. With the evidence mounting that the adult intestinal microbiome is shaped in early life and knowing the important and varied vole that it has in wider health throughout life, we want to help vets proactively support the GI health of their youngest patients by providing Procanicare™ for them to trial, with no risk.”

Procanicare™ is the UK’s first ‘For dogs, from dogs’ GI support product, containing 3 canine specific strains of Lactobacillus bacteria. It has been shown that adhesion of gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria to epithelial cells of the gut is host specific.5 Procanicare™ is suitable for use in puppies* and its Lactobacillus species are proven to improve stool consistency, accelerate recovery following acute episodes of diarrhoea and improve well-being.6

* Do not use in dogs that weigh <1kg

 

References:
1. Gensollen, T., et al. (2016) How colonization by microbiota in early life shapes the immune system. Science 352 (6285), 539-544.
2. Rodríguez, J.M., et al. (2015) The composition of the gut microbiota throughout life, with an emphasis on early life. Microbial Ecology in Health & Disease, 26:26050
3. Beasley et al (2006) Lactic acid bacteria isolated from canine faeces. J Appl Microbial. 101:131-138.
4. Cryan JF et al, (2012) Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behavior. Nat Rev Neurosci. 13(10):701-12.
5. Kumar S, et al. (2017) Comparative assessment of canine-origin Lactobacillus johnsonii CPN23 and dairy origin Lactobacillus acidophillus NCDC 15 for nutrient digestibility, faecal fermentative metabolites and selected gut health indices in dogs. J Nutr Sci.6:e38
6. Gomez-Gallego.C .et al (2016) A canine-specific probiotic product in treating acute or intermittent diarrhea in dogs: A double-blind placebo-controlled efficacy study. Vet Microbial. 197:122-128.



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.

Despite the challenges of lockdown, Felicity Caddick, Senior Veterinary Manager at Animalcare, is in training for her first Ironman Challenge. It will take place on 25 July in Nottingham and will require her to:

  • Swim 3.8 km at the Regatta Lake at the National Watersports Centre
  • Cycle for 180 km through the Nottinghamshire countryside
  • Run a marathon (42 km) along the River Trent path.

She will be raising funds for StreetVet, Animalcare’s charity of the year for 2021.

No stranger to exercise, in 2019, Felicity was part of a team that set a Guinness World Record for the most people running a marathon tied together. Her training for the Ironman has seen her complete virtual ironman challenges every weekend since April 2020.  These have included variable distance runs and bike rides as swimming has not been possible for most of the time. She was one of only 122 people worldwide to complete the entire series in 2020.

StreetVet is a charity offering professional veterinary care and support to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness. It has recently launched an accredited hostel scheme and is working to encourage more hostels in the UK to become pet-friendly so that homeless people do not have to choose between their best friend and a roof over their head. Funds raised by Animalcare will help to ensure that each pet entering one of these hostels will be microchipped on their registration. Animalcare also provides its identichip® microchips, microchip scanners and a free lifetime change of address service for StreetVet clients. As they try to rebuild their lives, homeless people often move through different accommodation so the lifetime change of address is really significant to support them and their pets.

Felicity Caddick said: “Training in three different sports requires specific plans for each element but also the ability to be able to perform them one after another. Because of COVID-19 I have had to train mostly alone and I’ve completed much of cycling training indoors on my turbo trainer. It’s challenging not being able to carry out swimming training and this won’t be possible until swimming pools or outdoor swimming venues are allowed to reopen.

“Exercise is an important part of my life. It requires many transferable skills, as relevant in practice as they are in sport, including; individual motivation, leadership and team work. Most importantly, I find sport really helps me to maintain a good work-life balance.”She continued: “COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on people experiencing homelessness and their pets. The need for StreetVet and its services has increased while its veterinary costs have doubled and, in some months, tripled during lockdown. The charity wants to ensure that its volunteers can always be there when they are needed so I am delighted to be raising funds to help to make sure that they can continue their wonderful work.”

 

To support Felicity, visit her justgiving page at: Felicity Caddick is fundraising for StreetVet (justgiving.com)