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VMD issues advice on babesiosis treatment
D reticulatus tick
Babesiosis was recently confirmed in Essex in four dogs with no history of foreign travel.
Potential concerns about treatment availability
 
In light of recent outbreaks of babesiosis in UK dogs, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has published a statement on the availability of treatments.

Babesiosis was recently confirmed in Essex in four dogs with no history of foreign travel. A tick survey in the area the dogs were walked has since revealed the presence of infected D reticulatus ticks.

There is currently no veterinary medicinal product (VMP) that is authorised in the UK for the treatment of babesiosis in dogs. Treatments must, therefore, be prescribed in accordance with the cascade. The use of a VMP authorised for use in a different species may be required. Alternatively, an EU authorised treatment for babesiosis in dogs may be imported.

The VMD says: 'Under the provisions of the cascade, vets may choose to use Imizol 85mg/ml solution for injection (active substance imidocarb), by Intervet, which is authorised in the UK for the treatment and prevention of bovine babesiosis (Babesia divergens).

'If, based on the the vets' professional judgement, this treatment is not suitable for a particular patient, then an alternative VMP can be imported instead.

'Products exist across the EU which vets may apply to import through the special import scheme. These include (but may not be limited to) imidocarb containing products similar to Imizol such Carbesia (MAH include MSD Animal health), which has dogs as a target species and includes dosing information for dogs.'

For queries related to importation, email importcert@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk and quote 'treatment for babesiosis in dogs' in the subject line.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.