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Cat food recalled over link to pancytopenia
"We have seen now ten cats with severe pancytopenia in the last four weeks" - Dr Barbara Glanemann, RVC.
Concerned owners are being urged to seek veterinary assistance.

Pets at Home, Applaws and Sainsbury’s are recalling a number of dry cat food products over a possible link to a rare and fatal disease of felines.

Owners that have bought the products, manufactured by Fold Hill Foods, are being urged to stop feeding them to their cats and to return them to the store in which they were purchased. 

The Food Standards Agency and Fold Hill Foods state the products could be linked to a spike in cases of pancytopenia, as reported by the RVC earlier this month.

Dr Barbara Glanemann, a senior lecturer in transfusion medicine and Emergency Critical Care at the RVC, said: “Typically, we may see one case of this per year, but we have seen now ten cats with severe pancytopenia in the last four weeks. 

“Most have had severe generalised bone marrow hypo- to aplasia. Some cats have presented at the same time from the same household. Given the rarity of this condition, the clustering of these cases is concerning.”

A full list of the affected products is available on the Fold Hill Foods website. The Food Standards Agency said notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products to explain why the products are being recalled. 

It has also advised cat owners concerned about the health of their pet to seek immediate advice from their vet. 

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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. 

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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.