SEPTEMBER 2015 $6.95 GST INCL.

The horse whisperer

Cindy Cattach is helping put a stop to equine knackery, one horse at a time

Thinking clearly Addressing mental health in the profession

Splish, splashIs hydrotherapy the future of animal rehabilitation?

Designer update

The importance of a good-looking

practice

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* See product label for full details of claims. † Veterinary professionals only.Merial Australia Pty Ltd 12-24 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park. NSW 2113. ABN 53 071 187 285.

®NEXGARD is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2014 Merial Limited. All rights reserved. NXGD.14.11.0199

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NexGard Vet Trade advert DS 420x297.indd 1 3/08/2015 3:54 pm

MONTHLY FLEa aND TICK PROTECTION, IN a SIMPLE TaSTY CHEW.

* See product label for full details of claims. † Veterinary professionals only.Merial Australia Pty Ltd 12-24 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park. NSW 2113. ABN 53 071 187 285.

®NEXGARD is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2014 Merial Limited. All rights reserved. NXGD.14.11.0199

Introducing the next-generation of flea and tick protection for dogsNEXGARD® is different, innovative and effective:

� Simplified dosing regimen with one chew, once a month

� NEXGARD kills fleas and ticks, including paralysis ticks, for a full month*

� The tasty beef-flavoured chew can be given as a monthly treat with or without food

Kills fleas Kills ticks Tasty chewDose duration

Month

AVAILABLE IN 1-PACKS†, 3-PACKS AND 6-PACKS

For more product information, contact

Merial Customer Solutions on 1800 808 691

NexGard Vet Trade advert DS 420x297.indd 1 3/08/2015 3:54 pm

Advertorial

NVC_VetPractice_halfpage_185x127_v2.indd 1 28/01/15 2:10 PM

Want to focus on what you love? Let us help manage your business.

Thank you from all of us at National Veterinary Care for your support and your encouragement. As you may have heard, NVC listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday 14th August 2015. We are now the second largest provider of veterinary services in Australia. We’re delighted to welcome an initial portfolio of general practice veterinary clinics and associated veterinary service businesses into our community, with the prospect of many more to come.

At NVC, we do things with the veterinary professional in mind. Our business is about freeing veterinary professionals from back office chores to do what they love: caring for animals in need. You didn’t spend years at vet school just to become a bookkeeper! We work with individual clinics to formulate a business strategy that works for them and puts the customer first.

NVC is in the process of establishing a centre of excellence that will provide customised surgical and animal treatment training programs for veterinarians and nurses at all stages throughout their careers.

And we recognise that the shape of those careers is changing. The next generation of veterinary professionals has very different demands for how they want to work, which has implications for the profession. Our focus is on people and training, and we would love to hear from you to discuss employment opportunities, the unique benefits of joining the NVC community and succession planning in your own practice.

Again, thank you. This is just the beginning of our journey.Regards,

Tomas Steenackers Chief Executive Officer

To the veterinary professionals of Australia, thank you.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Cover storyThey shoot horses, don’t they? 18Cindy Cattach is dedicating her life to ending equine knackery, one horse at a time.

News + eventsThe latest in the veterinary world 6Seizures in dogs, a stock food warning, and more.

Your worldIn the swim 10As growing research and results indicate, hydrotherapy is a viable alternative treatment for dogs.

Your businessOn the frontline 14A successful practice is much more than clinical treatment, stemming to innovative architecture and interior design.

Building blocks 22With our lives increasingly online, it’s important for your practice to have a strong digital presence.

State of mind 26Increased focus on—and tools for—the mental health of vets is helping to change the profession’s sometimes negatively impactful culture.

Your toolsNew products 9An LED head lamp to lead the way.

Product guide 29Vet Practice’s guide to the best companion animal tools and treatments.

Tools of the trade 43Reviewed by your peers in the profession.

Your lifeCatch of the day 46Dr Robbie Anderton is a member of not one but two baseball teams, using the sport to blow off steam from his day-to-day working life.

Contents

C O N T E N T S

18

14

26 46

PRACTICE Editorial Director Rob Johnson

Digital Director Ann Gordon

Contributors Meg Crawford, Hazel Flynn, Sarah Norris, Chris Sheedy

Commercial Director Mark Brown

For all editorial or advertising enquiries:Phone (02) 9660 6995 Fax (02) 9518 5600info@vetpracticemag.com.au

Vet Practice magazine is published 11 times a year by Engage Media, Suite 4.17, 55 Miller Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009. ABN 50 115 977 421. Views expressed in Vet Practice magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Engage Media. Printed by Webstar.

22

10

Sales Director Adam Cosgrove

4,557 - CAB Audited as at March 2015

Sub-editor Kerryn Ramsey

Editor Mitchell Oakley Smith

Art Director Lucy Glover

6

news + eventsAVAILABLE NOW

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Seizures in dogs: a breakdownAt the recent ASAVA conference, veterinary neurologist Dr Georgina Child provided an overview of the different types of seizures found in animals, which can be distressing for both pet owners and companion animals. “More than one in 100 people have a seizure disorder and the incidence of seizures in dogs is just as high,” said Dr Child. The various types of seizures found in animals can present in many different ways, making them difficult to diagnose.

“When a vet is presented with a pet that has a history of seizure, it’s important to perform a thorough neurological examination to rule out any other neurological abnormalities. If present, these are more likely to indicate a cause other than epilepsy, such as toxicity or brain tumour,” said Dr Child.

TYPES OF SEIZURES IN DOGS Generalised seizuresThese are characterised by loss of consciousness, rigid muscles, involuntary paddling movements, salivation and urination. These seizures are usually brief and followed by a period where dogs seem anxious, seek their owners or are highly excited.

Partial seizuresThese vary in nature depending on the area of the brain affected. The affected dog normally remains conscious but displays changes to movement in the limbs, strange behaviour and gastrointestinal signs. They may look startled or appear to not be all there. These types of seizures last longer than generalised seizures and may be followed by a period of exhaustion, restlessness or constant pacing. Aggression may also be seen and can last from minutes to days.

Symptomatic seizuresThese usually occur as a result of a structural brain abnormality or injury. Seizures may not be seen for weeks, months or even years.

Idiopathic (or primary) epilepsyThis is a seizure disorder where no underlying cause can be established and is the most common seizure disorder in dogs. In most dogs, this form of epilepsy is likely to be genetically determined. Epilepsy has been shown to be inherited in several breeds including beagles, Belgian shepherds, dachshunds, and is more common in some breeds including border collies.

Murdoch University partners with Department of AgricultureMurdoch University in Western Australia has joined with the Department of Agriculture to address a key staff shortage in the monitoring of Australian abattoirs. Following the development of an intensive 12-week course for final-year veterinary students interested in animal welfare, public health and food safety, the program is intended to motivate students to consider a career in this non-traditional type of veterinary practice.

Since the implementation of the course, which includes relevant legislation and key aspects of food safety and animal welfare, six of the nine enrolled students have gone on to take positions as plant vets [OPVs], overseeing animal welfare and food safety in export abattoirs, with three more enrolled for later this year. “Work as an OPV is considered a non-traditional role for vet graduates but vital for the functioning of Australia’s food production industry,” said Dr Michael Laurence, one of the course’s three key initiators. “The job involves examining animals before and after slaughter to check for disease and ensuring that abattoir staff maintain the highest standards of ethical, legal and safe practice.” OPVs are responsible for certifying meat for human consumption.

“It is tremendous that the department, which is now benefiting from a steady stream of OPVs to employ, is helping them with their succession planning as more experienced vets currently in these roles are near retirement,” Dr Laurence said. “For the students, it’s a fantastic career opportunity.” He cites the higher salary and the shorter training period as attractive to graduating veterinarians.

Samson Lui, a Murdoch University veterinary graduate, has been working as an OPV in Esperance, Western Australia, for the past year, and said the career enabled him to be a veterinarian who contributes to the health of the general public nationally. “It is very rewarding knowing that my team and I have contributed to promoting food safety and Australian standards,” he said. “Working as an OPV cultivates my skills in leadership and management, and also offers rewarding career aspects.”

AVAILABLE NOW

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References: 1. Larson, L.J. et al (2013) A Comparative Study of Protective Immunity Provided by Oral, Intranasal and Parenteral Canine Bordetella bronchiseptica Vaccines. Intern. J. Appl. Res. Vet. Med. 11(3) 153-160. Intern. J. Appl. Res. Vet. Med. 11(3) 153-160. Intern. J. Appl. Res. Vet. MedBoehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited. ABN 52 000 452 308. Animal Health Division, 78 Waterloo Road, North Ryde NSW 2113. Toll free: 1800 038 037. Protech and Bronchi-Shield are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc, 55216 Ingelheim/Rhein. BI939TA-08/15.

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8

A research extensions officer has discovered that ketosis, a metabolic condition which is known to restrict production and fertility in dairy cows, can be accurately detected by a simple blood test. Previously difficult to detect, Jess Andony of Western Dairy made the clinical breakthrough during research as part of her academic study at Murdoch University, Western Australia, by employing a similar test to that used by people with diabetes. “There’s nothing that is really accurate that gives the farmer an immediate result, which is why we wanted to do the project,” Andony told the ABC, noting that blood can be tested on site rather than being sent to a laboratory for further examination. As such, farmers are able to test for ketosis in a far more effective and inexpensive manner, resulting in greater detection and prevention.

news + events

University of Queensland [UQ] researchers and Dreamworld staff are celebrating the birth of one of Australia’s rarest species of tree kangaroo. Mupee is the first Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo to be born into Dreamworld’s Australasian captive management program.

UQ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences reproductive biologist Dr Tamara Keeley worked with Dreamworld staff to investigate potential breeding problems in a female Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo.

Dreamworld staff collected tree kangaroo poo samples for Dr Keeley, who has used non-invasive endocrinology tests to monitor wildlife over the past 13 years.

Dr Keeley said the Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo had different patterns of reproduction to other kangaroos, and was more difficult to breed.

“Little was known about fertility of this cryptic, solitary, tree-dwelling species, which has a relatively low reproduction rate with more than a year between

the birth of single offspring,” Dr Keeley said. “We were able to give Dreamworld an estimate of when the next fertile period was likely to occur, helping improve the likelihood of success for mating.

“I found that initially there was an abnormally long cycle length between times of fertility in this animal. This is something that has never been reported in the literature for any species of tree kangaroo, and it overturns what we knew about reproduction in the kangaroo.

“With just a single poo sample, we can safely monitor our native animal populations without stressing them or changing their normal routines.”

The Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo population is declining, with only an estimated 10,000 left in the wild.

Dreamworld life sciences general manager Al Mucci said there was only a small window of fertility for Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos, limiting their chances for mating success.

“We needed a non-invasive way to

detect whether the tree kangaroo was at the right stage of the reproductive cycle to be receptive to males,” he said.

“Dreamworld’s collaborative relationship with UQ highlights the important work being done in this area at both institutions.”

The Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo is one of only two known Australian species of tree kangaroo, both found in Far North Queensland, and is the smallest tree kangaroo of the 14 species in Australia.

In collaboration with UQ’s Associate Professor Stephen Johnston, Dr Keeley teaches an animal reproduction course where students learn to run simple hormonal tests to detect pregnancy in animals. The course will be an important component of four new UQ programs—the Bachelors of Sustainable Agriculture, Equine Science, Veterinary Technology and Wildlife Science.

Rare baby shows roo poo study success

Blood tests easily reveal ketosis in dairy cows

The small, lightweight LED head lamp combines two-power LEDs with a light condensing lens that produces a strong, brilliant and uniform light field.

The key features are:• Light can be concentrated at

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Y O U R B U S I N E S S

A fast-growing industry, canine hydrotherapy is much more than a bath or a swim, discovers Meg Crawford.

In the swim

11

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE LED SHARON Osmond, an experienced veterinary nurse, animal naturopath and TAFE lecturer in animal studies and vet nursing, to identify a gap in the market when it came to canine hydrotherapy. Osmond’s own beloved pooch, Curzon, was 11 years old when she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. “I knew from all of my studies that hydrotherapy was a good way to get her muscle tone back,” Osmond says. However, at that point in time, there were no hydrotherapy facilities in New South Wales, so Osmond had no option other than to set up her own. She opened K9 Swim in a disused pool that had once been used for swimming greyhounds.

Located in the western suburb of Londonderry, K9 Swim is now in its second year of operation. It has grown exponentially, extending from one-and-a-half to three full days per week and looking to expand into ancillary services, including grooming. Moreover, K9 Swim is seeing significant results for its canine customers. “I see a lot of goodness here,” Osmond says. “We receive a lot of referrals from vets and specialist centres where there’s little more those practices

can do for the dogs. In those cases, hydrotherapy assists with pain management, but we’ve also had cases involving paraplegic dogs. We’ve persevered and a couple of months down the track, the dogs have started to walk. We’ve cried with joy over that.”

Hydrotherapy literally means water healing. In the case of Osmond’s practice, this translates to controlled exercise in warm water [26-28 degrees in summer and 29 in winter], which enables a dog to build up muscle or improve condition without any trauma to the limbs, as opposed to running and jumping on hard surfaces or swimming in cold water, which often leads to more damage. It’s also an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise and provides mental stimulation for dogs.

Dogs visiting for rehabilitation and those over the age of 10 require a veterinarian referral, and Osmond conducts her own health check before the first swim. Osmond, or a member of her team, then

“I see a lot of goodness here. Hydrotherapy

assists with pain management, but we’ve also had cases involving

paraplegic dogs.” Sharon Osmond, K9 Swim

Sharon Osmond in the pool with patient Cody.

K9 Swim also offers puppy splash and weight-loss programs.

swims the dog to assess how it performs in the water, after which time the owner can jump in and be shown how to swim their dog under staff supervision. Sessions last for 15 minutes, which sounds short, but for the intensity of swimming is ample. “It’s a lot of swim time for dogs,” Osmond says. “Dogs who go to the beach or the river might be there for an hour, but they’re not swimming for all of that time —they rest and run in and out.”

Generally, Osmond recommends one or two sessions per week, depending on condition, and after three to four weeks there is usually a substantial improvement in the growth of muscle mass. Stamina and general fitness also improve, dogs need to rest less frequently and owners often report that dogs are more energetic, which makes for a happier, healthier dog.

From a rehabilitation perspective, most of the dogs Osmond sees are suffering from hip dysplasia, often from as young as 18 months old. As a gentle, non-weight-bearing exercise, most dogs benefit, although there are occasions where it’s inappropriate for a dog to undergo hydrotherapy—for instance, where a dog has open wounds, chlorine allergies or an infectious disease. “Even recumbent dogs will benefit,” Osmond says. “We can still get them in the water and although they won’t swim or use their muscles, they get a therapeutic benefit just from floating around in the warm water. It’s very relaxing for them.”

Still a nascent industry in Australia, animal hydrotherapy is a well established practice in the United Kingdom and

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

12

United States. As such, when Osmond won the coveted Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia’s Further Education Scholarship in 2014, she leapt at the opportunity to train at the Greyfriars Rehabilitation and Hydrotherapy Centre in the UK, a referral veterinary hospital predominantly for animals that have had major spinal surgery or suffer from neurological problems.

Osmond is now the only person in the country who has undergone specific and intensive hydrotherapy training, returning

to Australia with a wealth of knowledge about swimming techniques, which differ markedly in veterinary practice. “I learned a lot about controlled swimming at Greyfriars, which takes in things like when to rest a dog and examining how a dog sits in the water,” Osmond explains. “A lot of people think that you can just get in and let a dog swim and a lot of people also think that it’s okay to let a dog swim anywhere, but when a dog’s injured, it really needs to be in warm water.”

Unlike at Greyfriars, which is used purely for rehabilitation purposes, healthy dogs can use K9 Swim for fun and to maintain condition. Building on this market, K9 Swim also offers puppy splash and weight-loss programs. In the case

of puppy splash classes, several pups from four to 12 months are in the pool at once with their owners.

“Unlike older dogs, which can get anxious when other dogs are in the pool, pups love it and it’s good for socialisation,” Osmond says. Also, if a dog is healthy or participating in the weight-loss or

puppy splash programs, owners are able to swim with their pets,

which is great for pet/owner bonding. As for Curzon? “Well, she’s now 13,

running around and has a lot of muscle tone,” Osmond says. “It’s given her longevity and a better quality of life.”

Dogs require a veterinarian

referral and pre-swim

assessment.

“Unlike older dogs, which can get anxious when

other dogs are in the pool, pups love it and it’s good

for socialisation.” Sharon Osmond, K9 Swim

PREVICOX® EXCEEDINGEXPECTATIONS

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1. Refer to PREVICOX product label for full claim details. 2. Merial Data on File, PR&D 84101. 3. McCann, M.E., Andersen, D.R., & Zhang, D. et al (2004) In vitro activity and in vivo effi cacy of a novel COX-2 inhibitor in dogs. Am J Vet Res 65 :502-512 * When used according to label directions. Merial Australia Pty Ltd, Building D, 12-24 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113. ABN 53 071 187 285. ®PREVICOX is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2015 Merial Limited. All rights reserved. PREV.15.02.0051.

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Prev Exceed Exp Trade ad_Provet.indd 1 31/03/2015 9:27 am

PREVICOX® EXCEEDINGEXPECTATIONS

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1. Refer to PREVICOX product label for full claim details. 2. Merial Data on File, PR&D 84101. 3. McCann, M.E., Andersen, D.R., & Zhang, D. et al (2004) In vitro activity and in vivo effi cacy of a novel COX-2 inhibitor in dogs. Am J Vet Res 65 :502-512 * When used according to label directions. Merial Australia Pty Ltd, Building D, 12-24 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113. ABN 53 071 187 285. ®PREVICOX is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2015 Merial Limited. All rights reserved. PREV.15.02.0051.

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Y O U R B U S I N E S S

14

to be sure that your business has grown sufficiently in order to be able to do something like this.”

Drs Smyth and Linton turned to Yvette Philips Interior Design to reimagine and reinvigorate their practice.

“It was horribly laid out,” Philips recalls. “The original practice was narrow and thin, and the finishes were outdated. It certainly didn’t represent the message they were trying to send as a business. They also wanted to expand into the adjacent shop in order to make their street frontage bigger. The whole space needed some personality injected into it.”

Philips had been a long-time friend of Dr Linton and his wife so they were very familiar with her work. Drs Linton and Smyth were so impressed with Philips’s design portfolio, they decided to give her free reign on the renovation. “It was quite exciting although a bit hair-raising at times,” says Dr Smyth. “It did, however, end up being a worthwhile thing to do.”

The practice now consists of three consult rooms, two of which are in daily

Quality, inventive design not only helps create a favourable first impression but keeps clients coming back, writes Kerryn Ramsey.

On the frontlineWHILE CLINICAL SKILLS AND knowledge are the foundations of a successful veterinary business, it is the design and look of the practice that invariably sticks in the minds of clients. You may be a consummate professional with exceptional surgical proficiency who is assisted by caring staff, but all that can be easily overshadowed by a badly designed practice. If the waiting room needs painting, the furniture is threadbare and there’s not enough seating, these are the things that clients will remember as they search for another vet.

It can be all too tempting to think that a coat of paint, a few Ikea chairs and some new posters will fix your image. However, if you really want to give your practice some impact, retain clients and express the professionalism of yourself and your staff, it can be worthwhile going the extra mile in regards to design.

When Dr Howard Smyth acquired an interest in the Rose Bay Vet Hospital in 2008, it had been running as a vet

practice for years. At the time, the fit-out was for a purpose-built small animal practice. Dr Howard moved in to work at the clinic in mid-2010 with his new business partner, Dr Michael Linton, and the suburban practice soon started to outgrow its existing premises. Back then, the waiting area, reception and consulting space were cramped and the layout was impractical. Despite this, the two vets ran the suburban practice in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for three years while planning a major renovation. During that time, they purchased the premises next door to expand the general practice, and took a lease on the premises on the other side of the practice to establish the independent 24-hour Eastside Veterinary Emergency & Specialists clinic. Three years after this separate entity was up and running, it was time to start refurbishing and expanding Rose Bay Vet Hospital.

“The big thing was being able to afford to do the extensions and renovations,” says Dr Smyth. “It’s important not to rely on expected income. You’ve actually got

15

use and one that can be used as a nurse consulting room. There’s also another room in the waiting area that can be closed off when privacy is needed for clients. “Unfortunately, situations do arise where clients can be very distressed and family members can become very emotional,” says Dr Smyth. “It’s nice to have an area where they can have some privacy for discussion, advice and sometimes even counselling about their pet, if required.”

The reception desk is made of Corian with a medical-grade finish that’s non-porous. The flooring is timber-look tiles with non-porous epoxy grout. This makes the surfaces easy to clean, particularly if there are any little ‘accidents’.

Ascot Veterinary Surgery, located on the north side of Brisbane, has been in operation for 40 years. Owners Drs Scott Heinemann and Ben Charlton decided to upgrade the premises when they realised that its last restoration was back in 1997. It was looking a little old and tired.

“We were happy with our consultation rooms and the hospital back area; they just needed a facelift,” explains Dr Heinemann. “The big problem was that the waiting room wasted a lot of valuable space. Our design brief involved moving the entrance of the clinic and reworking the reception desk to maximise the space and allow for better merchandising opportunities. We wanted a refurbishment that was contemporary and sophisticated. When a client first walks through the front door, the look and feel are as important as the actual physical design.”

The 60-square-metre space was given a retrofit by Elite fit-out, with particular attention to the reception and product display areas. “The practice is friendly and warm with very welcoming staff, and we wanted the design to reflect that,” says Ian Shapland, Elite’s national business development and marketing manager. “We used neutral wood tones complemented by soothing greens. It was important not to have anything too clinical in the common areas as this can be confronting to some clients. The back-of-house areas have a minimalist white theme.”

On the frontline The doors of the floor level cupboards look like a white picket fence that, in turn, makes the product display area look like small beach huts. The vets requested vinyl on the walls to help keep the practice clean, but Philips had a more creative idea that would serve just as well.

“I eventually convinced them to use artificial turf,” she says. “It runs from floor level to waist height throughout all the consult rooms. It protects the walls, won’t get scratched and is easy to clean. It looks very cool and is a unique feature of the practice. We also added artificial turf on the ceilings in

the bathroom for a bit of fun.”According to Dr Smyth, feedback

from the clients has been very positive. “Yvette’s design definitely has the ‘wow’ factor. The great design and pleasant features, along with the extra space, has made a visit to the vet better for clients and their pets. It has also improved working conditions for the reception and nursing staff, as well as for the veterinarians working here.”

Interior designer Yvette Philips convinced her client, Rose Bay Vet Hospital, to employ artificial turf on the practice’s walls instead of vinyl, an innovative alternative that is still easy to clean and protects the walls. The design feature carries through to the ceiling of the bathroom.

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An interesting touch is the casual and comfortable wicker chairs in the waiting area—a nod to Queensland’s tropical feel. It gives the space such a friendly vibe, you could almost forget you are in a veterinary surgery.

One element both these practices have benefitted from is using a professional designer. “You need an external professional who’s going to tie your business message to the reality of what your customers see,” says Philips.

“It’s almost brand representation—a way of consolidating your brand much more strongly than just through logo, signage and graphics. The interior designer brings out the soul of the business and translates your values into what your customers see in that space.”

Ascot Veterinary Surgery’s Dr Heinemann also sees value in using a professional designer. “Elite’s design of the reception and product display area saw an immediate and significant increase in product sales. I now feel that our clinic accurately reflects the premium, boutique service we strive to deliver.”

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

Decorative features such as

wicker chairs nod to the tropical

location of Ascot Veterinary

Surgery in Queensland.

Take a walk through Boehringer Ingelheim’s new

Need to know about our range of vaccines? Looking for information on key therapeutic areas such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (Equine Cushing’s Disease)? You’ll find it all at Habitat.

Specially designed to support clinicians and nurses to help improve the health and wellbeing of animals, Habitat offers resources that are relevant to your everyday practice. In Habitat you will find product information, clinic and veterinary resources, webinars and presentations as well as brand specific partner programs to help you build your business.

Please call your Boehringer Ingelheim Representative to find out how to login to your account.

©2015 Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Ltd, Animal Health Division, Level 1, 78 Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia. Tel: (02) 8875 8800 (Toll free 1800 038037) E-mail: animalhealth.au@boehringer-ingelheim.com BIMET0045. August 2015.

BIMET0045_Habitat_Vet Practice_297x210_AW01.indd 1 11/08/2015 10:25 am

C O V E R S T O RY

Cindy Cattach has made fostering and re-homing horses her main priority.

to place a winning bid. It turned out that just a few hundred dollars would beat ‘the doggers’, as knackery buyers are known. “Meat money varies,” says Cattach, “but your average-sized horse fetches up to $350; doggers don’t often go over that. Unhandled yearlings can go for as little as $150.” She started small, but one horse led to another. The aim was to rehabilitate then re-home them, but it was a long and demanding process and within 12 months, Cattach found herself with 10 horses on the four-hectare property where she lived with her young son, Ashton. She began to look for a larger rental property.

The search was lengthy but in March, Cattach, 10-year-old Ashton and the horses moved to a 53-hectare property in Wollert, north of Melbourne. She set about rescuing more horses and finding more help. “It was 100 per cent self-funded by me for a year. Every cent that I earned above bills and rent money went to the horses. I was doing everything. I was looking after the horses, I was doing the fundraising, doing all the paperwork —it was just impossible.”

It took months of work to become accredited with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, receive Donated Gift Recipient status from the Australian Tax Office, and secure public liability insurance for volunteer helpers. “Paperwork has been my biggest headache, but it was worth it,” says Cattach. “Now I have this amazing committee and I’m getting more people in to help. And having tax-deductible status

The fate of our nation’s equines can often be savage. Hazel Flynn meets one woman helping to stem the tide of horse knackery.

ON A TYPICAL WORKDAY, CINDY Cattach might go from hand-raising a meerkat pup or zebra foal to anaesthetising a rhinoceros. Her 22 years as a vet nurse has included plenty of rewarding work in suburban practices, but Werribee Open Range Zoo, south-west of Melbourne, presents extraordinary opportunities. The zoo predominantly comprises African animals, and those Cattach regularly cares for include lions, monkeys, antelope, giraffe and camels. As much as she loves her three days per week there, however, she spends the 50-minute trip home mentally running through to-do lists from her other calling, a horse rescue and rehabilitation centre known as Cindy’s Promise.

Like most people involved in veterinary work, Cattach’s love of animals goes back to her earliest years. She grew up in semi-rural Bundoora, Victoria, not far from where she now lives, and horses became her focus from a young age. “My best friend at primary school was lucky enough to have her own pony and we would ride double-backed around the streets of the neighbourhood,” she says. By the time Cattach was 10, her parents knew this was no passing fad and secured a pony called Jess for her on a 12-month lease. “When the lease ran out I was absolutely beside myself. Mum and Dad decided to buy Jess for me and from then on, most of my time was spent with her at a nearby horse agistment property. It was a massive part of my childhood.”

Jess was four years old when she

came into Cattach’s life and remained part of it for the next 26 years until she had to be euthanased in 2011. When Cattach felt ready, she started looking around for another horse. “I’d never really been into ex-racehorses but I saw this horse called Wiz advertised on Facebook and something really drew me to him,” she says. “He’d been an unsuccessful harness racer and although he was only six years old, he’d been on the truck on his way to the knackery when the people selling him rescued him and several other horses. That really stirred up lots of emotions in me.”

Cattach bought Wiz and began to look into the fate of horses that had left the racing industry. “I started realising how horrible the wastage is in both standardbreds [the horses used for harness racing] and thoroughbreds,” she says. “Standardbreds, in particular, are young and easily re-homed but they are seen as ‘wastage’ and there are such large numbers of them that often they’re sent directly to the knackeries or the saleyards where the knackeries buy, because that’s a sure way to at least get ‘meat money’ for them. Finding out the scale of it, the numbers of these perfectly healthy horses being loaded onto knackery trucks week after week, was really devastating to me.”

Gripped by a desire to prevent horses being butchered, whether for pet meat or to be exported for human consumption, Cattach decided to do as Wiz’s rescuers had done, attending horse sales aiming P

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has made a massive difference. We’re nearly 50 per cent donation-funded now.”

Cindy’s Promise Rescue and Rehab Inc, as it is formally known, is now home to more than 30 horses, aged from four months to 31 years old, with the majority of them being ex-racehorses. Caring for them is a major undertaking, requiring three people—like Cattach, helpers are unpaid—working from 8am until past 6pm daily. And it doesn’t end there. “We’re regularly out there until midnight, and many nights I’m up every three hours checking on the high-risk horses,” she says. “It’s a 24-hour commitment.”

A mare Cattach chanced upon and named Hope is an example of this high-risk category. So emaciated was she that she had been deemed unfit for the sale she’d been taken to. “She came to us with a body-score of 0-1, which basically means she has no fat or muscle on her entire body. Everyone was in tears at the sight of her. It’s really difficult when we are confronted with those sorts of things but that’s what I love—to get a horse in that kind of condition and put everything you can into it. Sometimes you lose them because they’re so starved, their organs are breaking down, but this girl is going quite well.”

Expert vet care is crucial and Cattach says the support she receives from The Veterinary Hospital in Yarrambat is invaluable. “I’ve been taking my horses to Dr Chris Heislers there since I was 11. They give me so much help. I couldn’t do half of what I’m doing without them.” Dr Heislers says supporting Cindy’s Promise was a natural choice. “There’s always been space within the practice for that kind of work; we’ve always had charitable organisations we’ve helped,” he explains. “We understand that rescue groups are under significant financial pressure so we want to help where we can. We do that by offering big discounts, having nurses provide certain treatments and providing as much support as we can by phone, within our legal and ethical obligations, of course.”

The horses’ origins bring a particular challenge, says Dr Heislers. “You don’t know with these horses from the markets. You’ll get an emaciated horse and it might just need a whole lot of feeding, some dental work and parasite control and it will do famously well. Another horse might look exactly the same but turn out to have some internal disease, primary

or secondary, which means you’re not going to be able to turn it around. Cindy is faced with that situation more than other horse owners because she’s starting off with those problem horses. It’s something she agonises over and it’s something we as vets agonise over most days. But Cindy’s very sensible, caring and experienced and puts in a massive amount of effort.”

More strong support comes from Hadlow & Sons Pet Supplies And Stockfeeds, located in Doreen and run by Allison Cooper and her husband. “I met Cindy as a customer a couple of years ago and we built up a friendship,” Cooper says. “When she decided to do this, I thought it was great to get on board.”

As well as supporting fundraisers and offering Cattach discounts where possible, the store stocks Cindy’s Promise merchandise, encourages its sales staff to give donations, and maintains a list of supplies from which supporters can purchase, donating five per cent of the value of these sales to the charity. “Cindy does everything in her power to help these horses,” says Cooper. “She can’t save the world but she’s doing every little bit she can. She’s quite an amazing lady.”

Cattach’s short-term aim is to re-home as many rescue horses as possible. In the long term, she’d like the organisation to be able to fund a wage so she could devote herself to it full-time. “It can be difficult to divide my time between these horses, my job and Ashton, for whom I’m a single mum, but it’s what I want to be doing.” When things are particularly hard, Cattach reminds herself of her successes, including a pony called Stardust who arrived barely able to walk. Many of those who saw her advised euthanasia. Cattach resisted, “but cried over her for nights and nights wondering if I was doing the wrong thing.

“Six months down the track, I came outside one morning and she called out and trotted across the paddock to me. It was the first time I’d ever seen her run. Everything—the money, the time and the heartache—was all worth it. She was a brand new horse. That day, I smiled and cried at the same time.”

i PA D

Our iPad edition of this article features more incredible images. Search for Vet Practice Magazine in the App store.

“She can’t save the world but she’s doing every little bit she can. She’s quite an amazing lady.”Allison Cooper, Hadlow & Sons Pet Supplies And Stockfeeds

Through Cindy’s Promise, Cattach has drawn attention

to the unsavoury issue of horse knackery.

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Building bl ckso

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A well-designed website can be a powerful business driver, and as Chris Sheedy explains, today’s technology means that creating it is easier than ever.

THE FIRST QUESTION THAT DR JAMES Ramsden, managing director of veterinary website specialist Pet Pack, asks a new client is what they want their website to do. What is the single most important purpose of their site? It is a question usually answered with a long silence. Beginning your website development without being absolutely clear about its precise purpose can be a mistake, Dr Ramsden says.

If you don’t know the exact role of your website in your business, it is impossible to measure its success. In fact, without an end goal, there is little sense in beginning the journey of creating a website. The first step then is to agree on the website’s

strategic purpose. “This is really important,” he says. “We tend to focus on one thing in developing websites —the number of phone calls that the website can produce for the business.

Do some market research. Speak with your customers. Find out what are their main problems and consider shaping your site around solving their problems.”

Various online offerings make the job of creating a new website relatively simple. Imagery no longer requires expensive photo shoots—instead many businesses fulfil their picture requirements through free or inexpensive resources such as istockphoto, Shutterstock, Getty Images, or picture accounts connected to their web design service. Those services, such as WordPress, Weebly, Wix, Squarespace and other web development tools, mean that businesses can literally be online with a fresh, new website within a few minutes. But of course, a business should put a lot more thought into their web presence than an existing format.

“The beauty of being a vet is

that you are not trying to win a global battle; you are just trying to become the leading vet in your local area,” says Mark Brown, director of custom content agency yourblogposts.com. “If you are doing better than the guy up the road than that is a good thing. People go to see a vet when their pet has a problem. So what are those problems and how can your practice solve them? Understand this and you begin to understand what people might be looking for in your website’s content. Seasonal issues might come into play, such as blog posts about ticks and recommendations for what people should do to protect their pets. Or it might be a blog post about looking after older cats and dogs. You should be approaching things from the customer’s point of view, rather than saying how great you are at your job.”

Blogs are important for a number of

New digital tools allow for easy online publishing.

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performance. “Most people take us on from the beginning, but we have some clients who we consult to,” Dr Ramsden says. “It does require application, but you can certainly do it. Be aware that some expertise is difficult to replicate. For instance, when it comes to Google AdWords, which we use extensively to improve search engine rankings, anybody can do it but to do it efficiently and to generate phone calls at a good price can be tough.”

Brown says utilising experts for certain areas of your website, particularly its writing, can be a good idea. If managed well, a website should become its own marketing platform for your business. “An example we have seen involved somebody producing content that was

“When it has the right design, the right features and the right

content, a website becomes a very powerful

tool for the business.” Dr James Ramsden, Pet Pack

so good it started generating its own press,” he says. “This was an orthopaedic surgeon who started a blog with stories about how he was treating different patients. Of course, he did not reveal who the patients were, but he did such a good job that instead of him having to send press releases out to the media, he had journalists ringing him constantly.”

Finally, web experts say, it’s important to ensure there is a method in place to measure the success of your website against its original purpose. This may be as simple as using free Google Analytics to check visitor numbers, or a WordPress plug-in to count the number of clicks on a specific button, asking new customers how they first came across your business, or counting the number of calls the practice receives after the website’s launch as opposed to before. Or it could be as detailed as bringing in experts such as Dr Ramsden to put a full measurement plan in place to figure out exactly how much each new customer is costing the business, and how to bring this cost down.

“When it has the right design, the right features and the right content especially on the home page, a website becomes a very powerful tool for the business,” Dr Ramsden says. “Done well, it will double your conversions instantly. Put the right

words on the home page of a well-designed website and

people will start ringing.”

reasons. They offer content that can be linked to from newsletters and emails, helping to cement your staff as local thought leaders. Blogs also ensure the site’s content is regularly refreshed, which is essential in keeping it at or near the top of the results list during a Google search. Finally, blogs help to bring your practice to life in front of its customers, introducing the staff and allowing people a glimpse behind the scenes at your practice.

Dr Ramsden agrees that too many vets create websites that talk about how talented they are, rather than giving visitors what they want. This is one of the common mistakes vets make in their website management. One of the main things that vets currently get wrong with their websites, Dr Ramsden says, is the use of site templates which are not responsive to different screen sizes, meaning the site does not adjust properly on various devices such as phones and tablets. “This makes it harder for people to contact the clinic,” he says.

Others issues include the practice’s phone number not being easily found on the site, and the text on the home page of the website turning people away. “Often the message is all about how great the vet is, and is not actually talking to what pet owners want,” he adds.

For the actual copywriting on the site, Dr Ramsden recommends employing a professional writer that has knowledge of your target market. This is an up-front cost, but it can result in an increase in calls. Another area in which you might consider seeking professional help is in the measurement and optimisation of your site’s

Following the building of a website, it’s

important to measure its

success.

WHY CHOOSE DISTANCE EDUCATION [DE]?

DISTANCE EDUCATION

2016 COURSES � Behavioural Medicine

� Cardiorespiratory Medicine

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� Internal Medicine: A Problem Solving Approach

� Internal Medicine: Keys to Understanding

� Medical Oncology

� Ophthalmology

� Ruminant Nutrition

� Sonology

� Surgery

BECAUSE YOU ARE:

� Dedicated to becoming a better vet � Keen to reinvigorate your love of veterinary science � Looking to enhance your practice’s capacity � Interested in expanding your knowledge in a specific area � Considering changing your veterinary focus � Returning to the workforce � Preparing for ANZCVS membership exams ...or simply love learning

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Stand out from the pack!

Need help choosing the right course? Contact us on +61 9351 7979 or email cve.disted@sydney.edu.auCVE | Centre for Veterinary Education – Veterinary Science Conference Centre, B22 Regimental Drive, The University of Sydney NSW 2006

WHY CHOOSE DISTANCE EDUCATION [DE]?

DISTANCE EDUCATION

2016 COURSES � Behavioural Medicine

� Cardiorespiratory Medicine

� Clinical Neurology

� Clinical Pathology

� Dermatology

� Diagnostic Imaging: – Thoracic – Abdominal – Skeletal

� Emergency Medicine

� Feline Medicine

� Internal Medicine: A Problem Solving Approach

� Internal Medicine: Keys to Understanding

� Medical Oncology

� Ophthalmology

� Ruminant Nutrition

� Sonology

� Surgery

BECAUSE YOU ARE:

� Dedicated to becoming a better vet � Keen to reinvigorate your love of veterinary science � Looking to enhance your practice’s capacity � Interested in expanding your knowledge in a specific area � Considering changing your veterinary focus � Returning to the workforce � Preparing for ANZCVS membership exams ...or simply love learning

EARLY BIRD ENDS 31 OCTOBER 2015Enrol by 31 October and save $300+

Enrol and pay in full by the deadline, to save and go into a draw to win 1 of 3 iPad mini 3’s. More important though, you will secure YOUR place.

www.cve.edu.au/distanceeducation

Stand out from the pack!

Need help choosing the right course? Contact us on +61 9351 7979 or email cve.disted@sydney.edu.auCVE | Centre for Veterinary Education – Veterinary Science Conference Centre, B22 Regimental Drive, The University of Sydney NSW 2006

Y O U R B U S I N E S S

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Mental health among veterinary professionals is a big issue, but greater research and

discussion is helping to change the culture, writes Sarah Norris.

State of mind

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IT MAY BE ONE OF THE LESSER- known statistics about the veterinary profession, but its high suicide rate and reports of occupational stress and burn-out is probably its most alarming. The Australian Veterinary Association [AVA] says that while other health-care professionals, such as doctors, pharmacists, dentists and nurses, are around twice as likely to commit suicide than the general population, veterinarians are up to four times more likely.

“It’s a profession where we are challenged every day,” says AVA president Dr Robert Johnson. “Most of us would know colleagues who have experienced mental health issues, and maybe we’ve experienced them ourselves.”

Vets who run a practice, he says, are most at risk. “They work in very stressful situations. They are running a business, dealing with finances, staff and regulatory requirements, and a lot of us still do after-hours [work]. The demands for providing a 24-7 service is huge, especially for vets in country areas because there are less emergency clinics to ease the load. They might have an animal that comes in who is critical. We have to euthanise animals and sometimes that is done on a daily basis,” says Dr Johnson.

Research has found that distress, anxiety and depression are also common problems in the profession. In fact, so prominent are mental health issues in the industry that most veterinarians admit to knowing someone who has committed suicide. But why such a high number?

As Dr Johnson indicated, having to conduct regular euthanasia is one reason—a very distinct duty that vets,

as opposed to other medical providers, are burdened with. It’s not simply the act of putting a pet down that takes its toll, but also the sadness associated with assisting upset animal owners. On top of dealing with sick animals, over 100,000 unwanted dogs are put down by veterinarians and animal shelters in Australia each year.

“Putting down an animal thrusts you, as a professional ... into a very personal, intimate moment with a person,” said Broome-based veterinary surgeon Dr Scott Davis in an interview with the ABC. “I don’t know of any job that would put you in that close a proximity with a human, an animal and a doctor, all in one room, making one of the hardest decisions.”

But there are other reasons mental health issues plague the profession. Professor Richard Halliwell, a former president of the UK Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, suggests the community may be vulnerable to suicide because of the high academic requirements needed for entry into veterinary school. It’s a theory backed by Dr Martin Voracek of the University of Vienna’s Faculty of Psychology, who says there is a strong link between the intelligence quotient and suicide.

For Dr Brian McErlean, coordinator of the AVA’s OneLife Suicide Prevention Project and an advocate for trying to eliminate mental health issues from the profession, there are a number of unique features that predispose vets to poor mental health. “One is long working hours; two is isolation; three is feelings of worthlessness; and the most important thing we have to remember is, [vets] have the means readily available, seven days a week,” he said

State of mind

in an ABC Radio interview. He adds that low salaries also contribute to depression among vets and must be addressed.

But sadly, it’s an issue that starts long before a person is a full-time vet or running their own practice. Researchers from USA’s Kansas State University, University of Nebraska and East Carolina University found that veterinary medical students are more likely to struggle with depression and anxiety than their human medicine counterparts. The study

says 32 per cent of veterinary medicine students showed symptoms of depression during their first year, compared with 23 per cent of human medicine students.

To combat the issue, the AVA has taken a lead role, ensuring health and wellbeing remains on the Association’s conference agenda every year and regularly communicating the message to its member base. It’s also launching a mentoring program

for new graduates later this year. “The national graduate scheme will

provide support in that all-important transition from study into the veterinarian profession and I’m confident it will offer ongoing help for professionals as they grow in their careers,” says Dr Johnson.

This, he says, is above the informal mentoring that happens generally within the industry. “A lot of vets offer clinical supervision for students and, like me, continue to give advice and support as they progress through their career.”

The AVA also runs a free telephone counselling service manned by qualified counsellors for members and their families, as well as face-to-face counsellor sessions at 90 locations around Australia. There’s also post-trauma crisis counselling available for veterinary

practices after a difficult event, such as the sudden death of a team member.

Beyond this, many advocates believe that more funding needs to be channelled into research. Dr Mac Hafen of Kansas State University, who leads the collaborative studies into the wellbeing and mental health of veterinary students, says it’s an overlooked area. “The mental health of students reading degrees in human medicine has been studied extensively, but there has been less research of its kind on students of veterinary medicine,” wrote Dr Hafen in The Journal of Social Psychology, 2005, published by the Military Suicide Research Consortium.

Earlier this year, the first international symposium for veterinary mental health and suicide prevention took place in Brisbane hosted by vets, rather than a professional body. The conference addressed the current data on veterinary mental health, the factors thought to contribute to the profession’s suicide rate and the strategies that have been tried in response and whether or not they have helped. “At the end of the day, we’re in the caring profession,” says Dr Johnson. “Sure, we care for animals, but we care for people, too. That’s a big part of what we do every day—caring for people.”

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“Sure, we care for animals, but we care for people, too. That’s a big part of what we do every day—caring for people.”Dr Robert Johnson, Australian Veterinary Association

P R O D U C T G U I D E

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Companion animal product guide

The latest and greatest for our

best friends

A D V E R T O R I A L

Companion animal Product guide

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Hyperthyroidism is recognised as the most common endocrinopathy of older cats1, however despite worldwide occurrence, the pathogenesis of feline hyperthyroidism remains unclear. A number of epidemiologic studies have identified risk factors, but as yet, none have been shown to cause hyperthyroidism. Traditional methods of managing feline hyperthyroidism include thyroidectomy, anti-thyroid medications, and radioactive iodine. A fourth management option is now available for hyperthyroid cats in Australia: Hill’s Prescription Diet™ y/d™ [breviated to y/d™].

Excessive production of thyroid hormone is the hallmark of feline hyperthyroidism. Production of thyroid hormone requires uptake by the thyroid gland of sufficient amounts of iodine, which is provided by dietary intake2, prompting the hypothesis that limiting dietary iodine intake could be used to control thyroid hormone production and help manage hyperthyroidism in cats. After more than a decade of research and development, a limited iodine therapeutic food, Hill’s Prescription Diet™ y/d™, was developed as a management option for hyperthyroid cats.

A recently published prospective, multi-centre, non-controlled, open-label study evaluated the effects of an iodine-restricted food [y/d™] on circulating total thyroxine [TT4] concentrations and clinical parameters in 225 client-owned hyperthyroid cats

from 139 veterinary clinics in 10 European countries3. This study showed that eating an iodine-restricted food is a valuable management option, able to decrease plasma TT4 concentrations and improve clinical signs and quality of life in these cats after 4-8 weeks. In addition, there were no indications of a decrease in renal function, commonly seen after successful management of hyperthyroidism in cats using other treatment methods.4,5

Earlier studies6-9 also document that restricting the amount of dietary iodine effectively decreases the production of thyroid hormone, resulting in normalisation of circulating T4 concentration without any negative effects on other measures of health. Hill’s Prescription Diet™ y/d™ is the first therapeutic food specifically formulated to help manage hyperthyroidism in cats by carefully limiting dietary iodine. When fed under veterinary supervision, as the sole source of nutrition, y/d™ is a safe and effective option for the management of feline hyperthyroidism. Speak to your Hill’s representative today to find out more about this exciting new diet.

Nutritional management of feline hyperthyroidismDr Jennifer Ervin BVSc (Hons) Technical Services Veterinarian, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Australia

References1. Zicker SC et al. Endoncrine Disorders. In: Hand et al, editors. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th edition. Mark Morris Institute, 2010:5721. 2. Mooney CT. Hyperthyroidism In: Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC, editors. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 7th edn. Saunders, St. Louis, MO.2010;1761-1779. 3. van der Kooji M, Becvarova I, Meyer HP et al. Effects of an iodine-restricted food on client-owned cats with hyperthyroidism. J Feline Med Surg 2014; 16: 491-498. 4. Boag AK, Neiger R, Slater L et al. Changes in the glomerular filtration rate of 27 cats with hyperthyroidism after treatment with radioactive iodine. Vet Rec 2007;161:711-719. 5. Syme HM. Cardiovascular and renal manifestations of hyperthyroidism. Vet Clin Small Anim Pract 2007;37:723–743. 6. Melendez LM, Yamka RM, Burris PA. Titration of dietary iodine for maintaining normal serum thyroxine concentrations in hyperthyroid cats (abstract) J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:683. 7. Melendez LM, Yamka RM, Forrester SD et al. Titration of dietary iodine for reducing serum thyroxine concentrations in newly diagnosed hyperthyroid cats (abstract). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:683. 8. Yu S, Wedekind K, Burris PA et al. Controlled level of dietary iodine normalizes serum total thyroxine in cats with naturally occurring hyperthyroidism (abstract). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:683. 9. Fritsch DA, Allen TA, Dodd CE et al. A restricted iodine food reduces circulating thyroxine concentrations in cats with hyperthyroidism. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med 2014; Vol 12, No. 1.

© 2015 Hill’s Pet Nutrition Pty Ltd. ™ shown are trademarks of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. JE-AUS-PVA-May 2015. HIMA-JE-1503964A

FELINE HYPERTHYROIDISM

NEW PRESCRIPTION DIET™ y/d™ Thyroid Care

™ shown are trademarks of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. © 2015 Hill’s Pet Nutrition Pty Limited. HIMA-JE-1509989A. HPA2478. 06/15. GHG

Clinically proven to help manage thyroid health1-4*

Limited iodine reduces excess thyroid hormone production1-4*

Complete nutrition for adult cats that need limited iodine intake2

*when fed as the sole source of nutrition. 1. Controlled level of dietary iodine normalized serum total thyroxine in cats with naturally occurring

hyperthyroidism. Yu S, Wedekind KJ, BurrisPA, et al. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 25:683-684 (abstract). 2. Titration of dietary iodine for reducing serum thyroxine concentrations in newly diagnosed hyperthyroid

cats. Melendez LD, Yamaka RM, Forrester SD, et al. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 25:683 (abstract). 3. Titration of dietary iodine for maintaining normal serum thyroxine concentrations in hyperthyroid

cats. Melendez LD, Yamaka RM, Burris PA. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 25:683 (abstract).4. Effects of an iodine-restricted food on client-owned cats with hyperthyroidism. van der Kooij

M, Becvárová I, Meyer HP, E and Kooistra HS. J Feline Med Surg 2014; 16: 491-498.

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Liver DiseaseThe liver is a vital organ for life, as it performs many critical functions in the body. Whilst the liver has a remarkable capacity to regenerate itself, when there is overwhelming damage, the presence of chronic inflammatory disease, and/or advanced neoplasia, the liver can go into hepatic insufficiency and failure, requiring supportive treatments for life.1

Antioxidant Therapy for Chronic Liver Disease Antioxidant therapy is an important aspect of long-term management of hepatic disease. Decreased levels of hepatic glutathione is found in hepatic disease, predisposing the patient to further oxidative damage and further disease progression.1 Glutathione is the most abundant natural antioxidant found in the body, protecting cells against damage from electrophiles, and it is mostly synthesised in the liver.2

SAMe—Precursor to GlutathioneS-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) supplementation is one of the most common hepatic antioxidants used to support liver disease, as it is a precursor to glutathione production by the liver.1 When SAMe is given orally as a dietary supplement, it is absorbed by the hepatocytes and undergoes the transsulfuration process to increase the levels of glutathione in the body, thus increasing the liver’s capacity to reduce oxidative damage.1

In a model of feline oxidative injury using paracetamol, SAMe was successfully shown to reduce haemolysis by 15% and increase glutathione levels by 40%, thus showing evidence of protecting against paracetamol-induced changes.3

Why Denosyl®

Chemically, SAMe is inherently a highly hygroscopic molecule and is extremely unstable in its free form. As such, its use in therapy was limited until the advent of stabilised formulations of SAMe, such as Denosyl®, by Nutramax Laboratories in the US. In a 2014 UK study, large variations in product quality had been found across different brands, ranging from 40% to 110% of labelled strength4. The product manufactured by Nutramax Laboratories was consistently found to meet label and quality expectation with the highest level of active ingredient across the products studied.4

IndicationsDenosyl® can be administered as adjunctive treatment for liver disease or dysfunction, such as chronic hepatitis,

hepatic lipidosis, cholangiohepatitis, paracetamol toxicity, corticosteroid use, drug-induced hepatopathies etc.1 The safety margin of Denosyl® is extremely wide and overdose effects are mainly mild gastrointestinal signs that self-resolve.

The general dose rate is 20 mg/kg orally once a day, and can be increased or decreased as required.

It is important to dose Denosyl® on an empty stomach (one hour before food) because food significantly impairs its absorption. In addition, it must also be administered intact and whole, due to the enteric-coating on the tablet that protects it from gastric degradation.

Denosyl® may be used concomitantly with other hepatic therapies including prescription diets, anti-inflammatories, antimicrobials and ursodeoxycholic acid.

New product spotlight: Denosyl

References1. Bonagura JD and Twedt DC. (2009) Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIV. Saunders Elsevier, Missouri. 2. Chen Y et al. Food ChemToxicol. 2013;60:38-44. 3. Webb CB et al. J Feline Med and Surg. 2003;5:69-75. 4. Sturgess CP. JSAP 2014;55(9):447-450.

BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAY: SAMe AND GLUTATHIONE

Hepatic S-adenosylmethionine(SAMe)

Phospholipid synthesis Hepatic Glutathione:Antioxidant

Protein and DNA synthesis, anti-inflammatory mediators, promotes cell replication and

liver mass regeneration.

Transmethylation

SAMe supplementation

Enzyme not produced in liver disease due to

hepatotoxins

Transsulfuration Aminopropylation

Methionine (amino acid) Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

SAMe synthetase enzyme

BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAY: SAMe AND GLUTATHIONE

Hepatic S-adenosylmethionine(SAMe)

Phospholipid synthesis Hepatic Glutathione:Antioxidant

Protein and DNA synthesis, anti-inflammatory mediators, promotes cell replication and

liver mass regeneration.

Transmethylation

SAMe supplementation

Enzyme not produced in liver disease due to

hepatotoxins

Transsulfuration Aminopropylation

Methionine (amino acid) Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

SAMe synthetase enzyme

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Also supports healthy cognitive function in senior dogs

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For further information call 1800 803 760 or visit www.pawbyblackmores.com

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Available now at leading Veterinary Wholesalers

The liver performs many critical functions, such as production of bile for digestion, drug metabolism and excretion, gluconeogenesis, glycogen storage, production of blood clotting factors and many more. Whilst the liver has strong regenerative capacities, in chronic inflammatory disease or advanced neoplasia, liver disease becomes incurable, and require supportive treatments indefinitely. A key part of the therapy for the management of hepatobiliary diseases is to reduce and prevent oxidative damage as oxidative stress plays a major role in pathogenesis of liver disease.

Product Name W/S List Price (ex GST)

PAW Denosyl® Cats and Small Dogs – 90 mg $37.50

PAW Denosyl® Medium Dogs – 225 mg $57.00

PAW Denosyl® Large Dogs – 425 mg $93.30

A D V E R T O R I A L

Companion animal Product guide

34

Osteoarthritis shouldn’t happen to a dog

Footnotes1. Rialland, P, Bichot, S, Moreau M, et al. Clinical validity of outcome pain measures in naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis. BMC Veterinary Research. 2012; 8:162. Zydax, Glyde and Tergive are registered trademarks of Parnell Technologies Pty. Ltd. Fetch and Fetch Pro are trademarks of Parnell Technologies Pty, Ltd. Phone: 1800.665.882 PARNELL.COM MKT 15-066 CA AU

How many of your clients believe that osteoarthritis is an “old dog’s disease”, or that it’s something that only large breed dogs can get? Maybe they assume that there’s nothing that can be done if “Bella” or “Bailey” does have osteoarthritis [OA].

We know the majority of dogs [80%] will suffer from the painful symptoms of OA as they get older. It’s also important to remember that younger dogs can be affected as well. In fact, 1 in 5 dogs >1 year of age suffer from OA.1 What’s more, we now know that there is no one etiology—multiple etiologies are suspected to contribute to the formation of OA.

Early intervention offers the best prognosis for minimising OA. Early intervention includes screening of breeds with known risk and investigating clinical signs in younger dogs, even if those signs aren’t always distinct.

Innovative joint health solutions When your diagnosis is OA, Parnell Veterinary Pharmaceuticals is here to help. Throughout our 50-year history, Parnell has been committed to providing veterinary practices with quality products for companion animal health.

We offer a suite of OA products for dogs focused on preserving mobility: Zydax®, Glyde Mobility Chews®, and Tergive®. These high-quality products are designed to complement each other in a treatment plan for OA management.

Innovative tools to manage OAWe also recognise that monitoring canine patient joint health is challenging for pet parents as they work to coordinate with your veterinary practice. To facilitate OA management, Parnell offers a unique technology solution. It’s called the FetchTM

Platform, and consists of two digital interactive apps that help veterinary practices and their clients manage dogs’ joint health.

Fetch ProTM is an interactive digital application used in-clinic that helps you inform clients about OA in dogs and their joint health options. FetchTM is a pet parent app that keeps your clients engaged with your clinic and their dog’s joint health after they go home.

Parnell is committed to providing

your practice with excellent products and service. To demonstrate that commitment, we guarantee satisfaction with our products, backed by our Parnell Promise.

Innovative products. Innovative support: Our commitment to helping your veterinary practice provide superior care for your patients.

For more information contact Parnell: T: 1.800.665.882 W: parnell.com

But when your diagnosis is osteoarthritis (OA), we’re here to help. We offer a suite of OA products for dogs focused on preserving mobility: Zydax®, Glyde Moblity Chews®, and Tergive®. These high-quality products complement each other in an OA treatment plan.

• Zydax—an injectable disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug that is clinically proven to improve mobility in just 28 days1

• Glyde Mobility Chews—a one-of-a-kind supplement that supports youthful mobility with the maximum proven therapeutic doses of three powerful ingredients: New Zealand green lipped mussel, glucosamine and chondroitin1

• Tergive (carprofen)—an injectable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with an excellent safety profile1

Osteoarthritis shouldn’t happen to a dog

Zydax, Glyde and Tergive are registered trademarks of Parnell Technologies Pty. Ltd. © 2015 Parnell Technologies Pty. Limited. All rights reserved.

Reference: 1. Data on file. Parnell Technologies Pty. Limited.

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A D V E R T O R I A L

Companion animal Product guide

36

There is no doubt that tick paralysis is a condition designed to test us. The disease is very common across the Australian eastern seaboard. Although seasonal, isolated cases turn up year round when you are least expecting them. The condition can be easy to misdiagnose in the early stages, then frustrating to treat if a patient is severely affected. When tick paralysis patients decompensate, it is usually associated with respiratory failure.

This may be caused by severe musculoskeletal paralysis, upper airway obstruction, pulmonary parenchymal disease or a combination of both. Early recognition of respiratory failure and differentiation of the cause should help us treat patients severely affected by tick paralysis. Veterinarians become very good at assessing and monitoring a patients respiratory function. Examining the patient allows us to determine respiratory rate and, effort. Auscultation can detect adventitial lung sounds: wheezes, crackles, and stridor. We can then assess whether the patient has enough respiratory drive or

alternately is “simply working too hard”. The patients which work too hard to breathe become exhausted – this breathing pattern is NOT sustainable!

We have seen many patients with oxygen saturation of >95% but with a steadily climbing CO2. A venous blood gas is adequate for measuring CO2 levels. If PvCO2 (or PaCO2) is greater than 60mmHg, the patient is severely hypoventilating. This could be due to upper airway obstruction or neuromuscular failure. Profound hypercapnoea is associated with respiratory acidosis, hypotension, poor myocardial function and central depression. Although we certainly have had patients survive with a PaCO2 of much greater than 60, this should be ringing alarm bells and raising the possibility of upgrading the respiratory support. Either alleviate the upper airway obstruction (intubate) or institute IPPV to resolve.

Blood gas analysis can give a more complete assessment of respiratory function. Most cartridges give additional information about electrolytes and acid base balance, which can really help tailor the fluid therapy plan. Complete clinical assessment of a patient with severe tick paralysis should involve careful physical examination, pulse oximetry, chest radiographs and blood gas analysis.

An arterial blood gas analysis provides an accurate measurement of oxygenation, which unlike pulse oximetry is not affected by perfusion, mucous membrane pigment or patient movement. A patient with a PaO2 of < 60 mmHg is severely hypoxaemic and needs oxygen therapy. If the severe hypoxaemia is not resolved with oxygen therapy mechanical ventilation is required.

Blood gas equipment can be used to monitor electrolyte levels, blood lactate and acid base balance in addition to pulmonary function. This can help plan a critical patients’ fluid therapy and has application

to managing many severe illnesses including DKA, HGE, and Addison’s disease.

When do I perform a coagulation study?I perform a coagulation study in any patient suspected of having a “bleeding disorder”. The most common patients would be patients suspected of having rodenticide toxicity. Dogs with rodenticide toxicity may have marked elevations in PT and APTT. Because the Vitamin K dependant clotting factors have the shortest half life, the PT will typically be elevated first. With time, both PT & APTT are elevated. Some dogs with rodenticide toxicity will also be thrombocytopaenic. Testing coagulation status is also useful for supporting the diagnosis and helping to differentiate snake envenomations. Dogs with brown, tiger, black, taipan and mulga snake envenomations may be coagulopathic. Black snake or red belly black snakes have a haemolytic toxin and tiger, black, taipan, mulga snakes and small eyed snakes possess a myotoxin resulting in elevations in CPK in the 10s to 100s of thousands IU.

Spring is here and for veterinarians, that means ticks and snakes season

The VetScan VSpro

The VetScan i-STAT 1

Call us for a free in-house demonstrati on and trial to learn how you can start saving ti me and money. 1800 737 222

Vetscan Vspro – pt/apt coagulati on profi le for dogs and cats.

Vetscan VS2- 9 profi les to choose from. Profi les are not species specifi c*, the Equine profi le has CK and AST for assistance in diagnosis and treatment of snakebite.*Large animal profi le has bovine specifi c Albumin

Vetscan Istat – Criti cal Care hand held device. Does Blood gas, electrolytes, ACT and more.

REM SYSTEMS IS HERE FOR YOU THIS SPRING

Vetscan VS2 Similar Competi tor instrument

CK 5-14000 U/L 10-2036 U/LAST 10-2000 U/L 10-1083 U/LALT 5-2000 U/L 10-1000 U/LCrea 18-1768 umol/l 0-1202 umol/lBUN 0.7 – 64.3 mmol/l 0-45.9 mmol/l

Signifi cantly broader dynamic ranges on the VS2 can eliminate the need to dilute samples.

REM_SEP_2015.indd 1 31/08/2015 11:49 am

A D V E R T O R I A L

Companion animal Product guide

38

The ZipCombo is a multi-function micro-centrifuge available with a choice of three rotors to meet all your micro-centrifugation needs in one unit. The 12-place hematocrit model is fitted with a flat haematocrit rotor that spins 40mm capillary tubes, eliminating angled separation lines, clay blow-outs and broken tubes. The haematocrit model

includes a vial of 200 x 40mm capillary tubes and a reader card.The small footprint makes the ZipCombo centrifuge the perfect addition to any clinic or lab. Can also be fitted with a 6-place microtube rotor that spins 1.5/2.0ml tubes for serum and urine separations. It can also be fitted with an 8-place PCR strip rotor.

Advantages• Easily changeable rotors• Small footprint conserves

counter space• Quick start and stop• Smooth operation• Flat haematocrit rotor eliminates

angled separation lines, clay blow-outs and broken tubes

ZipCombo Centrifuge

Features• Interchangeable rotors• Digital LCD display of speed and time;

lid open/close• Clear lid for using tachometer• Beep signals end of cycle• Suction-cupped feet to prevent

slipping• Allen wrench included for changing

rotors

Specifications• Variable speed: 1000-12000rpm in

steps of 1000 rpm• Maximum RCF=6900g• Digital timer: 15 seconds-99 minutes

or continuous mode• 100-240V 50/60Hz auto-switching• 24 volt brushless DC motor• Controls• Touch pad, time and speed controls• Digital display time and speed

Includes:• Centrifuge unit• 6-place Microtube rotor• 8-place PCR Strip rotor• 12-place flat Haematocrit rotor• Vial of 200 40mm capillary tubes• Hematocrit reader card.

Weight and dimensions:Height: 130 mm (5.1”)Length: 200 mm (7.9”)Width: 160 mm (6.3”)Weight: 0.9 kg (2 lbs)

A D V E R T O R I A L

Companion animal Product guide

40

The new portable SunTech® Vet20TM quickly and easily provides reliable BP measurements on awake companion animals, ensuring a simpler assessment process for veterinarians and their staff members. Utilising SunTech’s trusted AdvantageTM VET BP technology, the SunTech Vet20 quietly performs motion-tolerant, oscillometric BP measurements, delivering more accurate results with a greater success rate than other devices. Users are able to get started using the device immediately as the intuitive touch screen interface includes all of the necessary features for reviewing and analysing BP data, yet little to no staff training is required. Alarms can be silenced to avoid frightening the animal and saved measurement data is always retained when the device is powered off.

Features and benefits • Reliable• Simple to use • Accurate• Silent, fast and portable• and there’s more...

Description As a result of SunTech’s motion-tolerant technology, the SunTech Vet20 produces more successful BP readings than other devices. Intuitive, touch screen interface has all necessary features for reviewing and analywing BP data and requires little to no staff training.

BP Algorithm was specifically developed for companion animals by experts at a leading vet school. The device quietly measures BP and alarms may be silenced to avoid frightening the animal. Measurements are done faster than competitor products.

The SunTech Vet20’s advanced memory ensures data is always retained when the device is powered off. Users

can also select specific measurements from the device memory and perform automated BP averaging.

What our users say“We appreciate the ease of use that comes with the SunTech Vet20. It gives fast, reliable readings—without hassle—and this is important for our busy workflow. We don’t have time for error messages—we need results we can count on.” Dr. Elisa Sumakeris DVM, CareFirst Animal Hospital Grace Park

“Much better than the other BP devices we use. Reads better than other BP devices on moving animals.”Olivia S. CST, CareFirst Animal Hospital Oberlin

Call today for more information on 1300 888 427, or visit vetquip.com.au

Looking for a reliable, simple and silent BP Monitor for cats and dogs? Look no further than the new SunTech Vet20

BPs on cats and dogs

VideosInstructional videos focused on cuff size, cuff placement, taking a BP with the Vet20 and reviewing results• suntechmed.com/vet-bp/

vet20#Videos

Also on Youtube• youtube.com/

watch?v=EEfY-XGrKdU• youtube.com/watch?v=-

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For more information on the VetQuip “PRO” Anaesthesia System visit www.vetquip.com.au or call 1300 888 427

VetQuip “PRO” Anaesthesia SystemFEATURES

New slim line design, with monitor shelf Powder coated, impact resistant chassis Pistol grip directional handle Balanced, polished alloy 5 star base, with platform

height adjustment 0 - 8lpm precision medical grade rotameter with

graduated scale High volume 80lpm flush valve Polycarbonate circle absorber Coaxial F circuit and rebreathing bag Paediatric ayres T-piece 2 metres of oxygen hose with hand wheel 2 metres of scavenge tube Optional monometer guage available (pressure check

your machine & monitor circuit pressure) Optional pole mounted O

2 cylinder holder (D size)

† Vaporiser and monitor sold separately.

Vaporiser Options VQ1499 VetQuip III Iso Vaporiser (NEW) VQ1335 Penlon Delta Iso Vaporiser (NEW) VQ1336 Penlon Delta Iso Vaporiser (Refurbished) VQ1337 Blease B Series Iso Vaporiser (Refurbished)

Anaesthetic Accessories VQ3099 O-Series Oxygen Regulator VQ3100 Key Fill Bottle Adaptor VQ3169A Active Scavenge System VQ3220 Aldasorber Waste Gas Absorber (200g) VQ3222 Clean Air Filter Waste Gas Absorber (50G) VQ3190 Pink Corrugated Scavenge Tube 22mm VQ3145 SodaSorb LF Soda Lime 4.5kg

Vaporiser ServicingVetQuip’s vaporiser service centre offers full service for all models of:

Ohmeda Blease Penlon Drager

Conversions to Isoflurane and Sevoflurane now available for a wide range of vaporisers.

Our experienced biomedical technicians service and repair an extensive range of medical equipment. VetQuip’s commitment to quality and customer care is established throughout all departments within the company. Professional, friendly and helpful staff, are always available to discuss your requirements and to provide answers to your technical questions.

For extremely competitive prices and exceptional service contact VetQuip on 1300 888 427

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*5 year warranty excludes vaporiser calibration, misuse, normal ware & tear polycarbonate absorber & circuits.

VetQuip offer

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VetQuip prides

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price. Customers

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and supported

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For more information on the VetQuip “PRO” Anaesthesia System visit www.vetquip.com.au or call 1300 888 427

VetQuip “PRO” Anaesthesia SystemFEATURES

New slim line design, with monitor shelf Powder coated, impact resistant chassis Pistol grip directional handle Balanced, polished alloy 5 star base, with platform

height adjustment 0 - 8lpm precision medical grade rotameter with

graduated scale High volume 80lpm flush valve Polycarbonate circle absorber Coaxial F circuit and rebreathing bag Paediatric ayres T-piece 2 metres of oxygen hose with hand wheel 2 metres of scavenge tube Optional monometer guage available (pressure check

your machine & monitor circuit pressure) Optional pole mounted O

2 cylinder holder (D size)

† Vaporiser and monitor sold separately.

Vaporiser Options VQ1499 VetQuip III Iso Vaporiser (NEW) VQ1335 Penlon Delta Iso Vaporiser (NEW) VQ1336 Penlon Delta Iso Vaporiser (Refurbished) VQ1337 Blease B Series Iso Vaporiser (Refurbished)

Anaesthetic Accessories VQ3099 O-Series Oxygen Regulator VQ3100 Key Fill Bottle Adaptor VQ3169A Active Scavenge System VQ3220 Aldasorber Waste Gas Absorber (200g) VQ3222 Clean Air Filter Waste Gas Absorber (50G) VQ3190 Pink Corrugated Scavenge Tube 22mm VQ3145 SodaSorb LF Soda Lime 4.5kg

Vaporiser ServicingVetQuip’s vaporiser service centre offers full service for all models of:

Ohmeda Blease Penlon Drager

Conversions to Isoflurane and Sevoflurane now available for a wide range of vaporisers.

Our experienced biomedical technicians service and repair an extensive range of medical equipment. VetQuip’s commitment to quality and customer care is established throughout all departments within the company. Professional, friendly and helpful staff, are always available to discuss your requirements and to provide answers to your technical questions.

For extremely competitive prices and exceptional service contact VetQuip on 1300 888 427

VetQuip anaesthesia systems now feature a

5 year warranty*

*5 year warranty excludes vaporiser calibration, misuse, normal ware & tear polycarbonate absorber & circuits.

VetQuip offer

a full range

of mobile

and modular

anaesthetic

machines.

VetQuip prides

itself on supplying

quality and reliable

equipment to its

customers. Unlike

some, we won’t

sacrifice quality over

price. Customers

can be confident

knowing our

products are backed

and supported

by our after sales

service and support

team.

For more information on the SunTech Vet20 BP Monitor system, call 1300 888 427

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PRACTICE

Through the keyholeWhy minimally invasive

surgery is gaining popularity, page 10

Bright futureWhat you need to

consider to future proof your practice, page 14

Taking the leadWinner of the recent Vet Nurse of the

Year Award, Tiffany Swift, shares what

it takes to be the best Social policyLearn how to manage your workplace social

media usage, page 26

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For all the latest veterinary news, views and reviews to help you succeed

Are you: Renewing or New

M1509VET

CE microscopeby Dr Michel Doney, The Margaret River Vet Hospital, WA

We’ve been using this microscope since 2008. This is not a digital microscope, just a good old-fashioned binocular version. My previous career was in laboratory medicine so I’ve used a lot of microscopes in my time and this is a fantastic, basic version.

What’s good about itWe are in a rural area and laboratory processing can take quite some time. Using a microscope means we can get a diagnosis much quicker. There are so many ways to use a microscope —you can count, identify, use different stains, look at skin scrapings, aspirates and abscesses. You can take body fluids and make a diagnosis on the spot. This then allows you to start specific treatment almost immediately.

Most clinics probably have a microscope but, in general, I don’t think they’re used to their full potential. With a little bit of training, even a basic microscope can give you valuable diagnostic information very quickly. I use my microscope constantly throughout the day.

One of the big advantages of a digital microscope is the ability to take photographs. However, for those clinics with a non-digital microscope—like us—it’s possible to take a photograph with your smartphone. Just point and shoot down the eyepiece of the main lens and you can take a pretty good digital photograph of what’s on the slide.

What’s not so goodIt’s only a minor problem but the LED lights on new digital microscopes are better than the halogen lights on the older ones.

Where did you get itThis microscope came with the practice when we purchased it. However, a number of veterinary supply companies carry microscopes, both non-digital and digital.

43

Y O U R T O O L S

A classic microscope, a multifunctional orthopaedic drill, and much more are under review this month …

TOOLS TRADE

of the

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Lateral Suture Systemby Dr Angus McCurdie, Glenelg Vet, SA

This system is for extra-capsular cruciate repairs. It uses a crimping system on the monofilament nylon that creates a neat and strong result. I perform a couple of these types of operations each month. It’s the most common orthopaedic problem we see in our practice.

What’s good about itThe big advantage of this system is that instead of tying a knot to hold the nylon line in place, a crimping system makes a neat little fixture. This works much better than a knot as there is less tissue drag. A tensioning device ensures the nylon suture is neither over- or under-tensioned. The dedicated crimping forceps are extremely easy to use.

It comes in three sizes with the nylon either swaged on a needle or for individual use. It’s a great system for dogs up to 30 kilos. It’s possible to use this system with larger dogs but I prefer to refer them for TPLO [tibial plateau levelling osteotomy] surgery.

I have used other systems in the past but found most of them to be very fiddly. This system is straightforward and the results are much neater. The animals benefit from quicker healing and a better long-term outcome.

What’s not so goodIt takes a little longer to set up the crimping system rather than just tying a knot. This increases your surgical time but I don’t see that as an issue. It’s all about the result.

Occasionally, there can be a failure of the crimp and that can mean more surgery. It’s a very infrequent occurrence and it hasn’t happened to me. The failure usually occurs when the crimp has been placed incorrectly.

Where did you get itProvet (provet.com.au).

Double Ended Periosteal Elevatorby Kate Kirkovski AVN DipVN (Dental), Newtown Veterinary Clinic, VIC

There are periosteal elevators that are used in orthopaedic surgery but they are much larger and chunkier than this tool. This elevator is smaller, finer and designed for use in the mouth. It’s a great tool for dental work but can also be used in delicate situations during some orthopaedic surgeries.

What’s good about itThis elevator is used to raise a gingival flap when performing a tooth extraction. A scalpel blade is used to make the initial cut in the gum and then the elevator gently peels off the mucosa from the bone. Once the tooth is extracted, there’s a nice gingival flap sitting there that can be stitched back down.

If you try to perform the whole procedure with just a scalpel blade, you run the risk of slicing the flap in half or making holes in it. The elevator peels the flap up nicely without causing too much trauma. It’s designed for this specific procedure and the risk of slicing the flap is minimal.

It is double ended so it can be used right- or left-handed. One end is bigger than the other so it’s suitable for use with different sized animals. The smaller end is great for cats and the larger end is better for use with dogs. It makes extractions much easier.

What’s not so goodThere is virtually nothing that could go wrong with this tool but it is technique-sensitive. There’s a tendency for people to push it along with a stabbing motion. The correct technique is to sweep it across underneath the tissue, cutting and lifting as you go.

Where did you get itIM3 (im3vet.com.au).

Y O U R T O O L S

continued from page 43

44

Stryker System 6by Dr Steph Gillett, Tatura Vet Clinic, Tatura, VIC

This orthopaedic drill and saw system comes with a base piece of equipment, multiple attachments and four batteries. We’ve been using it for about 18 months and it has all worked flawlessly during that time.

What’s good about itThis is a great tool for all types of orthopaedic work. It has several different attachments that allows it to be used in multiple situations. There are two drill bits for drilling holes in bone —perfect for cruciate repairs. It has a saw blade that we use during hip surgery when cutting off the femoral head. It also has two other attachments for placing bone pins for broken legs.

Previously, we used separate tools for all these procedures. The convenience of having all these tools ready to go and at your fingertips is why I really like this unit.

The Stryker is fully autoclavable and all the pieces can be sterilised. The only part of it that isn’t sterile is the battery. When I’m operating, my nurse will attach the battery while it’s wrapped in a sterile vet wrap. Other than that, all the equipment can be placed in the autoclave.

We have four batteries with the unit and they all sit on a recharge pack. The blades and drill bits are only used a couple of times and then discarded. Stryker supplies replacements as required.

What’s not so goodThere isn’t enough charge in one battery to last an entire orthopaedic procedure. We need to change batteries at least once and often twice. During complicated orthopaedic work, we use multiple attachments and it can be pretty heavy going, but it would be nice if we could get through the whole surgery on one battery.

Where did you get itStryker (stryker.com.au).

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Catch of the day

46

Y O U R L I F E

“There’s a winter and summer baseball competition and I’m a catcher for two teams. In winter, I play for the Frankston Tomatoes and in the summertime, I play for the Springvale Lions. Being a catcher is a unique position as you are always in the game. That said, constantly squatting up and down plays hell on the knees.

“I started playing baseball in high school and have never really stopped. I took a lot of time off during vet school, but joined a team as soon as I graduated. I even played for a season while I was over in England.

“It’s not one of the most popular sports in Australia but there are a surprising number of baseball clubs around. The Australian Baseball League is the big league here and

there are a number of state leagues. While most leagues run a summer and winter competition, the summer competition is usually taken a bit more seriously. I love the game and play hard, but it’s mainly for fun. I’m in the ‘too fat, too old, too slow’ category.

“As a catcher, it’s my job to read the batter and use hand signals to communicate with the pitcher. There is a little bit of an art to it, but I can only call pitches that the pitcher can throw. Even then, I have to hope he throws it where I want it to go.

“It would be great to visit the [United] States and watch the Major League. Like many sports in America, the majority of professional players are drafted during their school careers. There are three minor leagues that

the players have to progress through before they make it to the Major League. Baseball games from the US are often televised in Australia and ‘BC’—before children—I used to be able to sit down and enjoy them. These days, I try to catch the highlights online, and that’s about it for my Major League fix.

“There is a lot of nuance to the game of baseball. During training we memorise set plays and practise responding to specific situations. It’s a bit like being a vet in that regard —you need to know what to do in a given situation but also have the ability to roll with the punches and adapt.

“Baseball is a sport that grabbed me when I was young and has refused to let go ever since.”

As a baseball fanatic, Dr Robbie Anderton of Waverley Animal Hospital, Victoria, plays for two different teams.

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