The Webinar Gazette The Webinar vet
To provide: The highest quality vet-led content To be: The world’s largest online veterinary community
october 2020
To have: The planet’s most confident vets
WHAT’S INSIDE Blog from Ben Guest Blog Jane’s Blog Speaker of the Month CPD’er of the Month Pippa Talks David Grant- Article From the Literature
Fabulous News about WCVD9
I
’m so pleased to tell you some fabulous news about the World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology which was due to take place in Sydney in October. First, I’d like to tell you a story! After I qualified, I moved about a bit. I didn’t settle immediately into the profession. I’d always wanted to be a vet but I guess I didn’t spend as much time as I should have deciding what type of vet I would become. About two years into my professional life I signed up for a weekend course on dermatology given by Richard Harvey at Cater and Campbell’s practice in Llandudno. It ignited my interest in dermatology and I started to attend the RVC symposia organised by Professor David Lloyd. I decided to attempt the RCVS certificate in Veterinary Dermatology in 1995 and managed to persuade David Grant to be my mentor. He was splendid and I managed to pass first time, having
read Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology from cover to cover. In 1996, I attended WCVD3 in the beautiful city of Edinburgh and had a lovely meal with the famous Danny Scott from Cornell University. In 1997, I won the Frank Beattie Travel Scholarship from the BSAVA and had 3 weeks in Cornell with Danny which was amazing. By this time I was running my own peripatetic dermatology clinics in the North of England and Wales. 2000 saw me travel to San Francisco to WCVD4 and give a short communication on the use of acitretin in the treatment of canine epitheliotropic lymphoma. I can’t believe it was 20 years since I was exploring the streets of San Francisco with veterinary dermatology colleagues who became friends like Stephen White David Shearer and Gordon Duncan. In 2004, WCVD5 was in Vienna and we got a private view of the Lippizaner
stallions which was fantastic. The conference was held at one of the Habsburg palaces-palatial! In 2008, it was held at the exhibition centre in Hong Kong. I went via Dubai to see an old school friend and also to try to acclimatise to the jetlag. However, I found it really tough and was often awake in the night and then sleeping in and missing lectures. On the Sunday, after the congress finished, I took a ferry to one of the islands to run a very hilly 10k and met a Chinese lady sporting a Penny Lane striders t-shirt from a run I had done also- small world. Hong Kong was so busy but I enjoyed sitting with a Japanese group one of the social evenings. 2012’s event took place in the summer holidays. I was able to take Rachael, my wife, to the beautiful city of Vancouver and also visit Vancouver Island. We watched orcas for an hour which was magnificent. The CE was, of course, amazing too!
In 2016, I had decided to stop practicing because The Webinar Vet was getting busier. My first European derm conference was also in Bordeaux so it was great to bookmark my dermatology career with two conferences in Bordeaux. Both conferences were as famous for their splendid wine as they were for their amazing CE. I was looking forward to Sydney in October to keep my hand in with dermatology and also to see old friends but unfortunately the
Coronavirus popped up. I’m honoured that the committee of WCVD9 have asked me to help bring their fabulous conference online. If you are interested in knowing more click on the link below:
FIND OUT MORE Take care and God bless,
Anthony
Ben Sweeney BVSc MSc (VIDC) Cert AVP MRCVS
“You Matter”
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n recent weeks I have spoken with multiple veterinary friends and colleagues who have felt undervalued, unrecognized and even unimportant in their work and have really questioned what they are doing and why. Others have been made redundant, which for me highlights that my preconceived ideas of ‘there will always be work for us all in this profession’ may not be as accurate as I once thought. This doesn’t just extend to vets, but also nurses, receptionists and
students. Times being as they are, it seems to almost exaggerate everything: we see huge gestures of kindness and caring which are also sadly matched by huge acts of cruelty and anger. Maybe the middle ground isn’t too bad after all? One of my favourite films is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. For those of you that haven’t seen it, I would highly recommend it. Walter Mitty is a negative
asset manager at Life magazine. He looks through all the negative photographs to be selected for publication-work that you would think goes unseen and unrecognised. Walter considers his life and work to be dull and doesn’t really identify his importance and value to others and the company. His imagination runs wild with him regularly in an attempt to make his life more important, valuable and ‘noteworthy’. Walter isn’t a big executive, he isn’t the boss, he isn’t the highest earner. Sean O’Connell is a world-famous photographer who has had multiple cover photos and awards. He gets all the acclaim, and everyone knows who he is. They have never met. Life magazine is closing down and going digital, people are losing jobs, but there is still work to be done. For the final cover episode of Life magazine, Sean has hand selected ‘negative 25’ to demonstrate ‘The Quintessence of Life’. He sends Walter a wallet as a present with a card to say thank you for his efforts and help over the years. However, he can’t find negative 25. On his journey through the film, Walter pushes himself out of his comfort zone in an attempt to track Sean down and to find what he is missing. In the end, they find each other and Sean tells him that he had the picture all along…inside the wallet. Negative 25 is a photo of him, taken in the workplace, doing what he does and considers to be unrecognized and not noteworthy. It highlights that what he does counts. Without him and what he does, Life magazine wouldn’t be what it is! For me, it also demonstrates that sometimes, what matters and what is important is just there in front of us the whole time, but we don’t see it. So why should this film about a negative assets manager for Life magazine that is based on a short story matter to you? Well, for me, a lot of this resonates with life in veterinary practice. In fact, it resonates with life for people in jobs all over the world. Without each and every one of you, this profession would fall apart. The big things, the little things that you do matter. The things that you may think are onerous like nail clips and anal glands; the things that affect you like taking a call from that client that is really hard work or staying 15 minutes late and missing dinner with the family. The things that take a toll like the emotional rollercoaster of performing euthanasia then having to go and vaccinate a new puppy. Sometimes it feels like all you do-both big and small,
goes unrecognised. They don’t. They make a difference to someone. You may not get told about how each and every thing you do has a positive impact on someone, you may not know how they take a mental picture of that circumstance and it stays with them, but it does. You don’t have to be the person who gets the limelight and does all of the cool cutting-edge surgical or medical techniques to make a difference in this world, just being you and contributing to your own microcosm of this world counts. It matters. You matter. You sometimes have to go on a journey of adventure to discover that exactly where you are is the right place to be, and you make a difference there. Like Life magazine was in this film, our profession is going through a time of evolution and change. There are no certainties for any of us. But you, the vets, nurses, receptionists, students and everyone else who make it up; you are the ones that matter and make a difference! Whatever the future holds for all of us, you are awesome. We are all role models and colleagues to someone, so my ask is simply this...tell them. It doesn’t have to be direct, it doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, but knowing that someone has noticed the positive things you do, no matter how trivial they may seem to someone will make their day! Be kind!
WCVD-9.COM
#WCVD9
If you haven't heard...
WCVD9 IS NOW ONLINE! From the comfort and convenience of your home or office, join our virtual platform and be part of this superb international scientific program that will deliver the most recent scientific advances in veterinary dermatology. You will be challenged by a scientific program that will deliver the newest advances in veterinary dermatology including clinical and scientific research. The advanced and comprehensive continuing education program will highlight current trends in
THE 9TH WORLD CONGRESS OF VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY THE NEW VIRTUAL FORMAT
clinical dermatology practice from around the world. Our aim is to deliver as much of the scientific content as feasible in an online format. We will all miss the social interaction and the vibrant experience that is Sydney, but we intend to ensure that delegates have an unrivalled opportunity to experience the best speakers in the world on a wide range of exciting dermatology topics.
21st October 7am BST: Exhibition and Company Symposia 22nd October 7am BST: All program sessions
We're extremely excited to be hosting the conference online, and as well as all of the fantastic sessions and CE content, you'll be able to browse the interactive 3D exhibition space too!
FIND OUT MORE
WCVD-9.COM
#WCVD9
What's going to be included in the WCVD9
Find out more about each of the ticket levels
program? Below are the general topics that
and what specific content you will have access
will be covered in the event.
to at wcvd-9.com.
Dermatology in General Practice Advanced Dermatology for Clinical Practice Scientific Advances in Dermatology (SOA)
Feline Dermatology Equine Dermatology Wildlife & Exotics
WHY BUY A WCVD9 T I CKET? You'll access exclusive CE content
View sessions from over 30 expert speakers
Access the interactive 3D exhibition hall
100+ hours of Dermatology CE content
Download the conference app and network with fellow attendees
Facebook live updates & Facebook group access
VIEW FULL PROGRAM If you're interested in buying a ticket for this huge online dermatology event, there are
Access the webinars for 6 months on demand
Join live Q&A sessions with incredible speakers
three different ticket types to choose from, each with different levels of access. With any ticket, you will be able to access the sessions for 6 months on demand from any connected device. There's plenty of time for you to watch content at your leisure.
To find out more about the incredible speakers, the full program, webinar topics and our sponsors, visit our website.
VISIT WCVD-9.COM
The ticket levels are:
GENERAL PRACTICE DERMATOLOGY
£132+VAT
ADVANCED CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY
£264 +VAT
THE FULL PROGRAM
£396 +VAT
BUY YOUR WCVD9 TICKET
WCVD9 I S KI NDL Y SPONSORED BY
GUEST ARTICLE 9TH WORLD CONGRESS OF VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY David Grant
I
t’s quite amazing how time flies. The first WCVD congress was in Dijon in 1989-but it doesn’t seem that long ago. The organisers of that congress took a leaf out of the ESVD book and decided that the programme would always consist of a general update on the subject for practitioners, along with advanced clinical and research contributions. The organisers also were keen to continue as they started and selected great locations. The congresses were set to take place every four years. In the intervening time I have been to five of them. The first one in Dijon set the standard that all the subsequent congresses have aspired to. Didier Carlotti and his team did a fantastic job. Since then Montreal, Edinburgh and Hong Kong stand out for me, but in reality they have all been superb. This years’ congress was scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia and there will be many disappointed colleagues who had been planning to visit this beautiful city. Having made the difficult but unavoidable decision to cancel the congress, the committee has risen to the challenge of making all the content on line. This will be a first- the entire scientific programme and commercial exhibition available to potentially far more delegates that would have been possible in Sydney. Delegates will have an unrivalled opportunity to experience the best speakers in the world from the comfort and convenience of their homes.
When I think back to the world congresses I have been to, I attended as many lectures as I could but this was only a percentage. Even though I had the proceedings with the best will in the world I just dipped into them. All the lectures from WCVD9 will be available as webinars for a total of six months-ample time to view the vast majority. With over 100 hours of CPD and more than 30 world experts, the online conference is a rare opportunity to get completely up to date very quickly. Many might gloss over the advertising of the congress thinking that it is a congress for dermatologists and not for them. But if you consider the often-quoted statistic that a third of a vet’s consulting time is taken up with skin problems it is self evident that WCVD9 will benefit all clinicians. This year’s programme follows the set pattern established from the beginning. The general programme for practicing vets is superb with some very enticing looking subjects. Some that caught my eye include ‘Allergen specific therapydoes it still have a role?’, ‘Parasitic disease in the age of isoxazolines’ ‘Demodex-is it still a problem’ plus a whole section on Otitis and much more-a great chunk of small animal dermatology. There are also streams of equine and feline dermatology. It is worth checking the website for WCVD9 to check the full programme. There are three options to take up-just the update, a more advanced update and a stream devoted for the latest cutting edge research. My advice would be to sign up to the entire congress even if you are new to dermatology. The cost is outstanding value and far less that would have been the case if attending the congress in person. Having all these lectures available for 6 months means that it is quite possible to watch all of them and get to a high level.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WCVD9
CAT LITTER TRAYS
T
his month I’m back to facing old problems again. Edward arrived in late April, not quite a lot don’t baby but a welcome arrival nonetheless. He’s a sprightly 15 year old who enjoys relaxing in the garden however he still wants to use an indoor litter tray. I’ve always had indoor cats in general. I’ve not got a problem with this but Edward’s hips are and what they were and high sided trays and know beyond him. This is a dilemma many owners of older cats face, how to provide a litter tray that allows easy access but vaguely keeps the litter in the tray. There are innumerable cat litter trays and accessories to purchase, some are quite mind blowing prices. I think I found the ideal compromise for a tray at a reasonable price in your local garden centre. A plastic potting tray may be the answer to having an easy access litter tray. Potting trays are larger than the average litter tray and are square providing enough space for even long limbed Edward to move around and bury even the largest poo. They are high
sided on three sides but have a lowered frontside making access easy. Although this means with his archaeological efforts Edward does put some cat litter on the floor it is significantly less than it could be. The brand that I found costs around 7 pounds which is significantly cheaper than similar size litter trays from pet stores or online. So far Edward likes it, I like it and it seems to have been a pretty good choice. Although it’s great that we now have so many pet focused products there is still room for diversity in what we provide to make our animals’ lives comfortable. Snazzy colours, paw prints or fancy features sometimes not needed to achieve an increase in welfare with the products we provide our pets. I love this idea so much I’ve made a little video on my YouTube channel to demonstrate the product through the size of it but in case you’re wondering why no pictures of Edward ‘in action’. He has his dignity to maintain! https://youtu.be/V8Eu71JJ11k
Jane’s Blog Although it’s great that we now have so many pet focused products there is still room for diversity in what we provide to make our animals’ lives comfortable.
The Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines Annual Scientific Conference Goes Online
Due to the COVID-19, the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP) will bring its Annual Scientific Conference online, via The Webinar Vet.
As an organization geared towards the improvement of the veterinary profession by providing different avenues of learning, and as an approved provider of continuing programs in veterinary medicine by the Profession Regulation Commission (PRC) in the Philippines, the organization will not halt or pause to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs to the Filipino Veterinarians.
Join us on October 29-30, 2020 for the conference! https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/vpap-48th-annualscientific-conference-tickets For further information contact us at secretariat@vpap.com.ph and www.facebook.com/vpap1972
Join us
for the most exciting veterinary nursing event of 2020
2 very special keynote speakers Dr Jane Goodall DBE & Claire Lomas OBE
8 7 8
special guest keynote speakers including Matthew Rendle, Hayley Walters, Hilary Orpet & Racheal Marshall interviews with influential people in the veterinary nursing industry interactive workshops and seminars
• Pub Quiz Night on Friday • Awards Evening on Saturday • Belly Dancing • Keep fit • Competitions
Join BVNA and attend This Is Us for free or buy a ticket - go to www.bvna.org.uk to find out more
PLATINUM PARTNER
GOLD PARTNER
BRONZE PARTNERS
AWARD PARTNERS
ORGANISED BY
British Society of Veterinary Pathologists Autumn Meeting 2020: A holistic approach to lymphoma diagnosis
The BSVP are, for the first time, holding their annual autumn CPD meeting online in conjunction with The Webinar Vet on the 9th and 10th of October. This two-day meeting will cover many aspects of the diagnosis of lymphoma in companion animals, with some comparative aspects thrown in too. We’ll be hearing from anatomic and clinical pathologists, together with experts in the medical and oncology fields, to give a rounded overview of current techniques and available tests. Our exciting keynote speaker is Professor Amy Durham (pictured) from the University of Pennsylvania, who is widely published in the field and will cover the World Health Organisation classification system for lymphoid tumours amongst other topics. A mystery slide session will also be available to test your knowledge! The meeting will be of interest for anatomic and clinical pathologists and trainees, as well as oncologists and anyone with an interest in lymphoma or diagnostic testing in practice.
https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/bsvp-autumn-meeting-2020-tickets/ )
Speaker of the Month With over 40 speakers delivering CPD sessions as part of WCVD9, we wanted to highlight a few of them here for you!
Prof. Ralf S. Mueller graduated in Munich/ Germany, completed his doctoral thesis in 1987, and worked in several large and small animal practices before completing a residency in veterinary dermatology at the University of California/Davis in 1992. In 1992 he moved to Melbourne/Australia to work with his partner and wife Dr. Sonya Bettenay. Together, they created the first, purpose-built specialist practice in Australia. During that time, Dr. Mueller was concurrently consulting and teaching at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital/University of Sydney. Ralf and Sonya established (and continue to conduct) the Distance Education Program in Veterinary Dermatology of the Centre for Veterinary Education of the University of Sydney. In 1999, Ralf became Assistant Professor in Veterinary Dermatology at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences/Colorado State University. In 2004, he accepted a position as chief of the veterinary dermatology service at the University of Munich/Germany. His main research interests are allergies and ectoparasites. He has published over 250 studies, articles, book chapters and books and given more than twelve hundred seminars, lectures and talks all over the world.
Prof. Dr.med.vet. Ralf S. Mueller DipACVD, FANZCVSc (Dermatology), DipECVD
DR Mueller’s WCVD9 Sessions: - Diagnostic approach to the itchy dog without over-servicing - Parasitic skin diseases in the age of isoxazolines - Food and the skin - choosing the right diet - Skin diseases of the muzzle and nasal planum - Demodicosis – is it still a problem?
DR Welle’s WCVD9 Sessions: General diagnostic approach to alopecia – folliculitis vs follicular arrest - ISVD Basic Dermatopathology Microscope Lab (ISVD Day) - Difficult Diagnosis of Alopecic Disorders (ISVD Day)
Monika Welle Prof, Dr med vet, DECVP
Monika Welle studied veterinary medicine in Berlin and Munich, where she graduated in 1986. Thereafter she worked on her thesis in the GSF Institute of Experimental Hematology. After her thesis she spent two years as practicing veterinarian in a small animal and an equine clinic before she joined the Institute for Animal Pathology in Berlin in 1990. In 1995, she moved to Bern in Switzerland. She holds the German certificate for veterinary pathology specialization and is a diplomate of the ECVP. In Bern she gained exposure to veterinary dermatopathology, which since has become her passion. She spent several externships with well-known dermatopathologists. Since 2004, she is head of the biopsy service in the Institute of Animal Pathology in Bern and is involved in diagnostic
pathology, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research. She particularly enjoys teaching of dermatopathology to ECVP and ECVD residents. She has been board member, vice president and president of the International Society of Veterinary Dermatopathology and currently is vice president again. She was responsible for the histopathology exam in the ECVD exam committee for many years. Her main research focus is the hair follicle and alopecic disorders in dogs as well as genodermatoses in domestic animals. She is author or coauthor of more than 140 publications and has been invited to more than 100 lectures and case presentations. Her spare time she spends with her family and enjoys swimming, walking the dog, hiking in the mountains, biking and travelling.
DR Scott’s WCVD9 Sessions: - General diagnostic approach to pruritic skin disease in cats - Pyoderma in cats – is it really a problem? - The eosinophilic granuloma complex – has anything changed? - Ventral alopecia – is it dermatological, behavioural or medical? - Pododermatitis in cats - Autoimmune skin disease in cats - Approach to the Pruritic Horse - Differential Diagnosis of Follicular Dermatoses in the Horse
Dr. Danny Scott
Danny Scott is a Southern Californian by birth and an Upstate New Yorker by choice. Dr. Scott is a 1971 graduate of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis. He completed an Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, and a Residency in Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, from 1971 through 1974. He was Chief of an Internal Medicine Service at Cornell from 1974 through 1977, during which time he “saw the light” and moved into dermatology. Dr. Scott became a Diplomate (by examination!!) of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 1977, and Chief of Cornell’s first Dermatology Service in 1978. Dr. Scott was blessed with a long and super groovy career at Cornell!! His favorite things were teaching veterinary students (over 5000), mentoring Residents in Dermatology (27) and Pathology (over 100), and working with critters and their keepers to improve the lives of both.
Along the way, Dr. Scott authored or coauthored over 700 publications (to include 10 textbooks) and gave over 530 continuing education presentations (40 States and 39 countries). He was the recipient of 25 professional awards, to include the Distinguished Teaching Award (from his students), the American College of Veterinary Dermatology Outstanding Achievement Award, the New York State Veterinary Medical Society Outstanding Service to Veterinary Medicine Award, Honorary Life Member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the Frank Kral Award from the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology, the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement Award, and the International Canine Health Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Scott is very happily retired after 45 years (and a subsequent 3 years part-time) at Cornell. He is currently the James Law Professor of Dermatology, Emeritus.
Product labels and claims can differ between countries. This document is based on the USA labeling. Please contact your Zoetis representative in your country for your country specific information.
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Control of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis and control of atopic dermatitis in dogs at least 12 months of age. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Do not use APOQUEL® (oclacitinib tablet) in dogs less than 12 months of age or those with serious infections. APOQUEL may increase the chances of developing serious infections, and may cause existing parasitic skin infestations or pre-existing cancers to get worse. APOQUEL has not been tested in dogs receiving some medications including some commonly used to treat skin conditions such as corticosteroids and cyclosporine. Do not use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs. Most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea. APOQUEL has been used safely with many common medications including parasiticides, antibiotics and vaccines. See accompanying Brief Summary of Prescribing Information *Based on survey data from veterinarians (n=250) and pet owners (n=150). References: 1. Data on file, 2014-2018 APOQUEL Brand Health, 2019, Zoetis Inc. 2. Data on file, Unique Patient Count from Launch, 2020, Zoetis Inc. 3. Gadeyne C, Little P, King VL, et al. Efficacy of oclacitinib (APOQUEL®) compared with prednisolone for the control of pruritus and clinical signs associated with allergic dermatitis in client-owned dogs in Australia. Vet Dermatol. 2014;25(6):512-e86. doi:10.1111/vde.12166. 4. Cosgrove SB, Wren JA, Cleaver DM, et al. Efficacy and safety of oclacitinib for the control of pruritus and associated skin lesions in dogs with canine allergic dermatitis. Vet Dermatol. 2013;24(5):479-e114. doi:10.1111/vde.12047. 5. Data on file, APOQUEL/CYTOPOINT Vet Tracker Wave 11, 2018, Zoetis Inc. 6. Data on file, APOQUEL/CYTOPOINT Pet Tracker Wave 6, 2019, Zoetis Inc.
2 best-in-class options for allergic itch relief: All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted. © 2020 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. APQ-01033
Product labels and claims can differ between countries. This document is based on the USA labeling. Please contact your Zoetis representative in your country for your country specific information.
Brief Summary of Prescribing Information For oral use in dogs only Caution: Federal (USA) Law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Indications: Control of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis and control of atopic dermatitis in dogs at least 12 months of age. Dosage and Administration: The dose of APOQUEL (oclacitinib maleate) tablets is 0.18 to 0.27 mg oclacitinib/lb (0.4 to 0.6 mg oclacitinib/kg) body weight, administered orally, twice daily for up to 14 days, and then administered once daily for maintenance therapy. APOQUEL may be administered with or without food. Dosing Chart Weight Range Weight Range Number of Tablets to be Administered (in lb) (in Kg) Low High Low High 3.6 mg 5.4 mg 16 mg Tablets Tablets Tablets 6.6 9.9 3.0 4.4 0.5 10.0 14.9 4.5 5.9 0.5 15.0 19.9 6.0 8.9 1 20.0 29.9 9.0 13.4 1 30.0 44.9 13.5 19.9 0.5 45.0 59.9 20.0 26.9 2 60.0 89.9 27.0 39.9 1 90.0 129.9 40.0 54.9 1.5 130.0 175.9 55.0 80.0 2 Warnings: APOQUEL is not for use in dogs less than 12 months of age (see Animal Safety). APOQUEL is not for use in dogs with serious infections. APOQUEL may increase susceptibility to infection, including demodicosis, and exacerbate neoplastic conditions (see Adverse Reactions and Animal Safety). Human Warnings: This product is not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children. For use in dogs only. Wash hands immediately after handling the tablets. In case of accidental eye contact, flush immediately with water or saline for at least 15 minutes and then seek medical attention. In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical attention immediately. Precautions: APOQUEL is not for use in breeding dogs, or pregnant or lactating bitches. The use of APOQUEL has not been evaluated in combination with glucocorticoids, cyclosporine, or other systemic immunosuppressive agents. Dogs receiving APOQUEL should be monitored for the development of infections, including demodicosis, and neoplasia. Adverse Reactions: Control of Atopic Dermatitis In a masked field study to assess the effectiveness and safety of oclacitinib for the control of atopic dermatitis in dogs, 152 dogs treated with APOQUEL and 147 dogs treated with placebo (vehicle control) were evaluated for safety. The majority of dogs in the placebo group withdrew from the 112-day study by Day 16. Adverse reactions reported (and percent of dogs affected) during Days 0-16 included diarrhea (4.6% APOQUEL, 3.4% placebo), vomiting (3.9% APOQUEL, 4.1% placebo), anorexia (2.6% APOQUEL, 0% placebo), new cutaneous or subcutaneous lump (2.6% APOQUEL, 2.7% placebo), and lethargy (2.0% APOQUEL, 1.4% placebo). In most cases, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy spontaneously resolved with continued dosing. Dogs on APOQUEL had decreased leukocytes (neutrophil, eosinophil, and monocyte counts) and serum globulin, and increased cholesterol and lipase compared to the placebo group but group means remained within the normal range. Mean lymphocyte counts were transiently increased at Day 14 in the APOQUEL group. Dogs that withdrew from the masked field study could enter an unmasked study where all dogs received APOQUEL. Between the masked and unmasked study, 283 dogs received at least one dose of APOQUEL. Of these 283 dogs, two dogs were withdrawn from study due to suspected treatment-related adverse reactions: one dog that had an intense flare-up of dermatitis and severe secondary pyoderma after 19 days of APOQUEL administration, and one dog that developed generalized demodicosis after 28 days of APOQUEL administration. Two other dogs on APOQUEL were withdrawn from study due to suspected or confirmed malignant neoplasia and subsequently euthanized, including one dog that developed signs associated with a heart base mass after 21 days of APOQUEL administration, and one dog that developed a Grade III mast cell tumor after 60 days of APOQUEL administration. One of the 147 dogs in the placebo group developed a Grade I mast cell tumor and was withdrawn from the masked study. Additional dogs receiving APOQUEL were hospitalized for diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia (one dog), transient bloody vomiting and stool (one dog), and cystitis with urolithiasis (one dog).
In the 283 dogs that received APOQUEL, the following additional clinical signs were reported after beginning APOQUEL (percentage of dogs with at least one report of the clinical sign as a non-pre-existing finding): pyoderma (12.0%), non-specified dermal lumps (12.0%), otitis (9.9%), vomiting (9.2%), diarrhea (6.0%), histiocytoma (3.9%), cystitis (3.5%), anorexia (3.2%), lethargy (2.8%), yeast skin infections (2.5%), pododermatitis (2.5%), lipoma (2.1%), polydipsia (1.4%), lymphadenopathy (1.1%), nausea (1.1%), increased appetite (1.1%), aggression (1.1%), and weight loss (0.7). Control of Pruritus Associated with Allergic Dermatitis In a masked field study to assess the effectiveness and safety of oclacitinib for the control of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs, 216 dogs treated with APOQUEL and 220 dogs treated with placebo (vehicle control) were evaluated for safety. During the 30-day study, there were no fatalities and no adverse reactions requiring hospital care. Adverse reactions reported (and percent of dogs affected) during Days 0-7 included diarrhea (2.3% APOQUEL, 0.9% placebo), vomiting (2.3% APOQUEL, 1.8% placebo), lethargy (1.8% APOQUEL, 1.4% placebo), anorexia (1.4% APOQUEL, 0% placebo), and polydipsia (1.4% APOQUEL, 0% placebo). In most of these cases, signs spontaneously resolved with continued dosing. Five APOQUEL group dogs were withdrawn from study because of: darkening areas of skin and fur (1 dog); diarrhea (1 dog); fever, lethargy and cystitis (1 dog); an inflamed footpad and vomiting (1 dog); and diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy (1 dog). Dogs in the APOQUEL group had a slight decrease in mean white blood cell counts (neutrophil, eosinophil, and monocyte counts) that remained within the normal reference range. Mean lymphocyte count for dogs in the APOQUEL group increased at Day 7, but returned to pretreatment levels by study end without a break in APOQUEL administration. Serum cholesterol increased in 25% of APOQUEL group dogs, but mean cholesterol remained within the reference range. Continuation Field Study After completing APOQUEL field studies, 239 dogs enrolled in an unmasked (no placebo control), continuation therapy study receiving APOQUEL for an unrestricted period of time. Mean time on this study was 372 days (range 1 to 610 days). Of these 239 dogs, one dog developed demodicosis following 273 days of APOQUEL administration. One dog developed dermal pigmented viral plaques following 266 days of APOQUEL administration. One dog developed a moderately severe bronchopneumonia after 272 days of APOQUEL administration; this infection resolved with antimicrobial treatment and temporary discontinuation of APOQUEL. One dog was euthanized after developing abdominal ascites and pleural effusion of unknown etiology after 450 days of APOQUEL administration. Six dogs were euthanized because of suspected malignant neoplasms: including thoracic metastatic, abdominal metastatic, splenic, frontal sinus, and intracranial neoplasms, and transitional cell carcinoma after 17, 120, 175, 49, 141, and 286 days of APOQUEL administration, respectively. Two dogs each developed a Grade II mast cell tumor after 52 and 91 days of APOQUEL administration, respectively. One dog developed low grade B-cell lymphoma after 392 days of APOQUEL administration. Two dogs each developed an apocrine gland adenocarcinoma (one dermal, one anal sac) after approximately 210 and 320 days of APOQUEL administration, respectively. One dog developed a low grade oral spindle cell sarcoma after 320 days of APOQUEL administration. To report suspected adverse events, for technical assistance or to obtain a copy of the MSDS, contact Zoetis Inc. at 1-888-963-8471 or www.zoetis.com. For additional information about adverse drug experience reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or online at http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth. Storage Conditions: APOQUEL should be stored at controlled room temperature between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) with excursions between 15° to 40°C (59° to 104°F). How Supplied: APOQUEL tablets contain 3.6 mg, 5.4 mg, or 16 mg of oclacitinib as oclacitinib maleate per tablet. Each strength tablets are packaged in 20 and 100 count bottles. Each tablet is scored and marked with AQ and either an S, M, or L that correspond to the different tablet strengths on both sides. NADA #141-345, Approved by FDA Made in Italy
Distributed by: Zoetis Inc. Kalamazoo, MI 49007 February 2013
428007800A&P
Product labels and claims can differ between countries. This document is based on the USA labeling. Please contact your Zoetis representative in your country for your country specific information.
WHEN PROVIDING ALLERGIC ITCH RELIEF, GIVE
An in-office injectable that lasts 4-8 weeks,1,2 CYTOPOINT ensures that the power to deliver relief is in your hands
Work together with pet owners toward compliance with a CYTOPLAN and CYTOPOINTMENTS LEARN MORE AT CYTOPOINT.COM
INDICATIONS: CYTOPOINT has been shown to be effective for the treatment of dogs against allergic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. References: 1. Data on file, Study Report No. C863R-US-12-018, Zoetis Inc. 2. Data on file, Study Report No. C166R-US-17-180, Zoetis Inc.
All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted. © 2020 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. CYT-00440C
At IDEXX, we take great pride in providing an exceptional service to our customers and their clients. We operate a world class UKAS-accredited laboratory in Yorkshire offering a comprehensive range of diagnostic tests with a rapid turnaround time. Histopathology samples are processed by a team of highly-skilled technical staff supported by an on-site anatomic pathologist. Since 2014 we have operated an entirely digital histopathology service with four Philips scanners operating 24 hours a day and processing >65 000 slides per month. Our 20 board-certified anatomic pathologists are located across the UK, continental Europe, South Africa and New Zealand, enabling us to report cases 24 hours a day. We are also proud to have, for the first time, an IDEXX sponsored Resident in Anatomic Pathology, in collaboration with University College Dublin. Our online laboratory information management system allows instant viewing of high-resolution digital images, submission forms and case notes, patient history and other diagnostic data. This facilitates rapid and accurate reporting of results and efficient processing of requests for special stains and other ancillary tests. The software also allows real-time case collaboration, whether seeking a second opinion from colleagues or sharing cases in a learning environment. In addition to our regular rounds, journal club and other continuing professional development activities, we participate in a rigorous internal and external audit process, ensuring that the very highest standards of reporting are maintained. We are part of a multidisciplinary clinical team at IDEXX UK and work closely with our colleagues in clinical pathology, internal medicine, oncology and dermatology. Together, we provide a holistic service to our customers and rapid access to expert consultation. We are also proud to be part of the wider IDEXX family, which includes 9000 staff serving customers in 175 countries around the world. IDEXX products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care, improve staff efficiency, and build more economically successful practices.
CPD’er of the month
“Having qualified over 20 years ago, Webinar Vet allows me to keep up to date with current practice. It covers a huge variety of topics that I can apply to my work in small animal practice. When not doing vet work I have a busy household of teenagers and a large number of pets. Webinar Vet allows me to get the full benefit and hours of CPD that works around my schedule. It’s also great being able to re-listen to webinars where I’ve maybe not quite grasped something, or have to refresh for a difficult case at work. Using Webinar Vet has made life a lot easier! “ - Corrine
Corrine Bourne
Congratulations on being our CPDer of the Month Corrine, a cash prize of £100 is coming your way!
At NationWide Laboratories we pride ourselves in our pathology team. We work with an experienced team of clinical and anatomic pathologists and have an excellent resource of associate pathologists that enables us to provide diagnostic services for veterinary practices with accuracy, rapid response and informed interpretation, thereby maintaining our high standards of service. Our diagnostic reports are accompanied by expert interpretive advice, and pathologists are always available to discuss cases or provide further assistance where possible. Additional recommendations are routinely incorporate in our reports. We include special tinctorial stains as indicated and can offer immunohistochemistry for a diverse range of antibodies to help achieve diagnoses where necessary. Our aim is to provide a bespoke service tailored to each and every case. Having come through the first part of a global health crisis we have been reviewing our business and looking at our procedures to fulfil the needs of the “new normal�. As part of this we continue to invest in new technologies and personnel, to ensure we continue to deliver excellence. We see our pathologists as a key part of our multidisciplinary team, so keeping abreast of developments in disease investigation and management and understanding new technologies that advance diagnostic techniques is vital. We support and encourage our new generation of pathologists as they develop in their profession. We see investment in pathology resource, with a range of career progressing opportunities as one of the key objectives in our 5-year strategic development plan. We believe that now more than ever communication is vital; by supporting BSVP Autumn Online Event we believe we are helping to advance veterinary pathology for the benefit of both animals and man; to foster training, to advance education in all aspects of veterinary pathology and to foster communication between pathologists working in different fields. We hope this will mark the beginning of a mutually beneficial long-term relationship. David Charvill Director of Laboratory Services Tel. 01253 899215
Pippa Talks
Pippa Elliott graduated from the University of Glasgow back in 1987 and appreciates the vital role of CPD, as a compliment to practical skills developed over the years. Pippa works in companion animal practice in Hertfordshire, along with pursuing OV export inspection work and freelance veterinary copywriting. Pippa’s motto is “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”
Biofilms: Shielding the Enemy How aware are you of biofilms? You may be more familiar with biofilms than you think, because dental plaque is a biofilm, as is the misty-white residue that forms inside a stainless steel water bowl when you don’t wash it for days (Ooops, giving my home cleaning habits away!) Anyhow, just because ‘bio’ forms part of the word, doesn’t mean biofilms are a good thing. I mention this because a friend thought they were, purely because for some people, ‘bio’ is interchangeable
Pippa Elliott BVMS MRCVS
with nature and therefore something to be welcomed. Biofilms are relevant to us as vets because wound biofilms are described as the invisible enemy and are a common reason behind those poorly healing wounds. To learn how to get to grips with biofilms and those hard-to-heal wounds, then Amanda Curtis’ webinar (27th October) on Wound Biofilm and Exudate Management should be a hum-dinger.
What Exactly is a Biofilm? For those whose knowledge of biofilms is a little hazy (see what I did there!), here are a few basics. One definition of a biofilm is: Any syntrophic consortium of microorganisms
in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix that is composed of extracellular polymeric substances. In other words, when you don’t brush your teeth that slimy feeling against your tongue is a biofilm. This is rich with microorganisms and a background matrix made up of strands of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This assembles into an interlocking 3-D structure that may be a few cells thick or centimetres deep. Plaque was first identified as a biofilm in the 17th century by the Dutch businessman and scientist, Van Leeuwenhoek, who is commonly referred to as “the Father of Microbiology.” .During a presentation to the Royal Society about his early microscopic adventures with dental plaque, Van Leeuwenhoek succinctly observed: “The number of these animicules [bacteria] in the scurf of a man’s teeth are so many that I believe they exceed the number of men in a kingdom.”
The Secret Life of Biofilms It’s reported that 95% of naturally occurring bacteria exist in biofilms, which makes them a formidable foe. [#] And biofilms are not newcomers on the scene, because there is fossil evidence of biofilms dating back 3.25 billion years. [£] For all it’s a slimy sludge, a biofilm is super-successful at what it does. For example, that gooey matrix acts as a shield that protects micro-organisms from both desiccation and UV light. Plus, disinfectants and antibiotics are diluted as they diffuse through the gloop, and may be non-toxic by the time they reach the
cocooned bacteria. And then the bacteria have a few tricks up their tiny sleeve, such as existing in physiologically dormant forms in a biofilm, which snookers the action of antibiotics that require cellular activity in order to work. To top it all off, many of the microbes in a biofilm exist in a symbiotic relationship, each promoting the existence of the other. And with up to 500 bacterial species identified in dental plaque alone, the scope for them thriving is pretty broad. In the human field biofilms are a big worry because of their ability to contaminate any type of medical device from heart valves to intravenous catheters or breast implants. Bear in mind that along with concerns over antimicrobial resistance the bugs within a biofilm are also shielded, making effective treatment even more difficult. But not all biofilms use their powers for evil. Some may become super-heroes when harnessed for a purpose such as the creation of fuel cells (coating electrodes which then generate electricity by digesting organic waste). Indeed, biofilms have a future role in breaking down environmental pollutants in the soil or rivers. For good or evil, biofilms are here to stay. Which is why a quick brush-up on how to beat a biofilm will give you the edge when next faced with a frustrating non-healing open wound.
Resources
Dental plaque as a biofilm and microbial community [#]Biofilms: A Dental Microbial Infection [£] Bacterial Biofilms: From the Natural Environment to Infectious Diseases
How to fight infection within your vet practice through laundry operations Gemma Christie, business account manager at the Professional Division of Miele
The spread of infection through cross contamination poses a very real threat in a busy veterinary practice, as coming into contact with pets’ bodily fluids and potentially infectious substances is an inevitable part of day-to-day working life. And now, in addition to caring for animals and the daily running of the business, vets now need to be making changes to the way they operate for the foreseeable future to ensure social distancing is maintained and the workspace is Covid-compliant. With all of this to contend with, it can understandably be difficult to find the time to review existing infection control measures. However, it’s now more important than ever to routinely follow strict procedures on hygiene and cleanliness and ensure that these practices are carried out consistently between each patient to fight the spread of infection. Laundry is an incredibly important cog in the wheel. We conducted a survey of veterinary practice workers at the 2019 London Vets Show and found that 97% considered laundry processes to be important for infection control. Nasty micro-organisms, which can cause MRSA or other potentially harmful viruses, can live and spread on scrubs, animal bedding, towels or staff uniforms. Therefore, how these items are handled and washed should be carefully considered and form a key part of your infection control procedures.
Regulations and guidelines As well as abiding by hygiene and cleanliness best practice for the health and wellbeing of the animals, patients and staff in the veterinary practice environment, there are also a number of regulations and guidelines that need to be complied with. One of which is the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS), which 81% of vet workers have not heard of, according to our Vet Show survey. This specifies that any water fitting that carries or receives water from the public mains water supply in the UK must comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws. Different categories of WRAS approval exist depending on business type, but in veterinary practices, all machines should be compliant with WRAS category five due to potential animal waste contamination in the laundry. Many commercial machines feature a fitted one-way valve to ensure that waste flows straight down the drain and not around the pipes, helping to eliminate contaminated water and animal fur. It’s vital to ensure that your washing machine is WRAS-compliant and is also able to meet the temperature guidelines for thermal disinfection, set out by the Health Technical Memorandum 0104. These state that, to kill bacteria, contaminated laundry should be washed at or above 65°C degrees
and held for at least 10 minutes, 71°C for at least three minutes, or 82°C for at least one minute. However, our London Vet Show research found that many practices are falling short of these guidelines; although 57% said they wash heavily contaminated items in their practice, 36% don’t know if their machines meet the guidelines, while 10% know that their equipment doesn’t.
Commercial vs domestic One of the reasons vet practices are unable to meet these health and hygiene guidelines is due to the type of machine they have, with many using domestic equipment rather than commercial. Domestic machines don’t meet WRAS category five standard and are typically unable to meet and maintain the temperatures outlined by HTM 01-04, and are therefore ineffective at killing infectious diseases. Additionally, they’re not built to handle large loads like commercial machines. Our survey found that, although 93% of respondents claim that reliable laundry equipment is very important, 31% said that their equipment breaks down on a regular basis. These breakdowns can cause potentially infected laundry to pile up and become a greater infection risk, and can also mean that items such as bedding, towels and uniforms, are in short supply.
Other vital considerations for infection control For extra protection against the spread of infection, practices could consider the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as disposable gloves and aprons, when handling contaminated linen. When scoping out laundry design, ensure that PPE dispensing and disposal facilities are conveniently located. It’s also important to ensure that soiled and clean laundry is stored in different places at all times, and infected bedding, towels or scrubs are washed separately to prevent cross contamination. Practices should also consider investing in a tumble dryer to ensure any remaining bacteria is killed, and to prevent damp washing from hanging around. However, it’s not just laundry equipment and processes that need to be taken into account - the effective decontamination of surgical instruments is just as important. At Miele, we recommend the PG8582 and PG8581 models for veterinary practices. Both adjust the speed of the pump and wash time in line with the relevant requirements; the high pressure facilitates the removal of stubborn soiling, while the low pressure guarantees the complete wetting of all the wash items. A specialist dishwasher provides a more thorough and reliable wash, ensuring tools are properly decontaminated and safe to be reused. It’s more important now than ever before to revise your infection control plan to ensure that it’s thorough and prescriptive enough, and that all staff are familiar with the measures they need to take, to ensure the safety of animals, owners and staff in the veterinary environment against the backdrop of Covid-19 and moving forwards.
THE 9TH WORLD CONGRESS OF VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY 2020 DAVID GRANT
I
t’s a bit of a shock to be reminded that this will be the 9th WCVD congress. A shock, because I am fortunate to be old enough to have attended the first one in Dijon, France in 1989-can it really be 29 years ago? The congress will live long in the memories of those that attended for its groundbreaking scientific and social programmes. For those new to veterinary dermatology you will find that veterinary dermatologists are amongst the best colleagues you will ever come into contact with. From that era we remember many great friends such as Peter Ihrke and Didier Carlotti, both sadly no longer with us. They were extroverts, true world experts and full of enthusiasm. The first world congress brought me into contact with dermatologists I only knew from articles and I made many lifelong friends. World veterinary dermatology is now a huge family of friends brought together by their special interest, of course, but also by personal contact at meetings and congresses. The European Society of Veterinary Dermatology (ESVD) congresses had already contributed to the internationalism of the discipline and without them I would never have met Hans Koch, Didier Carlotti, Dominic Heripret, Lluis Ferrer and a host of other European specialists-too many to mention, so apologies to those left out! What they had in common was drive, enthusiasm, joie de vie, huge amounts of knowledge and without exception dominance of our language, (I have heard all those mentioned lecture in English). How insular I used to be! I have to mention also our own David Lloyd because he made many of the initial contacts with our European friends, and expanded this worldwide, which is when WCVD took on the mantle of expanding veterinary dermatology to every single part of the globe. Many of the ESVD visionaries were also important
in the development of WCVD, and ensuring that successive congresses were always going to be in the most attractive parts of the world, showing great foresight. Many of us have, as a result, visited cities and countries that we may have overlooked otherwise. If you had been to all 8 WCVD congresses you would have spent some very pleasant days in Dijon, Montreal, Edinburgh, San Francisco, Bordeaux, Vienna, Hong Kong and Vancouver. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic WCVD9 2020 in Sydney cannot take place live. This must have been a terrible disappointment to our Australian hosts, particularly as Sydney is one of the truly great world cities. But out of adversity comes a challenge and the WCVD committee has risen to the challenge by ensuring that the entire scientific programme will be available online via WebinarVet. And what a programme! For a fraction of the costs involved in attending the congress in Australia it will be possible to view all the lectures as webinars, and these will be available to view in the comfort of your home for six months. This is a one-off opportunity in all probability, and I know from personal experience that I did not access all the possible content in previous congresses, even with a proceedings book. Now with a little discipline it will be possible to watch more than 100 lectures delivered by the world’s experts if you buy the full programme ticket. I have taken a look at this year’s programme, it certainly looks superb. A very important point to make to colleagues new to dermatology, or just wondering how to get to grips with the subject, is that from the very beginnings it was always envisaged that there would be a major theme devoted to a general update for practitioners. This year is no exception and I am summarising here what to expect of the 2020 general update:
Diagnostic approach to the itchy dog without over-servicing Ralf Mueller Ralf is Professor in dermatology at the vet school in Munich and has travelled widely in his career including a residency in UC Davis, faculty position in Colorado, a lengthy spell in Australia before returning to Germany. He is a diplomate of both the American and European colleges of Dermatology. He has been given a very interesting topic here, part of a very refreshing programme concentrating on subjects you may have chosen yourself. He is kept busy at this congress and I am very intrigued to know how he will deal with his second contribution
Parasitic skin diseases in the age of the isoxazolines Ralf Mueller Will they exist?! This is a very relevant question. And following on…
Demodicosis -is it still a problem? Ralf Mueller You have to guess that at least in the Munich area it is still a problem. The reasons why will no doubt become apparent. On a different topic he will be speaking about food and the skin
Skin diseases of the muzzle and nasal planum Ralf Mueller This will be a useful reference point the next time you encounter lesions in this area. There are many! The general practitioner update section is full of great speakers and the next one on my list is Doug DeBoer. No, he isn’t Dutch, he is from the USA and he has been delivering world-class talks for many years. He graduated from UC Davis in 1981, nearly 40 years ago. Like many academic veterinary dermatologists he didn’t take long to see the light and chose skin diseases as his specialty. Just 6 years later he was awarded diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. He teaches in the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he is the Professor of Veterinary Dermatology Staph pyoderma – an update on diagnosis and management Doug DeBoer This is one of the most problematical skin disorders that we encounter almost from day one in practice. How to recognise it, establish the inevitable underlying factors, which antibiotic or will topical be just as good? It will all be there and more I am sure. And to add a bit of controversy… Allergen specific immunotherapy: Does it still
Food and the skin- choosing the right diet Ralf Mueller I imagine this will be mainly to do with food allergy because he has published extensively on this along with much else. Bound to be very useful update. Ralf’s final lecture in the general practice theme is more challenging (for him to get everything in, not for you. Enjoy the end product of a lot of thorough research).
have a role? Doug DeBoer Well, I wonder? Bearing in mind this presentation, along with all the others in this theme, is very much with the general practitioner in mind. It will be very interesting to hear what he makes of this subject. And in the advanced section (check the programme on the WCVD website), he tackles the subject from a different perspective, i.e. is it worth doing allergy tests?
Atopic dermatitis is a very large component of a clinician’s caseload whether it is at first opinion or specialist level. At this congress the disease gets a comprehensive outing. There is no one better to start us off on this journey than Peter Hill. He has an extraordinary CV. He is a UK veterinary graduate and spent 5 years in practice, 3 years in a dermatology residency at Madison-Wisconsin, a PhD at Edinburgh and has taught at Edinburgh, Bristol and since 2010 at the veterinary school of the University of Adelaide, where is associate professor. He has diplomate status in the UK (DVD), in addition to DACVD and DECVD. This combination of academic qualifications is unique worldwide, and his ability as a teacher has been recognised in the USA, the UK and Australia, Clinical Signs and Diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis Peter Hill This will be the most comprehensive update and essential to enable you to get to grips with this common problem, and to follow up with the detail on pathogenesis to be found on the advanced practitioner component of the congress. But first a couple of presentations as a sequel. The first one is by Wayne Rosenkrantz. He is another graduate of UC Davis and has been board certified in veterinary dermatology since 1983. He is also a connoisseur of red wines, but you will need to see his extensive CV to find out why. His lectures are always fun and very informative.
Topical Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis Meng Siak Meng is a 2006 graduate from Murdoch Veterinary School. He spent a year in private practice before returning to Perth to train as a veterinary dermatologist, working exclusively in two referral dermatology clinics, as an intern and subsequently a resident. In 2014 he passed the examinations and gained specialist status in veterinary dermatology as a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (FANZCVS). He has a particular interest in allergic and immune-mediated diseases. He is also a fan of Tottenham Hotspur football club, which will endear him to some colleagues I could mention. The general clinical update continues with an in depth consideration of another familiar common problem-otitis externa. It wasn’t so long ago when most cases of otitis externa ended up with the surgeons, leading many of them to state ‘There is no medical treatment for otitis externa!’ Times have changed dramatically and I know that referrals often come from the surgeons these days. There are four presentations on otitis externa. We begin with a summary by Craig Griffin of the pathogenesis: Pathogenesis of otitis externa Craig Griffin
Canine Atopic Dermatitis-where do the new treatments fit in? Wayne Rosencrantz Along with the above two presentations, the one I have already mentioned by Doug DeBoer will be a perfect introduction to atopic dermatitis and for the advanced information on pathogenesis. But first there is an ever increasingly important aspect to the treatment of atopic dermatitis, topical therapy.
Craig is a graduate at Cornell University and completed his residency at UC Davis in 1980-forty years as a specialist! As you might expect he has a very impressive CV including being one of the co-authors of Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology 5th -7th editions. He has been in private veterinary practice in San Diego, predominantly, for many years. His presentations are always meticulously researched and you can be sure will be right up to date. With this information fresh in your mind you will want to move on to the clinical aspects.
great introduction to alopecia. Diagnostic approach to otitis externa Peter Hill Peter gets a couple of shots at this problem but first a presentation on how to diagnose otitis externa, no doubt looking at the underlying factors in particular. And then Peter and Craig combine to look at the management of the condition, both in its acute and chronic forms. Management of acute otitis externa Peter Hill A very important contribution this, as it should prevent the condition becoming chronic. But if it does: Management of chronic otitis externa and media Peter Hill These are the cases that the surgeons would almost exclusively see in the past, but far less now. It will be interesting to hear what Peter says about the role of surgical procedures in chronic otitis externa and when to call the surgeons in. Another theme is comprehensively tackled. This is alopecia and the first in this series is the diagnostic approach. General diagnostic approach to alopeciafolliculitis vs follicular arrest Monika Welle Now we have an input from a European specialist in Dermatopathology. Monika studied veterinary medicine in Berlin and Munich, graduated in 1986 and practiced in Germany before joining the institute for Animal Pathology, Berlin in 1990. A move to Bern, Switzerland in 1995 stimulated her interest in dermatohistopathology, which has since become her passion. She is a diplomate of the ECVP. Histopathologists are an essential part of the diagnostic team and this is sure to be a
On the folliculitis aspect there is an update on dermatophytosis by Debbie Simpson. Dermatophytosis –update on diagnosis and management Debbie Simpson Debbie is a 2008 graduate from Massey University, New Zealand. She undertook specialist training in a Melbourne referral practice and Cornell University. This culminated in passing the examinations for Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. In 2016 she opened a specialist dermatology referral clinic back in New Zealand. In this lecture she follows Monika Welle’s introduction, describing folliculitis as seen in dermatophytosis. The next speakers deal with follicular arrest, both on a theme ‘What should we be doing?’ Hypothyroidism-what should we be doing? Catherine Outerbridge Catherine is a professor of medicine and epidemiology at UC Davis. A graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, she moved south and since 2000 has been on the staff of UC Davis. During this time she has accumulated two diploma board qualifications. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD). The same applies to the next speaker Richard Squires. The more I look into the CVs of the speakers at this congress the more amazed I am. Richard is a 1982 Bristol graduate and very quickly made up his mind about where he wanted his career to go. He has received postgraduate training in the Universities of Cambridge, Pennsylvania and Glasgow. He has diplomate status of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine, a PhD, and somewhere along the line a DVR. He is also not shy of travelling having held faculty positions at the
Universities of Liverpool, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Massey and since 2007 he is the lead of the veterinary clinical sciences team at James Cook University at Townsville, northern Australia. Hyperadrenocorticism –what should we be doing? Richard Squires To complete this general update programme are three further presentations on diverse subjects. Verena Affolter is presenting on nodular disease. She is Professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology at UC Davis. She has a PhD and is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathology. If you are wondering about her name and where she is from she graduated from the University Of Bern, Switzerland and quickly set off on an academic career by achieving a doctorate thesis a few years later followed by pathology training at her alma mater, then in Cornell. Her PhD was obtained at UC Davis in 1999 and they haven’t let her go! Her professorial emphasis at UC Davis currently is dermatopathology and immunopathology-perfect qualifications for her talk.
animal internal medicine residency and a PhD in parasitology. He is currently professor of small animal veterinary internal medicine at Colorado State University. He has an immense work ethic and has received numerous awards for his teaching. One of his many interests is zoonoses of cats -so expect a thought provoking session. I used to think, and still do, that it is impossible to investigate dermatological cases without a microscope and a dermatological pathologist. I soon added cytology to those two and courses on cytology have taken off in recent years and in this programme there is an introduction to the subject, which is sure to whet your appetite. It is delivered by Kim Coyner, who graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. Following the usual path of internship and residency at the University of Georgia she attained diplomate status of the ACVD in 2001 and since then has been in private dermatology referral practice in the Tacoma and Lacey areas of the southwest United States. She has authored numerous continuing education articles. What does cytology actually tell me and how can I use it? Kim Coyner
General Diagnostic Approach to nodular diseaseis it infectious, sterile or neoplastic? Verena Affolter An interesting diversion from the usual presentations on the dermatologists’ favourite parasite (the flea), is to concentrate on what you can catch from them. Michael Lappin is up for this task Update on Flea borne zoonoses-what you can catch at work Michael Lappin Michael is a graduate from Oklahoma State University and did a couple of years in practice after an internship at the University of Georgia. Returning to Georgia he completed a small
That concludes my dip into the update programme for general practitioners. It is possible just to register just for this component. Given that you have a total of six months to view and reflect on the content I think it makes a lot more sense to register for the entire programme. Having worked your way through the above lectures much of the advanced programme is perfectly accessible and so I recommend you take a look at this on the WCVD9 website. I will finish with a strong recommendation, if you treat companion animals, do not miss out on the Feline Stream. I am adding a list of what you can look forward to. • General Diagnostic approach to pruritic skin disease in cat. Danny Scott • Allergy testing in cats-is it worth it? Mandy Burrows
• Management of the pruritic cat-have we moved way from prednisolone? Wayne Rosenkrantz
• Feline Cushings Disease. Catherine Outerbridge
• Pyoderma in cats-is it really a problem? Danny Scott
This is a fantastic feline programme and you may have noticed that Danny Scott has figured prominently. He also has three contributions in the equine stream. Many thousands of vets worldwide have learned from Danny Scott. His CV is truly astonishing and a good summary of it can be found by checking the International Canine Health Awards Lifetime Achievement awarded to Danny at the Kennel Club in London in May 2018. Of note is that he has delivered more than 500 presentations across the globe, apart from numerous publications, including co-authoring the standard veterinary dermatology text. He is certainly the most travelled of all the world’s veterinary dermatology experts. Why have I singled him out? It’s because like many I thought he had retired and I managed to hear his ‘farewell’ lecture in Birmingham a couple of years ago. This will probably be the last opportunity to hear one of the world’s great communicators in our profession.
• Dermatoses of the face, head and neck-how often is it food allergy? Linda Vogelnest • The eosinophilic granuloma complex –has anything changed? Danny Scott • Ventral alopecia, is it dermatological, behavioural or medical? Danny Scott • Dermatophytosis –how best to treat? Kim Coyner • Pododermatitis in cats. Danny Scott • Nodular skin diseases in cats. Meng Siak
From the Literature – October’20 Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice is always full of incredibly detailed, brilliantly researched articles that are up to date. There is an excellent example in the July 2020 edition.
Distinguishing Between Dermatologic Disorders of the Face, Nasal Planum and Ears: Great Lookalikes in Feline Dermatology Kimberley Coyner DVM Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice Volume 50 Issue 4 pages 823-882
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imberley Coyner is a graduate from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and after various internships and a residency in dermatology at the University of Georgia she became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2001. Since then she has been in private referral practice at Dermatology Clinic for Animals in the southwest United States. The first thing to notice about her contribution is that 59 pages are devoted to the subject -quite amazing! And even more so is the number of clinical pictures distributed throughout the article. I counted 90 in all, some of which are Kimberley’s, with others borrowed from various publications and colleagues. It
makes for the most up to date information possible and a must for anyone interested in feline dermatology-surely the majority with the world congress of veterinary dermatology just a few weeks away. In the opening key points Kimberley states that: • Facial dermatitis in cats can be caused by a broad range of infectious, allergic, immunemediated and neoplastic disorders with very different treatments and prognosis • Baseline dermatologic diagnostics (skin scrapings for mites, cytology for infection and to characterise inflammatory infiltrate, and dermatophyte culture) are indicated in all cases; aerobic bacterial skin culture is indicated if bacteria are found on cytology despite empiric antibiotics
• Biopsies for dermatohistopathology +/- tissue cultures are indicated in cases that are not diagnosed on screening tests and that do not respond to empiric therapy Further key points expand on some of the principal differential diagnoses. For example when discussing facial pruritus, a common clinical presentation, the reader is informed that it has 3 main causes • Allergy –atopy, food allergy, fleabite hypersensitivity, mosquito bite hypersensitivity • Parasites –Notoedres, Demodex, and fleas • Bacterial and/or yeast infection -commonly occur secondary to an underlying primary disease such as allergy or parasites. These infections can also complicate rare dermatoses such as paraneoplastic alopecia or thymoma-induced exfoliative dermatitis. Less common causes of facial pruritus in cats include dermatophytosis, herpes virus dermatitis, and pemphigus foliaceus. A comprehensive table lists all other possible causes of facial lesions according to clinical signs and location. Each named disease is well summarised with recommended diagnostic tests and treatments.
The amount of work that has gone into this article is mind-boggling. I like Kimberley’s concluding comment. Having emphasised the careful consideration of such things as the signalment, history, and results of the various diagnostic techniques, amply described in the text, she states ‘each feline facial dermatologic disease is a unique puzzle that can be solved’ If you can make time to read this before WCVD9 it will make a very good introduction for the feline stream that will feature at the congress. Also Kimberley is one of the speakers at the congress Staying on the theme of dermatology, for this edition of the WebinarVet Gazette, the August 2020 edition of Veterinary Dermatology contains the usual mix of detailed academic research, with case reports and articles of direct interest not only to dermatologists but also to colleagues in first opinion practice. I am a fan of Karen Moriello’s contributions to veterinary dermatology. She always seems to pick topics for investigation that come up with practical and immediate relevance in the clinic, as evidenced in the following article.
Immediate and residual antifungal activity of compounds used for whole body and adjuvant topical therapy against Microsporum canis: an in vitro study Karen A Moriello Veterinary Dermatology 2020 31 pages 272-275
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opical antifungal therapy is recommended to disinfect hairs of dermatophyte-infected animals. The objective of this study was to determine the immediate and residual (24, 48, and 72 h) antifungal activity of commonly used products for focal (n=11) and whole body application (n=3). In this study the three most commonly used whole body antifungal treatments showed good immediate antifungal activity. Enilconazole and lime sulphur showed residual activity on hairs. This was not the case with 2% enilconazole /2% chlorhexidine shampoo but this finding was expected as the shampoo is rinsed after application. However, the author notes that there are ay least two in vivo studies where this combination with systemic antifungal therapy has been successful to treat naturally infected animals. Importantly investigators reported marked reduction in environmental contamination with the use of this product. Previous advice included the recommendation that topical therapy should be applied twice daily. This study suggest once daily or every other day for products containing 1 or 2% miconazole, clotrimazole or 1%
terbinafine. Summary clinical findings are as follows: • Supports twice weekly use of leave on whole body rinses (lime sulphur and enilconazole) • Supports the use of miconazole/chlorhexidine shampoo. Its lack of residual activity does not imply that this product is not useful in a clinical setting. There is good in vitro evidence that this product is sporicidal and field data show that successive applications decrease the spore load. • No studies yet that adjuvant topical therapy is indicated in all cases of dermatophytosis.
And on the same subject another useful clinical article on dermatophytosis has recently been published in the Journal of Feline medicine and Surgery. You can always rely on finding something of value to first opinion practitioners in this journal. The article looked at two techniques for sampling cats with suspected dermatophytosis
Comparison of carpet and toothbrush techniques for the detection of Microsporum canis in cats Eline E Santana and others Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Vol 22 issue 8 2020
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he aim of the study was to determine whether the toothbrush and carpet techniques were of equal value for the detection of Microsporum canis in a field study. The study design was quite straightforward. 39 Persian cats in a cattery were sampled. Fungal culture samples from the hair coat of each cat were collected
by stroking the cat with a sterile toothbrush, and a 5 x 5 cm sized sterile carpet square. This netted 78 samples in all. These samples were then inoculated on to fungal culture plates. Of the cats enrolled in the study 77% were symptomatic for dermatophytosis and 23% were asymptomatic. By day 21 M.canis was detected in all culture plates In conclusion, in this study the agreement between the carpet technique and the toothbrush technique was 100%. Both methods are therefore equally effective for collecting material for M.canis culture, and are both inexpensive and easy to perform in clinical practice.