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VMD issues advice on permethrin
dog and cat
The PDSA says thousands of pet owners are accidentally poisoning their cats by applying flea treatments meant for dogs.

Pet charities are campaigning for drugs to be relicensed

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has issued advice on preventing cat poisonings through permethrin-containing flea products. The move comes just days after the PDSA called for the licensing of these products to be changed, meaning they can only be prescribed by a vet.

Advice posted on the VMD's website yesterday (August 4) warns owners to check the packaging of flea treatments to ensure they are suitable for cats as permethrin can be highly toxic for them, in some cases proving fatal.

Owners are advised to read the instructions on packaging carefully and separate dogs and cats in the same household after applying permethrin-containing treatments to dogs. Cats can be poisoned even through contact with a dog that has been recently treated.

The VMD urges pet owners who buy medicines online to use only approved websites, identified by the directorate's logo. It also provides guidance on what to do if a dog product is accidentally applied to a cat and provides a link to further information about products with a low concentration of permethrin, that it says are safe to use on cats.

According to the VMD it receives "a few reports" each year of dog treatments containing permethrin being mistakenly used on cats. Its 2013 annual report states that it was notified of 24 cases.

However, the PDSA said last week that its vets see around 20 cases of poisoning every month. The charity suspects this may even be just the tip of the iceberg with many cases going unreported.

Last week, pet charities the PDSA and International Cat Care (iCatCare) welcomed the news that pet product manufacturer Bob Martin will remove on-animal flea treatments containing permethrin from general sales.

Pet owners wishing to buy these products will have to purchase them from a vet or other suitably qualified person (SQP) who can give advice on the dangers to cats at the point of sale. It is thought this may reduce the number of owners who mistakenly buy dog products for cats.

This follows an iCatCare campaign, now backed by the PDSA, urging the VMD to change the licensing of all permethrin-containing flea products so that they can only be sold by a vet or SQP.

The VMD encourages vets, nurses, members of the public and anyone else who uses veterinary medicines to report adverse reactions: https://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/adversereactionreporting/

Click here to view the VMD's advice on permethrin: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/permethrin-spot-on.pdf


 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.