News & Views

Abstract

CFP

AAFP hits major milestone of 1000 Cat Friendly Practices

AAFP is proud to announce a significant milestone achieved by the Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) program in North and South America – there are now 1000 designated CFPs.

Since its inception in 2012, the CFP program has continuously gained momentum and flourished. According to the most recent CFP survey, conducted last year, the majority of CFP-designated clinics experience an increase in feline visits, revenue and patients. Thanks to the generous support of its sponsors, Bayer Animal Health, Zoetis, Ceva Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Merial, the CFP program is making a difference to feline healthcare.

Hyperthyroidism guidelines and client brochure now available

The 2016 AAFP Guidelines for the Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism and a supplemental client brochure are published in this issue of JFMS (pages 400–416). They can also be accessed via the AAFP website at: catvets.com/guidelines . A podcast with JFMS Editor Margie Scherk interviewing panel co-chair, Hazel Carney, can be accessed via the JFMS homepage at: jfms.com

ISFM

Cat Friendly Clinics in 27 countries

ISFM’s Cat Friendly Clinic (CFC) programme continues to expand, with almost 600 clinics in 27 countries. The UK, where the scheme was first launched, has by far the largest group with over 300 CFCs, but there are growing numbers in Japan, Spain, Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy and Portugal. Both China and South Korea have embraced the scheme, with 10 and 11 CFCs, respectively, and there are firsts in Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and Greece. In 2015, ISFM, which works in partnership with Purina in Europe and Royal Canin in Japan, added a large number of resources to its website to help clinics achieve accreditation. Despite the fact that language can be a potential barrier in some countries, it is hugely encouraging to see such wide-ranging uptake of the scheme.

ISFM veterinary director, Andy Sparkes, comments: ’As vets realise the benefits of having a CFC and embrace the concept of clinics that are much less stressful for cats and their owners, we are seeing a rapid increase in the number becoming accredited. Vets the world over understand the need to treat cats differently and to encourage their owners to bring them in, not just for treatment when they are ill, but for preventive care as well. AAFP license and run the Cat Friendly Practice program in North and South America, and are to be congratulated on reaching 1000 practices. Having 1600 cat friendly veterinary establishments worldwide can only benefit the health of cats.’

ISFM has recently seen its veterinary membership exceed the 2000 mark – partly as a result of the success of its CFC scheme.

JFMS Open Reports

PubMed Central

JFMS Open Reports has passed the first stage of its application to have all its articles available through the free journal archive PubMed Central and discoverable via PubMed. This involved assessing the scientific and editorial character and quality of the journal. The second stage in the process, a technical evaluation, is under way.

iCatCare

Photography competition

International Cat Care, the parent charity of ISFM, runs an annual photography competition. Now in its fourth year, this year’s theme is ‘cat naps’. The 12 winning images will be featured in the iCatCare 2017 calendar and the overall winner will receive £500. The competition closes on 15 May 2016. Further details can be found at: icatcare.org/photography-competition

Books

Bite-sized reviews

Small animal dermatology, advanced cases: self-assessment color review

KA Moriello and A Diesel. CRC Press, USA, 2013. Paperback, 288 pages. Price £22.94, ISBN 9781840761979

Positives Answers and explanations to the case studies are detailed in depth, but also stimulate further learning and investigation on the conditions described.

Negatives May not be so useful for actual diagnostic purposes when presented with a cat with specific clinical signs. Would also prefer photographs of cases to be larger to aid clarity.

Target audience General practitioners with a specific interest in dermatology.

Comment Interesting, thought-provoking and comprehensive review of advanced small animal dermatological cases.

Ratings (out of five cats)

Feline-specific content

Practice resource

Value for money

Overall reviewer rating

Muna Roberts

BVetMed DipAS(CABC) MANZCVS (Feline) MRCVS (RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Feline Medicine)

Small animal orthopedics, rheumatology and musculoskeletal disorders: self-assessment color review

2nd ed. D Lewis and SJ Langley-Hobbs. CRC Press, USA, 2014. Paperback, 304 pages. Price £22.94, ISBN 9781482224924

Positives The book covers all the major feline bone diseases, traumatic injuries and surgeries, with plenty of colour photographs and radiographs. The case-based presentation enables active learning and facilitates use as a revision tool. A reference list (by case number) suggests further reading for those wanting to know more.

Negatives Only about a fifth of the cases are feline and there are none covering the muscular diseases of cats. The book is not a complete reference or manual, so may not find a place on the practice bookshelf.

Target audience Veterinary clinicians and students.

Comment A small portable book, useful to those sitting undergraduate and postgraduate examinations in small animal orthopaedics.

Ratings (out of five cats)

Feline-specific content

Practice resource

Value for money

Overall reviewer rating

Ellie Marriott

BVSc MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) MRCVS

Veterinary anatomy of domestic mammals: textbook and colour atlas

6th ed. HE Konig and H-G Liebich (eds). Schattauer, Stuttgart, 2014. Hardback, 824 pages. Price £181.05, ISBN 9783794528332

Positives This book brings anatomy to life with 1089 figures, including 991 colour figures. There are photographs, graphics, macroanatomical and histological preparations, coloured schemas, radiographs, sliced plastinations and pictures from modern imaging techniques. Chapters on topical clinical anatomy, sectional anatomy, as well as references to system functions, physiology, clinically important landmarks and clinical conditions, make this a useful book for vets and nurses.

Negatives Disappointingly cats feature infrequently in this book; it is mainly about dogs, horses and farm animals. It is not always clear to which species the text refers.

Target audience Veterinary students, clinicians and nurses.

Comment This is a beautiful book for anyone interested in veterinary medicine and the biology of animals.

Ratings (out of five cats)

Feline-specific content

Practice resource

Value for money

Overall reviewer rating

Bettina Gruninger

DrMedVet MANZCVS MRCVS

Pain management in small animal medicine

S Fox. CRC Press, USA, 2014, Hardback, 416 pages. Price £62.89, ISBN 9781840761832

Positives Finally I have found a book that does not only talk about pain but also talks specifically about feline pain! A useful guide to understanding the physiology of pain and pharmacokinetics of both drugs and nutraceuticals. It offers the knowledge that allows us to assess and monitor our patients and better understand what the best options available to manage the identified problems are. It provides multiple resources links including the ISFM and AAFP guidelines on long-term use of NSAIDs.

Negatives Very little information on neuropathic pain. Unfortunately I found no information on feline orofacial pain syndrome.

Target audience Veterinary students, veterinary nurses with a specific interest in pain management, general practitioners.

Comment Great book for those who want a guide to understanding the phenomenon of pain and its management. Good presentation of available resources supported by a thorough literature review. Much more than just a ‘painkillers recipe book’.

Ratings (out of five cats)

Feline-specific content

Practice resource

Value for money

Overall reviewer rating

Agnieszka Zoltowska

BVSc MRCVS