Cavalesse - taking the Itch out of Sweet Itch

Has your horse or pony got a summer skin allergy?  Have you had to curtail your equine activities over the summer due to persistent itching?  If the answer is yes, then you’re not alone.  Recent research carried out by Elanco Companion Animal Health, distributor of Cavalesse, showed over half (55%) of owners of horses with sweet itch were concerned that their horse will suffer and nearly half become stressed about the way their horse is affected (47%).  Indeed, nearly a third of those questioned have had their activities with their horse affected, including being unable to ride their horse, due to welfare, aesthetic and behavioural issues, such as head shaking, rubbing, unpredictability and aggression.

Affecting three to five per cent¹ of all horses in the UK, sweet itch, or Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis, is caused by an allergy to the saliva in the bite of Culicoides midges.  It is particularly prevalent in the summer months, when midges are most active and all breeds and types of horses, ponies and donkeys are susceptible to the condition, although some breeds are more so than others.  It is also thought that sweet itch may be hereditary and stress may be a trigger.  The disease is not contagious, however if a premises is particularly susceptible to midges then more than one horse may develop the condition.

Symptoms

Midges usually attack the mane, withers, back, rump or dock of the horse, so it is often these areas that are affected.

Symptoms include severe itching and hair loss, commonly in the tail and mane.  The skin can become bald, inflamed, crusty and sore and as the condition progresses it thickens, becomes wrinkled and the hair becomes sparse and coarse with flaky dandruff.  Exudative dermatitis may develop which can lead to secondary bacterial infection.  These lesions are often found along the spine at the mane, forelock or tail and, in more severe cases, they spread down the body to the abdomen, saddle area, sides of the head, sheath and legs.

The itching can become so severe that the horse scratches itself on anything in reach.  Excessive mutual grooming from field companions is common and a horse may also shake its head or become restless if flying insects are close by.  In addition, a horse’s temperament can change - it can either become lethargic or agitated and impatient, with a lack of concentration when ridden.

During the winter, the skin may totally recover.  However the disease often returns in the spring at the first contact with flies.  It is therefore essential for owners to be aware of the potential risk of purchasing a horse during winter when there are little or no signs.  If a horse has a mane and tail that look suspicious, it is advisable to inspect it closely for signs of hair loss which may suggest sweet itch.

Prevention and control

Sweet itch is notoriously difficult to manage and once a horse develops the condition it can recur every summer, proving a management nightmare for its owner.

Prevention and control should include:

·         Moving the horse away from standing water and boggy land

·         Stabling at dawn and dusk and the use of fly repellents

·         Use of Cavalesse sachets and Gel*

·         Fly protection rugs

Cavalesse^® and Cavalesse^® Topical, are easy-to-administer skin care products containing nicotinamide, which help to maintain healthy skin in horses prone to summer skin allergies.  Cavalesse^® and Cavalesse^® Topical, are available to order from Pet Dispensary.

All preventative measures should be instigated in March and April before the midge season starts to prevent the midges from biting and starting the inflammatory process.

For further information about Cavalesse or to see Case Studies click here or call Pet Dispensary on 0845 6787838

 Pet Dispensary is offering Cavalesse Combi packs at a reduced price for a limited time and are also offering a free hoofpick with every order.

Pet Dispensary - affordable pet medication: First anti-cancer drug Masivet for dogs now availa...

Pet Dispensary - affordable pet medication: First anti-cancer drug Masivet for dogs now availa...: Some breeds of dog are particularly prone to cancer and one in four will suffer from the disease during their lifetime, a similar proportion...

First anti-cancer drug Masivet for dogs now available at Pet Dispensary

Some breeds of dog are particularly prone to cancer and one in four will suffer from the disease during their lifetime, a similar proportion to humans.

Masivet is a total innovation in the treatment of canine mast cell tumour (cancer).  If your dog has been diagnosed with cancer your veterinary surgeon will define the administration of the tablets and then you can treat your dog at home by oral administration of tablets.

Masivet is the first drug registered against cancer in the history of veterinary medicine.  Masivet is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor able to target selectively tumour cells.  Masivet has been developed to treat mast cell diseases. 

What is masivet?

Masivet contains mastinib which belongs to a class of medicines having an anticancer action.  It is available as round, orange tablets in 50mg or 150mg strength.

How does Masivet work?

The active substance in Masivet, masitinib, is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor.  This means that it blocks some specific enzymes known as tyrosine kinases.  These enzymes can be found in some receptors on the surface of cells, including the c-kit receptor.  Some types of mast-cell tumour are linked to a mutation that caused excessive action of c-kit and stimulates the mast cells to divide uncontrollably.  By blocking these receptors, Masivet might help to control cell division, preventing further development of the tumours with this particular mutation.

There are precautions of administration and these will be discussed with you by your vet.

In trials 40 per cent of dogs were still alive after two years of treatment with Masivet compared to just 15 per cent of those on a dummy drug, according to makers AB Science.

Pet Dispensary manager Lynsey Bacon comments, “Pet Dispensary is pleased to be able to add Masivet to our product range.  We can offer Masivet at an affordable price but we do require a prescription from the vet before we can supply this.  Masivet is not only able to increase the survival of dogs with cancer but also to improve their quality of life. 

Pet Dispensary has a helpful sales team and is happy to discuss your pet’s veterinary requirements and needs.  Further details on both the medication, prescriptions and our service is available on our website http://www.petdispensary.co.uk/”

Pet Dispensary - affordable pet medication: Financial Benefits by purchasing your Pets Medicat...

Pet Dispensary - affordable pet medication: Financial Benefits by purchasing your Pets Medicat...: Should your pet require long term treatment for medical reasons including arthritis, skin disease or heart problems the prescription medicin...

Financial Benefits by purchasing your Pets Medications online

Should your pet require long term treatment for medical reasons including arthritis, skin disease or heart problems the prescription medicines alone can run into hundreds of pounds a year.   Whilst clients with insured animals may benefit from getting some of these costs returned, many people who haven’t insurance or have exemptions or limits on their policies find pet medication a considerable financial strain.

Although your vet will examine and care for the pet you do not have to purchase the medication from them, legislation allows you to choose where and how you purchase the medications and the savings are worth this consideration.  By shopping around you can purchase medications up to 50% cheaper than you was paying at the vets.

For people who have not got insurance being able to source medication cheaper can mean difficult decisions do not have to be considered about the future of their pets. 

Some people still find it difficult to approach the vet about this option, be assured that they are legally obliged to provide the prescription and this will not affect the level of care your pet receives.  It is such common practice now most vets are expecting to be asked for the prescriptions.

There are many medications such as veterinary flea treatment Frontline or wormer Drontal as well as medications for conditions including allergies, behaviour, digestion, cystitis, liver and renal support, heat and kidney function that do not require a prescription and can be brought at more affordable prices online as and when your pet requires them.

Pet Dispensary is one such internet veterinary pharmacy and Manager Lynsey Bacon comments.

“We are pleased to be able to offer affordable veterinary medications.  People are still learning that this option is available and once they have looked at the costs, some people can save hundreds of pounds a year by purchasing online.

We hear every day of the amount of money people have saved and some people have said if they hadn’t have found us they would not have been able to continue with their pets medication.  Pet Dispensary has been established for several years and we only source UK medication which is identical to that purchased from your local vet practice.  We are able to offer advice and guidance for people over the phone about their pets medication requirements and how to request a prescription, please do contact us if you wish to discuss this”.

Pet Dispensary, affordable Pet Medication

Pet Dispensary - affordable pet medication: Protect your home, Protect your pet with Advantage...

Pet Dispensary - affordable pet medication: Protect your home, Protect your pet with Advantage...: Advantage protects against fleas in the pet, kills larvae in the home, wherever the treated pet goes. Advantage spot on has been available a...

Protect your home, Protect your pet with Advantage

Advantage protects against fleas in the pet, kills larvae in the home, wherever the treated pet goes.

Advantage spot on has been available as POM-V in the UK since 1997.  The classification is now changed to NFA-VPS.  Containing imidacloprid, Advantage offers genuine choice to the fipronil based products in the NFA-VPS market.

Advantage is an effective flea treatment and like many flea products is should ideally be used in a preventative manner.  Cats & Dogs can be treated monthly to prevent these household pets bringing fleas into the home.  Advantage can be used as part of a treatment strategy for flea allergy dermatitis where this condition has previously been diagnosed by a vet.

However, one of the most appealing aspects of Advantage to owners is the environmental effect which the product exerts in the pets surroundings.  Once applied, Advantage works through killing flea larvae wherever the treated pet goes in the house, thus helping to control the flea cycle.  With Advantage the pet that was involved in the spreading the infestation can also help clear it up.  Additional environmental measures may be required during an infestation to fully clear the problem.

Bayer Animal Health commented: “Market research with pet owners has shown the ability to kill the fleas on the pet and kill larvae in the environment is one of the top attributes they would look for in a flea product.  This sits alongside proven effectiveness, another area which Advantage can lay claim.  Advantage is a flea product there is a genuine demand for”.

Another feature of Advantage not currently met by fipronil products is that it is licensed for use on rabbits.  In 2010 there were a reported 1 million pet rabbits in the UK.  Advantage represents an opportunity to grow flea product usage into this segment.  Rabbits in the household can harbour flea infestations initially introduced by cats & dogs or may bring fleas into the home from the garden.  In multi-pet households all cats, dogs and rabbits should be treated to ensure that all potential carriers of fleas are addressed.  Fleas can also be a potential carrier of myxomatosis which can affect indoor and outdoor rabbits.

For more details of Advantage or to purchase click here