Backyard poultry cases in UK small animal practices: Demographics, health conditions and pharmaceutical prescriptions.

BACKGROUND: Backyard poultry ownership is of keen interest in the United Kingdom. However, despite this, little is known about veterinary care engagement and outcomes of visits in this group of species. METHODS: This study described and characterised veterinary practice-visiting backyard poultry, utilising electronic health record data supplied by veterinary practices voluntarily participating in the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network between 1st April 2014 and 31st March 2019. RESULTS: In total, 4424 recorded poultry consultations originating from 197 veterinary practices (352 sites) were summarised. Chicken consultation (n = 3740) peak incidence was in early summer (April-June), relative to all recorded species. More chickens resided in rural (incident rate ratio = 2.5, confidence interval [CI] 2.3-2.6, p <0.001) or less deprived areas. Non-specific clinical signs were commonly recorded (17.6% of chicken consultations, CI 15.9-19.2), as were those indicative of advanced disease. This latter finding was reflected in prescribed management strategies, with euthanasia comprising 29.8% (CI 27.0-32.6) of consultations. Antimicrobials were commonly prescribed (33.0% of consultations, CI 29.8-36.2), 43.8% of which included antimicrobials considered 'highest priority critically important' by the World Health Organisation. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a need to tailor antimicrobial prescription guidance to the backyard poultry setting. In addition, late presentation of disease, vague clinical descriptions in clinical narratives and high euthanasia rates show that disease identification, management and knowledge of poultry health and welfare among owners and veterinary surgeons can be improved.

Tutores de cães consideram a dieta caseira como adequada, mas alteram as fórmulas prescritas / Dog owners consider homemade diet as adequate, but change the prescribed formulas

O estudo objetivou avaliar a adesão e a percepção dos proprietários de cães, residentes na cidade de São Paulo/SP, quanto ao emprego de dieta caseira no manejo nutricional de seu animal de estimação. Foram entrevistados por contato telefônico 55 proprietários que forneciam dieta caseira no manejo nutricional do seu cão. O questionário contemplou perguntas relacionadas ao preparo e eficiência das dietas, bem como o manejo dos animais. Verificou-se que considerável número (parcela) de prescrições (45,9%) esteve associado a pacientes com hiporexia. Dentre os proprietários que relataram dificuldade no preparo (10,9%), o tempo dispendido (33,3%) foi a maior problemática. Quando questionados em relação às modificações nas fórmulas prescritas, 60% admitiram que a realizaram sem prévia recomendação. Na opinião dos entrevistados, a dieta caseira não causou alterações nas fezes (50%) e na pelagem (62,7%) dos animais em comparação ao emprego de um alimento comercial e foi considerada adequada pela maioria (79,0%). As dietas caseiras podem ser amplamente utilizadas, mostrando-se especialmente importantes em cães doentes e/ou hiporéticos por apresentarem maior aceite em relação à dieta comercial, no entanto, nem todos os tutores estão aptos a utilizá-la.(AU)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesion and perception of dog owners from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, on the employment of homemade diet for the nutritional management of their pet. The participants were 55 owners that provided homemade diet for their dog. The interviews were conducted by telephone and the questionnaire included points related with the preparation and effectiveness of diets, as well as the handling of animals. It was found that a considerable number of prescriptions (45.9%) was associated with patients with hyporexia. Among the owners who reported difficulty in the preparation (10.9%), time spent (33.3%) was the most problematic topic. When questioned in relation to changes in the prescribed formulas, 60% admitted that conducted it without recommendation. In the opinion of interviewed owners, the homemade diet did not cause changes in feces (50%) and coat (62.7%) of the animals compared to the use of a commercial food and was considered appropriate by the majority (79.0%). The homemade diets can be widely used, being especially important in dogs with diseases and/or dogs with hyporexia, since they are more easily accepted than the commercial diet; however, not all owners are able for its right use.(AU)

Antimicrobial drug use on Austrian dairy farms with special consideration of the use of "highest priority critically important antimicrobials".

The use of antibiotics in livestock production is coming under growing criticism. Beside overall antimicrobial use, specific substances listed by the WHO as "highest priority critically important antimicrobials" (HPCIAs)--these include fluoroquinolones, macrolides, 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, as well as glycopeptides--have been placed under specific restrictions and should only be applied in particular cases according to strict indication criteria. In this study, the consumption of antimicrobial substances on Austrian dairy farms was evaluated quantitatively. The data covered 8,027 prescription records on the use of antibiotics on 465 dairy farms. Eleven veterinary practices provided data from between four to 27 months during the period from 2008 to 2010 and the total consumption of antimicrobials was estimated. The amount of active substance(s) in grams used per livestock unit (g/LU) per year and the number of product-related daily doses used per livestock unit (n PrDD(LU)/LU) per year were determined as units of measurement. These parameters were estimated by applying Monte Carlo simulation techniques, respecting variances in annual working days of the veterinary practices as well as variances in the proportion of non-treated populations. Total antimicrobial consumption in the population-at-risk was determined to be 2.59 g/LU and 1.30 PrDD(LU)/LU per year. HPCIAs were used at a proportion of 24.6% (0.31 PrDD(LU)/LU) of the total consumption of antimicrobials for systemic and intramammary use. Of these, 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins were most frequently administered, particularly for the treatment of mastitis and foot diseases. The total consumption of antimicrobials in Austrian dairy cattle production is negligible compared to their use in pig and poultry production systems. However, the use of HPCIAs, especially 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, should be minimised further.

Feedlot Pharmaceutical Documentation: Protocols, Prescriptions, and Veterinary Feed Directives.

The days of oral treatment instructions and loosely associated authorizations for the use of drugs in food animals are gone. Treatment protocols should include case definitions for treatment eligibility, detailed regimens, case definitions for treatment success and failure, directions for animal disposition, and mechanisms to prevent animals entering the food chain with violative residues. Prescriptions and veterinary feed directives (VFDs) will soon be necessary for almost all uses of antimicrobials in food animals. Although VFDs have a regulatory format, prescriptions may vary, but there are basic inclusions that should be present in any prescription.

Prescription diets for rabbits.

Dietary management can be used with drug therapy for the successful treatment of many diseases. Therapeutic nutrition is well-recognized in dogs and cats and is beginning to increase among other pet species, including rabbits. The nutritional component of some rabbit diseases (eg, urolithiasis) is not completely understood, and the clinician should evaluate the use of prescription diets based on the scientific literature and individual needs. Long-term feeding trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of prescription diets in rabbits. Prescription diets are available for selected diseases in rabbits, including diets for immediate-term, short-term, and long-term management.