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App to help owners monitor congestive heart failure in their pets
"Having a means of remote monitoring is more important than ever."
Tool generates data that can be shared remotely with veterinary teams.

A new at-home tool to help pet owners monitor congestive heart failure in their pets has been developed by pharmaceutical firm, Vetoquinol.

The free web-based app and digital tracker enables pet owners to monitor their pet's sleeping respiratory rate (SRR) and indicates the status of their medical condition.

The app also generates data that can be shared remotely with veterinary teams, something that may be particularly useful during the COVID-19 lockdown when practices are trying to minimise face-to-face contact with clients.

"Being able to monitor patients with congestive heart failure is important at any time but during lockdown, with some routine checks having to be postponed, having a means of remote monitoring is more important than ever,” explained Helen Hunter, product manager at Vetoquinol.

“This tool will help veterinary professionals make the judgement call about whether the pet needs to be seen, especially when the results are provided in the context monitoring that has taken place over time, providing an assessment of what is normal for that patient."

The app is one of several free resources available to veterinary surgeons available at www.uplife.uk. The resource includes various webinars, diagnostic aids and case challenges.

To complement the addition of the new app, the site also contains a webinar delivered by RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cardiology, Dave Dickson. The presentation discusses the ‘10 Golden Rules of Congestive Heart Failure' and covers topics including the importance of clear radiography and why a cough is not diagnostic of CHF.

Commenting on the new app, Mr Dickson said: “Sleeping respiratory rate is one of the most useful ways to monitor an animal in CHF or to look for signs of CHF developing.

“By encouraging pet owners to monitor and track the dog's sleeping respiratory rate at home, owners can provide vets with a valuable insight into the success of the current treatment regime.”

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Vivienne Mackinnon elected BVA Scottish Branch President

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has elected Vivienne Mackinnon as its new BVA Scottish Branch president.

Dr Mackinnon has over 30 years of experience in veterinary care, encompassing both small animal and mixed practice. She has worked in practices in Scotland, England, New Zealand and Australia, before joining APHA to work in frontline disease control.

In her speech, Dr Mackinnon reflected on the changes in Scotland's veterinary industry and highlighted her commitment to veterinary education.

Dr Mackinnon said: "I look forward to working with colleagues across the veterinary professions to improve animal health and welfare in the country and support veterinary workplaces."