Category: Companion Animals

ACT-VETube – Activated Clotting Time

Over-long Activated Clotting Times (ACT) in cats and dogs can be life-saving indicators of diseases such as haemophilia, environmental dangers such as poisoning, and potential surgical risks from internal bleeding.

As an all-in-one diagnostic kit for over-long blood clotting times, in cats and dogs, the MegaCor ACT-VETube is the coagulation-time test of choice for commercial veterinary laboratories and practising vets both in the surgery and off-site.

Blood clots are a matrix of long, sticky proteins produced in response to damage to the veins, arteries and capillaries that carry the blood to and through tissues and organs. In healthy people and animals, blood clots form quickly to prevent both excessive blood loss from external injury and excessive swelling from internal tissue trauma.

Clotting time can be vital to life-saving treatment

If clotting takes too long, an animal might suffer a life-threatening loss of blood. Measuring whether or not an animal’s blood is taking an excessively long time to clot can be vital in diagnosing internal bleeds, genetic diseases like haemophilia and deficiencies such as a lack of vitamin K. It might also indicate a potential risk to the animal during surgery. Critically, a speedy assessment of a cat or dog’s clotting time can be vital to life-saving treatment in cases of suspected of rat poisoning, which kills by disrupting the natural clotting process.

ACT-VETube kits don’t need refrigerated storage and the test doesn’t need an incubator or any kind of mixing platform. So while most clotting-time tests might be carried out in the laboratory, the test is completely portable and could be carried out at any location where the patient can’t be transported to a vet practice or surgery. Holding the tube in the hand for a few minutes is normally sufficient to warm it to the required temperature of 37°C.

The clotting process

The ACT-VETube contains microscopic particles of silica. When 2ml of freshly drawn venous blood from the ailing dog or cat is added to the tube, these particles trigger the clotting process. Counting the seconds on a timer or stopwatch, while gently turning the sealed tube over and back until the first blood clots appear, gives the activated clotting time for the sample.

Combined with the knowledge and experience of the veterinary practitioner, MegaCor’s 10-test pack can prove a genuine life saver in cases of disease, genetic disorders, vitamin K deficiency, rodent poisoning and bleed-risk assessment prior to surgery.

Take a look at our range of veterinary diagnostic kits or contact us today.

Alabama Rot – Vets Report Increases in the UK

Vets across the UK are reporting an increase in dogs of all breeds infected with a new and potentially fatal disease known as Alabama Rot.

Alabama Rot Disease, or cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), is a disease of the skin and kidneys that’s commonly proved fatal in greyhounds in the US since the 1980s and has now infected at least 46 UK dogs of many different breeds since 2013.

First detected and particularly prevalent in the New Forest area of Hampshire, CRGV has been reported in dogs from Durham down to Surrey, and as far west as Monmouthshire and Cornwall.

Left untreated the outcome is most often kidney failure 

Alabama Rot acts by destroying the blood vessels (vascular system) in your dog’s kidneys. This severely damages the vital blood cleaning and filtering tissues (the glomerula) that keep your dog’s system healthy. Left untreated the outcome is most often kidney failure followed by the decline and death of your pet.

The first visible warning of CRGV is damage to the skin; often appearing as soreness or reddening associated with swelling and ulcer-like lesions. However, these might be only the surface symptoms of more serious damage being caused to the blood vessels and capillaries of your dog’s kidneys.

Loss of appetite, tired and lethargic

When these signs accompany the usual symptoms that something more serious is wrong, then it’s time to seek urgent and expert attention from your vet. If your dog begins to loose appetite, becomes unusually tired and lethargic or vomits inexplicably, then these are signs of possible kidney disease.

Of course, kidney disease in dogs has many causes that may or may not indicate Alabama Rot. Skin disorders, too, have many different initiators; including parasites, fungal infections, skin tumours and the everyday injuries endured by normal, active dogs.

Although CRGV is still a rare condition in the UK, its cause and method infection remains unknown. This means that prevention can be difficult and early diagnosis and treatment by your vet, with the expertise and technical support of Vetlab Supplies, is essential.

Vetlab Supplies supports you, your vet and your dog with diagnostic haematology kits to inspect the health of your pet’s kidney function, and microscopy equipment and consumables to examine your dog’s skin and other tissues for early signs of Alabama Rot. Your vet can then plan an efficient, timely and potentially life-saving course of treatment for your pet, although sadly it is usually fatal. It is however important for official bodies to have the disease confirmed to record confirmed cases then we can see the spread of the disease throughout the UK.

Vetlab Supplies has a range of microscopes available and haematology supplies and consumables. We also specialise in diagnostic test kits for other problems – all backed by their wealth of knowledge and experience in veterinary testing and diagnosis.

To find out more about our large range of veterinary diagnostic test kits visit our website: www.vetlabsupplies.co.uk or Telephone: 01798 874567

Our cats quickly become a much-loved and valued member of our families – but many cat owners, unfortunately, encounter health difficulties for their pets that can often be easily detected by utilising the diagnostic tests available from their vets.

Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are debilitating and often serious, lethal conditions which sadly are more common than many cat owners might think. FeLV affects the immune system and over months and years makes it very difficult for the cat to ward off common infections and viruses. FIV can result in chronic skin infections, gastrointestinal upset and persistent diarrhoea, urinary system problems, respiratory tract infections and neurologic disorders amongst others.

Testing times for Charities

FeLV-FIV is the most infectious cat disease in the world. Charities have the biggest problem with this disease, as many of the cats that come in to be rescued or rehomed are strays and are high-risk carriers of both diseases. Testing for FeLV-FIV is very important, as any responsible owner should not allow infected cats to mix with other cats.

The most concerning thing about these conditions is that even the most loving, scrupulous pet owner may not know their cat is infected. There can sometimes be no clinical signs for years until the cat gets really sick. Most charities do test cats before they are rehomed, and vets should encourage their cat clients to have their cats tested regularly. Many owners may not even be aware of these diseases – so it’s important to spread the word and take precautions accordingly.

Charitable discounts from Vetlab

In light of the seriousness of both of these diseases, Vetlab veterinary supplies give 50% discount to all charities and veterinary practices working for charities. Owing to the seriousness of these diseases, we also offer a free backup service to confirm results if there is a query on any result, as we have our own laboratory for re-testing and 30 years of experience in testing for FeLV-FIV. Vetlab Supplies are the only company that will also send inconclusive samples and results to Glasgow University Veterinary School for further investigation using ‘gold standard methods’ and pay the cost for the client! It’s all about customer service, supporting our MegaCor products and getting the right result.

Vetlab products have a long shelf life and are non-refrigerated, enabling them to be used when needed, without having to be ordered in small amounts, lowering the cost overall. We are passionate about preventing and curbing these deadly infectious diseases and feel supporting charities by offering this unprecedented backup service will help the good work they do, ensuring they have the right result, and can take action where needed.

To find out more about our large range of veterinary diagnostic test kits visit our website: www.vetlabsupplies.co.uk or Telephone: 01798 874567