The New Cage

SPOTLIGHT ON PETSAVERS

Article compiled by - Anjela Ross
For the Chinchilla Club

I have recently been looking into research into health issues for Chinchillas. I have found that currently veterinarians are working on finding out more about Tooth problems in Chinchillas. This work would not be possible if it were not for charities that help with funding for such projects. Pet Savers is an organisation that helps to fund such important projects relating to our much loved pets. Pet Savers is an organisation connected to the BSAVA. This is a charity based in the UK that provides continuing education to small animal veterinarians to help them keep up to date on current practices and information . So, due to the wonderful work they are involved with for our much loved pets, we have decided to have this article for them, to spotlight this charity. In order that our members can learn more about the work that PetSavers are involved with and also so that if you personally feel that this charity is worthwhile, then perhaps you would like to make a donation in order that they can continue with helping towards funding for many worthwhile projects.

Since 1977, Petsavers has given over £1.5 million to support numerous clinical studies of medical and surgical conditions affecting our pets. These have been for work in areas as diverse as kidney disease, anaemia, dry eye, diabetes, feline leukaemia, deafness, cancer, heart disease, anaesthesia, skin conditions and incontinence in the bitch. Most of the awards have been made to fund research into the diseases of dogs and cats, but other species helped include chinchillas, rabbits and tropical fish. Currently, among others, we are funding projects to investigate dental disease in rabbits and chinchillas.

As new diseases emerge, money is awarded to workers at the veterinary schools to investigate them. When the new disease of Parvovirus struck the dog population in this country 20 years ago, we launched a special appeal and were able to allocate £24,000 to a team at Glasgow University Veterinary School. More recently, Petsavers has supported much of the groundbreaking work into neospora in dogs and bordetella in cats, both emerging diseases in the animal world.

Residencies
In 1990, the first Petsavers Residency was established at Cambridge University Veterinary School. The resident undertook a study of cancer in pets and the work improved our understanding and treatment of this common problem. The Petsavers Residencies allow veterinary surgeons to return to university for three years to develop their skills in a particular discipline and undertake a clinical project. Since 1990, Petsavers has funded Residencies at all the veterinary schools in subjects as varied as neurology, soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia and critical care as well as further Residencies in oncology. In 1999, the charity funded the Petsavers Silver Jubilee PhD studentship on a novel therapy for treating canine osteoarthritis.

Diagnostic techniques
Petsavers also supports the development of diagnostic techniques. In 1997 a Residency in diagnostic imaging was awarded to Glasgow University. The charity also helped to support the development of ultrasonography as a diagnostic aid in abdominal disorders at Bristol University, which is now working on a new technique for assessing spinal disease. An award has also been made to compare the merits of diagnostic techniques in anaemia. Edinburgh has worked on feline blood groups and methods of counting platelets in cats with the support of Petsavers. In the past three years, two awards have been made to investigate the most accurate tests to aid in the diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism.

Petsavers has always made it a priority to fund the highest standard of clinical research, but has also ensured that the projects funded are of relevance to the practising veterinary surgeon - truly advancing pet medicine and surgery.

The fund has raised more than £1,50,000 to date and has funded 94 clinical research awards, 12 residencies and 5 clinical research scholarships. Sponsored by Petplan, Petsavers has also enabled four veterinary surgeons from private practice to study towards RCVS Diplomas in their chosen discipline.