Gillian Diesel

Suspected adverse reactions, 2009.

Twenty-five fewer reports to the UK Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) in 2009 compared with 2008 Renal insufficiency reported in cats after off-label use of meloxicam Increase in reports of suspected lack of efficacy to products containing triclabendazole Significant decrease in environmental incidents attributable to veterinary medicines These are some of the results from the SARSS in 2009, as discussed by Fabia Dyer and colleagues from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Adverse event reports relating to Augmentin

THE Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) would like to make veterinarians aware of a recent increase in the number of adverse reaction reports we have received for Augmentin Intravenous Powder for Solution for Injection (amoxicillin and clavulanate) (GlaxoSmithKline). Over the past three months we have received a significantly higher number of reports relating to Augmentin. They all …

Adverse events relating to dispensing errors

Gillian Diesel and Giles Davis of the pharmacovigilance unit at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate review reports of adverse events associated with dispensing errors received by the VMD between 2000 and 2014.

Review of adverse events following off-label use of medicines

Gillian Diesel of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) discusses some of the most common types of adverse events reported to the VMDs Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme following off-label use of authorised veterinary medicines BETWEEN the beginning of January 2000 and the end of

Annual review of pharmacovigilance

The Veterinary Medicine Directorate’s pharmacovigilance team would like to thank everyone associated with the veterinary profession for their continuing support by submitting adverse event reports to us. Without this …

Veterinary pharmacovigilance in Europe: a survey of veterinary practitioners

A web-based survey was conducted by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe with the support of the European Medicines Agency to gain a better insight into the adverse event reporting habits of veterinary practitioners and the level of information on reported adverse events that flows back to them. It was completed by 3545 veterinarians. The findings indicate marked under-reporting and that the system is poorly equipped to deal with lack of expected efficacy, with few cases reported and most found to be inconclusive. It was also found that feedback systems are greatly lacking. In order to increase spontaneous reporting, there is a need to make reporting easier (eg, by developing mobile apps, to incorporate the reporting into the practice management system software) and to make veterinarians better aware of the importance of reporting and the added value it may bring. Feedback systems should be improved. The best way to motivate reporters is to demonstrate that the reports they submit are indeed useful and contribute to the improved use of veterinary medicinal products. The major role veterinarians can play in improving animal health, welfare and public health by reporting adverse events needs to be further promoted.

Summary of suspected adverse events, 2014

The following article has been produced by the pharmacovigilance unit at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to provide a summary of some of the results from its surveillance work carried out in 2014

Somulose solution for injection

THE pharmacovigilance unit at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for the monitoring of adverse event reports for veterinary medicines throughout the UK. Adverse event reports are received from veterinary surgeons, animal owners and directly from marketing authorisation holders (MAH). Over the past year, the VMD has received an increased number of reports of suspected lack of efficacy for Somulose …

Use of Pexion tablets for dogs

THE pharmacovigilance unit at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for monitoring adverse event reports for veterinary medicines throughout the UK. Adverse event reports are received from veterinary surgeons, animal owners and directly from Marketing Authorisation Holders (MAHs). Over the past year, the VMD has received a number of reports for Pexion (imepitoin), a product which was first authorised in February 2013. These reports include both suspected adverse reactions, often involving clinical …

Reducing stress in dogs in shelters

THERE are thousands of dog shelters worldwide, whose aim is to care for stray or unwanted dogs and ensure that as many as possible are rehomed successfully. It has been estimated that between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats are housed annually by shelters in the USA (Humane Society 2009), while a recent survey, commissioned by the Dogs Trust, found that between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011, an estimated 126,176 stray dogs were handled by local councils across the UK. This is equivalent to 345 strays being found every day, which represented a 4 per cent increase in the number of dogs handled by local councils compared to the previous year and was the highest figure for the past 11 years (Brickell 2011). The average amount of time that a dog spends in a rehoming centre varies widely depending on the dogs characteristics and the rehoming centre policies. An Australian study showed that, on average, a dog spent 5.7 days in kennels (Marston and others 2004) while a UK study estimated the median length of stay to be 28 days (Diesel and others 2007). Studies have shown that the time spent in kennels or a rehoming centre can be very stressful for a …