Pfizer Animal Health And Hill’s Pet Nutrition Join Forces In Osteoarthritis Management

Delegates at OA CPD Helping veterinary practices deliver Excellence in Multimodal Osteoarthritis Management was the catalyst for a pharmaceutical company and a pet food manufacturer to combine forces and deliver innovative and engaging CPD on the topic. With more than 600 vets and vet nurses having attended the nationwide CPD events in October, Pfizer Animal Health and Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s pooling of resources in this field will ultimately help improve the lives of dogs and cats with this debilitating condition. Osteoarthritis is extremely common in the pet population with an estimated 20% of adult dogs¹ and 61% of cats aged 6 years or more² suffering from the condition. While every vet will have experience of dealing with OA cases, the CPD demonstrated that by utilising multiple management options simultaneously the synergy provides less dependence on each individual intervention and helps achieve a better overall result. The Excellence in Multimodal Osteoarthritis Management CPD addressed medical and surgical management of the Osteoarthritic patient as well as rehabilitation and weight management. With leading experts Professor Stuart Carmichael, Professor John Innes and David Prydie providing interactive and engaging sessions, delegates were able to gain an understanding of the current state of play as well as hear the very latest developments in OA management. Recognising the importance of the vet and veterinary nurse working synergistically for successful OA management, the CPD delivered bespoke workshops for each audience. While vets looked closely at multimodal management of the Osteoarthritic patient, veterinary nurses were given practical help in running mobility clinics, including rehabilitation and weight management strategies to employ. Andrew Page, Pfizer product manager, comments: “Pfizer provides a range of pain management solutions, including the most recent breakthrough in OA pain relief, Trocoxil. The partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition demonstrates our on-going commitment to a multimodal approach to OA management. Being able to provide CPD covering the whole spectrum of OA management, from medical, surgical and pain relief options through to diet and rehabilitation, coupled with some sound business principles, has clearly been very popular.” Sara Locke MRCVS, Hill’s Prescription Diet brand manager is delighted that the two companies were able to work so closely to deliver CPD that resonated with the profession. She comments “Hill’s™ Prescription Diet™ j/d™, which is proven to improve mobility in just 21 days^3,4 can be used alongside lifestyle changes and pain management to improve the quality of life for pets living with this debilitating condition. Similarly, in an increasingly competitive market, when time is money for vets, Hill’s and Pfizer have shown that, just as a multimodal approach to OA is most effective, working in partnership has provided maximum benefit for the profession.” Pfizer’s pain management range provides targeted solutions for pain management. More specifically, Trocoxil® offers continuous relief from the pain and inflammation associated with OA. Hill’s™ Prescription™ Diet j/d™ contains high levels of EPA/DHA³ (types of Omega-3 fatty acids) which down-regulate aggrecanase, an enzyme that breaks down cartilage. In addition, the high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids help soothe joints. j/d demonstrates clearly visible results in just 21 days¹. ReferencesJohnson SA. Osteoarthritis: joint anatomy, physiology, and pathobiology. Vet Clin North Am Small Am Pract 1997; 27: 699-723. Roush JK, McLaughlin RM, Radlinsky MG. Understanding the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis. Vet Med 2002; 97: 108-117Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats LI.Slingerland, HAW Hazewinkel, BP Meij, Ph Picavet and G Voorhout.21 days in dogs, 28 days in catsFritsch D, Allen TA, Dodd CE, et al. Dose-titration effects of fish oil Omega-3 fatty acids in osteoarthritic dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2010: 24, 1020-1026

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