Virbac Urges Practices To Get Ready For Canine Prostate Awareness Month - November 2012

Virbac Animal Health’s Canine Prostate Awareness Month (CPAM) is set to take place during November 2012 following its debut last year when more than 400 practices sign up to support it. Feedback from many taking part confirmed a significant lack of understanding among clients as to the risk of prostate disease in dogs. Timed to coincide with ‘Movember’ when thousands of men grow moustaches to raise funds for male prostate and testicular cancer, CPAM aims to highlight the prevalence of the disease and to encourage practices and owners to test for it. Virbac is again providing promotional materials including dog leads; educational and display materials and a press release for local media. Chris Geddes MRCVS, Virbac Product Manager, explains: “With more than 80% of entire male dogs over the age of five suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)^¹, we wanted to give practices a reason to highlight the risk and encourage owners to test for it. Timing CPAM to coincide with Movember seemed a good way to interest dog owners at a time when some might be considering the state of their own prostate. The support we received last year confirmed that it was a topic which practices were keen to discuss with dog owners so we’re already planning to make the initiative even bigger and better this year.” Stephen Bamber, Principal at participating practice Warwickshire-based Avonvale Vets, added: “CPAM was an attractive campaign as it was a bit different. It offered the opportunity to see some of our older patients with other, less obvious pathologies. Non-symptomatic testicular tumours in particular surfaced in the checks we did. Clients generally had little idea about dogs' prostates so it gave us a good platform to discuss prostate disease with them.” Virbac has introduced Odelis™ CPSE, the first ELISA test to screen for, diagnose and monitor BPH, available from three UK diagnostic laboratories. The company says it’s a cost-effective, precise and reliable alternative to rectal palpation. Virbac also offers Ypozane, a simple tablet treatment for BPH, which takes effect within a week and lasts for up to six months. Chris Geddes continues: “BPH is an unpleasant condition occurring in nearly all entire dogs as they get older, but one which is entirely treatable. We hope that, by running our Prostate Awareness Campaign at a time when the media spotlight is already on the dangers of prostate cancer in men, we can help spread the message that owners should be monitoring older dogs for signs of prostate disease.” For further information on the Prostate Awareness Campaign, please email [email protected]; contact your Virbac Territory Manager or contact the company direct on 01359 243243. ^1. O’Shea J.D. Studies on the canine prostate gland: Factors influencing its size and weight. J. Comp. Pathol. 1962 72: 321-331.

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