Veterinary Ethical Dilemmas FRANK BUSCH

2
14 Veterinary Times SO far in this series, we have discussed a variety of aspects of our relationship, percep- tion and treatment regarding non-humans. Although some topics are still to be intro- duced 1a , and others elabo- rated on 1a2 , it is hoped that the articles presented so far have provided a foundation to facilitate discussion on most aspects of ethical issues arising in our society and those that impact on the veterinary prac- titioner’s performance. It is hoped that this series of case studies will encourage par- ticipation and discussion among colleagues and that readers will share some of their ethical dilem- mas so that these may be pre- sented and discussed in a future series on veterinary ethics 1b . In an ever-changing society, human and human-animal inter- actions will continue to undergo transformation. Some changes may be subtle; others may be fundamental and far reaching 1c . Despite the various guidelines and regulations steering our profession, dealing with complex issues can be overwhelming. Such stress will negatively impact on job satisfaction and may even result in self harm 1d . Although it is impossible to be prepared for any eventuality arising within the realm of clinical practice, a broad knowledge of veterinary medical ethics may increase confidence and job satisfaction, and may even prevent litigation. When confronted with chal- lenging ethico-moral issues, the maxim would be to cre- ate a win-win situation where your patient, yourself or the practice will benefit from your actions or guidance 1e . The handling of veterinary medical cases is as diverse as the variation of mental sets and individual experiences within our profession. It is anticipated that all the cases presented will elicit an element of discourse, which will be welcome. Case one: anorexic client who is not feeding her dog l Presentation A seven-year-old golden retriever is presented to your clinic with a complaint of chronic weight loss. The dog weighs only 27kg and appears to have lost around 10kg since you administered its vacci- nations seven months ago. You observe that the owner, a young woman, also appears to have lost a lot of weight. When you carefully comment on this, she changes the subject. You hospitalise the dog and run a series of tests, all of which are within normal limits. The dog eats ravenously while hospital- ised and gains almost 2kg. You discharge the animal with strict instructions about feeding, and schedule a follow-up exami- nation in two weeks. When the dog returns, it weighs only 26kg. The owner assures you she has adhered to the diet. l Discussion: what should your response be? If your suspicion that the own- er’s psychological problems are responsible for the animal’s weight loss is correct – and you have ruled out any metabolic problem or disease process in the dog – your primary work as a clinician is done. If you suspect that the owner is, indeed, having eating problems and projecting these on to her dog, it would be in the animal’s interest to seek a dialogue with its owner. Alternatively, you could tap into some of the ever-increas- ing support networks that assist various agencies and authori- ties 1f . However, the issue of client confidentiality may prove obstructive in practice. Many veterinarians working in rural areas will know that, as the only professional in their area, they are often sought out by clients for more general advice, unrelated to the veterinary domain. In those rarer situations where the veterinary surgeon still has maintained aesculapian authority 1g , “counselling” by the veterinary surgeon is welcome and accepted, making problem solving a rather more straight- forward procedure 1h . Rather than relying wholly on your personal world view, tainted by your personal experi- ence in practice, a more profes- sional approach would be to establish a close professional relationship with a clinical psy- chologist and/or psychiatrist in your area for an expert opinion on how to handle the more dif- ficult client with care. However, in a highly technol- ogy oriented society that seeks its wisdom primarily via the search engines of the worldwide web, such aesculapian authority has largely ceased to exist. Some universities are trying to prepare fledgling veterinar- ians to address the vacuum that surrounds the various taboos in our society. Coping mechanisms regarding pet loss situations are also taught. At Colorado State University, for example, veterinary students learn to look for signs of depression or suicidal tendencies in grieving clients 1i . Closer to home, The Blue Cross and the Society for Com- panion Animal Studies have done much to raise awareness and to establish a sound support network in the UK, which has become an indispensible tool in the care of grieving clients 1j . If no such network exists, you may wish to discuss the issue openly with the client, making clear clinical notes accordingly. In this case, clearly state your concern that the client is having eating problems and is likely to be projecting them on to the animal. You could offer to use your connections to assist her in finding counselling. Since it is well known that many anorexics have a distorted body image 1k , the owner may deny that there is a problem. In this case, you could ask the owner to leave the dog with the practice for the time being. Following this, you should docu- ment the dog’s weight gain. If your client refuses to have the dog looked after at your clinic 1l , or if she again fails in her duties to look after the ani- mal according to your instruc- tions and dietary suggestions, you should contact the welfare enforcement authorities. You have vowed to care for your animal patients 1m and your primary obligation is with the patient; the wants of the client are merely secondary. In most, if not all, jurisdic- tions, failing to provide adequate nutrition equates to unnecessary suffering 1n . Just as it is immoral to allow a mentally impaired person to beat an animal, it is immoral to permit starvation. Similar ethical issues are discussed in the human field in cases where mothers with anorexia nervosa under- feed their children 1o . For some individuals, confron- tation by the authorities may be the only way to force owners to seek help for themselves 1i . Case two: killing a newborn farm animal l Presentation A goat dairy in your area is an infrequent client. On a visit, you hear of an employee killing a newborn goat with a single bullet to the head. When you enquire about this practice, you are told that there is no market for buck kids, so they are routinely destroyed at birth 2a , with the exception of one or two with potential value for breeding. Further enquiries on your part confirm that there is no economically viable market for these goat kids in your area. l Discussion: is it ethically cor- rect to condone this practice? This situation addresses sev- eral unresolved and perplexing dimensions of social attitudes toward the treatment of animals, which we have partly discussed in previous articles: Does the killing of an animal in a humane manner pose a moral problem for our society (our social ethic) 2b ? – Why do we accept the killing of pigs, cattle, sheep and chick- ens, of all ages, for food, but generally condemn – or at least mind – the killing (painless or not) of healthy dogs and cats that are surplus to requirements 2c ? – When and why do we accept the terminal use of labora- tory animals, even if no pain is involved in their use 2d ? Many people who do not consider the killing of food ani- mals to be morally problem- atic would, nonetheless, feel perturbed at seeing an animal killed in this fashion. Similarly, many people who think they do not find slaughter morally problematic change their views when they witness the proce- dure for the first time 2e . Is the source of such revulsion mere moral concern at taking a (young) life, or is the aesthetic component for the majority of consumers nowadays so far removed from the food produc- tion process? Rollin ponders if part of that revulsion is made up by a sense of waste – the feeling of regret that the paradigmatically innocent creature has not had a chance to fulfil its telos 2f . As a veterinary surgeon, should you condone this prac- tice? Should your thought proc- ess be different merely because, as a large animal practitioner, you are more likely to have sub- scribed to the validity of raising animals to be killed for food? In this case, to create a win- win situation for the farmer and the animal you could advise the farmer to tap into the expanding hobby farming “industry” 2g . In these circumstances, farming is not a primary source of income; hobby farmers raise animals not for monetary reasons, but as a choice of lifestyle. Similar to the situation in case study one, these circumstances come down to your active engagement to either establish a network for placing unwanted newborn goats or calves, or to liaise – with your client’s consent – on your client’s behalf. In a network with many con- tacts, demand could spread and prices rise. Actions like these would augment the practice pro- file. Farmers subscribing to such a no-kill network 2h could realise a new source of income (even if it was to be minimal) and the animal could fulfil its telos. l To share, present or discuss any veterinary medical cases, please email the author directly at [email protected] VETERINARY ETHICAL DILEMMAS: UNDERFEEDING AND EUTHANASIA FRANK BUSCH PhD, MRCVS kjhuob examines two case studies that illustrate the ethico-moral challenges veterinary practitioners may face as they strive for a win-win outcome POINT-OF-VIEW “Your primary obligation is with the animal patient. In most, if not all, jurisdictions, failing to provide adequate nutrition equates to unnecessary suffering. Just as it is immoral to allow a mentally impaired person to beat an animal, it is immoral to permit starvation.” “Is the source of revulsion mere moral concern at taking a (young) life, or is the aesthetic component for the majority of consumers nowadays so far removed from the food production process?” VT38.29 master.indd 14 24/7/08 15:03:34

description

Veterinary Ethics: Case Studies

Transcript of Veterinary Ethical Dilemmas FRANK BUSCH

Page 1: Veterinary Ethical Dilemmas FRANK BUSCH

14 Veterinary Times

SO far in this series, we have discussed a variety of aspects of our relationship, percep-tion and treatment regarding non-humans. Although some topics are still to be intro-duced1a, and others elabo-rated on1a2, it is hoped that the articles presented so far have provided a foundation to facilitate discussion on most aspects of ethical issues arising in our society and those that impact on the veterinary prac-titioner’s performance.

It is hoped that this series of case studies will encourage par-ticipation and discussion among colleagues and that readers will share some of their ethical dilem-mas so that these may be pre-sented and discussed in a future series on veterinary ethics1b.

In an ever-changing society, human and human-animal inter-actions will continue to undergo transformation. Some changes may be subtle; others may be fundamental and far reaching1c.

Despite the various guidelines and regulations steering our profession, dealing with complex issues can be overwhelming. Such stress will negatively impact on job satisfaction and may even result in self harm1d. Although it is impossible to be prepared for any eventuality arising within the realm of clinical practice, a broad knowledge of veterinary medical ethics may increase confidence and job satisfaction, and may even prevent litigation.

When confronted with chal-lenging ethico-moral issues, the maxim would be to cre-ate a win-win situation where your patient, yourself or the practice will benefit from your actions or guidance1e.

The handling of veterinary medical cases is as diverse as the variation of mental sets and individual experiences within our profession. It is anticipated that all the cases presented will elicit an element of discourse, which will be welcome.

Case one: anorexic client who is not feeding her dogl PresentationA seven-year-old golden retriever is presented to your clinic with a complaint of chronic weight loss. The dog weighs only 27kg and appears to have lost around 10kg since you administered its vacci-nations seven months ago.

You observe that the owner, a young woman, also appears to have lost a lot of weight. When you carefully comment on this, she changes the subject.

You hospitalise the dog and run a series of tests, all of which are within normal limits. The dog eats ravenously while hospital-ised and gains almost 2kg.

You discharge the animal with strict instructions about feeding, and schedule a follow-up exami-nation in two weeks. When the dog returns, it weighs only 26kg. The owner assures you she has adhered to the diet.

l Discussion: what should your response be?If your suspicion that the own-er ’s psychological problems are responsible for the animal’s weight loss is correct – and you have ruled out any metabolic problem or disease process in the dog – your primary work as a clinician is done. If you suspect that the owner is, indeed, having

eating problems and projecting these on to her dog, it would be in the animal’s interest to seek a dialogue with its owner.

Alternatively, you could tap into some of the ever-increas-ing support networks that assist various agencies and authori-ties1f. However, the issue of client confidentiality may prove obstructive in practice.

Many veterinarians working in rural areas will know that, as the only professional in their area, they are often sought out by clients for more general advice, unrelated to the veterinary domain. In those rarer situations where the veterinary surgeon still has maintained aesculapian authority1g, “counselling” by the veterinary surgeon is welcome and accepted, making problem solving a rather more straight-forward procedure1h.

Rather than relying wholly on your personal world view, tainted by your personal experi-ence in practice, a more profes-sional approach would be to establish a close professional relationship with a clinical psy-chologist and/or psychiatrist in your area for an expert opinion on how to handle the more dif-ficult client with care.

However, in a highly technol-ogy oriented society that seeks its wisdom primarily via the search engines of the worldwide

web, such aesculapian authority has largely ceased to exist.

Some universities are trying to prepare fledgling veterinar-ians to address the vacuum that surrounds the various taboos in our society. Coping mechanisms regarding pet loss situations are also taught. At Colorado State University, for example, veterinary students learn to look for signs of depression or suicidal tendencies in grieving clients1i.

Closer to home, The Blue Cross and the Society for Com-panion Animal Studies have done much to raise awareness and to establish a sound support network in the UK, which has become an indispensible tool in the care of grieving clients1j.

If no such network exists, you may wish to discuss the issue openly with the client, making clear clinical notes accordingly.

In this case, clearly state your concern that the client is having eating problems and is likely to be projecting them on to the animal. You could offer to use your connections to assist her in finding counselling.

Since it is well known that many anorexics have a distorted body image1k, the owner may deny that there is a problem. In this case, you could ask the owner to leave the dog with the practice for the time being. Following this, you should docu-ment the dog’s weight gain.

If your client refuses to have the dog looked after at your clinic1l, or if she again fails in her duties to look after the ani-mal according to your instruc-tions and dietary suggestions, you should contact the welfare enforcement authorities.

You have vowed to care for your animal patients1m and your primary obligation is with the patient; the wants of the client are merely secondary.

In most, if not all, jurisdic-tions, failing to provide adequate nutrition equates to unnecessary suffering1n. Just as it is immoral to allow a mentally impaired person to beat an animal, it is immoral to permit starvation. Similar ethical issues are discussed in the human field in cases where mothers with anorexia nervosa under-feed their children1o.

For some individuals, confron-tation by the authorities may be the only way to force owners to seek help for themselves1i.

Case two: killing a newborn farm animall Presentation A goat dairy in your area is an infrequent client. On a visit, you hear of an employee killing a newborn goat with a single bullet to the head. When you enquire

about this practice, you are told that there is no market for buck kids, so they are routinely destroyed at birth2a, with the exception of one or two with potential value for breeding.

Further enquiries on your part confirm that there is no economically viable market for these goat kids in your area.

l Discussion: is it ethically cor-rect to condone this practice?This situation addresses sev-eral unresolved and perplexing dimensions of social attitudes toward the treatment of animals, which we have partly discussed in previous articles:– Does the killing of an animal in a humane manner pose a moral problem for our society (our social ethic)2b? – Why do we accept the killing of pigs, cattle, sheep and chick-ens, of all ages, for food, but generally condemn – or at least mind – the killing (painless or not) of healthy dogs and cats that are surplus to requirements2c? – When and why do we accept the terminal use of labora-tory animals, even if no pain is involved in their use2d?

Many people who do not consider the killing of food ani-mals to be morally problem-atic would, nonetheless, feel perturbed at seeing an animal killed in this fashion. Similarly, many people who think they do not find slaughter morally problematic change their views when they witness the proce-dure for the first time2e.

Is the source of such revulsion mere moral concern at taking a (young) life, or is the aesthetic

component for the majority of consumers nowadays so far removed from the food produc-tion process? Rollin ponders if part of that revulsion is made up by a sense of waste – the feeling of regret that the paradigmatically innocent creature has not had a chance to fulfil its telos2f.

As a veterinary surgeon, should you condone this prac-tice? Should your thought proc-ess be different merely because, as a large animal practitioner, you are more likely to have sub-scribed to the validity of raising animals to be killed for food?

In this case, to create a win-win situation for the farmer and the animal you could advise the farmer to tap into the expanding hobby farming “industry”2g. In these circumstances, farming is not a primary source of income; hobby farmers raise animals not for monetary reasons, but as a choice of lifestyle.

Similar to the situation in case study one, these circumstances come down to your active engagement to either establish a network for placing unwanted newborn goats or calves, or to liaise – with your client’s consent – on your client’s behalf.

In a network with many con-tacts, demand could spread and prices rise. Actions like these would augment the practice pro-file. Farmers subscribing to such a no-kill network2h could realise a new source of income (even if it was to be minimal) and the animal could fulfil its telos. l To share, present or discuss any veterinary medical cases, please email the author directly at [email protected]

VeTerinary eThical dilemmas: underfeeding and euThanasia

franK BuschPhD, MRCVS

kjhuob

examines two case studies that illustrate the ethico-moral challenges veterinary practitioners may face as they strive for a win-win outcome

POinT-Of-VieW

“Your primary obligation is with the animal patient. In most, if not all, jurisdictions, failing to provide adequate nutrition equates to unnecessary suffering. Just as it is immoral to allow a mentally impaired person to beat an animal, it is immoral to permit starvation.”

“Is the source of revulsion mere moral concern at taking a (young) life, or is the aesthetic component for the majority of

consumers nowadays so far removed from the food production process?”

VT38.29 master.indd 14 24/7/08 15:03:34

Page 2: Veterinary Ethical Dilemmas FRANK BUSCH

15August 4, 2008

Introductory footnotes1a. Environmental ethics, world reli-gions and their influence on societies’ treatment of animals, advertising of animals and animal by-products.1a2. Animal use, animal production and the food industry.1b. Most cases presented within this series have been taken with the knowledge and consent of Ber-nard Rollin from Rollin B (1999). An Introduction to Veterinary Medical Ethics: Theory and Cases, Iowa State University Press. Other cases are the author’s and his colleagues’. Thanks are also extended to Tim Blackwell, of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture.1c. See a previous article within this series (June 2 issue) regarding the abolitionist idea, as proposed by Gary Francione. The staggering figures of meat consumption are sobering. See also www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/posters/ worldmapper_map126_ver5.pdf (statistics), www.worldwatch.org/node/813 (food democracy) and http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3778/is_1992_April/ai_12150909/print?tag=artBody;col1 (statistics). These figures highlight how much our society is built on the backbone of animal use. The term “animal exploi-tation”, although emotionally laden, is the accurate description when seen in the context of animal confinement agriculture or animal production on an industrial scale. In previous articles, we have highlighted that for these industrial animal operations (breaking the “ancient contract” – see June 2 issue) the term “husbandry” cannot be applied any more: the care and upkeep of animals raised for human consumption has devolved into an industrial operation focused on max-imising economic return while paying little or no heed to the needs of the animals – see Cassuto D N (2007). Bred Meat: The Cultural Foundation of the Factory Farm, Law and Contempo-rary Problems 70(1): 59-87.1d. The issue of suicide within our profession has been well documented. See the following references: Mellanby R J (2005). Incidence of suicide in the veterinary profession in England and Wales, The Veterinary Record 157: 415.Halliwell R E W and Hoskin B D (2005). Reducing the suicide rate among veterinary surgeons: how the profession can help, The Veterinary Record 157: 397.(2007). Website to support vets to be launched at BVA Congress, The Veterinary Record 161: 246.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/ 4310596.stmPersaud R (2007). Questioning “cul-ture of death”: why are vets prone to suicide? Veterinary Times 37(44): 6-7.Bartram D (2007). Vet survey into understanding mental health and well-being, Veterinary Times 37(36): 30. In the first articles of this series, we highlighted issues surrounding moral stress regarding convenience euthanasia. Another form of stress arises when the practitioner is able to heal an animal, but treatment is not deemed economically feasible (a scenario particularly valid within intensive agricultural systems).1e. Rollin highlights the case where a member of the public arrives at a veterinary practice with an injured dog, which he had accidentally hit with his car. The animal is in shock and has an open fracture of the pelvis. The dog’s owner cannot be established. Creating a “win-win” situation in this case could be to afford the injured animal the same treatment as if it had an owner who was willing to pay for any treatment deemed necessary. Interestingly, in the case presented, this was not done out of a moral

obligation to the animal. Here, the practice owner had an agreement with a local newspaper, which was willing to highlight RTA cases with “before and after” pictures of the animal. If the owner was to come forward due to the publicity, he or she would more than likely be willing to pay for the animal’s treatment. If not, the newspaper would ask for volunteers willing to adopt the animal. In any case, the interest cre-ated about the practice was deemed to be effective advertising (see Rollin reference in footnote 1b).

Footnotes from case study one1f. So far, no established network exists to support the veterinary prac-titioner in such cases. Other networks have been established regarding the much-debated link between animal and child abuse – a well-researched topic that is gaining recognition by the authorities. See also article three of this series (April 7 issue).1g. Aesculapian authority (the name presumably derived from the Greek god of medicine) has three constitu-tive elements: sapiential authority, or wisdom about illness; moral authority, or goals for the patient that are admi-rable from the viewpoint of society; and charismatic authority, derived from the original oneness of religion and medicine from which springs “the right to control and direct by reason of God given grace” (see http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jan1976/v32-4-bookrev iew5.h tm and www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/sep06/060915d.asp).1h. Almost any episode of James Her-riot’s All Creatures Great and Small will underline this point. The trusted veterinarian in a small community dis-pensed advice regarding all aspects of life; this support was taken with grati-tude and, more often than not, would solve the problem for human and animal (see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Herriot).1i. See www.cvmbs.colostate.edu and Rollin reference from footnote 1b.1j. Most colleagues may be good carers for animals; however, as a profession, we traditionally have not been prepared at university level to deal professionally with grieving clients. Thankfully, support systems like the Pet Bereavement Support Service, provided by The Blue Cross in conjunction with the Society for Companion Animal Studies, are in place to fill that void (see www.scas.org.uk/Petlossandbereavement/Pet_Bereavement.aspx? and www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/AboutUs/PetBereavement/PBSSIntro.asp).1k. See the following references:Bordo S (1993). Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture and the Body, California University Press.Littlewood R (2002). Pathologies of the West, Continuum/Cornell Uni-versity Press.Littlewood, R (2004). Globalisation, culture, body image and eating disor-ders, Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 28(4) December.1l. A staff member may be willing to look after the dog at his or her home.1m. “In as much as the privilege of membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is about to be conferred upon me, I promise and solemnly declare that I will abide in all due loyalty to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and will do all in my power to maintain and promote its interests. I promise above all that I will pursue the work of my profession with uprightness of conduct and that my constant endeavour will be to ensure the welfare of animals com-mitted to my care” – see Hewson C J (2006). Veterinarians who swear: animal welfare and the veterinary

oath, CVJ 47 and www.farmtalking.com/the_vet.html1n. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 subscribes to the duty of care princi-ple. The act imposes a broader duty of care on anyone responsible for an animal and to take reasonable steps to ensure that the animal’s needs are met, not only the duty to ensure that an animal does not suffer unnecessar-ily (see www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/ welfare/act/affect.htm and www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommu-nity/InYourHome/AnimalsAndPets/DG_10025980).1o. Russell G F M, Treasure J and Eisler I (1998). Mothers with anorexia nervosa who underfeed their chil-dren: their recognition and manage-ment”, Psychological Medicine, Cam-bridge University Press 28: 93-108.

Footnotes from case study two2a. A similar issue was raised in article five of this series (June 2 issue) when we discussed the killing of bull calves by farming personnel, allegedly due to financial constraints. The use of firearms (used properly) provides

one of the quickest and most effective methods of animal destruction. Inter-estingly, many farmers prefer to have hunt kennel personnel perform the killing of newborn animals (personal communication).2b. Assuming that the animal is killed humanely and pain and suffering does not apply (see previous articles in this series that appeared in the April 7 and May 5, 2008 issues).2c. Not all charitable organisations or rescue centres operate a “no kill” policy for healthy animals.2d. Rollin comments that regarding laboratory animals, our intuitions vary depending on species and purpose (see footnote 1i).2e. See also article four within this series (May 5 issue). The BBC3 series Kill It, Cook It, Eat It (see www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/programmes/kill_it) demonstrated the rearing, inspection and killing (slaughter process) of veal, milk-fed lambs, kid goats and suckling pigs that are slaughtered regularly in UK abattoirs to feed a growing appe-tite for younger and, presumably, more succulent meat.

2f. Rollin proposed this term for an animal’s genetically encoded “nature” – see Rollin B (1992). Animal Rights and Human Morality, Prometheus Books. Rollin noted that in human society, we protect key interests of the individual (such as freedom of speech and assembly) because we consider these essential to human nature. Likewise, animals also have natures that are as essential to their well-being as speech and assembly are to us – see Rollin B E (1993). Animal production and the new social ethic for animals, Food Animal Well-Being, Purdue University Office of Agricultural Research Programs, West Lafayette: 37-54. Any individual (animals included) needs to nurture and fulfil his or her telos. In Aristotle’s system, the telos of an entity is the purpose or function for which it was designed. 2g. See www.telegraph.co.uk/p r o p e r t y / m a i n . j h t m l ? x m l = / property/2007/01/16/pfarm16.xml 2h. Although more difficult, such a network may even be established for farms under TB restrictions. n

FRANK BUSCH, a mixed animal practitioner, writes primarily on veterinary ethics and animal welfare issues. Frank has taken a particular interest in veterinary ethics and has followed veterinary medical teachings in the USA for some time. Having previously written for Veterinary Times and VN Times on various clinical and practical issues, his other interests include acupuncture, small animal surgery and physiotherapy. He invites readers to email him directly at [email protected] to share or discuss any veterinary medical cases.

POINT-OF-VIEW

“What’s that? Fuciderm® treatsskin-fold dermatitis?”

Further information is available on request from: Dechra Veterinary Products, Cartmel Drive, Harlescott,

Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3TB. Tel: +44 (0)1743 441632. Fax: +44 (0)1743 462111. www.dechra-uk.com

Simple and easy to use, Fuciderm gel has an aqueous carbomer

base. It penetrates to the site of the infection, bringing rapid and

prolonged relief to surface pyoderma1 such as acute moist

dermatitis and skin-fold dermatitis in dogs. That means less

frowns for more dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Fuciderm® gel contains fusidic acid, betamethasone valerate POM-V Dechra Veterinary Products is a trading division of Dechra Ltd. Registered Office: Dechra House, Jamage Industrial Estate,

Talke Pits, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST71XW. Registered in England No. 4513124.

1= Dollery,C (Ed.) Therapeutic Drugs (1991); B65-B68. Churchill Livingstone

VT38.29 master.indd 15 24/7/08 15:03:45