WikiVet and Mars Petcare Collaborate to Provide High-quality Online Veterinary Resources on Preventative Healthcare

PR58477

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov. 3, 2014/PRN=KYODO JBN/--

      First chapter, available November 3, 2014, to address

dental care and oral hygiene as a form of preventative healthcare for pets

    WikiVet and Mars Petcare announced today a collaboration that aims to

improve the quality and reach of reference materials freely available online to

veterinary students, practising veterinarians and vet nurses through WikiVet's

innovative and expanding veterinary encyclopaedia. The collaboration will

develop high quality training and reference materials on certain areas of

preventative healthcare to increase awareness and complement the growing vet

school curriculum in this area.

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140901/703417 )

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141103/713812-a )

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141103/713812-b )

    "Preventative healthcare for pets is a shared passion for both Mars Petcare

and WikiVet. It can greatly improve the quality and length of a pet's life by

reducing the risk of developing serious, costly and sometimes fatal diseases,"

said Dr. Stephen Harris, Research Manager, Oral Care, WALTHAM(R) Centre for Pet

Nutrition, Mars Petcare. "We are excited to combine our deep expertise in the

health and well-being of pets with WikiVet's dynamic site to drive greater

awareness of this important subject."

    The first WikiVet online materials will focus on cat and dog dentistry, an

important part of both preventative healthcare and clinical treatment

programmes. Research shows that while four out of five dogs over the age of

three have periodontal disease, 90 percent of pet owners rate the condition of

their own dog's teeth and gums as good or perfect. The module will feature

resources developed in partnership with the specialist veterinary dentist Lisa

Milella (BVSc DipEVDC MRCVS), and endorsed by WALTHAM(R), a leading scientific

authority in pet nutrition and well-being.

    "There is a gap in understanding about the importance of dental care and

oral hygiene as a form of preventative healthcare," said Nick Short, Head of

the eMedia Unit, Royal Veterinary College. "By collaborating with Mars Petcare

and Lisa Milella to develop these comprehensive resources, we aim to raise

awareness amongst veterinary students, nurses and the wider profession of best

evidence-based practice in dental care. We hope that this will have a positive

impact on the support that the profession can offer owners to improve their

pets' health and well-being."

    To help provide veterinarians and vet students with more high-quality

resources in this area, the materials will include an introduction to

veterinary dentistry with an overview of oral anatomy, oral hygiene and dental

surgical procedure. Additional specific encyclopedic pages on Small Animal

Dentistry will include:

     - Oral Examination - including practical tools such as downloadable

       dental charts and a dental diagnostic guide

     - Intra-Oral Radiography

     - Dental Instruments

     - Dental and Oral Conditions

     - Dental and Oral Medication

     - Interactive materials including webinars and quizzes

    The WikiVet Cat and Dog Dentistry chapter will be freely available online

to all users of WikiVet through http://www.wikivet.net.

    About WikiVet

    WikiVet is a collaborative resource that aims to support and enhance

veterinary education worldwide through the development of high quality

web-based knowledge and learning content. Providing users with a comprehensive

knowledge base, its goal is to become the most respected and largest online

educational resource for the international veterinary community.

    Launched in 2007, WikiVet was formed by four UK veterinary schools at the

Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Cambridge Universities. It

has now grown to include over 20 additional international vet schools and

partners. The site has more than 37,000 members from over 90 countries, and

offers close to 5,000 pages of material. More about WikiVet can be found at:

http://www.wikivet.net.

    About Mars Petcare

    Mars Petcare is the world's leading petfood and veterinary care business

that strives to make A Better World for Pets(R) every day. Mars Petcare

believes that pets make our lives better and that pet ownership brings joy and

benefits which should be accessible to everyone. Mars Petcare has a total of 35

brands in our portfolio, including billion dollar brands PEDIGREE(R),

WHISKAS(R), ROYAL CANIN(R), BANFIELD(R), and IAMS(R). Other leading brands

include: CESAR(R), NUTRO(R), SHEBA(R), DREAMIES(R), KITEKAT(R), CHAPPI(R),

CATSAN(R), FROLIC(R), PERFECT FIT(R), GREENIES(R), EUKANUBA(R) and NATURA(R).

Key specialty brands include: Mars Fishcare: API(R), Aquarian(R), Rena(R),

Pondcare(R); Mars Horsecare: Winergy(R), Spillers(R), Buckeye(R) Equivite(R) ;

the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition(R), a leading scientific authority on pet

nutrition and wellbeing. Mars Petcare has more than 37,000 Associates

worldwide. More information can be found at: http://www.Mars.com.

   SOURCE: Mars Petcare and WikiVet