WikiVet and Mars Petcare, one of the world’s leading petfood and veterinary care business that strives to make A Better World for Pets every day, announced 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.

“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 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, 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.

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. Launched in 2007, WikiVet was formed by four UK veterinary schools at the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Cambridge Universities.