A person stands at a podium speaking, flanked by banners that read "Healthy Pets New Zealand - Better lives for Kiwi pets." The scene suggests an event discussing the past, present, and future of pet health in New Zealand.

In Conversation with Healthy Pets New Zealand

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PD Insurance recently chatted to Dr Cath Watson, Chair of Healthy Pets New Zealand, to look at some pet health research projects the charity is funding. We also spoke about the organisation’s past, present and future highlights and the value of pet health research.

Find out about the charity’s latest groundbreaking research, origin story and more, right here.

Dr Cath Watson, Chair of Healthy Pets New Zealand poses for a snapshot with Ziggy the dog

Meet Dr Cath Watson, Chair of Healthy Pets New Zealand

In addition to being Chair of Healthy Pets New Zealand, Dr Cath Watson works as a locum veterinarian across NZ. If you’re a fan of the PD Pet Care Vlogs, you’ll also know her as the host.

Check out our latest articles with Cath here:

Watch this short video introduction with Dr Cath and hear a bit about Healthy Pets New Zealand:

The Healthy Pets New Zealand story

The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) and Healthy Pets New Zealand have been very closely associated right from the start. The idea of establishing a companion animal research charity came from the Companion Animal Veterinarians (CAV) branch of the NZVA in the late 1990’s.

The New Zealand Veterinary Association and Companion Animal Veterinarians

The NZVA and CAV are both represented on the charity board of trustees, and CAV has been a financial supporter of Healthy Pets New Zealand with annual donations for a long time, becoming the Research in Practice partner when this grant was established too.

Working together for improved companion animal health

The NZVA office continues to support Healthy Pets New Zealand with financial and administration tasks, along with sharing our research with their membership. NZVA also supports our community events like Paws & Learn and Dogs Day Out.

We hugely appreciate the support this provides our volunteers, which in turn, enables to put more of our funding directly into research projects. Read more about pet events like Dogs Day Out and others.

A person wearing protective clothing, a face mask, and safety glasses is looking through a microscope in a laboratory setting, contributing to important research for Healthy Pets New Zealand.

Healthy Pets New Zealand research project

A groundbreaking research project led by Professor John Munday, funded by Healthy Pets New Zealand, has far-reaching implications for both veterinary and human healthcare, showcasing the true potential of One Health initiatives.

Novel treatment strategy for feline cancer

Published in 2022, the study explored the use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade as a novel treatment strategy for feline cancer. The RAS is a vital regulatory mechanism in the body, maintaining equilibrium in functions like blood pressure and fluid balance. However, angiotensin II, a key component of the RAS, also plays a role in cancer progression.

“Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are among the most common cancers in cats, and conventional treatments have limited success. Prof. Munday’s research proposed a new approach.”

This entailed using a combination of drugs to block multiple pathways within the RAS. It was inspired by preliminary success in humans, reducing the incidence of cancer and/or improved survival of cancer using medications that targeted certain pathways within the RAS.

The Gillies McIndoe Research Institute have also begun preliminary studies blocking multiple pathways within the RAS in humans, with some promising results.

Also read: PD Insurance cat health claims data for cat health month.

A veterinarian in a blue uniform examines a cat's teeth on a stainless steel table in the clinic, contributing valuable data to Healthy Pets New Zealand's pet health research.

Potential benefits of RAS blockade in cat cancer therapy

Prof. Munday’s study, conducted on six cats with inoperable SCCs, demonstrated the safety of RAS blockade over eight weeks.

Healthy Pets New Zealand shares some of the key outcomes of this study:

Promising survival rate

While conclusions about its efficacy couldn’t be drawn from this small sample, one cat showed promising survival after 32 weeks on the treatment. Average survival times are usually only 4-6 weeks.

Fewer side effects

The potential benefits of RAS blockade in cancer therapy are significant. Unlike traditional treatments, it’s expected to have mild side effects and be more affordable. Moreover, it could be administered by pet owners without the safety concerns associated with radiation or chemotherapy.

Supporting the immune system

Lead by Prof. Munday, the study aimed to gather preliminary data on the safety and efficacy of RAS blockade in feline cancers, with implications for human cancers as well. By inhibiting multiple pathways in the RAS, the approach aims to disrupt cancer progression and enhance the immune system’s ability to fight cancer cells.

A person in a lab coat and gloves operates a laboratory machine, handling multiple tubes for pet health research at Healthy Pets New Zealand.

The future of this pet health research project

If confirmed through further trials, this approach could revolutionize cancer treatment for cats, offering new hope to veterinarians and pet owners facing this challenging disease. Moreover, it contributes valuable insights to both veterinary and human oncology, underscoring the potential of collaborative research in the One Health framework.

Also watch this PD Pet Care Vlog featuring Healthy Pets New Zealand research on cat fostering:

Why is pet health research so crucial?

Research into companion animal health is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, pets are beloved members of many families, and their well-being directly impacts the quality of life of their owners.

Here are some examples of target areas Healthy Pets New Zealand research aims to support:

  • Pet lifespan and quality of life. By understanding and addressing health issues in companion animals, we can ensure that they lead longer, healthier, and happier lives. In turn this enhances the bond between pets and their human companions.
  • One Health. Secondly, many diseases and health conditions affect both humans and animals. Studying these conditions in companion animals can provide valuable insights into similar diseases in humans, leading to advancements in medical treatments and therapies for both species. This concept, known as “One Health,” emphasises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
  • Advancing veterinary care. Furthermore, companion animal research contributes to veterinary medicine, advancing diagnostic tools, treatment options, and preventative measures. This not only benefits individual pets but also improves the overall standard of veterinary care. This benefits animal populations as a whole.
  • Location specific data. NZ-specific research in particular is highly valuable as many of our treatment/management options are based on data from other geographic areas which may or may not be fully transferable.

In summary, research into companion animal health is important not only for the well-being of pets and their owners but also for advancing medical knowledge and improving veterinary care for both animals and humans.

A woman in a denim outfit brushes a large fluffy dog outdoors on a sunny day.

PD Insurance, proud partner of Healthy Pets New Zealand

As a Healthy Pets New Zealand, PD Insurance is proud to be supporting pet health research initiatives. You can read more about our partnership here.

This partnership is part of PD Insurance’s mission to support the health and welfare of dogs and cats. We invite all pet professionals and organisations to engage with our pet care programme. Through it, we aim to educate more pet parents about the usefulness of pet insurance so it’s in place when they need it. We also reward our partners for helping us achieve this.

If you’d like to become a partner, contact us. Or if you’re looking for award winning pet insurance, find out all about our cat insurance and dog insurance plans. When you sign up online you get one or more months of FREE pet insurance. Click below to get a quote.

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