Case studies and veterinary experiences with Virkon

Using Virkon in the veterinary practice

Norwegian veterinary surgeon Nils Reither DVM, of the Rosendal Veterinary Practice. He writes of his experiences with Virkon S.

'I use Virkon S daily in my veterinary practice, and it is the best invention since penicillin'.

'The last year I have used Virkon S to disinfect my practice and my equipment. Examination room , tables and instruments are sprayed with a tiny plant-shower after every patient. To be sure no patients are getting infected in my clinic!'

'On several occasions I have used Virkon S when a contagious disease like mycoplasmosis, chlamydiosis, virus infections or fungus (aspergillus) have been diagnosed in herds or flocks. IN ALL CASES THE SPREADING OF THE DISEASE HAS BEEN STOPPED ABRUPTLY'.

'For the veterinarian, Virkon S is more useful than antibiotics or vaccines'.

Virkon Germicidal Skin Cleanser

A classic case with a successful result by using Virkon Germicidal Skin Cleanser is reported by veterinary surgeon Nicholas Blackwell BVSc MRCVS.

'One of my regular clients was a five year old West Highland White Terrier which had been suffering from non-seasonal atopy, an allergic condition, for several years', he says. 'This was complicated by pyoderma, a bacterial skin condition, which left the animal uncomfortable with constant itching. The condition progressively deteriorated and management with steroids, antibiotics and Fuciderm Gelâ was becoming increasingly unsatisfactory. The infection spread so far across the skin that it was impractical to apply the gel. At this stage I came across Pet Virkon and advised the owner to spray it all over the dog several times a week. The results were startling and the owner is delighted. Because of the underlying atopy the application of Pet Virkon will continue for the foreseeable future. However, the infection is under control and the dog is free of the unpleasant itching'

Italian veterinary surgeon Roberto Lucarelli was recently able to solve a very big problem for a very small patient thanks to Virkon. He explains:

'A five month old Chihuahua named Rocky was purchased from a pet shop. His owner, Mrs. Rosalba Bortone, who lives in Fundi north of Naples, took Rocky to the vet when he started to show an intense pruritis, and his hair began to fall out at different sites of his body. Although he was treated with a systemic and topical antibiotic based therapy his health worsened day by day.

'During the Christmas holidays, I was called to visit Rocky, who was by now without hair on the majority of his body, and extremely depressed. Skin tests showed a fungal contamination, so I suggested the topical administration of a 1% solution of Virkon S twice

a day for three weeks, and a sanitisation of the dog's bedding and floors every three days for a month.'
'After a week I visited the dog again, and found that the pruritis had almost disappeared and that the infection had not progressed. On the following day, the dog's hair was growing and the pruritis had completely stopped. After three weeks an almost total recovery had occurred.'
'Today, Rocky has completely recovered, and both the dog and his environment are periodically treated with effective applications of Virkon S'.

...... and also for equine skin conditions
Also from Italy we hear news of Antec's Virkon S coming to the aid of a couple of very uncomfortable Fjord ponies belonging to Mr Andrea Toti, of the Trigoria Trekking Club, just south of Rome. Veterinary surgeon Mr WP Garner takes up the story:
'The male ponies – Rococo and Raptus – had been imported from Poland two years previously, and had been affected intermittently by a skin condition characterised by an intense pruritis along the mane and at the base of the tail. There was symptomatic alopecia, skin scaling and ulceration, skin nodules in the area of the saddle, withers and flanks and loss of weight. “Rococo was more seriously affected, to the point where he dismantled a paddock fence in one night by vigorous rubbing of the neck and rump!”

Mr Gardner says that various treatments, from corticosteroid therapy to antibiotics, achieved no permanent success. Then – on the suggestion of a veterinarian from Farmaeutici Gallini – sanitisation of the box, horse tack and grooming gear, and a total body administration of Virkon S in a 1% solution twice a day for 15 days was tried.

The results were dramatic. On day one of the treatment the pruritis had decreased considerably, and had completely disappeared by day three. The two ponies were visibly more relaxed. On day 5 the skin scaling had stopped, and the wounds had begun to heal. By day 15, wounds had almost completely healed, and new hair growth could be seen. Maintenance therapy was given by a monthly sanitisation of box and tack, and a twice-monthly total body application of Virkon S as before. “Weight was regained, coat condition improved dramatically, and no signs of the original skin condition were seen” says Mr Gardner.

“Rococo and Raptus are now both in good health, and are waiting for the arrival of two Fjord mares – thank you Virkon S”.

Please note: Virkon S, Virkon Professional, Pet Virkon, Virkon E and Virkon germicidal Skin Cleanser are different presentations of the same formulation.