Two vacancies have arisen for veterinary surgeons to join the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' Veterinary Nurses Council.
The positions, which are open to veterinary surgeons not currently serving on RCVS Council, would be particularly well suited to those veterinary surgeons who have an interest in the nursing profession and some experience of working with nurses. However, applicants need not necessarily be politically involved with the profession at this point.
VN Council Chairman Liz Branscombe said: "Veterinary nurses play a vital role in the practice team and, with the opening of the non-statutory Register in 2007, the VN profession is now recognising its responsibilities in terms of maintaining professional standards, skills and competence.
"Now, more than ever, it is important that vets from all sectors of the profession take the time to get involved with the regulation and development of the role of the veterinary nurse."
Applications are invited from all veterinary surgeons, although those with some experience of working with veterinary nurses would be most relevant.
The four-year posts will require an annual time commitment of approximately six to ten days.
For an application pack, please contact Annette Amato, Deputy Head of Veterinary Nursing, on 020 7202 0713 or a.amato@rcvs.org.uk. The deadline for the receipt by RCVS of completed application packs is 30 April 2011.
Denise Coston of Castle Veterinary Surgeons in Durham has won The Veterinary Business Journal Practice Manager of the Year 2011, and praised the award for promoting her role.
Denise, who was a manager at Lloyds TSB's lending centre and previously ran her own business, before joining Castle Vets three years ago, said: "I did not find out that I had been nominated until three weeks before the ceremony - it was totally out of the blue. To make it to the final three was brilliant, but to win was just incredible.
Denise also said the Practice Manager of the Year Award plays a vital part in promoting the role of practice managers to the wider industry: "It is so important in recognising and championing the efforts of practice managers. I'm sure there will be many people out there who still don't know what we do or how we could benefit their business and this award highlights our achievements.
"This is an evolving role and it is often a case of matching what each practice needs, but I think the fact that there is an award highlights the point that there is true value in having a practice manager."
Editor of The Veterinary Business Journal Robin Fearon said: "Denise is a deserving winner of the title Practice Manager of the Year because she understands the importance of helping to define business strategy for the practice, and I wish her every success in future."
A survey commissioned by a new Sky TV series, Pets for Life, carried out in association with The Blue Cross, has found that 500,000 (2%) of Britain's 24 million pet owners say they no longer have money for their pet's food and are reduced to feeding the household animal with leftovers.
The survey also found that while two-thirds of pet owners dig deep into their pockets to find an average of £11.04 each week to care for their pets, one in five (21%) say they are dropping essentials such as visits to the vet in a bid to bring the weekly pet bill to under £5.
The poll of 1,200 pet owners indicated that higher insurance premiums, rising vet bills and rocketing pet-food prices have pushed the cost of owning a pet up to £574.08 a year. Nearly half of pet owners (47% or 12.2 million people) now spend an average of £9.40 on their pet each week, with a further 15% (3.9 million people) spending £19.50 a week, and 7% (1.8 million people) forking out more than £60 a week to keep their animals healthy and happy.
This comes as The Blue Cross revealed a 19% increase in stray and abandoned animals taken into its adoption centres in the last year compared to the same period the year before, with a total of 38 rabbits, 979 cats, and 419 dogs left to wander the streets. In addition, over 4,000 animals were given up voluntarily, many for financial reasons such as the owner being made homeless, having to move house or losing their job.
Laura Sleight, head of media relations at The Blue Cross said: "We pride ourselves on being a nation of animal lovers, but the sad reality is that some pet owners can either no longer afford to keep their pets or are unable to provide a suitable home for them. Animals add so much to our lives but it's important that people understand the cost, time and commitment involved before taking one on. Pets for Life aims to tackle these issues and provide real solutions to the everyday problems that can result in animals being given up or abandoned."
Pets for Life is on Sky Showcase (Channel 201, Freesat 403) on Sunday 8th May at 6:00pm and on Tuesdays at 7:30pm (repeated on Sundays) for at least a further seven weeks thereafter.
For the first time BSAVA is running a Case Report Competition to be held at the annual Scottish BSAVA Congress (26-28th August 2011 at the Edinburgh Conference Centre).
Veterinary surgeons, nurses and students are invited to submit abstracts of no more than 400 words detailing a case and interesting discussion points.
Cases will then be selected for a short presentation at the congress
Successful selection will entitle the presenter to free congress registration on that day.
At the end of the session, a BSAVA manual of the winner's choice will be awarded to the case report deemed favourite by the audience.
Abstracts should be submitted via email by the 15 June 2011 and notification of acceptance will be given by the 30 June 2011.
Please send any enquires or submissions to Gerard McLauchlan (g.mclauchlan.1@research.gla.ac.uk) or Yvonne McGrotty (yvonne.mcgrotty@vets-now.com).
A YouGov poll commissioned at the start of this month's National Vaccination Month Campaign by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has shown that pet vaccination rates nationally have remained stable between 2009 and 2011 despite the recession.
This could suggest that pet owners who do vaccinate generally accept that vaccination is not a discretionary item of spending which can be dropped in financially hard times. This is in contrast to worming, pet insurance and health checks, things which the survey found that between 6% and 9% of owners have cut back on.
Nevertheless, the survey supported industry data which shows that very considerable numbers of Britain's pets are left unvaccinated, with strong regional variations:
According to the YouGov survey, cost is a factor in more than 39% of cases where owners of a cat, dog, rabbit or horse are failing to vaccinate.
However, during National Vaccination Month, pet owners can download a voucher for a discounted vaccination offering savings of around £30 from participating surgeries throughout May. Unvaccinated and eligible dogs, cats, rabbits and horses are all included in the scheme and more than 2000 vet practices are taking part in the campaign nationwide.
Angus Robinson from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health said: "The survey suggests that not only is there a demand for National Vaccination Month - 76% of those not vaccinating said they would take advantage of a scheme like this. But there is also a real need for client education. A staggering 91% of those polled said they would get their pet vaccinated if they were aware that there was disease in their area. Without wishing to scare people, we do need to alert pet owners to the fact that pet disease is out there. It is the kind of thing that they never think is going to happen to their beloved pet but when it does, it is devastating."
Eurovet has launched Relaquine 35 mg/ml Oral Gel for Horses - a licensed acepromazine (ACP) in a gel format.
The company says Relaquine can be used to sedate horses for examination and in stressful situations that some horses find hard to deal with such as farriery, box rest, dentistry and clipping where highly-strung horses can cause problems. Relaquine is administered orally or mixed with food and is available as an adjustable syringe format containing 10 ml of gel.
Relaquine is the fourth product launch this year by Eurovet and the company says there is more in the pipeline for 2011.
Relaquine Oral Gel is expected to be available to order from veterinary wholesalers from Monday 16th May. Eurovet is also offering an introductory promotion: for further details contact Eurovet on 01223 257933.
The British Veterinary Association has expressed disappointment at the Government's decision to introduce a licensing regime rather than impose an outright ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.
Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman announced today that a ban on circus animals could not be introduced in the UK now because a ban introduced in Austria is currently being challenged under European law. In a written ministerial statement she said that the Government will now draw up standards for a new licensing regime.
BVA President Harvey Locke said: "The BVA strongly supported a ban because we believe the welfare of these animals is emblematic of the way we treat all animals under the care of humans.
"The welfare needs of non-domesticated, wild animals cannot be met within the environment of a travelling circus; especially in terms of accommodation and the ability to express normal behaviour. A licensing scheme will not address these issues."
Together with the RPSCA, Captive Animals' Protection Society and the Born Free Foundation, the BVA has wholeheartedly supported The Independent's campaign to ban wild animals in circuses. Over 15,000 people have signed The Independent's online petition, which is still open. Mr Locke will be joining representatives from these groups to present the petition to Downing Street next week.
Mr Locke added: "Although it only affects a small number of animals at present there is no guarantee that the number of wild animals in circuses won't increase in the future and, despite the best intentions, the needs of these animals cannot be met adequately by the environmental conditions of a travelling circus.
"As soon as the Austria situation is resolved, we would urge the Government to reconsider and take action to prohibit the exploitation of these majestic animals whose existence in the confines of a circus is solely to entertain people."
The RCVS is calling for comment on a proposed new Case Management Protocol for its Disciplinary Committee.
The new protocol provides additional guidance to all parties, ensuring that evidence is agreed or considered well before the hearing. Its emphasis is on the Committee being able to read skeleton arguments and bundles of evidence from respondents before the hearing takes place, which speeds up the process and enables decisions to be made more quickly. At present, this is not always possible, as the information is not always made available.
Gordon Hockey, Head of Professional Conduct said: "The new protocol formalises the standard procedural direction for cases to be heard by the Committee, with the aim of promoting the timely and efficient preparation of cases and the smooth running of hearings. This is in the interests of all parties."
The Disciplinary Committee hears between ten and 15 cases per year. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, the Committee can consider charges of serious professional misconduct, fraudulent registration and criminal convictions that affect a veterinary surgeon's fitness to practise.
A disciplinary system for registered veterinary nurses was set up in April 2011 and the nurses' Disciplinary Committee would follow the new protocol, as and when it is finalised.
The proposed new Case Management Protocol can be downloaded from www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/consultations. Comments are welcomed from members of the veterinary team and from the public, by Monday, 8 August 2011, and should be sent to Carrie Gage, Clerk to the Disciplinary Committee, on c.gage@rcvs.org.uk.
The entertainer Michael Ball yesterday opened the final phase of Fitzpatrick Referrals' new ultra-hi-tech patient ward, which, according to the practice, will elevate animal care to a whole new level in the UK.
The ward boasts bacterial-resistant wipe-down wall coverings and floor surfaces with underground heating, and air conditioning optimised for high efficiency particulate air to minimise the possibility of infection.
Instead of gates or bars, the kennels have reinforced glass doors which permit a wide field of view for the animals and allow them to feel as much at home as possible. Each kennel has a space for medication and notes, and a "quick reference" daily guide is written on the glass door each morning to ensure continuity of care and ease of visibility for all. Each kennel has a radio and many are equipped with televisions to provide auditory and visual stimulation - creating a home from home experience for patients.
The practice says light is an important part of the "care package" offered in the luxury wards, and numerous windows and night time dimmers provide a diurnal rhythm to help comfort anxious animals and help those with separation anxiety to settle. Webcams are easily connected for remote viewing, and each and every patient is checked hourly by the 24 hour care team of ward assistants, fully qualified veterinary nurses, surgical interns, residents and senior clinicians.
Noel Fitzpatrick said: "I've always felt that people who love animals are generally great people, and they absolutely want to know that when their animal friend is away from home, especially if severely ill, that they are receiving round-the-clock care in the best facility imaginable. This in my head does not involve bars, so I have a "no bars" policy. I want the patient to be super-comfortable and not to feel threatened or "in prison", especially when some of them will have severe physical disability."
Michael Ball said: "I saw the Bionic Vet on television but I never thought I would find myself here. Noel has an extraordinary talent for healing and has built an amazing team who truly do care deeply about each and every one of these patients as if they were their own pets. They really do provide an unparalleled level of care. What Fitzpatrick Referrals has managed to do is truly remarkable. When I look at the level of hands-on care and compassion shown by all of team, I'm overwhelmed. I am hugely honoured to be associated with Fitzpatrick Referrals and what this practice stands for. The work which is happening here is benefitting the veterinary world and the human world - it's incredible."
After cutting the ribbon and declaring the new facility officially open, Michael Ball met with Dr Fitzpatrick for the 'see out consultation' for his dog, Freddie, who has been recovering after a major hip operation at the practice.
Vetoquinol has launched www.epiphenonline.co.uk, to support the veterinary profession and dog owners in the management of epilepsy.
The company says it has developed the online service to complement its existing monitoring aids and booklets, and give the best possible support to vets and patients during the complex process of stabilising and managing seizures.
The online service enables owners to keep a seizure diary, and share it with their veterinary surgeon so that they can prescribe an appropriate medication and management programme.
According to Vetoquinol, approximately three to five per cent of dogs suffer from idiopathic epilepsy, (which accounts for 80 per cent of epileptic seizures). The condition is inherited in some breeds, including Beagles, Dachunds, Keeshonden, German Shepherds and Belgian Tervurens.
Documenting the animal's history and seizure activity is crucial in assessing the progression of epilepsy. It also provides invaluable information for diagnosis and maintenance of effective therapeutic control.
Bicester Vets in North Oxfordshire has become the first to install Improvet, a touch-screen unit through which the practice can gather client feedback.
Improvet is one of a range of services offered by Pfizer as part of Vet Support+. It's designed to help small animal practices gather information, interpret client feedback and ultimately provide targets to drive business improvements. Located in the practice's reception area, the pre-programmed survey takes a few minutes of a pet owner's time to complete and is apparently proving a hit with clients.
The survey covers all aspects of the service the client has received, from booking through to the consultation, payment and administration of their appointment. Client comments are collected into a report assessing the standards of customer service delivered across the practice team.
Jason Williams, veterinary surgeon at Bicester Vets, said: "We have felt for a long time that we needed to make some changes at the practice in order to move forward and be well placed for future challenges and opportunities. With this in mind we undertook a review of our practice with the help of a Pfizer Business Consultant and during this process our staff identified that client communication and gauging client experience was something we were struggling with.
"When our Pfizer Business Consultant explained Improvet it seemed a logical next step. The completely paperless, anonymous nature and automatic report generation means it's taken the hassle out of surveying our pet-owning clients so that now instead of simply talking about the need for a client survey, we actually have one underway. We will use this information to get a clear picture of how we are performing and communicating as a practice before and after improvements are made."
Improvet gives practices a way of surveying clients completely independently of staff. Armed with this data about what clients truly think, a practice can:
Practices that think they would benefit from having an Improvet unit in their reception area should contact their Pfizer Account Manager or call 0845 519 4977.
The five talented winners of the "Vets in your daily life" competition were announced today by DG SANCO, the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumers and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
DG SANCO launched the worldwide photography competition earlier this year, to coincide with World Vet Year 2011, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the veterinary profession. The five winners are: Somenath Mukhopadhyay (Winner for Asia), Genoveva Kriechbaum (Winner for Middle East), Molly Feltner (Winner for Africa), Ariel Alejandro Corvalán Herrera (Winner for the Americas) and István Konyhás (Winner for Europe). István Konyhás, European winner and leader of the Hungarian Working Group of Cranes said: "The photo I took in Hortobagy's Bird Hospital (a foundation set up for healing injured wild birds) highlights the care put into healing an injured stork. It also reflects the meticulousness of Dr János Déri trying to re-instate the lost parts of the stork's beak with dental treatment. As a volunteer of the foundation I have taken photos of their work for years so I am pleased to be one of the winners and with the prize money, I hope to be able to take even more interesting and striking photos."
István Konyhás' winning photograph highlights the care put into healing an injured stork. © European Commission.Molly Feltner, African winner and Communications Officer for the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) commented: "I am delighted to be one of the winners of this photo competition and am particularly proud of what this photos highlights. Working with the MGVP in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) we are dedicated to saving the lives of mountain gorillas. This photo beautifully depicts the doctor-patient relationship between MGVP's veterinarians and gorillas."
Molly Feltner's winning photograph depicts the relationship between Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project veterinarians and gorillas. © European Commission.
Ariel Alejandro Corvalán Herrera's photograph won the Americas category. © European Commission.
The winning image for the Asia Pacific region was taken by Somenath Mukhopadhyay. © European Commission.
Genoveva Kriechbaum was the winner for the Middle East. © European Commission.
This year's Veterinary Week, from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd May, aims to highlight the contribution of the veterinary profession to society under the slogan "Vets in your daily life." This includes a conference on 'Crisis Management in the Food Chain' (organised by the European Commission) today and tomorrow, during which Commissioner John Dalli will present the prizes to the regional winners of the international photographic competition organised jointly with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Events to celebrate Vet Week will be taking place across the European Union.
Millpledge has launched Promodulate Probiotic Powder, which, according to the company, combines beneficial bacteria with a pre-biotic, vitamins and electrolytes to rebalance gut flora, fluid and electrolyte balance in cats and dogs.
The powder is presented in a 5 day course of sachets for ease of dispensing, or in a 50g tub for longer term use.
Millpledge says micro-encapsulated Entrococcus Faecium SF68 NCIMB 10415 - 667 x 106 CFU/g helps to recolonise the gut and maintain competitive exclusion of harmful bacteria whilst the preferred prebiotic Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) provides a targeted source of sugars to fuel the Entrococcus Faecium. Electrolytes are included to help maintain the isotonic fluid balance in the patient, and vitamins to maintain the normal feed conversion ability of the gut to absorb and bind nutrients present in the diet.
Millpledge suggests that Promodulate is beneficial alongside antibiotic therapy and can be used as an aid to maintaining the immune response in newborns as well as animals in the later stages of life. Promodulate is also recommended as an aid to restoring normal digestive function and to help maintain normal cholesterol levels and electrolyte and fluid balance.
For more information, please click here.
A team of researchers at the Royal Veterinary College have discovered that many-legged animals control their movement in a surprisingly different way to bipedal animals, following a study on cockroaches using tiny accelerometers and advanced computer models.
The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB) on 14 May 2010, found that four or more legged creatures do not adjust for hard or soft surfaces in the same manner as humans.
The RVC says the results were surprising because past work had found that running and trotting animals with four-, six-, or eight legs exert forces on the ground that look remarkably similar to two-legged humans.
The study used cockroaches with tiny accelerometer backpacks as the basis of the research before developing advanced computer models to further the findings.
The accelerometers were developed by Andrew Spence while working in the Poly-PEDAL laboratory of Professor Bob Full at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Spence, now following up the research as a Research Council UK (RCUK) research fellow at the RVC, along with his colleague Shai Revzen, attached the device to the cockroaches' back before sending the insects scuttling across a sheet of latex.
The cockroach sank into the soft rubber surface, like humans sink into the mud, but was able to maintain their forward speed, despite the extremely soft going.
Dr. Spence said: "Like humans, four or more legged animals move as if they are bouncing on a virtual pogo stick when running on hard surfaces. However, when humans run over soft surfaces, they effectively "stiffen" their virtual 'pogo stick', so we were keen to discover if this was the same for four or more legged animals."
Following the initial study, a computer-generated model cockroach was developed to help explain how the insect ran on, and sunk into, soft ground, with the 'cyber-roach' confirming earlier findings.
From the 'cyber-roach' the researchers concluded that instead of maintaining the body's centre of mass motion by stiffening the virtual pogo stick leg like human runners, the insect does not change the stiffness of its virtual pogo stick. The reason that the insect is able to run successfully without crashing, despite using the "wrong" leg stiffness, may be due to the change in posture that occurs when a legged animal sinks into a surface, as the legs that are flying through the air hit the ground sooner than they normally would.
Dr. Spence believes this simplifies the task for the nervous system: "Instead of sending nervous system signals to stiffen muscles, the cockroach may just be able to continue sending the same control signals and take advantage of this change in posture."
Virbac Animal Health is offering practices an educational shampoo and skin care pack for pet owners.
The pack is free to practices that buy any 12 shampoos from the Virbac range. In return the practice will receive a range of educational and point of sale materials, including a counter display unit and 'give away' hand sanitisers. Each practice also receives 2 free shampoos and a bottle of either Humilac or Dermacool FOC.
According to the company, the idea behind the initiative is to help pet owners understand the importance of bathing their pets, and of correct product selection.
Product manager Chris Geddes MRCVS said: "We also hope that it will assist vets and VNs to easily identify the correct product for every type of skin.
"The colour-coordinated packaging and literature contains easy-to-follow advice for pet owners and vet staff. And with all the extra items, we believe the promotion is great value for money."
Chris also believes the pack will help pet owners to understand the importance of regular and correct bathing: "Many owners just accept that their pet smells, without realising that this shouldn't be the case. This is the 'doggy' smell that many owners accept as normal."
"Also, many owners who do bathe their pets use soaps or shampoos from their own bathroom, not knowing that these are totally unsuitable for animals. Hopefully this promotion will help pet owners understand why it is important to use specifically formulated products for their pet."
The promotion runs until the end of July. Those interested in the pack please contact your Virbac territory manager or call the company on 01359 243243.
To coincide with National Microchipping Month in June this year, Avid will update the details of any pet with an Avid microchip registered on the UK 24hr PETtrac microchip database free of charge, saving their owner £6 for a change of address and £12 for a change of ownership.
In addition, anyone who contacts the company via its website during June will also be entered into a prize draw to win one year's worth of free pet insurance.
To update registration details free of charge, visit www.petchipupdate.com (the update service activates in June), or call 0800 652 8977.
Any microchipper who would like a Pet Chip Update Campaign pack can send a request via www.petchipupdate.com or call the AVID MicroChip sales line on 0800 652 7 977.
National Veterinary Services has announced the winners of its 'Cyclone' competition held at BSAVA this year.
Visitors to the company's stand were asked to climb into a perspex box and grab as many fast-moving balls as they could in 45 seconds. Balls meant points. Points meant prizes
Julie Godwin, NVS Marketing Manager said: "All entrants appeared to have a fabulous time with some coming back for more! It bought fabulous traffic to our stand and provided light hearted relief between lectures."
The four people who obtained the highest scores from each day were:
They were put into a prize draw with Paul Wilson being drawn for first prize of a mini laptop. The rest received quality food & wine hampers.
Following Intervet Schering-Plough's launch of Plerion, a chewable, flavoured wormer for dogs, the company has launched a consumer viral marketing campaign in which they invite pet owners to 'Primp Your Pooch' at the website www.plerion.co.uk.
In the press release, the company says: 'educating clients on worming has never been more fun'. Whilst you might not think that an especially big achievement, it is certainly a polished looking website, and there's a novel competition on the site: owners are invited to upload a photograph of their dog, 'primp' it with a variety of hairstyles and fashion accessories, and then get others to vote for them to win £1000 of luxury spa vouchers.
The launch of Primp Your Pooch follows the award-winning Plerion Showtime web campaign which featured a variety of singing and dancing dogs and achieved an average 1,500 hits a month on the Plerion micro site. Sarah-Jane Minter, marketing Manager at Intervet/Schering-Plough said: "We are always trying to create new and interesting ways to engage with pet owners and have found the web to be a useful platform to drive consumer awareness, as owners enjoy the interactive element that this format offers. The site takes an uninteresting topic and gives it interest to owners. The viral aspect is achieved through social media as consumers are able to share the website with friends via Facebook or email."
As well as an extensive online advertising campaign the Primp Your Pooch campaign will be supported by in practice information. Speak to your local Intervet/Schering-Plough Veterinary Business Manager or phone the company's Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685 for further information.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has announced that it is re-introducing Equilis StrepE, the only strangles vaccine for horses in Europe. The vaccine was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in 2007 for stability reasons.
Equilis StrepE, which has already been relaunched in the Netherlands, is now scheduled to arrive in Italy in September and the United Kingdom in October this year. Further re-launches in European countries are scheduled later in 2010 and beyond.
According to Intervet/Schering-Plough, three years of additional research and development have resulted in several improvements to the vaccine, including a better manufacturing process to ensure that the product maintains its characteristics throughout its shelf-life. A more user-friendly applicator has been developed, which enables the needle to slot into place, thereby making it easier to administer the vaccine.
Equilis StrepE is administered through a submucosal injection in the upper lip of the horse and provides immunity for three months following two initial injections, four weeks apart. The vaccine significantly reduces clinical signs of strangles and occurrence of lymph node abscesses in horses that are at risk of infection.
Dr. Peter Daels, veterinarian at the Keros Insemination and Embryo Transfer Center in Beselare (Belgium) said: "In our recipient embryo transfer herd, we have used this strangles vaccine on over 500 mares. After a few applications, the vaccine was easy to administer and did not cause any serious side effects. Despite a steady flow of new horses, only eight cases of strangles were noted - all were mild and most were newly acquired horses that had apparently been exposed shortly before vaccination. I believe that the vaccine provided solid protection against the disease, reduced the severity of clinical cases and eliminated the risk of a widespread outbreak in our herd."
Dr. Roberto Ragni-Alunni, Global Technical Manager Equine at Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health said: "The re-launch of Equilis StrepE in Europe is an important milestone in our efforts to fully meet the needs of our customers in the equine industry. We continue to work in a very intense and comprehensive way to ensure adequate supply of our equine vaccine range".
For practices planning to take part in National Microchipping Month, Virbac is providing a personalised poster design service and chip promotion throughout June.
According to product manager Gillian Brown, the idea is to offer additional tailored support to practices during the promotional period: "Obviously many practices will have National Microchipping Month materials in place, but the price each practice offers their clients is individual to them. These posters provide a visual platform to highlight the promotion.
"To take advantage of the scheme, practices just need to notify their territory manager of the price they propose to charge and we will then manage the design and print."
Virbac will also be offering a promotional chip price in June to support National Microchipping Month. Gillian said: "Microchipping is now the official means of pet identification approved by the EU Pet Passport Scheme. This will help practices provide an attractive promotion to pet owners and hopefully encourage greater up-take of microchipping."
Any practice interested in the initiative should contact their local Virbac territory manager or call Virbac on 01379 243243.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has published the results of the distribution category review, which has recommended the re-classification of 50 products from POM-V or POM-VPS to a less restrictive distribution category.
Not all the products recommended for reclassification will be reclassified, as in some cases, the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) has declined.
MAH will change the distribution category from POM-V to NFA-VPS:Advantage Spot-on Solution for dogs, cats, small cats, small dogs and pet rabbitsDuowinScalibor Protectorband for dogsTop Drop Spot-on Solution for dogs
MAH will change the distribution category from POM-V to POM-VPS:Alpha Ject 2-2Aquavac FNM Plus VaccineAquavac FurovacFurogen 2LactovacLeptavoid HNobilis CAV P4ParacoxParacox 5 oral suspensionRotavec CoronaSpirovacSuvaxyn Ery
MAH will change the distribution category from POM-VPS to AVM-GSL:Coprite
MAH will change the distribution category from POM-V to AVM-GSL:Rearguard
MAH has decided not to change the distribution category from POM-V to NFA-VPSAdvantix Spot-on Solution for dogsFleegard for dogs / cats Frontline Combo spot on for cat and dogFrontline SprayTop Drop
Those Marketing Authorisation Holders that have indicated they are content with the recommendations are required to submit a variation to change the distribution category for the products involved by 30th June 2010, and the variations will come into force at the next label reprint.
For the full report, and a complete list of the affected products, please visit the VMD website here.
The RCVS Trust has announced 34 grants totalling approximately £165,000, being made to veterinary surgeons, universities and higher education (HE) establishments, to fund high-quality research projects in the UK and overseas, and support veterinary education.
Harper Adams University College and Myerscough College will be the first veterinary nursing colleges to receive funding under the Spencer-Hill equipment grants programme; this was the first time that RCVS-approved HE veterinary nurse training providers were able to apply for this funding. Harper Adams will receive £2,350 to purchase a Humphrey ADE-circle system, and Myerscough, £1,395 for an 'Emily' canine positioning mannequin.
Severine Tasker MRCVS, from the University of Bristol, and Janet Patterson-Kane MRCVS, from the University of Glasgow each received Blue Sky Awards of £17,000. Severine will conduct research into constructing defined feline coronavirus strains for determination of the role of virus genetics in the development of feline infectious peritonitis. Janet Patterson-Kane's research will investigate whether a new therapy for treating wounds in humans can be translated for use in horses.
Janet said: "Limb wounds in horses are very common and are notorious for developing masses of exuberant scar tissue - proud flesh - and not healing properly. This can necessitate multiple operations. The findings of current research at University College London by our collaborator, Professor David Becker, suggest that in human patients a protein, connexin 43, is not downregulated at the edges of wounds that are difficult to heal. Use of therapy to reduce connexin 43 expression in human skin wounds in which healing has stalled has been remarkably successful in achieving wound closure. The aim of our research is to determine if connexin 43 plays a similar key role as a 'master switch' for wound healing in horses. I am extremely grateful to the RCVS Trust for their support."
Six veterinary undergraduates will also receive EMS vacation research scholarships of £700 each, which can be used to fund expenses relating to a research project undertaken in the UK or overseas as part of a UK veterinary school's extra-mural studies requirement.
Full details of the RCVS Trust grant awards may be found at www.rcvstrust.org.uk/awards
The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) has launched a distance learning course aimed at veterinary professionals working with individuals and families facing pet bereavement.
Officially accredited by the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), the course considers many forms of bereavement including the loss of a pet through illness, disease, ageing, accidental trauma or enforced separation due to changes in the owner's personal circumstances.
SCAS says the 'Pet Loss Support in Veterinary Practice' course has been co-written by leading international experts in pet loss support and aims to provide the specialist knowledge and skills required by the entire veterinary practice team. It offers up-to-date, in-depth information on many aspects of pet loss, including euthanasia; specific guidelines for children and older people; after death body-care and effective communication skills. The course provides practical guidelines and tips on how to introduce pet loss support protocols into practice management and also looks at self-care for staff, offering useful suggestions on how to recognise and minimise possible signs of stress and burnout.
Elizabeth Ormerod BVMS MRCVS, Chairman of SCAS said: "We should not underestimate the potential effects of grief on people's mental health and well-being and as vets we need to recognise the impact of pet loss on our clients and support them more fully than we currently do. Failure to fully understand and support the human-companion animal bond also has an adverse impact on animal welfare, and a negative effect on the success of a veterinary practice. Fifteen percent of clients who are not supported following pet loss choose never to adopt another companion animal. Of those who do adopt again, there is generally an extended interval before adoption and the likelihood of registering the new pet at a different veterinary practice."
The 'Pet Loss Support in Veterinary Practice' course is delivered through a distance learning programme, and students can register at any point during the year. The course, which includes all materials (a workbook and CD), is currently available at the special introductory offer of £375. SCAS members and members of BVNA receive a discounted rate of £325. Upon successful completion, students will be awarded 45 hours of CPD learning. For more information contact SCAS on 01993 825539 or email pbsstraining@bluecross.org.uk
The Royal Veterinary College and The Donkey Sanctuary have launched WikiDonkey, a new information resource about donkeys for veterinary surgeons, nurses and students.
According to The Donkey Sanctuary, WikiDonkey is the first site of its kind and will provide the most comprehensive source of accurate, research-led, practical and regularly-reviewed donkey veterinary information on the web.
WikiDonkey covers all the common conditions of donkeys and identifies the major differences between the management and treatment of donkeys and horses. The site also provides a set of normal physiological, biochemical and haematological parameters, resources that have not always been easily accessible but will undoubtedly prove essential for those treating donkeys.
The Donkey Sanctuary's veterinary project and development manager, Faith Burden said: "When we were approached by WikiVet to sponsor and provide content for their donkey section we were happy to support the initiative as it offers an excellent medium for us to share our expertise with others. We are pleased that these pages will allow veterinary professionals access to the most up-to-date information on donkey specific ailments and treatments."
Nick Short, head of the eMedia unit at the RVC said: "I believe that this unique resource will become an invaluable reference source for vets not only in the UK but all over the world. It will also help ensure that future generations of veterinary students will have access to a reliable and extensive knowledgebase on donkey health and welfare."
To view the Donkey Sanctuary's WikiVet pages, visit http://www.wikivet.net/ or to find out more about the work of The Donkey Sanctuary visit http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/
Veterinary nurse Sarah Irons from Fielding and Cumber in Weymouth, Dorset, has been awarded the University of Lincoln's Pheromone Therapy Award at the CABTSG (Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group) study day.
Sarah was presented with a cheque for £1,000 in recognition of her research into the use of D.A.P. to treat a dog with generalised fear of leaving her home environment.
Second prize and a cheque for £500 went to veterinary nurse Laura Bailey from Kinver Veterinary Practice in Kinver, Stourbridge, for her study into reducing anxiety and re-directed aggression in a multi-cat household with the use of Felifriend. Sarah Fowler from Highfield Veterinary Surgery in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, also a veterinary nurse, was awarded third prize and a cheque for £250 for her research into the use of D.A.P. in a dog with suspected separation anxiety.
The University of Lincoln launched the country's first accredited course in pheromone therapy in 2007 to help increase the veterinary profession's understanding of stress and its potential to trigger behavioural issues in pets. The distance learning course, which is supported by CEVA Animal Health, is aimed at veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and behaviourists and comprises 12 audio visual tutorials covering pheromone therapy and its applications in companion animals which can be undertaken at a pace to suit individual students.
For further information, please contact the University of Lincoln on 01522 882000 or log on to http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/.