Owners are being asked to provide a photo or video and a brief description that capture what it is like to live with and care for an older dog.
Dr Carri Westgarth, a senior lecturer in human-animal interaction at the University of Liverpool, has been awarded a citizen science grant from PetSavers to run the project. She plans to use the information gathered to help develop a ‘Canine Ageing and Wellbeing’ tool for use in veterinary practice.
Carri said: “Dogs are living up to twice as long as they did 40 years ago and there are implications for senior dogs’ healthcare and wellbeing.
"As life expectancy increases, so does the amount of time the dog may spend in poor health. It may be difficult for us to distinguish between the signs of serious age-related diseases and normal age-related changes in our dogs."
PetSavers says the data will contribute to our investigations of owner expectations, experiences and attitudes to ageing in dogs, including preventative care and general understanding of normal and abnormal changes during ageing.
Carri added: "Improving discussions between owners and veterinary professionals about senior dog care will help to increase owner understanding and involvement in care decisions for their pet. The resulting early detection of health problems should bring significant improvement to the quality of life of senior pets and the dog-owner relationship.
"Any adult UK residents who (currently or recently) live with an aged dog/s of any breed/s or health status are encouraged to participate by choosing an image or short video and telling us about it."
The research team will then analyse the submitted text and media for common themes. They may also use anonymised selected quotes to illustrate important findings in research publications such as scientific papers or conference presentations.
If you know any owners who might like to participate, do share this link with them: https://bit.ly/PetSaversOAPsPhoto
For more information, visit: https://www.petsavers.org.uk/our-research/oldagepets
Data collection will close on Friday 10th July 2020.
At the start of the hearing the RCVS applied for it to take place in the absence of Mr Dobson, who had failed to respond when informed about the hearing. The application was granted by the DC on the basis that Mr Dobson, by refusing to respond to communications from the College – including by letter, telephone and email – had voluntarily waived his right to attend.
There were three sets of charges against Mr Dobson. The first charge was in June 2018, while he was not on the Register of Veterinary Surgeons, Mr Dobson had carried out an equine pre-purchase examination (PPE) and used the postnominals MRCVS to sign the associated PPE certificate and covering letter.
The Committee found this charge proven after it was presented with evidence of the certificate and covering letter alongside the fact that Mr Dobson had been removed from the Register on 1 June 2018 for non-payment of the annual renewal fee needed to remain on the RCVS Register. He was only restored to the Register upon paying his outstanding fee in late November 2018.
The second charge was that Mr Dobson did not have any professional indemnity insurance (or PII) or other equivalent arrangements in between June 2018 and August 2020. He also failed to provide adequate details of his PII when requested by the RCVS.
The Committee was presented with evidence that Mr Dobson had failed to confirm that he had PII arrangements or other equivalent arrangements in place prior to August 2020 and that he had failed to respond to numerous requests for evidence from the College. On this basis the Committee found the charges proven.
The third and final charge was that Mr Dobson had failed to respond to numerous requests from the RCVS, including: failing to provide written comments on concerns relating to the equine PPE; failing to provide written comments on the concern that he had carried out the PPE and used the postnominals MRCVS while not on the Register; failing to provide details of his continuing professional development (CPD) for the previous three years; and failing to provide copies of his Day Book and/or Controlled Drugs Register. All elements of this charge were found proven when the Committee was presented with evidence of numerous attempts to contact him that went unacknowledged and unanswered.
Regarding the first charge, the Committee recognised that Mr Dobson had not intentionally allowed his registration with the College to expire and that it was down to administrative error. However, it also considered that he had not responded to or taken action upon receiving numerous reminders to pay his fees. It considered that Mr Dobson had therefore acted recklessly in not only allowing his registration to expire but in continuing to practise veterinary surgery while not registered, a criminal act in contravention of the Veterinary Surgeons Act. The Committee therefore found that the first charge amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee also found that the remaining charges constituted serious professional misconduct.
Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf said: "The respondent demonstrated a pattern of behaviour in not responding, which was sustained and persistent. He asked for extensions of time but did not make good on his assurances that he would provide information. Due to the length of time during which the respondent failed to comply with the requests, as well as the proliferation of issues in respect of which he did not comply, the Committee was of the view that he demonstrated a wilful disregard of the role of the RCVS and the regulatory processes. This was particularly serious in light of the reliance which the RCVS places upon its members to cooperate with providing it with information relating to their professional practice which is relevant to the RCVS’s regulation of the profession.
"There was no harm caused to animals or the public, and the Committee acknowledged that practice circumstances have been made more difficult in general by the Covid-19 pandemic. However… the respondent’s failures to comply were serious and undermined the functions of the RCVS. The Committee was satisfied that the respondent’s failures fell so far below what was expected as to amount to serious professional misconduct."
Having found that all the charges amounted to serious professional misconduct the Committee then considered the most appropriate sanction for Mr Dobson. In terms of aggravating factors, the Committee considered Mr Dobson’s recklessness in failing to renew his registration and practising while it was lapsed, his pattern of not responding to the RCVS, the fact that financial gain was obtained as a result of misconduct, a wilful disregard to the RCVS and regulation, and limited evidence of insight. In mitigation the Committee considered Mr Dobson’s previous good character, a long and otherwise unblemished career, the fact that no animals were harmed and increased demands on time and processes due to Covid-19.
However, taking all of the information into account, the Committee decided that removal from the Register was the appropriate and proportionate sanction due to the sustained and prolonged nature of the misconduct.
Cerys Jones said: “The respondent demonstrated a wilful disregard of the role of the RCVS and the regulatory processes by way of his disgraceful conduct. In addition, his lack of engagement with the hearing process indicates to the Committee that he is not engaging with his regulator and, along with the limited insight and lack of remediation with respect to the disgraceful conduct, this demonstrates a lack of insight into the seriousness of his actions or their consequences.”
The anaesthesia team has produced a fact sheet, infographic and CPD webinar to help practices minimise the oxygen and volatile anaesthetic agent used in animals safely.
The resources can all be found at: https://vetspecialists.co.uk/oxygen-conservation
Anaesthetist Sarah Gibson will be following up the webinar with a live online Q&A on Low Flow Anaesthesia on Tuesday 7th April at 2pm; to book your place, email: CPD@vetspecialists.co.uk.
Managing Director Tim Richardson said: "By sharing our practical information on oxygen conservation, we hope we can help our colleagues safely use less oxygen during general anaesthesia and sedation, thus ensuring more of this valuable resource remains available."
Davies Veterinary Specialists' premises remain open for urgent and emergency cases. For all other cases, assistance is being provided via remote consultation, be that either telephone or video.
The reports summarise the results of two surveys that were conducted between July and August last year.
17% of the 19,925 veterinary nurses who were sent the survey fully completed and submitted the questionnaire.
Some of the main findings included:
Around 40% of veterinary surgeons and over 40% of veterinary nurses said they had experienced concerns for their personal safety aside from catching Covid.
These safety concerns mostly related to client interactions at the practice either during the day or out-of-hours.
Many respondents experienced conflict between their personal wellbeing and professional role, and found it difficult to juggle their work and caring responsibilities.
Many respondents also said their mental health was adversely affected by the experience of working during the pandemic.
A large majority of respondents said they had personally seen an increase in caseload due to new animal ownership.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: “While many of the results of the survey may not be especially surprising and confirm what we have already been told anecdotally, it is very important that we have this hard data to hand on the overall impact of the pandemic on individual members of the professions.
“These two reports complement the six surveys that we have conducted with veterinary practices on the economic impact of the pandemic to give us as clear and holistic a picture as possible about the challenges that the professions and the veterinary sector as a whole have faced since March 2020.
"This not only provides a useful historical snapshot, but builds an evidence base to inform future temporary changes should the pandemic continue into more waves, or should future such crises arise.
“The results of the two individual surveys make it clear it has been a tough time for the professions.
"A good proportion of respondents also acknowledged that positive developments have come from the past two years, including the way the profession has demonstrated remarkable resilience, flexibility and adaptability, as well as forging a stronger team spirit under such difficult circumstances.
“However, a large number of both vets and vet nurses who responded said that the experiences since March 2020 have left them feeling more pessimistic about veterinary work and their place within it.
"I would like to reassure members of the veterinary team that the RCVS is aware and understands.
"We tried throughout the pandemic to support the professions with relevant temporary guidance changes, and we are now working with a range of stakeholders on critical issues such as the workforce crisis, which has been in part caused by Covid.
"We are also developing tools, training and resources to support the professions, via our programmes such as RCVS Leadership and Mind Matters.”
The full coronavirus impact survey reports can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications.
400 people took part in the research, of which 76% described their mental health as ‘reasonable’ or ‘very good’, while almost three quarters 71% said there was someone at work they could talk to about their mental health and 80% knew where to access information and support.
This compared to 2019, when only 50% had even recognised veterinary wellbeing as an issue.
So far so good.
However, on the flip side, 60% felt that their work/life balance was not right and 82% were worried about their financial situation.
As is well known, the pandemic placed further strain on veterinary professionals: 78% of respondents said their workload had increased since it struck, and 44% said they were working longer hours.
What's more, 63% felt that that changes in working practices introduced during the pandemic had not been beneficial to their mental health.
The survey results showed a number of interesting variations depending on the respondent's time in the profession and their role.
For example, people who've been in the profession for more than ten years appeared to be more resilient than those who've been in the profession for six years or less, with 66% of the older hands saying the pandemic had had an impact on their mental heath, compared to 71% of the younger respondents.
The older crowd also reported being more aware of where to access support and information (89% vs 71%) but feel they have fewer people they can talk to at work (68% vs 76%).
Interestingly, nurses felt they had more people they can talk to at work (76% vs 62% of vets)
The organisers say that overall, the research suggests that the veterinary profession is more aware of the pressures on veterinary teams and is taking some steps to mitigate it and support staff better.
97% said they felt supported by their colleagues, 75% said they felt that their practice had strong leaders and managers and 90% said that they loved their job.
50% said their practice offers online resources to support wellbeing at work, 41% offer counselling and 40% offer flexible working.
When asked what more could be done to improve their wellbeing at work, simple solutions such as taking a lunch break, having a pleasant room at work in which they could relax and receiving recognition for hard work were the most commonly proposed.
VET Festival will be offering a Wellness Hub, supported by MWI Animal Health, in which a range of practical activities will be offered to support delegates in improving their day-to-day wellbeing, with representatives of Vetlife also on hand to offer advice and support.
Tickets for VET Festival can be bought here: https://www.vetfestival.co.uk/delegate-info/ticket-information
Charlie says that uniquely, the company offers feedback about samples submitted, with the aim of teaching veterinary staff the skills needed to interpret future samples themselves.
Cytovet is aimed at nurses and new grads who want to improve their cytology skills, vets who don’t have time to look at their own samples or have a tricky case they would like an additional opinion on, and those vets whose clients can’t afford the prices the big labs quote.
Charlie said: "I’m a vet with 16 years of clinical experience and a certAVP which focussed on small animal medicine and clinical pathology.
"I currently work in first opinion charity practice and have examined thousands of cytology samples over the years.
"I have been writing cytology reports for the practices I have worked for since 2012.
"I believe all vets and nurses should have the basic microscope skills required to help make more informed decisions for their patients, particularly in a world of escalating veterinary costs and antimicrobial resistance.
"I can examine both digital images and posted slides using a top-of-the-range trinocular digital microscope.
"All you need to do is submit the patient information and slides to me (digital images or actual slides) via my website and I will provide you with a report within 3-5 days."
Urgent turnaround is also available.
www.cytovet.co.uk
For the survey, 565 respondents ranked their levels of concern about different aspects of veterinary life that may be affected by coronavirus.
The top concerns were:
In addition, 42% were very or quite concerned about contracting Covid-19 in their workplace, rising to 55% amongst those working in mixed practice and 50% in small animal/exotic practice.
Respondents were more concerned about stress and burnout amongst their colleagues (67% very or quite concerned) than the impact on themselves (45%), but more than half (58%) of small animal/exotics vets reported being concerned about their own stress and burnout. Managers and employees reported higher levels of concern around stress and burnout than business owners and those who are self-employed.
When it comes to employment, the profession is a bit more optimistic. 23% of respondents are not at all concerned about job security in the veterinary sector, with 43% a little concerned and 31% very or quite concerned. Equine vets (45%) and charity vets (64%) are very or quite concerned about job security in their own sectors, against an average of 23% across all areas of work.
However, 95% of respondents had some level of concern (a little, quite or very) about the potential impact of a recession on the veterinary sector, with government, equine and charity vets most concerned.
The findings will be used to inform BVA’s work on supporting the veterinary profession as the pandemic continues.
BVA President James Russell said: “Although this is just a snapshot survey, it tells us a lot about how our colleagues are feeling six months on from the national lockdown. It paints a worrying, but not surprising, picture about the health and wellbeing of a profession that has worked incredibly hard and in very difficult circumstances this year.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way the profession has adapted to working safely during Covid-19, but we know that it has taken its toll, for example with consults taking longer, needing to cover staff shortages, and dealing with anxious clients.
“BVA also shares the profession’s concerns about the impact on students and new graduates. EMS is the jewel in the crown of UK veterinary teaching and it’s frustrating that opportunities to gain practical training have been hampered by the Covid restrictions. The issue is at the top of our agenda with the RCVS and Vet Schools Council to make sure we can collectively support the next generation of vets through this difficult time.
“As the UK is braced for the second wave, we know we are much better prepared and far more able to work safely to do our bit to tackle the spread of coronavirus. But it’s vital that we continue to support one another, as well as continuing the spirit of collaboration with neighbouring practices that helped us get through the height of the pandemic.
The snapshot survey on Covid-19 is available to view at: https://www.bva.co.uk/media/3781/voice-covid-survey-2020-results.pdf
The awards are to recognise the work carried out by veterinary professionals.
Last year Petplan had a remarkable 37,000 nominations, for the five award categories: Practice of the Year, Vet of the Year, Vet Nurse of the Year, Practice Manager of the Year and Practice Support Staff of the Year.
James Barnes, head of sales & partnerships at Petplan, said: “For over two decades we’ve been recognising the brilliant work of the UK’s veterinary professionals. Every year the quality of entries is incredibly high but we know that during 2020 the profession really went the extra mile to take care of the nation’s pets so we expect the 2021 awards to be extra special.
To nominate a colleague or your practice, visit: https://www.petplanvet.co.uk/veterinary-practice-insurance/veterinary-awards before nominations close on 18th January 2021.
Although developed by the RCVS and VSC BAME Student Support Working Group ostensibly for use by Universities, EMS placement host practices and other educational establishments, it is recommended that all veterinary practices review the guidance.
The Guidance on Religious Clothing and Beliefs covers issues such as: balancing accommodations for religious dress with clinical considerations, and making accommodations for religious observance in academic timetabling and exams.
Gurpreet Gill, RCVS Leadership and Inclusion Manager said: “This document is about recognising that personal religious beliefs should be respected and accommodated as far as possible, while also not compromising professional responsibilities such as infection control, effective communication and the health and safety of individuals and their colleagues.
"Most importantly, it is about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment and ensuring that all students are able to express their religious identity whilst participating in educational and workplace settings.
“Although the guidance is not exhaustive, we would highly recommend that, where relevant, educators, practices and other veterinary workplaces review, adopt and adapt this guidance for their own settings to ensure that all members of the professions are welcomed and included.”
The Guidance on Religious Clothing is available to download from: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/publications/guidance-on-religious-clothing-and-beliefs/
The meeting follows growing concerns expressed both within the profession and in the national media about the shortage of veterinary surgeons in the UK.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO (pictured right), said: “Workforce shortages within the veterinary sector has been a concern for some time, however, in the past few months there has been a ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances, which have come together to exacerbate the problem. The issues include the ongoing impact of the pandemic, burnout and fatigue within the profession; the UK’s exit from the European Union, which has seen a significant reduction in the number of EU vets joining the Register as well as an associated increase in the need for veterinary certification; and an increase in pet ownership, and therefore demand for veterinary services, over the course of the pandemic."
In advance of the meeting, which is due to be help in November, the College will be conducting research to better gauge the extent of the problem both nationally and regionally.
The meeting will then consider how recruitment, retention and return to work might address the problem.
Lizzie added: “While there has already been a lot of focus and discussions around recruitment and retention, something less spoken about is return, and the summit will consider the reasons why members of the profession may move away from clinical practice, and if there’s more scope for different ways of working that could bring people back into clinical practice.
“Ahead of the summit we will be reviewing all the latest data that we and other organisations have shared to better understand the gap between capacity and demand, the push and pull factors on decisions to either join or leave clinical practice and build a more evidence-based picture of veterinary workforce trends.”
The summit itself, the date of which is yet to be confirmed, will involve key veterinary stakeholders including the veterinary schools, veterinary employers and representative bodies, coming together to ensure that there will be a joined-up approach in finding solutions to the issues confronting the profession.
Lizzie said: “It may not necessarily be easy to identify all the solutions in one day, and they won’t all come from the RCVS, but opening up the conversation and getting the professions focused on taking appropriate action is an important first step.”
Meanwhile, RCVS President Kate Richards this week wrote to all vets and nurses to reassure them them that the RCVS was aware of the problem and the additional pressures they are under as a result.
In the letter she wrote: “In the face of current shortages, I would like to stress that we support practice teams in prioritising cases strictly according to the health and welfare needs of their patients, and in informing their clients of the need to do so.
“We would also urge veterinary surgeons to share their caseload as much as possible, delegating permitted procedures to their veterinary nurse colleagues wherever appropriate to do so.
"And, we would like to remind veterinary surgeons that their current 24/7 emergency cover obligations, as set out in the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, are limited only to taking steps to provide 24-hour emergency first-aid and pain relief to animals according to their skills and the specific situation."
She also added that, while members of the profession may be anxious about a potential increase in the number of concerns being raised by clients because they are not able to offer the level of service they would ideally like to, the RCVS would always take into account the entire circumstances surrounding a complaint as part of its investigation process.
She also said that the College would also continue to raise awareness amongst animal owners of the acute challenges currently facing veterinary teams around the country, and to request their ongoing patience and understanding.
To assist the profession, a series of FAQs have been produced to help with different situations that vets may encounter at the moment, particularly around the provision of 24/7 emergency cover, and to provide further guidance on delegating procedures to veterinary nurses. These can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/
The modules, which are presented by US veterinary oncology specialists Dr Chad Johannes and Dr Sue Ettinger, are titled: ‘Mastering Mast Cell Tumours’, ‘Treating Canine Mast Cell Tumours’ and ‘Stelfonta’.
Each of the modules offer 30 minutes of bitesize, interactive CPD and are suitable for both veterinary surgeons and nurses.
Dr Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: ‘We appreciate that for the majority of veterinary teams, finding time for CPD is pretty challenging at present. We therefore hope that the bitesize, on-demand format of these modules can provide the perfect solution, whilst still delivering high quality CPD’.
The modules can be accessed at: vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta/education.
Virtual lunch and learn meetings are also available from Virbac Territory Managers.
For more information, speak to your Virbac Territory Manager, or visit vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta.
The Canadian company highlights research which showed that the biggest challenge UK veterinary clinics face is the volume of pets (57%), followed by being overbooked (50%) and unable to take on new patients1.
In addition, earlier research has shown that 37%2 of vets are “actively” thinking about quitting, with 80%3 of the UK profession leaving to get a better work-life balance.
Hence the company offers a service through which UK practices can divert non-urgent calls to Vetster, to relieve some of the pressure.
Vetster says the most common cases treated by its veterinary surgeons are dermatology, gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary tract, ophthalmology and musculoskeletal issues.
By diverting these cases to UK-licensed vets online, Vetster says it aims to relieve the pressure on clinics so that they can better serve pets in need of surgery, immunisations, bloodwork and other clinical treatments.
Mark Bordo, CEO and coFounder of Vetster said: “We are experiencing a global crisis in pet care exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Veterinarians are facing tremendous pressure to provide services to millions of pet owners.
"Vetster’s virtual care platform connects pet owners with licensed UK veterinarians to provide support when their clinic is closed, to answer a non-urgent question, and to improve the health outcomes of their pet and help ensure owners can care for their animals.”
Veterinary surgeons in search of a better work life balance can also join Vetster to create a virtual care practice that provides teletriage and addresses non-urgent issues.
Mark added: “Veterinarians are able to incorporate a new modality of practice to improve their work-life-balance, serve pet owners outside of a clinic environment, and hopefully practice for longer avoiding burnout and stress associated with this much-needed profession.”
Vetster is not available as a white label service at this time, and VetSurgeon.org understands that when it is clear an online consultation requires hands-on care, the owner is referred to the local practice on the platform, which may or may not be their normal practice.
Vets interested in offering consultations through Vetster can visit: https://vetster.com/en-gb/for-vets
Veterinary practices that are interested in having Vetster provide OOH support to clients, can visit: https://vetster.com/en-ca/for-vet-clinics
References
Thiamacare contains 10 mg/ml thiamazole, which is double the concentration of Thyronorm, for a lower dose volume.
Animalcare highlights research which shows that 87.4% of owners prefer liquid medications for their cat1, and that cats find liquid presentations more palatable2.
James Beaumont from Animalcare said: "With the lowest dose volume available, we believe Thiamacare will make the medical management of this condition easier through improved cat acceptance and better owner compliance."
Thiamacare's dosing syringe is marked with a single scale in 1.25 mg increments to facilitate precise dosing in response to total T4 measurement values. The scale does not need converting when switching from other brands or formulations.
Animalcare has developed a range of supporting materials to encourage the use of Thiamacare as the preferred choice for feline hyperthyroid medical management. They include social posts and a post-prescription leaflet to help veterinary teams support owners, particularly through the stabilisation phase post-diagnosis.
A short webinar offering top tips for treating feline hyperthyroidism from feline Specialist Dr Caney will also be available later in October. These resources will all be available at www.the-pac.co.uk.
Andreea Maria Bacaintan was convicted by the Bucharest Court of Law in October 2017 of bribing a professor during her final year at university in order to pass an examination, a charge to which she had pleaded guilty.
Miss Bacaintan was fined and sentenced to a period of one year and four months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with requirements for supervision and unpaid community service work. The case against Miss Bacaintan was that this conviction renders her unfit to practise veterinary surgery.
However, the Committee also heard and accepted that Miss Bacaintan had been the victim of a dishonest scheme perpetrated by members of staff at the University to extort money from students before they would let them pass the exam.
At the outset of the hearing the respondent admitted the facts as contained in the charge and that her conviction rendered her unfit to practise veterinary surgery. However, notwithstanding Miss Bacaintan’s acceptance that she was unfit, the issue of whether or not she was fit to practice remained one for the Committee’s judgement.
The Committee considered whether or not Miss Bacaintan’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct. In coming to its decision, the Committee took into account the submissions it had heard from Nicole Curtis, acting for the College, and from Miss Bacaintan, who represented herself.
Ms Curtis submitted that the nature and circumstances of the offence, which involved an element of dishonesty and which led to the conviction, were such as to render Miss Bacaintan unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon in the UK. Miss Bacaintan’s conduct was also liable to have a seriously detrimental effect on the reputation of the profession, as it undermined the examination system.
The Committee also considered the mitigating factors associated with the conviction, namely that this was a single, isolated incident and that Miss Bacaintan was clearly the victim of a dishonest scheme perpetrated by staff at the University.
Considering both the aggravating and mitigating factors, the Committee was satisfied that Miss Bacaintan’s conduct fell far below the standard expected of a Registered Veterinary Surgeon.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Miss Bacaintan. In doing so it took into account some of the written testimonials submitted on her behalf. The Committee was satisfied that Miss Bacaintan understood the magnitude of what she had done and was highly unlikely to repeat her dishonest behaviour.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Ian Green said: "This was a truly exceptional case where, whilst she had been dishonest, which the Committee in no way condoned, she had felt compelled to act in this way. The Committee was persuaded that Miss Bacaintan had herself been the victim of a corrupt system and had acted out of desperation in the final stages of her degree and with the genuine fear that if she did not “play the game” she would not graduate, thereby throwing away six years of hard work.
"It was notable that she did not succumb to the corrupt scheme until the third time of trying to pass this exam. It was clear from the evidence that she was not alone in paying up to try and pass this exam and that at least 30 and possibly many more students had done the same thing."
In such circumstances and with the significant mitigation, the Committee decided that the appropriate and proportionate sanction was to reprimand Miss Bacaintan and to warn her about her future conduct.
Based on the reported facts, what I'd like to know is why the DC even reprimanded a veterinary surgeon who was clearly being extorted herself, and what action was taken against the University staff?
The Committee’s full facts and findings can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The Congress, which is organised by Improve International, has separate streams for small animal medicine and small animal surgery and a dedicated veterinary nursing stream.
There will also be an exhibition of the latest innovations in veterinary products and services running alongside the lectures.
Helen Richmond, Head of Publishing at Improve said: “While technological innovation has made online congresses much more engaging and accessible over the last year, we felt the time was right to bring Vets North back in a face-to-face environment. Many of our previous delegates have already told us how much they are looking forward to being able to learn and enjoy some social time together again.
“As usual this year’s programme will include presentations and lectures from global experts, who will give advice and share knowledge that can be implemented in practice immediately. We would like to thank Elanco as our lead sponsor of this year’s Vets North and we also thank our other partners and sponsors for their support and loyalty during this difficult year.”
"Naturally, keeping delegates safe is our highest priority so we are working with the venue to ensure that the Government’s recommendations are implemented to the full and that Haydock Park is a COVID-secure venue.”
Early Bird tickets are available until the end of June.
For more information visit www.vetsnorth.com or call 01793 20805.
CVS says the new hospital, which will be based at Central Park, Avonmouth, will be custom-built with uniquely designed facilities, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools such as MRI and CT scanners, and a cutting-edge stereotactic linear accelerator for radiotherapy in cancer treatment, the only one of its kind for pets in England.
The hospital, which will open next summer, will employ over 100 people led by a team of Specialist veterinary surgeons and supported by residents, interns and registered veterinary nurses.
Planning permission has been granted for the project, and CVS is now appointing building contractors.
Richard Fairman, CEO of CVS Group, said: "We are extremely excited to be developing this innovative new specialist veterinary hospital in Bristol, providing the best animal care to pet owners across the South West. With state-of-the-art equipment and some of the highest qualified veterinary professionals, we are confident that the site will act as a centre of excellence in the veterinary world, and be a leader in Europe for cancer treatments.
"The new hospital signals our commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology to bring cancer treatment in pets to the next level. It will provide a number of employment opportunities and secure specialist veterinary skills in the Bristol area. We look forward to finalising development plans and opening the doors to pet owners in 2022."
Suprelorin 4.7mg is a sustained release implant containing deslorelin (a GnRH super agonist) which has been EMA and VMD approved for use in male cats from 3 months of age.
The implant provides temporary infertility and suppression of urine odour and of sexual behaviours such as libido, vocalisation, urine marking, and aggressiveness in intact male cats.
The implant typically lasts for at least 12 months1.
Virbac says that in most cats, testosterone levels drop within 2 weeks after implantation, followed by reduced testicular volume and reduced size of penile spines from weeks 4-8 after implantation.
Sexual behaviours begin to decrease within a week after treatment, starting with reduced vocalisation, followed by reduction in libido, urine odour, urine marking, and aggressiveness from 4 weeks after implantation.
Induction of infertility is achieved from approximately 6 weeks.
Dr Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: "The ability to use Suprelorin in male cats provides an opportunity for practices to offer a choice when it comes to neutering, and to tailor their recommendations to meet the individual needs of both the cat and the client.
"Suprelorin provides an ideal solution for cats where the client wants the benefit of surgery without the permanent loss of fertility, where there is an anaesthetic risk in high value kittens or where there is benefit to allow enough time between neutering, vaccination and homing to minimise stress".
The implant is inserted subcutaneously, under the loose skin on the back between the lower neck and the lumbar area.
Virbac says implantation is a quick procedure and does not require anaesthesia or hospitalisation, which can be of particular benefit in practices facing pressures on surgical waiting lists.
Suprelorin 4.7mg has also received a licensed claim in pre-pubertal female dogs for the induction of temporary infertility to delay the first oestrus and heat signs, and to prevent pregnancy at a young age in intact and healthy sexually immature female dogs.
The implant should be administered between 12 and 16 weeks of age.
For more information, talk to your Virbac Territory Manager or the Virbac Technical Team on 01359 243243.
Mark Naguib MRCVS, Public Relations Officer at the BVZS said: "Our conference is the largest gathering of exotic pet, wildlife and zoo vets in the UK and one of the best places to gain CPD in these fields whether you’re a new graduate or an experienced specialist."
The BVZS says it is subsidising the ticket price in recognition both of how the cost of living crisis is affecting the profession, and because after two years of socially-distanced online conferences, meeting in person is more important than ever.
The Society says it believes this is important enough that it is prepared to make a loss on the event in order to provide a real service not just to its members, but also to the whole veterinary zoological community.
The conference will once again feature dedicated streams covering zoo health, nursing, exotic pets and wildlife health.
There will also be a student stream, including back-to-basics exotics talks and a dedicated student networking session.
There will be evening entertainment on the Saturday and the opportunity to socialise and network.
https://www.bvzs.co.uk/bvzs/about/conference-2022
The new course can lead to a Nurse Certificate (NCert), Veterinary Technician (VTCert) or Veterinary Paraprofessional Certificate (VPPCert) from the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS).
The programme will start in July 2022 and comprises eight modules covering key topics in medical nursing, including anaesthesia, analgesia, imaging, oncology and medical pharmacology, delivered every other month, spread over a 12–18-month period.
Each module consists of four sessions delivered over one month.
Sessions comprise separate lessons for learners to work through at a pace to suit them.
The fourth week of the month then provides reflective sessions.
Programme tutors include: Laura Jones, who holds the RCVS Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing, a BSc (Hons) in Advanced Nursing and is a Member of the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians; Abby Caine, European and RCVS-Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging; and Owen Davies, an RCVS and American recognised Specialist in veterinary oncology.
Georgina Weston DipRVN NCert (Anaesth), ISVPS Examination Coordinator and NCert Lead (pictured right) said: “The role of the Veterinary Nurse/Technician within the veterinary practice is diverse; the skill set and knowledge required can be different to care for each patient.
"ISVPS’ ever-expanding range of certificates for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians enables our candidates to gain an internationally recognised certificate which will acknowledge their ability to provide the highest standard of patient specific nursing care and support to the veterinary team.”
For more information, visit: https://www.improveinternational.com/uk/course/medical-nursing-online-learning/
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences, and the neurodiversity resource hub (www.vetmindmatters.org/resources/) aims to help members of the veterinary professions better understand how, for over one million people in the UK, neurological differences mean they learn and think in a way that is different to what is considered ‘neurotypical’.
Among the resources contained in the hub is information about neurological conditions closely associated with neurodivergence such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dyspraxia and dyslexia, as well as information for employers about neurodiversity, including inclusive working tools and sources of government support.
A new ‘kite’ with six new modules are also being added to the MMI Kite App – a specialist microlearning platform for topics related to veterinary wellbeing – that deal specifically with issues related to neurodiversity. The six modules cover: what is neurodiversity; the importance of talking about neurodiversity; different types of neurodiversity; bespoke considerations for neurodivergent individuals; how neurodivergence can lead to innovation through thinking differently; and, exploring further how different brains work and how we can make our brains work best for us.
The College is also publishing a blog on the resource website by Dr Kirstie Pickles, Clinical Assistant Professor in Equine Medicine at the University of Nottingham, about her current MMI-funded research investigating the various workplace stressors that affect autistic veterinary professionals and what adjustments can be introduced to mitigate these stressors.
Lastly, at BSAVA Congress on Saturday 26 March between 3pm and 4pm, the RCVS has organised a discussion session on neurodiversity.
The discussion will be led by Roxanne Hobbs, a consultant in workplace inclusion particularly around neurodiversity, and will look at how to nurture and cultivate neurodiversity in the veterinary professions.
Lisa Quigley, Mind Matters Manager, said: “As a project focused on the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals, the Mind Matters project has a commitment to recognising and providing a space for all forms of diversity, and so we are very glad to be supporting Neurodiversity Celebration Week again this year.
“We hope that our neurodiversity resource hub and our other initiatives during Neurodiversity Celebration Week will be useful source of information for everyone and will aid people in understanding neurodivergence, how it can manifest and how it can be supported in the workplace and educational settings.”
The researchers say that research thus far has focused on developing treatments to manage idiopathic epilepsy and little attention has been given to the emotional and logistical challenges for owners managing their dog’s condition.
This study used semi-structured interviews to explore how owners’ lives were changed following their dogs’ diagnosis and glean in-depth insights into their lives.
The research discovered that following their dog’s initial seizure, all interviewees recalled feeling negative emotions such as being distraught, fearful or uncertain regarding their dog’s future and disease progression. Prior experience with canine epilepsy was rare, and owners were shocked and distressed by the appearance of their dog’s seizures.
Whilst many owners discussed a very emotionally close dog-owner bond, owning a dog with epilepsy had a significant impact on their lifestyle. Impacts affected many aspects of daily routines, and in some cases, owners’ jobs. The unpredictable and sometimes inconvenient timing of seizures negatively impacted owners’ sleep and wellbeing. This unpredictability also made some owners feel that they were living with “a ticking time bomb”.
Other limitations included strict daily medication schedules and difficulty finding assistance in caring for their dog. This, combined with a fear of leaving their dog unsupervised, had social implications in some instances and led to increased use of the Internet and online groups for peer support. Owners also reported that friends, family and colleagues did not always understand the magnitude of commitment required.
Amy Pergande, Small Animal Intern at the RVC and primary author of the study, said: "We are sincerely grateful to the owners who participated in this study for providing us with such detailed and often emotive accounts of their experiences. Many of the participants had willingly altered many aspects of their daily routine for their dogs, both socially and professionally, and sometimes at the expense of their own quality of life."
This research highlights that further consideration of these factors by veterinary professionals and the friends and families of owners of these dogs could improve owner quality of life and facilitate the provision of additional, much needed support.
Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science and research lead in canine epilepsy at the RVC, said: "Epilepsy can be an extremely tough condition for owners to manage, where the love, time and money owners dedicate to their dogs is not necessarily matched by a significant improvement in their condition, with seizures often continuing unabated. Our study has revealed previously unrecognised or under-appreciated impacts that epilepsy introduced to these owners’ lives. Improved awareness and understanding of these challenges by veterinary professionals have the potential to improve communication with clients, to avoid owners feeling that social media is the only place they can go to feel supported and understood”.
These findings increase the understanding of the sometimes negative and often profound emotional effects and lifestyle changes experienced by owners managing a dog with idiopathic epilepsy. With better support and resources, the reported impacts could potentially be minimised to protect owner quality of life.
Zoe Belshaw, independent research collaborator, said: “The welfare of pets and their owners can be closely intertwined. This research exploring how owners’ lives change when their dogs develop epilepsy is another important piece in the jigsaw of understanding both what the veterinary profession can do to best support our clients, but also in starting to appreciate the substantial wider societal impacts of chronic ill health in our nations’ pets”.
The full paper is open access and available at: https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-020-02669-w
Reference
Photo: The Melias Studio
The new maternity policy will offer enhancement at 100% of full pay for 10 weeks, and 50% of full pay for a further 10 weeks, without any clawback provision should mothers decide not to return to CVS after their leave.
As part of the Time To Change Pledge, CVS will submit a plan for introducing evidence-based interventions and policy to help its employees work in ways that promote positive mental wellbeing.
CVS's plan includes the appointment of 250 Wellbeing Champions who will be trained in first aid for mental health. The company also plans to roll out further training on managing stress and mental health issues for line managers in 2020.
Richard, pictured right, said: "We are proud to be the first major veterinary employer to sign the Time to Change Pledge. The CVS wellbeing working party have made much progress in the last 12 months delivering our plan which has been formalised through participating in the Time to Change pledge.
"We recognise that the pressures in our industry are significant and unique, and that there’s more work to do. We remain committed as a company and wellbeing working party to changing the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace for the better."
The company says that although some UK insurers are continuing to offer protection to existing policy holders, Agria is one of the few insurers to offer lifetime veterinary fee cover to new customers.
Insurance will be available to owners who have an exemption certificate.
Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director at Agria Pet Insurance, said: “We know that the last few months have been particularly difficult for owners of American XLBully dogs, and we are pleased to be able to reassure them that we can provide lifetime veterinary fee cover for their dog, so we can support them in prioritising their pet’s welfare”.
The company says that although it can provide cover for veterinary fees, it can't cover third party liability.
Agria is advising owners to contact an organisation such as Dogs Trust which can provide third party cover.
Mandisa qualified from the Royal (Dick) Vet School in Edinburgh in 2008 and has since spent much of her career working in emergency and critical care.
She served as the first black president of the RCVS in 2020/21 and has also worked for Harper Adams University as a lecturer in veterinary sciences.
Mandisa will replace Laura Playforth, who is joining IVC Evidensia as group QI director, on the Vets Now board.
She said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Vets Now family at such an interesting and challenging time for the veterinary professions.
“I look forward to working together through innovative approaches to ensure our teams continue to deliver the highest standards of clinical care and client services.”
Sally Rose RVN from Abervet in Aberdeen (pictured right), Jo Fuller RVN from Castle Vets in Farnborough and Gwen Raeburn RVN from Priory Close Vets in Somerset chose subscriptions to an arts and crafts ‘Witch Box’, a Hoppily Craft Beer Club box and a Nectar and Bumble box of bee-themed lifestyle items.
The nurses won the subscriptions after watching a NexGard Spectra online educational competition run in conjunction with BVNA during the association’s This is Us 2020 celebration of veterinary nursing.
Sally said: "It was great to receive the news that I’d won the BVNA NexGard Spectra competition. I thought it would be a simple task of looking through a few choices of prizes, however I didn’t realise that there were so many! When I came to it, I picked The Witch Box arts and crafts box. Thank you NexGard Spectra for the fantastic prize!"