Lite Ltd has been rated as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted after inspectors visited the RVN training provider and graded all aspects of its provision.

A team of three Ofsted inspectors carried out a four-day inspection, reporting that:

• Leaders have a clear and highly ambitious intent for the veterinary nurse curriculum
• Leaders and tutors have very high expectations for all apprentices
• Apprentices develop high levels of confidence and resilience in their apprenticeship
• Apprentices value highly the compassionate support they receive from staff at LITE.
• Leaders and tutors ensure that apprentices on and off-the-job training is highly effective
• Tutors provide detailed and constructive feedback to apprentices

Head of centre Jackie Shopland-Reed said: “We are delighted to have regained our outstanding status, in our first full inspection since being graded as Good in 2015.

“It is very rewarding that the inspectors praised the high quality of teaching and the support we provide for apprentices.

"We also received feedback that apprentices enjoy their learning and feel safe and well supported.

"Our strong and effective partnerships with employers were also praised, all of which which makes us very proud.”

https://www.liteltd.co.uk 

Cambridge-based Dick White Referrals (DWR) is to become one of only a handful of sites globally to offer open-heart surgery in small animals. 

The referral centre has invested in a new heart and lung machine, and an oxygen cage, and is expected to take its first patients in the autumn. 

The service will be established and led by head of cardiac surgery Poppy Bristow (pictured right) and head of cardiology Anne Kurosawa, who have already performed this kind of surgery on more than 100 dogs to date.

DWR is also setting up its own blood transfusion service to collect blood from staff and clients’ pets to support the service. 

The blood collected will also be used to support the practice’s emergency and critical care service and its planned dialysis programme. 

Poppy said: “There are hardly any other centres in the world offering this type of surgery, especially with this level of expertise that comes from the collective team we have gathered at DWR. 

“Mitral valve disease is the most common heart condition in dogs and sadly, many dogs die every year as there are very few options for treatment. To be able to offer surgery to more dogs and their owners is really exciting. 

“DWR is the perfect environment for this pioneering programme, due to the state-of-the-art equipment and depth of expertise on hand to support this life-saving initiative.”

Rob Foale, clinical director at Dick White Referrals, added: “It’s a hugely significant step for us to be launching this service, drawing on Poppy’s expertise in this field. 

“We’re also starting our own blood transfusion service to complement the launch, as the pandemic has led to a huge drop in pet blood donations.

“Any excess blood we collect will be donated to the national Pet Blood Bank charity, which supplies blood to veterinary practices across the UK and does a fantastic job.”

For more information, visit www.dickwhitereferrals.com.

The BVA is lobbying the government for business rates relief and other financial support for veterinary practices during the pandemic, arguing that without it many practices may not survive.

As part of the package of measures announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak in mid-March, businesses in the retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare sectors are eligible for a 100% business rates holiday for a year in England, Scotland and Wales, offering a vital economic lifeline when many may have had to close or operate with reduced turnover and staffing.  In Northern Ireland, all businesses are eligible for a three-month business rates holiday covering April, May and June.

However, veterinary practices, many of which have remained open to provide essential care and treatment for pets and production animals, are not eligible for business rates relief, despite the fact that many are high street businesses and a significant proportion of their income comes from retailing medicines, treatments and other pet products.

The BVA says it has heard directly from hundreds of members who now fear for their future, and a recent survey released by the RCVS indicates that a quarter of practices have seen their weekly turnover reduced by 75%, and about 66% have seen it halved. 

The Association has written to the Treasury and devolved government departments to ask why the veterinary profession has so far been overlooked for financial support, while other high street businesses that remain open including food retailers, hardware stores and pet shops are eligible for rates relief. 

It has also mobilised its members to contact their local MPs and devolved parliamentarians with their concerns. Several hundred have already downloaded template letters from the BVA website, and parliamentarians representing a wide cross-section of regions and parties have already pledged their support. Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion, has also tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion (#339) recognising the value of vets and pushing for the profession to be given access to business rates relief.

Daniella Dos Santos, BVA President, said: “The Government has repeatedly given thanks to vets for continuing to maintain animal health and welfare and public health and support the food supply chain in these challenging times.  But that makes it all the more disappointing that the profession’s pleas for financial support so far seem to have fallen on deaf ears.  Veterinary practices are rightly remaining open to provide 24/7 essential care and fulfilling their duty to maintain animal health and welfare, but many are struggling to stay afloat as they grapple with dramatic reductions in turnover and scaling back their rotas to keep colleagues and clients safe.

"It’s been really heartening to see that parliamentarians across the political spectrum value their local vets’ role in their communities and have offered to put pressure on the Treasury and devolved governments to give practices access to vital financial support.  We hope that such a strong and united call will be answered soon, and will continue to urge government to help practices to continue their valuable work in these difficult times."

The RCVS is inviting veterinary nurses to throw their hats into the ring for the 2024 VN Council elections. 

Vet nurses who want to stand as election candidates must submit their nomination forms by 5pm on Wednesday 31st January 2024.

There are places for two elected candidates on VN Council.

This year, the RCVS has put together downloadable information packs for prospective candidates.

The pack explains the role of an RCVS VN Council member and the candidate nomination process, and contains the candidate nomination and candidate information forms.

The RCVS Council pack is available to download from rcvs.org.uk/council24.

Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for the elections, said: “RCVS-registered veterinary nurses of all backgrounds, at all career stages, and with all levels of experience are eligible to stand in the elections.

"So, if you want to help shape the future of veterinary regulation and our Royal College initiatives and activities, please consider standing in next year’s elections.”

Veterinary nurses who are interested in standing for RCVS Council and who have any further queries should contact Annette Amato, VN Council Secretary, on a.amato@rcvs.org.uk.

Hamilton Specialist Referrals is holding a day of CPD focusing on emergency patients on 23rd May 2024 at the Holiday Inn in High Wycombe. 

The session will provide a practical guide to dealing with various emergencies that may present to vets and nurses across multiple disciplines.

The full schedule includes: 

• The ECC Approach to the Haemoabdomen, presented by Lead HDU Vet and RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Emergency and Critical care Dr Bec Hyland  
• Damage Control: Bite Wounds, Severely Infected Wounds and Stick Injuries, presented by Head of Soft Tissue Surgery and European specialist in Small Animal Surgery Dr Karla Lee 
• Medical Management of The Jaundiced Patient, presented by Head of Internal Medicine and European specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine Dr Amanda Paul 
• Anaesthesia Considerations for The Trauma Patient, presented by European specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia Dr Marieke De Vries 
• The Spinal Fracture Patient, presented by European specialist in Veterinary Neurology Dr Pete Smith 
• The Orthopaedic Approach to Open Fractures, presented by Clinical Director and Recognised Diplomat in Small Animal Surgery Dr Michael Hamilton 

Arlene Connor, Interim Hospital Director at Hamilton Specialist Referrals, said: “Being presented with an emergency patient can be an intense and high-pressure situation, and it’s one that all vet professionals should do their best to prepare for so they are comfortable making decisions under pressure.

"We have a brilliant team here at Hamilton Specialist Referrals, all of whom are well equipped and very experienced when it comes to dealing with emergencies and this is an unrivalled opportunity to learn from them.” 

Tickets cost £80+vat, including lunch and refreshments

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-emergency-patient-tickets-861637851007 

www.hamiltonspecialists.vet

The VET Festival has announced it will be back next year at Loseley Park, near Guildford on the 20th and 21st May. 

The 2022 programme will include 17 education streams, covering the veterinary and nursing care of companion animals, together with a stream covering veterinary wellness, leadership and management-related topics.

Speakers include veterinary experts and leaders from around the world, and the expected 2,000+ delegates will be able to collect 14 hours of CPD over the two days.

The VET Festival will also offer a Wellness Hub offering things like yoga, movement and mindfulness sessions alongside the lectures. 

There'll be a diverse commercial exhibition, with more than 60 leading veterinary suppliers, and all delegates will also have free admission to the VETFest Live Party Night. 

Noel Fitzpatrick, Clinical Chair at Fitzpatrick Referrals, who launched VET Festival in 2015, said: “The last 18 months have been tough for everyone but particularly difficult for veterinary professionals, many of whom were already suffering with challenges to their well-being and mental health because of the pressures of their work.

"VET Festival is an oasis of time during which they can relax and rejuvenate themselves; experiencing continuing professional development that is uplifting and inclusive and enjoying social activities and companionship that will replenish their souls.”

Tickets for VET Festival can be bought here: https://www.vetfestival.co.uk/delegate-info/ticket-information 

Byotrol has announced the launch of Anigene Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes, the first and only plastic-free surface wipe which is compliant with all biocidal regulations.

Polypropylene or plastic-based wipes, which have been industry standard due to their reliable nature and compatibility with biocidal active materials, are due to be banned in the UK, because they take up to 100 years to break down.

Byotrol says its new wipes are made using a plastic-free 100% biodegradable substrate that deteriorates 3 months after disposal.

The company adds that the new wipes are proven to destroy bacteria, yeast, enveloped viruses, and fungi on non-porous surfaces and are effective against animal-specific pathogens such as: Brucella canis, Streptococcus equi, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Coronaviruses, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Jane Kiely, Head of Marketing at Byotrol said: “Launching the Anigene Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes is the final step in removing plastic wet wipes from our portfolio and a significant milestone in Byotrol’s sustainability journey.

"We are proud to be at the forefront of sustainability in the veterinary industry, offering an effective and regulatory-compliant product range that meets the needs of our customers”

Byotrol will be on Stand F18 at the London Vet Show.

https://byotrol.com

Zoetis has announced that Simparica Trio is now licensed for the treatment of Angiostrongylus vasorum, aka lungworm in dogs.

This, the company says, makes Simparica Trio the only oral moxidectin that is licensed to treat A.vasorum in dogs in the UK. 

Louise Longstaff, National Veterinary Manager at Zoetis UK said: “The last time a product was licensed for the treatment of lungworm in the UK was some time ago, so this is an especially important development.

"Simparica Trio offers a new licensed route of administration for lungworm treatment in dogs, giving vets another option to that which is currently available.

"It enables them to tailor treatment based on their patient’s needs while still prescribing within the cascade.”

Simparica Trio is a chewable monthly tablet for dogs containing sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel.

It kills fleas and ticks, treats mites, roundworm and hookworm, prevents and treats lungworm and prevents heartworm disease.

https://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-485011 

Kit Sturgess, RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Medicine, will present a webinar for vet nurses: “Diagnosis of inflammatory disease in cats and dogs – Getting the most from your practice laboratory?”, on Thursday 2nd March, 7:30 - 9:00pm

In the Horiba-sponsored webinar, Kit will draw on personal experience and case study examples to illustrate how the innovative use of adjunctive tests can support rapid clinical decision-making when triaging patients.

For example, Kit will consider whether inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A can be used to assess if current signs are likely associated with inflammatory diseases, such as pancreatitis, or whether further investigation is required to determine cause of illness.

Kit will also consider the case of Ollie a 10-year-old German shorthaired pointer presenting as vaguely unwell with reduced appetite.

Is this just a flare-up of his chronic osteoarthritis and likely to respond to pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatment, or something else?

Attendees will be able to questions in a live Q&A session at the end of the webinar.

Horiba's team will also be on hand to answer questions on in-house diagnostics.

For free registration, visit: https://bit.ly/3wGADcm 

Researchers have identified the probable cause of equine grass sickness as a neurotoxin, with similar actions to snake venom toxins but produced by pasture microbes¹.

The researchers, from the Dick Vet Equine Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, and the University of Padova found that affected horses have major abnormalities in the structure of their neuromuscular junctions, microscopic sites of communication between nerves and muscles that are crucial for normal muscle function.

These abnormalities are believed to represent a toxin specific signature, effectively a ‘smoking gun’, for a neurotoxic enzyme termed a phospholipase A2.

Work is now underway to definitively identify the source of the toxin, in the hope that it will lead to novel treatments and improved diagnostics for this devastating disease.

The researchers think the toxin is likely to be produced by a microbe such as a bacterium or fungus growing on the horse’s pasture during the cold and dry weather which commonly precedes the disease. 

Neurotoxic phospholipase A2 toxins are also present in the venom of many poisonous snakes, and there are many similarities between the signs of grass sickness and those of snake envenomation.

While there is no suggestion that venomous snakes cause grass sickness, it is hoped that some of the drugs that are currently being developed to treat and promote nerve regeneration in people paralysed by snake venoms can aid recovery of horses from grass sickness. 

The researchers say that the neurotoxin most likely also causes the apparently identical diseases (termed animal dysautonomias) which affect cats, dogs, hares, rabbits, llamas, alpacas and sheep, and that their finding contradicts the previous leading hypothesis that grass sickness is a form of botulism. 

This breakthrough is summarised in an editorial in the January 2025 issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ). 

The editorial, by Bruce McGorum and colleagues, looks at the implications of their article 'Equine grass sickness is associated with major abnormalities in the ultrastructure of skeletal neuromuscular junctions²".

Bruce said: “Identifying a probable cause of Equine Grass Sickness represents a significant breakthrough.

"We hope that this discovery will lead to novel treatments and improved diagnostics for this devastating condition.

"We are very grateful for the generous support we have received from horse owners, veterinary surgeons, scientists, charities and funding bodies.”

Bruce's editorial is currently available on Early View, free for 12 weeks, and will also be published in the January 2025 print issue of the EVJ. 

Reference 

1. McGorum B, Pirie RS, Bano L, Davey T, Harris J, Montecucco C. Neurotoxic phospholipase A2: A proposed cause of equine grass sickness and other animal dysautonomias (multiple system neuropathies). Equine Vet J. 2025 Jan;57(1):11-18. doi: 10.1111/evj.14442. PMID: 39630613.
2. McGorum BC, Davey T, Dosi MCM, Keen JA, Morrison LR, Pirie RS, et al. Equine grass sickness is associated with major abnormalities in the ultrastructure of skeletal neuromuscular junctions. Equine Vet J. 2025; 57(1): 193–202. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14063

The Royal Veterinary College has published a new study which concludes that owners of epileptic dogs value partnerships of care with their veterinary surgeon, and that owner satisfaction could be improved with more educational resources.

For the study, 21 owners were interviewed and transcripts thematically analysed.

Owners who reported positive experiences with their vets described the value of comprehensive initial explanations of their dog’s condition, seeing the same veterinary surgeon for each consult, and individual attributes of vets, including current knowledge on epilepsy management and good communication skills.

The authors say these factors are likely to contribute to improved two-way vet-owner communication, owner satisfaction and adherence to care instructions. 

The implications of a negative relationship were also highlighted by the study.

Owners’ dissatisfaction with perceived insufficient expertise from their general practice vet (resulting in referrals to specialists), and when referred, poor communication between referral specialists and their primary care vet.

Owners’ pre-existing views and values were identified as drivers of negative experiences including strong dog-owner bonds leading to extremely high expectations for veterinary care. 

Another factor was pre-existing distrust and perceived biases of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.

Owners who had a more negative experience with veterinary surgeons were found to be more likely to perform their own personal research, putting them at higher risk of being influenced by the large amount  of misinformation online.

The authors say that vets often report that they find epilepsy challenging to manage, particularly as a high proportion of dogs do not respond sufficiently to available medications.

This study aimed to help provide a better understanding of owners’ wants and needs.

Dr Rowena Packer, Primary supervisor on this study and Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the Royal Veterinary College, said: “Epilepsy is a challenging condition to manage for dog owners and veterinary surgeons alike.

"Owners’ emotions often run high due to the trauma of witnessing their beloved dog’s seizure, and the ongoing stresses of caregiving for their dog.

"In tandem, vets can feel frustrated at not always being able to reduce seizures as much as they’d hope.

"Combined, the capacity for disappointment and conflict is high.

“Forging strong, trusting partnerships of care between owners and vets is key to maintaining wellbeing for all three members of the ‘treatment triangle’ – affected dogs, owners and vets."

Amy Pergande, Royal Veterinary College Veterinary graduate who conducted this research as part of her Master of Research degree, said: “Improving availability of reliable information sources for epilepsy management could help veterinary teams to confidently prescribe ’information prescriptions’ that boost owner confidence and help them to feel empowered to contribute more actively in decision-making for their dog, in partnership with their vet.”

Dr Zoe Belshaw, EBVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine, of EviVet Evidence-based Medicine Research Consultancy and co-author of the study, said: “Our research suggests owners really value vets taking the time, once the initial shock has receded, to share information, answer questions and signpost to external resources, including peer-to-peer support forums.

"Ensuring that owners feel confident and competent about caring for their dog with epilepsy is likely to benefit the dog, its owners and the veterinary team providing their ongoing care”.

Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Birmingham is holding a free CPD session about emergency triage on Monday 27th May.

The session will highlight the important role nurses play in this environment and look at the benefits of a nurse-led clinical floor in practice.

Hosts Sophie Powell, Emergency OOH Clinical Team Leader, and Hannah McCormick, Emergency OOH Nurse, will share tips and advice based on their own experience on how to manage emergencies, approach the initial assessment and treatment plan, and to increase both confidence and competence in difficult situations. 

Andrew Kent, Clinical Director at Blaise, said: “We’re privileged to have such an incredible team here at Blaise and it’s important that they are able to share their expertise and knowledge for others to learn from and grow their own careers.

"We have many more learning and development opportunities and events in the pipeline and look forward to welcoming our veterinary industry colleagues to our hospital.”

www.ivcevidensiareferrals.com/events-and-cpd.