So far this year the charity says it has received 144 requests from people asking for it to take in or help rehome their horse or pony through the Blue Cross Home Direct service.
More than 70% cited personal or financial circumstances as the reason.
In comparison for the full year of 2021, 43 (or around 15%) of a total of 277 intake and rehoming requests specified financial reasons.
In 2020 a total of 32 (around 14%) out of 231 requests stated financial reasons.
Annabelle Taylor, Rehoming Coordinator at Blue Cross, said: “It is distressing to see that the number of people seeking rehoming support because of financial reasons is already more than double last year’s annual total and we still have a third of the year to go.
All existing BEVA members will have their membership automatically extended until 30 June 2020. The association is also inviting vets and vet nurses who are not already BEVA members to join as online members free of charge until 30 June 2020.
BEVA President Tim Mair said: “In this extraordinary time of global crisis our profession, as with many industries, is under immense pressure. By offering free membership we are giving equine vets easy access to a wealth of supportive resources and online CPD to help them through these dark times.”
BEVA membership includes:
The association is also looking at other ways to support the profession, which has included making all BEVA Congress 2019 webinars available to members via the BEVA online learning platform.
To sign up from Monday 30 March 2020 visit: https://www.beva.org.uk/Join-BEVA
For the research, Purina questioned 1535 current and potential dog owners using validated scales assessing depression, anxiety, happiness, attitude and commitment toward their pet, and perceived social support.
67% of participants said they felt that COVID had had an emotional impact on them.
One-third of participants also felt that their health had been impacted by the pandemic, while 45% had experienced a financial impact.
However, it was found that dog owners had higher perceived level of social support and lower depression scores.
Francois Martin, M.A., Ph.D., applied behaviour and welfare research section leader at Purina and lead Purina scientist on the project said: "Our research showed that dog owners fared better from a social support and emotional standpoint during COVID than people who like dogs but didn’t own one during the pandemic.
"Our work adds to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the power of the human pet bond, especially in times of stress.”
Libby Sheridan MVB MRCVS, Purina Scientific Affairs Manager for the UK and Ireland said: "The research aimed to build on prior evidence that suggests that dogs can contribute to their owner’s positive affective state - a psychological term describing when people are in generally positive frame of mind like excited, enthusiastic, and inspired.
"Purina also set out to gain a better understanding of whether the power of the pet-owner bond continued to persist during the pandemic. Not only was the effect of dogs shown to be positive, it was also measurable and statistically significant.”
Purina says the results also provide an opportunity to reflect on the important contribution of veterinary professionals, many of whom continued to work throughout the pandemic to provide much needed services.
For full results, visit: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0260676
Virbac says HCA targets specific affected topical areas with negligible systemic absorption, to provide direct and rapid relief from inflammation and pruritus, delivering significant clinical improvement in atopic cases, both lesion and pruritus scores, after 14 days1.
Cortavance can be applied daily for up to 28 days and included within multimodal treatment plans for prolonged use to control atopy.
Cortavance is presented in a new ergonomic-shaped bottle allowing the user to accurately target the problem area at any angle, with its no-hand-contact spray applicators - 31ml and 76ml sizes.
For further information, contact your local Virbac Territory Manager.
Reference
The new guidance, which can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/coronavirus, will gradually replace the current emergency guidance and aims to help veterinary practices begin a phased return to near-normal operations:
Alongside the College’s guidance, the BVA is also publishing guidance for practices on working safely as lockdown restrictions are eased. [www.bva.co.uk/coronavirus/]
RCVS President Mandisa Greene said: “None of us could have predicted quite what an extraordinary and extraordinarily challenging 12 months this has been for everyone.
"On behalf of the whole of RCVS Council, I would like to thank sincerely once again all our veterinary and veterinary nursing colleagues, and all those in practice teams around the UK, for their awe-inspiring commitment, adaptability, resilience and sheer hard work in continuing to provide essential veterinary services and look after the health and welfare of the nation’s animals, in what have been the most difficult of times.
“Whilst I sincerely hope that we are at last beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, if there is one thing we have learnt, it is that things can deteriorate rapidly if we don’t all continue to play our part and follow all relevant guidelines.
“I therefore urge my colleagues to continue to use their professional judgement and think very carefully about their gradual return to more normal working patterns over the coming weeks and months, according to their individual circumstances and the best interests of their teams, clients, and the animals they care for.”
RCVS Council has also agreed that the policy and guidance changes made in response to the pandemic over the past 12 months will now be reviewed, and decisions made as to whether to retain, amend or reverse them.
The College sold the premises in March this year, with an option to lease it back for up to two years, giving time for Council to consider the future building requirements of the organisation and how they might have changed following the coronavirus pandemic.
Following easing of government restrictions this summer, the RCVS says that Council members and staff have started using the building for some meetings and day-to-day working, but occupancy has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
RCVS Council therefore agreed at its meeting earlier this month that there is now a clear financial benefit to moving out at the first opportunity under the existing terms of lease.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive, said: “As we all gradually emerge from the restrictions of the past 18 months, one of the things we, as an organisation, have learned from the pandemic is that we can cope well with remote and hybrid working, whilst continuing to provide a high level of service to the professions and the animal-owning public.
“Retaining the use of our current offices over the last few months has certainly helped us to do this, but our Estates Strategy Group recommended to Council that there was now little to be gained and much to lose financially if we continued to lease Belgravia House for another year.”
“In the coming weeks, we will be drawing up detailed plans for the safe removal and storage of our effects, including the library, historical collection and archives, which are maintained by RCVS Knowledge.
"To support the team until we can move into a permanent building, we will hire serviced office space and meeting rooms around London and elsewhere in the UK as and when we need them.
“We also plan to take Council meetings ‘on the road’ over the next 12 months to enable Council members to engage with more veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses around the country.
“Meanwhile, we remain fully committed to the purchase of a new permanent London home for the RCVS and are seeking a building that not only meets the needs of the professions both now and well into the future, but also aims to be a sound financial investment for the College in the years ahead.”
Since qualifying as an RVN in 1998, Georgina, aka George, has had a number of veterinary management roles, including Head Nurse, Business Support Manager and Regional Operations Manager.
She is currently Practice Director for Irby and Neston Vets in Cheshire.
George joined the VMG Board in 2016 and takes over as President from Richard Casey, who becomes Senior Vice President of the association.
Stuart Saunders, Practice Manager at Devon-based Selworthy Vets, becomes Junior Vice President.
All will serve a one-year term.
George said: “Becoming a manager or leader has an impact on the individual, but has an even stronger impact on the work and day-to-day experience of those around them.
"These roles therefore bring with them a great responsibility to do them well.
“We know from our members that the support, teaching, coaching and other resources that the VMG offers are making a positive difference and I’m particularly excited to take on the presidency following the recent launch of our Certificate of Veterinary Leadership & Management, an accredited taught qualification.
"I believe rigorous qualifications are the most effectively way to create the 21st century leaders and managers the veterinary sector needs.
“During my presidency, I will continue to focus on extending the range of support and help we offer to leaders and managers."
The clinic is being run by Liz Leece, an RCVS and EBVS Specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, to offer bespoke pain management plans for clients.
Liz has more than 20 years’ experience in specialist anaesthesia and analgesia and has extensive experience managing dogs and cats with complex problems causing chronic pain.
Liz said: "Our pets are similar to humans in the sense that the longer they live, the greater the chance they will develop conditions causing chronic pain.
"The clinic is available for any pet referred by their primary care vet for management of chronic pain, including osteoarthritis and other orthopaedic conditions, neurological and cancer pain.
"Animals will be assessed and advice given on how the pain can be managed, including monitoring a pet’s response to different treatments and what to expect."
For more information, visit www.paragonreferrals.co.uk.
The annual renewal fee for veterinary nurses is due for payment on 1 November every year, although you have up to midnight on 31 December to pay before you're removed from the Register. The 409 veterinary nurses who failed to meet this payment deadline for last year were removed from the Register on 1 January 2020.
Of the 409 veterinary nurses who were removed for non-payment this year, 70 or so have subsequently applied for restoration to the Register, paying a £58 restoration fee, in addition to the standard renewal fee of £69.
The 409 removals represent 2.2% of the profession as a whole, which is down from the 2.7% removed last year.
A list of individuals removed from the Register on 1 January 2020, and who hadn’t been restored prior to 2 January at 11.30AM, has been published to help practices check their veterinary nursing staff are still on the Register.
Those with questions about how to restore to the Register should contact the RCVS Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or registration@rcvs.org.uk.
For questions about paying the annual renewal fee or setting up a Direct Debit contact the RCVS Finance Department on 020 7202 0723 or finance@rcvs.org.uk.
To help practices make the most of the week, TVM is providing waiting room displays, client leaflets, social media packs and online information to help educate pet owners on the symptoms of poor eye health.
The company will also be holding an webinar for vets and nurses which will be published during the week.
Will Peel, Product Manager at TVM said: "Eye problems in pets are common and brachycephalic breeds are particularly prone to them due to a number of compounding factors.
"They commonly suffer from corneal ulcers and are nearly four times more likely to develop dry eye than other breeds, so Pet Eye Health Awareness Week is focused on helping pet owners understand the issues, identify eye problems early and seek veterinary advice quickly".
www.tvm-uk.com/eyehealth
The nurses have coordinated a donation of unwanted scrubs, tops and other surgical clothing to Leicester-based charity Inter Care, which supports health clinics in countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Zambia.
Harriet said: “It all came about because we were about to dispose of some surgical wear, including scrub tops and trousers.
“We thought it a waste to throw them away so got in touch with Inter Care via email and they were very quick to come back to us.
“They said they frequently ship containers full of medical supplied to Africa and one was being sent this summer so we quickly sent them our supplies to be included in the next shipment.”
Bianca added: “We initially looked at this as just a one-off donation but now we’ve learned all about Inter Care we’ll be looking into sending more things in the future.
“I think it’s a great idea and a great cause because the charity supports more than 100 health units in some of the poorest parts of Africa, sending much-needed medical supplies and aid to rural clinics.”
Entitled ‘Managing mitral valve disease from start to finish’, the course will account for four hours’ CPD split into six short bite-size sessions which can be completed at your own pace.
The sessions are presented by Dr Mike Martin MVB DVC MRCVS, and business thought leader, Dr Alison Lambert BVSc CMRS MRCVS. They consist of a practical review of MVD both pre-clinically and clinically and how to diagnose and stage it following the new 2019 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Consensus guidelines.
The course also includes tips on how to treat and manage dogs with MVD with diuretic management; a step-by-step guide to treatment options for acute and long-term management of congestive heart failure and how to troubleshoot problem congestive heart failure cases.
There's also a bonus ‘Communicating Cardiology’ session which looks at how to communicate the heart disease journey to owners.
To register for the course visit www.veterinarywebinars.com/mvd-reg.
Ceva will donate £2 for every veterinary professional completing the course throughout February and March 2021 to Vetlife, which provides support to the veterinary community and their families who have emotional, health or financial concerns.
The toolkit contains everything a practice needs to create its own lumps and bumps awareness campaign including social media posts, videos, newsletter content and client literature.
Up to 1 in 4 pets will develop cancer over their lifetimes1 and mast cell tumours account for 1 in 5 cutaneous neoplasms2, so early diagnosis of skin lumps and bumps is of course critical.
Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: "Making the most of cuddle time with our pets, feeling for lumps and bumps, can make a huge difference to the early detection of skin abnormalities.
"Thanks to innovative new products like Stelfonta, the options available to veterinary surgeons to treat skin tumours in dogs has never been greater, so it’s an ideal time to educate pet owners on the importance of an early diagnosis".
The toolkit is available on the Virbac Resource Library which can be found by creating an account at https://vet-uk.virbac.com/home.html or from your Virbac Territory Manager.
References
The Heroes 2020 award has been set up by insurance company, Urban Jungle. CEO Jimmy Williams said: "We think young adults have had to endure a lot in 2020 and want to do our bit to say ‘thank you’."
Ashleigh Walton, 25, was nominated for the award by her mum, Emma Walton, who said: "My daughter has worked consistently through both lockdowns, taking care of other people’s sick and injured pets as well as wildlife. She is a locum VCA and works all over Greater London and Surrey, travelling by public transport. She always goes the extra mile to ensure an animals' comfort."
Ashleigh, from Thornton Heath, said: "I don't consider myself to be a hero - I've loved animals all my life and I will do everything I can to make sure a sick or injured animal gets all the help it needs."
If you'd like to nominate a colleague for a Hero Award and a £250 Amazon voucher, visit: https://explore.myurbanjungle.com/blog/urban-jungles-heroes-2020/.
Nominations need to be in by 7th January 2021.
Earlier this year, the company called on veterinary team members to nominate nurse colleagues who had gone beyond the call of duty, particularly since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And the winners are:
Claire Defries, VN Programme Leader at the College of Animal Welfare, who was instrumental in developing online training virtually overnight when the national lockdown was announced in order to support vet nurses in training and to enable third year students to sit their finals. She was also commended for the pastoral support she has provided to students during lockdown.
Ellie Tappenden from Albyn Veterinary Centre in Broxburn, was nominated for the long shifts she has been working before delivering regular medicines and ensuring that self-isolating clients are coping. She also created a local support network with other vets and organised a collection of spare PPE for the local hospital. She achieved this while managing her pain from Ehlers Danlos, a degenerative disease which she fights every day.
Tammy Jarvis from the RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre in March was nominated for the exceptional support she has provided to all 105 patients at the RSPCA centre and the veterinary surgeon. With other staff furloughed, she has also taken on additional duties, including maintenance and grounds management, and has recently started sewing facemasks for the team.
Bethany Lavill (pictured right) from Etwall Vets in Derby was nominated for the wide range of additional duties she has taken on, including collecting animals from owners who are self-isolating; coming in after hours to check up on in-patients and supporting bereaved clients. She has gone over and above the call of duty on many occasions and still asks what more she can do to help.
Student vet nurse Shannon Mills from Leeds Colton Vets4Pets was nominated for being a major asset to the team over the last few months, despite a recent diagnosis of epilepsy. She has willingly covered a range of roles and recently nursed a critical care rabbit throughout the day, whilst manning reception. She even managed to pass her mock exam with flying colours during lockdown with little time to study.
Each of the five winners was rewarded with a Betty’s Gift Box, brimming with treats, including Betty’s champagne truffles, chocolate desires, Yorkshire tea and shortbread.
Animalcare Product Manager James Beaumont said: “We wanted our competition to highlight the fantastic contribution vet nurses around the country are making to their colleagues, clients and patients – but the number and quality of entries hugely exceeded our expectations.
"At such a difficult time, the positivity, passion and care that each nomination exuded made reading them a moving experience and selecting only five as winners was no easy task. We thank all those who took the time to nominate their amazing colleagues and thank every vet nurse who was nominated for their extraordinary commitment and dedication."
The internet has brought major changes to the way that people behave towards and communicate with veterinary professionals (and indeed, each other).
The growth in freely available medical information online has, to some degree, devalued professional qualifications, because it has made every Tom, Dick or Harry think they an expert in everything.
The change towards communicating more via the (often hastily) written word than speech has also brought many challenges.
The written word, devoid of human expression, is often stark and uncompromising. It leaves everything to the reader's imagination. It polarises. It inflames.
Combine all this with the ability now for anyone to vent their spleen in front of a big audience on Facebook, and you have a recipe for an increasingly unhealthy relationship between owners and their veterinary team.
VNs FOR VNs has been set up so that veterinary nurses can have a safe place away from other social media to give each other comfort and practical advice when faced with these kinds of difficult situations.
Alasdair Hotston Moore, Clinical Editor of VetNurse.co.uk, said: "I'm so pleased we've come up with this group.
"We can help each other with this problem in several ways. Sometimes simply sharing a problem is enough, but we can also exchange experiences, provide factual information to counter misinformation and gather around to ensure colleagues are not alone."
VetNurse.co.uk will also be adding further support to help veterinary nurses navigate the challenges thrown up by societal changes, including further research into the subject and work to promote a greater understanding of the role of the veterinary nurse by the public.
The new group is only open to veterinary nurses working in practice, and recently retired veterinary nurses (many of whom will have seen it all before, and have useful advice to share).
To join the group, visit: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/001/vns-for-vns
To take part in this initiative, members need to do three things
That's it. This month we'll be giving a £50 Amazon voucher to six RVNs, VNAs or SVNs who meet this criteria at the end of the month.
In the future, the number of Amazon vouchers given away each month will tie in directly with the number of recruitment adverts posted on VetNurse.co.uk.
Rather than being picked at random, they may also be tied to the community leaderboards, which display the most active members in order of points scored for posting.
VetNurse Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "VetNurse.co.uk now exists for one very focused reason, which is to be somewhere vet nurses come to help each other.
"In that regard, VetNurse avoids some of the problems that beset other social network platforms, such as the lack of provenance for opinions shared, not to mention the sometimes very unkind posts."
"Taking some of the revenue we earn from recruitment advertising and giving it back to members for helping each other means more people visiting the site and more people seeing the available job opportunities, so it's a bit of a virtuous circle.
"What's more recruitment advertisers on VetNurse can take some pleasure from knowing that they are advertising on the one board which gives something back to vet nurses."
The nominations allow practices to recognise someone at their workplace who has helped to hold up morale during a time when practices are facing unprecedented staffing and financial issues, and have taken it upon themselves to foster a positive work environment.
The Practice Wellbeing Star nominations were originally launched to accompany the Practice Wellbeing Awards, which have been cancelled this year because of the pandemic.
Liz Barton, SPVS representative on the Mind Matters Taskforce (pictured right), said: “With great regret we have had to postpone the Practice Wellbeing Awards as we recognise that practices may neither have the time nor resources right now to go through our comprehensive application process. However, there is still definitely a place for recognising those individuals who are going above-and-beyond to help their colleagues navigate their way through these difficult times.
"Nominating a team member is a great opportunity to discuss with your team and reflect on the positive things that are happening, and to nominate one person who has been particularly invested in contributing to creating positive team culture.
"The Practice Wellbeing Star nominations are open to all veterinary practices, and teams, including those working in universities, industry and business.
“We look forward to receiving your nominations and celebrating exceptional individuals who are committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of their colleagues.”
Members of the veterinary team who are nominated for as a Practice Wellbeing Star will receive a certificate in recognition of their colleagues’ appreciation of their achievements.
Recipients of the certificate will also be entered into the prize draw for a pair of tickets to attend the joint SPVS and Veterinary Management Group Congress in January 2021.
Further information on how to nominate is on the Vet Wellbeing Award website at: vetwellbeingawards.org.uk/practice-wellbeing-star/
The closing date for Practice Wellbeing Star nominations is Friday 20 November 2020.
Because of the pandemic, the College reduced the number of CPD hours required from 15 to 11 in 2020.
Nevertheless, it's still impressive that 92% of veterinary nurses who had their records audited had completed their CPD.
The data was gathered by the RCVS Education Department, which audited the records of 1,249 RVNs who had been registered and practising without a break for at least three years.
Jenny Soreskog-Turp, RCVS Lead for Postgraduate Education, said: “This is an incredibly impressive CPD compliance figure, especially considering all the challenges that vet nurses faced throughout 2020.
"I want to thank everyone that took part in our audit as this is a really important data source which helps us understand what the profession needs from us to help them complete their CPD.
“I know that sometimes vet nurses are unsure as to what counts towards their CPD target and often they discover that they’ve completed their CPD quota for the year without realising it.
"Things that take place within practice, like formal case discussions, clinical audits and in-house training, all count towards someone’s CPD target.
"If anyone is unsure as to what counts as CPD, I would encourage them to get in touch with the RCVS Education team and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.”
There is also a CPD guidance document available at: www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/cpd-guidance-for-vns/
There is also guidance, including webinar recordings on topics including Workplace-based CPD and Reflecting on your CPD, available on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd
VN Council set up a special OSCE Taskforce in April this year to draw up proposals for an alternative to the OSCEs which would allow students and examiners to practise social distancing and remain safe.
While some awarding organisations and universities have since developed methods of holding their OSCEs within social distancing guidelines, others have had to cancel the OSCEs indefinitely on the grounds it would not be safe or practical to hold them.
In response, the Taskforce developed a new ‘Patient-based Assessment’ (PBA) method, which was approved by VN Council at its meeting last Wednesday, which will allow student veterinary nurses to prove they meet the Day One Competences and Skills, making them eligible to join the Register.
Racheal Marshall, Chair of VN Council (pictured right), said: “After much hard work, deliberation and consideration over a number of different options, we have developed an alternative assessment method for student veterinary nurses that is safe and complies with the social distancing guidelines, while still upholding our standards and ensuring student veterinary nurses are competent to join the Register.
"The alternative, called a Patient-based Assessment, will involve building up a small portfolio of case reports and supporting evidence to prove how those who use this assessment method meet the Day One Competences and Skills. Once this has been signed-off and submitted, students using this assessment method will undertake a detailed and structured discussion about their involvement with the cases they have described.
"There will be two examiners present for the interview, however, students will only have to discuss their cases with one of them. The outcome of the discussion will determine whether students can be awarded their licence to practise qualification and subsequently apply to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses."
The alternative assessment method may not be relevant to all student veterinary nurses as they may have an awarding body or university that has decided it can safely hold its OSCEs under the current conditions, or they may be training through the apprenticeship route. Those who are unsure whether this assessment method is applicable to them should contact their educational establishment for further advice and clarification.
Racheal added: “We recognise the difficulties student veterinary nurses have faced and that this has been an unsettling time, so we are pleased that the taskforce and VN Council has come together to develop a workable and deliverable alternative.”
A detailed handbook containing further information about the criteria and process for the Patient-based Assessment has been published on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/veterinary-nurse-patient-based-assessment-student-handbook.
It is recommended all student veterinary nurses read this to get a full understanding of how the assessment method will work. The RCVS Veterinary Nursing Department can also be contacted on VNPBA@rcvs.org.uk
They say that they've been aware of minor interruptions to the supply of such vaccines throughout 2022.
However, a significant, pan-European logistical problem being experienced by Boehringer Ingelheim has raised the prospect of a further reduction in supplies in the coming months.
BEVA is liaising with the three vaccine manufacturers to quantify the impact of the shortage and to consider solutions, both to minimise the threat to equine health and to prevent disruption to equestrian competition.
Marc Laemmer, equine business head at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, said: “We are currently experiencing a European-wide supply issue relating to our equine influenza and influenza-tetanus vaccines.
"This has been caused by unexpected issues following the implementation of a technology upgrade and is not a product or quality issue.
"This means that some vet practices will have difficulty obtaining sufficient influenza vaccines and there may be a shortage in the UK market.
"We understand the importance of these vaccines to equine welfare, and we are continuing to work tirelessly to find a solution so that we can return to normal supply as soon as possible.”
Amanda Melvin, equine business manager at MSD Animal Health, said: “Based on prior demand, MSD’s equine vaccines Equilis Prequenza and Equilis Prequenza Te are in full supply.
"MSD have taken steps to protect as many horses as possible at this time.
"We will continue to supply existing customers with the available MSD stock on ‘allocation’ and, where possible, to allocate stock to additional customers. Allocations are being made to our veterinary customers based on their historical demand which we believe is the most efficient way to manage the available supplies.”
Rebecca Cabrejas, equine business unit manager at Zoetis, said: “Demand for our vaccines currently exceeds what we can supply.
"Whilst we have adequate stocks to fulfil current customers’ orders unfortunately, we are not in a position to be able to supply new customers at this time.
"We will continue to work with BEVA to limit the impact of the current shortages.”
The new guidance replaces Chapter 25 of the Supporting Guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct.
Routine Veterinary Practice describes the procedures and techniques performed on animals by veterinary surgeons (or veterinary nurses under their direction) in the course of their professional duties, which ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to their care.
CVR is when routine procedures are undertaken for the benefit of the animal/s, with the concurrent intention to generate new knowledge that benefits animals, such as developing new procedures, improving a diagnosis, changing a routine procedure, or comparing existing procedures.
While the idea of CVR is not new, this is the first time that the RCVS has provided specific guidance on it.
The guidance also introduces an obligation, which comes into effect on 1st September, to obtain ethics review for all studies where one would be expected to obtain permission from the owner/keeper of an animal prior to being enrolled, or when consent is needed for use of previously collected samples or the use of data from an animal.
The newly drafted Chapter 25 gives extra guidance on the following areas:
Chair of the Standards Committee and incoming RCVS President, Dr Melissa Donald (pictured right), said: “We hope that the guidance will inspire confidence in our veterinary colleagues at all levels to undertake treatment routes which develop veterinary knowledge as a whole, while still being for the benefit of the animal being treated.”
For further information or advice on whether a proposed procedure would be covered by the guidance, contact the Standards and Advice team via advice@rcvs.org.uk.
The new guidance will be found on the RCVS website from the 1st July: www.rcvs.org.uk/recognised
For further information in relation to ethics review of proposed veterinary clinical research studies, contact the Secretary to the RCVS Ethics Review Panel via ethics@rcvs.org.uk or visit www.rcvs.org.uk/ethics
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!"
Ian (pictured right) qualified from Glasgow University and has a master’s degree in veterinary parasitology. He is head of ESCCAP - the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) UK and Ireland, guideline director for ESCCAP Europe and editorial board member for Companion Animal. and VetCPD Journal. He is also a practising vet and co-owner of The Mount Veterinary Practice in Fleetwood, Lancashire.
Lockdown has seen a rise in the numbers of dogs and cats in the UK, including imported pets. Horiba says some of these are coming in via the official route, which includes preventative measures to reduce health risks. However, many are moved outside of UK regulations and some will become ill in the days or even months after they arrive. Ian will explain how timely, accurate testing will help detect the threat to these animals.
Lisa Martin from Horiba said: "I hope that as many veterinary surgeons, nurses, students and support staff as possible will join us for our Educational Premiere! We are looking forward to this first webinar in our veterinary CPD series, with expert Ian Wright highlighting the best ways to keep pets and people safe. Join us on 1st July at 7.30pm to hear more and to ask Ian your questions on this very topical subject. Dress code: casual."
To register, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5429203015286962191
Cytopoint is an injectable monoclonal antibody therapy for dogs that targets and neutralises the cytokine IL-31, a mediator of allergic itch1.
Zoetis says the new claim was granted following a randomised, double-masked, multi-centred, placebo-controlled study which looked at Cytopoint’s efficacy and safety for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in client-owned dogs. The study showed that Cytopoint significantly decreased pruritus, and improved skin lesions.2
Allison Henry, Product Manager Companion Animal Dermatology at Zoetis UK, says: "Allergic dermatitis is one of the most common skin conditions in dogs.3 The associated clinical signs – including scratching, hair loss and skin lesions – are disruptive for the dog, impacting their quality of life and that of its owner. Allergic skin disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners present their dog to a veterinarian.
"The licence extension demonstrates further innovation from Zoetis in the field of veterinary dermatology, and across the continuum of care, increasing the treatment options available to manage pruritus. Apoquel remains an ideal choice for short-term control due to its ability to provide rapid itch relief within four hours4 for as little as one day.5 This enables pruritus to be tightly controlled during the diagnostic work up,7 as well as being used for longer term control where tablets are the preferred method of administration.
"The sustained duration of action of Cytopoint makes it better suited to long-term management of pruritus, particularly when administering tablets is a challenge. Other benefits, such as no restrictions on age or with comorbidities, coupled with the flexibility of the new claim, make it a useful treatment at an earlier stage for more unique cases, e.g. young dogs or those with comorbidities."
For further information, contact your Zoetis Account Manager.
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