Following a nationwide search to find the UK's top veterinary professionals for 2010, Petplan has announced the winners of the Veterinary Awards.
The Petplan Veterinary Awards recognise and applaud staff and practices throughout the country that have delivered an exceptional level of care to the nation's pets and their owners.
Alison Andrew, Petplan's Marketing Manager, says she is thrilled by the ongoing success of the awards. "Britain is known to be an animal-loving nation and with millions of households owning cats and dogs, pets play a central part in family life. The Petplan Veterinary Awards give us the opportunity, on behalf of all pet owners across the UK, to thank the veterinary profession for the outstanding service they provide to our pets.
"This is the 11th year of the awards and we received over 1800 nominations, which really highlights the high regard that the profession and pet owners have for these awards."
VET OF THE YEARMike Hewitt, Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre, Buckinghamshire Having worked in the profession for over 20 years Mike is highly respected by clients, valued by colleagues and loved by pets. Having received so many heartfelt customer nominations, Mike's constant professionalism and approachable manner shone through.
VET NURSE OF THE YEARLouise Want, Feldon Veterinary Centre, WarwickshireThe constant support and care Louise provides to both her colleagues and clients really stood out. She is a great inspiration to all and having worked in the veterinary profession for 30 years, Louise is as passionate and dedicated, as when she first started.
VET RECEPTIONIST OF THE YEAR Carol Dawson, Kingsteignton Veterinary Group, Devon Carol's compassionate and professional manner really impressed all the judges. Clients instantly feel at ease because of her caring smile and welcoming attitude, while her colleagues find her a great inspiration.
VET PRACTICE OF THE YEAR Mill House Veterinary Surgery and Hospital, Norfolk Mill House Veterinary Surgery and Hospital provides an incredibly high level of service to their clients, and as a collective are extremely dedicated and welcoming. Taking pride in their work they are known by their clients for being efficient, friendly and helpful.
Amanda Boag, RCVS President, said: "We understand that this is a concerning situation for many in the profession who are worried about the impact of the shortage of isoflurane on both elective and emergency operations.
"We are also concerned to hear that some vets are worried that they may be disciplined by the RCVS for clinical decisions and outcomes that may arise from the shortage, and so we are keen to stress that we understand that members of the profession can only do their best under the circumstances presented to them and that, provided they can clinically justify the decisions they have made, keep detailed notes, gain informed consent and follow the prescribing rules, then there is very unlikely to be an issue of professional misconduct."
If you have questions about the shortage in relation to the Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance, you can contact the RCVS Standards and Advice Team on 020 7202 0789 or advice@rcvs.org.uk.
For further information about the shortage and alternative sources and products, the RCVS recommends visiting the Veterinary Medicines Directorate website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterinary-medicines-directorate.
The new Aberdeen clinic will be based at Ardene House Veterinary Hospital, Kingswells in Aberdeen and will provide the out-of-hours cover for a number of veterinary practices in the Aberdeen area, treating their clients' pets at nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Vets Now was founded in 2001 when vet Richard Dixon, saw a gap in the market for not only providing an alternative to the 'on call' service which vets are required to provide by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, but to providing a dedicated emergency service for pets, similar to A & E for humans. Vets Now now treats around 100,000 small animal emergencies every year with clinic teams working purely out-of-hours, to ensure that they are always fresh and ready to provide life saving treatment to pets who are injured or critically ill.
Richard said: "Vets Now has a clinic in Edinburgh and we have recently opened the first of our Vets Now Hospitals in Glasgow which combines emergency care with a range of specialist referral options, serving the whole of Scotland so we're looking forward hugely to extending our service in Scotland by bringing the dedicated emergency service to Aberdeen."
Vets Now will be working with Ardene House Veterinary Hospital, Abervet, Ashgrove Veterinary Centre, Bridge Veterinary Group and Swan Veterinary Practice to deliver their Out Of Hours emergency care.
Veterinary practices who would like to find out more about using the new Vets Now service in Aberdeen should contact Vets Now on 01383 620064.
Covering the topics of worming broodmares and foals, spring and summer worming and winter worming, a total of 20 AMTRA CPD points are available. Virbac says the 3 new training modules offer the opportunity to acquire additional CPD points in time for the June deadline.
The webinars can be accessed on demand at https://sqptraining.learnupon.com/users/sign_in
The British Veterinary Association has contacted the BBC programme 'Countryfile' following the broadcast of an item on identifying wild ponies in North Wales using 'ear marking' on 31st October 2010.
The programme visited a farmer in Snowdonia during the annual health check during which the wild ponies are brought into the town with support from the Countryside Council for Wales. During the programme presenter Jules Hudson asked the owner of the ponies, farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, how he can tell which pony is which. Gareth Wyn Jones explained that each pony has 'special ear marks' and there was footage of ponies with both ear tags and ear notches (marks or cuts). However, ear notching is no longer permitted under the Animal Welfare Act.
The BVA contacted Countryfile expressing concern at the programme's contents and asking for a clarification to be made. Countryfile responded to explain they were not aware of the law in relation to ear notching and tagging but that they would undertake to clarify the facts in a future programme.
The BVA has also been contacted by the pony welfare charity People4Ponies expressing concern about the ongoing practice of ear notching and tagging in England and Wales.
In light of the programme the BVA is asking its members to remind horse and pony-owning clients that ear tagging and ear notching are not permitted in Great Britain under the Animal Welfare Act as they do not appear in the list under Schedule 1 of the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) Regulations 2007 (or under the Animal Health and Welfare [Scotland] Act).
Since July 2010 there has been a legal requirement that all horses and ponies are permanently identified by microchip (with some small exceptions) and the BVA believes this removes the need for any other form of identification, such as ear marking and hot branding, even for wild equids.
The BVA will also contact Local Government Regulation (the new name for LACORS - the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) and the Welsh Local Government Association to ensure that those with responsibility for policing animal health and welfare legislation in England and Wales are taking the appropriate action.
Harvey Locke, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "This is a simple fact of legality and it appears there was widespread ignorance of the rules amongst all those taking part in the programme.
"As veterinary surgeons we have a responsibility to work with clients to ensure they are complying with animal health and welfare legislation. Ear mutilations are not permitted and we must make sure that message is reaching horse and pony owners.
"The BVA will also be contacting those responsible for enforcing the legislation relating to ear mutilations in horses and ponies to make sure the law is being policed."
Ticks infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease may be considerably more prevalent in the UK than recent estimates indicate, according to new research from the University of Bristol that used pet dogs as 'sentinels' for human disease risk.
Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease is a debilitating chronic infection which affects a number of animals including humans and dogs. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Clinical signs in humans include a characteristic circular red rash that spreads from the site of the tick bite, followed by a flu-like condition. In dogs, the symptoms can be much more vague and difficult to diagnose. If untreated, the disease progresses to neurological problems and arthritis; chronic forms of the disease can last for many years.
While only occasionally affecting humans, reported cases in the UK are thought to have increased more than fourfold since the beginning of the century - from 0.38 per 100,000 in 2000 to 1.79 per 100,000 in 2009. In 2010 there were 953 reported cases in England and Wales but the level of under-reporting is likely to be considerable.
To obtain a clearer picture of the prevalence of infected ticks, Faith Smith of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences and colleagues recruited veterinary surgeons across England, Scotland and Wales to examine dogs selected at random as they visited veterinary practices. Since pet dogs largely share the same environment and visit the same outdoor areas as their owners, exposure to infected ticks in dogs is likely to provide an index for corresponding risks to humans.
Of 3,534 dogs inspected between March and October 2009, 14.9% had ticks. Of the samples that could be tested, 17 (2.3%) were positive for the Borrelia bacteria. The expected prevalence of infected ticks on dogs is 0.5 per cent, or 481 infected ticks per 100,000 dogs. This suggests that the prevalence of Borrelia in the UK tick population is considerably higher than previously thought.
Faith Smith said: "Lyme disease appears to be a rapidly growing problem in the UK with important health and economic impacts in terms of loss of working hours and potential decrease in tourism to tick hotspots.
"Without considerably better surveillance and routine diagnostic testing, Lyme disease is only likely to become more prevalent. In particular, future warmer winters might well extend the period over which ticks are active seasonally, while growing wild reservoir host populations, such as deer, will allow the tick population to expand."
The study is published today in the journal Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Merial Animal Health Ltd.
The College of Animal Welfare (CAW) has gained approval from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to run a two and a half year long full-time veterinary nursing course from this October.
For many years, unless students were undertaking a higher education programme, the route to qualifying has been via employment in a training practice alongside part-time study at college. It has become increasingly difficult for prospective students to find trainee positions leaving many people unable to pursue a career in their chosen field.
Students do not need to be employed whilst on the CAW course, as blocks of work placement are incorporated into the programme alongside blocks of classroom tuition. In addition to the small animal syllabus students will also cover equine subjects and develop more general veterinary nursing subject skills across the species.
To enrol onto the programme students will need to be a minimum of 16 years of age and have 5 GCSEs at grades C or above including English Language, Maths and a Science subject or equivalent.
The courses will be held from the College's Leeds and Edinburgh centres. Home based practice work placements can be requested by those students not normally resident near to Leeds or Edinburgh. The College does not have accommodation available on site although can assist in sourcing local accommodation where necessary.
Leslie Heaton-Smith, Strategic Director at CAW, commented 'After a 10 year absence of full time NVQ level veterinary nurse training, CAW are delighted to have gained RCVS approval to offer such a programme from its Leeds and Edinburgh centres. As a course provider and VNAC we are well aware of the difficulty many prospective students have in finding trainee positions in a TP in order to commence their training. This programme will provide such students with the opportunity to follow their chosen career path when they would have otherwise been unable'.
For further information on the programme please call Sarah McAlister or Donna Clark on 01480 226180.
The RCVS is calling on veterinary surgeons and students, and listed or registered veterinary nurses to complete its Survey of the Professions 2014.
The four-yearly, confidential survey provides the College with data that helps it develop policy, plan its activities and respond to questions from stakeholders such as government and the media.
The survey aims to find out more about individuals' employment type and experiences, working patterns and professional development. It also asks about aspirations for the short- and long-term and current views on the veterinary profession.
Questions are also asked about mental health and well-being, using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. The data will be used to track the mental well-being of the profession at a population level over successive years - a process that started with the 2010 survey - which will feed into other work being carried out across the profession.
Finally, the survey includes a set of questions about 24/7 emergency cover, the answers to which will feed into the RCVS Standards Committee's current evidence-gathering exercise.
This year the survey, which is being carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies, will only be available online. All those for whom the RCVS has a personal email address (ie not 'info@' or similar) have been sent a participation request. Others will be sent a letter, including the survey URL. Those who do not receive this letter by Monday 14 April should contact Lizzie Lockett, on l.lockett@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0725.
The deadline for completion of the survey is 30 April.
The course counts for four hours CPD, split into six short sessions which can be completed in your own time.
Presented by Dr Dan Cripwell BSc (Hons) BVSc CertAVP PgCert (VPS) MRCVS, Advanced Veterinary Practitioner and senior veterinary technical advisor at Jurox, the sessions consist of:
There is a quiz at the end of each module, following which, you can download a CPD certificate.
Suzy Ramsay, head of sales and marketing at Jurox (UK) Limited, said: “We are committed to developing unique and world class anaesthesia and analgesic products and practices within the animal health industry through the provision of up-to-date technical support and education. Our new Jurox Anaesthesia Academy CPD platform will enable veterinary professionals to adopt an evidence-based approach to their anaesthetic product choice and, in turn, help achieve the best possible anaesthetic outcomes for their patients.”
For access to the Jurox Anaesthesia Academy CPD platform, visit https://cpd.jurox.co.uk.
For further information, contact your local Jurox account manager, phone 0800 500 3171 or email customerservice@jurox.co.uk.
The RCVS has announced that it is to trial a new alternative dispute resolution scheme for users of veterinary services who have complaints which aren't serious enough to call into question a veterinary surgeon or nurse's fitness to practice.
The College says that although it is obliged to investigate all complaints, currently it can only deal with the most serious of complaints raised against a veterinary surgeon's or registered veterinary nurse's fitness to practise. This means that many of the 800 or so complaints received every year by the College's Professional Conduct Department are closed with no further action.
Nick Stace, RCVS Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, said: "It was clear from our consultations last year for the First Rate Regulator initiative that many animal owners who had made complaints were dissatisfied and frustrated with the fact that we were unable to take their, often very legitimate, concerns any further.
"It is for this reason that we decided to launch a trial in order to determine how we could develop an alternative scheme that, through conciliation, would try and resolve these disputes in a way that would be acceptable to both parties.
"Although this trial is small-scale we hope that it will provide the framework for a permanent ADR scheme which I believe would both increase consumer confidence in the profession and help maintain and preserve its reputation.
"We hope that the profession will actively support the trial, and any future scheme, as a way of resolving those intractable disputes which we know can hang over veterinary surgeons and practices and that they recognise that, ultimately, what is good for the consumer can be good for the profession."
The trial will be administered by the Ombudsman Services, an independent and not-for-profit complaint resolution service, and limited to no more than 150 concerns raised about veterinary surgeons in regards to the treatment of a small animal. In most cases concerns referred to the trial will have no arguable case for serious professional misconduct. The trial is free to the users and voluntary, and consent will be sought from both parties before the concern is referred to the Ombudsman Services. The costs of the trial will not exceed £120,000.
Recommendations will be determined through conciliation between both parties and the Ombudsman Services will only be able to suggest, rather than impose, a solution that each party is entitled to accept, or not. Solutions could include, for example, financial accommodation up to the small claims court limit of £10,000 (although the average recommendation is around £100), the issuing of an apology or other practical action to remedy the situation.
The Ombudsman Services will be assisted in its investigations by veterinary advisers who will provide guidance on clinical and other veterinary matters.
The results of the trial, which will end in May 2015, will be presented at the June 2015 meeting of RCVS Council where steps will be considered for the development of a permanent scheme.
More details about the trial can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/adr
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne has opened the Royal Veterinary College's new Teaching and Research Centre.
The Centre - at the college's Hawkshead Campus in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire - will provide a home for the RVC's lifestyle research, which includes conditions such as obesity/diabetes, chronic kidney disease and arthritis as well as those with genetic roots.
RVC Principal Professor Stuart Reid said: "The RVC is extremely proud to have welcomed Her Royal Highness to open the new Teaching and Research Centre - a facility where our students are taught within an environment that is all about advanced scientific discovery and first class research. The building houses the engine of academic enquiry and is a wonderful space where our academic community generates new insights into diseases that affect humans and animals.
"The Centre allows us to tie together the various threads we have around the study of illnesses that result from lifestyle in humans and animals, such as those associated with age or genetic disorders. Our College collaborates with the research hub that is the London scientific research community. We are extremely well placed to carry out the work in conjunction with human medical research groups and bring the veterinary perspective to the understanding of disease. The building offers new opportunities, both nationally and internationally".
Funding for the building of the new centre was provided by HEFCE and The Wolfson Foundation.
Photo: Paul West
VRCC veterinary referral centre, the leading European veterinary cancer treatment centre, has announced that it has installed what is believed to be the first and only new 'Human' CT scanner in a UK private small animal veterinary centre, at a cost of nearly £500,000. The announcement came less than a year after the centre's 6 million volt linear accelerator went online - currently the only veterinary radiotherapy facility in the UK. Apart from routine scans required by all the clinicians at the centre, VRCC also takes referrals in medicine, surgery and oncology. Its CT will also be used in conjunction with the linear accelerator, offering sophisticated cancer treatments previously not available in the UK. In another first for VRCC, the centre has appointed Tom Jackson BSc Radiography (T), a therapeutic radiographer from Guys & St Thomas Westminster, a centre of excellence in oncology. Tom will be working under the direction of the centre's clinical director, Dr Susan North, the most highly qualified and experienced veterinary oncologist in the UK and the only qualified radiation veterinary oncologist in the UK. For more information about the referral services available from VRCC, visit http://www.vrcc.co.uk/, or ring 01268 564664.
The RCVS is calling for comment on a proposed new Case Management Protocol for its Disciplinary Committee.
The new protocol provides additional guidance to all parties, ensuring that evidence is agreed or considered well before the hearing. Its emphasis is on the Committee being able to read skeleton arguments and bundles of evidence from respondents before the hearing takes place, which speeds up the process and enables decisions to be made more quickly. At present, this is not always possible, as the information is not always made available.
Gordon Hockey, Head of Professional Conduct said: "The new protocol formalises the standard procedural direction for cases to be heard by the Committee, with the aim of promoting the timely and efficient preparation of cases and the smooth running of hearings. This is in the interests of all parties."
The Disciplinary Committee hears between ten and 15 cases per year. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, the Committee can consider charges of serious professional misconduct, fraudulent registration and criminal convictions that affect a veterinary surgeon's fitness to practise.
A disciplinary system for registered veterinary nurses was set up in April 2011 and the nurses' Disciplinary Committee would follow the new protocol, as and when it is finalised.
The proposed new Case Management Protocol can be downloaded from www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/consultations. Comments are welcomed from members of the veterinary team and from the public, by Monday, 8 August 2011, and should be sent to Carrie Gage, Clerk to the Disciplinary Committee, on c.gage@rcvs.org.uk.
Vets should now consider Angiostrongylus vasorum a countrywide parasite and not one that is restricted to the traditional hotspots of the South East, the Midlands and south Wales. This was the main message delivered by Shelia Brennan of University College Dublin to almost 300 vets attending the recent Bayer-sponsored A vasorum CPD meetings, held across the north of England and Scotland. Sheila said: "Until recently, angiostrongylosis was only recognised in limited areas of the UK, and confirmed cases were few and far between. Now we are hearing reports of the disease as far afield as Kent and Glasgow and dogs are dying as a result. If caught early enough, the disease can be treated successfully. Vets should be aware of the many and varied symptoms and consider this parasite as a differential in any dog with suspicious clinical signs." Dogs of any age can be infected with the parasite, but the majority presenting with clinical disease are less than two years of age. A number of clinical presentations are recognised. Dogs may present with respiratory signs (cough, exercise intolerance), coagulopathy, neurological signs, syncope and in a small number of cases hypercalcaemia. These signs can occur in isolation or in combination, and not all dogs have respiratory signs. Haemorrhage following routine neutering has been anecdotally reported. Dogs with a history of eating the parasite's intermediate hosts (slugs and snails) should be considered as being at high risk. Chris White, Bayer's Advocate product manager said: "The attendance of nearly 300 vets at the four-meeting series, in areas not normally associated with the disease, is further evidence that vets are becoming increasingly concerned about the threat posed by A vasorum. This is the third series of meetings we have held, reaching around 1,000 vets and vet nurses across the country."
Nottingham veterinary student Emma Freeman is conducting a survey amongst veterinary nurses about the risks facing veterinary patients. All participants will be entered into a prize draw to win £100.
Emma said: "Safety of patients is becoming a top priority for the NHS. The NHS has its own agency; National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and reporting system; National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS). These agencies work together to evaluate current systems and identify trends in current data. Some current data suggests that 10% of patients admitted to NHS hospitals will experience an adverse event, and of these incidents 50% could have been avoided. In contrast, there is no current data or system in place in the veterinary profession."
She added: "Life in a veterinary practice can get extremely hectic, with hundreds of decisions being made every day relating to the health and welfare of patients. Although nobody wants them to occur, events can sometimes happen that lead to issues regarding the safety of patients. "To err is human" - what is essential is that error is managed and preventative measures are put in place so that the veterinary team can learn and improve."
The survey asks for the observations and opinions of veterinary nurses with regards to management of risk and non technical skills. Emma said:"Veterinary nurses play an intricate role in the day to day tasks of a veterinary practice, and can therefore provide a detailed insight into the current systems in a veterinary setting."
The survey takes the form of a questionnaire, which should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete and you can access it by clicking on the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/patientsafetyinveterinarypractice
Royal Canin has launched Breed Health Nutrition (BHN) foods for adult Dalmatians and French Bulldogs, bringing the company's portfolio of BHN foods up to a total of 19 dog breeds and four cat breeds.
Royal Canin vet marketing manager Ali Daff said: "Different breeds have different nutritional needs, varying from the sensitive digestion of the German Shepherd Dog to the ultra-long coat of the Persian cat. All our research and development is based on putting the animal first - what its real needs are in terms of nutrition to suit its characteristics and lifestyle.
"Veterinary practices are ideally placed to promote this idea to their clients, because they are talking to concerned and committed owners who want the best for their pets. In terms of nutrition, a tailormade diet offers the pet the best chance of maintaining a long and healthy life - and a good opportunity for practices to build client loyalty."
Royal Canin says the Dalmatian is the only canine breed which can be predisposed to excrete significant amounts of uric acid in the urine, a characteristic shared with man and the great apes. This uric acid, which is produced as a result of the metabolism of purines, can cause the formation of urinary calculi in some individuals. The simple reduction of the amount of purines in the diet means that the body produces less uric acid, reducing the risk of urate stones developing - hence the development of Dalmatian 22 Adult for dogs over 15 months. The diet is also specially developed to help support sensitive skin and intensify colour markings, as well as help maintain cardiac tone, support natural immunity, and support safe growth.
According to the company, the French Bulldog is renowned for its' sensitive digestion, so the use of very high quality, ultra-digestible proteins in French Bulldog 26 Adult help the diet deliver maximum nutritional value while helping reduce gastric fermentation (and odours as a result - a benefit many owners welcome!). Carefully balanced fibres and maximum palatability ensure the meal is eaten with gusto, while a specially developed kibble is easy for the dog to pick up and crunch, with associated dental benefits. High energy levels help maintain muscle mass, chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine provide joint support.
Ali Daff added: "These latest introductions are a very specific response to the needs of two special breeds, and will give veterinary practices another tool to help build and retain client loyalty."
Available from October 2009, Breed Health Nutrition foods are available from your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager, all good veterinary wholesalers, by calling 0800 717 800, or by visiting http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/.
Ceva Animal Health has launched a new travel size 20ml bottle of Feliway Spray to help cat owners keep their pet comfortable whilst travelling this summer.
To promote the launch Ceva is giving away thousands of prizes to Feliway customers, offering them the chance to win a top prize of a spa day at Champneys, cat carriers, soft toys and travel stickers, whilst stocks last. To take part, customers need to enter their unique pack code via the Feliway Facebook page to toss an online coin to see what they have won.
In addition, veterinary surgeries that purchase a 12 pack of the 20ml spray will get a second 12 pack free.
Julia Wood, product manager at Ceva said: "Transporting cats even short distances, for necessary trips to the vet, cattery or to a local show, can easily become a nightmare for both the cat and the owner. We've introduced the new travel size spray to make it even more convenient for cat owners when they are on the move and we hope the extra competition incentive will drive sales for veterinary clinics."
New research amongst veterinary professionals conducted by CEVA Animal Health, manufacturer of D.A.P.® and Feliway®, has revealed that pet owners may be unintentionally fuelling their pets' noise phobias in the run up to the fireworks' season.
According to CEVA's research, up to 95% react inappropriately, for example petting an anxious pet during firework exposure rather than making an effort to ignore the fireworks, thereby reassuring the animal by behaving normally.
The research also suggested that 77% of clients have never taken action to address their pets' noise phobias as fireworks' season is only an annual occurrence. This is despite evidence that noise phobias can affect pets all year round and tend to become worse over time.
In addition, if owners do seek advice from their vet for noise phobias, it is at the last minute. It is estimated that 46% of clients leave it until the day before the fireworks are due to start before seeking help.
Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health said: "Owners are not doing enough to reduce their pets' firework fears and prevent noise phobias from developing.
"Taking early, proactive action within the practice is the best way to help dogs with pre-existing firework phobias as well as those with mild fears which, if left untreated, may develop into more serious noise phobias."
CEVA Animal Health and Sound Therapy 4 Pets have once again joined forces with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) and PDSA to launch a 'Remember, remember your pets this November' campaign to provide owners with advice on how to look after their pets during the firework season and the precautions they should take to help them cope with their fear of fireworks.
The initiative features a wide range of advice including how to use synthetic copies of natural pheromones, D.A.P. ® and Feliway®, to help comfort and reassure fearful pets, creating a comforting den for dogs to retreat to during firework exposure and treating noise phobias using behavioural therapy with the Sounds Scary desensitisation CD (which is the only behavioural therapy product for noise phobias supported by the RSPCA).
For further information, please visit www.petfireworkfear.co.uk.
Researchers say that whilst widely discussed, many in the profession may not be aware that prevalence of the disease has been steadily increasing across all regions of the UK.
Since November 2012, 177 cases have been reported, with more than 90% between November and May. However, the cause of CRGV, which often presents as ulcerations to the dog’s skin and can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) and potentially death, remains unknown.
Practices are being now asked to report suspect cases in a bid to gain vital insight into the disease and what may be causing it.
David Walker BVetMed (Hons) DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA from Anderson Moores (pictured right) is helping lead the research: "CRGV is a disease that impacts lots of breeds across the UK. Reports show there is seasonality to the disease and therefore an environmental cause is a possible component in its development.
"This research is part of the puzzle and will hopefully help to guide further work on this disease. By collecting more information on confirmed cases, such as walking habits and diet, we hope to build more understanding in order to better protect pets and inform treatment decisions."
To gather this information, Anderson Moores is asking practices to share a 10-minute online survey with the owners of dogs in which CRGV has been confirmed, as well as some control dogs following criteria provided with the survey link.
David said: "Many pet owners are aware of this disease and are concerned for their pets; if they are asked to help they are usually happy to do so. By offering a direct link to the survey, very little of the veterinarian’s time is needed to collate the information."
If you have a suspected case of CRGV, contact Anderson Moores on 01962 767920 or email medicine@andersonmoores.com
If the pet does not survive, then histopathologic assessment of tissue will be performed free of charge to confirm the diagnosis.
In confirmed cases the veterinary surgeon will be sent a link to a 10-minute survey to be completed by the owner.
Along with encouraging the owner of the confirmed case to take part, four unaffected control cases from the same clinic, on the same day, will also need to be recruited.
When a set of five qualifying surveys (one confirmed case and 4 control cases) are provided, practices can claim an Amazon Echo Dot, provided by Bayer, as a thank you for helping with the research.
RSPCA has launched a new website called 'Political Animal' to encourage voters to lobby their prospective parliamentary candidates about animal welfare issues ahead of the General Election.
The site offers an interesting timeline of the last 20 years of animal welfare law, leading up to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, showing landmark changes. It also gives details of the RSPCA's stance on issues like status dogs, higher welfare farming, wild animals in circuses and animals used in experiments.
RSPCA parliamentary officer Stacey Frier, said: "The Political Animal microsite is a unique project allowing our supporters to drive the debate by letting politicians know what they want them to do for animal welfare if they are elected.
"The RSPCA and its supporters have been instrumental in campaigning for change in animal welfare legislation since the Society's creation in 1824 and we're urging the incoming parliament to continue to work with us to achieve further animal welfare milestones."
For more information, please log on to http://www.politicalanimal.org.uk/
The European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD) has issued new guidelines concerning rabies in cats. The organisation, which is made up of 17 independent veterinary experts, meets 3 times a year to discuss major infectious feline diseases. The rabies guidelines are the latest in the series, which are available for download at: http://www.abcd-vets.org/guidelines/index.asp
Produced by Knowledge’s Library and Information Service, inFOCUS watches all relevant veterinary journals and provides concise summaries of the most important, interesting or practice-critical primary and secondary material.
Subscribers to inFOCUS are sent a bi-monthly email containing the summaries – including the bottom line for implementation in practice – and the option to read the original articles.
The new service aims to remove the time constraints associated with identifying the most vital research.
A Clinical Review Team, made up of experts and specialists from across the veterinary community, assesses journals to find the best items based on relevance, quality and potential impact, and then reviews and summarises the literature for each edition of inFOCUS.
RCVS President Stephen May said: "inFOCUS is a crucial and long-awaited provision available to everyone involved in veterinary care.
"By removing the barriers to accessing and reflecting upon latest research and commentary, this innovative way of bringing you must-know updates further enforces the move towards evidence-based veterinary medicine, of which RCVS Knowledge is a champion.
"Whether you’re someone who regularly checks veterinary publications or you rarely get the chance to analyse the available material, make sure inFOCUS is on your reading list."
As well as the six-times-per-year email, inFOCUS will be viewable online, where editions from previous months will be housed and individual summaries categorised by animal type. Though initially focused on small animals, literature from across the broad spectrum of veterinary practice will be highlighted.
You can subscribe here to have the latest inFOCUS updates sent directly to your inbox.
Also, if you're interested in helping to ensure that the most important research reaches the veterinary community, you can apply to join the Clinical Review Team here.
The proposals put to Council by the Education Committee included six key recommendations for changes to CPD policy:
To change the CPD requirement – as stated in the Codes of Professional Conduct – to 35 hours per calendar year for veterinary surgeons and 15 hours in the same period for veterinary nurses, from the start of 2020. This replaces the previous requirement of 105 hours and 45 hours of CPD over a rolling three-year period for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses respectively.
Making the use of the new CPD platform (currently in development) for recording learning and development mandatory from 2022.
Giving veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who, upon renewing their registration, have confirmed their compliance with the requirement, the opportunity to download a certificate demonstrating this.
The introduction of an administration fee (which is currently yet to- be determined) that will be charged to any veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who continually (defined as two or more years in a row) fail to confirm their compliance with the requirement and/or fail to respond to requests from the College for their CPD records.
Changing the words of the Codes of Professional Conduct to include the fact that CPD should be ‘regular’ and ‘relevant’.
The continuation of the RCVS CPD Referral Group, which meets to consider what further steps should be taken in cases of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who continually fail to comply with CPD requirements and/or respond to requests.
RCVS Council agreed, by a majority vote, to approve the above recommendations.
RCVS Council member Dr Sue Paterson (pictured right), who introduced the paper and is the incoming Chair of the Education Committee, said: "While the majority of both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses do recognise the importance of continuous learning and development for their professional practice, their clients and, ultimately, animal health and welfare, it’s clear that there has been a cohort of people in both professions who take a more lax view of undertaking CPD.
"The changes to our CPD policy are intended to tighten up our processes and are targeted at those who, when challenged about why they have not undertaken sufficient CPD, say that they will meet the requirement one or two years down the line as part of the rolling three-year system. The administration fee also recognises the amount of time and effort spent by staff in the College in contacting and chasing up those people who aren’t compliant.
"However, we also recognise the fact that some members of the profession may have personal circumstances that means they are unable to meet their CPD requirement in a given year – whether that’s because of parental leave or other caring responsibilities, or long-term sick leave. So we will be retaining flexibility within the system and will be considerate and compassionate when taking into account individual circumstances when considering non-compliance.
"Furthermore, in light of the fact that the majority of vets and vet nurses do meet the requirement but also often go above-and-beyond it, we also thought it would be a good idea to introduce a downloadable compliance certificate in recognition of their achievement. This could be displayed, for example, in the practice and would be particularly useful for Practice Standard Scheme assessments.
"Over the coming months we will be fine-tuning the details of these policies and will be making further decisions about how they will work in practice in due course."
Veterinary surgeons and nurses who feel they will struggle to complete their CPD requirement within a 12-month period due to personal circumstances can contact RCVS confidentially at any time to discuss their difficulties on cpd@rcvs.org.uk
For full details about the decision, you can download the RCVS Council paper at: www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/rcvs-council-papers-13-june-2019/
Bayer Animal Health reports that sales of Drontal have achieved double digit growth following the company's recent advertising campaign.
The company says its marketing push has been so successful that 83% of cat and dog owners now name Drontal ahead of any other wormer.
Apparently, vet practice waiting room posters are most commonly the way pet owners learn about Drontal, while approximately half of those regularly tuning in to the popular TV series The Dog Whisperer and GMTV were aware of Drontal's sponsorship of the programmes.
Dan White, Drontal's product manager said: "Bayer has invested heavily in advertising Drontal direct to pet owners effectively driving them into veterinary practice and producing accompanying practice support materials such as waiting room posters and wormer reminder cards which have really paid off. Three-quarters of pet owners surveyed stated they last purchased their wormer from their veterinary practice," comments.
"We will continue to support veterinary practices through advertising and sponsorship initiatives to help raise awareness of the importance of regularly worming pets with Drontal and boost sales further."
For further information or to order more Drontal practice support materials, please contact your local Bayer territory manager.
Following a survey which indicates that veterinary surgeons are largely using unproven supplements to manage early-stage osteoarthritis, Hill's Pet Nutrition is calling upon vets to use evidence-based clinical nutrition to manage the condition.
The survey, which was carried out by independent market research firm Zyman Group, found that vets are more likely to give supplements than any other treatment in early stage osteoarthritis: 66% of cases receive supplements, 45% are given NSAIDs, and only 20% receive dietetic pet food.2
According to Hill's, its Prescription Diet j/d dry is clinically proven to improve mobility in osteoarthritic dogs in as little as 21 days; and 28 days in cats.3,4 Furthermore, the clinical study assigned to j/d is classified as Grade 1 level evidence - the highest grade reflecting the validity of clinical evidence. Another study has shown that Prescription Diet j/d also helps reduce NSAID dosage by up to 25 percent in dogs.5 This quality of evidence is, says Hill's, in contrast to many supplements.
John Innes, Professor of Small Animal Surgery at Liverpool, was involved in some of the early work on j/d: "Our results showed that the EPA in Hill's Prescription Diet j/d Canine pet food helped to reduce proteoglycan loss from cartilage. This would have beneficial effects in helping to preserve loss of cartilage. By preserving the cartilage, we can reduce pain in the long-term and ensure greater mobility for dogs with osteoarthritis."
Hill's has also announced that because a substantial majority of vets and nurses said that they felt that natural GACs have a positive effect in osteoarthritis1, its Prescription Diet j/d dry has been enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate.
Hill's j/d programme is now backed with money off vouchers, to improve client acceptance of veterinary recommendation. Clients who register on the website http://www.hillspetmobility.co.uk/,or http://www.hillspetmobility.ie/, will receive two £10 (or €10) money off e-coupons to use in clinic on their next purchases of j/d. They will also receive monthly e-mails containing information on how to take care of their pet with mobility problems, and help drive them back into the clinic for check-ups.
Veterinary surgeons who would like more information on the studies proving clinical efficacy, or score cards and trial guides for clients, should contact their Hill's Territory manager or call 0800 242438 or in ROI 1 800 626002. Clients can also fill in the scorecard online at www.hillspetmobility.co.uk or http://www.hillspetmobility.ie/
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