NOAH’s Office Manager Joanne Jeffs said: "We know more people are accessing the site using mobile technology and in order that the site can be viewed more easily on mobile phones and tablets as well as traditional desktops, we needed to move the whole complex set of data to a new web platform.
"This is only one of the advantages of the move – it will enable us to finalise our Compendium app, for example, and further down the line will enable more bespoke information access to become available via an API* feed – and we needed to take this major step for progress to be made.
"The most important thing was to maintain the integrity of the data – prescribers and users of animal medicines rely on its accuracy to make their prescribing decisions and guide responsible use. We know this has been done.
She added: "With the move, we know there are some post launch issues that we are addressing. We are working on those as quickly as we can. We know users need to print datasheets, for example and this function will soon be back online. We welcome all feedback and thank all our users for their patience.
www.noahcompendium.co.uk
Chris has been an elected member of Council since 2009 and, during this time, has served on the Education Committee, the Examinations Appeal Committee and the Operational Board as Chair of the Education Committee and Junior Vice-President.
He graduated with a veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow at the relatively advanced age of 30 having first attained a degree in Agricultural and Environmental Science from the University of Newcastle. Following graduation he worked in a mixed practice in Herefordshire before buying an equine and companion animal practice in West Berkshire, which currently employs five veterinary surgeons and five support staff.
In his maiden speech, Chris called on veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to be proud of themselves as people who are committed to the welfare of animals in their care and to not be so hard on themselves.
He also outlined several areas that he would like to prioritise during his presidential year. These included delivering the priorities set out in the Vet Futures Action Plan, exploring bringing veterinary paraprofessionals into the College’s regulatory remit, driving forward the College’s international profile and dealing with blame and fear culture in the profession.
He said: "I’ve seen first-hand in Africa and India what the delivery of veterinary care can do for the welfare of animals in these regions and the wellbeing of people that frequently depend upon them. As one of the richest nations in the world we will further investigate what we can do, through knowledge transfer and support, to help raise the standards of veterinary care in developing countries.
"Sadly we often hear that there are vets and nurses who live in fear of the RCVS. This is something of which I am personally ashamed. Being particularly mindful of the role that fear and anxiety play in mental health, I will do everything I can to replace this fear... I will encourage all hardworking vets and nurses, whichever field they are in, to wear their [MRCVS] ‘badge’ with pride. Feel good about what you do, feel great about what you do."
Chris’ first official duty upon receiving the presidential chain of office from outgoing President Dr Bradley Viner, was to welcome the new Junior Vice-President Professor Stephen May. He also praised Bradley for his calm authority, humour and wisdom throughout his year as RCVS President.
The event will again be held at Loseley Park in Surrey, on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th June 2017.
New for 2017, VET Festival will be introducing an Internal Medicine stream which will cover the themes of Emergency & Critical Care, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Reproduction, Respiratory and Small Furries.
There will also be a new stream dedicated to Rehabilitation, which will join Orthopaedics, Neurology, Oncology and Soft Tissue, Nursing and Management and Motivation. Delegates are free to join any lecture at any stream and attendance to VET Festival will contribute towards their CPD.
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, who conceived VET Festival, said "The aim of the VET Festival is very simple – to provide the best veterinary education in the world so as to ensure the best standard of care for our animal friends, delivered in the most exciting environment on Planet Earth where all of the finances return to helping the animals.
"I believe that people who love companion animals will be aware of our need to receive the very highest level CPD and that both delegates and exhibitors deserve real value for money. I’m determined that the festival is firmly focussed on the greater good of the welfare of animals entrusted to our care – and on maintaining the fire in our bellies that we first had when we signed up for this vocation.
"My dream is to create a Glastonbury for Veterinary Medicine in my lifetime and that VET Festival will be the most interesting, innovative, exciting, dynamic, informative, career-enhancing and personally fulfilling veterinary CPD in the world.
"I have absolutely zero doubt that within five years VET Festival will be a key event in the veterinary education calendar for one simple reason, and that is we reinject the happiness into the reason why we started this journey in the first place. We want delegates to feel love for their profession and respect for everything that they do.
"Most importantly I want people to feel fulfilled because every single day that they go to work as a veterinary professional, they don’t really do it just for monetary gain. They do it because they want to make a difference. When the delegates leave VET Festival, I want them to know that they have made that difference."
Brian Topper, Managing Director of Centaur Services, one of the official partners of VET Festival 2016, said: "I think VET Festival is awesome. It’s different than anything we have done in the UK and US veterinary industry. It’s very timely as people are getting tired of the traditional route to education. This is a great opportunity and we are very happy to participate. I have been in the industry for 20 years and I have seen nothing like VET Festival. Wherever VET Festival goes, we will be here!"
VetNurse Editor Arlo Guthrie said: “The original setup, which reorders a list of available positions by distance from a location, works very well when you know where you want to work.
"The new VetNurse Jobs Map, on the other hand, is ideal for when you’re not sure where exactly you want to work, and just want to know what’s out there.
"We’ve also added a 'World Jobs Map' so that there’s a quick and easy way to see any jobs outside the UK."
The VetNurse Jobs Map is the latest in a string of new features added since a small charge was introduced for advertising jobs in May, including Find our jobs on VetNurse, Share & Reward and the VetNurse Locums Map.
Arlo said: "Now that we charge for advertising on VetNurse Jobs, I’m interested in only one thing, which is offering both job seekers and recruiters the best service available anywhere."
It is hoped the findings, which were unveiled at the House of Commons yesterday, will enable the welfare priorities of the UK’s 800,000 horses to be addressed.
This is the first time welfare organisations, breeders, the equine industry and the veterinary profession have come together to agree on a strategy to best improve the welfare of horses in the UK.
The equine welfare study found the welfare needs of many horses are not currently being met and the report has highlighted four welfare priorities.
Dr Siobhan Mullan, Research Fellow in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law at the University of Bristol and one of the report’s authors, said: "Bringing together the views of people associated with horses in England and Wales has provided an overview of horse welfare, from the day-to-day concerns of equine caregivers to identifying four priority challenges to equine welfare.
"This research has also identified how equine welfare can be improved, by addressing both the priority challenges, and a wider set of industry and horse-based needs."
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, added: "This research report provides a vital insight to the UK’s equine sector, mapping out the welfare landscape from a wide range of sector experts and stakeholders.
"In order for World Horse Welfare and others to most effectively address the welfare challenges facing UK equines, we need to better understand today’s welfare priorities and this research will provide a valuable guide to help in driving the focus of our educational initiatives and resources over the next few years.”
The priority welfare challenges and solutions outlined in the report are:
Unresolved stress/pain behaviourProblems associated with unresolved stress/pain behaviour affect large numbers of horses, often for long durations with variable severity of suffering caused to individual horses.
More academic research is needed to fully understand the links between behaviour, stress and pain, and objective measures of stress and pain in horses should be developed. Vets, riding instructors, the Pony Club, riding clubs and the equine press have a role in educating horse caregivers about signs of stress and pain and the appropriate responses. Academics and experts also have a role in tackling this issue through evaluating the effectiveness of intervention programmes.
Inappropriate nutritionOverfeeding and obesity are the main welfare problems associated with nutrition and affect large numbers of horses, often for a long time with varying severity of suffering.
Vets have a key role in tackling the problems associated with inappropriate nutrition. A consistent approach by all vets is needed, to prevent horse owners choosing vets that don’t challenge owners about their horses’ nutrition. Feed companies can also play an important role in tackling this issue, although many feed companies already offer appropriate nutrition for a range of horses and exercise situations. Better owner education, based on existing good research, would ensure the right nutritional choices are made for individual horses.
Inappropriate stabling /turnoutWelfare of horses is compromised when the amount of time spent at pasture/stabled does not meet their individual needs, when they are kept in social isolation or when they are exposed to unsuitable grazing conditions. Welfare problems associated with incorrect stabling/turnout affect large numbers of horses for a long time with variable levels of suffering.
Although all horse owners make choices relating to the amount and type of stabling and turnout experienced by their horses, livery yard owners could play a role in addressing this issue. For example, by encouraging different approaches to management, including group housing and the use of all-weather turnout facilities. Strengthening legislation is another possible way for improvement but a ‘one size fits all’ approach would be inappropriate. For example, for some horses, turn out to pasture may not always be suitable.
Delayed deathHorses may be kept alive inappropriately resulting in firstly, prolonging welfare problems, such as continued suffering of a horse in pain. This affects relatively large numbers of horses, for short periods of time with the severity of suffering often being severe. Secondly, an increased risk of suffering, for example where horses are unwanted by their owners, become low value and subsequently aren’t cared for well.
One way for improvement could be by putting pressure on the EU to make changes to the passport regulations. In particular, legislation changes that would enable horses who had received medications, including Phenylbutazone, to be slaughtered to enter the human food chain after a six month withdrawal period. In addition, challenging negative attitudes of horse owners towards timely euthanasia is important.
The research, undertaken over a four year period, was to understand the welfare status of horses in England and Wales, identify priority welfare issues and explore horse owner and industry experts’ perceptions of these issues.
Stakeholders from across the equine industry contributed to the research: from vets to farriers and welfare charities to governing body representatives, participants represented a wide-reaching cross section of horse care roles and responsibilities.
Amanda Melvin, Senior Product Manager, said: "We’re very excited about this approval as it will allow us to build on the success of our Bravecto chewable tablets for dogs and provide veterinarians and cat owners with another tool in the fight against ticks and fleas. Being able to offer a full 12 week protection means convenience for cat owners and improved compliance rates for veterinarians, so everyone benefits."
Bravecto is applied topically using the new "Twist’n’Use" pipette design which means the cap doesn’t need to be removed.
Full product details are described in the summary of product characteristics (SPC).
For more information, contact your MSD Animal Health representative.
The 3D dental model, which was produced with the help of veterinary dentist John Robinson, demonstrates the recommended method for sectioning and extracting teeth in cats and dogs.
An accurate representation of the animal’s mouth, the teeth are pre-sectioned, indicating how tooth crowns should be divided and where to cut the crown to achieve single root pieces.
Royal Canin's Veterinary Marketing Manager, Marianne Lomberg, said: "We are delighted to offer this new learning tool. These high quality and accurate models will be a valuable addition to the education resources available to veterinary schools and professionals – ultimately helping contribute to a higher standard of dental care available to cats and dogs."
Orders of £300 will receive one free model, orders of £500 will receive two free models.
For more information, contact your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager or visit www.vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk.
Drawing attention to the symptoms of allergic skin disease that owners should look out for during the warmer months, the leaflet, poster and notice board materials discuss some of the substances that dogs can be allergic to, how to manage skin allergies and what to look for in an itch prevention plan.
The materials have been produced to support Apoquel, the oral therapy for the treatment of canine pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis and the clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis. They feature two dogs – Eric and Daisy – whose lives have been changed by the product.
For more information, contact your Zoetis account manager.
The kit contains a guide to effective ear cleaning, an illustrated step-by-step instruction guide on how to administer the Canaural, and a diary and consultation pack so owners can engage with the diagnosis and treatment of their pet’s ear infection.
The Healthy Ears Combi Kit comes in a resealable wipe-clean bag and is available free of charge from veterinary wholesalers.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "The new kit will give owners more confidence in the important role that they play in their pet’s ear health and encourage them to engage in the treatment plan, thereby supporting veterinary professionals in the cycle of care.
"As well as serving as practical storage for the products, it acts as a reminder to dispense CleanAural as well as Canaural, as the self-cleaning mechanism of the animal’s ears is often compromised by infection.
She added: "CleanAural does not compromise the antimicrobial activity of Canaural1 so they are perfect partners for maintaining healthy ears."
Free Healthy Ears Combi Kit can be ordered via your veterinary wholesaler.
Reference
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has given VetSurgeon the data on which these stories were based.
In the 3.5 years since the vaccine was authorised, the incidence of suspected adverse animal reactions has been 0.064%. In other words, for every 10,000 doses sold, the VMD has received reports of 6 adverse reactions. This incidence is considered 'rare', according to the following convention:
The VMD reports that amongst the 40+ authorised dog vaccines in the UK, the incidence of suspected adverse reactions ranges from 0.002% (classified 'very rare') to 0.3% (classified 'uncommon')
However, the VMD is at pains to stress that suspected adverse reaction reports should not be used to compare the relative safety of products. They are, after all, only 'suspected' adverse reactions. The reliability of suspected adverse reaction reports is further complicated by the fact that vaccination against leptospirosis rarely occurs in isolation, making it very difficult to interpret which adverse reactions are attributable to Leptospira vaccines.
Many vaccines providing protection against leptospirosis also contain components for prevention of other diseases, such as distemper, parainfluenza and parvovirus. In addition, many dogs are vaccinated concurrently against other diseases, such as kennel cough and/or rabies, and other products (e.g. flea and worm treatments) may be administered at the same visit. Therefore the clinical signs observed may be related to any of the products used or they may be unrelated.
The VMD says the majority of the most commonly reported suspected adverse reactions to Nobivac L4 are linked to allergic type reactions which are well-recognised potential side effects of any vaccine, and are presented on the product literature.
As to the newspaper claim that: "The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is urging owners not to use Nobivac L4 vaccine on puppies under 12 weeks old.", the WSAVA denied this in the strongest possible terms, saying: "This statement is blatantly untrue. The WSAVA would never ‘urge owners’ and would never make recommendations about individual named commercial products."
In a statement issued in response to the newspaper story, MSD said: "Nothing is more important to MSD Animal Health than the safety and efficacy of our products, and the health and well-being of animals.
"Nobivac L4 was launched in 2013 across Europe to prevent dogs from contracting Leptospirosis which is a serious zoonotic disease. It is one of the most widely used vaccines for dogs with several million doses being used annually to successfully prevent infection in dogs."
"As a responsible animal health company, we take every adverse reaction report seriously and investigate thoroughly. Whenever possible, we work with the pet owner and attending veterinary surgeon to assemble as much clinical information as we can to help determine the cause of a pet’s health issue, and whether or not the product may have been involved .
"We report findings to governing regulatory agencies around the world (based on a country’s respective laws and policies), so that they can make a fully informed, scientific assessment about the safety of the product. We do this so that accurate safety and efficacy information is available for veterinary surgeons prescribing our products."
In a parting shot, the WSAVA said: "The WSAVA guidelines are publicly available on-line and this journalist has clearly not undertaken adequate research before publishing this article."
See: www.wsava.org/educational/vaccination-guidelines-group
The service will be available to veterinary practices that use more than £250/€300 of Royal Canin urinary diets per year.
The company has enlisted the support of an independent laboratory to carry out an infrared spectroscopy analysis of the stones, in order to make a quantitative and qualitative assessment of their composition. Royal Canin says that by appreciating the mineral-type in all layers, the best dietary recommendation can be made.
Lee Danks, Royal Canin’s Veterinary Scientific Support Manager, said: "Managing cat and dog urolithiasis can be challenging. This valuable service will improve practices’ diagnostic capacity, enabling a better understanding of a patient’s condition and a much more individualised approach to treatment and long-term prevention."
Royal Canin says there are many complex and interacting contributors to urinary stone formation1. Dietary modifications can influence urine pH, the concentration of minerals within the urine and most critically, urine turn-over through the bladder2. The many interactions between promotors and inhibitors of urolithiasis highlight just how critical a tailored nutritional approach can be to the long-term health of urinary patients.
References
The trial starts on Monday 11 July and will continue for three months to allow the College to determine levels of demand for such a service and, therefore, whether it should be made permanent.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Acting Registrar, said: "This was a potential service identified in our Strategic Plan as a way of allowing veterinary professionals to have informal, confidential, discussions with members of the Professional Conduct Department about potential fitness to practise issues, short of formally raising a concern.
"Although any discussions via the new reporting line or email address will be confidential, if a veterinary surgeon or a veterinary nurse subsequently wishes to raise a formal concern about another veterinary professional, then they generally will need to identify both themselves and the individual in order to take it through our investigation process.
"We have developed a bespoke concerns form for members of the professions who do want to raise concerns about other professionals."
Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who wish to contact a member of the RCVS Professional Conduct Department in confidence can do so by calling 07599 958 294 between 9am and 5pm, or by emailing reporting@rcvs.org.uk.
The bespoke concerns from for members of the profession can be downloaded from www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns.
According to statistics from the RCVS, almost 40% of veterinary surgeons that have registered in the UK since 2005 qualified from veterinary schools elsewhere in the EU.
Of course, it's not just in general practice that veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses from other EU member states make such an important contribution. They work across all areas of veterinary science, including the fields of animal health and welfare, animal disease surveillance, scientific research and education, wildlife conservation, and public health and food safety.
Figures from the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) estimate that over 90% of vets in meat hygiene services are non-British EU citizens.
To highlight the impact of Brexit on the veterinary profession, the BVA has written to the Secretary of State, Liz Truss MP, and to Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, requesting an early statement to the effect that non-British EU vets and vet nurses who are currently living, studying or working in the UK will continue to be able to do so in future.
BVA is also seeking reassurance for UK veterinary professionals working and studying in other EU member states.
BVA President Sean Wensley said: "It is not yet possible to comment on the reality of ‘Brexit’ since much will depend on forthcoming negotiations and the decisions that will be taken by the Government regarding, for example, whether or not to maintain existing EU legislation and rules. However, we recognise that these unanswered questions are having a profound impact on many of our members – particularly members who are non-British EU citizens, or have family members who are, and members who work alongside colleagues from other European Member States."
In the letters, Mr Wensley wrote: "I am sure there are many significant issues that your Department needs to consider [and] given the profound personal impact that the uncertainty caused by the referendum outcome is having on some of our members, we wanted to contact you at the earliest opportunity. In the forthcoming negotiations about the future relationship between the UK and the EU, we strongly urge you to make the case for all EU citizens and EU-qualified veterinary surgeons and nurses to have ongoing rights to live, work and study in the UK."
In the letter to the Northern Ireland (NI) Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Michelle McIlveen MLA, the BVA President and BVA NI Branch President Seamus O’Kane highlighted NI’s land border with EU member state the Republic of Ireland and called for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area to facilitate movement in an all-island context for both work and study purposes.
VPHA President Lewis Grant said: "Due to the particular focus on public health in many European veterinary degree courses, EU vets make an enormous contribution to both public health and animal health and welfare in the UK - often behind closed doors, monitoring and protecting public health in Approved Premises as well as welfare at slaughter to ensure slaughterhouses meet the standards that are required by law and expected by the public. Without their input and expertise, it would be difficult to ensure that Statutory requirements within the food industry are complied with."
Now, when you advertise a job on VetNurse.co.uk, the system can send a message to all your employees (and any contacts in the profession) asking them to pass it on if they know anyone suitable, and to share the advertisement on their other social networks, such as Facebook.
As a further option, practices can also now offer a cash reward for a successful introduction leading to the post being filled. In that case, the message sent to employees and contacts lets them know that there’s a reward for their help.
VetNurse.co.uk Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "Since we relaunched VetNurse Jobs, I’ve noticed a correlation between the number of times that job advertisements are shared by email or on Facebook, and the success that practices have in filling the vacancy.
"Of course, there is nothing to stop you emailing staff and contacts yourself, or offering a reward. But I suspect many don’t, and my hope is that this new feature will really help focus the mind, streamline the process and ultimately help you find the person who'll fit in with your team."
"Share & Reward is another feature exclusively available on VetNurse Jobs, alongside the VetNurse Locums Map and Find Our Jobs on VetNurse (a badge for your website that links to just your jobs).
"There's more on the way!"
The company has introduced a new online range of pack inserts for several of its key products including Vetoryl, Felimazole, Metrobactin and Thyforon so veterinary practices can download and print the latest pack inserts for the treatments.
The move will ensure that practices always have access to the most up-to-date information about the prescribed medication. Dechra says it will also save time as staff will not have to copy original documents from the pack.
The pack inserts will be available via www.dechra.co.uk and www.dechra.ie. In addition, Dechra has developed dispensing envelopes which are available at no charge from wholesalers in packs of 25.
Larry King, Marketing Manager, said: "Veterinary practices often dispense pharmaceuticals from bulk which involves having to copy original pack inserts for owners.
"By printing the online pack inserts, practices will no longer have piles of inserts to store and will be safe in the knowledge they are supplying the most up to date pack insert to their clients.
"When used together, the pack inserts and dispensing envelopes provide practices with an effective solution when dispensing from bulk."
The service offers Galen myotherapy, a form of massage, together with diet, exercise, nutraceutical and weight advice, house management advice, and an owner awareness and pain indicator assessment.
Hannah, who spent 14 years in small animal practice, said: "During a very bad week in practice I put two dogs to sleep in quick succession who’d both gone off their back legs. They were mentally there but their bodies had given up. I realised that osteoarthritis needed to be approached much more thoroughly and at a much earlier stage in a dog’s life."
CAM’s home-visiting service assesses arthritic dogs in the calm of their own surroundings. Hannah says that treatment aims to improve a dog’s posture and movement, support their ability to exercise and give owners the tools they need to make life easier for arthritic dogs. She added: "In a consultation, it can be very difficult to get all the information across to an owner whose dog has just been diagnosed with arthritis. CAM is a unique service that fills a gap. It aims to go into a dog’s home and make adjustments that will be good for that individual long-term."
Hannah says that the new service is offered alongside the owner's existing veterinary surgeon, who will need to give consent and prescribe any other treatments, such as NSAIDs, which are needed as part of the larger treatment plan. In other words, it's an additional service that vets can offer to their clients, ensuring they are doing everything they can to help their many arthritic patients.
Hannah said: "Arthritis is a household name, it's massively prevalent in humans and there are huge support services for people dealing with the chronic pain associated with the condition. As a profession we know that dogs with arthritis suffer the same pain – it’s time we had a proper service for them too. CAM is that service – a tailored, multimodal approach to help successfully manage these patients."
Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) is currently available to dog owners throughout Sussex. If you would like to know more, email info@caninearthritis.co.uk
The upgraded site uses 'machine learning', a type of artificial intelligence based on pattern recognition, to offer personalised content. The technology is now commonly used in consumer sites, such as Netflix and Amazon, but until now has not been used in the veterinary world. Content is further personalised for those vets and nurses that complete their profile on the site.
The upgrade was commissioned after Boehringer carried out a user experience survey of its old website, which revealed that whilst vets appreciated the CPD and educational materials, many were trawling through content that was not of interest to them or struggling to find what they wanted.
Jemima Mead, brand manager at Boehringer, said: "We aimed to create an engaging portal – a one-stop shop for vets who want to access high quality CPD and/or relevant information about any of our products. Vets are busy people so need to find relevant information quickly – giving them more time to focus on their clinical responsibilities. Our new slick site, tailored to their individual professional preferences, provides a valuable service that simply has not existed before."
The day included a number of CPD sessions on parasitology from ESCCAP board member Dr Hany Elsheikha, Associate Professor of Veterinary Parasitology at Nottingham University. In between, delegates were put through their paces by former Bake-off winner, Nancy Birtwhistle, after which there was a competition which Derek and Vici won with their pet- and parasite-themed cup-cakes.
Josien Woolmer, Virbac Senior Territory Manager, said: "Awareness and knowledge of parasite diseases in companion animals is increasing both in Europe and in the UK so it’s more important than ever that veterinary professionals are kept up to date with the latest developments. With the start of the 2016 series only weeks away, we thought we’d ‘spice up’ this CPD session by inviting delegates to show Nancy their baking skills. We also asked them to show creativity in carrying the pets and parasites theme across to their cup-cakes and they certainly rose to this challenge!"
Picture shows: Monique Noronha MRCVS from the Park Veterinary Centre in Watford with some of her creations.
Mark Colonnese, Aquarium’s Sales and Marketing Director said: "As someone who owns two dogs, the results of the survey have not come as too much of a surprise to me, but I know that some of my colleagues were pretty surprised just how important we think our pets are."
The survey showed that the feelings were even stronger among women, 71% of whom would regard a pet death as equally upsetting to that of a family member’s, compared to 55% of men.
Mark added: "Our results really highlight the sensitivity of issues surrounding a pet’s death. While this would be obvious to, for instance, a life insurance company, our survey reinforces the need for an empathetic customer journey among pet insurers. The first step of this process is ensuring a smooth, seamless process to minimise stress for newly bereaved pet parents."
The competition is designed to promote a healthy body shape in cats and dogs and recognise the hard work pet owners and veterinary nurses put into maintaining a pet’s healthy weight.
There are a variety of categories to enter for a variety of different weight management stages, including a dog or cat that has just started out on a weight loss programme, is currently maintaining a healthy shape following weight loss, or has always been at a healthy weight.
The categories include:
There are a number of prizes on offer, including a £1,000 holiday voucher.
Sarah Collins, Veterinary Marketing Executive at Royal Canin, said: “At Royal Canin, we have supported vet nurses and practice staff across the UK and Ireland with weight management for years. This competition is a great opportunity to showcase the fantastic work these people put into keeping their pets healthy.
"With last year’s competition receiving 360 entries, we are excited to open the competition once again. Last year we had two Labradors lose over 6.5kg and a six year old pug reduce his bodyweight by 15% in six months, so we look forward to seeing more successful weight management results from this year."
The company says that pets that have entered in previous years are eligible to enter this year's competition, and for every pet entered into the 2017 competition, both pet owner and veterinary nurse, will receive a complimentary gift.
Pets can only be entered into the competition by their veterinary nurse. To enter, register at www.royalcaninhealthyweight.co.uk or ask your Veterinary Business Manager for a paper entry form.
Entries will close on Tuesday 31st January 2017.
Picture shows last year's winner: Andrew Doyle presenting an award to their vet nurse Victoria Robinson.
BVA President Sean Wensley said: "The UK's decision to leave the European Union will have a significant impact on matters of interest to the veterinary profession, particularly in relation to regulation, education, and workforce planning, but also in terms of animal welfare, research, surveillance, and animal movements.
"BVA will work hard to ensure the voice of the veterinary profession is heard during the negotiation and discussions that will now begin, in order to secure the best possible outcomes for our profession and for animal health and welfare in the UK. The Vet Futures report provides an excellent summary of issues we need to consider in those discussions, and the Vet Futures Action Plan, due to be launched at the Vet Futures Summit on 4 July, outlines key initiatives that we need to take forward, albeit with revised timelines while the full impact of Brexit is determined.
"BVA will retain an outward looking and inclusive perspective through our relationships with international partners, including the Federation of Veterinarians for Europe (FVE), Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA) and World Veterinary Association (WVA) to ensure the UK veterinary profession continues to influence and engage on cross border issues such as disease surveillance, veterinary medicines and antimicrobial resistance."
Locums can now come and update their VetNurse Profile to display their location and a business card on a map of the UK which practices can browse when they need a locum (NB. login required to see the locums on the map).
Clicking on a locum’s flag on the VetNurse Locum Map reveals a summary profile and the distance they can travel. There are plans to add more detail in the future.
VetNurse.co.uk Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "This is all part of our programme of ongoing development with VetNurse Jobs, to make sure it remains the ‘go to’ place for anyone looking to hire a veterinary nurse or find a job.
"Whilst I’m here, I’d like to thank the practices and businesses that have already advertised on VetNurse Jobs. Your continued support is what allows us to develop these kinds of new features, all designed to help lower your recruitment costs."
Having been told at school that he'd never cut it as a veterinary surgeon, Julian qualified from Liverpool in 1981. He became a partner at Banovallum Vets in Horncastle in 1989 and later the sole owner. Along the way, he also gained AP status in Sheep and Animal Welfare and served as President of the Sheep Veterinary Society and the Lincolnshire Veterinary Association. Oh, and in 1991, he was part of a team that set a world record relay time cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats, raising £8,500 in the process.
Then, in 2012, everything changed. Julian had a cycling accident during a road race in Lincolnshire. He fractured his skull and suffered multiple brain haemorrhages, broken ribs, a fractured shoulder and a punctured lung. Doctors told his wife he'd be unlikely to survive.
But survive he did, and with his injuries precluding a return to practice, he's reinvented himself as an author and approved para-cyclist.
His book is a collection of light-hearted anecdotes and memories from his life in practice, with practical advice about what to try and avoid when working as a veterinary surgeon.
And yes, he was once called out to attend a cow stuck in a tree!
You can buy the book on Amazon in hardcover for £12.95, here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Julian-Earl/e/B01EVCT67K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1461874827&sr=1-1
The initiative was set up in 2014 by Mark Hirschel and Jo Amit, the co-founders of pet product company HOWND. It gained momentum last year when Ricky Gervais lent his support.
Jo said: "We have always brought our dogs Roxy and Laila to work with us, but when we moved into new offices back in 2014 we discovered that they weren’t allowed in the premises.
"This inspired us to create an event that publicised why dogs can make a positive difference in safe work environments, in attempt to encourage companies across the UK to adopt dog friendly policies.
"We’re overwhelmed with how successful Bring Your Dog To Work Day has become. It’s been amazing to see how many people have posted their dogs at work across all social media in 2014 and 2015. Most importantly, it was fantastic to raise money for a cause that has always been close to our hearts - the wonderful work of All Dogs Matter. We’re hopeful that this year will prove even more popular, building on the momentum of 2015."
The organisers point to an American study published in 2012 which concluded that dogs at work may make a positive difference by reducing stress levels in staff and increasing their levels of job satisfaction.
For more information, visit: https://bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk
The reported behaviour patterns, seen on a weekly basis, included rabbits biting the bars of their run or hutch repeatedly, fur pulling, biting, growling and hissing.
The charity says that with more than 680,0001 rabbits living alone, despite being highly sociable animals, and thousands more living in small hutches with no opportunity for exercise or mental stimulation, it is no surprise owners and vets are seeing these issues on a regular basis.
PDSA veterinary surgeon Rebecca Ashman said: "Our figures highlight that lack of mental stimulation can have a huge impact on pet behaviour. What’s most frustrating is the fact that many of these issues could easily be avoided if rabbits were given the right conditions, diet and companions to live alongside."
For this reason, PDSA is backing Rabbit Awareness Week’s #BuddiesForBunnies campaign to get solitary rabbits paired up with suitable companions from rescue centres. The charity says the findings should be a call to action for the 57% of rabbit owners who own single rabbits.
Rebecca added: "Pets do so much to enrich and improve our lives, but by not meeting their needs, their physical and mental wellbeing can be severely compromised. "Sadly, rabbits seem to be the forgotten pet". They can’t speak up and tell us if they’re unhappy, but with the right information and education, owners can make positive changes to their pets’ lives."