A new study, led by academics at the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences and published online in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, has investigated the occurrence of dog aggression towards people with a survey of UK dog owners.
Nearly 15,000 questionnaires were distributed to dog owners of which 4,000 were returned and used in the analysis.
The researchers found that:
The study highlighted that the majority of dogs showing aggression do so in just one of these situations. Researchers say this indicates that the common tendency to categorise dogs as either generally 'safe' or 'vicious' is a misconception, and that most dogs show aggression as a learnt response to particular situations.
Dr Rachel Casey, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare, said: "Dog owners and members of the public need to be aware that any dog could potentially show aggression if it is anxious or feels threatened, even when it has never done so before.
"On the other hand, dogs which have shown aggressive signs in one situation are not necessarily 'dangerous' when in other contexts - an important consideration in the assessment of animals, such as in rehoming centres."
The study also compared the characteristics of those dogs reported to show aggression with those which had never done so. It was revealed that factors such as training classes attended, type of training method used, the sex and neuter status of dogs, the age category of owners, and the breed of dogs were all associated with the occurrence of aggression.
Different risk factors were found to be significant in statistical models examining aggression to family members and unfamiliar people. This suggests that different factors are important in the development of aggressive signs depending on the situation.
The research also highlighted that although general characteristics, such as breed type, are significant risk factors across large populations they explain only a small amount of the overall difference between aggressive and non-aggressive dogs. This suggests that it is not appropriate to evaluate the risk of aggressive behaviour in an individual dog using characteristics such as breed type.
Reference
Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): occurrence in different contexts and risk factors, Rachel A. Casey, Bethany Loftus, Christine Bolster, Gemma J. Richards, Emily J. Blackwell, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, published online 11 December 2013.
Solihull College has announced the launch of two new university level qualifications for RVNs, being offered from September 2014.
Both the Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Advanced Veterinary Nursing Studies and BSc (Hons) in Advanced Veterinary Nursing Studies (top-up year) have been developed alongside Abingdon and Witney College and will be delivered in partnership with Oxford Brookes University. The programme will focus on developing veterinary nursing knowledge and skills above and beyond those acquired for RVN status.
The Foundation Degree includes the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing which is embedded into the second year.
Along with this, newly qualified RVN's can gain a year of clinical experience needed to undertake this RCVS qualification in their first year of the Foundation Degree.
Rosie Godfrey, Land-based HE Leader at Solihull College said: "There are currently very few higher education opportunities for RVN's and these exciting new qualifications will aid a graduate to pursue employment in clinical nursing roles requiring specialised expertise".
Professor David Evans, Head of Biological and Medical Sciences at Oxford Brookes University said: "I am delighted that the team at Solihull College has been successful in the validation of these higher education qualifications. The vet nursing team at the College can be commended on their dedication to drive forward the profession and there is no doubt these qualifications will prove to be highly popular".
To find out more about the Oxford Brookes University Advanced Veterinary Nursing qualifications at Solihull College, visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.
Protexin Veterinary has launched CystoPro, a new product to aid in the management of urinary tract infections in dogs.
According to the company, the key active ingredients in the new product are proanthocyanidins (Type A PACs), derived from cranberries, which work by reducing the ability of E.coli bacteria to infect a dog's urinary tract.
In addition, CystoPro contains the probiotic Enterococcus faecium (NCIMB 10415) E1707 which Protexin says reduces pathogenic bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract thereby lessening the risk of ascending UTIs of faecal origin.
The product also contains Mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), which Protexin claims binds E.coli and upregulates the innate immune system by attracting phagocytes to opsonise the bacteria.
Lastly CystoPro contains N-acetyl D-glucosamine which is said to reinforce the structure of the Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer that lines and protects the bladder urothelium.
CystoPro is available in boxes of 30 and 120 capsules.
The BVA has welcomed a Scottish Government consultation on the compulsory microchipping of all dogs in Scotland, launched by Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead on 27th December.
Microchipping of all dogs is already a legal requirement in Northern Ireland and will become a requirement in Wales in 2015 and in England in 2016.
BVA President Robin Hargreaves, said: "BVA has long supported the compulsory microchipping of all dogs as a significant welfare measure and so we are delighted that the Scottish Government has launched this consultation.
"Every vet in practice will tell you what a highlight it is to be able to reunite a lost dog and its owner quickly and easily. The more dogs that are microchipped, with correct details on the database, the easier that process becomes meaning fewer dogs sent to kennels and charities."
Ronnie Soutar, President of BVA Scottish Branch, said: "Microchipping is a safe, effective and permanent way to link dogs with their owners and it is an essential part of responsible ownership. It is a small cost in terms of dog ownership with veterinary practices in Scotland offering microchipping at a very reasonable price or at a discount or free as part of a practice promotion. "It is important to remember that microchips are only as useful as the information held on the database and so we must work together with the Scottish Government to ensure that dog owners understand the importance of keeping this information up to date."
The consultation also asks for views on dog licensing and compulsory muzzling of dogs in public areas - measures that BVA has not supported.
Mr Hargreaves said: "We have some serious reservations about the call for all dogs, or dogs of a specific breed, to be muzzled in public areas.
"Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act dogs are afforded the right to exhibit normal behaviour which could be compromised by the requirement to wear a muzzle at all times outside of the home. We hope that respondents to the consultation reject this idea."
The BVA says it will be consulting its members to respond in full to the consultation.
The RCVS is inviting responses from veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and animal owners to a call for evidence on the provision of 24-hour emergency veterinary care, in order to understand how best to meet the expectations of all those involved.
In an open letter to the profession and the public published on the RCVS website, the Chairman of the RCVS Standards Committee, Clare Tapsfield-Wright, said:
"Over the past two years, lay people working with the RCVS have raised questions about the veterinary profession's ability to provide 24/7 to the extent required by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, and said there is a disconnect between the public's expectations and the profession's capacity to meet those expectations."
Clare also refers to an RCVS Disciplinary Committee Inquiry in June 2013, which raised a number of issues on home visits by veterinary surgeons, including: speed of response; travelling time and distance; daytime versus out-of-hours obligations; individual versus corporate responsibility; and, staffing levels and contingency plans.
The letter is accompanied by a range of background information, including the reports of Lay Observers to the RCVS Preliminary Investigation Committee; Working Party reports from the College's 2009 consultation on 24-hour emergency cover; and, further details about the June 2013 DC Inquiry.
The College says additional feedback will be sought through next year's RCVS Survey of the Professions, and via focus group research for animal owners. Once all responses have been collated, a number of individuals and organisations will be invited to a Standards Committee meeting to present and discuss their views.
Responses in writing are invited by 5pm on Monday, 17 February 2014, and should be emailed to 24-7@rcvs.org.uk or posted to the Professional Conduct Department, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF.
Zoetis has announced the results of a YouGov survey it commissioned to look at pet owner compliance.
The survey, which formed part of the company's 'Respect Antibiotics' campaign, indicates that owners believe they are reasonably compliant. 55% of those surveyed had administered antibiotic tablets to their dog. 88% of those claimed not to have missed a dose, 87% claimed not to have any medication left at the end of the course and 89% administered medication at the same time each day.
Nevertheless, the majority of owners (52%) said they struggled to give their dog a pill and 19% believed they had insufficient information from their vet on the importance of accurate dosing and course completion. 47% said they would prefer to be offered a single treatment given by their vet and most (52%) were prepared to pay a premium for this option.
When it comes to osteoarthritis (OA) medication, the survey found that dog owners are slightly less diligent. Of the 41% surveyed that had given OA/pain medication at some point, 79% claimed not to miss a dose, 62% claimed to finish the course and 87% claimed to administer the medication at the same time each day. Once again, convenience was important, with 48% preferring a monthly treatment, rising to 57% for a long term condition and 52% being prepared to pay a premium for it. Only 17% opted for daily medication.
Andrew Page, product manager for Convenia and Trocoxil said: "We are aware that there may be a disconnect between what pet owners claim to do and what they actually do, especially as nearly half of those surveyed (49%) admitted to forgetting their own daily medication. However, the message that comes out loud and clear is that dog owners would like to be offered medication that can either be given less frequently or administered by their vet, especially as over half of those surveyed had struggled to give antibiotics to their dog and 45% had difficulties giving OA/pain medication."
The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA) has announced the online publication of the Winter edition of its journal, EJCAP, which leads on responsible use of antibiotics and is now available free to all members of the veterinary profession.
The latest edition also features articles about indoor ferrets and hyperadrenocorticism, elderly cats and osteoarthritis, and correcting a malocclusion.
As a result of a unanimous decision by the FECAVA Council in October, the journal is now freely available to all veterinary practitioners, students and nurses throughout Europe.
To access the journal, visit: http://ejcap.fecava.org
Merial has announced the launch of Oncept IL-2, the first veterinary immunotherapeutic product in Europe for the management of cancer in pets.
Described by the company as a true breakthrough in the field of veterinary oncology, Oncept IL-2 is an adjunct immunotherapy for feline fibrosarcoma.
Merial says the product is based on recombinant canarypox vector technology it developed collaboratively with veterinary oncologists, and which is used in several of its vaccines, including PUREVAX FeLV and PUREVAX Rabies.
Oncept IL-2 is indicated for cats with fibrosarcoma (2-5 cm diameter) without metastasis or lymph node involvement, in order to reduce the risk of relapse and to increase the relapse-free interval. It should be used in addition to surgery and radiotherapy.
Kevin Whelan, Merial's Technical Manager said: "Following injection around the tumour surgery site, the recombinant canarypox vector virus enters the cat's cells, which then produce interleukin-2. The presence of this cytokine stimulates an anti-tumour immune response by a variety of mechanisms, including the induction of T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells."
In a field efficacy trial, a treatment course with Oncept IL-2 (consisting of 6 subcutaneous administrations in the tumour bed over a 7-week period), as an adjunct to surgery and radiotherapy, was shown to significantly reduce the risk of relapse and to increase the time to relapse.
The product is available in packs of 6 doses, which is sufficient for a treatment course. Please contact your local Merial Territory Manager for further information or email oncept@merial.com
Poor sex education amongst cat owners may be leading to more than 200,000 unplanned litters - or 850,000 kittens every year in the UK, according to research published online in the Veterinary Record today.
Authors Dr Philippa Welsh, Professor Tim Gruffydd-Jones, Margaret Roberts and Dr Jane Murray based their findings on a survey of almost 10,500 UK households and more than 3000 completed returns (30% response rate).
Information was gathered on pet ownership, with specific questions asked of owners of female cats about how many planned or accidental litters their pets had had. The survey also aimed to probe the prevalence of common misconceptions about the breeding patterns of cats.
In all, data was collected from 715 cat-owning households, of which 426 owned one or more female cats. Around 1 in 8 (13%) of these owners said that their pets had had one or more accidental litters.
A total of 128 litters had been produced by 91 (out of 552) female cats; 65 of these had given birth to 102 unplanned litters, meaning that just under 80% of all litters had been accidental.
Unplanned litters were more than twice as likely in households owning more than one cat and more than four times as likely if the owner mistakenly believed that a female cat should have a litter before being neutered, the responses showed. Men were more than twice as likely as women to hold this belief.
The authors calculate that if this belief were dispelled, there could be around 213,000 fewer litters and more than 851,000 fewer kittens born in the UK every year.
Half (49%) of 682 cat owners surveyed believed that cats should either have a litter before being neutered (23%) or were unsure if they should (26%), despite there being no evidence whatsoever that this benefits feline health.
Similarly, among the 659 owners who answered the question about puberty, most (83.5%) mistakenly believed that the youngest age at which a cat could get pregnant was five months, with a further one in four (26%) believing that an unneutered female cat (queen) couldn't get pregnant before the age of 12 months. The authors point out that whilst it is not common for a four month old kitten to get pregnant, it does happen.
Furthermore, one in seven cat owners incorrectly thought that unneutered related cats wouldn't mate with each other, and a further one in four (24.5%) were unsure.
The authors said: "The vast majority of litters born to cats in the UK are not planned. This study suggests that improving cat-owner knowledge of the reproductive capacity of cats is likely to have a significant impact on the numbers of accidental litters."
The authors concluded that dispelling the commonly held belief that cats should have a litter before neutering would probably have the single biggest impact on the figures.
Read the full paper
The RCVS is seeking the views of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and members of the public about proposals for a new Royal Charter which would clarify and underpin the role of the College and give it formal recognition as regulator of the veterinary nursing profession.
The new Charter, approved at a meeting of RCVS Council in November, would replace the 1967 Supplemental Charter, with the most far reaching change being a proposal to make veterinary nursing a formally regulated profession on a similar footing to veterinary surgeons. Veterinary nurses would become associates of the College and have the post-nominal letters RVN. The List and the Register of Veterinary Nurses would also be effectively combined, meaning that the 1,100 listed veterinary nurses would join the 10,500 already on the Register.
Under the proposals registered veterinary nurses would continue to need to fulfil certain responsibilities, including abiding by the Code of Professional Conduct and completing an average of 15 hours a year of continuing professional development, and would be subject to RCVS disciplinary procedures.
What's new is that individuals struck off from the Register for serious professional misconduct would no longer be able to give medical treatment or carry out minor surgery under veterinary direction.
As well as changes to the regulation of veterinary nursing, the proposed Charter would also more clearly state the role and remit of the RCVS, for example, in advancing standards through the promotion of continuing professional development and the Practice Standards Scheme.
Professor Stephen May, a member of RCVS Council who led the Legislation Working Party that developed the new Charter proposals, said: "The proposed new Charter represents an historic opportunity to affirm the role of the RCVS, and to provide a modern framework for the future regulation of the professions. I call on veterinary surgeons and nurses, together with other interested stakeholders, to read the consultation documents and support our proposals."
Speaking about the need for change, RCVS President Neil Smith added: "The consultation paper explains why it is time to replace the 1967 Charter with a new version which sets out the role of the College. The present Charter doesn't explain what objects the RCVS should set out to achieve, and it is silent about veterinary nurses. The remit of the College should include being the regulator for the veterinary nursing profession, and we want a new Charter to recognise registered veterinary nurses.
"We hope that the new Charter will provide a solid basis for the work of the College for years to come. We would urge members of the professions and the public to let us know what they think and help us to make sure that we have got it right."
The consultation paper, which contains further details about the proposed Charter, is available to download at www.rcvs.org.uk/consultations. Those who wish to have their say must respond to b.myring@rcvs.org.uk with their comments by Friday 7 February 2014.
The RCVS will also be organising a meeting and a webinar during the consultation period for those who wish to ask questions about the proposals. Those interested in attending a meeting should email b.myring@rcvs.org.uk. The webinar will be held early in 2014 - further details will be on www.rcvs.org.uk in due course.
The Kennel Club has announced the launch of a new, internet-based research and knowledge sharing hub designed to bring researchers, veterinary surgeons and dog owners together.
The Kennel Club says that one of the key benefits of the Bio-Acquisition Research Collaboration (BARC), will be the ability for users to request and share tissue samples to assist with canine research. Researchers will be able to post requests for samples based on particular specifications, such as the health status of the required dog(s), the age and sex of the dogs, and how the sample should be preserved. This will simplify the process for researchers looking for samples to aid their work, which will ultimately benefit canine health research on a larger scale.
Aimee Llewellyn, Kennel Club Health Information Manager said: "BARC will be a unique online platform which will facilitate bringing together researchers and clinicians with the aim to promote dog health and unite those interested in canine health research.
"It will be a place for researchers to request the samples they need to undertake current research and will allow for vets and members of the public to offer such samples where possible in order to enable this. If, for example, a dog sadly passes away through a little known illness or disease, its owner could, when appropriate, contact researchers who are working on finding a cure, so the problem of one dog could potentially help solve the problem of many.
"The research exchange facility will also be a great way for vets to go over and above what they do in their day to day work, and we hope to see a real collaboration of those dedicated to improving dog health across the board."
Dr David Sargan, a respected scientist and senior lecturer from the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine, said: "BARC is an exciting venture. There is currently nothing like it in the UK to facilitate the sharing of canine research and I have no doubt that it will truly support canine science by creating a network of research and sample sharing. I would recommend other researchers utilise this platform to assist with their work and to find out what others are doing. Ultimately this will benefit canine health research across the board."
To visit the BARC research exchange, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/barc
For further information on the Kennel Club's work on canine health and research, visitwww.thekennelclub.org.uk/vets-researchers.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has dismissed a case against a Southampton veterinary surgeon after finding him not guilty of serious professional misconduct, saying at all times that he acted in the best interests of a dog under his care.
At the start of the five-day hearing, the charges against Edward Gillams MRCVS were that, whilst in practice at Vets Now in Southampton in 2011, he discharged a dog that he knew or ought to have known was in no fit state to be discharged, and, at the same time, failed to provide adequate advice and information to the dog's owners, particularly with regard to an alternative plan to discharge and treatment options.
The dog, an Italian Spinone called Zola, had first been taken to the Vets4Pets veterinary clinic in Southampton at 4.30pm on 2 November 2011, where gastric torsion was diagnosed. During a subsequent gastrotomy, 3kg of sausages and plastic wrappings were removed. Zola was discharged three days later, with a guarded prognosis from the operating veterinary surgeon. Zola's condition deteriorated that same evening, so his owners called the Vets4Pets practice and were referred to their out-of-hours provider, Vets Now, where Mr Gillams was on duty. On admitting Zola, the only information available to Mr Gillams was what the dog's owners were able to tell him.
The Committee heard differing witness accounts from the dog's owners and from Mr Gillams regarding what tests and examinations were to be performed, and what advice and options were suggested. Ultimately, Zola was hospitalised overnight (despite some reluctance for this from one of his owners), given pain relief and antibiotics and placed on a drip; he was then to be collected by his owners first thing for transfer back to Vets4Pets. The next morning, Zola was described as 'sternally recumbent but responsive', holding his head up but not moving and not making any attempt to get up. Mr Gillams carried Zola to his owner's car for transport back to the Vets4Pets practice. He considered that he had discharged his duty to provide advice, as this was given the night before and in the circumstances prevailing in the morning there was no obligation to repeat this. Zola died on the journey between the two practices.
Before reaching a decision, the Committee considered, in detail, the expert evidence of witnesses for both the College and Mr Gillams, which provided some conflicting views on Mr Gillams' actions. It also referred to the RCVS guidance available to Mr Gillams at the time through the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct 2010.
The Committee noted that both experts agreed that Mr Gillams could not have known Zola was about to die when he discharged him and that it was a difficult decision for Mr Gillams to make, but expressed differing views about the fitness of the dog to be discharged and whether it was in its best interests to be discharged. The Committee rejected the contention that Mr Gillams ought to have known that Zola was not fit to be discharged, and instead considered appropriate his decision to discharge him into the care of his original veterinary surgeon. It felt that continuity of care would actually be better maintained in this manner, rather than a third veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
Regarding provision of adequate advice, the Committee accepted Mr Gillams' evidence that he was frustrated that the owners refused him permission to undertake the diagnostic work necessary to treat Zola effectively, and that he had no other clinical information to work with.
Chairing and speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, its Vice-Chairman, Ms Judith Webb, said: "The Committee expresses its sincere condolences to [the owners] for the loss of their much loved family pet Zola and recognises that this loss caused the family great distress."
Ms Webb added: "The Committee accepts that [Mr Gillams] discharged his obligations to Zola and to [his owners] in a manner wholly consistent with the standards of a competent veterinary surgeon in difficult circumstances. He leaves with no stain on his character or professional ability."
The full detail of the Committee's decision is available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
Ceva Animal Health has launched Adaptil Stress Relief Now, a non-pheromone tablet to help dogs cope with predictable but unavoidable short-term stressful situations such as vet visits and car journeys.
The new product contains GABA, which, according to Ceva, plays a central role in relaxation by limiting the nerve cell activity in the areas of the brain associated with anxiety.1 It also contains L-tryptophan to increase serotonin synthesis1 and reduce stress-related behaviours in dogs.2 It also contains T-theanine, which Ceva says increases the release of GABA and inhibits the binding of the excitatory neurotransmitter L-glutamic acid to its receptors,1,3 with the effect of reducing anxiety and improving learning abilities.4 Finally, the product also contains B Vitamins (B1,B3, B6, B8 and B12), which the company says helps the body cope with the effects of stress.5
Ceva says that by administering the tablets to dogs two hours before any predictable stressful event and boosting levels of these naturally occurring substances, Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets have been shown to help 80% of dogs remain relaxed in stressful situations, with the effect lasting up to four hours after administration.6
Sarah Endersby, Senior Veterinary Advisor at Ceva said: "Pet owners often want advice from their vets to help their dog's cope with a potentially stressful event that is approaching. Many want a reliable and quick-acting solution, especially if the event is infrequent or of a short duration. An oral anxiolytic can be really useful in this situation, and can be used alongside targeted behavioural training to help the dog cope."
According to the company, study trials have proven a high safety margin, with no recognised side effects and no impact on clinical parameters.6 In palatability trials, 90% of dogs chose to eat them with no prompting.6
Ceva recommends the new product is used alone or in combination with other products in the existing Adaptil range for common stressful situations for dogs, including: house parties / visitors, fireworks, thunderstorms, noise phobias, travel, veterinary visits and visits to groomers.
For more information about Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets, including client literature, please speak to your local Ceva representative.
References
Petplan is making a last call for entries to its Veterinary Awards, which recognise members of the veterinary profession who continually go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Nominations for the awards close on 31st January.
Nominations for all categories which include Vet of the Year, Vet Nurse of the Year, Vet Practice of the Year, Vet Support Staff of the Year, Practice Manager of the Year and Petplan Insurance Advisor of the Year are judged by an independent panel of industry experts. Every nominee receives a Petplan certificate so even if your nominee isn't one of the lucky finalists they'll still know and feel appreciated that someone has taken the time and effort to nominate them.
Petplan's Head of Sales and Partnerships, Simon Masding said: "Petplan knows that the veterinary world is full of brilliant professionals. The Petplan Veterinary Awards create a wonderful opportunity to recognise high performance, and demonstrate to your clients and to the wider industry what a great job your staff do. As well as the feel-good factor, there's a commercial benefit for being nominated too, one previous winner saw a 30% growth in their business as a result of winning. So if you would like to be in with a chance, you have just one month left to encourage your clients and staff to nominate!"
Finalists are invited to attend an award ceremony held at the Birmingham Town Hall on Thursday 3rd April 2014.
To nominate a friend or colleague, or register your interest in attending the awards evening, visit www.petplanvet.co.uk.
Medivet has announced that the Pilgrims Veterinary Clinics based in Dartford and West Kingsdown have become the 100th and 101st practices to join the Medivet Veterinary Partnership
Arnold Levy, Managing Director of Medivet said: "We are delighted to welcome the Pilgrims group. Medivet was founded in 1986, and we have been growing steadily ever since. Our model is based on acquisition or partnership with existing practices. That means we are still entirely vet owned and vet managed - and I strongly believe this traditional partnership model is the reason for our success."
He added: "We invest alongside our partner practices. We share the cost of investment for new equipment, and we share the profits. This has been a consistently successful approach for us. It's given our group the resilience to thrive whatever the competition, or the state of the economy."
The RCVS is reminding veterinary nurses that their renewal fees need to be paid to the College by 31 December 2013 or they will be removed from the List/Register.
According to the College, 7,180 veterinary nurses paid their fees by the annual deadline date of 1 November 2013. Another 2,161 have made payments since then and the remaining 1,468 veterinary nurses who have still not paid their fees have been sent a letter reminding them that their fees need to be paid - and cleared - by the end of the year.
The renewal fee can be paid online via www.rcvs.org.uk/login, using the individual log-in numbers on the fee renewal letters sent in September and the overdue payment letters sent in December. Veterinary nurses who have mislaid their log-in numbers can email webadmin@rcvs.org.uk with their full name, date of birth, address on the Register or List and the badge number engraved on the back of their VN badge. Payment can also be made by bank transfer - details are on the renewal letter.
For payments made by cheque, the name of the veterinary nurse and their List/Register number needs to be written on the back. Cheques need to be received by the RCVS before Friday 20 December and the payment to have cleared by 31 December.
For any queries about registration or annual renewals, veterinary nurses should contact the RCVS Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or email membership@rcvs.org.uk
Isle of Wight based veterinary surgeon Dan Forster has had his mobile practice named as the best Business to Consumer Start-up at the inaugural Ready for Business Awards 2013.
Dan launched The Mobile Vet in June 2013, since when he has treated patients from across the Isle of Wight and allowed members of the community who may have been unable to take their pets to the vets for years due to illness or age-related conditions access care for their animals. He says his service has also reactivated many dormant patients who had not visited a vet for many years and had fallen behind with vaccinations, plus those who had decided not to visit because their pets were too nervous or aggressive. Apparently, the service has also gone down well with busy families and households with multiple pets.
The judging panel included David Hitchcock of Barclays, Amanda Hurford from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Titus Sharpe, chief executive of MVF Global and winner of the Sunday Times Tech Track 2013. They selected The Mobile Vet as the winner due to its innovative approach whilst still offering all the traditional veterinary services its customers require. The judges were also impressed by its potential for growth, not just in the South East, but possibly throughout the UK and its drive to continually invest in the latest equipment and create additional job opportunities.
Dan said: "We are truly delighted to have our achievements recognised with such a prestigious accolade so soon after launching The Mobile Vet. The help we received to get started and the on-going support available to us has made it possible to develop our idea into a thriving business operation and we now look forward to pushing ahead with our plans for the future."
Kevin Horne, chairman of the Cavendish Consortium added: "In what was a highly competitive category, The Mobile Vet stood out as offering a very difference proposition to its customers and demonstrated a clear understanding of the needs of its clients. We were impressed by the drive and determination shown by Dan and his colleagues to make what is an extremely novel idea a business reality and wish them, and all the other worthy finalists, well as they strive forward."
The Veterinary Record has published new research which shows that one in seven vets is likely to be burnt-out within 10 years of qualifying.
The study was conducted by a team of Dutch researchers led by Nicole Mastenbroek (pictured right) from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University.
They noted that veterinary surgeons' psychological wellbeing has been the subject of several studies in different countries in recent years, with some evidence suggesting that male vets are less prone to distress, anxiety, and depression. They wanted to gauge the level of burn-out and engagement with work among vets that had graduated within the past decade, and to assess whether gender or years since graduation are influential factors.
The researchers say they based their approach on the job demands-resources (JD-R) questionnaire, which balances out negative (burn-out) and positive (engagement) aspects of wellbeing associated with work. However, they tailored it specifically for veterinary surgeons, on the grounds that every profession has unique risk factors for burn-out.
The questionnaire was emailed to 1,790 vets who had qualified in The Netherlands between 1999 and 2009, with the final analysis based on the responses of 860, almost three quarters (73%) of whom were women.
Levels of exhaustion and cynicism - both of which are associated with burn-out - were significantly lower than those in a random sample of the Dutch working population. But so too was the level of work engagement.
The responses showed that one in seven respondents (14%) was burnt-out within 10 years of qualifying.
The researchers say that if the criteria for burn-out that are normally used for the Dutch workforce are applied, then the responses would indicate that 27% of the survey respondents were burnt-out.
Women also seemed to reach burn-out faster. Almost one in five (18%) of the female respondents was burnt-out within five years of graduating.
Male vets tended to be less exhausted and more engaged with work than their female peers. Job demands associated with exhaustion were work/home life balance and workload, while job resources linked to engagement included opportunities for professional development and "skills discretion" - the ability to use and develop skills on the job.
Researchers says that behavioural traits explained more of the variance in levels of work engagement between male and female vets than in levels of exhaustion.
Self-belief in one's abilities (self-efficacy) and a proactive stance are linked to work engagement in the JD-R approach. But women vets rated themselves as less effective, optimistic, proactive and assertive than did their male peers.
British Veterinary Association President Robin Hargreaves said: "These findings are worrying but sadly not surprising. We know that a burn out and other manifestations of poor mental wellbeing in veterinary professionals of both sexes are a well-recognised problem in the UK and they are a constant concern to BVA.
"The suggestion of an increased susceptibility to burn out amongst female vets adds to that concern with the increasing proportion of women in the profession."
Norbook has added a 200ml oral suspension for dogs to its Loxicom range.The company says the new presentation provides a cost-effective way to supply long-term dosing for pain management in dogs. It also says the new size will allow vets to be more efficient with stock space and animal owners will save money with less frequent repeat purchases.
Norbook veterinary advisor Rebekah Dudek said: "With winter upon us, the colder weather can cause symptoms of arthritis to worsen. With over 20% of dogs, 50% of adult cats and 60% of horses affected by arthritis now is the time to find out why so many vets are choosing Loxicom as their choice for pain management.
"This extension to the popular Loxicom range allows vets the opportunity to offer users a range of options when dispensing pain relief medication. The 200ml bottle is a cost-effective solution for long term treatment which will please both vets and pet owners."
For more information, visit: www.norbrook.com.
MORE TH>N Pet Insurance has released the results of its Pet Theft Census, which looked into the prevalence of pet theft in the UK.
The research shows that in 2012, 833 dogs and 83 cats were reported stolen to the police. That trend has continued into 2013, with 722 dogs and 62 cats reported stolen by the end of October.
MORE TH>N says the average value of a stolen cat or dog is £344.86, which would mean that pets worth £678,000 have been stolen since the start of 2012.
However, according to the survey of 4865 cat and dog owners, 37% of cat and dog thefts in the last 12 months were never actually reported to the police, so the value of stolen pets is likely far greater.
According to the survey, pets left in gardens were the most likely to be stolen (52%), followed by those left home alone (19%). Looking at dogs specifically,16% were stolen by brazen thieves while being walked by their owner. 7% were stolen when left tied up outside a shop and 5% were stolen from a car.
To help tackle the issue, MORE TH>N is giving away 500 free microchips for cats and dogs at five RSPCA centres across the UK. A hundred will be available in each centre on a first-come first-served basis. For more information visit www.facebook.com/morethan.
Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College have officially launched a new Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in Hertfordshire, to investigate the optimum methods to achieve good control, and ultimately diabetic remission, in diabetic cats.
Led by Dr Stijn Niessen, the team at the new clinic will offer diabetic cats optimum management, while at the same time gathering information to enhance current scientific understanding of the best treatment for diabetic cats.
Feline diabetes mellitus is a costly, chronic disease which can significantly decrease the quality of life of both cat owners and their pets. However, a proportion of diabetic cats can achieve diabetic remission and no longer require insulin therapy, which is increasingly considered the ultimate goal in treating diabetic cats. According to the RVC, early evidence suggests that good, early blood glucose control increases remission rates in diabetic cats. However, there is little evidence about which treatment protocol offers the best blood glucose control and chance of remission.Stijn said: "Our mission is to investigate the best method of achieving good blood glucose control, and diabetic remission, in diabetic cats. The clinic also aims to identify predictors of diabetic remission, which will help veterinarians advise their clients on the chance of their cat achieving diabetic remission in the future."
He added: "Interestingly, most cats seem to suffer from a similar type of diabetes as most humans. We always suspected cats to be extremely wise, but isn't it interesting to know that they also might hold the answer to many questions we have about the human disease!"
The clinic is currently recruiting cats that have had diabetes for less than 4 months' duration for a clinical trial, examining the effect of new insulins on blood glucose control and remission rate.
Enrolled cats will qualify for full underlying disease assessment at the referral hospital, several re-examination appointments, 12 months of prescription diabetic food, and 6 months of insulin therapy - all at no cost to owners.
For more information on the trial or the work of the clinic, contact Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic: telephone: 01707 666 605 or email: fdrc@rvc.ac.uk
The Veterinary Benevolent Fund has launched a new campaign to get a sticker displaying the organisations helpline telephone number for veterinary professionals in every practice.
The charity has produced a video which explains why.
Do you have a VBF sticker displayed in your practice? If not, you can order one today. Visit www.vetlife.org.uk
Purina has launched a range of services and support materials to help veterinary professionals approach the subject of nutrition with owners.
The Gastrointestinal Support Pack includes a GI handbook, "lunch and learn" educational sessions, a diagnostic support tool (available at www.purinavets.eu/giapplication) and a toolkit containing information sheets and diagnostic advice.
The company has also announced the result of some consumer research it conducted through One Poll in 2013, which revealed that 77% of dogs have experienced some form of digestive health issue, but only 20% of owners had visited their vet to discuss it. The research also found that 80% of owners would be willing to change their pet's diet if it would improve their digestion.
Esther Rawlinson, Purina UK Veterinary Affairs Manager said: "GI upsets and associated 'accidents' can be really distressing for both owner and pet but are seemingly suffered as 'just one of those things' by many. This needn't be the case though, as a lot of GI-related conditions could be prevented or at least managed by the correct nutritional advice and a specially formulated veterinary diet. By addressing nutrition at every consultation, vets can better identify those patients who suffer regular GI disturbance but whose owners do not feel it worthy of mentioning when in the clinic. The survey results show that there is a huge opportunity for vets to improve the health of many more of their clients' dogs and this is why Purina has introduced a range of GI services and support materials. We aim to help vets to include a nutritional assessment in all of their consultations."
For more information call PURINA PetCare Team on 0800 212 161.
Sogeval has launched Efex, a marbofloxacin tablet designed for veterinary use.
Efex tablets are available in three blister pack sizes of 10mg, 40mg and 100mg that break into halves for cats and halves and quarters for dogs, facilitating accurate dosing for a wide range of patients.
In cats, the flavoured chewable 10 mg tablets allow accurate dosing of 2.5kg and 5kg cats at 2mg/kg once daily. In dogs the 40mg four way break tablet is designed for a 20 kg dog and the 100mg for a 50kg dog.
Efex tablets are chewable and sogeval says that in a palatability study 7 out of 10 cats readily consumed them.
Each tablet contains a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic marbofloxacin for oral administration, which is readily absorbed reaching maximal plasma concentrations within two hours. It exhibits a wide range of activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, including Pseudomonas spp and Mycoplasma spp.
Zoetis has launched PetDialog and HorseDialog, the only treatment reminder apps for pet and horse owners which veterinary practices can customise with their own branding.
The app is downloadable from the Apple and Android app stores, but is only accessible by inputting a unique practice identity code.
Once the app is unlocked, owners can then input details of any medications their pet is taking and the date its healthcheck / vaccinations are due, after which they'll receive a practice-branded email reminder.
It's a similar idea to Bayer's reminder app released earlier this year, but with the very clever addition of practice branding.
John Toole, Product Manager at Zoetis said: "This is absolutely the right time to launch this app. Smartphone ownership has rapidly increased from 38% to 60% in the last three years and by 2015 it is predicted that 73% of the UK population will own a Smartphone. The use of Smartphones is no longer just the domain of the young - use and ownership is pretty evenly spread among age groups between 24 and 64, with greatest growth among the 44 -74 age group over the past three years. It comes as no surprise that recent market research confirms 57% of UK pet owners own an Android or iOS device.
"Health businesses are the most trusted by UK mobile users when it comes to receiving mobile messages. More than 11 million consumers have opted in to receive mobile messages from health companies, particularly to take advantage of appointment reminders. This form of communication can really boost loyalty where vet practices are concerned, as 74% of users say that mobile messages that had a use or benefit would maintain or enhance their loyalty to that brand.
"PetDialog has been a significant investment for us and with the help of our customers we plan to re-invest in a robust development stream to ensure the app becomes a valuable tool for pet owners and practices alike. To help practices launch and market the app we've developed an extensive bespoke range of marketing support materials from web pages and email templates to practice posters that come alive in the waiting room with augmented reality."
VetSurgeon gave the app a very quick trial. We found registration simple and easy. Clear navigation. Very good first impression.
Except ...
Honestly, whose idea was it that even the most pathologically insane pet owner would possibly, even once in a million years, want to record (and chart) the amount of time they spend hugging their pet. And not just that, but also to categorise their pet-hugging activities according to whether it was 'Morning Cuddles', 'Afternoon Hugs' or 'Evening Snuggles'. Someone at Zoetis' digital agency must have been smoking something very strong when they came up with that one.
Similarly, the ability to record the amount of time spent playing with the dog, breaking it down into specific activities such as: 'Fetch', Tug of War', 'General Playing', is surely targeted at the 0.0000000001% of the pet owning population that really should be getting some sort of professional help.
That said, the overall idea and execution is top notch. Provided Zoetis removes the madder elements of the app at the next upgrade, it'll get 5 stars out of 5. Meantime, it's still highly recommended.
For more information about the app, contact your Zoetis Account Manager