The company, which operates 16 practices, achieved the highest placing of any veterinary business, reaching 38 in The Sunday Times 'Best 100 Best Small Companies To Work For' league table. It is the first animal health / veterinary business to rank in the prestigious list 5 years running, and it remains the only veterinary practice ever to achieve a three star 'extraordinary' rating in the list’s history.
The Best Companies to Work For survey is now in its 17th year and is designed to rank the cream of Britain’s motivated workforces. It is widely recognised as the most searching and extensive research into employee engagement carried out in the UK.
To achieve the listing in the Best Companies table, all of the White Cross team anonymously answered a series of in-depth questions about everything from personal development opportunities, to workplace wellbeing, contributions in the local community and overall opinions about the business.
Tim Harrison, Managing Director of White Cross Vets, said: "It really has been a case of high fives all round since we found out about this year’s placing, which puts us in this prestigious league table for the fifth consecutive year. We are a family run business that places a huge amount of importance on the wellbeing and happiness of our people and to be recognised for that is incredibly rewarding."
White Cross Vets was also recently awarded with an industry award in recognition of the initiatives it has introduced to ensure its team remain happy, healthy and fulfilled in their work. The company scooped the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons’ inaugural Wellbeing Award after the judges scored entrants on everything from development opportunities through to stress reduction initiatives and how they promote wellbeing.
Tim added: "Our employment initiatives include everything from giving everybody a day off and cake for their birthday, right through to providing four donation days a year where people can volunteer with a charity of their choice. We also provide a health care scheme and recently started offering subsidised Fitbits and gym membership as well as running a cycle to work scheme.
"One of our big priorities also involves supporting mental health, and we provide training on this, alongside a 24 hour helpline for emotional and wellbeing support.
"In addition to all of this, each year we run an annual congress packed with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities and thought-leadership talks on the latest topics affecting our industry. It’s at this event that we also hold an awards ceremony for our 170 strong team, where vets, nurses and client care co-ordinators are singled out for their superb achievements."
Further investigation revealed that the products in question: AVA Mature Cat Chicken 2kg, AVA Mature Cat Chicken 4kg, AVA Senior Cat Chicken 2kg and AVA Adult Cat Neutered Indoor 1.5kg, all had insufficient levels of thiamine (vitamin B1), which caused the cats to exhibit symptoms of sudden collapse, fitting, widespread twitching and general unsteadiness.
Talking to the BBC, Pets at Home spokesperson Brian Hudspith said it was important to alert veterinary surgeons as well as customers because thiamine deficient cats would usually present with quite different symptoms, including stiff limbs and the head falling onto the sternum.
He said: "Rather than the more typical cervical ventroflexion (head falling onto the chest) associated with thiamine deficiency, in the three cases we saw the predominant clinical signs included sudden collapse, fitting, widespread twitching and general unsteadiness on their legs, which began suddenly after 4-6 weeks of being on the diet."
Pet owners who have bought the products are being advised by the company to dispose of the contents and return the packaging to any Pets at Home store for a full refund. Owners who think their cat is demonstrating any of the symptoms are being advised to seek immediate veterinary advice, and to contact the company's customer advisors on 0800 328 4204.
The plan is designed to help mimic the way cats eat in the wild and so provide them with both physical and mental stimulation. It also encourages cats to hunt, explore, climb and play – activities which boost cats’ positive behaviour and wellbeing.
Developed by feline behaviour specialist Dr. Sarah Ellis and Dr. Lizzie Rowe at International Cat Care, the plan is also designed to help to prevent overeating and promote a balance between energy intake and energy output, in order to avoid weight gain, as well as encouraging weight loss in overweight cats.
It is estimated that there are 10 million pet cats in the UK1 and the charity points to data which suggests that 39 – 52% of them are overweight or obese2,3, something which is a major health and welfare issue4-9, and can ultimately lead to early death10.
The charity says research shows that current feeding practices are contributing to this obesity epidemic, with a number of factors associated with a cat’s modern lifestyle leading to overeating. For example, most cats need little or no exertion to obtain their food, making it more likely that the calories they take in through eating will outweigh the calories they use up through exercise (leading to weight gain). Furthermore, the way we feed our cats generally does not match the lifestyle they were designed for, resulting in a lack of mental stimulation and reduced opportunity to express natural, instinctive hunting behaviours. This can lead to boredom, apathy, anxiety, frustration and stress in cats, resulting in reduced wellbeing and potentially the development of problem behaviours.
Sarah said: "By making a few simple changes to the way we feed our cats, we can help them to live longer, healthier and happier lives."
The plan recommends:
A detailed version of the feeding plan, along with the full report behind the development of the plan, can be found on International Cat Care’s website:
https://icatcare.org/advice/general-care/keeping-your-cat-healthy/feeding-your-cat-or-kitten
A short version of the feeding plan can also be found there.
References
The practice says that because thiamine deficiency in cats is generally rare, the number of recent cases seen in the UK has been a cause for concern amongst veterinary surgeons.
Symptoms may include severe weight loss or anorexia, vomiting, impaired vision, dilated pupils, tremors and seizures. Prompt treatment is needed, usually in the form of thiamine injections, an oral supplement and an immediate change of food as a precaution.
Laurent Garosi RCVS & European Veterinary Specialist in Neurology at Davies Veterinary Specialists said: "In 20 years I have only seen a handful of cases. My concern is that there may be many more cats out there in need of a diagnosis which is why we are building awareness and supporting our referring vets in the diagnosis of this condition."
To that end, Laurent posted on the subject on Facebook, which immediately went viral, with more than 1.1 million people reached and 9000+ shares.
Davies Veterinary Specialists has followed Laurent's post with support and advice for pet owners, explaining the symptoms to look out for and the emergency measures to take. The practice has also sent more detailed information direct to its referring practices:
What are the signs of thiamine deficiency in cats? Initially most cats will show anorexia and some degree of vomiting preceding neurological signs which include fairly rapid onset of impaired vision, dilated pupils, ataxia, vestibular signs, tremors and seizures.
How do you diagnose thiamine deficiency? It is based on a combination of factors: clinical presentation, MRI findings, which are fairly typical (although not pathognomonic) and response to thiamine supplementation. Absolute confirmation is technically difficult and not widely available: direct measurement of thiamine in the blood may not reflect deficiency, as this is not a good reflection of tissue concentration of Thiamine. Indirect methods are functional tests looking at effects of thiamine or lack of it: demonstration of reduced transketolase activity in red blood cells which is not readily available for most veterinary practices, or other indirect methods such measuring abnormal metabolites such as organic acids in the urine.
What are the causes of thiamine deficiency in dogs and cats? There are three main causes: 1) inability to absorb thiamine due to gastro-intestinal disease, 2) inability to process thiamine due to liver disease and 3) decreased level of thiamine in food. The latter can be caused by the heating process used for food preparation (thiamine is destroyed by heat), addition of sulphur dioxide or sulphite preservatives to meat which inactivate thiamine and feeding food rich in thiaminase activity such as some raw fish. Therefore all-raw fish diet in cats can be a cause of thiamine deficiency.
What to do if you suspect you have a cat with thiamine deficiency and whose diet consists of a product being recalled? Unless the cat is showing neurological signs, the first step is to stop the diet and switch to another diet not listed in the recall. Thiamine supplementation (intramuscular injection) is advised in the first instance in a case with compatible neurological signs. Other causes for the neurological signs must be considered in the case of failing to respond to Thiamine injections within 24-48 hours.
DVS says it is working closely with their referring vets to raise awareness and diagnose any affected animals.
For more information, visit: www.vetspecialists.co.uk and www.facebook.com/DVSvets/
The College says it has become increasingly recognisant of how a blame culture can lead to a fear of making mistakes, something which can have a negative impact on both the mental health and wellbeing of members of the profession and, ultimately, animal health and welfare.
The anonymous online survey, which is being conducted by the Open Minds Alliance, is described by the College as a major step towards moving to a learning culture which has a greater focus on openness, reflective practice, learning and personal development.
Nick Stace, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, said: "Moving towards a learning culture is one of the key aims of our Strategic Plan 2017-19 and we have already started to make some progress in this area with our Mind Matters Initiative, for example. This survey will help establish a baseline against which we can measure any improvements over the course of the next three years.
"As a regulator this is part of our attempt to be much clearer about the kind of culture we would like to see in the professions; one that encourages members of the veterinary team to learn from each other, and from their mistakes, and to be more open about when things do go wrong in order to better manage public and professional expectations.
"By moving towards a learning culture we can also hopefully reduce levels of stress and mental ill-health within the profession, as practitioners will feel they can be more open about their mistakes and take steps to improve their practice – rather than feeling like they cannot talk about what goes wrong, which can lead to fear and anxiety.
"This is no easy task – particularly when public expectations of what veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can and should do is increasing – but we hope that by being brave and open about this new ambition we can galvanise veterinary associations, educators, practices and individual veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses and make a real difference."
The survey will also be asking to what extent members of the profession feel that the College, as the regulator, contributes to any blame culture and where improvements could be made to the concerns investigation and disciplinary process to help combat it.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Director of Legal Services, added: "It is a common misconception that if you make a mistake then this will be investigated by the College and you will end up in front of a Disciplinary Committee.
"However, we recognise that mistakes can and will happen and that expecting 100% perfection is unrealistic. The real professional conduct issues arise when members of the profession try to cover up their mistakes, whether that is to professional colleagues or clients, which often does far more damage than if the person was open and honest about what had gone wrong.
"We do also accept that there is always room for improvement in our own processes and if there are positive steps we can take to make the investigation and disciplinary process less onerous for members of the professions then we would like to hear your suggestions."
Click here to take part in the survey.
The review started with a series of focus groups amongst veterinary professionals across multiple sectors.
This was followed by an analysis of the information gleaned from the focus groups, additional stakeholder submissions, data from the College's Covid surveys, independent research studies and formal legal advice to formulate an online qualitative survey to gain the views and feedback of UK-based veterinary professionals.
In this final stage, the public consultation, all veterinary professionals, vet and vet nurse students, practice managers and all those who work in the veterinary practice team are invited to share the extent to which they agree (or disagree) with each element of the proposed new guidance on ‘under care’, their views on the requirements for a 24/7 follow-up service following a remote prescription and other safeguards, and their feedback on the proposed definition of limited-service providers.
There will also be a consultation with members of the animal-owning public, which will likely include questions asking for information about animal owner experiences with remote prescriptions, the perceived advantages and/or disadvantages of remote prescribing, and views on 24/7 care and how important a service this is to respondents.
Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS, RCVS President and former Chair of the Standards Committee, said: “The past two years have shown us that the veterinary professions are highly capable of adopting new ways of working.
"It also revealed that we can adapt our established ways of practice to better respond to shifts in public expectations and advancements in technology.
"However, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that any changes continue to allow us to provide safe and effective care for our patients, and meet the appropriate expectations of our clients.
“Whilst we recognise and reflect on the need for change, the proposed guidance seeks to protect animal health and welfare and maintain public trust by ensuring that decision-making remains firmly in the hands of individual veterinary surgeons, as to what they, in their professional judgement, consider appropriate in a specific situation.
“This consultation, then, while not a referendum on whether RCVS guidance on ‘under care’ and 24-hour emergency first-aid and pain relief should change – that decision having been made by Standards Committee and approved by Council based on the evidence gathered, including the views of the profession and objective evidence, and legal advice – is a crucial opportunity for veterinary colleagues to tell us whether we have got the draft guidance right, whether the proposed safeguards are sufficient, and whether there is anything we might have missed or should amend.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/undercare.
His most recent case was five-year-old bulldog called Jesse.
Guillaume said: "Jesse was suffering from both atlantoaxial instability and a spinal arachnoid diverticulum in the thoracic spine.
“As a result of the two conditions, he had lost a lot of mobility and was dragging his hind legs behind him.
“We decided it was best to carry out two separate operations, prioritising the surgery to tackle the atlantoaxial instability as that was potentially life-threatening.
“I used a new technique for this, adopting a dorsal approach, which involves an insertion through the top of the neck when normally this type of surgery is generally performed ventrally, through the bottom of the neck.
“We have had great success with this approach so far.
"The normal mortality rate is between 5 to 10%, however, we have now done 20 of these procedures together with colleagues, all of which have been successful.
“The main advantage of the technique is it likely reduces the risk of complications, which is why I prefer it.
“With the ventral approach you go through the soft tissue and nerves in the neck which brings the risk of vomiting, regurgitation, megaesophagus, swelling and even tracheal injury.” =
Guillaume has co-authored a publication on the dorsal surgical technique which can be found at: https://doi.org/10.3390/life11101039
This year’s theme is 'Feline Fine: how to create harmony between physical health and mental wellbeing in your treatment and management of feline cases'.
The scientific programme will include lectures, interactive sessions and in-depth masterclasses from feline experts including Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore (feline medicine specialist), Dr Sarah Heath (specialist in veterinary behaviour), Dr Matt Gurney (specialist in veterinary anaesthesia) and Professor Clare Rusbridge (specialist in veterinary neurology).
This is the third year that ISFM has hosted an annual congress event online, something the charity says has been a huge success, attracting over 3,000 veterinary professionals from 96 countries in 2021.
Dr Nathalie Dowgray, Head of ISFM said: "Whilst it was fabulous to be back in person in Rhodes this year, we cannot lose sight of the opportunity providing a virtual option gives the veterinary community."
The 2022 ISFM Virtual Congress is open to all veterinary professionals, including nurses, technicians and behaviourists who are interested in the relationship between feline emotions and behaviour, and other disciplines such as neurology, pain management, and internal medicine.
The live launch will feature a short lecture followed by a live Q&A session with iCatCare’s Vicky Halls (Cat Friendly Homing Manager), Linda Ryan (Registered Veterinary Nurse and Behaviourist) and Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore.
ISFM Veterinary members will automatically receive a ticket to the Virtual Congress as part of their annual membership benefits.
https://icatcare.org/isfm2022congress-virtual/
Full membership means veterinary nurses can now stand for nomination as trustees, allowing them to represent the needs of nurses and help guide the future direction of the charity.
It also means that the Vetlife Financial Support service, the part of the charity which for more than a century has offered financial support to veterinary surgeons and their dependants in the UK, will also be able to consider future applications for financial aid from veterinary nurses.
BVNA JVP Charlotte Pace said: “The BVNA is very excited about this development that now recognises the contribution of veterinary nurses.
"We hope that allowing veterinary nurses to stand for nomination as trustees will allow our voices to be heard far and wide.
"Veterinary nurses, just like vets, have pressures and demands in and outside the workplace, that sometimes can benefit from a little outside help, especially from such great charities like Vetlife.”
Photo: Graham Dick, Vetlife President, signs the Notice of Resolution
Organised by The Veterinary Edge in association with Simon Guiton of VETcpd, there will be three streams running throughout, with delegates able to gain 14 hours of CPD – or 16 if prepared to skip the tempting two-course lunches.
Speakers include:
Sessions run from 10am to 6pm on the first day (followed by a happy hour in the exhibition) and from 9am to 5.15pm on day two.
A two-day pass for vet nurses costs £195 and a one-day pass £110 plus VAT.
The prices will increase after 31st August.
Passes include access to all three streams, a two-course lunch, other refreshments and the congress handbook, which will include summaries of the sessions.
Accommodation is available at the recently opened Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at Sandy Park; other hotels nearby include a Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express.
www.theveterinaryedge.com.
In particular, the association says it is looking for people with expertise in the following areas:
VMG President Rich Casey (pictured right) said: “During the last two years alone, we have launched a new suite of ILM-accredited Award in Veterinary Leadership and Management (AVLM) qualifications, together with our evidence-based Leadership Standards Framework.
"We have also announced our intent to support the specific needs of our members more closely through our own congress and other initiatives, as well as helping to guide the wider veterinary profession through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
“We’re proud of what we have achieved so far but we have much more to do.
'We are looking for several new directors with specific skills to help us offer the highest level of support we can to our members in 2023 and beyond.”
The deadline for applications is 3 October 2022.
https://vetmg.com/vmg-new-director-search
The sessions will allow members of the profession to find out about upcoming College projects and put questions to the RCVS Officer Team, RCVS Council members and senior staff, in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
The first event is taking place at the Hilton Glasgow on William Street at 6:30pm, where there'll be supper and drinks before the main event at 7:30pm, when RCVS President Melissa Donald, RCVS Treasurer Niall Connell, RCVS Senior Vice-President Kate Richards, Junior Vice-President Sue Paterson, VN Council Chair Matthew Rendle, RCVS Registrar Eleanor Ferguson and RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett will update everyone on College activities and take questions.
The College says that the topics for discussion will be up to the audience but are likely to include workforce issues, the review of RCVS guidance on under care, proposals for legislative reform, VetGDP and the future of extra-mural studies.
Melissa said: “In my opening speech as RCVS President I said that one of the key missions of my presidential year was to talk – and especially listen – to as many members of the professions as I possibly can.
“Relaunching our question time programme after a hiatus will give me the opportunity to do exactly this, as well as giving members of the professions that all-important opportunity to put their questions and concerns directly to us.
"We might not be able to address every problem, but these events give an excellent opportunity for vets and nurses to raise issues, forge connections with their peers and work together to find solutions.
“I hope that many of you will be able to come to our first in-person event in Glasgow but we will also be holding these question times virtually in the future for those people who may struggle to make it to these evening events.
"Rest assured – if you want to be heard, we will find a way to listen.”
The next in-person event is due to take place in Nottingham in January 2023 while the first virtual question time will take place in November 2022.
To register for the Glasgow event visit: tinyurl.com/22pem3d6
This brings the total number of UK pet insurance companies that offer FirstVet veterinary consultations with their policies to 19, including Co-op, Costco, PETtrac, ManyPets and CoverMyPet.
Launched in 2016, FirstVet now operates in seven markets: the UK, US, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, delivering more than 30,000 consultations per month.
David Prien, CEO at FirstVet said: “FirstVet was founded with the passionate goal of making pet care more accessible for everyone.
"Our new partnership with Petwise Senior reflects our commitment to ensuring all pets, including senior pets, receive the best possible care they deserve after all those years of companionship, friendship and loyalty.
"Since launching, FirstVet has helped nearly one million pet owners around Europe.
"I really look forward to supporting Petwise Senior pets through our FirstVet app and to the many stories that will come from this great partnership!”
The Veterinary Hospital and Surgery acquired the Magdalen Arms in late 2014 and started work on the conversion of the listed building in March 2015, with particular care needed to preserve original features including its Dutch gables and the falcon logo of local brewery Lacon’s, which is incorporated into the brick work.
The new hospital was officially opened at the end of February, with the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Malcolm Bird, and local 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Jessica-Jane Applegate unveiling the plaque. More than 1,000 local people came to have a look round, many bringing their canine friends.
Clinical Director Elissa Norman said: "In recent years we had outgrown our original surgery and it started to become difficult to offer the level of service we wanted to within the space we had.
"We knew that the Magdalen Arms, in addition to being a well-known local landmark, offered all the space we needed, a central location and plenty of parking. The structure of the building made the conversion quite complex but the final result is beyond our expectations and we can’t wait to see the reaction of our clients when they bring their pets to us for the first time."
"We now have staff on site with patients 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, plenty of parking and we can offer full access for disabled clients all of which were a priority for us. The reception area is spacious and inviting, the consult rooms are well equipped and the new cat ward will create a less stressful environment for our feline patients.
"Watching this much-loved building take shape as a brand-new hospital with all the facilities we need for our patients, their owners and our staff has been special and I’m looking forward to helping it take on a different role within the community. While the building work is now finished, we have lots of plans to develop the service we offer further over the next few months."
"We are grateful to the Mayor Malcolm Bird and to Jessica-Jane for helping us celebrate the opening of the hospital and it was great to welcome so many local people and show them around as they have been so supportive during the conversion. It is clear that the building holds a strong place in many of their memories but that they are as excited as we are to see the amazing transformation that has taken place. We look forward to serving them and caring for their pets in the years ahead."
ISFM points to an editorial published ten years ago in The Lancet (Hypertension: uncontrolled and conquering the world), which presented alarming facts about hypertension in people: the risk of becoming hypertensive during a lifetime exceeds 90% for people in developed countries, with over 1.5 billion adults expected to have hypertension by 2025. It also said: 'screening is not done systematically, and the diagnosis is often made at a late stage when target organ damage has already happened'.
The Society says there are broadly similar concerns in our feline companions. Hypertension is a well-recognised condition in older cats, yet probably remains significantly underdiagnosed. The consequences can be severe, with target organ damage typically affecting the eyes, heart, brain and kidneys. Some damage, such as blindness resulting from complete retinal detachment, is irreversible. Other damage, however, is more amenable to antihypertensive treatment, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. However, this presents challenges, particularly as routine blood pressure monitoring is generally performed infrequently in cats. Furthermore, cats are notoriously susceptible to stress in the veterinary clinic, which can lead to 'white coat hypertension' and hamper interpretation of results.
The new ISFM consensus guidelines are published in its Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery1. The recommendations are those of an expert panel of veterinary clinicians and academics gathered from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France and the USA, and cover several key areas. They include: how often to monitor blood pressure for cats of different ages and health status; when antihypertensive therapy is justified based on different systolic blood pressure readings and evidence of target organ damage; and what an investigation of hypertensive cats should include.
Samantha Taylor, a specialist in feline medicine and one of the co-chairs of the guidelines panel, said: "Well-illustrated and easy to read, it is hoped that these guidelines will encourage more widespread monitoring of blood pressure in veterinary clinics to increase the early identification of this treatable condition, and prevent the severe clinical consequences of untreated hypertension."
Accompanying the guidelines, which are endorsed by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, are further resources to assist veterinarians with the diagnosis of hypertension. A blood pressure evaluation form can be downloaded from the supplementary material; in addition, a series of short videos produced by the ISFM on measuring blood pressure in cats is available in various languages at https://www.youtube.com/user/iCatCare/playlists.
Reference
During the race, which runs between Johannesburg and Durban in April 2017, Jason and Paul will cover 900km (559 miles) on their velocipedes.
They're raising money for a charity called Chipembere Rhino Foundation, a charity which works to monitor rhino and curb poaching. According to the charity, there are 20,000 African white rhino and 4,800 African black rhino remaining, which classifies them as ‘near-threatened’ and ‘critically endangered’ respectively. Against that background, poaching levels have reached crisis point, with 2,700 rhinos killed between 2000 and 2013, and a further 1215 in 2014 alone.
The importance of the charity's work was further highlighted today after news that poachers have shot an African white Rhino for its horn at Thoiry Zoo outside Paris.
Jason said: "We are living in a world where our natural resources, from water and minerals to animals and plants, are becoming increasingly rare and as a result they are highly prized and valuable. Habitat destruction and poaching are two of the greatest risks facing the world's wildlife. Rhinos are being killed for their horns, elephants for their tusks, pangolins for their scales and now even donkeys are being killed for their skins. We only have one planet and we all need to do what we can to protect it."
If you’d like to support Jason and Paul in their efforts, you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/teams/rhinocycle
Underlying the plan are three 'Brexit Principles', devised by the College and formally adopted by RCVS Council, which will guide the College’s relationship with the Government during the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.
The College says each Principle is supported by a number of specific policies that the College will lobby for in the coming months, all designed to positively engage with the post-referendum reality and with government policy.
The Principles are:
RCVS Chief Executive Nick Stace said: "It is crucially important for the College and the profession as a whole to think boldly about the post-Brexit future; we cannot expect government to give us all of the answers, instead we must work to find solutions ourselves so as to shape the future of the profession from within."
The College has also asked the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to undertake research into the attitudes and intentions of all EU-graduated veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses currently working in the UK. They will all have receive a personalised email from IES with a link to this online survey, and their answers will help inform the College’s approach to Brexit. This research will help the College to understand better the impact that Brexit may already be having, how it can support EU veterinary professionals working in the UK, and build an evidence base regarding the potential impact that Brexit may have on the veterinary workforce.
For more information on the College’s Brexit activities, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/brexit
The company, which until now has only offered loans to practice clients for veterinary treatment, is now offering practice staff loans of £1,000-£25,000 for periods ranging from 1-5 years at an APR from 7.9%, with joint applications acceptable.
Stewart Halperin, BVMS, MRCVS, founder and CEO of CarefreeCredit (pictured right), said: "I first started the company to enable other vets to provide interest-free loans to clients facing large bills for uninsured pets.
"Since then, I’ve been thinking of other ways to help practice staff in our profession and realised a quick and simple low-cost loan facility would be a great way to go beyond helping their clients to helping the staff themselves in their daily lives.
"Now, with just a simple phone call taking just 5 minutes, veterinary staff can easily access the finance they want for whatever purpose they need."
For further information call 0345 313 0177.
Dechra says phenobarbital is effective as a monotherapy in 60 to 80 per cent of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, but that in 40% of dogs, seizures cannot be controlled with phenobarbital alone. In these cases the company's potassium bromide treatment Libromide, is licensed to be used alongside Soliphen as a concurrent therapy.
According to the company, the combination of phenobarbital and potassium bromide has been shown to reduce seizure number and severity in dogs with refractory idiopathic epilepsy; in tests, the combination treatment reduced the mean seizure rate from 27.4 seizures per month to 2.2 seizures.
Dechra Veterinary Products Brand Manager Craig Sankey said: "Epilepsy is the most common chronic canine neurological disorder, affecting around 0.62 per cent of dogs.
"It can be a distressing condition for both the animal and its owner so we are launching a therapy that can reduce the number of seizures in even the most challenging cases.
"We have also produced new guidelines for prescribing vets, detailing step by step how the treatments can act alone or concurrently. We believe using Soliphen as a sole therapy or in conjunction with Libromide will make a positive contribution to veterinary professionals in their ongoing treatment and management of dogs with epilepsy."
For more information, visit www.dechra.co.uk
The university has 'hired' 'Simba', 'Tia' and 'Fern' to join its interview panel during recruitment sessions at the university’s Sighthill campus.
The dogs are let loose amongst applicants taking part in a group discussion about Labradors, their features and their biological needs, as academic staff assess students vying for a place on the nursing programme.
The university says there is a serious point behind the dogs’ participation, with their presence helping staff assess applicants’ ability to communicate with both animals and humans – a core skill for someone embarking on a career as a veterinary nurse.
The dogs also helped create a tension-free atmosphere in the room, encouraging the candidates to relax and perform to the best of their ability.
Jodie Smith, lecturer and programme recruitment officer, said: "Having dogs present in interviews, in particular good quality Labradors, tests the aptitude of potential students for dealing with animals.
"Their presence also helps the assessors hone in on candidates' intuitive skills for working with dogs, which make up a large proportion of the patients in any veterinary practice.
"Each year we have very tough competition for places on the BSc (Hons) veterinary nursing programme. Incorporating dogs into the selection procedure allows applicants to display their skills in an authentic setting and greatly helps the decision-making process."
Kathy is a trustee of the Alderney Animal Welfare Society and has previously acted as the Head of School for Veterinary Nursing and Farriery Science at Mysercough College in Lancashire. She qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1983 and, since then, has acted as an external examiner and adviser for a number of veterinary nursing course providers over the years and is currently on the editorial board for The Veterinary Nurse.
She has also been very active within the RCVS, initially as a nursing examiner and then as both a Member and then Chair of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council.
Kathy said: "I am delighted, honoured and humbled to accept the Golden Jubilee award and hope that I can continue to inspire veterinary nurses, throughout their careers, to always do the very best for their patients, clients and colleagues but not to forget to follow their dreams."
The College has also announced Barry Johnson MRCVS as the winner of this year’s Queen’s Medal, the highest honour the College can bestow upon a veterinary surgeon.
Dr Johnson is the Chairman of World Horse Welfare, travelling internationally and lecturing on behalf of the charity with a particular involvement in fundraising, profile-enhancing and education. He is also the Chairman of the World Horse Welfare International Committee, and a regional representative for the Veterinary Benevolent Fund as well as being Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Lancashire.
After graduating from the University of Liverpool in 1969 he established an equine and farm animal practice in 1974 on the Fylde Coast. He then quickly became involved in many other lines of work, lecturing at the Myerscough College for thirty years, acting on the Agricultural Training Board, and serving as RCVS President from 1993-1994. He was also an RCVS Council Member for 28 years (1986-1998; 2000-2016) and served on many RCVS Committees.
Barry said: "This is an enormous honour for a practitioner from Lancashire. I have always enjoyed being a veterinary surgeon and am grateful to my colleagues and clients for making my career so fulfilling rewarding and fun."
He was nominated by fellow veterinary surgeon, Dr Peter Jinman, a current member of RCVS Council. In his nomination Dr Jinman said: "There are few members who have contributed so much of their personal time for the benefit of the veterinary profession both locally and nationally… That this has been done often without the knowledge of the public or the rest of the profession and at no little personal expense, demands recognition… Barry represents the very best of what a veterinary practitioner can achieve both in terms of his profession and in wider society."
The winners will receive their accolade at this year’s RCVS Day, which takes place on Friday 7 July at the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Bought By Many is a company which, until now, has been using technology and data to find the best value insurance cover for pet owners whose needs are not being met. It claims to have helped 265,000 members to get better deals from existing pet insurance providers in this way.
However, in response to 40,000 pieces of customer feedback, it has now launched its own policies.
The company says that common frustrations with existing policies included: premiums that jump after the first year of cover and continue to increase over the life of a pet; customers receiving no benefit from pet insurance if they do not need to claim; and not being able to switch pet insurers and maintain cover for a pre-existing medical condition.
As a result, Bought By Many has launched three new insurance products which it says include features that no other insurer currently offers:
The company also offers 'Value', 'Regular', and 'Complete' conventional pet insurance products. These, it says, also respond to member feedback – for example, by offering the option of a zero excess or dental cover on certain policies.
Bought By Many has also launched a low-cost Liability Only policy for dog owners that starts at £10 a year.
Steven Mendel, Co-founder and CEO of Bought By Many said: "When we started Bought By Many, we wanted to transform the customer experience of insurance, helping people find the right cover for their unique needs. Our social and digital model allowed us to gather a unique set of data that showed consumers see significant gaps in the insurance currently available for cat and dog owners. These insights led to us creating our own pet insurance product range."
The College points out that there is a new voting platform this year, designed to make it easier to vote online.
The new system includes regular personalised email reminders from Electoral Reform Services which include a link to the voting platform and the ability to log in securely straight away, without having to refer to the ballot paper in order to find the security codes. Using the email address provided the College, veterinary nurses can also ask ERS to reissue the security codes if needs be.
Voting for both of this year’s elections opened on Friday 24 March with an email sent to all those eligible to vote for whom the College holds an email address. Ballot papers have also been despatched to all eligible voters along with booklets containing the candidates’ biographies, contact details and manifestos. Instructions on how to vote online and by post are included with the ballot papers.
Four veterinary nurses are contesting two places in this year’s VN Council elections. Two of these are existing VN Council members eligible for re-election while two candidates are not currently on VN Council. They are:
All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017.
Once again this year the College invited members of both professions to ‘Quiz the candidates’ by putting their questions directly to all those standing for election. Some of the key themes this year included Brexit, complementary/ alternative therapies, the structure of the veterinary industry, out-of-hours work and veterinary nurse remuneration among others.
Each candidate was invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received and produce a video recording of their answers.
These videos, along with biographies and statements for each candidate, are available to view on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/vnvote17.
No need for movie star looks, but if you've got a particular knack for taking blood pressure readings and are happy to appear on screen, the company is offering feline goodies and £50 Love2Shop vouchers in return for your help. And who knows, it could be the start of a second career in Hollywood.
Ceva is also asking veterinary surgeons and nurses for their top tips for taking blood pressure in cats, with the information potentially being featured in the film and shared with veterinary practices across the country.
For further information, please contact your local Ceva Animal Health territory manager or email cevauk@ceva.com.
The company says there will be experts on hand to answer 'highly anticipated' questions about the new something.
In addition, Royal Canin Weight Management Specialists will be on the stand to help veterinary professionals tackle the number of overweight and obese cats and dogs in the UK.
The company says it'll be providing guidance and training opportunities for veterinary surgeons and vet nurses seeking support on obese and overweight pets, helping them to carry out thorough assessments and implement tailor-made treatment programmes.
As part of its continued support of the Guide Dogs charity, visitors to the stand will also be able to have a go at reading special kibble braille signs and get tips on making veterinary services more accessible.