For the study, 309 university students were randomly assigned to one of three four-week stress prevention programs featuring varying levels of exposure to animal-assisted activities and evidenced-based stress management content.
The research found that students who were considered at a higher risk of poor academic performance saw a significant boost in executive function including improvements in attention, memory, self-regulation and improved cognitive function when they received exclusive exposure to interaction with the dogs.
This improvement was not seen in students who participated in a more traditional stress management learning program using lectures containing information about stress management or sessions that combined such information with lower levels of animal interaction.
Lead study investigator, Associate Professor Patricia Pendry, from Washington State University said:"Academic stress and associated negative impact on student performance is a significant issue for universities today and something we need to better address.
"While more traditional learning programs continue to play a role, the results of the study are exciting as they indicate this type of intervention can be a positive stress management tool especially for students who are at-risk of poor academic performance.
“We know from previous research the positive effects of animal visitation programs on the mood3 of college students – and even recently discovered their positive effect on stress hormone levels4. However, this is the first study to demonstrate that more frequent and regular inclusion of dogs can positively affect aspects of cognitive functioning that may be more difficult to change with existing interventions."
Study co-author and expert in Human-Animal Interaction expert Professor Nancy Gee said: "This study was informed by previous research and reinforces the growing body of evidence showing the benefits of pets for people in many different contexts and for at-risk groups.
"This type of animal-assisted stress reduction program is both easy to implement and low cost – offering a fantastic way for universities to support their students. After participating, participants feel calmer and more socially supported and this leads to an improvement in mental health and cognition.
"My hope is that evidence-based interventions which are already gaining popularity can become common practice in educational settings."
References:
The charge against Ms Law was that in November 2017, having performed surgery on Kiwi, a German Shepherd/Wolfhound-cross dog, to address gastric dilation volvulus (GDV), she failed to obtain informed consent to the entirety of the surgical process and management, including post-operative aftercare.
The charge also stated that she failed to provide adequate analgesia to Kiwi before, during or after the surgery, failed to provide appropriate and adequate fluid therapy to Kiwi, failed to offer an appropriate and adequate post-operative care plan and/or post-operative transfer for Kiwi to another practice and failed to inform the owners that there would be nobody present at the practice to provide post-operative monitoring and aftercare for Kiwi for approximately seven hours during the night.
Finally the charge stated that Ms Law allowed Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight from 12:30am to 07:45am without adequate monitoring or post-operative aftercare.
Ms Law admitted some of the charges against her, including that she had failed to obtain informed consent, failed to offer an appropriate and/or adequate post-operative care plan, failed to inform the owners that there would be nobody present at the practice and allowed Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight without adequate monitoring and/or post-operative aftercare. However, she denied that she failed to provide adequate analgesia or fluid therapy to Kiwi.
The Committee found all of the charges proved, with the exception of failing to provide adequate analgesia during the perioperative period.
Having considered the facts, the Committee then moved on to consider whether the admitted and proven charges against Ms Law amounted to serious professional misconduct, taking into account any aggravating and mitigating factors. The aggravating features were that, as a result of Ms Law’s failures in relation to analgesia and fluid therapy, there was either actual injury to Kiwi, or a risk of such injury.
In mitigation, the Committee considered that she promptly and accurately diagnosed GDV, and proceeded to perform the necessary emergency surgery. The Committee considered that the charges related to a single isolated incident and that Ms Law has had an unblemished career to date. They also noted that Ms Law had made open and frank admissions as to the majority of the charges.
The Committee found that the conduct of Ms Law set out in the majority of the charges did not amount to serious professional misconduct. However, in the judgement of the Committee, Ms Law’s conduct in allowing Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight without adequate monitoring or post-operative aftercare did amount to serious professional misconduct.
Jane Downes, who chaired the Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The Committee considers that the respondent (Ms Law) has insight into the serious mistake that she made in failing to ensure that Kiwi was checked or monitored overnight. The Committee has found that this was a single isolated incident, which involved a serious lapse of clinical judgement, which will probably stay in the mind of the respondent for the rest of her career.
"The respondent has been in practice for some nine years now, and apart from this incident, there is no suggestion that the respondent has fallen short of the standards expected of her on any other occasion. The Committee does not consider that there is a risk that the respondent is likely to leave an animal overnight after major surgery again, without ensuring that it is checked during that time, and, as such, the Committee considers that there is no future risk to the welfare of animals so far as the respondent is concerned."
The Committee considered that the finding of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect in this case is too serious for no further action to be taken, having regard to the need to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct.
The Committee therefore concluded that the appropriate sanction in this case was to issue a reprimand to Ms Law, in relation to the finding of serious professional misconduct.
Jane Downes added: "The Committee considers that this sanction, coupled with the findings of fact and disgraceful conduct made against the respondent, is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct. The Committee does not consider it necessary to issue a warning to the respondent about her future conduct, on the basis that the Committee has concluded that there is no risk of repetition."
There were three charges against Ms Creese, all pertaining to the period between July 2016 and November 2017.
The first charge was that she failed to ensure that there were adequate systems and processes in place for out-of-hours’ care for in-patients.
The second charge was that she publicised that the practice had "24 hour care provided by our vets at our practice" and/or "Care 24/7 for your pets" on its website, which suggested that staff were present at the practice 24 hours a day when they were not and as such publicity was dishonest and/or misleading.
The third charge against Ms Creese was that she failed to ensure that Kiwi's owners were informed about arrangements at the practice for out-of-hours’ care for in-patients.
At the outset of the hearing, Ms Creese denied all the charges against her.
After hearing evidence from relevant witnesses, the Committee considered that the practice did have in place systems and processes for out-of-hours care for in-patients and that there was no evidence of repeated or ignored failures of these systems and processes. The Committee therefore found the charges against Ms Creese not proved and all three were dismissed.
Achieved by VMG members who have demonstrated an ability to effectively manage a veterinary practice, hospital or unit, the CVPM is aimed at experienced managers and members of the veterinary team in a leadership or management role. The qualification tests the knowledge of candidates in areas including management, HR, communication, marketing and financial planning.
VMG Director Georgina Hills (pictured right) said: "Effective veterinary leaders require expertise in all aspects of running a successful business, as well as a deep understanding of the veterinary sector and the CVPM is unique in testing their knowledge across the board. It is increasingly recognised as a benchmark for excellence and we are delighted to have seen an uplift in applications last year."
Further details on the CVPM and the application form are available here: https://www.vetmg.com/education/cvpm/
The double-blind placebo-controlled study will examine whether the pheromone collar can help reduce the severity or development of certain potentially problematic behaviours in puppies and it is open to puppies less than 12 weeks of age.
Puppies will have to wear a collar until they are six months of age and their owners will be asked to complete a check sheet relating to their puppy’s behaviour every month. Each month a new collar will be sent direct to their home.
To encourage enrolment, the University of Lincoln is offering veterinary professionals a £10 voucher for every successful sign up to the trial.
Owners who complete all questionnaires will receive a pack of canine health and welfare goodies from Ceva Animal Health. The pack will include Adaptil Junior, Adaptil Transport and Logic Oral Hygiene Gel.
Owners will also be entered into a draw to win an iPad.
A marketing pack is available to raise awareness of the study and includes a waiting room poster, owner leaflets and a social media post for Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
For further information, email the University of Lincoln at puppydevelopment@lincoln.ac.uk.
The initiative was launched by the RCVS and the BVNA in 2016 to identify and find solutions to some of the specific issues facing the veterinary nursing profession.
In July 2016 it published the VN Futures Report and Action Plan which set out 31 actions under six broad strategic aims.
To follow up these actions, six working groups were formed to look at the broad strategic areas and, in June 2018, it was decided to set up a VN Futures Board to help coordinate and oversee the work of these groups. The Board comprises the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council Chair and Vice-Chair, Racheal Marshall and Liz Cox, and the BVNA President and Vice-President, Wendy Nevins and Jo Hinde.
Outgoing Chair Wendy Nevins said: "In its first 12 months, the VNF Board has really got to grips with the direction and legacy of the VN Futures initiative. The clarity and direction it has brought is reinvigorating the Working Groups. The next 12 months will see a real focus on delivery of the original findings of the VFN Futures initiative."
The VNF initiative is nearly three years into its original five-year life span and the Board reported that progress thus far has included the development of two new Diplomas in Advanced Veterinary Nursing, more resources to help both VNs and vets navigate Schedule 3 and publication of career case studies to demonstrate the diverse roles available in the profession.
Wendy added: "The VN Futures project has a fixed five-year horizon to make sure we keep focus on what the profession said it wanted – and needed – to be delivered. At the end it will be for the profession to decide how well this has been done – and what comes next."
The Board also confirmed plans to have a presence at the Royal Veterinary College’s Student Veterinary Nurse Fest this summer, as well as events at the BVNA Congress in October and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress in April 2020.
Racheal Marshall said: "The energy and life of the VN Futures initiative comes from veterinary nurses so we are excited to be taking this back out to meet nurses and ask them for their thoughts and comments on how these issues – like career progression, further qualifications, and emerging agendas like One Health – matter to them. We are really looking forward to a busy program of congress events in order to hear from people!"
To download the VN Futures Report and Action Plan and view some of the initiative’s latest blogs, case studies and other online resources, visit: www.vetfutures.org.uk/vnfutures/
The survey, which takes about 5 minutes (I timed it), is designed to canvas opinion about the priorities for learning and development.
Rich Casey, Junior Vice President of the VMG (pictured right), said: "From marketing to HR to financial planning and all points in between, today’s veterinary leaders require expertise in every aspect of running a successful business.
"We want to create a truly valuable, constructive and evidence-based CPD calendar for next year. Views from those working in the profession will help us to fully understand what good leadership and management look like in the veterinary world and we will then make sure that the programme promotes best practice in these important areas. We thank everyone who takes the time to complete the survey."
The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VETCPDPR
The equine events will initially take place at Rossdales Equine Hospital in Suffolk on 22nd October and at Ashbrook Veterinary Hospital in Cheshire on 5th December.
The roadshow will see a range of speakers renowned in the fields of equine veterinary medicine and QI share practical examples of improving outcomes for equine patients. Interactive workshops, real-life scenarios and case studies will show how QI techniques can be applied in practice to help teams prevent and respond to errors.
Confirmed speakers include Professor Debra Archer, Head of Equine Surgery and Professor in Equine Surgery at the University of Liverpool, Dr Alice Bird, Senior Clinical Anaesthetist at the Animal Health Trust and Dr Rachel Dean, Director of Clinical Research and Excellence in Practice, VetPartners.
President Elect of BEVA, Tim Mair, said: "There are many challenges to being an equine vet and running a successful equine practice. Even in large practices and equine hospitals, there is a risk that we operate in our own little bubble and assume that what we are doing is best practice, whereas in reality we could often do a better job.
"Clinical governance and quality improvement are tools that allow us to critically appraise our day-to-day work and identify ways in which we can continuously improve what we do – to the benefit of our patients and clients, as well as to ourselves."
For the full programme and to buy tickets, visit bit.ly/RCVSKnowledgeEvents.
Anyone interested in booking an RCVS Knowledge roadshow for their region can do so by contacting ebvm@rcvsknowledge.org.
The survey, which received 2445 responses from BVA members, found that 16% of vets and vet students have personally experienced discrimination within a veterinary workplace or learning environment in the past twelve months, while 20% had witnessed discrimination.
Senior colleagues were most commonly responsible for the discrimination (47% of incidents), with discrimination from clients accounting for 35% of incidents.
Sex discrimination was the most common type reported (44% of incidents) and was particularly prevalent in academic settings and in production animal, equine, and mixed practices.
Race discrimination was the next most commonly reported (27% of incidents).
Respondents also gave details of discrimination in relation to other protected characteristics, including age, sexuality, disability and gender reassignment.
Younger vets were more likely than older vets to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year (27% of those under 35 had experienced discrimination).
Female vets were more than twice as likely to have experienced discrimination than their male colleagues (19% and 8% respectively).
The incidence of discrimination was higher amongst vets from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds. Those who described their sexual orientation as bi, gay or lesbian were twice as likely to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year.
Despite the high incidence of discrimination reported, responses to the same survey showed that only 56% of the profession feel concerned about discrimination.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Daniella Dos Santos (pictured right) said: "This is the first time anyone has collected such a significant body of evidence on this issue and the results are truly shocking. It is completely unacceptable that so many members of the veterinary team are subject to discrimination not just from clients but from members of our own profession.
"Worryingly, it seems that the scale of the issue will come as a surprise to many members of our profession and so it is vital that we all join the conversation and reflect on what role we can play to improve equality and inclusion. The veterinary team must become a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We cannot accept anything less for ourselves, for our colleagues and for our profession."
Only 12% of respondents were satisfied with how their incident had been dealt, rising to 23% among those who felt able to report. Daniella said: "Many of the experiences documented in our report are shocking and distressing and this distress is often compounded by what comes next. It was very saddening to hear that so many people have felt unable to report their experiences or that their reports were handled badly by those who received them.
"Experiencing discrimination can be very traumatic, without the ‘double-whammy’ of having your complaint dismissed or mishandled by managers or senior staff. We need to make sure everyone who experiences discrimination is able to get the outcome they deserve.
"Through the discrimination questionnaire we heard many distressing stories from vets, students, vet nurses and other colleagues. We are incredibly grateful to them for sharing these with us so that we can raise awareness of what’s happening in our veterinary workplaces."
To raise awareness of the scale of the issue, the BVA is inviting all members of the veterinary team to join a "Big Conversation on equality and inclusion in the veterinary professions", starting with the release of its report on the current situation on discrimination, which can be downloaded here, then inviting everyone to join online engagement sessions through social media and BVA members to feed in views via their regional representatives ahead of Council on 24 July.
The webinar will look at what VNs can do to minimise and, in some cases, prevent surgical site infections and antibiotic resistance.
The lecture, which is presented by RVNs Rosina Lilywhite and Rosie Heath, will include discussion and top tip-sharing time.
It will also consolidate the role of the theatre nurse and provide updates on biosecurity, instrument care and how to run a theatre.
Rosina said: “We will be taking it back to basics and looking at where improvements can be made, often in areas that are so routine that we forget about their importance.
"It’s a great opportunity to see inside Liphook Equine Hospital, which is one of the largest equine hospitals in the UK and discover how to make your own set-up more gold standard.”
The course is free to BEVA Nurse members.
To register, visit https://www.beva.org.uk/Education/CPD/Event-Details/eventDateId/1707
If you are not a BEVA VN member you can join this CPD session and get a one-year BEVA membership for £49.
Photo: Safia Barakzai, Equine Surgeon
Whilst you're there, the company will doubtless use the opportunity to bend your ear about how its technology can save time, drive revenue, and strengthen patient care.
Still, all in a good cause, and the company says it expects to be making a significant donation towards supporting members of the veterinary community who are experiencing financial and mental health challenges.
ezyVet Chief Growth Officer Pete Brown said: ““As innovators in the veterinary software space, we’re passionate about bettering the lives of veterinary professionals and we recognise the critical work Vetlife is doing to support the hard-working veterinary community.
"We’re going to be donating £1 to Vetlife for every person that visits the ezyVet booth at the London Vet Show, so we encourage everyone to come down and help us support this very worthwhile cause.”
The first event will take place at Pride Veterinary Centre (Derby, DE24 8HX) on Monday 26th November between 6-8pm.
There will be six different tasks set up (including closed gloving & gowning and x-ray positioning) for each nurse to practise, with an extra station for CPR techniques. At each station participants will be given the chance to see elements of the task being completed by a qualified vet nurse from Pride Veterinary Centre, before being offered to have a go themselves.
Michelle Staniforth-Trengove a Veterinary Nurse at Scarsdale Vets said: "Here at Pride Veterinary Centre we are extremely enthusiastic about helping the next generation of vet nurses in their professional development, and one of the ways we try to accomplish this goal is by hosting these OSCE events. We recognise how important it is to practice key techniques prior to taking OSCE exams, so we look forward to welcoming lots of vet nurses to Pride for an evening of education and fun."
Upon arrival all attendees will receive a goodie bag which contains handy hints and tips to accompany the tasks demonstrated at each station.
Attendees will also be offered a tour of Pride Veterinary Centre, which opened in 2011. The tour will show prospective employees the state-of-the-art facilities, including operating theatres, CT, MRI and x-ray imaging suites, an on-site dispensary, hydrotherapy pool and water treadmill – to name a few!
To attend, email:pride.events@prideveterinarycentre.co.uk.
The charity, which was set up over 120 years ago, says the number of calls and emails it gets from industry professionals seeking help has increased 500% over the last 5 years; it has received more than 1,500 calls and emails over the past 12 months.
Lynne Hill, Chief Executive of Linnaeus said: "The veterinary industry is fast-paced and, at times, an extremely stressful environment, so the support on offer from Vetlife is particularly valuable and its worth is demonstrated by the significant increase in contact being made to it.
"We hope this donation will help Vetlife continue to provide the excellent service and support they have given to vets and nurses for so long."
Vetlife President Geoff Little said: "This donation from the Linnaeus Group is extremely generous. We have seen a dramatic rise in calls and emails to the service over recent years. So much so, we have recruited additional volunteers to cope with the additional contacts. It’s extremely gratifying to see the number of volunteers who are so willing to put something back into their profession and to help others.
"At Vetlife, we provide support in the shape of three core services, which are the Vetlife Helpline, which provides independent, confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year; Health Support, run by mental health professionals; and Financial Support, which provides assistance to vets or their dependents who find themselves in difficulty.
"This support from Linnaeus will help us to bridge the gap as the need for support continues to grow."
Anyone who needs support can contact the Vetlife Helpline on 0303 040 2551 or anonymously via www.vetlife.org.uk.
Photo: Vetlife President Geoff Little receives the £60,000 donation from Lynn Hill at Linnaeus.
In trials, Credelio killed more than 98% of ticks within 24 hours1, and more than 99% of fleas within 12 hours with all fleas killed within 24 hours, for one month2.
Credelio is available in two vanilla-yeast-flavoured tablet strengths and is approved for kittens and cats from 8 weeks of age and older and 0.5 kilograms or heavier.
The tablets are well-accepted by cats: in a three-month field study pet owners were 100% successful in administering the product, replicated each consecutive month3.
Elanco says the new product will be of particular interest to the one in three cat owners who currently use a topical spot on or collar that - according to its research - would prefer to give their cat a tablet when it comes to tick and flea control4.
Victoria Sumpter, Companion Animal Technical Marketing Manager at Elanco UK & Ireland said: "Not only can it be stressful to give a tick and flea treatment to a cat, it can completely disrupt a cat’s daily routine.
"With Credelio, treating a cat for ticks and fleas doesn’t have to be a big to-do. The chewable, vanilla-yeast flavoured tablets are widely accepted by cats, so owners have the flexibility to treat with or immediately after food in a way that suits their cat’s needs."
For more information, visit: www.credelio.co.uk
References
Osteopen (pentosan polysulphate sodium) is a semi-synthetic polymer which Chanelle says has anti-inflammatory properties which particularly benefit the cartilage and other components of synovial joints.
The company also says pentosan polysulphate sodium is capable of modifying the metabolism of the joint structures, leading to the production of the lubricating synovial fluid which in turn reduces pain and helps regenerate damaged joint components.
Chanelle advises that normally, a course of four subcutaneous injections is given with 5-7 days between each injection, with beneficial effects normally noticed after the second or third injection and the improvement usually continuing until after the last injection is given. The beneficial effects are usually maintained for a few months after the fourth injection. If some deterioration is noted in future, the course can be repeated, up to three times in a 12 month period.
Chanelle’s Head of Sales and Marketing Killian Gaffney said: "Osteopen is a very significant product launch for Chanelle to the UK and Irish markets, and the product will be the first alternative pentosan polysulphate sodium available."
He added: "The launch of Osteopen offers choice to the practitioner backed up by a thorough support package featuring vet and owner brochures, posters, pens and notepads."
The study also found that those who believe that gender discrimination is a thing of the past are also most likely to discriminate against women, regardless of their own sex.
For the study, which was designed by Dr Chris Begeny and Professor Michelle Ryan at the University of Exeter, 260 UK-based veterinary employers, partners, and managers were asked whether they thought women in the profession still face discrimination. They were also invited to review a recent performance evaluation of a vet. For half of the participants, the performance evaluation was labelled as being about a vet called "Mark". For the other half, the report was labelled as being about "Elizabeth".
Guess what.
(You know what's coming now, don't you)
44% of the respondents said they think gender discrimination is a thing of the past, and yet when asked: "If Elizabeth/Mark was employed in your practice, what salary do you think would be fitting for her/him?", the very same people offered "Mark" a significantly higher salary than "Elizabeth", ranging from £1,100 to £3,300 more (av. £2438.50). Strikingly, the more strongly respondents believed that gender discrimination is a thing of the past, the more they discriminated.
Interestingly, whilst the pay disparity was most pronounced amongst those who think gender discrimination is no longer a problem, even those who were generally indifferent or uncertain about the issue tended to pay "Mark" more than "Elizabeth".
A belief that gender discrimination is no longer a problem was associated with a number of other discriminatory traits.
The 44% also rated "Mark" as significantly more competent than "Elizabeth". Specifically, that they would be more likely to let "Mark" take on more managerial responsibilities, more strongly encourage him to pursue promotions and be more likely to advise other vets to look to "Mark" as a valuable source of knowledge.
By comparison, those who said they believe gender discrimination still exists also showed little to no difference in how they perceived or treated "Mark" versus "Elizabeth."
Candice Buchanan BVMS GPCert SAM&ENDO MRCVS resigned from her position at a large corporate just last week after discovering a seemingly gender-based disparity in pay. She said: "I think this study shows that it's more complacency than conspiracy that leads to men being offered better salaries than women. As a profession, we aspire to practice evidence-based medicine and that means reflecting on current practices and making a conscious effort to challenge habits and behaviours that are outdated. We must now look at the way we recruit and develop staff in the same critical way."
British Veterinary Association President Simon Doherty said: "We have been aware for some time that a stubborn pay gap exists between men and women in the profession but there has been a pervasive feeling that this will rectify itself as the large number of young female vets progress further in their careers. This report shows that this will not happen automatically. It is unacceptable that in 2018, when everything about two vets is equal, their gender can still have a significant impact on how they are perceived, treated, and paid."
There seems to be a very clear message coming out of this study. It is this: if you think gender discrimination is not happening, then you're not just wrong, you're very likely part of the problem. It also presents a strong argument for greater transparency over pay, one of the reasons VetNurse Jobs encourages veterinary employers to advertise either a pay range or a minimum offer.
A full copy of the report is available at: https://www.bva.co.uk/news-campaigns-and-policy/policy/future-of-the-profession/workforce-issues-and-careers-support/
The programme, which was developed in collaboration with the NHS Leadership Academy, is designed to teach a number of skills that underpin good leadership, including decision-making, resilience, implementing an inclusive culture and encouraging reflective learning approaches. It comprises two free-to-access courses and an optional paid for assessment.
The College says that one of the programme's most popular aspects is its audio drama, which follows the lives of veterinary professionals living in the fictional county of Glenvern. The stories that depict the characters’ working lives seek to reveal the diverse leadership challenges that veterinary professionals face on a day-to-day basis. This in turn prompts the listener to reflect, consider how they would respond, and learn from their own experiences as well as those of other people.
The first course was piloted this summer, with over 550 veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, students and practice managers helping the College to develop and refine the material, whilst a group of learners are currently piloting the second course in the series.
Sally Coles, an RVN qualified for 17 years said: “This has been a great experience; I have looked forward to spending the time out to do it. It hasn't felt like a course but an interactive learning exercise that has given me time to reflect on myself and how I can impact on others, it has also help me accept who I am and am how I am developing in my role. I would recommend this course to someone who really enjoys deep thinking and self-awareness. I agree with the comments that it has taken me longer than 4 hours a week as you really will benefit from having a journal and reading all the extras. Looking forward to more.”
Given the overwhelmingly positive feedback received on the first course the RCVS has now opened the programme to all veterinary professionals.
The programme is now accepting registrations for a new cohort of learners to begin the first of three courses on 26th November. A ‘sign-up’ email will be sent out to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses ahead of the course starting.
Director of Leadership and Innovation at the RCVS, Anthony Roberts, said: "I am very pleased to be able to announce the launch of this programme. I would urge anyone with an interest in developing their leadership skills, as well as those looking to refine their longstanding leadership skills, to take part. The feedback we have received on the first course in this programme [please see Notes to Editors] has shown us that this MOOC has a far-reaching application, and is both educational and enjoyable. Whether you are a vet, veterinary nurse, practice manager or student, this programme will be relevant and useful in your professional career."
For more information, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/leadershipmooc or email: leadership@rcvs.org.uk
Hill's Territory Manager, Leigh Allen said: "Weight management is often a difficult subject to broach with clients as no-one likes to think that they’re causing harm by loving their pets a bit too much. Allison has a passion and enthusiasm for the subject that is infectious. From the initial consult she engages with clients and helps them to start their pet’s weight loss journey, whether that may be losing a couple of pounds or half their body weight.
"She believes whole heartedly in the benefits of weight management and goes the extra mile to help people, always being there to support them, especially if it hasn’t been good news at the weigh in. Her ability to relate to, and communicate with clients is her greatest asset, and because people feel at ease, Allison is able to work with the owners to deliver huge success stories for their pets.
"I have never met anyone who can so successfully get people to make that initial first step to address a weight problem. Once owners begin to see the benefits they are generally really happy to continue, but convincing them to make take that first step is often hard. Allison really leads by example and she sets an amazing example to the rest of the team, so gold standard becomes the normal for the Redcar practice. She deserves to have her achievements recognised with this award."
Allison said: "I’ve been running weight loss clinics for 25 years and pets come to them having been recognised as being overweight by a vet or through nurse-led physical examination clinics.
"We probably have 40 pets on the weight loss programme at any one time, and the amount they lose depends on the size of the dog and other factors such as age, mobility and medical conditions. Each dog is very special to me, as I get to know them and their owners really well throughout the programme. Helping them to get healthy is very rewarding and probably the best part of my job."
One pet that has lost over a third of his body weight since joining the weight loss clinic six months ago is seven year old Cavalier Kings Charles Spaniel, Dexter. His owner Mrs Hughes said: "Allison suggested to us that being overweight could have lasting consequences for Dexter and even reduce his life expectance. His breed has a predisposition for heart disease, and she suggested we start a food diary and move onto the special metabolic food as soon as possible.
"Over the last six months Allison has been with us every step of the way – monitoring his measurements, health and weight regularly. We even talk about his achievements when we meet at our own ‘Weight Watchers’ group, and use him as a great example of what can be achieved!
"Dexter’s whole life has changed since we started on the programme and we feel confident he’ll live longer as a direct result of what has been achieved. It’s been hard, but with the support and mentoring that Allison has given us we have been able to work together and get Dexter to where he needs to be. The health check-ups not only kept us on the right track but they also ensured he didn’t lose the weight too quickly as that can be dangerous too.
"Dexter now really enjoys his regular walks and can now happily trot up hills without effort or exertion. In his latest check-up we found out he had lost a third of his body weight, and we have seen a significant increase in his energy levels and mobility. We are so grateful to Allison for helping us to give Dexter a brighter and longer future with us."
Fi Marjoram, Nurse Programme Coordinator from Hill’s Pet Nutrition Ltd, added: "Choosing a winner for the Hill's Weight Management Nurse of the Year is always a real challenge with so many outstanding entries. Allison won the award for a number of reasons, not least the incredible testimonials we received from her clients and colleagues. Allison and her team set themselves some clear goals that they exceeded time and time again, and we were so impressed with her dedication to her clients. She is clearly a valued, respected and much revered member of her team."
Photo: Allison Hodgson holding Dexter, whilst Dexter's owner, Mrs Hughes, holds Allison's award.
The team at the centre will be led by Dr Ryk Botes (pictured right), a Medivet Branch Partner with a special interest in orthopaedics and, in particular, replacement surgery.
The company says it is investing in specialist equipment to help the team refine current surgical techniques, including a gait analysis walkway which will be used to help diagnose the cause of lameness and be a means to measure improvement in surgical cases objectively. The data it provides will also enable the team to publish its results in peer-reviewed papers.
Ryk, who qualified in South Africa and joined Medivet in 2013, said: "The volume of elbow, hip and knee replacements we undertake is growing rapidly and the creation of this new centre of excellence at Medivet Faversham will enable us to provide an even higher standard of service to our clients and to help develop and refine orthopaedic techniques for use by the wider veterinary community.
"Data from the gait analysis walkway will be particularly useful in sharing our findings in scientific papers. We will also use the data to support an ongoing research project in elbow replacement surgery in partnership with one of the leaders in implant technology based in Zurich, Switzerland.
The first charge related to his conviction on two counts of common assault by beating two individuals at an incident in December 2016, as a result of which he was made subject to a community order and a restraining order, as well as being fined and made to pay a victim surcharge and costs.
The second charge related to him undertaking, or attempting to undertake non-emergency surgery on the eyelid of one of the individuals referred to in the first charge, and administering, or attempting to administer, a Prescription-Only Veterinary Medicines to the same person.
The third charged related to an allegation that he had supplied the same individual with a Prescription-Only Medication other than in accordance with a valid prescription.
The second charge and third charges related to incidents which occurred some considerable time before the assault, not as a consequence of it.
At the outset of the hearing Mr Sutcliffe admitted the first and second charges against him and that these constituted serious professional misconduct. He denied the third charge. In relation to that charge the Committee found that, having considered the totality of the evidence, it was unable to be sure that the College had proved the allegation to the requisite standard of proof, namely so that the Committee was sure. Accordingly Charge 3 was dismissed.
The Committee decided that the convictions in the first charge rendered Mr Sutcliffe unfit to practise veterinary surgery and that his conduct in Charge 2 constituted serious professional misconduct.
The Committee then went on to consider sanction.
The Committee considered the aggravating features for both charges. For the first charge it considered the actual injury to one of his victims and risk of injury to the other, noting also that both of his victims were vulnerable people and one was a child, and that the overall incident during which the assaults occurred lasted over a seven hour period.
For the second charge, aggravating factors were that the non-emergency surgery performed by Mr Sutcliffe was wholly inappropriate, that there was a risk of injury to the individual on whom he performed the surgery and that his conduct was reckless.
The mitigating factors considered by the Committee were that Mr Sutcliffe recognised the gravity of the findings against him and demonstrated insight into the allegations, that the incident in charge 1, though prolonged, was an isolated one, that the incident in charge 2 was consensual and did not result in actual harm and that neither charge had any connection with Mr Sutcliffe’s veterinary practice, nor did they affect client care or animal welfare.
Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "As recognised by the Committee, the respondent has displayed insight as to the seriousness of his behaviour. Having regard to the evidence of all the character witnesses and the written testimonials the Committee accepts that the respondent’s conduct as set out in charges 1 and 2 was wholly out of character and, therefore, there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour. The Committee considers that the respondent would be fit to return to practise, having regard to his excellent track record as a veterinary surgeon to date, after any period of suspension.
"Having regards to the aggravating and mitigating factors in this case, the Committee has decided that it is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct to give a direction for suspension of the respondent’s name from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.
"The Committee considers that the period of suspension must be sufficient to mark the seriousness of the charges but must be proportionate and fair in the circumstances of the case. The Committee has therefore concluded that the appropriate period of suspension is six months."
Mr Sutcliffe has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to appeal to the Privy Council.
The NSAID's new indication is in addition to its existing license for acute pain and inflammation.
Elanco points to research it carried out which found that over a six week period, owners saw a visible improvement in their cats' performance of daily activities. There was also a 50% reduction in owner-assessed pain and disability (significantly greater than seen in the placebo group)1.
The company says the product, which is administered once-daily as a small flavoured tablet, is well-accepted by most cats, and has a robust safety profile2. It is also a winner of an ISFM Easy to Give Award.
Elanco's Veterinary Technical Consultant, Lepha McCartan said: "It is very exciting to be launching this new indication for Onsior because musculoskeletal disorders are commonplace in cats.
"Although reports vary, studies have shown that radiographic evidence of DJD has a prevalence as high as over 90%.3
"At Elanco we are passionate about keeping cats doing what they love and Onsior enables this while also giving vets more choice for managing chronic musculo-skeletal disease."
For more information, visit: myelanco.co.uk or speak to your Elanco territory manager.
The nursing stream will focus on surgery and emergency and critical care nursing, whilst the programme for veterinary surgeons will concentrate on medicine and surgery of the endocrine system and emergency medicine.
In total, the conferences offer more than 27 hours of CPD each through the two veterinary streams, together with the two-day nursing stream.
VetsSouth takes place on 6-7 March, at Sandy Park in Exeter. VetsNorth takes place on 12-13 June at the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester. Early-bird rates are now available for both events.
Speakers for 2019 include Ed Hall, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Bristol, who will discuss pancreatitis in the dog; Dr Georgie Hollis, founder of Intelligent Wound Care, a company which aims to bring the best of modern wound care to veterinary practice and veterinary welfare campaigner and vet Emma Milne who will discuss welfare issues relating to brachycephalic animals.
An exhibition showcasing the latest veterinary products and services and featuring demonstrations and workshops from exhibitors will run alongside the conferences.
Matt Colvan, Event Director, said: "VetsSouth and VetsNorth have established themselves as friendly, relaxed conferences, offering high quality CPD for vets and vet nurses who may not be able to get easily to the larger veterinary events. We urge delegates to take advantage of our time-limited Early-bird offers and register without delay."
Photo: Dr Jackie Demetriou
Doxybactin, a second generation Tetracycline, can be used to target conditions caused by bacteria sensitive to doxycycline such as rhinitis, bronchopneumonia, and interstitial nephritis in dogs and respiratory infections in cats. It will be available in multiple tablet strengths of 50 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg.
Spizobactin (spiramycin and metronidazole) is indicated for the treatment of (peri)oral and periodontal multi-bacterial infections in dogs such as those associated with gingivitis, stomatitis, glossitis, periodontitis, tonsillitis, dental fistula and other fistulous wounds in the oral cavity. It will be available in three different tablet strengths.
Both treatments are meat flavoured and the tablets can be divided twice for accurate dosing. This, Dechra says, is to help avoid the development of antibiotic resistance associated with under dosing.
Dechra Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: "The launch of Spizobactin and Doxybactin to the UK and ROI markets will offer vets even more choice when it comes to the targeted and responsible use of antibiotics for these specific conditions.
Participants travel around South Africa working on game reserves, commercial farms and in poor communities, getting experience of game capture, providing veterinary care in townships and rural areas, working in a private clinic and handling and treating large farm animals.
There are also a range of weekend activities, including kayaking, quad biking, game drives, horse riding, surfing, beach walking, bars and restaurants.
Kim said: “We’ve designed the programme so that it’s suitable for people with a wide range of experience, including veterinary and veterinary nursing students, young people considering a career in the veterinary profession and animal lovers.”
For more information, visit: wildinsideadventures.com
Ludivine, who graduated in 2008, has come over from America to take up the new post, having just completed a three-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
She said: "I’m really enjoying working as part of a great team and working with the various different disciplines here.
"I’m passionate about my ECC speciality and I have a keen interest in respiratory diseases, trauma and acid base disturbances.
"I also like teaching and being updated about the most recent studies in ECC to ensure I can deliver the most up-to-date care possible for our patients."
Ludivine was born in France and originally studied at her home town university in Lyon, progressing to a rotating internship there after graduation.
In 2012, she worked as an emergency veterinary surgeon in several general practices across France and Switzerland, before moving to the United States in 2014 to see how ECC medicine was practiced overseas.
First, she undertook an ECC internship at the University of California, followed by a three-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
Away from work, Ludivine enjoys horse riding, running, work-outs and practising her skiing in the French Alps. She also has two dogs Dalhi her Golden Retriever and Baya her German Shepherd.
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net/en-GB/specialist-services.