The annual renewal fee is due for payment on 1 November every year, although vet nurses have up to midnight on 31st December to pay before they are removed from the Register.
Of the 450 VNs who were removed for non-payment this year, some 150 have subsequently applied for restoration to the Register, paying a £123 fee to do so. The number of removals as a percentage of the whole VN profession stands at 2.7%, 0.8% higher than last year.
A list of those who have been removed from the Register on 1 January 2019, and who hadn’t restored prior to the 8 January, has been published to assist practices in making checks to ensure that all their veterinary nursing staff are still on the Register. This list can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/check-the-register/about-the-vn-register/
If you have questions about how to restore yourself to the Register, you can contact the College’s Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or registration@rcvs.org.uk.
For questions about paying the annual renewal fee or setting up a Direct Debit contact the RCVS Finance Department on 020 7202 0723 or finance@rcvs.org.uk
The survey, which forms part of Talitha's dissertation, considers the different ways in which people show their appreciation in practice, from appreciative words to tangible gifts, and which are most appreciated by veterinary nurses.
It also asks you to cast your mind back over the past month and ask yourself whether you think the appreciation you’ve received from colleagues has matched the level of work you’ve put it.
Talitha (pictured right) said: "I’m really passionate about the importance of showing appreciation and feeling valued. The more veterinary nurses that take part in my survey, the stronger the results will be, so please do!"
In all, this fascinating survey should take you no more than 5-10 minutes, if that. Here’s the link: https://rvc.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/rvnappreciationsurvey.
It has been approved by the Social Sciences Research Ethical Review Board (SSRERB) at the Royal Veterinary College.
The closing date is 31st February 2019.
You can also discuss the survey with Talitha here: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/veterinary-nurse-forum/f/5/t/31460.aspx.
The theme for this year's event, which takes place on 7th November, is the cornea. Lectures will include 'Medical Cornea', 'Cross Linking' and 'Surgical Cornea'. There will be Q&A sessions after each one.
Amongst the speakers are Chris Dixon, CertOphthal MRCVS MRCVS from Veterinary Vision Ophthalmic referrals, Christine Heinrich, RCVS & European Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology from the Eye Clinic and Sara Thomasy, Professor of Comparative Ophthalmology at the University of California from UC Davis University.
As is customary, abstracts will be presented throughout the day.
Tickets are £100 +VAT, or £60+Vat for students, interns and veterinary nurses: https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/bravo-virtual-winter-conference-2020-tickets/
The modules, which are presented by US veterinary oncology specialists Dr Chad Johannes and Dr Sue Ettinger, are titled: ‘Mastering Mast Cell Tumours’, ‘Treating Canine Mast Cell Tumours’ and ‘Stelfonta’.
Each of the modules offer 30 minutes of bitesize, interactive CPD and are suitable for both veterinary surgeons and nurses.
Dr Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: ‘We appreciate that for the majority of veterinary teams, finding time for CPD is pretty challenging at present. We therefore hope that the bitesize, on-demand format of these modules can provide the perfect solution, whilst still delivering high quality CPD’.
The modules can be accessed at: vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta/education.
Virtual lunch and learn meetings are also available from Virbac Territory Managers.
For more information, speak to your Virbac Territory Manager, or visit vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta.
The programme, which will look at the achievements and contributions of people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent, will see Dr Greene being interviewed by presenter Alex Beresford alongside a number of other prominent black Britons including athlete and broadcaster Colin Jackson, publisher and author Margaret Busby, Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, and nurse and academic Dame Elizabeth Anionwu.
Mandisa said: “I am immensely honoured to be the first Black President of the RCVS and to use this opportunity to speak to the black community, and indeed all communities, about my love of veterinary science and the importance of the work we do in safeguarding animal health and welfare and wider public health.
"I am a great believer in the phrase ‘if you see it, you can be it’ and I hope that my various talks this month and, particularly the upcoming ITV documentary, will help people recognise that veterinary professionals can come from a diverse range of backgrounds and that, provided they have the drive and the ambition, there should be no barriers to them meeting their dreams."
The two sets of guidance cover:
RCVS President Dr Mandisa Green said: “I would like to reassure my colleagues once again that we understand the extreme challenges and difficult decisions they are facing.
"The College has no interest in taking anyone to task for considered professional judgement, providing they act reasonably in the circumstances, can justify their actions and take reasonable notes.
"Sadly, we’re seeing the pandemic situation deteriorating again in the UK, but to varying degrees across the country. This presents a significant challenge in ensuring our guidance is clear and straightforward, while remaining relevant to as many people as possible.
For more information, visit: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/coronavirus-covid-19/
The series looks in detail at some of the most important issues dental specialists are seeing in pets.
The first webinar in the series, which is going live on Tuesday 3rd November at 8:00pm, looks at the impact periodontal disease has on both cats and dogs.
Co-speaker and veterinary dental specialist, Jens Ruhnau DVM, DEVDC (above, left) discusses the importance of understanding and treating the condition: "Research has shown that over 80% of dogs over the age of three, and the majority of cats, are impacted by periodontal disease. Treating the disease early and correctly is key to reducing further spread, secondary infection, and ultimately improving the quality of life of the animal".
The second webinar in the series, which will be live on Tuesday 10th November at 8:00pm, shares advice on treating tooth fractures in pets. Looking at tips on how to perform an effective oral examination, along with reviewing recent studies on the fracture limits of teeth in pet dogs.
Co-speaker and founder of DentalVets, Norman Johnston (above, right) said: "Tooth fractures are very common in both cats and dogs, and can be caused by a variety of reasons. Looking in more detail at the diagnostic process, treatments options and being aware of what objects can cause damage will help veterinary professionals, and in-turn owners, understand more about the risk of fractures."
Both webinars are free to attend, to find out more information and to register click here. https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/mars-petcare-free-webinars-tooth-fractures-periodontal-disease
Equipalazone is most commonly used to treat lameness in equines and can be prescribed as a treatment for osteoarthritic conditions, acute and chronic laminitis, bursitis and carpitis as well as to reduce post-surgical soft tissue reaction.
The new apple-flavoured version, which contains no added sugar, is presented in 1.5g sachets which are added to feed. The existing unflavoured product is still available as Equipalazone Original.
Dechra Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: “The new apple flavoured Equipalazone is the same tried and trusted popular product that vets have been using for many years but the enhanced apple flavour should improve compliance amongst even the fussiest of feeders.
"Equipalazone has been a best-selling treatment delivering powerful pain relief since we brought it to the market as the first microencapsulated phenylbutazone more than 45 years ago. The new apple flavoured presentation will give vets even more choice when it comes to providing pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatment for equine conditions."
For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk.
For the survey, 565 respondents ranked their levels of concern about different aspects of veterinary life that may be affected by coronavirus.
The top concerns were:
In addition, 42% were very or quite concerned about contracting Covid-19 in their workplace, rising to 55% amongst those working in mixed practice and 50% in small animal/exotic practice.
Respondents were more concerned about stress and burnout amongst their colleagues (67% very or quite concerned) than the impact on themselves (45%), but more than half (58%) of small animal/exotics vets reported being concerned about their own stress and burnout. Managers and employees reported higher levels of concern around stress and burnout than business owners and those who are self-employed.
When it comes to employment, the profession is a bit more optimistic. 23% of respondents are not at all concerned about job security in the veterinary sector, with 43% a little concerned and 31% very or quite concerned. Equine vets (45%) and charity vets (64%) are very or quite concerned about job security in their own sectors, against an average of 23% across all areas of work.
However, 95% of respondents had some level of concern (a little, quite or very) about the potential impact of a recession on the veterinary sector, with government, equine and charity vets most concerned.
The findings will be used to inform BVA’s work on supporting the veterinary profession as the pandemic continues.
BVA President James Russell said: “Although this is just a snapshot survey, it tells us a lot about how our colleagues are feeling six months on from the national lockdown. It paints a worrying, but not surprising, picture about the health and wellbeing of a profession that has worked incredibly hard and in very difficult circumstances this year.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way the profession has adapted to working safely during Covid-19, but we know that it has taken its toll, for example with consults taking longer, needing to cover staff shortages, and dealing with anxious clients.
“BVA also shares the profession’s concerns about the impact on students and new graduates. EMS is the jewel in the crown of UK veterinary teaching and it’s frustrating that opportunities to gain practical training have been hampered by the Covid restrictions. The issue is at the top of our agenda with the RCVS and Vet Schools Council to make sure we can collectively support the next generation of vets through this difficult time.
“As the UK is braced for the second wave, we know we are much better prepared and far more able to work safely to do our bit to tackle the spread of coronavirus. But it’s vital that we continue to support one another, as well as continuing the spirit of collaboration with neighbouring practices that helped us get through the height of the pandemic.
The snapshot survey on Covid-19 is available to view at: https://www.bva.co.uk/media/3781/voice-covid-survey-2020-results.pdf
Julia, who is a leading exponent of the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) screening test, will also support the small animal referral hospital’s neurology, ophthalmology and dermatology teams with enhanced diagnostics.
Julia was a neurology technician at the Animal Health Trust for 31 years, until it closed in July 2020. With colleagues there she helped to develop and implement BAER testing as a screening process in animals at risk of congenital deafness. Davies says this is now recognised as the gold standard in deafness testing by organisations such as The Kennel Club and various breed clubs in the UK.
Julia said: “I am so happy to be starting a new chapter at Davies. It is really exciting to be establishing the Hearing Assessment Clinic here and continuing to provide this important service both to previous clients and new ones. I am also looking forward to developing a successful, constructive working relationship with my new colleagues."
Tim Richardson, Managing Director of Davies said: "We are delighted to welcome Julia to the team at Davies. As one of the UK’s leaders in this highly specialised field she enables us to offer hearing screening, hearing tests and electrodiagnostics across the relevant disciplines, at the very highest level."
For further information visit www.vetspecialists.co.uk
For the study, 2,834 seizure incident cases were identified from a population of 455,553 dogs attending VetCompass participating practices in 2013.
The study found that that approximately 1 in 160 dogs under first opinion veterinary care are affected by seizures every year.
Many of those dogs will have underlying epilepsy, defined as dogs with two or more unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart. Seizures can be secondary to idiopathic epilepsy, structural epilepsy or epilepsy of unknown cause.
Until now, however, there has been little information on the classifications of seizures, diagnostic approaches, or clinical management of dogs with seizures in the veterinary first opinion population.
The main findings from the research were:
Dr Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animals Epidemiology at the RVC, and author of the paper, said: "Watching your dog undergo a seizure can be an incredibly scary moment for any dog owner. It is really important that dogs that seizure are rapidly diagnosed to decide whether they need no further treatment beyond careful monitoring or alternatively require a clinical work-up to define the cause of the seizures.
"There are now some excellent treatments for many seizure-related diseases. This study helps up to understand the current state of play for seizure management in dogs and identifies opportunities for improved care of these affected dogs."
Reference
The full paper is freely available from Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine and can be accessed here:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvim.15911
Ella, a Bloodhound Doberman cross, is the first cold scent dog to work with anti-poaching units in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
She has been trained specifically to work on crime scenes which are more than a day old and can follow poachers’ tracks to determine their entry and exit points to reserves, as well as their shooting positions.
Medivet says that during her first year, none of the reserves where Ella has been active have lost a single rhino. A number of court cases are also ongoing in other reserves as a result of evidence she has uncovered at crime scenes.
The cost of training Ella, her handler, support vehicle and accommodation has all been funded by the Medivet Rhino programme and by the generous donations of Medivet clients, through the Pennies digital charity box scheme.
To date, Medivet Rhino has raised more than £315,000 via Pennies to help fund this rhino protection programme.
Dr William Fowlds from the Wilderness Foundation Africa (and former Medivet employee) said: "As a cold scent tracking dog, Ella brings a formidable skill set to our anti-poaching units. Her ability to track human footsteps across a variety of terrains, day or night, is a significant deterrent to those thinking of killing our rhinos. In addition, her gentle nature makes her an endearing member of the team so, even though she’s a working dog, we can sneak a little cuddle in every now and again."
He added: "Ella is a game changer in our efforts to protect rhinos. The difference she has made to our work in just one year means that we are now working with our partner, the Chipembere Rhino Foundation, to extend our canine resources. We are indebted to Medivet and its clients for supporting our work by giving us this wonderful dog."
Dr John Smithers, Senior Partner and Project Co-ordinator for Medivet Saving the Rhino, said: "We could not be prouder of Ella’s work to track poachers during her first year in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
"With her incredible sense of smell, she has brought a new dimension to rhino protection in this region, and all of the agencies involved in protecting this iconic species benefit from her presence.
"We are deeply grateful to all our clients and staff who have supported Medivet Saving the Rhino (through Pennies and other donations) and wish Ella and her support team another successful year ahead."
Finding and settling into that first job is a particularly challenging time for a veterinary surgeon. Not only do you need to adapt to the practice environment and fit in with colleagues, but also gain a fast understanding of what's expected clinically, professionally, ethically and academically.
Recently retired after a 40-year career in practice, Clare is very well placed to give new grads useful advice. She's had six year's experience in mixed practice and 34 in small animal practice, both as an employee and an employer. She co-owned a small animal practice in Yorkshire which she developed with her veterinary partner from one surgery to a small animal hospital with four surrounding branch practices employing many vets and nurses over the years. She also spent 8 years on RCVS Council, giving her a deeper insight to the complexities of the wider profession.
What is perhaps a tad more unusual is that she writes from the perspective of someone who feels she has nothing to lose by being completely open and candid about her experiences.
Clare said: "I've really enjoyed my career and been fortunate enough to be able to balance it with family life, practice ownership and time on Council. But it hasn't always been easy. There are things I think I could have done better, and like everyone I've made some mistakes. I hope that by being open about these things, I might prevent others falling into the same traps.
The New Vet's Handbook covers employment options, interviews, mentoring, working with clients, patients and colleagues, consulting advice, dealing with euthanasia, record-keeping, veterinary standards, training and CPD, career options, professional skills and avoiding common pitfalls.
Clare added: "Although the purpose of the book is to help new grads settle in, especially those in smaller practices where a mentor may not always be readily available, I hope people will find it a funny, enjoyable read too."
The New Vet’s Handbook is available from 5m, priced at £24.95: http://www.5mbooks.com/the-new-vet-s-handbook-information-and-advice-for-veterinary-graduates.html
Jurox says Alfaxan Multidose is the bioequivalent to unpreserved Alfaxan, however the preserved formulation reduces the risk of microbial contamination, providing repeatable and reliable anaesthesia.
Alfaxan Multidose is available in two presentations of 10ml and 20ml, with the 20ml presentation priced at an equivalent price per ml as the current 10ml Alfaxan unpreserved presentation.
Jurox says there has been unprecedented interest in the new product, with the company taking pre-orders for the 20ml presentation from 60 different accounts at BSAVA this year.
Richard Beckwith, country manager at Jurox, said: "The introduction of Alfaxan Multidose to our anaesthesia and analgesia portfolio ensures that Alfaxan is more versatile than ever.
"The Alfaxan range continues to provide greater certainty and control during anaesthetic procedures, contributing towards better patient stability and a stress-free experience for the team."
For more information, visit www.alfaxan.co.uk, contact your local Jurox technical sales representative, telephone the customer services team on 0800 500 3171 or e-mail: info@jurox.co.uk.
Davies says its Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory, headed by Pedro Oliveira (pictured right), is one of only four centres in the world to perform the procedure, and it has usually required human medical support. The fact that they've been able to operate independently means the procedure should now start to become more readily available.
The procedure involves introducing special catheters via peripheral veins into the heart, where they are used to record the electrical activity of the heart muscle, thereby allowing the identification of the source and mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias.
Once the abnormal tissue is found, it is destroyed using intense localised energy delivered by another specialised catheter: radiocatheter ablation.
This technique is common in human medicine but very rare in veterinary medicine because of the level of specialisation needed.
In the past, the cardiology team at Davies needed the support of a consultant and a cardiac physiologist from the human field to help carry out the surgery. Having now done it unaided, Pedro is confident that in time Davies will be able to help considerably more patients, promptly after diagnosis.
Pedro said: "In three years we have treated one cat and 19 dogs. Several cases did not survive long enough for surgery despite a waiting time of only a few days to up to two weeks from referral to the procedure. Most of these dogs were puppies. This is incredibly frustrating as if performed early these procedures are curative for most patients."
Davies says that to date it has had a procedural success rate of 100%, with recurrence of the arrhythmia in just one dog. The remaining dogs were cured from their arrhythmias and recovered fully except for two dogs that had sustained too much heart muscle damage and continued to suffer from congestive heart failure.
Pedro added: "Hopefully in the future severe muscle damage can be avoided by early referral when the arrhythmia is detected. If you diagnose a cardiac arrhythmia, especially supraventricular tachycardia, please consider this treatment option because it is very likely to be curative."
The Davies cardiology team can be contacted at cardiology@vetspecialists.co.uk.
Incidentally, Pedro has also co-authored (with Ruth Willis and Antonia Mavropoulou) a new book on electrocardiography. Guide to Canine and Feline Electrocardiography will be published in September 2018 and is available for pre-order on Amazon now, priced at £89.99.
Lisa first helped-out at the Coventry practice as part of her Duke of Edinburgh’s Award whilst still at school and soon realised that working in a vets was what she wanted to do.
She continued volunteering at Broad Lane until she was old enough to gain a place as a student veterinary nurse.
Then, after qualifying as an RVN, she worked her way up to become Head Veterinary Nurse and later Practice Manager, whilst at the same time growing her family with 3 children.
Practice Principal Elly Pittaway said “Lisa began her career here in 1984 when it was a traditional mixed practice, often assisting the vets on farm visits before rushing back to help with the small animal evening surgery, and attending overnight emergencies as needed.
"The practice has changed hugely over the years, but Lisa remains an absolute lynchpin here.
"One of my first memories, when I’d been qualified as a vet for barely 6 months, is of her helping me and a Student Nurse with a GDV on a Guide Dog out-of-hours on a Monday evening, staying really late, keeping us both calm and getting stuck in as needed.
"That work ethic and devotion to the practice has remained unchanged over the years, and is especially remarkable, given she’s had to put up with me and the other Partners’ various demands for all that time!
"There are so many receptionists, nurses and support staff who owe their careers to Lisa, as she recruited, supported and trained them.
"And there are literally thousands of Coventry pet owners who may not realise it, but who have Lisa to thank for keeping the practice running efficiently and effectively over the years, whatever the weather, through staff shortages and pandemics, always working hard in the background so that the Broad Lane team could make their pets better.”
Congratulations Lisa, and here's to the next 40 years!
https://www.broadlanevets.co.uk
The webinar will discuss the importance of self-compassion and provide an overview of Katherine and Sarah’s research into the effectiveness of an online compassion focused therapy (CFT) intervention in improving the mental wellbeing of veterinary professionals.
Katherine and Sarah will also go into more detail about how to get the most out of a CFT course they have created, which will be made freely available for veterinary professionals on the Mind Matters website and on the RCVS YouTube channel .
Katherine said: “Our recent randomised control trial has shown the course to significantly improve resilience and self-compassion and reduce rumination and self-criticism amongst veterinarians.
"Therefore, Sarah and I are delighted to now be disseminating the CFT course freely to the veterinary professions, so that as many people are able to benefit from the evidence-based resource as possible.
“Even though our research was conducted on veterinary surgeons, we hope that the course will be useful to all those working in the veterinary team as the content can be applied in a number of contexts.
“Our webinar will explain more about our research, as well as some of the science behind the effectiveness of the course in a veterinary context.
"So, if you are interested in learning more about how CFT may be able to help you and your team, both in a personal and professional capacity, please do come along.”
Katherine and Sarah’s compassion focused therapy course will be made available on the Mind Matters website in due course. In order to access the online compassion course, individuals are invited to complete a short questionnaire before and after watching one 10-15 minute video each day for 14 days, with the aim of the video intervention being to develop self-compassion skills and reduce self-criticism.
https://vetmindmatters.org/events/
VetPartners says Valley Vets has around 200 employees, less than half of which are members of the union, although the BVU says 50% are required for recognition.
Suzanna Hudson-Cooke MRCVS, Branch Chair at BVU said: “Fees at Valley Vets have increased by 25% in two years, which is hurting pet owners whilst some staff at Valley Vets are being paid so little that they’re having to use foodbanks.
“Three years ago, VetPartners CEO Jo Malone committed to paying all staff a living wage, which still hasn’t happened”
“VetPartners did increase the salaries of lower paid members by 7.27% in the last review, but this was mostly to meet its legal obligation to pay the minimum wage.”
VetPartners responded to these points saying:
"It has been and still is our aim to pay at least the real living wage to all of our employees. We have moved closer to the aim over the past three years.
"There are 20 members of the regular team that work at Valley Vets who are below the real living wage and they are paid approximately 1.6% below that level.
"Since April 2020, we have uplifted overall salary costs at Valley Vets by 31.45% before the increase in April 2024, at a time when VetPartners, like many businesses across the UK, has been hit by a sharp rise in the cost of goods and services, interest rates and rampant inflation.
"Valley Vets’ profitability has declined over the last three years.
"We have made advances over several years in improving many benefits for our teams such as life cover, health shield, sickness and enhanced maternity cover and want to continue to do so.
"We have seen mass redundancies from other large groups and we are trying to avoid this at Valley Vets.
"The BVU in Unite requested pay and condition increases initially that would have raised employment costs by over 25% and they are currently requesting increases which would raise this by 15% which would make Valley Vets unsustainable without a significant reduction in the workforce, something we are trying to avoid.”
During annual salary reviews in 2024, we benchmarked pay for all roles within Valley Vets and they sit in the upper quartile.
"We prioritised lowest-paid team members with a 7.27% pay increase while higher paid colleagues also received an increase at a lower rate.
"We are also well aware of the affordability of care fees, and that is why we felt fees paid by our clients could not be raised any further to support significant salary increases demanded by the BVU in Unite.
The strike is due to continue till the end of July, during which time the BVU says staff are being released from the picket line as needed to provide local animals with emergency care.
Staff are not paid whilst out on strike so the BVU has started a fund, here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PTVKVK3
The practice, which has nine clinicians (including three RCVS Recognised Specialists), eleven RVNs, two human-trained cardiac physiologists and a dedicated referral administrator is the first referral practice in the UK to become an EOT.
Dave Dickson, a director alongside Jo Harris, said: "The decision to transition the clinical side of the business into employee ownership was led by the core values of the team and the desire to preserve our independence as a referral service.
"In an industry dominated by corporate acquisitions, with business models increasingly focused on keeping referral offerings within the corporate groups and limiting choice for clients, we felt it was crucial to chart a different course.
"We have a very bonded and supportive team, working together to continuously improve and evolve, where the ideas of every team member are important and all roles are equally appreciated.
"We feel that employee ownership aligns perfectly with this ethos.
Jo Harris added: “By involving all our employees in the ownership of the business, we aim to foster a culture of engagement and collaboration.
"This new structure ensures that every team member has a stake in the success of the business and a voice in how it operates.
"We believe this will not only enhance our service quality but also promote sustainable growth and innovation.
"The transition to employee ownership is not just a change in structure; it is a reaffirmation of our values and a pledge to our patients, clients, and partners that we will continue to strive for excellence in every aspect of our work.”
A team of researchers led by Tim Mair, CVS Equine Veterinary Director and Specialist in both Equine Internal Medicine and Equine Soft Tissue Surgery at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, will review 100 cases of colitis in adult horses and 100 controls referred to seven equine veterinary hospitals in the UK: five CVS equine veterinary hospitals as well as Rossdales Equine Hospital and University of Liverpool’s equine hospital.
A set of diagnostic tests on blood and faeces will be performed in these cases.
The laboratory tests will include: small redworm serology, culture and PCR of faeces for Salmonella spp, PCR of faeces for Clostridioides difficile and Clostridium perfringens, ELISA of faeces for toxins of C.difficile and C.perfringens, PCR of faeces for coronavirus.
The clinical features, laboratory results, treatments and outcomes will also be recorded.
Tim said: “Acute colitis accounts for around 5% of admissions to referral hospitals.
"And of those who are referred with it, half will not survive but there is very limited evidence available.
"So it’s vital that we build our evidence-base of this life-threatening condition.
"We hope that the outcomes of our new study will lead to a greater understanding of the causes and better inform veterinary treatment of colitis in UK adult horses.”
The Colitis in Adult Horses study is supported by a research grant from CVS, and funding for the small redworm ELISA will be given from Austin Davis Biologics.
The study started at the beginning of 2024 and the first horses have been recruited.
The results of the study are expected to be published in 2025.
Available in packs of 56 (4 x 14 tablet blister packs), Lodisure tablets are divisible for accurate dosing.
The recommended starting dose is 0.125-0.25 mg amlodipine per kg bodyweight per day, which equates to half a tablet for cats weighing less than 4kg (and more than 2kg) and one tablet per day for cats weighing between 4kg and 8kg.
It can be administered directly to the cat or given with a small quantity of food.
Dechra companion animal brand manager, Sarah Musgrave, said: “Feline hypertension is very often part of a more complex diagnosis, therefore it is important that antihypertensive therapies are easy to dose and administer.
"Lodisure is a new, first-line, easy to dose and administer treatment to control systolic blood pressure in cats while the underlying primary cause is diagnosed and treated, which vets can rely on in their day-to-day practice.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/products/cat/prescription/lodisure.
A team of three Ofsted inspectors carried out a four-day inspection, reporting that:
Head of centre Jackie Shopland-Reed said: “We are delighted to have regained our outstanding status, in our first full inspection since being graded as Good in 2015.
“It is very rewarding that the inspectors praised the high quality of teaching and the support we provide for apprentices.
"We also received feedback that apprentices enjoy their learning and feel safe and well supported.
"Our strong and effective partnerships with employers were also praised, all of which which makes us very proud.”
https://www.liteltd.co.uk
The association says that its research has found that 94% of companion animal vets say they have clients who feed a raw diet, 42% who feed meat-free diets and 29% who feed insect-protein in place of meat.
However, 6 in 10 vets are unsure how many of the cats and dogs they see are fed meat-free diets.
In a new policy position, the BVA is now urging vets to talk to all cat and dog owners about what they feed their pet, and record nutritional histories and any resulting issues on their practice systems.
BVA President Anna Judson said: “We know that owners of cats and dogs are increasingly drawn to pet diets that reflect their own personal values and lifestyle choices, and this is leading to a surge in alternative approaches to pet food.
"We support owners making informed choices about what to feed their pets, but they must be aware that these choices play a pivotal role in the health of the animal and can also have a wider impact on human health and environmental sustainability.
“One of the key issues in these conversations is the lack of long-term, evidence-based research.
"If vet teams are to maintain our position as the ‘trusted voice’ in these conversations, it’s vital that we ask the right questions and also record as much data as possible so that we can understand the long-term impact of some of these newer diets.”
The BVA says its new policy position is not trying to dictate the ‘best’ diet for individual pets but to support pet owners in meeting their pets’ nutritional needs as well as meeting their own lifestyle choices.
The BVA is also recommending changes to veterinary education to include a new emphasis on the importance of nutrition in day one competencies for vets and nurses, and improved awareness of the need for supportive conversations with animal owners.
To support the profession, the BVA says it will create a new public facing resource and lobby for better labelling of pet food and better labelling and traceability of the animal by-products that represent one of the major sources of protein in many cat and dog foods.
Anna added: “The issues around pet food are complex and with so much information available to pet owners from breeders, friends, online forums and other sources, we want to support all members of the vet team to feel fully confident in guiding their clients through dietary decisions.
"We hope that these recommendations and our upcoming resources will improve the information available to both clients and vets, supporting owners to make healthy, informed choices for their pets.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/diet-choices-for-cats-and-dogs
Invetx specialises in developing protein-based therapeutics for chronic conditions in companion animals, with a focus on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
Dechra says these therapies have targeted modes of action and therefore are often more effective, provide an extended duration of activity and have fewer side effects, all of which help to extend and improve the quality of life for companion animals while decreasing the care burden for pet owners.
Jesper Nordengaard, Chief Executive Officer of Dechra, said: "I regard this acquisition as hugely important for Dechra, marking the start of a new chapter in our growth.
"It demonstrates our ambition to create further points of differentiation and relevance with veterinarians and pet owners alike, confidence in our ability to deliver highly innovative new products, and capacity to execute large scale transactions at speed."
Jesper added: “The half-life extension technology developed by Invetx allows for the generation of therapeutics that make treatment of chronic conditions far more convenient for pet owners and veterinarians through improved compliance.
"The pipeline of products currently being developed are all high value potential and will deepen our expertise in core therapeutic areas such as atopic dermatitis and osteoarthritis, allowing for synergistic product development, sales & marketing, and education efforts in the future.”
https://www.invetx.com
Clare won the award for: 'Confidence with CPR within Veterinary Professionals. Would standardised CPR training help confidence within Veterinary Professionals?'
Clare said: “My goal was to present a clinical abstract at BSAVA Congress to try and share our findings with peers in a creative way.
"To receive the Best Poster Award was a shock and huge honour to be recognised for not only the research but RVN's undertaking research.”
In addition, George Smith MRCVS won the Best Medicine Award for: 'Predictors of clinically significant bleeding in dogs with severe thrombocytopenia'.
Kathryn Patel MRCVS won the Best Practitioner Award for: 'Reflecting on first opinion clinical improvement project across 39 UK vet practices to support diagnosis and management of OA.'
Sebastian Wylie MRCVS won the Best Surgery Award for: 'Complications and outcomes following surgical management of Achilles Tendon injury'
The Best Student Award was won by Michelle Demkova for: 'Lifting the flap on otitis externa in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK – the VetCompass view'.
Submissions for the 2025 Clinical Abstracts will open on 9th September 2024, and will close on 18th October, and those chosen will present their work at BSAVA Congress 2025, in Manchester on 20th – 22nd March.
https://www.bsavacongress.com/register-interest