With Defra urging poultry owners to prepare for the increased risk of avian influenza over the winter months, the BSAVA has put together a Q&A so that veterinary professionals can offer the best advice to backyard poultry keepers.

The association has also compiled free access special collection on backyard poultry in the BSAVA library, including A nursing guide to back yard chickens, which is available until the end of December 2019.

The BSAVA's Q&As on avian influenza in backyard poultry are: 

What is avian influenza?
Avian influenza (AI) is highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds. AI viruses are usually classified into two categories: low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI), which typically causes no or very few clinical signs in poultry, and high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) which typically causes high mortality rates in poultry¹.

What are the clinical signs of disease in poultry?
The type and severity of clinical signs displayed will be dependent upon the strain of the virus and the species affected; some species such as ducks and geese may show few clinical signs². 

How is the disease spread?
Wild bird species are the natural host and reservoir for all types of avian influenza, naturally carrying the virus in their respiratory and intestinal tracts, commonly without developing signs of the disease^1,3. The virus is predominantly spread via body secretions, both directly and indirectly². Migratory birds (predominantly waterfowl and gulls) can spread the disease over a wide geographical area³. 

Why is the winter a higher risk period for avian influenza? 
The UK is at increased risk of avian influenza from migrating birds during winter². Furthermore, avian influenza viruses are able to survive for prolonged periods of time in the environment, particularly in low temperatures⁴.

How can I prevent my birds from contracting avian influenza?
All keepers of poultry should ensure that they uphold good levels of biosecurity to prevent disease entering their flock. This includes:

• maintaining good levels of hygiene and regularly disinfecting hard surfaces;

• changing shoes before entering/leaving to avoid transferring faeces in/out of the poultry enclosure; 

• minimizing contact with wildlife by humanely controlling rodents and deterring wild birds. Contact with wild birds can be minimized by placing food and water in an enclosed area such as the coop, and preventing poultry from accessing ponds/standing water frequented by wild bird populations, for example by erecting temporary fencing;

• where possible, keeping birds of different poultry species separate (e.g. ducks and geese should be separate from chickens).

Whilst it is important that all backyard keepers maintain good levels of biosecurity, it is particularly prudent for keepers in areas deemed at higher risk of an incursion of avian influenza. In Great Britain, a number of High Risk Areas (HRAs) have been identified based upon previous experience, scientific expertise and veterinary opinion, and are predominantly areas where large numbers of migratory wild birds gather. To find out whether you are in a HRA, use the interactive map.

What should I do if I suspect avian influenza?
Avian influenza is a notifiable disease. If it is suspected, it must be reported immediately:

• In England, contact the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301

• In Wales, contact your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office on 0300 303 8268

• In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office

• For keepers in Northern Ireland, contact your local DVO.

References

1. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (2019) Avian Influenza Portal. https://www.oie.int/en/animal-health-in-the-world/avian-influenza-portal/what-is-avian-influenza//
2. Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (2019) Guidance: Avian influenza (bird flu). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
3. Stallknecht, D. E., Brown, J. D. (2007) Wild birds and the epidemiology of avian influenza. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 43(3), pp. S15-S20.
4. Iowa State University (2015) Avian Influenza. http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/highly_pathogenic_avian_influenza-citations.pdf 

Sarah Taylor and Zoe Daley, the veterinary nurses behind vnpetproducts.co.uk, have launched a new initiative which they hope will offer veterinary surgeons and other nurses a welcome, calming distraction from the stresses of practice life, and raise money for Vetlife in the process.

The Crafty Vet Project aims to ignite your interest in one of a range of creative hobbies, which include cheese, beer, candle, soap and teddy-bear making, with kits available for sale from the new 'Craft Corner' section of their website. £3 from the sale of each kit will go to Vetlife.

Sarah said: "We wanted other veterinary professionals to experience the same pleasure that we get from creative hobbies. It is a chance for people no matter what day you have had to switch off, follow a pattern or instructions and come out with something at the end that you can be truly proud of."

Your new hobby might even turn into a nice sideline business. Sarah said: "One evening over a catch-up Zoe and I were discussing items that we wished we had in practice to make our lives as nurses easier.

"Despite having drunk 2 bottles of wine together we felt that there and then was the best time to start our new business. Two hours later having chopped up an old pair of curtains, accidently sewn my jumper sleeve into the material and woken my husband up at 3am to our cackles, we had the first prototype of our Slumberpet Recovery Coat.

"Our business has grown nicely since then and we are still coming up with more ideas, albeit in a slightly more sober, professional manner."

To select and order your hobby kit, visit: https://www.vnpetproducts.co.uk/craft-corner

Rachel Wright, founder of the Tree of Life For Animals, has been named as the 'Vet Nurse of the Year' at the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards, held at BSAVA Congress last night.

The awards, which recognise the achievements of remarkable people from the veterinary, farming and charity industries, were hosted by TV presenter and animal lover, Matt Baker, and Chris Laurence MBE FRCVS, who was also chair of the judging panel.

Chris said: "Once again the breadth of nominations for the Welfare Awards has amazed and enthused the judging panel. The new categories this year have been well supported and widened the field of nominees as well as increasing the number of nominations. There have been some outstanding finalists and those who have won should be justifiably proud to have done so against some stiff competition.  Of course, the real winners in all this are the animals whose welfare has been improved and the message that has given about the importance of animal welfare to those who have come into contact with all the nominees."

The other award winners were: 

Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award in association with Vet Record
Hannah Capon, Canine Arthritis Management

Charity Team of the Year Award in association with PDSA
Ebony Horse Club, Brixton

Charitable Contribution of the Year Award in association with Blue Cross 
Fiona Gammell, Wicklow Animal Welfare

Farmer of the Year Award in association with R.A.B.I.
David Finlay, Rainton Farm, Castle Douglas

Farm Educator of the Year in association with NADIS
James Griffiths from Taynton Court Farm, Gloucester

International Cat Care Welfare of the Year Award
Ian MacFarlaine, chief inspector of SPCA in Bermuda

Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare Award in association with Your Dog and Your Cat 
Professor Jacky Reid, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow and CEO of the research company, NewMetrica.

Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health UK and Ireland said: "The vision, dedication and hard work demonstrated by each and every award winner is truly outstanding.  We had a brilliant evening celebrating our remarkable winners and would like to congratulate each and every one of them on their fantastic achievement."

Photo: Chris Laurence, Clara Nowak, Simon Wheeler, Wendy Wright, Matt Baker.jpg

15 of the major UK member organisations, vet schools and policy-making bodies have come together to affirm their commitment to veterinary medicine based on sound scientific principles, in a new publication produced by RCVS Knowledge and the charity Sense about Science.

Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters: Our Commitment to the Future represents the first time that such a broad and influential group has united in support of a single issue in the veterinary profession. 

The publication contains a number of case studies which illustrate the impact that evidence can have – and has had – on animal health and welfare. It also provides a rationale for veterinary professionals to contribute to the evidence base and put evidence into practice, to the benefit of animals, owners and veterinary teams themselves.

The signatories to the commitment are: 

• Animal and Plant Health Agency

• British Cattle Veterinary Association

• British Equine Veterinary Association

• British Small Animal Veterinary Association

• British Veterinary Association

• British Veterinary Nursing Association

• RCVS Knowledge

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

• Royal Veterinary College

• University of Bristol

• University of Cambridge

• University of Liverpool

• University of Nottingham

• University of Surrey

• Veterinary Policy Research Foundation

No sign of the BAHVS, I see.  

Jacqui Molyneux, Chair of the Board of Trustees of RCVS Knowledge, said: "Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters is a milestone publication for the professions, representing the first time the majority of the key institutions have aligned under the same EBVM banner.

"A celebration of decades of incredible discoveries, achievements and improvements in animal health, it also serves to remind us that even the earliest forms of veterinary medicine were underpinned by evidence."

UK Chief Vet Christine Middlemiss said: "What’s the evidence? An evidence-based approach is vital in all areas of our profession, whatever is keeping you awake at night. For me, it is the threat of African swine fever and avian flu. The evidence I rely on comes from our specialist surveillance monitoring and testing, veterinary epidemiologists and disease modellers. It enables me to make timely, proportionate risk-based decisions that stand up to scrutiny.

"If you are managing veterinary care in practice, the evidence you rely on to underpin your standards of clinical care comes from multiple sources too. Evidence-based veterinary medicine allows us to refine and tailor strategies to be effective and efficient, making full use of existing and new technologies. 

"The profession has taken great strides towards embracing evidence-based veterinary medicine and building on this will strengthen the links between clinical decision-making, policy development and future research."

Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, added: "We are impressed by the contributions from our co-signatories, which clearly demonstrate the phenomenal impact on patient outcomes that conducting research and using evidence can have. We are also delighted that Sense about Science, a flagbearer for evidence, transparency and rational thinking, has joined with us to highlight the many benefits EBVM can bring.   

"The publication also makes a strong case for much-needed funding for research to grow the evidence base, which would put powerful, robust data into the hands of veterinary professionals as they make critical decisions that can affect patient outcomes.

"It is our hope that the calibre, diversity and sheer number of the organisations putting their name to this commitment will galvanise all vets and their teams to expand their use of evidence in practice."

Rebecca Asher, Deputy Director at Sense about Science, said: "This is a showcase of game changers in veterinary care and we hope it will inspire and motivate everyone in the profession.

"We were delighted that RCVS Knowledge approached us to collaborate with them and other leading institutions in the veterinary research community to affirm their commitment to an evidence-based approach to veterinary medicine.

"Everyone expects treatment for humans to be underpinned by evidence. We now expect the same of the whole veterinary community when it comes to the treatment of animals."

The full commitment and portfolio of case studies can be read in Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters, available for free online: bit.ly/EBVMMatters.

Nestlé Purina PetCare has launched new point of sale materials for Fortiflora, its probiotic for cats and dogs.

There's a complimentary counter top unit and pillow packs to help veterinary surgeons and nurses communicate the benefits of probiotics to clients. The unit can hold a cat and dog 30 sachet box of Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora from practice stock and the pillow packs can be used to dispense single sachets, so the client can trial the product with their pet at home.

At the same time, the company is encouraging vets and nurses to look at the evidence behind the probiotics they recommend. Although carried out a while ago now (2003 and 2011), two studies have shown that other diets claiming to contain probiotics generally did not meet the label claim when evaluated^1,2.

Libby Sheridan, MVB MRCVS, Purina Veterinary Technical Affairs Manager, UK & Ireland says the efficacy of probiotics is thought to be strain-specific³ and recommends that clinicians critically assess the evidence for the particular strain and preparation of probiotics stocked or used. 

Libby said: "The quality and efficacy of probiotics can vary and while in some cases there is strong evidence for efficacy in the targeted species, for others, the evidence is scant. Having experienced it myself, I know it's not always easy when working in a busy practice to take the time to ensure the evidence is there, but the studies back up that we should assess these things carefully before making a robust recommendation to our clients."

Most of the probiotics commercially available to veterinary professionals use the lactic acid bacterium Enterococcus faecium.

The particular strain and preparation of any probiotic will affect its ability to reach the large intestine, the expected site of action, intact.  The evidence for the SF68 strain of Enterococcus faecium has been validated in a number of studies^4-11 over recent years. Proven benefits of the SF68 strain include those focused on the gastrointestinal system where it supports canine and feline intestinal health and microflora balance and those with wider implications, such as support for a healthy immune system.

To obtain a unit or discuss the science, contact your Purina Veterinary Nutrition Partner or telephone the Purina Veterinary Nutrition Team on 0800 212161 quoting code VETPRESS.

References

1. Weese JS, Arroyo L. Bacteriological evaluation of dog and cat diets that claim to contain probiotics. Can Vet J. (2003); 44: 212
2. Weese JS, Martin H. (2011) Assessment of commercial probiotic bacterial contents and label accuracy. Can Vet J. 52: 43-46
3. Culligan E, Hill C and Sleator R (2009) Probiotics and gastrointestinal disease: successes, problems and future prospects. Gut Pathogens1, 19. doi:10.1186/1757-4749-1-19
4. Benyacoub J, Perez PF, Rochat F et al., (2005) Enterococcus faecium SF68 enhances the immune response to Giardia intestalis in mice. J Nutr,135 (5), 1171-6
5. Veir JK, Knorr R, Cavadini C et al., (2007) Effect of Supplementation with Enterococcus faecium (SF68) on Immune Functions in Cats. Veterinary Therapeutics 8: 4, 229-238
6. Benyacoub J, Czarnecki-Maulden G, Cavadini C et al., (2003) Supplementation of food with Enterococcus faecium (SF68) stimulates immune functions in young dogs. J. Nutr 133 (4), 1158-1162
7. Lappin M, Veir JK, Satyaraj E, Czarnecki-Maulden G (2008). Pilot study to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of Enterococcus faecium SF68 on cats with latent feline herpesvirus 1. JFMS, 11(8), 650-654
8. Bybee SN, Scorza AV and Lappin MR (2011). Effect of the Probiotic Enterococcus faecium SF68 on Presence of Diarrhea in Cats and Dogs House in an Animal Shelter. J Vet Intern Med; 25, 856-860
9. Fenimore A, Groshong L, Scorza V, Lappin MR (2012) Evaluation of Enterococcus faecium SF68 supplementation with metronidazole for the treatment of non-specific diarrhoea in dogs housed in animal shelters ACVIM Forum Proceedings, p 793.
10. Gore AM, Reynolds A. (2012) Effects of Enterococcus Faecium on stress diarrhea. ACVIM Forum Proceedings; p 453
11. Waldron W, Kerr W, Czarnecki-Maulden G, David J (2012) Supplementation with Enterococcus faecium reduces flatulence in dogs. In: Proceedings 16th Congress of the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition, p 51

Turtle Survival Europe has announced that it is to hold a CPD qualifying conference, 'Chelonian Conservation and Welfare in Europe', from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday 16th November 2019 at Writtle University College in Essex.

The programme for the day includes a talk by Matt Rendle, an exotics veterinary nurse, about wound healing in reptiles and the work of the Veterinary Wound Library.

There are also talks about current veterinary practice concerning Chelonia (with a focus on egg retention), the Asian turtle crisis, zoo conservation work, reptile rescue work and perceptions of Chelonia in captivity.

Tickets cost £30-£50, and include refreshments, lunch and optional Sunday workshops.

For more details or to reserve your place, email: turtlesurvivaleurope@gmail.com, or visit: https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/

Parasitologist Dr Ian Wright, head of the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites UK and Ireland (ESCCAP), has warned of a growing threat from exotic ticks arriving in the UK.

Speaking at Improve International's OV Conference last week, Dr Wright cited increased pet travel and importation as key risk factors, including the growing number of rescued dogs arriving in the UK from countries in Europe and further afield.

Dr Wright highlighted the Rhipicephalus tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) as being a particular cause for concern, as it can transmit Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Rickettsias, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon.

Dr Wright said that Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys are among the most common tick-borne diseases in imported dogs, particularly those arriving from Eastern and Southern Europe. There were also three cases of Hepatozoon canis in 2018, caused by dogs ingesting Rhipicephalus ticks while grooming.

According to figures from a Bristol University Pet Travel survey, 54.5% of dog travel on the Pet Travel Scheme from the UK is to France with Southern European countries also popular destinations. These are all countries in which Rhipicephalus is present and on the increase. Dr Wright said that the ticks are moving north into Austria, Switzerland, Central France, Romania and Bulgaria.

During the last few months, he has also been alerted to ticks found on dogs coming in from North America, Latin America and Africa. These bring with them the risk of new diseases, including a variety of zoonotic rickettssial pathogens, such as Rickettsia Rickettsii, which causes Rocky Mountain Spotty Fever.

To address this issue Dr Wright urged vets to redouble their efforts on tick prevention. In particular, he recommended tick prevention pre/during and post travel, using products that offer rapid kill and repellency in order to reduce transmission, repellents being especially important in Leishmania infantum and Rhipicephalus-endemic countries.

Dr Wright recommended drilling clients and staff on tick removal and reminding them that finding a tick on a pet is not a failure as no product is 100% reliable and it is easy to miss them in long-haired dogs. He also suggested asking clients to take photos of any ticks they find on their pet while abroad so that their vet will know on their return what pathogens they may have been exposed to. If necessary, the Public Health England Tick Surveillance Scheme can help with identification.

Dr Wright suggested that legislation to enforce tick treatment on entry was a poor strategy used in isolation as pets would still be exposed while abroad and no product is completely reliable. It would be useful however, to raise awareness and show that we are taking the issue of tick-borne disease seriously.

He said: "We’re seeing a significant increase in pet travel and import a wider range of countries from which dogs are being imported and this is significantly increasing our exposure to exotic ticks.

"What’s news about this is that while you could argue that diseases such as Lyme Disease are ‘lifestyle’ diseases because people and dogs are exposed to our native ticks while out enjoying the countryside, the Rhipicephalus tick comes to your home, exposing you to a wealth of rickettsial diseases for the first time. We are already seeing instances of this in France, Germany and Scandinavia and, as pet travel continues to grow, the risk here will only increase. It’s equally possible that a dog with a native tick could travel aboard and return hosting a new pathogen.

"The only way to manage this risk is to provide consistent advice to the public and to support increased disease surveillance. Vigilance is key – assume that any travelling dog may have ticks and do not assume that because it is tick-treated, it’s a case of ‘job done.’"

He said: "Put the onus on clients - gently. Remind them to seek advice, to check for ticks and to keep tick treatments up to date. Also remind them to visit the practice with their dog as soon as possible on their return. If you do find exotic ticks, please send them to the Tick Surveillance Scheme for identification."

He added: "If you know an owner who is planning to adopt a dog from abroad, explain the risks to them and encourage them to adopt from the UK. If they are determined to go ahead, work with them to ensure that you reduce the risk of exotic ticks arriving with their new family members. The risk to human and animal health from an infestation should not be underestimated."

The RCVS will be showing off its new CPD recording platform, 1CPD, at BVNA Congress later this week (Friday 11 to Sunday 13 October, International Centre Telford, Shropshire TF3 4JH).

The new platform will be officially launched in January 2020, and will support the new approach to CPD with requires veterinary nurses to reflect on the outcomes and / or impact of the CPD they have undertaken on them or their practice.

1CPD will replace the existing Professional Development Record (PDR) after which all content from the PDR will automatically be transferred to 1CPD. 

In addition, College staff will be on hand to share information and answer questions about the upcoming CPD policy changes from January 2020, including the shift to an annual hourly CPD requirement and the introduction of outcomes-focused CPD.

The outcomes–focused approach to CPD is being introduced on a voluntary basis over two years, with this becoming mandatory in 2022. 

Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS Director of Education, said: "We are excited to be in a position to share the first iteration of our new CPD recording platform with BVNA Congress delegates and to get their vital feedback on its functionality. We are also particularly interested in receiving feedback on the platform, and are currently encouraging vets and VNs to get involved with our user-testing phase.

"With the first stage of the development of the CPD recording platform due to finish in October, we are looking for a cohort of both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who can spend a few months using and providing feedback on the new platform. We will then consider their feedback carefully in order to improve the recording platform ready for launch in January 2020."

Veterinary nurses who want to volunteer to take part in the testing for the CPD app, as well as CPD providers who want to discuss the CPD policy plans, should contact Jenny Soreskog-Turp, RCVS CPD Officer, on cpd@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0701. 

Congress delegates will also be able to chat to VN Council members and RCVS staff about the College’s proposals for a wide-ranging review of its guidance on ‘under care’ and 24/7 emergency cover, and how best to get involved in the initial call for evidence, planned for later this year.

Further details on the review will be published at www.rcvs.org.uk/undercare as they become available.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has suspended Dr Jacqueline Bohnen, a South African veterinary surgeon who had been working in the County of Moray, Scotland, for being misleading and dishonest in relation to her treatment of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in March 2017.

Dr Bohnen faced two charges. The first was that in March 2017, she failed to attend to Belle, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, in order to provide appropriate and adequate care including: assisting Belle with urination, monitoring her with a view to considering alternative treatment options, and monitoring her with a view to providing her owners with an update on her condition.

The second charge was that Dr Bohnen later claimed dishonestly that she had attended to the animal, both to the owners, in clinical records hospital records, in a note provided to colleagues and during internal disciplinary proceedings held at her practice.

At the outset of the hearing the Committee considered an application from Dr Bohnen for the hearing to be postponed as she was now based in her home country of South Africa, and said she could not apply for a visa to return to the UK until later in the year and internet access in her location was poor.

However, the Committee found that the RCVS had properly served the notice of inquiry to Dr Bohnen in accordance with the current rules, that she had had sufficient time and opportunity to apply for a visa since receiving the notice and that, in any case, she could remotely ‘attend’ the hearing via Skype or telephone if necessary by travelling to somewhere that did have adequate internet connectivity, and so it refused the application. 

The Disciplinary Committee then considered the facts of the case and heard evidence from the owners of Belle, the clinical director of the practice that Dr Bohnen worked in at the relevant time and a veterinary nurse, who was a student doing her training at the practice during the time of the events in question.

Having considered all of the evidence, the Committee dismissed the parts of the first charge relating to considering alternative treatment options and updating the owners in relation to Belle’s condition. They did, however, find the charge proven in relation to Dr Bohnen failing to assist Belle with urination.

The Committee found all aspects of the second charge proven in its entirety after Dr Bohnen admitted in advance of the hearing, that her representations were false and misleading.

The Committee then went on to consider whether the second charge and the aspects of the first charge that were found proven amounted to serious professional misconduct both individually and cumulatively.

The Committee considered that Dr Bohnen’s conduct in failing to assist Belle with urination, whilst falling below the standard to be expected of a reasonably competent veterinary surgeon, did not amount to serious professional misconduct. 

The Committee did however find that Dr Bohnen’s conduct with regards to the second charge constituted serious professional misconduct.

Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee considers that the respondent’s dishonesty was the prime aggravating factor in this case. Although overall it could be regarded as a single incident, the Committee has found that it involved the fabrication of a number of notes and clinical records in the immediate aftermath of the death of the dog, but, thereafter, the respondent continued to deny the falsity of the fabricated records that she had created up to and until the conclusion of her interview by the practice on 30 March 2017. 

"During that time, the respondent had contacted the alarm company responsible for the security of the premises of the practice, to enquire whether the security system would record the times of the alarm being switched on and off. This indicated that the respondent’s dishonesty continued over a significant period of time, and that her persistence in sticking to her story became premeditated. In other words, the respondent’s conduct over this time indicated a clear attempt to deceive."

Regarding the sanction for Dr Bohnen, the Committee considered that the principle aggravating factors in the case were serious dishonesty towards both her colleagues and the owners of the dog and involved clear breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct. By way of mitigation, the Committee noted that Dr Bohnen is of previous good character with no other professional findings against her and that she had demonstrated some insight into her behaviour and had admitted being dishonest and misleading prior to the hearing. 

Summing up, Professor Barr said: "Because of the seriousness of this case, the Committee did not consider that it was appropriate to postpone judgement, take no further action, or to administer a reprimand and warning as to future conduct. The Committee considered that the respondent’s conduct, involving significant and admitted dishonesty over a period of time, required a significant penalty, in order to protect the welfare of animals and to serve the public interest.

"Accordingly, the Committee has decided to direct that the respondent’s registration be suspended for a period of nine months."

Dr Bohnen has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to lodge an appeal with the Privy Council.

Medivet reports that its Saving the Rhino Campaign has now received a very impressive one million donations from its clients, raising £500,000 in the process.

The campaign uses Pennies, the digital charitable giving system which invites you to make a small donation when you pay for something by debit or credit card.

For the last four years, Medivet clients have been invited to make a donation of 50p when paying their veterinary bill, and the millionth donation was made at Medivet 24 Hour Shrewsbury this week.

Medivet says the funds raised have played a crucial role in helping to protect the rhino - enabling Wilderness Foundation Africa's Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative to support these critically endangered species across a wide range of activities. This includes the treatment of poaching attack survivors plus the care and rehabilitation of orphaned baby rhinos.

In terms of prevention, thanks to Medivet client donations, two cold scent tracker dogs have been deployed – Ella and Ziggy – who work with anti-poaching units, while support has also been provided for intelligence-sharing amongst local law-enforcement agencies. Funds have additionally been deployed to help drive global awareness, provide community services as well as essential field-based veterinary equipment.

Dr John Smithers, Senior Partner and Project Co-ordinator for Medivet Saving the Rhino, said: "We could not be more grateful to our clients for all they have done to help the survival of this iconic species. Their incredible generosity - combined with the support of our colleagues and partners - has made a real difference in the fight against poaching and we want to thank our clients for every donation made."

In South Africa, the Medivet-supported efforts to reduce poaching are co-ordinated by Dr William Fowlds, a former Medivet employee, who added: "This is a truly remarkable milestone and we are overwhelmed by the kindness of Medivet and its clients. The money raised not only helps protect the rhinos but helps bring to justice those responsible for the destruction of these precious and innocent creatures."

Alison Hutchinson, CBE, CEO of Pennies said reaching 1m donations was a remarkable achievement: “Pennies is proud to support Medivet’s Saving the Rhino campaign, and it’s been so inspiring to see one million individual micro-donations made through the digital charity box over the past four years.

"From all at Pennies, thank you and congratulations to the Medivet team and their hugely generous clients for reaching this milestone, for challenging the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa, and proving that small change truly does add up to mean big things."

Three cheers from VetNurse.co.uk, too. That's a big achievement by Medivet for an important cause.

Defra has produced a video offering official advice for pet owners that want to travel with their pet in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The video has now been published on Youtube, from where veterinary practices might like to share it with clients on their own websites, by email or on their Facebook page.

In the video, Cat Henstridge MRCVS explains how from November, in the event of no deal, pet owners will need to have visited their vet 4 months before travel and had their pet vaccinated against rabies. They will then need to return for a blood test 30 days later, wait at least 3 months after that test before travel, and get an animal health certificate no more than 10 days before travel. In addition their animal needs to be microchipped.

Defra says owners should also be advised to visit gov.uk and search 'pet travel' for any updates.

Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, said: "This is a reminder for pet owners of our practical and straightforward advice for pet travel if the UK were to leave the EU in a no-deal situation."

To watch and share the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ckhv5YS7Mw.

Ceva Animal Health has launched new marketing support materials to help practices raise awareness of Adaptil and Feliway in the run up to the fireworks and party season.

The materials include eye-catching waiting room bunting, wall displays, posters, leaflets and leaflet holders which offer hints and tips on how to look after pets while fireworks are going off.

Ceva is also launching a series of eight three-minute fireworks videos which offer advice to owners about how they can 'Help take the fear out of fireworks' and more information about Adaptil and Feliway. The videos are presented by Emma Carr, training and charity key account manager at Ceva Animal Health and are available to download via Vimeo and Ceva’s social media tool kit.

Veterinary practices are being encouraged to use the new materials to take part in Ceva’s annual fireworks waiting room display competition, which offers a £200 voucher for the overall best display and luxury chocolate hampers for 10 runners up (hint: entrants get additional credit if they build a display den and plug in an Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser nearby). 

Practices taking part in the competition can post pictures of their dens and waiting room displays on Ceva Animal Health UK's Facebook page in October.

Abigail King, senior behaviour product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "The extensive marketing support we are putting behind Adaptil and Feliway in the run up to the fireworks season will help educate pet owners on the measures that can be put in place to help their pets with firework fears, while highlighting the benefits of our products."

For further information, or to request the new waiting room material, contact your local account manager or email: cevauk@ceva.com.