All existing BEVA members will have their membership automatically extended until 30 June 2020. The association is also inviting vets and vet nurses who are not already BEVA members to join as online members free of charge until 30 June 2020.
BEVA President Tim Mair said: “In this extraordinary time of global crisis our profession, as with many industries, is under immense pressure. By offering free membership we are giving equine vets easy access to a wealth of supportive resources and online CPD to help them through these dark times.”
BEVA membership includes:
The association is also looking at other ways to support the profession, which has included making all BEVA Congress 2019 webinars available to members via the BEVA online learning platform.
To sign up from Monday 30 March 2020 visit: https://www.beva.org.uk/Join-BEVA
Porus One contains renaltec, a selective absorber that absorbs the precursors of uraemic toxins in the cat’s intestine that would normally be removed or regulated by healthy kidneys, so that they may be safely excreted in the cat's faeces.
The product is presented as a powder which can be sprinkled on wet cat food, or given with Add One as a treat.
Dechra says it is well-accepted by cats due to its neutral taste and smell.
Add One is a moist and tasty cat treat developed to encourage cats that prefer dry food to eat Porus One.
It is available in two flavours: creamy salmon and tasty liver.
Add One contains omega-3 and a high moisture content to help support kidney health.
It also contains taurine to support a cat’s eyes and heart.
One box of Porus One contains 30 single-dose sachets, each containing 500mg of renaltec.
One box of Add One contains 30 single-dose 10mg sachets.
https://porus-one.com.
For the study, researchers reviewed more than three million medical records from Banfield Pet Hospital across 60 breeds of dogs in the United States, finding that periodontal disease (both gingivitis and periodontitis) occurred in 18.2% of dogs overall (517,113 cases).
The authors say that while the true prevalence of periodontal disease (44-100% of cases) is only realised through in-depth clinical investigation, the figure reported in this study was consistent with other research based on conscious oral examinations.
When the authors reviewed the data by dog size, they found that extra-small breeds (<6.5 kg/14.3 lbs) were up to five times more likely to be diagnosed with periodontal disease than giant breeds (>25 kg/55 lbs)(P <0.0001).
Additional risk factors for periodontal disease seen in the study included a dog’s age, being overweight and time since last scale and polish.
Dr Corrin Wallis, Microbiome Workstream Leader at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute said: "This is not the first study suggesting that smaller dogs are more likely to have dental problems than larger dogs, but many of the earlier studies looked at a relatively small number of dogs".
The five breeds with the highest prevalence of periodontal disease found in the study were the large Greyhound (38.7%), the medium-small Shetland Sheepdog (30.6%), and the extra-small Papillon (29.7%), Toy Poodle (28.9%), and Miniature Poodle (28.2%). Giant breed dogs (such as the Great Dane and Saint Bernard) were among the lowest breed prevalence estimates.
The authors say there are several potential reasons why smaller dogs are more likely to develop dental issues than larger dogs. For example, smaller dogs may have proportionally larger teeth, which can lead to tooth overcrowding and increased build-up of plaque leading to inflammation of gums. Smaller dogs also have less alveolar bone (the bone that contains tooth sockets) compared to their relatively large teeth.
Corrin added: "Regardless of the reasons that smaller dogs have increased risk for periodontal disease, knowing the true magnitude of the risk across breeds is an important step in providing quality care for all dogs, both in the veterinarian’s office and at home.
Reference
Mr Rushton was convicted of sexual assault after pleading guilty at Wood Green Crown Court in December 2022.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, made subject to a restraining order and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
He was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs and a £140 victims’ surcharge.
Mr Rushton did not attend the RCVS hearing, where the facts of the charge were proven by the certificate of conviction and the judge’s sentencing remarks.
In considering whether the conviction rendered Mr Rushton unfit to practise veterinary medicine, the Committee considered that the case involved the sexual assault of a vulnerable woman who was also a professional colleague, and was a serious abuse of trust, reflected in the custodial sentence.
Dr Neil Slater MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “It was evident from the judge’s sentencing remarks that [the victim] had been seriously affected by the knowledge of what had occurred on that evening.
"That knowledge was bound, in itself, to be very distressing and according to the victim’s impact statement had a long- lasting impact on the victim’s self-esteem, resilience and relationship with others.
"The victim’s level of distress can only have been increased by the knowledge that the respondent had filmed and/or photographed his activity while she was unconscious and that the images were included on a memory stick which contained a number of other voyeuristic images.”
"The Committee was satisfied that the respondent’s behaviour had caused [the victim] significant psychological injury and carried with it a risk of causing such injury.
“The Committee was also satisfied that [the victim] was especially vulnerable because of the significant quantity of alcohol that she had consumed.
"In the circumstances that evolved, she was in the respondent’s care.
"The respondent abused the position of trust and responsibility that he occupied.
"He was a senior colleague, at a professional conference.
"Instead of taking appropriate steps to secure the welfare of [the victim], he used the position in which he found himself to engage in predatory sexual misconduct.
"Furthermore, his behaviour was opportunistic and, as the judge said, “clearly driven by [his] sexual desires."
Taking into account these factors, the Committee found that Dr Rushton was unfit to practise and next considered the sanction.
The Committee found no mitigating factors regarding the conviction but did take into account the fact there had been no previous regulatory findings against him.
In deciding the sanction, the Committee also noted that there was little evidence before them that Dr Rushton had shown serious insight into the impact of his offending.
Neil added: “In this context the Committee also noted that the respondent maintained a plea of not guilty until three days before a rearranged trial was due to take place, and subsequently advanced an account of what he said was his relationship with [the victim] which the judge found to be false.
“Taking all of these factors into account, the Committee is satisfied that removal from the register is the only proportionate outcome to this case.
"This sanction is necessary to declare and uphold appropriate standards of conduct for members of the veterinary profession and to maintain public confidence in the profession.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings
Elle says she created the course she wished she had when she first qualified, one which offers provides practical tools and tailored support to build confidence, overcome self-doubt, and thrive in veterinary practice.
She said: “I remember what it felt like to step into practice as a newly qualified vet nurse—feeling unsure, overwhelmed, and constantly questioning whether I was good enough.
"That’s why I created this course - to give vet nurses the support and confidence they deserve.”
The Confidence Coaching CPD Course includes:
Elle says the course is ideal for veterinary nurses or vets, in particular those struggling with confidence in their clinical skills, and professionals looking to progress in their careers.
The course costs £350, but as part of the launch, Elle is offering a 25% limited-time discount for those who sign up early using the code: PVN25.
https://thepositivevetnurse.com/cpd-course
A new study from the University of Surrey, published today in the journal PLOS One, has identified the specific effects of a malformation which affects affects toy breeds.
According to researchers, Chiari malformation has become prevalent as a result of selective breeding and affects many toy dog breeds which have been bred to look more doll-like, including Griffon Bruxellois, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas and their crosses.
Researchers took brain, skull and vertebrae measurements of 155 Griffon Bruxellois and compared dogs affected by the condition with normal Griffons. They discovered that Griffons with the disease had taller foreheads and that it had also caused the shape of the brain to change, with severely affected animals having their cerebellum pushed underneath the main part of the brain.
The researchers say that although it can be asymptomatic, in many dogs Chiari malformation can cause headaches, problems with walking or even paralysis.
The condition can also affect humans and the University is working with human geneticists at the University of Montreal, in the hope that better understanding of the condition will lead to improved treatment for both dogs and humans.
Lead author, Dr Clare Rusbridge from the new School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said: "Chiari malformation can be described as trying to fit a big foot into a small shoe. It can be very painful, causing headaches and pressure on the brain and can result in fluid filled cavities in the spinal cord. Our latest discoveries will be significant in driving this research forward and hopefully allow us to identify which genes may be associated with the condition.
"Our next steps will be to apply our technique to other breeds with Chiari malformation and investigate more sophisticated ways of screening, so that risk of disease can be detected more easily, at an earlier age and with a single MRI scan.
"We want to engage breeders and give them practical advice about the condition, but it is also important that the public recognises that breeding dogs in a certain way to influence how they look might not be in the animal's best interest. There are responsible breeders out there, who have invested in screening and who are breeding for health as well as producing attractive puppies, and it is vital that people only look to buy from them."
The annual minimum requirement for veterinary nurses will be reduced from 15 to 11 hours, while that of vets will be reduced from 35 to 26 hours of CPD. The reduction comes into force immediately.
The decision to reduce the hours was made by the new RCVS Council COVID-19 Taskforce, chaired by RCVS President Dr Niall Connell, which was set up in order to make temporary policy decisions related to the pandemic in a quicker and more agile way. The proposal had previously been considered and supported by the RCVS Education Committee, VN Council and CPD Policy Working Group.
Niall said: "A number of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses expressed concern that it may be difficult to undertake CPD at present and so, in order to give the professions some breathing space, we decided we would reduce the minimum hours required for 2020. We also recognise that some practices are having to make the difficult decision to reduce their CPD budgets this year in response to falling footfall.
"However, it is worth reiterating that CPD need not be expensive or require physical attendance at lectures, congresses or other events. There are many online providers of CPD and other resources such as articles and webinars, some of which may be free. The key is that the CPD is relevant to you and enhances your professional practice and so we would still encourage all our members to undertake CPD as and when they can."
The policy will be under regular review and may be extended further if the circumstances demand. Those with any questions on the policy change should contact the RCVS Education Department on cpd@rcvs.org.uk
A full range of FAQs on the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on the veterinary profession are available to view at www.rcvs.org.uk/coronavirus
The practice says its initial plan is to train two student nurses each year and up to three undergraduate veterinary nurses who will be completing block placements as part of their degree course.
Two of the practice’s animal care assistants, Anna Sharland and Amy Burrough, started on the new scheme last month. They will also be enrolled for further training at Lynwood School of Veterinary Nursing.
Helen Bye, Cave’s deputy head veterinary nurse (pictured right), said: "RVNs are currently in high demand so this is a perfect time to put ourselves on the map as a centre of excellence which produces diverse and experienced nurses.
"Firstly, we will now be able to provide our current cohort of animal care assistants with an opportunity to study and train as student veterinary nurses, facilitating the growth of our own, expanding team of nurses.
"Our recognition as a training practice will also extend the scheme to undergraduate veterinary nurses completing block placements throughout their degree course.
"We hope to put forward two student nursing candidates each academic year and support two to three undergraduate students from university each year.
"Being able to train nurses will help with the retention of current associates by providing avenues for further training and opportunities to gain qualifications, enabling progression in their chosen careers as a veterinary nurse.
"Training student nurses also gives opportunities for our current RVNs to progress their own skills as mentors and clinical coaches, enabling them to gain further job satisfaction and purpose in their role."
The Heroes 2020 award has been set up by insurance company, Urban Jungle. CEO Jimmy Williams said: "We think young adults have had to endure a lot in 2020 and want to do our bit to say ‘thank you’."
Ashleigh Walton, 25, was nominated for the award by her mum, Emma Walton, who said: "My daughter has worked consistently through both lockdowns, taking care of other people’s sick and injured pets as well as wildlife. She is a locum VCA and works all over Greater London and Surrey, travelling by public transport. She always goes the extra mile to ensure an animals' comfort."
Ashleigh, from Thornton Heath, said: "I don't consider myself to be a hero - I've loved animals all my life and I will do everything I can to make sure a sick or injured animal gets all the help it needs."
If you'd like to nominate a colleague for a Hero Award and a £250 Amazon voucher, visit: https://explore.myurbanjungle.com/blog/urban-jungles-heroes-2020/.
Nominations need to be in by 7th January 2021.
To achieve the accreditation, Dechra’s Digital Learning team’s educational content, processes and services were reviewed and benchmarked against key opinion indicators by an LPI consultant.
Dechra Academy was first established in the UK in 2010 and has since launched in over 20 additional countries across the world.
Last year, over 5,000 veterinary professionals in the UK completed over 9,000 courses and there is currently over 60 hours of free CPD content available across the company’s therapy areas including endocrinology, dermatology, analgesia and anaesthesia, nutrition, equine analgesia and anaesthesia and locomotion.
The company has just launched the first of two courses in its ‘Purffect Partner’ series, which focuses on identifying and treating unintended feline weight loss.
A further four case studies will be added in the coming months.
www.dechra.co.uk/academy.
The range comprises four products: Calm, Seb, Pyo and Care. All four contain a new active ingredient derived from Ophiopogon japonicus called ophytrium, which Ceva says has been shown to strengthen the mechanical skin barrier1, restore the balance of protective microbial flora2 and sooth the skin1.
The new range consists of both shampoo and mousse formulations: Douxo S3 Calm is designed to sooth itchy, irritated skin while maintaining the skin barrier. Douxo S3 Pyo contains ophytrium and chlorhexidine at 3% which is both antibacterial and antifungal. Douxo S3 Seb contains ophytrium and seboliance and includes an extract from the peel of pomegranate. Ceva says it has an anti-odour action and will help with oily or flaky skin. Lastly, Douxo S3 Care (available as a shampoo only) contains ophytrium and is designed for regular use and maintenance.
The products are all free from soap, parabens, sulphates, phthalates, colourants and nanoparticles. A new, hypoallergenic ‘summertime’ fragrance has been added to the range which pet owners apparently liken to coconut and vanilla.
The Douxo S3 range comes in eye-catching packaging with a pump that can be used with one hand, an ergonomic bottle designed to be easy to grip, even with wet hands, and a visibility line so you can see the remaining quantity of the product.
Dr Melanie Rougier, corporate marketing manager at Ceva, said: “Our new range is the result of over 10 years of clients’ experience with Douxo and a robust programme of market research with four specific studies that included more than 2,000 vets and pet owners and represented over eight months of contact with pet owners. This has allowed us to gain a thorough understanding of our clients’ needs, in terms of performance, formulas, fragrance and ergonomic packaging."
Andrew Fullerton BVSc (Hons) MRCVS, product manager for Douxo at Ceva, added: "The new Douxo S3 range has been developed following extensive market research and field studies to ensure that the shampoos and mousses are not only innovative and effective, but that they are also safe and easy-to-use."
Dr Tim Nuttall BSc BVSc CertVD PhD CBiol MSB MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology and Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Dermatology at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, said: "I like that the performance has been proven on a basic science screening level and innovative skin model and then moving on to the in-field trials. This is what we would like to see from topical products."
Douxo S3 shampoo and mousses will automatically replace the current Douxo products via veterinary wholesalers and Ceva says it is working to convert other products in the Douxo range to S3.
For further information, contact cevauk@ceva.com, your local territory manager or visit https://www.douxo.com/uk/Pet-Skin-Care/douxo-s3.
References
To take part in this initiative, members need to do three things
That's it. This month we'll be giving a £50 Amazon voucher to six RVNs, VNAs or SVNs who meet this criteria at the end of the month.
In the future, the number of Amazon vouchers given away each month will tie in directly with the number of recruitment adverts posted on VetNurse.co.uk.
Rather than being picked at random, they may also be tied to the community leaderboards, which display the most active members in order of points scored for posting.
VetNurse Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "VetNurse.co.uk now exists for one very focused reason, which is to be somewhere vet nurses come to help each other.
"In that regard, VetNurse avoids some of the problems that beset other social network platforms, such as the lack of provenance for opinions shared, not to mention the sometimes very unkind posts."
"Taking some of the revenue we earn from recruitment advertising and giving it back to members for helping each other means more people visiting the site and more people seeing the available job opportunities, so it's a bit of a virtuous circle.
"What's more recruitment advertisers on VetNurse can take some pleasure from knowing that they are advertising on the one board which gives something back to vet nurses."
To help practices make the most of the week, TVM is providing waiting room displays, client leaflets, social media packs and online information to help educate pet owners on the symptoms of poor eye health.
The company will also be holding an webinar for vets and nurses which will be published during the week.
Will Peel, Product Manager at TVM said: "Eye problems in pets are common and brachycephalic breeds are particularly prone to them due to a number of compounding factors.
"They commonly suffer from corneal ulcers and are nearly four times more likely to develop dry eye than other breeds, so Pet Eye Health Awareness Week is focused on helping pet owners understand the issues, identify eye problems early and seek veterinary advice quickly".
www.tvm-uk.com/eyehealth
They say that they've been aware of minor interruptions to the supply of such vaccines throughout 2022.
However, a significant, pan-European logistical problem being experienced by Boehringer Ingelheim has raised the prospect of a further reduction in supplies in the coming months.
BEVA is liaising with the three vaccine manufacturers to quantify the impact of the shortage and to consider solutions, both to minimise the threat to equine health and to prevent disruption to equestrian competition.
Marc Laemmer, equine business head at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, said: “We are currently experiencing a European-wide supply issue relating to our equine influenza and influenza-tetanus vaccines.
"This has been caused by unexpected issues following the implementation of a technology upgrade and is not a product or quality issue.
"This means that some vet practices will have difficulty obtaining sufficient influenza vaccines and there may be a shortage in the UK market.
"We understand the importance of these vaccines to equine welfare, and we are continuing to work tirelessly to find a solution so that we can return to normal supply as soon as possible.”
Amanda Melvin, equine business manager at MSD Animal Health, said: “Based on prior demand, MSD’s equine vaccines Equilis Prequenza and Equilis Prequenza Te are in full supply.
"MSD have taken steps to protect as many horses as possible at this time.
"We will continue to supply existing customers with the available MSD stock on ‘allocation’ and, where possible, to allocate stock to additional customers. Allocations are being made to our veterinary customers based on their historical demand which we believe is the most efficient way to manage the available supplies.”
Rebecca Cabrejas, equine business unit manager at Zoetis, said: “Demand for our vaccines currently exceeds what we can supply.
"Whilst we have adequate stocks to fulfil current customers’ orders unfortunately, we are not in a position to be able to supply new customers at this time.
"We will continue to work with BEVA to limit the impact of the current shortages.”
David says that whilst he was out there, he was told about attacks by Russian forces on stables in Bucha, Irpin and other equestrian premises north of Kyiv.
Ukraine vet Anatoly Levitsky who is working in Kyiv, said: “Not very big horse club was not far from Borodianka and owners were using their horses for hippotherapy of children with different pathologies.
"When war started, the lady who owned the stable and her child emigrated to Poland and her husband was conscripted into Ukrainian army.
"When Russian bandits in army uniform came to the village, they set fire to the stable and started shooting the horses that tried to escape.”
“Some horses ran away, others were wounded, and some were burned down.
"After the building was burned, Russian soldiers went away and horses that escaped were wandering around the village and trying to find the feed.
"Step by step, people living in the village collected the horses and keep one or two horses in their yards.”
David said: “It is hard to understand what could motivate anyone to perform these deliberate acts of cruelty.
"Random shootings, stabbings and burnings are widely reported and pictured on social media, we have no idea how many horses are dead and how many injured, but it has to be a significant number.
“Some of the lorry drivers I have met coming out have been shot at, shelled and beaten up, evacuating surviving horses.
"They are taking risks that we would consider totally unacceptable to move animals out and supplies in.
"I have nothing but admiration for the bravery of the Ukrainian people.”
“Ever conscious that there is an equal humanitarian need you feel very small and rather cowardly that you aren’t permitted to go into Ukraine to help the people and animals that require treatment.”
The British Equine Veterinary Association and American Association of Equine Practitioners are working together to support vets in Ukraine.
They say that they are not allowed to provide direct practical help, but they are doing what they can to get veterinary and humanitarian supplies to the vets they are in contact with.
They are also working to establish safe stables in the West of Ukraine to get horses and their owners away from likely areas of combat in the East.
Previously people have had no option but to turn horses into the woods prior to fleeing or they have stayed to look after their animals despite the risks to themselves.
BEVA, in association with the British Equestrians for Ukraine Fund, is calling for urgent support to help fund veterinary treatment, supplies and the safe relocation of Ukraine’s endangered horses.
To do this they need your urgent support. To make a donation visit https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/support-us/appeals/british-equestrians-for-ukraine-fund.
To find out more you can listen to a podcast from David Rendle here https://beva.podbean.com/e/bevapod-episode-13/
Photo: Stabling reportedly burned down by Russian soldiers
The figures, published as part of the RSPCA's Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, showed that the UK's 12 million dogs are over four times more likely to be the victims of intentional harm compared to cats, about which there were 14,825 incident reports.
There were also 3,226 incidents of deliberate harm to horses and 811 to rabbits.
RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: “We say we’re a nation of animal-lovers and that dogs are man’s best friend. And yet, every year, we see many dogs coming into our care bearing the physical and mental scars that were inflicted at the hands of the very people who were meant to keep them safe and love them unconditionally.
"Some of the cases I’ve seen have left me in tears and still stay with me today. Every time my own RSPCA rescue dog, Flo, comes to curl up beside me on the sofa I wonder what she suffered at the hands of people before she was found wandering the streets of London with a badly broken leg. Did someone do that to her deliberately? It doesn’t bear thinking about.
"But, tragically, that’s the reality for so many dogs. We’ve seen some of the most unimaginable cruelty inflicted on these gentle, sweet creatures. We’ve seen them beaten, drowned, set on fire, and poisoned. Our officers have been able to save some of them; getting to them just in time and finding them collapsed, bloodied, and hopeless. Others have died at the hands of their tormentors, but none should experience such cruelty.”
For more information, visit: www.rspca.org/stopcruelty.
The annual renewal fee for veterinary nurses is due for payment on 1 November every year, although you have up to midnight on 31 December to pay before you're removed from the Register. The 409 veterinary nurses who failed to meet this payment deadline for last year were removed from the Register on 1 January 2020.
Of the 409 veterinary nurses who were removed for non-payment this year, 70 or so have subsequently applied for restoration to the Register, paying a £58 restoration fee, in addition to the standard renewal fee of £69.
The 409 removals represent 2.2% of the profession as a whole, which is down from the 2.7% removed last year.
A list of individuals removed from the Register on 1 January 2020, and who hadn’t been restored prior to 2 January at 11.30AM, has been published to help practices check their veterinary nursing staff are still on the Register.
Those with questions about how to restore to the Register should contact the RCVS 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.
Virbac says HCA targets specific affected topical areas with negligible systemic absorption, to provide direct and rapid relief from inflammation and pruritus, delivering significant clinical improvement in atopic cases, both lesion and pruritus scores, after 14 days1.
Cortavance can be applied daily for up to 28 days and included within multimodal treatment plans for prolonged use to control atopy.
Cortavance is presented in a new ergonomic-shaped bottle allowing the user to accurately target the problem area at any angle, with its no-hand-contact spray applicators - 31ml and 76ml sizes.
For further information, contact your local Virbac Territory Manager.
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/
The study1, which was conducted by surgery resident Dr Charlie Brincin at Highcroft Veterinary Group (soon to be Bristol Vet Specialists) and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Matt Matiasovic at Manchester Vet Specialists, looked at the records of 825 dogs that had been treated surgically for unilateral MPL at 10 referral centres, and then had a planned follow-up visit, including radiographs.
The frequency of, and reasons for, changes in further recovery recommendations were investigated.
The findings demonstrated that if the dog made an uneventful2 recovery after surgery, was presented without owner concern, and if no abnormality was found on physical examination, then radiographic findings only led to a change in recommendation in 3% (13/432) of these dogs.
Researchers say that this reflects similar research on the influence of follow-up radiographs in human medicine, and those of previous veterinary studies on post-operative radiographs, following uncomplicated tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). These particular studies3,4 showed radiography had an impact on post-operative management in just 2%-3.8% of cases.
As a result of the MPL and TPLO studies, Highcroft Veterinary Referrals and Manchester Veterinary Specialists will no longer systematically perform follow-up radiographs on their patients, unless justified clinically.
Charlie said: “Radiographs are not without additional costs or risks - including radiation exposure, sedation-associated risks and strain on veterinary staff.
"Radiographic intervention should be clinically justified and our study suggests that if the dog had an uneventful recovery and is presented without owner or clinician raised concern, then repeat radiographs might not be necessary.
"This study also highlights the value of a thorough owner history and clinical examination for clinical decision-making when re-examining dogs following this orthopaedic surgery.”
The MPL study also evaluated factors which significantly increased the risk of finding radiographic abnormalities at routine follow-up, and those which led to a change in post-operative recommendation.
Lameness, administration of analgesia at follow-up, and history of unplanned visits prior to routine re-examination were associated with increased odds of a change in postoperative plan (P < 0.001).
In the absence of owner and clinician concerns, the odds of having a change in convalescence plans were not different, whether or not isolated radiographic abnormalities were present (P = 0.641).
The acquisition of Jurox brings Zoetis a valuable animal health portfolio, including Alfaxan, a leading anaesthetic product for companion animals and high-quality local R&D and manufacturing operations in Australia.
Stephanie Armstrong, Senior Vice President and Cluster Lead UK, BeNeLuX, Nordics & Ireland, said: “We are grateful to the O’Brien family for entrusting the future of this family-owned business to Zoetis.
"Jurox’s portfolio plays to the strengths of our core business and will be a complementary fit with the solutions we deliver to veterinary professionals, livestock producers and pet owners.
"With Zoetis’ global sales and regulatory expertise in more than 45 direct markets, we look forward to expanding the impact and reach of the entire Jurox portfolio here in the UK and Ireland.”
www.jurox.com
It is estimated that there are more than one million pet ferrets in the UK and a further 500,000 in the United States, but until now little was known about how ferrets are housed and what environmental enrichment they benefit from.
For the study1, RVC researchers analysed 750 responses to an online questionnaire from ferret keepers (82% of whom were pet owners and the remainder were from the laboratory, zoo, rescue and pest control sectors) from 17 countries.
The study found that most ferrets were housed with at least one other ferret, providing social interaction.
The environmental enrichments that ferret keepers believed their ferrets most enjoyed were tunnels (42.5%), digging (27.3%), human interaction (20.8%) and exploration (17.6%).
The items reported as being most problematic included rubber toys, which can cause internal blockages when chewed and swallowed (45.1%) and enrichments which can result in claws or other body parts becoming trapped, such as narrow tunnels and certain fabrics including fleece, towels and loosely woven fabrics (28.6%).
Other main findings included:
Alice Dancer, PhD Student at the RVC, and lead author of the paper, said: “How animals are housed and the environmental enrichment they are given can have a significant impact on their health and wellbeing.
"The finding that large housing and high numbers of enrichment are possible in all ferret-keeping sectors is a really good sign for ferret welfare.
"We hope that these results help inspire ferret caretakers to consider the housing they use, offer ideas for new ferret enrichments, and raise awareness of enrichments which may harm their ferrets.”
The deal includes an option for the College to lease the building for up to two years to give it time to consider its options for the future, and how they may have changed as a result of the pandemic.
The decision to sell the property was made back in November 2018, when Council decided that the building was rapidly becoming unfit for purpose and the College needed more up-to-date and modern facilities with more room for a growing workforce. The College’s Estates Strategy Project Board was tasked with managing the process, chaired by former RCVS President Barry Johnson.
RCVS Treasurer Susan Dawson said: “Council recognised that this deal realised maximum value for the building, especially considering the impact the pandemic has had on property prices in Central London.
“It also provides a very valuable opportunity to reflect on the changing needs of the organisation and the professions and public it serves, and to consider the requirements and different working patterns of the College staff going forwards.
“It is likely that many staff members will wish to continue to work at home more than they did pre-Covid, so the need for pure desk-space may not be as great as we had planned for the 10-15 years ahead. However, the importance of in-person meetings for collaboration, creativity and the maintenance of good corporate culture is not to be underestimated, so our new requirements are likely to be different to that anticipated back in 2018.”
The College says it expects to welcome limited numbers of staff back to the office in June, to work in a socially distanced way, including virtual or partly-virtual meetings.
Changes to working patterns over the coming months will also help inform decisions around future remote working policies and the type and size of building that will best suit the future needs of the College and its workforce.
The new guidance, which can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/coronavirus, will gradually replace the current emergency guidance and aims to help veterinary practices begin a phased return to near-normal operations:
Alongside the College’s guidance, the BVA is also publishing guidance for practices on working safely as lockdown restrictions are eased. [www.bva.co.uk/coronavirus/]
RCVS President Mandisa Greene said: “None of us could have predicted quite what an extraordinary and extraordinarily challenging 12 months this has been for everyone.
"On behalf of the whole of RCVS Council, I would like to thank sincerely once again all our veterinary and veterinary nursing colleagues, and all those in practice teams around the UK, for their awe-inspiring commitment, adaptability, resilience and sheer hard work in continuing to provide essential veterinary services and look after the health and welfare of the nation’s animals, in what have been the most difficult of times.
“Whilst I sincerely hope that we are at last beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, if there is one thing we have learnt, it is that things can deteriorate rapidly if we don’t all continue to play our part and follow all relevant guidelines.
“I therefore urge my colleagues to continue to use their professional judgement and think very carefully about their gradual return to more normal working patterns over the coming weeks and months, according to their individual circumstances and the best interests of their teams, clients, and the animals they care for.”
RCVS Council has also agreed that the policy and guidance changes made in response to the pandemic over the past 12 months will now be reviewed, and decisions made as to whether to retain, amend or reverse them.
The nominations allow practices to recognise someone at their workplace who has helped to hold up morale during a time when practices are facing unprecedented staffing and financial issues, and have taken it upon themselves to foster a positive work environment.
The Practice Wellbeing Star nominations were originally launched to accompany the Practice Wellbeing Awards, which have been cancelled this year because of the pandemic.
Liz Barton, SPVS representative on the Mind Matters Taskforce (pictured right), said: “With great regret we have had to postpone the Practice Wellbeing Awards as we recognise that practices may neither have the time nor resources right now to go through our comprehensive application process. However, there is still definitely a place for recognising those individuals who are going above-and-beyond to help their colleagues navigate their way through these difficult times.
"Nominating a team member is a great opportunity to discuss with your team and reflect on the positive things that are happening, and to nominate one person who has been particularly invested in contributing to creating positive team culture.
"The Practice Wellbeing Star nominations are open to all veterinary practices, and teams, including those working in universities, industry and business.
“We look forward to receiving your nominations and celebrating exceptional individuals who are committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of their colleagues.”
Members of the veterinary team who are nominated for as a Practice Wellbeing Star will receive a certificate in recognition of their colleagues’ appreciation of their achievements.
Recipients of the certificate will also be entered into the prize draw for a pair of tickets to attend the joint SPVS and Veterinary Management Group Congress in January 2021.
Further information on how to nominate is on the Vet Wellbeing Award website at: vetwellbeingawards.org.uk/practice-wellbeing-star/
The closing date for Practice Wellbeing Star nominations is Friday 20 November 2020.