All existing bookings for the event, which takes place at the ICC Wales in Newport, have been transferred to the new dates.
Registration is still open for new bookings at www.spvs-vmg-events.co.uk.
Otherwise, everything else remains unchanged: same speakers, same commercial exhibition, same pre-Congress party.
No need to bring a bottle: organisers say they'll be working with ICC Wales to put necessary Covid safety protocols in place so all attendees can relax and make the most out of their Congress experience.
The course has been designed for RVN’s with an interest in nursing, welfare and conservation of non-domestic animal species.
The course will be offered as a Graduate Certificate and a Postgraduate Certificate, which will allow RVN’s from any academic background to gain the RCVS Cert AVN.
The course lasts one academic year and will be studied mainly online.
Student finance is currently available for students applying to study the 60 credit Graduate Certificate.
Funding is available for a full MSc (180 credits) at postgraduate level, for which the PgC in AVN Exotics, Zoo and Wildlife can make up one third of the study credits, if completing an MSc over 3 years.
More information can be found on the Student Finance website.
AZEVN Chair, Matt Rendle RVN said: “Finally, we have an RCVS recognised qualification that will allow RVN’s from all academic pathways to show the high level of knowledge and understanding they have.
"The modules allow veterinary nurses taking the qualification to have a focus on the species or area that they are personally passionate about, be that axolotls, aardvarks or adders!
"This is a huge leap forward for veterinary nurses in the UK.”
www.azevn.orgwww.harper-adams.ac.uk
The website has been redesigned to help pet owners improve their understanding of the disease and support their commitment to treating their pet, thus improving the survival rates of diabetic pets.
The site includes videos which show how to give insulin injections to dogs and cats. There are also links to the Pet Diabetes Tracker App, which helps owners of diabetic pets monitor and record their pets’ progress. There are also tools to help pet owners build glucose curves they can share with their veterinary practice, and FAQs that will answer their main concerns.
The company is also offering additional support to help veterinary practices raise awareness of pet diabetes in the form of staff training and a Pet Diabetes Month Resource Pack.
Caroline Darouj, Senior Product Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Pet diabetes continues to rise in the UK1,2 due to the growing prevalance of obesity in our pets. Research has shown that up to 20% of diabetic pets die, or are euthanised, within a year of diagnosis3. Many of these early deaths however, are avoidable and effective management can result in good outcomes in most pets. A diabetes diagnosis should not be a life sentence for our pets.
"This campaign and new website will make a big difference, giving practices the tools to engage pet owners, provide treatments plans and explain effective disease management. Diabetes is a disease with many elements that can feel overwhelming for pet owners so it’s vital that all veterinary practice team members have the right resources to be able to advise and support them so their pets can lead long and happy lives."
To sign up for a pack practices should go to www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk/PDM
References
The recall is for the following batches only:
Petlife is contacting retailers, veterinary surgeons and wholesale dealers to examine inventory immediately and quarantine products subject to this recall.
For further information, contact Dr J M Ballany on +44 1333 720257 or email: johnballany@btinternet.com.
505 people took part in the survey in August 2019, of which 85% were receptionists. The remainder were RVNs, VCAs or practice managers with some front desk responsibility.
The survey found that 45% were paid between £8 and £9 per hour, with 9% more falling into this salary bracket than in 2018. 5.32% were paid £8 or less per hour.
The Real Living Wage is a figure calculated from the costs of a basket of household goods and services by the Living Wage Foundation, and voluntarily paid by its 6000-odd member companies in the UK. The Living Wage Foundation argues it is a better measure of what people need to get by on than the Minimum Wage (£7.70 for those aged between 21 and 25) or the National Living Wage (£8.21 for those over 25).
63% of veterinary receptionists said they were unsatisfied with their pay. However, it was not the biggest cause of dissatisfaction uncovered by the survey. 67% were dissatisfied with the recognition of the value of their role, and 69% with the career progression options open to them.
70% of respondents said they would like to do more CPD and that the main benefit would be to clients and patients. However, 43% of receptionists said there is no time allowance set aside for them to complete CPD.
Co-founder of BVRA and Honorary Associate Professor In Veterinary Business, Nottingham University, Brian Faulkner (pictured right) said: "A large part of the client experience is centred around the waiting room and receptionist area and our members work hard to ensure that experience is positive.
"We have an increasing number looking to upskill and the appetite for CPD is clearly there. If we can envisage a scenario where the minimum wage is set at £10.50 an hour, that would mean that around 65% of veterinary receptionists would need a pay increase.
"I don't think any of us believe that veterinary receptionists are currently doing an unskilled job and a key mission of BVRA is to achieve greater recognition of the value they bring to practices, both as colleagues and commercially."
The webinar sessions will kick off with a four-part series on neurology, running every Tuesday from 5th May at 3pm. There will also be a six-part series on anaesthesia starting on 14th May. Each webinar will be followed by a live Q&A session with the speakers.
The neurology series will cover:
Tim Richardson, Managing Director of Davies said: "VNAM is a very important event in our calendar, presenting us with the opportunity to celebrate and recognise the essential work done by our fantastic Veterinary Nurses, in all aspects of veterinary practice. We hope our CPD courses will help to support, motivate and inspire them to continue with their career development."
In additional to the special VNAM CPD during May, Davies is providing a programme of veterinary CPD delivered by world-class speakers, throughout the year.
To find out more and to book your place visit: https://vetspecialists.co.uk/cpd
Suprelorin 4.7mg is a sustained release implant containing deslorelin (a GnRH super agonist) which has been EMA and VMD approved for use in male cats from 3 months of age.
The implant provides temporary infertility and suppression of urine odour and of sexual behaviours such as libido, vocalisation, urine marking, and aggressiveness in intact male cats.
The implant typically lasts for at least 12 months1.
Virbac says that in most cats, testosterone levels drop within 2 weeks after implantation, followed by reduced testicular volume and reduced size of penile spines from weeks 4-8 after implantation.
Sexual behaviours begin to decrease within a week after treatment, starting with reduced vocalisation, followed by reduction in libido, urine odour, urine marking, and aggressiveness from 4 weeks after implantation.
Induction of infertility is achieved from approximately 6 weeks.
Dr Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: "The ability to use Suprelorin in male cats provides an opportunity for practices to offer a choice when it comes to neutering, and to tailor their recommendations to meet the individual needs of both the cat and the client.
"Suprelorin provides an ideal solution for cats where the client wants the benefit of surgery without the permanent loss of fertility, where there is an anaesthetic risk in high value kittens or where there is benefit to allow enough time between neutering, vaccination and homing to minimise stress".
The implant is inserted subcutaneously, under the loose skin on the back between the lower neck and the lumbar area.
Virbac says implantation is a quick procedure and does not require anaesthesia or hospitalisation, which can be of particular benefit in practices facing pressures on surgical waiting lists.
Suprelorin 4.7mg has also received a licensed claim in pre-pubertal female dogs for the induction of temporary infertility to delay the first oestrus and heat signs, and to prevent pregnancy at a young age in intact and healthy sexually immature female dogs.
The implant should be administered between 12 and 16 weeks of age.
For more information, talk to your Virbac Territory Manager or the Virbac Technical Team on 01359 243243.
Dogs which survived the devastating earthquake in the Zun Dao township of Sichuan, China have a new lease on life after the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and local officials announced an agreement to end the cruel killing of dogs and instead address public health concerns through an IFAW sponsored anti-rabies vaccination and veterinary aid programme in the 20,000+ population.
"This agreement is a major breakthrough," said Jackson Zee, IFAW rescue leader. "Chinese media have been filled with reports of people evacuating with their pets, being comforted by their pets, and even saved by their pets after their homes collapsed, so we are delighted to see this next step as local officials are acknowledging that humane care of dogs, cats and livestock can benefit both animals and people."
After the devastating earthquake that claimed around 80,000 human lives, IFAW rushed close to £100,000 in aid and sourced over six tonnes of animal food for some of the hardest-hit areas within Sichuan province.
IFAW met with local government officials in Zun Dao and offered humane alternatives to the dog culls presently in effect in much of the devastated areas. Officials agreed to halt any dog culling operations in the area and are welcoming IFAW's efforts to address the present public health concerns by conducting an anti-rabies vaccination and veterinary care programme in the area.
Accompanied by local veterinarians, IFAW began visiting villages immediately and on the first afternoon provided food, collars, leads and appropriate vaccinations for at least 50 family owned dogs. There are an estimated 4,000 owned dogs and 1,000 strays in Zun Dao and surrounding villages and relief efforts are expected to increase in the coming days.
In addition to the efforts in Zun Dao, IFAW has been providing humanitarian aid in the region by meeting some of the most basic and urgent needs. From cooking oil to laundry detergent, mosquito repellents and toys for children, these much-needed supplies are helping families get back on their feet and take care of their pets and backyard farm animals. Desperately needed supplies such as 100 water pumps, fencing, generators and other supplies have also been rushed to Mianyang to help rescue animals in advance of anticipated flooding while additional support has been given to the acclaimed Giant Panda Nature Reserve in Gansu province.
IFAW is appealing for public support to increase the amount of aid for animals and people in the earthquake region. To donate or view more information on current rescue efforts, visit http://www.ifaw.org/.
One set of guidelines deals with intoxication from pyrethrins commonly found in flea control products or ant powders, whilst the other covers macrocyclic lactone poisoning which most often occurs due to accidental ingestion of large animal anthelmintic products.
Both intoxications are commonly associated with severe neurological symptoms.
Will Peel, Product Manager at TVM UK said: "Our guidelines have proved very useful to veterinary staff and we have received requests from vets to add new guidelines for antiparasiticide intoxications. Our focus is on helping veterinary staff provide the best possible care for their patients so we hope that these new guidelines will prove beneficial."
The guidelines can be downloaded free from https://www.tvm-uk.com/vet-resource-library.
The study also suggests that encouraging the idea that client-orientated behaviours make for a 'good vet' will help many vets improve their mental wellbeing.
Liz found examples of new graduates who value their client-oriented skills, such as being able to tailor clinical plans to individual clients' needs, but still couldn’t shake the feeling that a 'better vet' would offer a more academic or specialist approach to cases.
Even when they skilfully adapt a plan for an owner who is unable to afford advanced tests to find out what is causing their pet's illness, this jars with the vets' beliefs that by reaching a specific diagnosis they would be doing a better job. Thus they chronically feel like a 'bad vet', despite demonstrating high-level skills in communication and clinical problem-solving.
The paper argues that learning to form positive client relationships in difficult situations leads to vets who are more resilient and have greater mental wellbeing.
However further analysis found a clear sentiment of 'the client is the enemy' in colleagues' discussions and social media.
During a difficult case, with complex conflicting pet and pet owner needs, vets who choose to emphasise the client as difficult and unreasonable can receive temporary solace when talking to similarly-minded peers or by accessing social media. However, this thinking prevents them from developing client empathy, impacting their mental health negatively in the long-term.
Liz therefore believes everyone in the profession has a responsibility to frame the strengths of the 'good vet' as being as much about the pet owner as the pet.
Liz said: "It's really important not to think of this as a message that we must all be 'nicer' to our clients. I have heard vets say clients' limited finances or not wanting to put their pet through treatment have forced them to go against their 'professional code'. This simply isn’t true: the RCVS Code of Conduct emphasises a need to work alongside clients to problem-solve these complex situations. Animal welfare can be supported through palliative or symptomatic treatments, which may be offered after difficult negotiations with very upset pet owners. This should therefore be a skill that is celebrated, rather than being considered not 'gold standard'.
"Being able to work with a client who is highly troubled by their financial limitations or the impending loss of a pet is difficult, particularly when these anxieties manifest as anger and accusation. The social media message of the client as the enemy obstructs this skill, as it becomes easier to rant about the 'difficult client'. Unfortunately, where this becomes embedded, it prevents the career satisfaction that comes from working with clients."
Reference
Photo courtesy RVC
The symposium, which offers up to 5 hours of CPD, is now available at: https://purinasymposium2022.vfairs.com/en/hall#exterior-view
In the recording, the following six experts share their knowledge:
Viewers can also download the delegate notes which provide a summary of the research explored in the talks.
The charity says it estimates there has been a ten-fold increase in fertility clinics in the past two years, and it is now aware of at least 339 dog fertility businesses across the UK.
Such clinics, which typically offer artificial insemination, progesterone testing, cytology and ultrasound scanning, are often operated by lay people, rather than veterinary professionals.
There have been concerns about the seeming indiscriminate use of breeding procedures by some fertility clinics, and about links to low welfare breeding operations.
Naturewatch says some fertility clinics have been found selling and administering prescription medicines and offering to perform operations.
The charity now wants to understand what veterinary professionals think about this new industry, and is running a short survey until 21st August 2022.
In particular, Naturewatch wants to know who you think should be permitted to perform commonly offered breeding procedures.
It also wants to hear your thoughts about possible solutions.
Are canine fertility clinics inherently problematic?
Or could canine fertility clinics - if operated ethically and regulated properly - bridge the gap between breeders and the veterinary profession?
Complete the survey here: https://action.naturewatch.org/canine-fertility-clinic-survey-for-veterinary-professionals
RCVS Knowledge launched the Canine Cruciate Registry on the Amplitude pro registry platform last year.
The automated registry, the first of its kind in veterinary medicine, allows the profession to evaluate the success of surgical techniques, and practitioners to benchmark their performance.
In June, RCVS Knowledge had a poster detailing the purpose, impact and aspirations of the registry accepted at the PROMs research conference, which before now typically only accepted submissions from the field of human medicine.
This, says Amplitude, marks the first step in sharing information about running registries designed to identify best practice in the care and treatment of both animals and people.
Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, said: "RCVS Knowledge is proud to be leading the development of clinical audit and registries to support the veterinary professions on their journey to continually improve the care they deliver.
"Registries are key in supporting the professions in understanding first-hand information about our patients with certain conditions, both individually and as a group, contextualizing with information from their owners, and over time, to increase our understanding of that condition.”
The buy-out was led by Professor Nick Bacon, Clinical Director, Dr Laurent Findji, Senior Clinician, Dr Jonathan Bray and Dr Gerard McLauchlan, who will collectively take the hospital forward with the financial backing of a small team of external investors.
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick will continue to lead Fitzpatrick Referrals Orthopaedics and Neurology and Fitzpatrick Referrals Institute for the Restoration of Skeletal Tissue which are both based in Eashing, Surrey.
Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology and Soft Tissue is rebranding as AURA Veterinary, continuing to focus on animal oncology, soft tissue surgery, interventional radiology and internal medicine.
Under the new management team, AURA Veterinary says it has plans to invest in its team, equipment, scientific innovation and research.
Noel said: “I am proud of everything and everyone who has been part of the journey over the last seven years.
"It is a world-class hospital with an unrivalled team and the foundation we have built together is incredible.
"The time is now right for the team to embark on the next part of their journey - allowing me to also go forward and focus my passion, energy and time at Fitzpatrick Referrals Orthopaedics and Neurology and lead that team into its exciting new phase.”
Nick Bacon, Clinical Director, said: “It was a wonderful opportunity to be involved with a hospital like this from the very beginning, and it’s exciting to be part of its new chapter.
"Laurent and I are hugely grateful to Noel for his vision in creating the hospital, which is unparalleled in the level of care, skill and innovation our team can provide for our patients.
"We look forward to the growth and success of AURA Veterinary.”
Photo: Dr Gerard McLauchlan (standing, back left, in darker scrubs), Professor Nick Bacon, Clinical Director (sitting, front left), Dr Jonathan Bray, (sitting, right), Dr Laurent Findji, Senior Clinician (standing, far right)
Starting in 2022 ‘The context, consequence and prevention of veterinary workplace injuries: a qualitative and quantitative study in the UK’ study aims to explore the context, consequences and behaviours surrounding veterinary workplace injuries - to improve the safety of the profession.
The first phase of the research was a cross-sectional survey of 740 broadly representative veterinary professionals.
Initial analysis, published in Occupational Medicine1, explored how injuries and their context are perceived by veterinary profession.
Themes identified during this phase of analysis were:
CVS says the veterinary industry should take note of the discrepancy of perception of what constitutes work-related injury in its practices and reporting protocols.
Practices may need an individualised approach to minimise their workplace injuries: some may need to work on revisiting their ideas around acceptable risk, whilst others may be good at minimising work-related harm, but have a complex or blame-associated reporting system which needs to be simplified.
Dr. John Tulloch, Lecturer and European Specialist in Veterinary Public Health, at the University of Liverpool who is leading the research, said: “Injuries that occur within veterinary practice can tragically at times be life-changing and are often avoidable.
"The objectives of this study are to understand how veterinary professionals define injuries and to understand what injuries they do or do not deem reportable.
"The results of this stage of the research have been both startling and complex.
"They highlight a profession in drastic need of cultural change and personal attitudes, with respect to injury prevention and mitigation.”
Dr. Imogen Schofield, Director of Clinical Research at CVS, said: “Using these findings, we will be able to develop and strengthen injury prevention measures through safety policy, education, and training.
"We anticipate that this project will result in safer workplaces within the wider veterinary community and, indirectly, in improved animal treatment through a fitter, healthier and safer profession.”
CVS says the research will lead to the development of open access educational tools aimed at promoting injury awareness and prevention.
The tools will focus on understanding why reporting injuries is important, how to develop a culture of accountability without blame, and when to seek medical attention and take time off work.
They will also investigate how to encourage clients to be safety ambassadors, and how to empower colleagues in challenging situations regarding restraint, aggressive patients and equine safety.
In addition, they will look at improving cat handling via International Society of Feline Medicine training and Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation, facilitating a rise in usage of hard hats in equine, and raising awareness of the risks associated with sharps plus sharp bin provision.
Reference:
Katie won the trophy for her research and presentation on quantifying and monitoring practice cleanliness.
The runner up, who won £500, was Glasgow University veterinary student, Alysia Empert-Gallegos for her research into owner perspectives on feeding raw diets to dogs.
Katie, who is Deputy Head Veterinary Nurse at Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital, said: "I am very grateful to MSD Animal Health for awarding me the research bursary and prize.
"Cleanliness is such an important subject area for the veterinary field and I'm pleased that I can hopefully inspire others to monitor it effectively; enabling us to continually improve our standards across the industry.
"I am excited to be the first Veterinary Nurse to take part and win, and hope that I can encourage other nurses to take an interest in research and help improve standards."
Michelle Townley, Veterinary Advisor at MSD Animal Health, said: "It was wonderful that this year everyone could present, no matter where they are working in the world, and despite the event having to be virtual this year, there was a huge amount of energy in the 'room', that shone through from the enthusiasm of the presenters. Their love of their work and commitment to research was apparent to everyone on the judging panel. It was a great day all round and we're excited and delighted to have awarded the top prize to our first veterinary nurse and Katie's extremely valuable and practical work on monitoring clinical hygiene."
Photo: Katie Whalley with Michelle Townley
Alison has been an active member of the BSAVA since graduating from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 1991.
She works in small animal practice and has completed a residency in feline medicine at Liverpool University’s School of Veterinary Science, as well as a PhD in canine Bordetella bronchiseptica.
She has also spent two years working in industry.
Sheldon will stay on to support the BSAVA as Senior Vice President.
Alison says her priorities for her time in office are to develop more innovative materials across the Association's Education, Congress, and Publications arms, to beef up the digital offering, and to focus on mental heath and wellbeing in the profession.
Alison said: "I’ve been a passionate member of the BSAVA throughout my career and a volunteer for almost as long.
"As a working vet, I know first-hand the value of being part of a professional community: the importance of shared values, educational opportunities, and support shouldn’t be underestimated.
"We must remain focussed on the day-to-day challenges veterinary teams face, respond appropriately and at pace, and continue to explore new and effective ways to support our members.”
Ms Strangeway faced eight charges against her.
The first five charges alleged that Ms Strangeway falsely claimed on hospitalisation records that she had attended the practice where she was employed to monitor hospitalised animals overnight, when she had not in fact done so.
In two of the cases Ms Strangeway also recorded on the form that she had provided the prescribed medication.
The sixth charge was that she had held herself out and practised as a registered veterinary nurse, despite not being on the RCVS Register at the time.
The remaining two charges related to the fact that her conduct as described in the previous charges was dishonest, misleading and potentially detrimental to animal welfare.
The Committee found all factual allegations proven by way of the respondent’s admissions and witness evidence, which included relevant CCTV footage and alarm data.
The Committee also found that the respondent’s conduct did amount to serious professional misconduct based on her dishonesty and the fact the conduct was sustained and repeated and created a risk to animal health and welfare.
The Committee then considered aggravating factors, including that there was a risk of injury to animals, the sustained nature of the misconduct, that there was actual or potential financial gain, that there was an abuse of a position of trust and responsibility, and that she had shown a wilful disregard of the RCVS and the systems regulating the veterinary nursing profession.
In mitigation, the Committee considered that there had been no actual harm to animals, that admissions to the allegations had been made at an early stage, that the respondent had displayed both remorse and insight regarding her conduct, including apologising to the practice, that she was of previously good character, and that she was ordinarily a good veterinary nurse.
Ms Cerys Jones, speaking on behalf of the Committee, said: “This is a case involving serious dishonesty, sustained over a period of time, and conduct potentially detrimental to animal welfare, as well as wilful disregard of professional regulations.
"Regrettably, the Committee has decided that, in this case, the respondent’s misconduct is so serious that removal from the Register is the only means of protecting animals and the wider public interest.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Dr Corsi consulted with Kika's owners about the management of her pregnancy at the end of November 2017, finding at least 4 puppies on an x-ray taken at the time.
The first of five charges against Dr Corsi was that on the 14th December, after being advised by Kika's owners that the dog had produced two live puppies and one dead puppy the previous night, she failed to advise them that Kika needed an immediate veterinary examination.
The second charge was that, having been telephoned for a second time by the owner, she still failed to advise the owners that Kika required an immediate veterinary examination.
The third charge was that, following an examination of Kika that afternoon, and having ascertained that Kika required a caesarean section to remove one undelivered puppy, Dr Corsi failed to perform the caesarean section that day and advised the owner that Kika could undergo the caesarean section (at the practice, performed by her) the next day (or words to the effect).
The charge also stated that she failed to advise the owner that Kika’s health and welfare required the caesarean section to be performed that day; and that she failed to advise them that, if she or another veterinary surgeon at the practice could not perform the surgery that day, Kika needed to be referred to the out-of-hours clinic so that the caesarean section could take place on the 14th December.
The fourth charge was that Dr Corsi failed to recognise that Kika’s health and welfare required a caesarean section to be performed on 14th December.
The fifth charge was that, on 16th December 2017, having been telephoned by the owner at about 5pm and having been informed that Kika was weak and had not been eating post-operatively, Dr Corsi failed to advise the owner that Kika should be presented urgently for a veterinary examination.
The Disciplinary Committee considered the facts of the case and heard evidence from a number of witnesses including the owners of Kika and Dr Corsi, and from Mr Maltman MRCVS who was called as an expert witness on behalf of the College and Mr Chitty, who was called as an expert witness on behalf of Dr Corsi.
Having considered all of the evidence, the Committee found all aspects of the first and second charges proven in their entirety.
The Committee found the majority of the third charge not proved, with the exception of the fact that it found that Dr Corsi did advise the owner that she could undertake the Caesarean section on 15 December 2017.
In light of the Committee’s findings in respect of the aspects of charge three that were not proved, charge four was also found not proved.
Finally, the Committee considered that charge five was found not proved.
The Committee then went on to consider whether the charges that were found proven amounted to serious professional misconduct either individually and/or cumulatively.
Committee Chair Cerys Jones said: "In light of the evidence of both parties’ experts, the Committee was of the view that there was a risk of harm or injury resulting from Dr Corsi’s failure - the Committee decided that this was an aggravating factor.
"However, the Committee took into account that, at the time of both calls, Dr Corsi had a rationale for her decision, that she asked appropriate questions and received answers which led her to make what she considered to be a reasoned assessment.
"She had also made arrangements in both calls to be kept updated either at a pre-arranged time or sooner if Kika’s condition changed. On this basis, the Committee was satisfied that, while this was an error of judgement, it did not fall so far short of what was expected as to amount to disgraceful conduct."
Therefore, the Committee decided that while Dr Corsi’s conduct in Charges 1 and 2 demonstrated a departure from professional standards, the falling short was not so grave as to amount to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The full decision can be read here: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/
The guide explains:
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/features/standards-and-advice-update-advice-published-on-amended
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/veterinary-medicines-guidance-notes-vmgns
The research, carried out by PhD student, Dr Sarah Finnegan and a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, behaviourists and biologists, found that 65% of owners reported pre-seizure changes in their dog, most commonly clinginess, excessive energy, and unsettled sleep. These signs varied between dogs, with other common changes including clumsiness, excessive panting, becoming withdrawn or quiet, and lacking energy.
43% of owners also reported seizure triggers, which commonly involved stress, food and excitement. A wide range of other triggers were reported by owners including loud noises, fireworks, storms, household products (cleaning products and air freshener), and preventative healthcare including flea and worming products and vaccinations.
60% of owners believed they were able to predict an upcoming seizure in their dog by using a combination of pre-seizure changes and recognising triggers. Nearly half of these owners were able to do so 30 minutes or more before the seizure commenced.
Dr Rowena Packer, BBSRC Research Fellow and research lead in canine epilepsy at the RVC, said: "It was fascinating to discover how in-tune many owners of dogs with epilepsy are with subtle changes in their dog’s behaviour before seizures. Many of our findings echo what is seen in human epilepsy patients and add evidence to support the presence of prodromal pre-seizure periods in dogs as well as people.
"Collecting further objective data to confirm these findings and explore ways to proactively utilise this period for seizure management are of priority for future research.
“This study also highlights how crucial it is that owners of dogs with epilepsy keep good records, not just of their dog’s seizures, but also of changes in behaviour and exposure to potential triggers, to gain a better picture of patterns in their dog’s seizure activity. The RVC Pet Epilepsy Tracker app allows owners to keep records, that can also be shared electronically with their vet and with RVC for further research.”
CEVA Animal Health has updated its practice support materials to include an all-encompassing D.A.P. client leaflet, a website and a new vet detailer.
The new materials, which also include a D.A.P. and Feliway reference guide containing details of 31 published trials into the practical applications of pheromones, focus on using D.A.P. to prevent stress at key stages of a dog's life. Particular attention is paid to the benefits of fitting a D.A.P. Collar during early puppy consults in order to help prepare dogs for the modern world and helping to prevent anxiety-related problems such as separation anxiety and noise phobia, developing in later life. In addition, the vet brochure will draw practitioners' attention to the times in a dog's life when owners are particularly concerned about their dog becoming stressed including events like trips to boarding kennels.
Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health, said: "Over the last three years eight different trials have been published looking at the use of pheromones to reduce canine stress. The latest data backs up what we have believed for some time - that the management of stress during socialisation is vital if dogs are to grow into emotionally balanced and confident adult dogs. We now have a much better idea of the impact of allowing puppies to get stressed or overwhelmed during socialisation and the difference providing pheromone support in the form of a D.A.P. Collar can make."
For further details, or for information on CEVA's range of educational resources for veterinary professionals interested in feline and canine behaviour, please contact your CEVA Animal Health representative or call 01494 781510.
Tramvetol is presented in two pack sizes of 30 and 100 tablets to assist practices with dispensing and storage as a Schedule 3 controlled drug. The meat flavoured 50mg tablets can also be divided into two equal parts to ensure accurate dosing.
Virbac says Tramvetol is suitable for both short courses and long-term treatment; 2-4mg per kg of Tramvetol can be administered every 8 hours or from 6 hours, if required, based on the intensity of the pain. In addition, Tramvetol has a wide therapeutic window and a maximum daily dose of 16mg per kg.
Commonly used in combination with other forms of analgesia, including NSAIDs1, Tramvetol is quickly absorbed and boats a rapid onset of action2. Peak plasma concentrations are achieved within 45 minutes3.
Dan Johnson, Product Manager at Virbac said: ‘Tramadol is already an important part of the analgesia toolkit for many veterinary practices. We hope that Tramvetol will prove to be a much more convenient option for practices, whilst helping to provide dogs with a better quality, pain free life’.
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
The charge against Ms Law was that in November 2017, having performed surgery on Kiwi, a German Shepherd/Wolfhound-cross dog, to address gastric dilation volvulus (GDV), she failed to obtain informed consent to the entirety of the surgical process and management, including post-operative aftercare.
The charge also stated that she failed to provide adequate analgesia to Kiwi before, during or after the surgery, failed to provide appropriate and adequate fluid therapy to Kiwi, failed to offer an appropriate and adequate post-operative care plan and/or post-operative transfer for Kiwi to another practice and failed to inform the owners that there would be nobody present at the practice to provide post-operative monitoring and aftercare for Kiwi for approximately seven hours during the night.
Finally the charge stated that Ms Law allowed Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight from 12:30am to 07:45am without adequate monitoring or post-operative aftercare.
Ms Law admitted some of the charges against her, including that she had failed to obtain informed consent, failed to offer an appropriate and/or adequate post-operative care plan, failed to inform the owners that there would be nobody present at the practice and allowed Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight without adequate monitoring and/or post-operative aftercare. However, she denied that she failed to provide adequate analgesia or fluid therapy to Kiwi.
The Committee found all of the charges proved, with the exception of failing to provide adequate analgesia during the perioperative period.
Having considered the facts, the Committee then moved on to consider whether the admitted and proven charges against Ms Law amounted to serious professional misconduct, taking into account any aggravating and mitigating factors. The aggravating features were that, as a result of Ms Law’s failures in relation to analgesia and fluid therapy, there was either actual injury to Kiwi, or a risk of such injury.
In mitigation, the Committee considered that she promptly and accurately diagnosed GDV, and proceeded to perform the necessary emergency surgery. The Committee considered that the charges related to a single isolated incident and that Ms Law has had an unblemished career to date. They also noted that Ms Law had made open and frank admissions as to the majority of the charges.
The Committee found that the conduct of Ms Law set out in the majority of the charges did not amount to serious professional misconduct. However, in the judgement of the Committee, Ms Law’s conduct in allowing Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight without adequate monitoring or post-operative aftercare did amount to serious professional misconduct.
Jane Downes, who chaired the Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The Committee considers that the respondent (Ms Law) has insight into the serious mistake that she made in failing to ensure that Kiwi was checked or monitored overnight. The Committee has found that this was a single isolated incident, which involved a serious lapse of clinical judgement, which will probably stay in the mind of the respondent for the rest of her career.
"The respondent has been in practice for some nine years now, and apart from this incident, there is no suggestion that the respondent has fallen short of the standards expected of her on any other occasion. The Committee does not consider that there is a risk that the respondent is likely to leave an animal overnight after major surgery again, without ensuring that it is checked during that time, and, as such, the Committee considers that there is no future risk to the welfare of animals so far as the respondent is concerned."
The Committee considered that the finding of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect in this case is too serious for no further action to be taken, having regard to the need to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct.
The Committee therefore concluded that the appropriate sanction in this case was to issue a reprimand to Ms Law, in relation to the finding of serious professional misconduct.
Jane Downes added: "The Committee considers that this sanction, coupled with the findings of fact and disgraceful conduct made against the respondent, is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct. The Committee does not consider it necessary to issue a warning to the respondent about her future conduct, on the basis that the Committee has concluded that there is no risk of repetition."
There were three charges against Ms Creese, all pertaining to the period between July 2016 and November 2017.
The first charge was that she failed to ensure that there were adequate systems and processes in place for out-of-hours’ care for in-patients.
The second charge was that she publicised that the practice had "24 hour care provided by our vets at our practice" and/or "Care 24/7 for your pets" on its website, which suggested that staff were present at the practice 24 hours a day when they were not and as such publicity was dishonest and/or misleading.
The third charge against Ms Creese was that she failed to ensure that Kiwi's owners were informed about arrangements at the practice for out-of-hours’ care for in-patients.
At the outset of the hearing, Ms Creese denied all the charges against her.
After hearing evidence from relevant witnesses, the Committee considered that the practice did have in place systems and processes for out-of-hours care for in-patients and that there was no evidence of repeated or ignored failures of these systems and processes. The Committee therefore found the charges against Ms Creese not proved and all three were dismissed.
Felpreva contains emodepside and praziquantel, with tigolaner, a novel bispyrazole active ingredient.
Felpreva is licensed for treatment of cats with, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infestations/infections.
Vetoquinol points to a survey revealed conducted last year in which 43% of cat owners said that giving parasite protection to their cat makes them feel guilty, stressed, or worried1.
Felpreva provides an option to reduce the frequency of treatments, lessening stressful interactions between owners and their cats.
Vetoquinol says that with Felpreva’s convenience and longer-lasting flea and tick protection, it aims to help support compliance and thus improve the wellbeing of feline companions.
Helen Hunter, Senior Product Manager at Vetoquinol UK, said: “The launch of Felpreva is a truly proud moment for Vetoquinol, demonstrating our expertise, passion, and commitment to innovation in this essential category of companion animal medicine.
"It will allow us to safeguard the health of cats by bringing longer-lasting protection, convenience, and ease of use – for both pet owners and veterinary professionals.
"At a time when vets are treating more pets than ever before, the need for a breakthrough endectocide solution like Felpreva has never been greater.”
Felpreva is in wholesalers now.
For more information, contact your local Vetoquinol representative.