The RCVS has announced the results of the 2013 Council and Veterinary Nurses Council elections.

4,661 veterinary surgeons voted, the highest turnout seen in ten years. 1,329 veterinary nurses voted, the highest ever number.

Veterinary surgeons voted incumbents Christopher Gray, Peter Jinman, Bradley Viner, Christopher Tufnell, and Jeremy Davies back onto the RCVS Council. However, the highest number of votes was given to Thomas Witte, who will be new to Council when he takes his seat in July. Veterinary nurses voted similarly by returning Andrea Jeffery to VN Council, whilst giving to Amy Robinson, another newcomer, the largest number of votes.

According to the College, turnout in both elections has increased markedly on last year in both absolute and proportional terms. Votes were cast by 4,661 veterinary surgeons (18.8%) and 1,329 veterinary nurses (12.5%), compared to 3,625 (15.1%) and 743 (7.5%), respectively, in 2012. 

Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar said: "We're delighted with the increase in turnout. It's difficult to pinpoint the reasons for the increase, but hopefully, it's because increasing numbers of vets and nurses are feeling more engaged with the College. We have also undertaken extra communications activities this year, such as the 'hustings', which we hope have helped."

The Council election 'hustings' was a new venture this year, with RCVS Council candidates able to select three questions, submitted by voters, to answer in a live webinar run by The Webinar Vet.

Veterinary surgeons and VNs could cast their votes by post, online, or by text. The majority of vets voting chose to cast postal votes (3,247), as did the majority of VNs (1,055). Whilst voting online was used by 1,330 veterinary surgeons, only 227 VNs chose it as a means of voting. Voting by text was used by only 84 veterinary surgeons and 47 VNs.

The successful candidates will take up or resume their seats at RCVS Day on 5 July.

The full results of the two elections are as follows:

RCVS Council election

WITTE, Thomas Hermann - 2,251 (Elected)
GRAY, Christopher John - 1,974 (Elected)
JINMAN, Peter Charles - 1,949 (Elected)
VINER, Bradley Phillip  - 1,927 (Elected)
TUFNELL, Christopher Wynne - 1,883 (Elected)
DAVIES, Jeremy Vincent - 1,830 (Elected)
STURGESS, Christopher Paul - 1,809   
CONNELL, Niall Thomas - 1,596   
ROBINSON, Peter Bayley - 1,366   
ELLIS, Robert Nigel Ward - 1,302   
GRANT, Lewis George - 832   
TORGERSON, Paul Robert - 824   
LONSDALE, Thomas - 337   

Twenty-two votes in the RCVS Council election were found to be invalid.

VN Council election

ROBINSON, Amy - 725 (Elected)
JEFFERY, Andrea Karen - 607 (Elected)
BADGER, Susan Frances - 459
TOTTEY, Helen Wendy 332   

One vote in the VN Council election was found to be invalid.

The 2013 RCVS and VN Council elections were run on behalf of the RCVS by Electoral Reform Services.

Amongst the research being presented is 'Stress Reduction in Children', a Mars-funded study in which 75 male children were monitored to see how their levels of the stress-hormone cortisol varied when they were exposed to mild social stresses. The study found that children with a dog present  showed significantly lower levels of the stress-hormone than those with a friendly adult present. In addition, the more the children stroked and interacted with the dog, the further their levels of cortisol decreased.

Sandra McCune, Research Manager for the Human-Companion Animal Bond Research Programme at Mars Petcare's Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (there's a job title-and-a-half) said: "Pet owners will tell you just how much their pet means to them but it is research such as this that proves just how fundamental and important the bond is between people and pets. These studies provide us with valuable insight into this special bond and the health benefits of owning a pet."

Virbac Animal Health has launched a broad spectrum wormer for dogs called Endogard (praziquantel, pyrantel and febantel).

Virbac says Endogard offers treatment against most types of intestinal worms found commonly in dogs. It is presented in two tablet sizes for easy dosage. 

Victoria Hudson, Product Manager for Endo and Ectoparasiticides, said: "While we're known for developing innovative products which help practices generate additional revenue streams, we can also support them by offering cost-effective and proven products for routine use.

Endogard is a perfect example. The efficacy of its active ingredients is well-established; it's simple for owners to administer and it's also affordable which will bring them back to the practice. It's an excellent addition to Virbac's strong range of parasite control treatments."

For further information, contact your Territory Manager or call Virbac on 01359 243243.

Essex-based Anne Mullen MRCVS has been suspended from the Register for two months by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee for failing to have professional indemnity insurance (PII) or equivalent arrangements in compliance with the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons.

The case was brought by the College after a member of the public raised a 'concern' relating to Mrs Mullen's practice in December 2015. The concern was not pursued by the College. 

However, during its initial investigation, the RCVS case manager ascertained that contrary to the requirements of the Code of Professional Conduct, Mrs Mullen did not have PII.

In January 2016 Mrs Mullen was advised by the College that, in order to comply with the Code, she needed to ensure her professional activities were covered by PII or equivalent arrangements.

The matter was considered by the Preliminary Investigation Committee which asked, in October 2016, that Mrs Mullen produce evidence that she was now compliant with the requirement to have PII or equivalent. Mrs Mullen responded in November 2016 confirming that she had not put in place such arrangements.

The case was then referred to the Disciplinary Committee in January 2017.

During the hearing it was determined that, during the relevant time period (from November 2015 to November 2016) Mrs Mullen was practising but did not have professional indemnity insurance in place and therefore was in breach of the Code. 

Mrs Mullen, who represented herself, told the Committee that she admitted that she did not have PII. She explained that she was 'ethically and morally opposed to it' as she felt that it did not give fair compensation to claimants and did not know it was a requirement of the Code of Professional Conduct until she was informed by the College in January 2016.  

When giving oral evidence as to equivalent arrangements she disclosed that she kept significant funds in a bank account; these were not however specifically earmarked for use in the event of any possible claims, and were also required to pay practice expenses.

In light of evidence produced by the College and her own admissions, the charges against Mrs Mullen were found proved and she was found guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.

In coming to this decision Chitra Karve, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The respondent failed to have PII in place for a period of about 12 months as specified in the charges. Moreover, she failed to remedy the situation when advised in January 2016 by the College that she was in breach of the Code and the supporting guidance. This remains a continuous course of conduct, which has still not been remedied. The respondent has chosen not to read the Code, or the supporting guidance, until very recently, in relation to her obligation to have PII or equivalent arrangements in place, and she failed to heed the advice of the College that she must rectify the position." 

In considering the sanction the Committee took into account mitigating and aggravating factors. Aggravating factors included the fact that the misconduct was sustained over a significant period of time and that limited insight was shown by Mrs Mullen. While she did begin to display limited insight into the significance of her misconduct, the Committee said that this insight was "hampered by her ambivalence towards the College and the systems that regulate the veterinary profession."

In mitigation the Committee took into account Mrs Mullen’s long and unblemished career and the fact she was a sole practitioner who reported challenging personal circumstances and provided a unique service to a niche group of clients.

However, Chitra Karve said: "The Committee is unable to overlook the Respondent’s lack of commitment to obtaining PII or equivalent arrangements, even after being advised by the College that this was essential. The Committee is aware that a suspension could adversely affect her practice and her clients that she uniquely serves. However the Committee thinks it is necessary to send a clear message to the respondent and the public, that failure to obtain PII or equivalent arrangements is wholly unacceptable."

She added: "Accordingly, the Committee directs the Registrar to suspend the respondent’s registration for a period of two months. The Committee considers that this period of suspension will give the respondent an opportunity to rectify her breaches of the Code in relation to PII… and to reflect upon her attitude towards the College and the appropriate regulation of the veterinary profession."

The RCVS has launched the Edward Jenner Veterinary Leadership Programme, a online leadership training course for all members of the practice team.

The programme, which was developed in collaboration with the NHS Leadership Academy, is designed to teach a number of skills that underpin good leadership, including decision-making, resilience, implementing an inclusive culture and encouraging reflective learning approaches. It comprises two free-to-access courses and an optional paid for assessment.

The College says that one of the programme's most popular aspects is its audio drama, which follows the lives of veterinary professionals living in the fictional county of Glenvern. The stories that depict the characters’ working lives seek to reveal the diverse leadership challenges that veterinary professionals face on a day-to-day basis. This in turn prompts the listener to reflect, consider how they would respond, and learn from their own experiences as well as those of other people.

The first course was piloted this summer, with over 550 veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, students and practice managers helping the College to develop and refine the material, whilst a group of learners are currently piloting the second course in the series.

Sally Coles, an RVN qualified for 17 years said: “This has been a great experience; I have looked forward to spending the time out to do it. It hasn't felt like a course but an interactive learning exercise that has given me time to reflect on myself and how I can impact on others, it has also help me accept who I am and am how I am developing in my role. I would recommend this course to someone who really enjoys deep thinking and self-awareness. I agree with the comments that it has taken me longer than 4 hours a week as you really will benefit from having a journal and reading all the extras. Looking forward to more.”

Given the overwhelmingly positive feedback received on the first course the RCVS has now opened the programme to all veterinary professionals.

The programme is now accepting registrations for a new cohort of learners to begin the first of three courses on 26^th November.  A ‘sign-up’ email will be sent out to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses ahead of the course starting.

Director of Leadership and Innovation at the RCVS, Anthony Roberts, said: "I am very pleased to be able to announce the launch of this programme. I would urge anyone with an interest in developing their leadership skills, as well as those looking to refine their longstanding leadership skills, to take part. The feedback we have received on the first course in this programme [please see Notes to Editors] has shown us that this MOOC has a far-reaching application, and is both educational and enjoyable. Whether you are a vet, veterinary nurse, practice manager or student, this programme will be relevant and useful in your professional career."

For more information, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/leadershipmooc or email: leadership@rcvs.org.uk

Boehringer Ingelheim is urging veterinary surgeons in the UK to test for PPID routinely at the annual health check or vaccination visit for horses over the age of 15.

The recommendation follows the analysis of data collected as part of the company's Talk About Laminitis disease awareness initiative, which has seen more than 47,000 horses tested for PPID since it was launched in 2012¹. 

The data revealed that, regardless of presenting clinical signs, a horse aged 15-20 is three times more likely to have PPID compared to a horse under 10, and this risk increases with age. For example, a horse of 20-25 is six times more likely to have PPID compared to a horse under 10 and a horse that is 25-30 is 10 times more likely to have PPID.

Boehringer says that despite the high prevalence of PPID in the older horse population, the clinical signs of the disease are insidious in onset and owners may simply associate them with the ageing process. 

One study demonstrated that in a single population of horses over the age of 15 only 1.6% of owners reported signs of PPID². However, when the same group of horses were examined by a veterinary surgeon, 21% were found to have signs of the disease.

Dr Jo Ireland, veterinary surgeon at the University of Liverpool, said: "It is often difficult for owners to spot the signs of PPID as they frequently associate them with the ageing process. However, PPID is now the fifth most commonly diagnosed disease in horses in the UK³.  

"We are therefore encouraging veterinary surgeons to routinely test horses over 15 years of age or those that are displaying signs of PPID with an ACTH test."

The 'Talk About Laminitis' disease awareness initiative runs from June until the end of October and aims to raise awareness of the underlying hormonal causes of laminitis – PPID and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). As part of the scheme, the laboratory fees for the blood test which detects PPID (the basal ACTH test) are free.

Redwings’ head of veterinary and care, senior veterinary surgeon Nicky Jarvis, said: "Any initiative that decreases the incidence of laminitis developing in an older equine is invaluable. Laminitis is an extremely distressing condition for both the horse and the owner and the long-term consequences can be devastating. Knowing the underlying cause is a huge help in tackling the disease and we would encourage anyone to take advantage of this offer and get their veteran checked out."

For further information about 'Talk About Laminitis', visit www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk or contact your local Boehringer Ingelheim account manager.

References

1. Talk about Laminitis data 2012-2015 Boehringer Ingelheim
2. McGowan T. et al (2013) “Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses”
3. National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) 2016

Burgess Excel has launched The Excel Food Cube, billed as the first truly 'complete' food for rabbits and guinea pigs, aka 'fibrevores'.

According to the company, it's the first time that rabbit and guinea pig owners will be able to feed a convenient and portion controlled all-in-one food that caters for all of their pets' dental, digestive and emotional needs.

Historically, there has been debate as to whether any one food alone can be classed as 'complete' for these pets. Many foods on the market currently labelled 'complete' only meet the nutritional needs of these pets, because, historically in the world of dog and cat food, that's all a complete food needs to cater for. However, according to Burgess Excel, 72% of vets say that any food labelled as 'complete' for rabbits and guinea pigs should cover dental, digestive and emotional health. To be just 'nutritionally complete' is not enough, because diet accounts for so much more in keeping these pets alive and healthy.

Justin Heaton, Head of Marketing for Burgess Pet Care said "Once again we are incredibly excited and proud to be launching a pioneering new product to the market. Our studies revealed foods labelled 'complete' are generally fed alone, without the hay necessary for fibrevores.  As the UK's leading veterinary brand for fibrevores we felt obligated to create a truly healthy, 100% complete food to ensure that pets are being correctly fed. The additional beauty of this product is that it really drives home to fibrevore owners that hay IS food!

The Excel Complete Food Cubes consist of compressed cubes of long fibre Timothy hay for dental and digestive health, together with high fibre tasty nuggets, which contain short fibre, supplements and prebiotics, also necessary for digestive health and to promote foraging. Topped with flowers and beneficial herbs they deliver a visually exciting, innovative solution, inside and out for pet owners."

Justin continued "Excel was the first to expose the myth about 'complete feeds' and identify what the real requirements of these pets are, the first to develop a specific and dedicated feeding plan, the first to identify fibrevores as a subset of small animals and the first to campaign for complete diets to include dental, digestive and emotional health - all of which are why Excel is still the UK's No.1 veterinary recommended food for fibrevores.

However, in today's fast paced and busy world, consumers are always looking for the easiest, least hassle and most convenient ways to feed their pets. To date it has never been easy to find a solution to do this for fibrevores, without compromising their health........ that is until now!"

Burgess says Excel Food Cubes will be available in March but that more information and pre-orders can be taken from your local Burgess representative now. Alternatively, contact Justin Heaton for further information at: Justin.Heaton@burgesspetcare.co.uk

Protexin Veterinary has launched CystoPro, a new product to aid in the management of urinary tract infections in dogs.  

According to the company, the key active ingredients in the new product are proanthocyanidins (Type A PACs), derived from cranberries, which work by reducing the ability of E.coli bacteria to infect a dog's urinary tract. 

In addition, CystoPro contains the probiotic Enterococcus faecium (NCIMB 10415) E1707 which Protexin says reduces pathogenic bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract thereby lessening the risk of ascending UTIs of faecal origin.

The product also contains Mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), which Protexin claims binds E.coli and upregulates the innate immune system by attracting phagocytes to opsonise the bacteria. 

Lastly CystoPro contains N-acetyl D-glucosamine which is said to reinforce the structure of the Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer that lines and protects the bladder urothelium. 

CystoPro is available in boxes of 30 and 120 capsules.

The Kennel Club has announced it will be launching the Veterinary Practice Guide to Dog Health, a new guide to dog health for veterinary surgeons at the BVA Congress 2010 (Sept 23rd - 25th).

According to the organisation, The Veterinary Practice Guide to Dog Health has been specially developed to provide veterinary surgeons and other practice staff with a handy, updatable resource which covers a range of topics including breed specific information for all 210 recognised pedigree breeds and the range of health testing available to breeders and owners.

The guide contains information on the Kennel Club's Accredited Breeder Scheme, which currently has around 5,300 members who commit to good breeding practice, and the Fit For Function: Fit For Life campaign which aims to ensure that all dogs are able to lead their lives to the full by ensuring that they are fit enough to fulfil the function for which they were originally developed.

The guide provides details about the reporting of operations which alter the natural conformation of a dog, and a sample form which veterinary surgeons can copy and then use to report such operations to the Kennel Club. It also contains a full set of Kennel Club information guides covering a wide range of topics and examples of Kennel Club registration certificates for dogs from both standard registrations and Kennel Club Accredited Breeders to help advise puppy owners what to expect when buying a Kennel Club-registered dog.

Other topics included in the manual are a range of Kennel Club initiatives which veterinary surgeons may find useful to pass on to their clients, such as information on the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, the UK's largest dog training programme, and Petlog, the UK's largest microchipping and pet reunification database.

The Kennel Club's Veterinary Advisor, Nick Blayney said: "The Kennel Club Veterinary Practice Guide to Dog Health is intended to assist veterinary surgeons and all practice staff gain information about the two hundred or more breeds of dog recognised by the Kennel Club and any related health issues.

"The Kennel Club is very aware that veterinary surgeons are keen to promote the breeding of healthy puppies, but would find it useful to obtain information about the many health tests and screening schemes available and recommended for each breed.  This manual is intended to provide detailed advice on these tests and schemes on a breed by breed basis to assist vets in helping clients to understand the different conditions which may affect individual breeds."

The guide will be made available as an A4 ring binder, with the first fifty available at the BVA Congress. Recipients will be asked to agree to a follow-up visit from one of the Kennel Club's Accredited Breeder Advisors, whose role involves inspecting the breeding premises of the scheme's members to ensure that the standards required by the scheme are kept, and also establishing relationships with veterinary surgeons around the country. There are currently 14 Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Advisors across the UK and they will also be responsible for distributing the remaining copies to veterinary surgeries in the future.

Alongside the launch of the guide, a new dedicated area for veterinary surgeons has been added to the Kennel Club website at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/vets. This will include links to many of the subjects contained in the manual, and will initially feature the top 20 breeds registered in the UK. Future updated content will be added to the website as it becomes available, and the manual will subsequently be produced as a computer disk for wider distribution and convenience.

Veterinary surgeons who are not attending this year's BVA Congress, but wish to obtain a copy of the Veterinary Practice Guide to Dog Health, should visit the new section of the website and complete the request form. A representative of the Kennel Club's Health and Breeder Services team will then make contact to establish a suitable date and time for an Accredited Breeder Advisor to visit.

The British Veterinary Association and the British Veterinary Nursing Association have announced a new strategic alliance designed to strengthen the working relationship between the two associations whilst maintaining their individual identities.

The associations signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect at BVA Members' Day last week. 

As part of the memorandum, BVA and BVNA have agreed to identify opportunities to work together to represent the views of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to the media, policymakers and general public and to raise the profile of the veterinary professions and the wider veterinary team.

The two associations have also agreed to work together to deliver joint events and support each other’s members.

British Veterinary Association President, Gudrun Ravetz said: "This memorandum really captures the importance of the veterinary family, my Presidential theme, in terms of us all working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for animal health, welfare, public health and our professions.

"At community level, we could not achieve a fraction of what we do if vets and vet nurses did not pull together and, at national level, one strong veterinary voice will achieve so much more if we work in unison.

"I am delighted that BVA and BVNA have had the strategic foresight to formalise our close working relationship, with many more opportunities to come for collaboration that will best represent the voices of our members."

British Veterinary Nursing Association President Samantha Morgan said: "BVNA are very pleased to sign this agreement to formally recognise the close relationship both professions have and therefore both representative bodies have.

"This is going to be a symbiotic relationship, with both professions and representatives retaining their own unique identity but forming a single, strong voice. This is a proud milestone for BVNA, something we have worked towards and we believe this formal understanding between both of our representative bodies is a positive step in the veterinary nurse profession.”

The memorandum between BVA and BVNA is agreed for a period of three years and will be regularly reviewed during that time.

A special interest group has been established for vets, veterinary nurses and chartered physiotherapists interested in the rehabilitation of diseased and injured animals. 'Physiovet UK' aims to provide practical training in the field of veterinary rehabilitation and pain management.

The group's inaugural CPD meeting takes place on Wednesday 20^th May this year in Cardiff and will be led by specialist in small animal surgery (orthopedics) Steve Butterworth and veterinary rehabilitation specialist Lowri Davies. Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition and Merial Animal Health, the meeting will cost £80 for members or £100 for non-members (ex VAT) for the day long event. Membership of the group costs £50.

Lowri Davies, a founder member of Physiovet said: "At this first meeting, the focus is on helping to develop a protocol for diagnosis and management strategies for conditions of the hock, shoulder and lumbosacral cases. Practitioners will recognise that these are commonly occurring conditions that are often managed conservatively but treatment need not stop with a prescription of 'rest'. We will be describing a range of active interventions that build strength, flexibility and general fitness appropriate to lame animals to help restore function and mobility."

For a downloadable registration form for the event, to join as a member or for further information about the group visit http://www.physiovet.co.uk/. Places at the meeting can also be booked by calling 01626 867614 or by contacting kathrin@linhayvet.co.uk.

The BSAVA has announced a partnership with the University of Liverpool to develop a national UK disease surveillance network for companion animals.

Originally established in 2008, the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network, SAVSNET, aimed to monitor the disease status of the UK small animal population (mainly dog, cat and rabbit). However, funding for the project came to an end in August 2011. At this point, BSAVA stepped in with support, as it believed that not only would the profession benefit from this source of information, but that it is in fact vital for the successful management of disease in small animals.

BSAVA President Andrew Ash said: "SAVSNET ticks all the boxes for BSAVA. High quality large scale epidemiological research helps us fulfil our obligations as a charity to public good, the information on disease surveillance gives us the information to treat animals better, and the research papers help us inform veterinary policy and education. This is an important scheme for both animal and human health."

Participation by diagnostic labs and practices is voluntary, and all data gained will be made anonymous before being reported.  For more information, email savsnet@liverpool.ac.uk.