As part of its Pet Factor campaign, the National Office of Animal Health has launched a competition via its consumer website Pet Health Information www.pethealthinfo.org.uk to find a pet with "the Pet Factor".
NOAH is inviting owners, vets, and vet nurses to go on to the website and put forward nominations, in no more than 200 words, of animals that have staged an amazing recovery, shown exceptional bravery or set themselves apart in some other way.
The Pet Factor campaign was launched with a set of three viral videos, focussing on Pet Factor auditions for a dog, cat, and hamster that reminded owners of the importance of basic pet care.
The PHI site encourages owners to go to talk to pet care professionals to seek advice about how to keep their pets healthy and happy.
Phil Sketchley chief executive of NOAH said: "The video campaign was very successful, with over 25,000 people having watched them so far. Now we want to take the campaign further and find pets that have done something special in a way that really embodies the spirit of 'the Pet Factor'."
The winning pet and their owner will receive a full photo shoot worth over £1,000 with renowned animal photographer Sam Lunt. The final photographs will be presented to them in a beautiful bound book, to remember their special day.
If you think one of your clients deserves to win, submit your 200 word entry at www.pethealthinfo.org.uk, with a photograph if you have one. The closing date is 28 February 2010.
The BVA has welcomed a Scottish Government consultation on the compulsory microchipping of all dogs in Scotland, launched by Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead on 27th December.
Microchipping of all dogs is already a legal requirement in Northern Ireland and will become a requirement in Wales in 2015 and in England in 2016.
BVA President Robin Hargreaves, said: "BVA has long supported the compulsory microchipping of all dogs as a significant welfare measure and so we are delighted that the Scottish Government has launched this consultation.
"Every vet in practice will tell you what a highlight it is to be able to reunite a lost dog and its owner quickly and easily. The more dogs that are microchipped, with correct details on the database, the easier that process becomes meaning fewer dogs sent to kennels and charities."
Ronnie Soutar, President of BVA Scottish Branch, said: "Microchipping is a safe, effective and permanent way to link dogs with their owners and it is an essential part of responsible ownership. It is a small cost in terms of dog ownership with veterinary practices in Scotland offering microchipping at a very reasonable price or at a discount or free as part of a practice promotion. "It is important to remember that microchips are only as useful as the information held on the database and so we must work together with the Scottish Government to ensure that dog owners understand the importance of keeping this information up to date."
The consultation also asks for views on dog licensing and compulsory muzzling of dogs in public areas - measures that BVA has not supported.
Mr Hargreaves said: "We have some serious reservations about the call for all dogs, or dogs of a specific breed, to be muzzled in public areas.
"Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act dogs are afforded the right to exhibit normal behaviour which could be compromised by the requirement to wear a muzzle at all times outside of the home. We hope that respondents to the consultation reject this idea."
The BVA says it will be consulting its members to respond in full to the consultation.
Virbac Animal Health has launched Speed Leish K, a diagnostic test for canine leishmaniosis.
Speed Leish K detects antibodies directed against the kinesins of leishmania using a Kinesin Capture Complex (KCC), a complex of recombinant proteins with strong immunogenic power at all stages of infection. Virbac says that in trials the test has demonstrated 98.5% overall accuracy.*
Virbac Product Manager Simon Boulton MRCVS said: "Leishmaniosis presents a growing threat to UK dogs, particularly those which travel with their owners on holiday to regions where the disease is endemic.
"Speed Leish K should be used as part of the primary CaniLeish vaccination protocol in animals previously at risk of exposure to ensure only health animals are vaccinated. The test can also be used to screen for the disease in animals suspected to be infected."
Speed Leish K is presented in kits of two or six tests and can be stored for 24 months at room temperature.
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh has opened an emergency clinic for injured animals, to allow the public to bring in wildlife in need of treatment. The Wildlife Emergency Clinic is the first of its kind in the UK.
The new emergency clinic, based at the School's Hospital for Small Animals, will treat animals with the aim of releasing them back into their native habitat. The venture will also enable veterinary students to gain more hands-on training in treating wildlife.
The emergency clinic will treat animals, such as hedgehogs or injured birds, as well as larger animals such as deer. However, people are advised to contact the SSPCA to arrange for an inspector to be sent out for support if they have found a larger injured animal or if an animal seems in too much distress to be transported.
Emma Keeble, a wildlife veterinary expert at the Hospital for Small Animals, said: "At this time of year there may be orphaned hedgehogs found out during the day time, which are not able to fend for themselves or hedgehogs suffering from conditions such as fly-strike. As summer progresses there tend to be lawnmower and strimmer injuries. There are also other animals that may have been injured as a result of road accidents."
The School's Hospital for Small Animals already has an exotic and wildlife ward and works with the SSPCA to treat animals so that they can be released back into their native habitat.
The Animal Health Trust is calling for all small animal practitioners to help with a prospective survey study on breed differences in clinical features in canine hyperadrenocorticism.
The Trust is asking vets that diagnose a case of spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism to complete an online questionnaire at bit.ly/aht-cushing.
The questionnaire should take 10 minutes to complete and all the information will be processed anonymously. Each questionnaire submitted has a chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher. On completing the survey, participants can ask to be notified of the results of this study when available.
Researchers say they hope this data will help veterinary surgeons in the diagnosis of canine hyperadrenocorticism, and ask that everyone helps spread the word about the study.
If you have any queries about this study, please contact michael.bennaim@aht.org.uk
Your tip could be clinical in nature (perhaps specific to a particular discipline, like monitoring anaesthesia or small furries), or to do with practice management, or dealing with clients, or HR, or, well, anything really.
To enter the competition, login to VetNurse.co.uk and submit your tip in the forum, here.
Just before you press the button to post your tip, you might like to tick the box marked: "EMAIL ME REPLIES TO THIS POST" which appears immediately above the post button. That way, you'll get an email when someone else posts a tip.
Above each post in the forum, there is now a 'Thank You' link, which allows members to express their thanks for sharing something. The five tips that generate the largest number of 'thank yous' by the end of November will win the Amazon vouchers.
VetNurse.co.uk is all about facilitating the sharing of knowledge, ideas and experience. So any tip entered into the competition will also be disseminated, together with the contributor's name, on other social media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and if you include a photo, on Instagram.
VetNurse.co.uk Arlo Guthrie said: "The competition is really designed to show off the new 'thank you' feature on VetNurse, which allows members to show their appreciation when someone shares something useful with their peers. In due course, we'll be running similar competitions for the most thanked photos and videos uploaded to our galleries. Watch this space."
Royal Canin is launching the first complete veterinary diet range especially for neutered dogs, to counter the recognised physiological side effects of neutering. The range consists of Neutered & Osteo for neutered adult and mature dogs over 10kg, Neutered & Stone for neutered adult and mature dogs under 10kg, and Neutered & Digest, for neutered puppies over six months old who will grow into adults over 10kg.
Supreme Petfoods has published protocols for the veterinary care of rabbits, guinea pigs and other small furries on its website: www.supremepetfoods.com.
The new infomation resource includes nursing plans and protocols for specific conditions, hospitalisation records, instructions on how to administer fluid therapy, take a blood sample, conduct a behavioural assessment and best practice manual handling.
The materials have been produced by Wendy Bament, exotic animal veterinary nurse at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh. Following workshops at the London Vet Show last year and feedback from the delegates, Wendy has transcribed some of the processes and protocols developed by the exotics team at Edinburgh for dissemination to veterinary practices across the UK.
Claire Hamblion, Marketing Manager at Supreme said: "I can't tell you how pleased we are to be involved in distributing these documents to the profession. The feedback from our live workshops really demonstrated the demand for material that would provide a framework for best practice care of small furries and now, thanks to Wendy and the team at Edinburgh, it's available to everybody. We genuinely believe that in many practices these protocols could change the approach to small furries forever."
An amendment to the EU's draft budget for a €2 million pilot research project into homeopathy and phytotherapy for farm animals has been approved today by the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee.
BVA President Harvey Locke, said: "Millions of Euros have already been spent on trying to prove the scientific efficacy of homeopathic medicines. To date we have not seen any data to prove they can be effective in the treatment of bacterial infections.
"Whilst it is unlikely that €2 million will be able to determine whether or not there is a basis for claiming homeopathic products can work, we welcome European investment in veterinary research and hope that the results of the pilot will be useful."
Research amongst veterinary surgeons by Janssen Animal Health, maker of Cavalesse oral and Cavalesse topical, has revealed that owners could be doing more harm than good when it comes to managing sweet itch in their horses.
92% of vets questioned are aware that people follow old wives' tales by administering lotions and potions such as garlic and olive oil to ward off flies during the summer sweet itch season, when garlic actually has the opposite effect of attracting them.
According to Janssen, it is thought that only a quarter of horse owners are aware that it is important to carry out preventative measures before the start of the midge season to help alleviate sweet itch. 14% of people are thought to go to their vet for advice on sweet itch, while 30% seek help from their country store or tack shop, 27% search for information on websites and 26% ask other horse owners for guidance. This is despite the fact that 92% of those questioned believe that sweet itch would clear up quicker if people sought advice from their veterinary surgeon.
Nicki Glen, marketing manager at Janssen Animal Health said: "Sweet itch can be an incredibly difficult and frustrating condition to manage, however horse owners do not tend to seek advice from their vets. It is therefore important to educate horse owners while you are on yard visits with pro-active advice on the condition for the long-term health and welfare of horses."
Cavalesse is a natural food supplement containing a specialised formulation of water-soluble vitamins and minerals, including nicotinamide. Once a month the contents of each sachet are dissolved in water to form an oral solution, which can be administered daily via a special pipette, either by sprinkling over a small handful of feed or adding to a treat such as a sugar lump. Janssen says the supplement helps horses maintain a healthy skin and promotes normal immune function in horses prone to summer allergies.
Cavalesse Topical is a skincare gel that can be used in combination with the Cavalesse solution. The gel can be applied to the skin to help support natural immunity from the outside, whilst the oral solution works in partnership from the inside.
For further information on Cavalesse and Cavalesse Topical please contact your Janssen Animal Health account manager or phone 01494 567555.
The organisers of Rabbit Awareness Week (15th-21st September) are calling on veterinary practices to show their support and sign up to its free health check scheme, to highlight the importance of preventative healthcare for rabbits.
This year's RAW campaign is focusing on vaccinations, to protect one of Britain's most popular small pets from two painful and potentially fatal diseases, myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD).
Participating practices will receive free support packs to help them advertise and run their own health check events, as well as care advice materials to give out to clients who bring their rabbits in.
Rabbit Awareness Week 2012 is backed by Burgess Excel and various partners, including MSD Animal Health, RSPCA, PSDA, Blue Cross, Wood Green The Animals Charity and RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund).
Justin Heaton, Head of Marketing at Burgess Pet Care, said: "This September, RAW aims to promote the importance of preventative healthcare, including regular vet health checks and vaccinations for rabbits, to protect them from disease. Rabbits are at risk from myxomatosis and RHD and this year's goal is to highlight how important vaccinations are against these diseases and encourage owners, particularly those not currently registered with a veterinary practice, to bring their rabbits in for free veterinary health checks and vaccinations.
"RAW partners believe that many rabbit owners are unaware that injections for rabbits are a necessity for them to live a long and healthy life. The average rabbit should live at least 8-12 years, but one in three pet owners (38 per cent) estimate a rabbit's maximum lifespan to be five years*. Along with meeting their dietary, behaviour, environment and companionship needs, Britain's rabbits' must be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease to ensure they are healthy and happy. Vaccinations are an important part of responsible pet ownership and will help to ensure that rabbits live a long and healthy life."
If you are interested in supporting RAW 2012, by hosting rabbit healthcare clinics at your veterinary surgery, visit www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk to order your free support kit and register your event.
The new guidance is being launched as part of the company's Keeping Britain’s Pets Healthy (KBPH) preventative healthcare initiative.
The guidance includes 18 recommendations designed to help all members of the practice team to implement consistent, effective improvements in preventative healthcare.
The recommendations were the result of a package of research carried out by Dr Rachel Dean, Dr Marnie Brennan, Dr Natalie Robinson and Dr Zoe Belshaw at the university’s vet school, including a systematic review of the literature, a survey of veterinary surgeons and in-depth interviews with vets and owners. A final study used the Delphi technique to achieve consensus amongst 26 first opinion practitioners and 8 pet owners.
The recommendations invite practices to consider a number of ways they might improve the consultation process, including: the purpose of the consultation, the role of each member of the practice team, and how pet owner expectations should be addressed and communicated during the process.
John Helps, Senior Technical Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Our new KBPH initiative marks a step change in our emphasis on preventative healthcare.
"It aims to champion the central role each member of the veterinary practice team plays as experts in educating and engaging our nation of pet lovers.
"These evidence-based guidelines are just the first step towards our increased emphasis on communicating the importance of the annual preventative health visit.
"They support the partnership between the practice and its clients around the health and welfare of their pets, and the significant contribution vaccines and parasiticides make to the health and welfare of their pets. They also help the whole team understand their specific role in the provision of preventative healthcare."
You can download the full recommendations here.
Reference
Lizzie joined the College as Head of Communications in February 2005, in which role she oversaw the launch of the Practice Standards Scheme in 2006, an overhaul of the College’s design and branding in 2011 and the joint British Veterinary Association Vet Futures project in 2014. More recently, she has been the driving force behind the Mind Matters mental health initiative.
Lizzie was appointed as Director of Strategic Communications in November 2015 and Deputy CEO in September 2016. She became Acting CEO when Nick Stace left the position of CEO at the end of September 2017.
RCVS President Professor Stephen May said: "This was a very rigorous recruitment process with a very strong field of candidates and so it is a testament to Lizzie’s abilities and achievements that she saw off all the opposition.
"For some time Lizzie has been involved in setting the direction of the College through the Strategic Plan and the initiatives and projects that she has managed, which really have had a very tangible impact on the profession.
"For example, the Vet Futures project has encouraged the profession to think more strategically about the issues that are facing it and how to achieve constructive solutions, while the Mind Matters Initiative has helped get veterinary mental health further up the agenda and reduced the stigma that many feel about it.
"Her drive and her passion has really pushed these projects forward and I believe she will bring this to the role of CEO.”
Lizzie said: "I am delighted and feel honoured to have been chosen to take the College forward into its next stage of development. I see the Council’s choice of an internal candidate, able to maintain momentum for change and help the College continue on our current strategic path, as an endorsement of the amazing work of the staff at Belgravia House.
"Under Nick Stace’s leadership, the College achieved some really excellent things for the profession, the public, and animal health and welfare, and I look forward to our next exciting chapter."
The British Veterinary Nursing Association has announced that National Veterinary Nurse Week will be a summer event this year, scheduled from 19th - 25th July 2009.
The change of date will allow vet nurses to take part in more outdoor events, as they raise awareness of the important job they do in caring for the nation's pets.
As ever, vet nurses are being encouraged to celebrate their profession, raise money for the BVNA President's nominated charity - which this year is the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Wales) or SARDA Wales as they are known - and to highlight the role of the veterinary nurse, helping make the general public more aware of the contribution a good VN can make.
The BVNA has organised some lynch-pin events this year and are asking any vet nurses who want to take part to contact them as soon as possible to register their interest. The week begins with pet health check days held on Saturday 19th July at Southsea Common's Castle Field in Portsmouth and Roundhay Park in Leeds, sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition. Rounding off the week on Friday 24th July till Sunday 26th July, the BVNA will be attendance at the CLA Game Fair, the world's biggest and greatest country sport and countryside show, which this year will be held at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. This provides an opportunity to speak to thousands of pet owners about veterinary nursing and petcare, so the BVNA is keen to have a team of enthusiastic nurses on hand to help spread the word.
Bonny Millar CVT(USA), RVN, REVN, is President of the BVNA, "Last year vet nurses came up with some fantastically innovative ideas to promote National VN Week, from a 'barely there' calendar to a fairy tale week complete with characters in costume and background sets. We estimate that VN Week raised over £7000 for the Animal Cancer Trust and other animal charities. This year we would really like to raise even more. I am also asking every member of the practice team - vets, practice managers and receptionists to support their nurses in their efforts and enter into the spirit of National VN Week."
Bonny also points out that this is an ideal opportunity for practices to use their nurses to full effect, "During VN week, practices have a chance to demonstrate the skills of their nurses. Fun events provide an ideal way to reduce barriers between clients and the practice team and by getting nurses meeting the public away from the clinic, there is real scope to educate and inform pet owners about the products and services on offer and to gently encourage those with reservations to bring their pets forward for health checks and treatments. Vets and practice managers know what a great contribution a good vet nurse can make to the practice and the local community, so we would love to see everyone pulling together to make a big effort as this can only help boost moral amongst clients and staff during these difficult financial times."
As in the past, there are great prizes on offer for those who have made a special effort, thanks to sponsors Animalcare, Breatheazy, Merial, Protexin and Vetoquinol. Further information and a registration pack are available from the BVNA http://www.bvna.org.uk/ . Tel 01279 408644. Any members of the practice interested in keeping up to date with the activities planned for VN Week can also visit the blog for the event at http://vnweek.wordpress.com
NOAH Chair Gaynor Hillier said: "The production and supply of veterinary medicines is totally dependent on complex international supply chains that must continue to function effectively after Brexit, their unique status being recognised in the recent government White Paper.
"Raw materials will need to arrive at manufacturing sites and veterinary medicines will need to be transported across borders to meet market requirements. Any border delays, additional complex processes or increased costs will risk medicines availability for UK vets, farmers and all our animals."
According to a recent NOAH member survey, less than 15% of companies say they are prepared for a 'hard Brexit' with the vast majority of respondents saying they are not fully prepared should there be a reversion to WTO rules on 30 March 2019.
NOAH says this is not through lack of effort or unawareness of the need to act, but due to the magnitude of the complex tasks involved in such a specialist sector, coupled with uncertainty over what a 'no-deal' Brexit will look like.
In contrast, almost 60% of companies said they are prepared for a transition period to December 2020. Even then, NOAH says the proposed transition period will not be enough in some cases.
The survey examined product availability in the UK: almost 55% of respondents reported potential availability issues for the UK market impacting more than 40% of their products. The full spectrum of types of products (from vaccines to painkillers: from antibiotics to wormers) across all animal species (farm, equine and pet) are potentially at risk, with particular concerns raised around the supply chain for vaccines.
Veterinary nurses attending this year's British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Congress (5 - 7 October) are being given the opportunity to learn more about their personality, how they gel with their colleagues and how they can use these insights to create a happier working environment.
Pfizer Vet Support+ business consultant, Vanessa Wilson, is running a two hour interactive CPD workshop examining team effectiveness, based on the findings of the company's inaugural Employee Engagement Survey, which revealed that team effectiveness is key to an engaged, happy and rewarded team.
Vanessa said: "During the session, we will explore the Engagement Survey findings, the opportunities it poses for veterinary nurses, their role in an effective team, how they can effect change and, very importantly, how differing personalities can impact positively and negatively on those around them.
"The session will be a very practical one enabling delegates to gain a better understanding of their own personality preferences through a social style questionnaire. Armed with this self-knowledge, participants should be able to improve their interaction with colleagues and enhance the team effectiveness within the practice."
Each delegate will receive a copy of the full Employee Engagement report together with a CPD certificate. The workshop costs £22 for members and £27 for non-members or, for those who register book before 20 August, £17 and £22 respectively. To reserve your place go to www.bvnacongress.co.uk.
The RCVS Council has approved the new Strategic Plan designed to bring the College closer to its vision of enhancing society through improved animal health and welfare, over the next three years.
The Strategic Plan is founded on feedback from the profession and the public about what the College does well and where it could do better, and an analysis of how other leading regulators operate. It includes 35 actions, clustered under five themes, all centred on the purpose of setting, upholding and advancing veterinary standards.
For example, the College aims to introduce a service charter - for the public and the profession - of rights, expectations and responsibilities for each of its functions.
Nick Stace, RCVS CEO said: "This drive for excellent service lies at the heart of our focus on improvement.
"The concept of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, as well as the public, being our 'customers', was one that unsettled the profession when it was first mooted. But I believe that only by ensuring that we focus relentlessly on improving how we interact with our customers will we deliver a service for the profession, the public, and, ultimately, the UK's animals, which is worthy of the name first-rate regulator."
Amongst other things, the Plan also commits to:
The Strategic Plan can be downloaded from www.rcvs.org.uk/strategy.
Also at its November meeting, Council approved:
More information on all of these topics will be available in the November issue of RCVS News, online shortly at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications.
You can also hear direct from the CEO via his post-Council video update: www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos.
The RSPCA has made a formal complaint against the Daily Telegraph to the Press Complaints Commission after the newspaper failed to print an apology or offer a right to reply after printing a series of articles which the charity considers potentially defamatory.
The RSPCA claims the stories are factually incorrect and 'reflect biased and unbalanced reporting style'.
The charity has taken particular issue with stories which, they say, claim it broke charity rules over the successful prosecution of a hunt and saying that the RSPCA was warned on hunt prosecutions by the Charity Commission. According to the RSPCA, the Charity Commission has been clear that no rules have been broken and no warning has been issued.
RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said: "These stories are a sustained attack on the RSPCA. The facts are that we have always and will continue to only act in the interests of the animals. We simply want the truth to be heard. The Daily Telegraph is entitled to its editorial position in support of blood sports despite the overwhelming public rejection of that view.
"They are not entitled to produce factually inaccurate articles that smear the good name of the RSPCA"
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall made her first visit to the RVC's Camden campus today, in her role as patron of the College's charity, the Animal Care Trust.
The Duchess became Patron of the Animal Care Trust in 2005, and was visiting to see how funds raised by the charity help to provide cutting edge equipment for the College's hospitals, provide assistance to the College's research teams and support the commitment to excellence in veterinary education.
During the tour of the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital (BSAH), the Duchess saw how donations from the ACT have helped to purchase laparascopic surgical equipment enabling the hospital to provide key-hole surgery for routine neutering procedures, bringing welfare benefits to the animals and allowing students to develop their first-day skills needed in veterinary practice.
The Duchess also met the specialist exotics team that forms part of a newly launched Small Animals Referral Service based at the BSAH and which receives funding from the ACT.
Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC, said: "The generous donations to the ACT are invaluable in helping us to deliver the best possible care to our patients and world-leading veterinary education to our students. We were delighted to welcome The Duchess of Cornwall to our teaching hospital in Camden so that she could see just how much of an impact these donations have on the work that we do."
As well as spending time in the hospital the tour also took in the RVC's anatomy museum where the Head of Anatomy Service at the College, Andrew Crook MBE, demonstrated how an investment from the ACT in plastination facilities is helping the College to preserve valuable anatomical samples in a form that can be handled by students without fear of decomposition.
The visit finished with a reception, where supporters and donors of the Trust, as well as some of the College's students had the chance to meet the Duchess.
The RCVS has clarified its role concerning new UK veterinary schools, saying that it has no mandate to control student or graduate numbers.
Responding to calls from the profession that it should comment on the desirability of any change in the number of schools or graduates, the College has confirmed that whilst it is committed to setting, upholding and advancing the standards that any new UK veterinary degrees would need to meet in order to be approved by the Privy Council, it has no role in capping student numbers.
The College also points out that the free market and mobility of workers in the EU makes any control at the level of a sovereign state effectively meaningless with respect to workforce management. However, the College says it is committed to ensuring that standards are maintained, and to continue working with bodies such as the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, which evaluates veterinary degrees across Europe.
The College also seeks to support healthy debate through providing information on the state of the profession - an example of which is the survey that it recently commissioned from the Institute for Employment Studies on job availability for veterinary graduates over the last five years.
The headline results from that survey were released in the summer, and showed that increasing graduate numbers over the last five years have so far appeared to have had little impact on veterinary job prospects, with 94% of graduate respondents seeking a role in clinical practice obtaining work within six months of starting to look.
The full RCVS Survey of Recent Graduates report is now available, and also shows that, of the 43% of veterinary surgeons who graduated in the last five years who responded:
The answers were analysed by year of graduation, veterinary school, age and gender, and the full report is available online at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications.
Ceva Animal Health has launched Vectra 3D, a broad spectrum topical ectoparasiticide for dogs which is effective against fleas, ticks and flies.
Vectra 3D contains a formulation of a brand new active called dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen and permethrin.
According to the company, Vectra 3D provides a rapid flea kill within two hours for dogs on current treatment and complete protection against the major vectors: fleas, ticks, sand flies, mosquitoes and stable flies1. Additionally, because dinotefuran kills on contact, it is claimed to reduce the incidence of flea feeding1.
Vectra 3D is applied in a line from the base of the tail to the neck using a patented applicator with an elongated tip, designed to make it easy to apply the product through the hair directly onto the skin. The applicator is also designed to provide accurate dosing without making any mess, as nothing comes out until the tube is squeezed.
Ceva highlights that the number of people travelling with their pets has increased by 61% since 20122, and that Vectra 3D is the only topical ectoparasiticide that offers repellent action against sand flies for one month, together with protection against mosquitoes and stable flies.
Julia Wood, product manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "Vectra 3D is an innovative formulation which uses a unique, easy-to-administer applicator to provide complete protection against fleas, ticks and flies. And with spring nearly upon us, it's time to start talking to clients about flea treatments, such as Vectra 3D."
To support the launch of Vectra 3D, Ceva is hosting a series of CPD meetings at venues across the UK. Accounting for two hours CPD, the afternoon meetings will cover vector-borne diseases, the importance of ticks in the UK and product information on Vectra 3D. They will be presented by Ian Wright BVMS BSc MSc MRCVS and Richard Wall BSc MBA PhD FRES and take place at:
For further information, contact your Ceva Animal Health territory manager or email Ceva Animal Health on customerservicesuk@ceva.com.
The completion date for the RCVS surveys of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions is Monday 8 February, and the College is urging anyone who has not yet completed their survey to do so.
The data collected will be used to help develop policy, in discussion with government and other bodies, and in response to requests from journalists and members of the public who wish to have an accurate picture of the veterinary profession today. So it's important that as many people as possible complete their surveys.
For the first time, a standard set of questions about well-being (the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale) has been included. Over time, data collected will enable the College to monitor population changes in mental health and well-being, and work with other organisations to address any issues identified.
If you have mislaid your paper copy, the survey can be completed online:
Veterinary surgeons click here: www.employmentresearch.co.uk/vs2010.htm
Veterinary nurses click here: www.employmentresearch.co.uk/vn2010.htm
All responses are confidential.
Hill's Pet Nutrition reports that more than 1,500 veterinary surgeons and nurses have already subscribed for its series of feline webinars, hosted by Professor Danielle Gunn Moore. Indeed, the company says the series has been so popular that vets are advised to register for a place to watch the rest of the series, as soon as possible.
The first Webinar's topic, hosted by Professor Gunn Moore, was feline liver disease, a condition that many find difficult to diagnose and treat. Using a case study approach, primary and secondary hepatopathies and conditions such as cholangiohepatitis and triaditis were discussed, as well as useful treatments and nutritional support. If you missed the lecture the first time round, or want to check specific details or doses, watch Professor Gunn Moore's presentation or download her notes at www.thewebinarvet.com/hills-webinars.
Martha Cannon BA VetMB DSAM (fel) MRCVS will present the next webinar in the series, entitled A Practical Approach to Renal Disease on 2nd March.
To register for any of Hill's Feline Webinar Series, free of charge please go to www.thewebinarvet.com/hills and enter code hillsnl
Voting in this year's RCVS and VN Councils elections has now opened, with veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses able to cast their votes online, by post or by text message.
All candidate details and ballot papers have been posted earlier this week so should be landing on doormats imminently.
As in previous years, there is an opportunity for voters to quiz the candidates on VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk. Questions submitted before 24th March will be entered into a draw to win one of three 6-bottle mixed cases of wine. Thereafter, there will be an open forum on both sites.
As in previous years, the College will make an optional 20p charitable donation to the Veterinary Benevolent Fund on behalf of each person who votes.
Lydia Brown, President of the VBF, said: "The Veterinary Benevolent Fund is very grateful for funds raised through the elections. We appreciate that life in practice can be stressful, and offer support in a variety of ways to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses."
RCVS Council comprises 40 members: four are appointed by the Privy Council, 12 by the veterinary schools and 24 by direct election.
Each member is appointed for a four-year term of office. Every year, six members of Council retire at the Annual General Meeting, though may seek re-election.
In 2011, ten candidates are standing for the six seats available, including six incumbent Council members. The candidates are:
RCVS VN Council comprises 17 members: eight elected veterinary nurses, six veterinary surgeon members (including three from RCVS Council), one Lantra representative and two lay members.
Two seats are usually available each year, with each member serving a four-year term.
This year an extra seat for a one-year term is available, due to a member retiring mid-term; this will be filled by the third-placed candidate.
There are four candidates for the three seats:
All votes must be received before 5pm on 27 April 2011 - a slightly earlier deadline than usual, which takes account of the extra public holiday for the Royal Wedding.
Any veterinary surgeon who has not received their ballot paper should contact Ian Holloway (020 7202 0727 i.holloway@rcvs.org.uk) for an official duplicate; veterinary nurses missing their ballot papers should contact Annette Amato (020 7202 0713 a.amato@rcvs.org.uk).
Dechra Veterinary Products has sponsored a specialist Feline Nurse at the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
Sara-Ann Dickson, Dechra Feline Nurse, works in the Hospital for Small Animals at the School and is dedicated to promoting cat friendly practices. Cats are referred to the clinic from other veterinary practices for specialist treatment. The clinic also provides vet students and nurses with specialist training on how to handle and treat cats with a range of ailments.
Sara-Ann qualified from Edinburgh's Napier University and completed her practical training at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Sara-Ann also spent eighteen months in Australia in a busy veterinary referral centre before returning to the School in 2008. In her role as Dechra Feline Nurse, Sara-Ann cares for and treats sick cats, provides training to final year students and presents lectures on a range of topics to breeders, cat owners, veterinary staff and veterinary students.
Sara-Ann said: "I absolutely love my job and am very grateful to Dechra for its support. One of the best things is being able to identify what is wrong with a sick cat, making it better and extending its life. It's amazing. And of course a happy cat means happy owners. I have learned such a lot here and in Australia. Now I just want to use my skills and knowledge in making our feline friends as happy as possible when they stay here. I hope I can fulfil all expectations and help to create a 'cat-tastic' place!"
Matthew Olsen, Product Manager, Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "Dechra is committed to the support of veterinary staff and this is just one of many projects we are involved in. The enthusiasm and commitment of Sara-Ann and the team at the University of Edinburgh is fantastic and we are proud to be involved with the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. The level of care for its patients and the standard of training for its students is outstanding."