The research, which was carried out by analysing data from 455,557 dogs which presented at veterinary practices participating in the College’s VetCompass programme, investigated the frequency, severity and duration of anal sac disorder, conjunctivitis, dental disease, dermatitis, obesity, lipoma, osteoarthritis and otitis externa.
The main findings were:
The most common conditions were dental disorder (9.6%), overweight/obese (5.7%) and anal sac disorder (4.5%)
The conditions that lasted the longest were dental disorders (76% of year), osteoarthritis (82%), and overweight/obese (70%)
Scoring out of 21, with higher scores for greater severity, the most severe conditions were osteoarthritis (13/21), otitis externa (11/21) and dermatitis (10/21).
The researchers say that by considering frequency, duration and severity together, the study showed that the conditions with the highest welfare impact overall are dental disease, osteoarthritis and obesity.
It is hoped these results can help vets to target conditions that have the greatest impact on dogs they treat. The evidence also shows owners the value of addressing these important conditions to improve their animal’s welfare. The study also provides evidence for other stakeholders on which conditions merit further research prioritisation.
Dave Brodbelt, Professor of Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine at the RVC and senior researcher on the study, said: "First opinion veterinary professionals see dogs presenting to them with a range of conditions everyday and understand what are the common diseases that they treat. Yet there is a need for clear evidence based welfare assessment of the major conditions of dogs. This work adds to our understanding by allowing the transparent comparison of commonly seen disorders in primary practice and highlights conditions with greatest welfare impact."
Dr Dan O’Neill, Senior lecturer in epidemiology at the RVC and co-author said: "During my 20 years as a first opinion vet, owners constantly asked me to advise them about the most important conditions that they should try to prevent in their dogs. At that time, I could not answer this as it was unknown to science. We now have this answer; and we can now advise owners to focus on dental health, monitoring for joint disease and to pay special attention to their dogs body condition score. Finally, we have the key to prioritising long-term health in dogs overall. This is a huge step forward to improving dog welfare; huge thanks to Dogs Trust for having the vision to support this work."
The study is freely available open access.
Reference
The study1, which was conducted by surgery resident Dr Charlie Brincin at Highcroft Veterinary Group (soon to be Bristol Vet Specialists) and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Matt Matiasovic at Manchester Vet Specialists, looked at the records of 825 dogs that had been treated surgically for unilateral MPL at 10 referral centres, and then had a planned follow-up visit, including radiographs.
The frequency of, and reasons for, changes in further recovery recommendations were investigated.
The findings demonstrated that if the dog made an uneventful2 recovery after surgery, was presented without owner concern, and if no abnormality was found on physical examination, then radiographic findings only led to a change in recommendation in 3% (13/432) of these dogs.
Researchers say that this reflects similar research on the influence of follow-up radiographs in human medicine, and those of previous veterinary studies on post-operative radiographs, following uncomplicated tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). These particular studies3,4 showed radiography had an impact on post-operative management in just 2%-3.8% of cases.
As a result of the MPL and TPLO studies, Highcroft Veterinary Referrals and Manchester Veterinary Specialists will no longer systematically perform follow-up radiographs on their patients, unless justified clinically.
Charlie said: “Radiographs are not without additional costs or risks - including radiation exposure, sedation-associated risks and strain on veterinary staff.
"Radiographic intervention should be clinically justified and our study suggests that if the dog had an uneventful recovery and is presented without owner or clinician raised concern, then repeat radiographs might not be necessary.
"This study also highlights the value of a thorough owner history and clinical examination for clinical decision-making when re-examining dogs following this orthopaedic surgery.”
The MPL study also evaluated factors which significantly increased the risk of finding radiographic abnormalities at routine follow-up, and those which led to a change in post-operative recommendation.
Lameness, administration of analgesia at follow-up, and history of unplanned visits prior to routine re-examination were associated with increased odds of a change in postoperative plan (P < 0.001).
In the absence of owner and clinician concerns, the odds of having a change in convalescence plans were not different, whether or not isolated radiographic abnormalities were present (P = 0.641).
References
The peer-reviewed manual, available for download from the VMG website, has been designed to be relevant for any veterinary business and has been developed following a review of the contemporary academic and business literature, with input from the VMG Board of Directors.
The Business Re-emergence Manual guides readers through three main areas that need to be considered as they emerge from lockdown:
VMG President Richard (Rich) Casey said: “Depending on the circumstances in which businesses entered the pandemic, it’s likely that they will be affected by a range of people, planet and profit-related issues as lockdown restrictions start to ease.
"Our Business Re-emergence Manual encourages veterinary leaders to take a step back and reflect on how their business was performing before the pandemic as a first step before starting to make plans for their future operations. Investing in this ‘thinking time’ now will enable them to ramp up more quickly and more effectively when the time is right. It is an evidence-based and highly practical tool which all veterinary businesses can work through and we hope they will find it useful as they start to plan for a successful future.”
To support veterinary practices and staff affected by the COVID-19 emergency, the Veterinary Management Group (VMG) is pausing subscription renewals for all of its existing members for three months, in effect, giving them three months’ free membership, including access to resources such as the Business Re-emergence Manual. It is also offering everyone in the sector the opportunity to join the association for three months, also free of charge.
The acquisition of Jurox brings Zoetis a valuable animal health portfolio, including Alfaxan, a leading anaesthetic product for companion animals and high-quality local R&D and manufacturing operations in Australia.
Stephanie Armstrong, Senior Vice President and Cluster Lead UK, BeNeLuX, Nordics & Ireland, said: “We are grateful to the O’Brien family for entrusting the future of this family-owned business to Zoetis.
"Jurox’s portfolio plays to the strengths of our core business and will be a complementary fit with the solutions we deliver to veterinary professionals, livestock producers and pet owners.
"With Zoetis’ global sales and regulatory expertise in more than 45 direct markets, we look forward to expanding the impact and reach of the entire Jurox portfolio here in the UK and Ireland.”
www.jurox.com
For the study, 12 month's worth of anonymised data from CVS practices was analysed2.
The study concluded that lower engagement between a practice and its staff or clients, recent parental leave, shorter practice employment tenure, and younger age were all associated with an increased likelihood of support staff resignations.
Lower practice client engagement, which CVS says is a proxy for client satisfaction, was associated with increased odds of support staff resigning3, highlighting the potential impact of client incivility on veterinary colleagues who are typically in customer facing roles.
Reduced employee engagement – measured by a ‘employee net promoter score’ (eNPS), where colleagues rate how likely they would recommend the practice as a good place to work4, also correlated with increased resignations.
Within CVS, eNPS has been demonstrated to be positively correlated with the frequency of line manager discussions.
The current data suggests that consistent measurement of employee engagement in a veterinary setting at regular intervals throughout the year can have benefits for line managers in identifying increases in the risk of resignations and practice attrition, allowing them to take proactive steps to improve engagement.
A recent record of taking parental leave was also associated with greater odds of resigning in the following 12 months than staff who have not taken parental leave in the previous 12 months5.
Qualitative studies in other professions highlight the need for greater flexibility in working hours and focused managerial check-in support.
Therefore ‘return to work’ interventions may present an opportunity to improve retention.
Conversely, the increased length of employment tenure was associated with decreasing odds of support staff resignations6, potentially highlighting the role for long service reward schemes, such as the long service holiday awards CVS introduced a couple of years ago. Whilst employee age was associated with the odds of resignations, with a 1% decrease in the odds of support staff resigning with each additional year of age7.
Imogen Schofield, Director of Clinical Research at CVS, said: “Support staff are integral members of the team.
"These key roles contribute to the efficient and effective functioning of a veterinary practice.
"Despite the important roles of support staff, little research exists on these team members and there is no data describing reasons for their attrition.
“This research was done to help the wider industry to understand how we can reduce support staff resignations.
"It aims to identify demographic, payroll and engagement factors associated with resignations.
"We believe it adds valuable insights to previous survey-based research by organisations such as the British Veterinary Receptionist Association.
“Reflecting on our research from 2021, we have introduced a Zero Tolerance Policy to protect our colleagues against intrusive, offensive, violent or aggressive behaviour from clients.
"We have launched monthly interactive Receptionist Support Sessions, giving receptionists the opportunity to connect with their peer network, share experiences and ideas, and feel supported.
"And we are now focussing on developing our support staff through creating new Receptionist and Patient Care Assistant Career Pathways.”
The training sessions are taking place both online and in person and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Upcoming training dates are as follows:
https://www.vetmindmatters.org/training/
The study1 investigated the effects of a weight loss programme on biochemical and immunological profile, blood leptin level, and cardiovascular parameters in a cohort of dogs with naturally occurring obesity, in order to address the effects due to the imbalance of these aspects on the clinical presentation and management of canine obesity.
For the study, eleven obese, but otherwise healthy dogs were included in a six-month weight loss programme, together with a control group of eleven healthy dogs at ideal body condition.
After the six-month weight loss programme, the obese dogs showed clinical improvements on a number of key indicators related to immune function, such as reduced tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, known to impair insulin action in metabolic tissues but also favour cancer development in humans. Ten out of eleven showing a reduced BCS and no longer classified as obese.
Ten out of eleven dog owners also reported that their dogs were more active and that their quality of life had notably improved.
Hugues du Plessis, Pet Obesity Prevention Manager, at Purina said: “Preventing pet obesity is a major focus at Purina. We not only want to be providing pet owners with information on the benefits of a healthy pet lifestyle, but we also want to help them achieve it. This is why we are working with partner organisations to understand how behavioural science can be used to support owners, from the recognition of an issue, to the changes that will make a difference".
Reference:
The Registrar and Secretary of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Jane Hern, has announced that she will be standing down at the end of the year.
After 15 years in the job, Jane says she has been pleased to oversee a number of significant reforms and new initiatives in her time leading the organisation, but has decided that it is time to move on and pursue other interests.
The College says it is now embarking on a comprehensive review of its governance, committee and management structures, during which the Officers and Council will consider how best the executive should be led in future.
Jane said: "I have greatly enjoyed my time with the College and the Trust. Working with a profession held in such high regard by the public has been a real pleasure. I wish veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and all my colleagues all the very best for the future."
The President, Dr Jerry Davies said: "The Royal College has been very fortunate in having the benefit of Jane's wisdom and guidance for so many years, and we wish her every success in the future."
In common with the various other telemedicine platforms which have come to market in recent months, the app will allow veterinary professionals to give help and advice to clients and maintain a revenue stream whilst maintaining social distancing.
VisioCare is highlighting a number of features over and above standard video conferencing, including the ability for the clinician to take photos, video and produce a case file that can be added to the clinical record. The system also allows vets to access the client's smartphone and zoom into areas that need to be examined or turn on a flashlight to improve visibility.
Visiocare says it has also been able to address limitations in clarity due to poor smartphone reception.
Linkyvet includes a payment module - which will be integrated free of charge for orders taken during April - so practices can charge for services provided remotely.
Alexander Arpino, Managing Director of Veterinary Insights, said: "During the current COVID-19 situation, Linkyvet has real potential for triage, as well as enabling routine consultations, without putting anyone at risk. It's good news for patient care, staff wellbeing and also ensuring that the practice remains a viable business that's still there for everyone to return to when life returns to normality.
"Outside crisis times, the tool has ongoing value, providing a great way to generate revenue from services such as advisory consultations and follow ups provided remotely and giving clients a convenient alternative to visiting the practice."
VisioCare Linkyvet is available as a standalone tool or can be included in a bundle with other VisioCare products such as VisioCare Consult, which provides explanatory animations and videos that support clinician recommendations and the myBuddy app, which provides a secure and personalised communication channel between clinic and pet owner.
For more information, visit www.visiocareservices.com or contact your VisioCare Business Development Manager: telephone 01403 800135 or email enquiries@visiocareservices.com.
The company says the sessions will help veterinary staff learn more about the condition - which affects up to 20% of dogs in the UK annually1 - the causes and consequences of osteoarthritis pain, the main predisposing risk factors and the impact of chronic pain on central sensitisation.
The CPD will look at what steps practices can take to mitigate animal suffering and increase long-term owner compliance and will encourage practices to look at their current osteoarthritis management strategy.
Kai Crawshaw, Brand Manager at Animalcare, said: "Canine osteoarthritis is a growing concern for UK vets – latest figures suggest that over two million dogs are suffering, based on current population figures.
"Managing these cases can be challenging, but through this lunch and learn session, we aim to support veterinary staff and help them to expand their knowledge and implement an improved approach for managing canine osteoarthritis.’
www.animalcare.co.uk/lunch-and-learn
The definition agreed by VN Council is as follows:
Veterinary nursing aims to ease the suffering and pain of animals, and to improve their health and welfare.
This includes providing any medical treatment or any minor surgery (not involving entry into a body cavity) to animals under the direction of a veterinary surgeon who has that animal under their care.
Veterinary nursing can be either proactive or reactive, and autonomous or collaborative. It is carried out in a wide variety of settings, for animals at all life stages, and considers the background and needs of the animal’s owner or keeper.
Matthew Rendle RVN, the Chair of VN Council, said: “Although it is just a few short lines, this definition of veterinary nursing has been in the pipeline for some time.
"While we as veterinary nurses have always been able to define ourselves by the type of tasks we carry out, or our relation to veterinary surgeons in terms of delegation, there hasn’t necessarily been a clear statement articulating the art and science of veterinary nursing.
“With the RCVS looking to expand its regulatory remit to include other veterinary paraprofessionals over the long term, we thought it was particularly important that we set out the stall for veterinary nursing and we hope that this clear statement will, in particular, aid the public in understanding the role of a veterinary nurse.
“It should be noted that this definition is VN Council’s own considered interpretation of the art and science of veterinary nursing.
"Other interpretations from other organisations, provided they conform with both Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, could sit comfortably alongside ours, and we hope there continues to be healthy discussion about the contribution of the profession to the veterinary team, as our role evolves.”
What do you think of the definition and do you think it will help change the public and the profession's perceptions. Have your say here: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/001/f/nonclinical-discussions/32399/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-rcvs-vn-council-definition-of-the-role-of-vet-nurses
There are a record 14 candidates standing for the RCVS Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council this year, none of whom are currently members of VN Council. They are:
As current VN Council member Susan Howarth RVN was the only candidate to come forward before the original candidate deadline of 31 January 2021, she has automatically been re-elected to VN Council for a further three-year term. This means that there is only one remaining elected place on VN Council.
Emails containing links to the secure election voting websites which are unique to each member of the electorate, were sent on 17 March 2021 by Civica Election Services (CES) (formerly Electoral Reform Services) which runs the election on behalf of the College.
All votes must be cast online by 5pm on Friday 23 April 2021. The small number of veterinary nurses for whom the RCVS does not hold email addresses have been sent letters in the post containing instructions on how they can vote online, including contact details for CES to provide further advice.
The biographies and statements for each candidate can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/vnvote21
VN Council candidates have also been asked to record a video highlighting the two issues they feel are most important for the profession. They will be published on the College website in due course.
Nutritional researcher Brian Zanghi from the Purina Institute will also share some of his work, which has focused on nutrient-enriched ‘water supplements’ and the impact on voluntary water intake.1
Purina says various studies have shown an association between increased water intake and improved outcomes in cases of feline lower urinary tract conditions.2,3 Encouraging water intake may also benefit cats with renal disease or chronic constipation, as well as older animals with osteoarthritis who might be less keen to make repeated trips to their water bowls.
Libby Sheridan, MVB, MRCVS, Purina Veterinary Technical Affairs Manager, UK & Ireland, said: "The importance of good hydration is often under estimated and there are so many factors that can influence intake – from the position of the water bowl, to materials used in the bowl construction and even the level of fill. Deciding when and how to promote increased intake can be difficult and we hope this session will help vets and vet nurses to make those decisions.”
The lecture programme will include a review of clinical evidence, discussion of the benefits of increasing water intake and practical case-based advice from Sarah and Andy. The event will be recorded for registrants who cannot attend on the day and registrations are accepted until the event starts on the evening of 9th December.
Registration is now open at https://www.bigmarker.com/closerstill-media/You-can-lead-a-cat-to-water-but-how-do-you-make-them-drink. All registrants will be entered into a prize draw to win one of ten goody bags which will include a premium water bottle.
For more information, contact the Purina Veterinary Nutrition Team on 0800 212161.
CEVA Animal Health has joined forces with PDSA, Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) and the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) to launch a 'Remember, remember your pets this November' campaign to provide owners with hints and tips on how to look after their pets during the firework season and the precautions they should take to help them cope with their fear of fireworks.
As part of this year's campaign, CEVA will again be running the 'Promote Your Practice' competition, to help practices get the most out of PR and marketing opportunities in the run up to Bonfire Night. Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health said: "Nearly 90 per cent of veterinary professionals believe that owners could do more to protect their pets from the stress of fireworks. It is therefore important that veterinary practices provide pet owners with the best advice on how to prepare their pets for Bonfire Night and ensure that the firework season is as stress free as possible." Vets are being urged to discuss behavioural modification programs for noise phobic pets well in advance of Bonfire Night and to recommend that dog owners create comforting 'dens' for their pets. The benefit of the dens should be maximised by plugging D.A.P.® Diffusers in the rooms where the dogs usually retreat when frightened. Switching the D.A.P. ® Diffuser on around a week before Bonfire Night will allow the pheromone to build up to significant levels and ensure the animal is as relaxed as possible before, during and after the firework season. In addition, D.A.P.® Spray can be applied to a dog's bedding to give further support on the night of the event. D.A.P.® is also available in a collar formulation, designed to reduce the dog's general level of stress. Cats appear generally more capable of managing their fears. However, owners should ensure that cats can access their favourite boltholes and plugging in a Feliway® Diffuser 48 hours before the festivities will increase the sense of security. To request a copy of the Promote Your Practice information pack, please call Lucy Brett at CEVA on 01494 781510.
A study published by Mike Dryden - one of the world's leading parasitologists - in Veterinary Parasitology has demonstrated that spinosad (Comfortis, Elanco) provides a high level of flea control one month after a single treatment and maintains a high level of effectiveness under conditions of natural challenge following subsequent monthly treatments.
The multi-clinic, investigator-blinded study1 was undertaken in client-owned dogs provided with three consecutive monthly treatments of oral spinosad (SPN) and fipronil/methoprene spot-on (FSM). All other household dogs and cats, to a maximum of four pets per household, were dispensed the same treatment. Subsequent treatments were given when the dog returned for whole-body flea counts and pruritus-scoring on days 30 and 60, with final assessments on day 90 (plus/minus five days on each occasion).
One hundred and twenty eight dogs were enrolled on the study at 10 veterinary practices in the USA (65 in the SPN arm and 63 in the FSM arm). On day 0, mean flea counts were 57.7 (range: 10-1469) and 44.8 (range: 10-717) for the SPN and FSM groups, respectively. On day 90, 55 of the 58 (95%) SPN dogs were flea free compared with only 21/55 or 38% of dogs in the FSM group. Mean pruritus scores declined to 0.92 (6.67 on day 0) in the SPN group and 3.83 (6.33 on day 0) in the FSM group by day 90. Mean flea counts were 0.08 and 5.19 for SPN and FSM groups respectively on day 90 correlating to a reduction in flea counts of 99.9% in the SPN dogs and 88.4% in the FSM dogs. Between treatment differences were found to be highly statistically significant (p<0.0001) for every parameter measured at every time point during the study in favour of SPN.
Anna Jackson, national veterinary manager for Elanco Companion Animal Health said: "The recent study confirms oral spinosad's outstanding efficacy in controlling fleas and associated pruritus in dogs when administered by owners following natural challenge in the home environment".
For further information please contact your local Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or phone 01256 353131.
1 Assessment of owner-administered monthly treatments with oral spinosad or topical spot-on fipronil/(S)-methoprene in controlling fleas and associated pruritus in dogs. Michael W. Dryden, William G. Ryan, Margie Bell, Anthony J. Rumschlag, Lisa M. Young, Daniel E. Snyder. Veterinary Parasitology 191 (2013) 340-346
The one-hour webinar, titled 'Calm in the Corona' takes place between 11am and 12 noon on Saturday 25 April and is being supported by the RCVS Mind Matters initiative.
The session will look at some of the common responses to uncertainty during the pandemic, with an emphasis on how to recognise and nurture more adaptive or helpful responses that do not lead to heightened anxiety or distress.
Topics will include creating routines, setting boundaries and how to seek social support despite quarantine measures.
Building on the interactive approach from previous VetKind conferences, student veterinary nurses and veterinary students will be invited to share their coronavirus experiences, ideas and successes with their colleagues.
Jenny Moffett, Managing Director of SkillsTree and VetKind facilitator said: "Although we’re all talking about social distancing right now, it’s more accurate to think of it as physical distancing. Social support is more important than ever, and webinars can be a really effective way to connect, and work together on a common challenge.
"We know that many students may be facing heightened stress and anxiety right now as they worry about the impact the pandemic may have on their own and their family’s health, their education, their finances, their housing and so on. We hope that this webinar will provide some effective coping strategies and an opportunity to share fears and worries and find constructive solutions to them."
Those that wish to take part in the webinar should email avsvetkind@gmail.com. An automatic reply with the link to participate in the webinar will then be emailed back.
According to the Spring 2022 Voice of the Profession survey, one in four cats (24%) seen in practices are not having all of their welfare needs met.
The issues identified by vets as the most pressing at their practice were:
The Pitpat was designed in Cambridge, launched in 2016 and is now the leading dog activity monitor on the market, with over 50,000 sold.
I was invited to review the Pitpat by one of the company's non-executive directors, Myra Forster-van Hijfte FRCVS, a European and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Medicine who was also one of the angel investors.
I wasn't convinced that this was something every dog owner would want to use regularly. You'd have to be a bit obsessed to be routinely reviewing the activity levels of a perfectly fit young dog. But I think there is real potential for it to add value to veterinary nurses' obesity clinics and also to measure a response to treatment for things like osteoarthritis (OA). As such, it is perhaps something for practices to consider buying for themselves, and then loaning it out to the owners of dogs on a weight loss programme or which are getting treatment for OA.
Myra said: "PitPat gives an objective measurement of the actual activity the dog has done and the app gives the owner tailored advice (based on breed, age and sex of the dog) on how much exercise their dog should be doing and an estimate of daily calories their dog has burnt. This will help owners keep their dogs fit and healthy and in the correct body condition.
"PitPat is useful in weight management clinics by improving owner engagement through the associated weight app. Encouraging exercise also provides the owner with a positive contribution towards weight management.
"Monitoring activity pre- and post treatment, for instance dogs with osteoarthritis on NSAID's, provides vet and owner with an objective measure of whether treatment is effective or not."
You can watch the full review here. If you're interested in technology that is designed to make life easier, do subscribe to the channel!
For more information about Pitpat, visit: https://www.pitpat.com/. Veterinary practices that want to buy a Pitpat for use with their clients will get a trade discount. Contact the company for more details.
BSAVA Congress, which is open to the whole practice, from reception to the clinical team, will offer free practical drop-in sessions, day-in-the-life dramas, and a bigger wellbeing zone.
There'll be over 120 hours of CPD covering a range of topics such as oncology, veterinary leadership, the RVN’s role, and charity veterinary care.
Paul Higgs, Chair of the Congress Committee, said: “I cannot wait for BSAVA 2023!
"After the successful transformation of BSAVA in our move to Manchester we have been working our socks off to go one better!
"Filled with brilliant speakers, our now trade-mark combination of short, paired lectures with stimulating and inspiring panel discussions, is back in strength.”
Early-bird tickets for BSAVA Congress 2023 are on sale now and BSAVA has brought back one-day only tickets, so if you can’t attend all three days, you have the option to visit on a day that suits you.
https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2023/en/page/home
The company says the new product has been 10 years in development and uses 'Soft Mist' technology - developed originally for human use by its pharma business - to deliver medication deep into the horse's lungs.
The active ingredient in the Aservo EquiHaler is ciclesonide, a corticosteroid that is activated directly in the lung, reducing the lower airway inflammation associated with severe equine asthma and reducing the risks commonly associated with systemic corticosteroids.
The Aservo EquiHaler does not use a propellant, so it does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Boehringer also highlights that it is made from up to 50% recycled materials. In April, the product was awarded a Red Dot Design Award.
Dr Marc Laemmer, Head of Equine in UK & Ireland said: "It's another industry first and is a strong indicator of the commitment that Boehringer Ingelheim has to the health and welfare of horses, and to the investment that we make into continuing to advance therapies through collaboration and innovation.
"We understand that a product launch in this challenging time for the veterinary profession may seem surprising, but we have had such strong demand from equine vets for the product that we have committed to making Aservo EquiHaler available. Out team of territory managers and vet advisers will conduct remote meetings with customers to make sure that they have the information and support they require."
The session, which will be led by Catherine Oxtoby, will introduce VDS's VetSafe tool, designed both to help prevent a blame and shame culture, and to reduce clinical errors.
It will also provide an opportunity for delegates to share the challenges faced by RVNs with the VDS, and suggest how the organisation can develop and improve what it does for veterinary nurses.
The session will start at 12.00 noon for an early informal lunch (provided by VDS!) and discussion, finishing at 2pm.
To register for the event, visit: https://r1.dotmailer-surveys.com/a22wqh55-253ynf4e.
'The essential ingredients of a good nutritional recommendation' is presented by Georgia Woods RVN CertCFVHNut VTS(Nutrition), one of the editors of the new BSAVA Guide. It covers the main points that need to be considered when offering a nutritional recommendation to a pet owner.
Georgia said: "Nutrition discussions with clients can be challenging, not least given the plethora of diets available for pets.
"This webinar aims to cover the main points to support an evidence-based decision-making process to help vets engage owners in a meaningful discussion about nutrition and provide guidance on the most suitable diet for their pet."
The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition is an independent guide comprising a series of factsheets for veterinary professionals on four different diet options; each of these is accompanied by a factsheet for owners that can be provided as part of the consultation. The factsheets cover:
The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition is available exclusively through the BSAVA Library (£25; £15 to BSAVA members). Georgia’s lecture on ‘The essential ingredients of a good nutritional recommendation’ can be accessed via the BSAVA Webinar Library.
The association says that the day of lectures is mainly targeted at those who are starting on their path of ophthalmology, but old hands may also learn a few new tricks.
Topics will include how to get the most from the ophthalmic examination, diagnostics and what options there are for career growth in our specialty.
There will be live panel discussions to give attendees the opportunity to ask any questions they have.
Tickets costs £100+VAT for BrAVO members, £60+VAT for nurses and interns, and £40+VAT for students.
The deadline for registration is Tuesday 16th March at 5:00pm.
To book your ticket, visit: https://www.eventbee.com/v/bravo-spring-meeting-2021/event?eid=164693974#/tickets
Five time European champion and British record-holding athlete, Laura Muir MRCVS, will be in conversation with Gudrun Ravetz and Rob Pope for a keynote session at the virtual event. The line-up also includes Bake-Off star, Rosie Brandreth-Poynter, alongside a number of other expert session leaders for personal development, baking, exercise, crafts and social elements.
The day long programme will start with a run, meditation or yoga. The plenary sessions and workshops include topics such as change management, establishing a ‘new normal', and how to build wellbeing into daily life.
Wellvet co-founder Ru Tipney said: "We're delighted to host an event which brings together so many amazing people to lead valuable - and potentially life-changing sessions - for delegates. We have content for everyone, from student sessions to workshops designed for practice managers and owners."
To include a social aspect, the virtual conference platform provides opportunities for networking and connecting with fellow delegates during and after the event. Ru said: "The vibe we've had at the last two WellVet events has been pretty special. WellVet works because of the mutual encouragement, openness and support of delegates. We're delighted to have found a platform to give a rich social experience alongside all the great content."
The content and networking functions are available for a year after the event and the organisers are keen to stress there's no need to sit through the whole day in one go. Delegates are invited to dip in and out, revisit sessions, and connect with others afterwards. Tickets are subsidised at £40 for a full delegate pass and £10 for students and new graduates.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit: www.wellvet.co.uk
The two-day ‘Save A Life Today’ (SALT) courses are being run in partnership with the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER).
Vets and nurses are encouraged to attend together, as well as individually, so that they can go back to practice and share their learning as a team.
On day one, delegates will cover the practical aspects of resuscitation.
The second day will be focused on effective leadership during and after CPR and the critical care of patients that survive CPR, with an emphasis on techniques used in general practice.
The courses will be led by Emily Thomas BA VetMB FHEA DACVECC DECVECC MRCVS Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care at Dick White Referrals, supported by Kathryn Latimer DipAVN DipHE CVN CertEd CertVN (ECC) RVN, Head of Nursing Services at North West Veterinary Specialists in Cheshire.
Charlotte French (pictured right), Operational Head for Improve International in the UK, said: “When CPR is attempted, it can be stressful and distressing for those involved.
"It’s also a situation in which clear thinking and teamwork can save lives.
"Through our partnership with RECOVER, we hope to increase the competence and confidence of veterinary staff globally in conducting CPR and to facilitate the building of team-working which will radiate into other areas of day-to-day practice."
Emily Thomas said: “CPR training for vets and nurses has traditionally focused on individual tasks such as chest compressions.
"However, we’re now realising that human factors such as organisation, teamwork, and leadership are equally integral to success.
"This is an area of particular interest for me, and I’m hoping to bring some simple, evidence- based ideas to this course to help people improve these non-clinical aspects in their own practices.”
The course is comprised of an online training module, followed by a face-to-face course which together account for 20.5 hours of CPD. Successful delegates will become Basic and Advanced Life Support RECOVER Rescuer Certified.