French veterinary surgeons went on strike yesterday, and 10,000 marched on the streets of Paris in protest at Government plans to restrict their ability to supply certain farm animal antibiotics.
According to the National Union of Practicing Veterinarians (SNVEL), French veterinary surgeons saw the Government plans as an attack on their integrity and competence, and called for the strike, the first of its kind in history.
As a result of the strike, French Ministers have apparently pledged to retract their plans, something which was welcomed by veterinary representatives at the end of the march to the Ministry of Health (see right; click to enlarge).
At the same time, the SNVEL organised a 'Day Without Veterinarians' in all the French Departments. Given that there are only 11,000 practicing vets in France, 10,000 of whom were in Paris, that bit can't have been a particularly difficult logistical challenge.
The Kennel Club has announced that it now recognises the Portuguese Pointer, bringing the total number of recognised pedigree breeds in the UK to 212.
The Portuguese Pointer is only the second new breed to be recognised by the Kennel Club in the last five years.
However, as exotic dog breeds have risen in popularity, the Kennel Club reports that many native breeds have fallen out of favour and have been put on its list of 'vulnerable native breeds'; those with less than 300 annual puppy registrations which could disappear from our streets and parks if their numbers continue to decline.
New statistics released by the Kennel Club have shown that whilst vulnerable native breeds have increased in number this year, certain breeds such as the Sealyham Terrier and Otterhound continue to decline. Recent years have seen the Old English Sheepdog and English Setter enter the 'at watch' list. Furthermore, with just 239 Pembroke Corgi registrations so far this year, it is feared the Queen's favourite breed could also become vulnerable for the first time.
By contrast, exotic breeds such as the French Bulldog and Smooth Coated Chihuahua (originally from Mexico) are increasing in popularity with 4,843 and 2,931 registrations respectively so far this year. Between 2003 and 2012 the breeds have increased by 1,232% and 700% respectively.
When the first ever Kennel Club stud book was produced in 1874, just 43 breeds were listed, including many native breeds that are now considered to be vulnerable, such as the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Clumber Spaniel, Otterhound and Skye Terrier.
Some native breeds continue to thrive, including the English Springer Spaniel, the Cocker Spaniel, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Bulldog, the Golden Retriever, and the Border Terrier, all top ten breeds. But others in the top ten are from abroad.
Visitors to Discover Dogs, which is taking place at Earls Court on November 9th and 10th will be able to meet more than 200 breeds of dog under one roof, including the vulnerable breeds and the latest pedigree dog breeds in the UK.
The newly added Turkish Kangal Dog will also be coming to the event. This breed was added earlier this year and was the first new breed to join the Kennel Club register in almost five years. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, officially recognised from 1 October 2008, was the last dog recognised by the Kennel Club prior to the two new additions for this year. Organiser of the Kennel Club's Discover Dogs event, Vanessa McAlpine, said: "The UK is lucky to have so many wonderful dog breeds, and at our Discover Dogs event people have a unique opportunity to meet more than 200 of them, including those that might never cross your path in day to day life because they are so rare, those that are new to our shores and those that have been working with people in Britain for hundreds of years."
To find out more about Discover Dogs, visit www.discoverdogs.org.uk/.
Vétoquinol has launched Flexadin, a new range of joint support products for cats and dogs with osteoarthritis (OA)
Robert Simpson, Flexadin Product Manager said: "This new range is made up of two products: Flexadin Plus and Flexadin Advanced, both are dietetic complementary feeds which are members of a small group of joint support products which contain Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E. These ingredients are proven to aid the support of the metabolism of joints in the case of OA. Although many different joint support aids are available, not all of them contain these extra ingredients."
Vétoquinol says that in addition to Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E, Flexadin Plus contains the traditional ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin and devil's claw. Flexadin Advanced contains the novel ingredient, UCII - a type of undenatured type II collagen which has been manufactured using a patented process.
Flexadin Plus comes in two formulations, the first is specifically designed for cats/small dogs and the other is for medium/large dogs. Flexadin Advanced is specifically for dogs.
Robert added: "Flexadin Advanced has a specific property which means that the administration rate is only one chew per day whatever the weight of the dog. This has an important impact on the price per day for medium and large dogs which may require more than one tablet of traditional joint support products. This property also makes Flexadin Advanced a convenient option for owners. In addition to this benefit, UCII is becoming more and more popular due to the results of scientific studies in dogs, horses and even humans.
"We are all very excited about the advances this range can bring to veterinary practices."
Both Flexadin Plus and Advanced are presented as palatable, shaped, soft chews which come in zip-lock packs to keep the soft chews fresh and tasty. Flexadin Plus comes in packs of 90 chews whilst Flexadin Advanced comes in packs of 30 chews.
For further information about Flexadin, contact Vétoquinol on: 01280 825424.
A groundbreaking 3d printing service offered by Replica 3DM, a spin off of Salisbury NHS District Hospital, has helped referral veterinary orthopaedist Andy Moores in carrying out surgery on dog that won the 2013 Crufts Friends For Life Award.
Haatchi is an Anatolian shepherd dog whose back left leg and tail were amputated after he was tied to a railway line and hit by a train. As a rescue dog, he was adopted by the family of a young boy called Owen Howkins from Basingstoke. Owen has Schwartz‐Jampel syndrome, which causes his muscles to be permanently tense. The two bonded and became inseparable.
Earlier this year Haatchi developed mobility issues with his remaining hindlimb. He was referred to Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, in Hampshire, where a laterally luxating patella was diagnosed. The patella luxation was a result of a complex deformity of the femur and the tibia. Surgery was needed to enable Haatchi to use his leg better.
Replica 3DM, which normally uses its £70,000 printing equipment to make models of human bones and joints, created a 3d model of Haatchi’s hind leg from hip to paw. Normally the company charges around £200 for a human mandible. So, in order to keep costs down, it suggested a scaled down model which would still make Andy's preoperative planning a lot more straightforward and would help identify the correct surgical approach and likely abnormalities which would be encountered. Andy emailed the CT scans to Matt Sherry from Replica 3DM Ltd who converted them into a 3D model of Haatchi’s leg. Production of the model took six hours.
Andy said: "Having access to a scale 3D model of Haatchi's limb prior to surgery not only allowed us to better understand his deformity but it also allowed us to practice the femoral and tibial corrective osteotomies prior to surgery to be sure they would achieve what we intended."
Replica 3DM Ltd is based at Salisbury District Hospital and provides a service producing 3 dimensional products used in various types of surgery e.g. fractured neck of femur, cranioplasty procedures and jaw fractures. The company says that while of course not necessary in all procedures, visualisation of fractures and deformities prior to surgery can help in pre planning of surgery, reducing costs in time and equipment as well as enabling smaller incisions and less soft tissue intervention, so that patient recovery is enhanced.
For more information, visit www.replica3dm.com or ring Matt Sherry at Replica 3dm on 01722 429185.
Burgess Excel and the PDSA are urging veterinary surgeons and nurses to get their clients to sign up to the free PDSA Rabbit Wellbeing Challenge by the closing date of Friday 22 November.
According to the organisers, the PDSA Rabbit Wellbeing Challenge is designed to help all rabbit owners understand and meet their pets' five welfare needs - the five things that all pet rabbits' need to be healthy and happy. Since the campaign was launched in June, more than 1,000 rabbit owners have signed up to take the challenge, and veterinary practices are now being urged to ensure their clients take advantage of this free resource by visiting www.rabbitneeds.org.uk to register.
The Challenge website allows owners to take a monthly quiz to find out how well they are currently meeting their rabbits' needs, with advice on how to further improve their health and wellbeing. At the end of the challenge, owners will be presented with a Rabbit Wellbeing Challenge certificate and receive monthly vouchers together with money-off coupons for the Excel Feeding Plan. They will also be entered into a prize draw to win a 16gb iPad.
The Challenge is being featured on stickers on every pack of Burgess Excel Rabbit Nuggets. One million packs will have been sold by the final date for sign ups on the 22 November.
Burgess Pet Care Veterinary Surgeon, Suzanne Moyes, said: "With help from the veterinary community we really can make a difference by raising awareness about important rabbit welfare issues and in turn change rabbit owner behaviour. Working together, we are can improve the health and wellbeing of the UK's third most popular pet by educating pet owners, especially in relation to diet and regular veterinary check-ups."
Sean Wensley, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at PDSA, added: "Sadly, the welfare needs of pet rabbits are often not met. Common problems include a poor diet, living alone in a small hutch with no exercise run, and a lack of preventive healthcare. The PDSA Rabbit Wellbeing Challenge is a great tool for owners to assess how well they are currently meeting their rabbit's five welfare needs and to get advice on making practical, positive improvements. Most owners want their pets to be healthy and happy, and we hope this Challenge will help tackle some of the preventable health and welfare problems commonly seen in pet rabbits."
For further information on The PDSA Rabbit Wellbeing Challenge visit www.rabbitneeds.org.uk or for further details on the Burgess Excel Feeding Plan visit www.excelfedingplan.co.uk
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has written to Public Health England to ask if they would be prepared to review their risk assessment for front line staff in veterinary practices (i.e. veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and receptionists) regarding pre-exposure rabies vaccination.
The letter points out that the changes to the Pet Travel Regulations, brought in on 1st January 2012, make it possible for dogs, cats and ferrets to enter the UK from an EU country only 21 days after vaccination, with no requirement for blood testing and a 6-month wait.
The risk assessment undertaken by Defra at that time acknowledged that this would lead to an increase in the risk of introducing rabies to the UK, but this risk was still considered to be very low.
However, this risk assessment made a number of assumptions, including that there would be full compliance with the regulations. Since that time it has become apparent that not only have these changes led to a significant increase in the number of animals entering the UK, but that a number of these animals do not fully comply with the regulations.
According to BSAVA, current evidence suggests that increasing numbers of puppies enter the UK from abroad, particularly Eastern Europe, and that these are often presented with illness at veterinary practices by their new, and often unsuspecting, owners. While it has been assumed that animals entering under the Pet Travel Scheme pose a low risk of carrying rabies, the recent case of two puppies imported into The Netherlands from Bulgaria which tested positive for rabies indicates that the disease may occur even in puppies that were vaccinated and travelling legitimately.
While a great deal has been achieved in the control of rabies in the EU, there is increasing expansion in member states to include countries such as Bulgaria and Romania in which rabies remains endemic. Moreover, sporadic cases continue to occur in countries within this region (i.e. Italy and Greece). Animals imported into the UK from these regions could potentially introduce rabies into the United Kingdom.
While importation of affected animals remains a remote possibility, the likelihood is that an affected animal would present for veterinary treatment and that frontline veterinary staff may be at greatest risk of exposure. Some veterinary practices that deal routinely with imported pets adopted from the street or animal shelters in other countries, have staff that may be at even greater risk.
BSAVA President Professory Michael Day, who signed the letter on behalf of the Association and its members, said: "As a result of the current conditions in which veterinary professionals find themselves, BSAVA, in our letter sent on 12 November, has urged Public Health England to consider adding veterinary staff who may come into contact with imported animals to the list of those entitled to receive pre-exposure rabies vaccination."
Hill's Pet Nutrition has presented Derby VN Jamie Gregson with the grand prize of a Smart car for winning the company's Drive Nutrition competition.
Jamie, who is Head Nurse at the Springwood Veterinary Centre in Burton-upon-Trent, was crowned the winner at BVNA Congress last month, but had to wait a few weeks for the prize to be delivered.
The Drive Nutrition competition encouraged nurses to earn points by completing an array of online tasks, all with the aim of highlighting the importance of top-notch nutritional advice for every pet, which nurses are integral in providing.
Hill's says thousands of veterinary nurses across the UK and Ireland took part in everything from online games and quizzes to trivia questions and mini-competitions in order to earn Drive Nutrition points. The more points accumulated, the higher the chance of winning, as each point represented an entry into the prize draw.
Jamie said: "I found I was using loads of the hints and tips that I picked up from Drive Nutrition in my consultations and because the activities were so fun, I ended up logging on almost every day. Never in a million years did I think I would actually win the car though - it still feels like a dream!"
Paul Sands, Partner at Pride and Springwood Veterinary Centres, on the other hand wasn't as surprised by Jamie's win. He said: "Jamie always puts her heart and soul into everything she does and clearly the Drive Nutrition competition was no different. The need for sound nutritional advice for pets is ever increasing and nurses are at the forefront of providing it, so it's great that this is being recognised and rewarded by Hill's. Jamie is thoroughly adored by her colleagues and clients alike and will no doubt become a mini celebrity when she is driving around town in her new car with its striking design! You couldn't have asked a more deserving winner - especially as her current car is on its last legs."
Adrian Pratt, Head of the Veterinary Channel, UK and Ireland for Hill's Pet Nutrition, said: "Vet nurses' hard work and dedication really do change the lives of people and their pets, so we, at Hill's, feel honoured to be able to give something back today. We hope that Jamie gets lots of enjoyment from her new car - she deserves it!"
Kirsty and Susan scored 995 and 923 votes respectively.
The unsuccessful candidate, Stuart Miller, scored 669 votes.
In total, 1,710 RVNs cast their vote, narrowly beating the previous record low turnout of 7.5% in 2012.
By comparison, the largest turnout was 17.1% in 2020.
Kirsty and Susan will take up their post at the RCVS Annual General Meeting, which is open to all vet nurses to attend on Friday 5th July at the Royal Institute of British Architects.
www.rcvs.org.uk/vnvote24
MWI Veterinary Supply Inc, the parent company of Centaur Services, has acquired practice management software company Vetspace in order to offer practices wholesaler services that are better integrated with their practice management system.
Vetspace, formerly Jupiter Systems, has been developing and providing server and cloud-based practice management software for veterinary practices since 1989. There are over 1,000 installations of Vetspace's software solutions in the UK.
The recent acquisition by MWI Veterinary Supply sees Vetspace joining a group of companies including Centaur Services and Securos, a manufacturer and supplier of veterinary orthopedic solutions.
Centaur Services' core business is the daily delivery of products required by UK veterinary practices. MWI says Vetspace customers will now benefit from an enhanced level of customer service, innovative product development, technological investment and an opportunity for greater integration between their practice management software and wholesaler - all backed by the experience and investment of a global parent company.
Centaur Services customers may continue to use any other practice management system, whilst Vetspace customers may continue to work with other wholesalers. Brian Topper, Managing Director of Centaur Services said: "We're very pleased to be able to offer our customers throughout the UK the opportunity to further enhance and streamline their practices by integrating their practice management system and wholesaler solution. Our focus is on delivering a high quality service that's accurate and reliable and we believe that aligning our offer with that of Vetspace will have major benefits for the future of both ours and our customers' businesses."
Nader Pour of Vetspace added: "Having been at the forefront of practice management software for the past 25 years we are delighted to be joining the MWI Veterinary Supply group and working with the likes of Centaur Services to further develop the benefits we're able to offer our customers for the next 25 years and beyond."
Picture shows, left to right: Brian Topper, Centaur Services, Nader Pour, Vetspace and Jim Cleary, CEO of MWI.
The RCVS has announced that it is to host an open day on Monday 15 December for those members of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions who are interested in joining the College’s Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC), Disciplinary Committee (DC) or Veterinary Nurse Preliminary Investigation Committee (VN PIC).
In January 2015 the College will be looking to recruit veterinary members for PIC and DC following a legislative reform order last year to reconstitute them separately from RCVS Council. This means that the committees must be made up of veterinary and lay members who are not on Council and members will be appointed on the advice of an independent selection committee.
The RCVS will be seeking to recruit four veterinary surgeons for DC as well as three veterinary surgeons for PIC. At the same time the College will be recruiting two registered veterinary nurses and a veterinary surgeon for VN PIC. Applications are particularly sought from practising or recently retired clinicians.
The Open Day (at Belgravia House from 9.30am to 4pm) will provide the opportunity for those who are interested in applying to hear from current members of each committee about what being a committee member is really like and the type of cases dealt with. Recruitment consultants will also be on hand to explain the hiring process and attendees will have the opportunity to put questions to Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar.
Those who are interested in attending the Open Day should contact Peris Dean, Executive Secretary, on p.dean@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0761 to register an interest or request an agenda.
Dechra Veterinary Products has announced that it is to relaunch Fuciderm Gel, the topical skin product used to treat surface pyoderma in dogs, as Isaderm.
Isaderm contains fusidic acid, which Dechra says is highly effective against the bacteria Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and the steroid betamethasone, which is both an anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic.
Available as a white translucent gel in 15 g and 30 g tubes, Isaderm is a topical treatment which can be applied directly and stays on the affected area – the base of Isaderm is a carbomer gel which maintains contact on skin and wet lesions.
Dechra Dermatology Brand Manager Roger Brown said: “Fuciderm is one of our most popular products. As part of an international Dechra rebranding programme the name will now be Isaderm® but veterinary professionals can be assured that the only thing about the product that has changed is the name.
“This treatment was the subject of a multi-centre UK trial* comparing treatment of surface pyoderma with the gel or systemic therapy, and the gel product was shown to be as effective as systemic therapy.”
For further information, visit www.dechra.co.uk
The Diabetic Clinical Score is a quick, standardised scoring system to record the clinical signs of diabetes in a patient, which was designed by Royal Veterinary College Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Stijn Niessen.
The scoring system has been turned into a pet diabetes app which allows clients to record and monitor the impact of treatment.
CVS' aim is to use the recently validated tool in over 80% of patient cases to improve the treatment and control of diabetes whilst supporting the practice team to develop their skills in managing the condition.
Participating practices will use the DCS, alongside blood glucose measurements, to diagnose and monitor patients.
Veterinary nurses will refer animals coming in for six-monthly Healthy Pet Club check-ups to a vet for a possible diabetes diagnosis, whilst vets diagnosing diabetes will introduce owners and patients to the DCS to record a diabetes log, to help manage the condition.
To upskill and develop colleagues in the use of the DCS, dedicated vet and nurse training sessions have been held by the clinical leadership team, including a kick-off ‘diabetes day’ which focussed on current thinking and introduced the DCS tool.
CVS teams have also grouped together to agree a coordinated approach to managing pets with diabetes in their practice.
Supporting diabetes resources have also been drafted for practices, including new clinical guidelines, supporting paperwork and CPD.
Lara Wilson, Regional Clinical Lead at CVS said: “Diabetes is notoriously difficult to diagnose and different vets can use different approaches to managing cases.
“The Diabetic Clinical Score will help the whole team around the patient – the owner, vet and veterinary nurse – to effectively and cohesively manage their care.
It will implement joined-up thinking and help to put a standardised disease management framework in place.
“It will be fantastic to see the benefits that the Diabetic Clinical Score will bring to our patients and practices.
"I am certain that this will help contribute towards them providing some of the best diabetes clinical diagnosis and care in our profession.”
Heath Vets, a Cardiff-based veterinary group, has announced that is has become the first veterinary group in Wales to appoint designated customer care personnel, enabling it to take on and beat the corporates at customer service.
Leanne Kiddie was appointed Customer Care Manager, tasked with ensuring the group delivers excellent customer service across its four sites, after the veterinary group identified customer service as their key driver to retaining customers, attracting new customers and sustaining growth.
Gavin Hill-John (pictured right with Leanne), Operations Director at Heath Vets said: "We want to put our customers at the forefront of our service. The traditional veterinary practice model was based around territory; you had one vet practice in an area and local people used it. They weren’t challenged on customer service as we are today. Having Leanne as our dedicated Customer Care Manager will help us set Heath Vets apart from other practices. Whilst we may not be able to compete with the buying power of some national chains, we can certainly beat them at customer service."
Heath Vets says it is now developing its engagement with customers regarding future plans; using their comments and feedback to shape the practice.
Gavin added: "We are aiming to deliver a level of engagement with our customers that no other vet practice has seen before. We’re hosting cheese and wine functions where customers can come in, enjoy our festive hospitality, and speak with the staff about their pet’s issues. We not only want to work with our customers, but we want to get to know them."
Gavin says he believes Heath Vets can challenge all competitors when it comes to customer service: ‘‘My vision for the role is that across all four sites we should be delivering outstanding customer service, consistently. To achieve that aim, everybody needs to be highly skilled, trained, motivated and engaged. For us, it’s about recognising that we have a hugely impressive team that are focussed on delivering high quality customer service. National chains have investors and shareholders to please; we have our customers.’’
Docsinnovent has launched a v-gel rabbit dentistry educational training video.
The four minute video shows how to obtain a safer anaesthesia airway using the v-gel supraglottic airway device in rabbit dentistry procedures. It's the second in the series, after the cat dental video.
In addition, the company has published a further six short videos to help you in sizing, securing and comparing the v-gel.
All videos have now been uploaded to the new Veterinary Demonstrations Gallery on vetnurse.co.uk.
Lintbells Veterinary has announced the launch of Yurelieve, a feline urinary health supplement containing multiple glycosaminoglycans, L-tryptophan and EFAs.
Andrew Connolly, Product Manager at Lintbells Veterinary said: "Yurelieve supports a condition which is not only frustrating to treat, but can also be distressing for the cat and their owners. The launch of Yurelieve will enable veterinary surgeons to offer their clients the most comprehensive feline urinary health support available."
Yurelieve contains Green Lipped Mussel, which Lintbells says provides a unique combination of Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA and ETA) to aid the cat’s own natural anti-inflammatory process. In addition, the product contains multiple GAGs and N-acetyl D-glucosamine to support the bladder lining, and L-tryptophan which the company says is proven to decrease stress related behaviours in cats.
To mark the launch of the new supplement, Lintbells is running a Facebook competition in which vets and nurses are invited to share photos of their cats, with a statement that captures their unique personality.
Andrew continued: “When cats are affected by a urinary condition, it takes their independence and personality away from them, so we wanted to celebrate the importance of allowing cats to be their natural charismatic selves with a photo competition starring everyone’s feline friends.”
To enter the competition, post a photo of a beloved cat with a caption that captures their unique personality, starting with ‘I believe…’ to the Lintbells Vet Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lintbellsvet). The best will win a Pampurrrr Spa Day for 2.
Yurelieve is available from your veterinary wholesaler now, in packs of 30 capsules.
For more information on Yurelieve speak to your Lintbells Business Development Executive or call 01462 790886.
Veterinary nurses who wish to remain on the RCVS Register/List of Veterinary Nurses are reminded that their renewal fees need to be paid to the College by 31 December 2014.
Letters have been sent to 938 registered/listed veterinary nurses whose fees are outstanding, reminding them that the annual renewal fee of £61 needs to be paid – and cleared – by the end of this year.
The renewal fee can be paid online via the ‘My Account’ area (www.rcvs.org.uk/login), using the login details which were sent to all listed/registered veterinary nurses in September.
As well as paying the fee, all veterinary nurses will need to confirm their registration details and correspondence address while registered veterinary nurses will need to declare any convictions, cautions and/or adverse findings and confirm they have complied with the RCVS continuing professional development requirement of 45 hours over a three-year period.
Any veterinary nurses who have not received their login details, or who have misplaced them, should contact the RCVS Registration Department by telephone on 020 7202 0707.
For payments made by cheque, the name of the veterinary nurse and the ID number included in the annual renewal letter needs to be written on the back. Cheques need to be received by the RCVS before Friday 19 December and the payment to have cleared by 31 December.
Veterinary nurses in need of further guidance on paying their annual renewal fee should contact the RCVS Finance Department on finance@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0723.
The RCVS has published a summary of the goings on at its 6 November meeting.
Amongst other things, Council agreed to continue to display postnominals in the Register, undertake a consultation on whether members should be able to use the courtesy title 'doctor' and make amendments to the College's current registration regulations.
In addition,
More information about these decisions can be found in the latest edition of RCVS News, copies of which have been sent to all veterinary surgeons and listed/registered veterinary nurses.
The full papers for the Council meeting can be found on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/rcvs-council/council-meetings
Vétoquinol (maker of Propalin) has announced the launch of a new canine urinary incontinence support website for pet owners.
canineui.co.uk contains information about the causes, diagnostic methods and treatment options for canine urinary incontinence. It also includes tips for living with a dog with the condition.
To help spread the word to owners and raise the awareness that this new resource is available, Vétoquinol is offering posters for your practice, together with business cards displaying the website address.
To obtain your copy call the Vétoquinol head office on 01280 825497 and quote 'Canine UI Poster'.
The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) has published its 2014 Salaries Survey which showed that the gender pay gap has closed from 15% last year to 10.8% this.
However, the association notes that this is still slightly higher than the gap reported for all professions in the UK, so there remains work to be done.
The survey, which is the largest of its kind and drew responses from 1,878 vets, nurses, practice managers and receptionists also found that:
Peter Brown, SPVS Treasurer and author of the report comments: "The SPVS Salaries Survey is intended as a benchmark to give some indication of what is being paid as the 'going rate' rather than to advise on what employees should be paid. Having said that, we would urge all veterinary practices to continue working to ensure that equal rates of pay are given for positions of equal status. Although the gender gap has closed up, it is still too big."
The annual SPVS Salaries Survey is free of charge to SPVS members and costs £150 for non-members. For more information, call 01926 410454 or visit www.spvs.org.uk.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Sporimune (ciclosporin), licensed for the treatment of chronic manifestations of atopic dermatitis in dogs.
Roger Brown, Senior Brand Manager at Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "Around 20% of all small animal consultations involve skin conditions and canine atopic dermatitis can be challenging to diagnose and manage effectively.
"Although incurable, atopic dermatitis can be managed using a multimodal approach which is likely to include treatments to decrease pruritus as well as allergen identification, avoidance where possible and improving skin and coat hygiene."
Sporimune is a 50 mg/ml oral solution administered by syringe, which is graduated to show both bodyweight and ml. Dechra says it is being introduced to veterinary professionals within the company's Partners in Practice programme which aims to support vets and vet nurses as they diagnose, control and maintain complex dermatological conditions.
Mr Brown added: "It is critical that owners are fully involved and educated about their pet's condition for dogs to be treated effectively. So we have also developed support materials around the use of Sporimune for practices, including client information leaflets and a video on how to use the dosing syringe."
Sporimune is now available from veterinary wholesalers. For further information visit www.dechra.co.uk/sporimune.
The RCVS and the BVA have announced the launch of Vet Futures, a jointly funded initiative designed to stimulate discussion about the future of the profession, and help its members prepare for and shape it.
The initiative will draw on the experience and insight of a wide range of individuals and organisations, including veterinary surgeons and nurses, veterinary bodies, farmers, pet owners and other key stakeholders.
The objective is to understand where the provision of veterinary services is currently heading, whether this is in the best interests of the profession, animal owners and the public at large, and what might be done to shape an optimal future for the veterinary team, keeping animal health and welfare at its heart.
In the project's first phase, independent researchers will gather evidence via focus groups, phone interviews and desk-based research, in addition to the gauging of opinion through events, the internet and social media.
This evidence gathering will be followed by an engagement phase, where the profession will be asked for their feedback on initial thoughts; a period of analysis, where a report will be written by the independent researchers; and, finally, there will be an action phase, where key strategic issues will be identified, together with a clear plan for action from the BVA and the RCVS, as well as other organisations and individuals.
Professor Stuart Reid, RCVS President. said: "The RCVS is implementing a programme of reform to make it a first-rate regulator, but how do we also make ours a first-rate profession, that is resilient and agile enough to meet future demands?
"The Vet Futures project will not just be about horizon-scanning, but getting a fix on those issues over the horizon that we may not yet have considered, such as the use of emerging technologies.
"It's an exciting challenge and I am looking forward to members of the veterinary team getting involved so that, together, we can develop an action plan that will deliver a sustainable future for the profession."
John Blackwell, BVA President, said: "It is no secret that the veterinary profession is changing rapidly and that is why the theme for my presidential year is 'driving change and shaping the future'. It is essential that we come together to map out where we want to be as a strong and trusted profession and identify how we can make that happen.
"On such cross-cutting issues it is appropriate that the two leading professional bodies come together to provide joint leadership for the profession, but we are keen to engage as many individuals and stakeholders as possible. It is designed to be a hugely collaborative project and we want to hear voices from across the whole profession and the whole veterinary team."
The project has a dedicated website www.vetfutures.org.uk where the latest events, reports and publications will be found. There will also be a 'topic of the month' for the duration of the project, with controversial opinion-pieces being posted to stimulate debate from within the profession and amongst animal owners and other stakeholders.
Royal Canin has announced that Jill Moody-Smith, a veterinary nurse and Pet Health Counsellor (PHC) from Eagle Vets in Birchington, Kent has been crowned the winner of its annual ‘Pet Health Counsellor of the Year’ Awards.
Jill was presented with her award, which included £1,500 worth of high-street vouchers, at a ceremony held at the Forest of Arden Marriot Hotel in Coventry last month.
The Pet Health Counsellor Awards were set up to celebrate veterinary professionals for promoting preventative health care and running pet health clinics in practice. Jill was chosen by renowned animal behaviour expert Sarah Heath for her work in a wide range of clinics - including the ‘Chunky Monkey Club’, an ‘Allergy Clinic’ and a ‘Joint to Joint Mobility Clinic’ - as well as her commitment to veterinary nursing, caring for wildlife and bereavement counselling.
Royal Canin’s Veterinary Marketing Executive, Sarah Collins RVN, said: “It’s a privilege to be able to present Jill with the award. She has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to her veterinary practice, by running a variety of specialist sessions for owners which have proven very popular and beneficial. The Royal Canin Pet Health Counsellor scheme was set up to encourage Veterinary Nurses to advance their professional development, so it was great to see such a high level of entries this year.”
Jill added: “I’m delighted to be Royal Canin’s Pet Health Counsellor of the Year. Their scheme has given me the confidence and skills to develop specialist clinics at Eagle Vets, which have proved to be hugely beneficial in giving our clients the specific advice and training for their pets’ needs.”
Sophie Graham from Rowe Vets in Bristol won the Silver Award and £1,000 of high street vouchers and the Bronze Award was claimed by Katie Field of Vets4Pets in Stafford, who also walked away with £500 in vouchers. All 30 finalists were treated to a three course meal, disco and overnight accommodation as part of the annual award ceremony. Since the ceremony, Sophie has now moved to Vale Vets in Dursley.
The RCVS has published Fitness to Practise - A Guide for UK Veterinary Schools and Veterinary Students, and is now working to produce an equivalent for veterinary nurse students.
The guide is designed to introduce students to the concept of fitness to practise and help prepare them for professional life.
Fitness to Practise - A Guide for UK Veterinary Schools and Veterinary Students was developed by an RCVS working party in conjunction with the UK's seven veterinary schools that currently offer an RCVS-approved veterinary degree.
The guide is split into two parts: the first part provides guidance for veterinary schools on how to recognise and address fitness to practise concerns; the second part sets out the broad principles of fitness to practise that students should follow and which veterinary schools should uphold.
Laura McClintock, an Advisory Solicitor from the RCVS Professional Conduct Department, said: "While we don't regulate veterinary students themselves, we hope that this guidance will prepare future vets for the requirements and standards that we expect from members of a regulated profession and for adhering to our Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance.
"The guide also recognises that each university will have its own specific disciplinary guidelines and procedures, but we hope that this will help promote consistency in their fitness to practise regimes.
"Although we expect any adverse findings made in university fitness to practise proceedings to be declared to us upon application to register, we would take into account the fact that a student is not a fully-fledged professional and would therefore make some allowance for any mistakes and poor judgement when considering whether or not they should join the Register."
The guide can be downloaded for free from www.rcvs.org.uk/studentguide
The day also has a stream for veterinary surgeons, and another for the whole practice team.
The nursing stream programme is as follows:
https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/feline-celebration-day
Ceva has announced the launch of Zodon®, a flavoured clindamycin for dogs and cats.
Zodon is the only veterinary licensed flavoured clindamycin available in the UK.
Zodon is indicated for the treatment of infected wounds and abscesses in cats and dogs and oral cavity/dental infections caused by or associated with clindamycin-sensitive species of Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp in dogs.
Rob Mclintock, Business unit manager for Ceva said: "Zodon is an exciting new product for Ceva, it is the first clindamycin on the market to offer flavoured presentations designed to help deal with compliance issues and help improve treatment success."
In a palatability study 98.3% of dogs took Zodon chicken flavoured tablets spontaneously. Ceva says the oral solution for cats and small dogs also offers easier administration with grilled meat flavouring and a graduated syringe.
Adelaide Ellerington, product manager for Ceva Animal Health said: "Zodon complements our existing antibiotic range perfectly. The whole range is designed specifically for veterinary use allowing veterinary surgeons to dose more accurately and improve patient compliance by offering flavoured tablets and solutions."
You can preorder Zodon now from Ceva - telephone 01494 781510 or email: cevauk@ceva.com - alternatively Zodon will be available from wholesalers at the start of next week.