To help veterinary practices engage with pet owners and help them understand the importance of eye health, TVM has produced a range of free educational materials including waiting room displays, informative web pages and social media packs.
The company has also published a page of information at www.tvm-uk.com/eyehealth – where pet owners can find out more about eye problems, how to spot them and learn what can be done about them.
Emma Hancox MRCVS, Veterinary Advisor at TVM said: "It can be easy for owners to miss the signs of problems with their pet’s eyes, but they can be extremely distressing for animals and be a sign of conditions ranging from cataracts and glaucoma through to conjunctivitis - all of which can be painful, and in the worst-case scenario, lead to blindness.
"We hope that National Pet Eye Health Awareness Week will help practices assist owners in understanding the importance of eye health and prevent more serious conditions occurring."
To request your board kit and pet owner leaflets, and download your free social media pack, visit www.tvm-uk.com/eyehealth or contact your Territory Manager.
The book contains 40 chapters of articles about clinical techniques, diagnostic pathways and management approaches published in Companion between 2016 and 2020.
Editor of Companion, Samantha Taylor said: “At Companion we strive to produce well-illustrated, practical articles to help vets and VNs in practice face the day-to-day challenges of a varied caseload. We hope this collection meets our aims by covering a variety of clinical problems from hypercalcaemia in cats to managing the snuffly rabbit, from Leishmaniasis to lymphoma and many more.
Ian Ramsey (BSAVA Senior Vice President) said: “This collection represents a unique body of well-illustrated work prepared by experts from all around the UK and beyond. I would like to thank them all on behalf of BSAVA members and readers of this book for taking the time and care to develop these resources for their colleagues around the world.”
Samantha added: “Whether kept on the shelf for when needed or thumbed through over a cup of tea, we hope that within the pages of this new volume you find a useful tip or technique that helps.”
The How to…collected articles from BSAVA Companion (2016–2020), 3rd edition has been published as a BSAVA member loyalty reward gift for those eligible veterinary members who renew their membership this year.
The book is also available to buy from the BSAVA website www.bsava.com/shop priced at £20.
Led by Jacques Ferreira, an RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (pictured right), the new clinic will provide a bespoke pain management plan for pets referred both by external first opinion practices or internally by colleagues in other disciplines at the centre.
Jacques, who joined Willows in 2018 having previously lectured in Veterinary Anaesthesia at the University of Liverpool after specialising in the same subject in his native South Africa, said: "Just as with humans, our pets are living longer and, with that, there is an increased risk of developing chronic pain conditions.
"Traditionally, the most common patients are cats and dogs with chronic joint disease such as osteoarthritis but patients with a history of back problems and trapped nerves, cats with chronic cystitis and even those with some forms of cancer may benefit.
"We will work with first opinion vets who refer their patients to us, as well as internal referrals. The management of chronic pain is obviously ongoing but the aim for us would be to get to a stage where pain is effectively managed through the most appropriate avenue and check-ups are only needed every few months.
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net.
The charity is asking everyone to donate £5 and nominate 5 friends to get involved in the activities.
The activities are:
For more information, visit: https://www.vetlife.org.uk
Vetlife Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on: 0303 040 2551 or via anonymous email at https://helpline.vetlife.org.uk
The mandatory regulation of veterinary practices, including statutory powers of entry and inspection, is one of the main parts of the College's proposals for new primary legislation that would replace the current Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
The working group, which is expected to present the details of a Mandatory Practice Regulation system to Council by the end of 2024, will be chaired by RCVS President Sue Paterson FRCVS.
It will include Standards Committee Chair Linda Belton MRCVS and Practice Standards Group Chair Belinda Andrews-Jones RVN, alongside veterinary, veterinary nursing, lay and external representatives.
Sue said: “With over 70% of practice premises currently under its ambit, our Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) has shown how keen practices are to maintain high standards.
"However, it is a voluntary scheme and, as a result, there is no mechanism to ensure standards across all practices, or to ensure change in those rare situations where it is needed.
“At present, the RCVS only regulates individual veterinary surgeons and nurses, and the veterinary sector does not have an equivalent to the Care Quality Commission, which considers human healthcare premises.
"This means that the onus for maintaining standards within the workplace falls on regulated individuals rather than the business structure.
"We will consider what a scheme that puts more statutory responsibility on business owners to maintain standards should look like.
“I look forward to working with colleagues in RCVS Council, VN Council and other veterinary organisations via this group to really flesh out what this regulatory system might look like in the future, to make sure it is appropriate, robust, proportionate and enforceable.
"Establishing these details will also prove invaluable in our lobbying work with government, ministers and MPs.”
The new product is being sold through e-retailers including Pet Drugs Online, Animed and Pets at Home.
Frontpro is claimed to kill fleas within 8 hours and protect dogs from fleas and ticks for one month.
It is suitable for all breeds aged eight weeks or older (weighing two kilograms or more) and can be given with or without food.
A company spokesperson said: "Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to expanding access to high-quality parasite prevention for dogs, which is why we’re proud to introduce an effective new option.
"Frontpro chewable tablets provide effective protection from fleas and ticks, while complementing the regular care and advice pet owners receive from their veterinarians."
www.uk.frontline.com
The RCVS has announced that its current Treasurer, Dr Bradley Viner, will be the College's next Vice-President after he was elected to the post at RCVS Council last Thursday.
Dr Viner has been an elected member of Council since 2005 and Treasurer since 2010 and will take up his latest position at RCVS Day - the College's Annual General Meeting - on 11 July. He replaces Professor Stuart Reid, who Council confirmed as President for 2014-15, and will take up his new role in July.
During his time on Council Dr Viner has served on all of the major committees with the exception of the Disciplinary Committee. Outside of Council he runs a group of practices in North West London and is Vice-Chairman of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
In his manifesto he set out the nature of his Vice-Presidency, stating: "My personal ethos is very much based upon continual improvement. It is only by having the confidence to discuss openly how things could have been done better that an organisation can learn how to improve.
"I also recognise the vital importance of good communications: with Council; the profession at large; Government; and with other interested organisations. I intend to do my utmost to communicate with them as effectively as possible."
At the same meeting of RCVS Council, Colonel Neil Smith, the current President, was confirmed as Vice-President from July, subject to his re-election in this year's RCVS Council elections.
In addition, Chris Tufnell was re-elected as Chairman of the Education Committee, while David Catlow was elected Chairman of Standards Committee, also subject to his re-election in this year's RCVS Council elections.
Veterinary teams are now being invited to nominate their workplaces for the awards, detailing the ways in which the team’s wellbeing has been supported.
Entrants must show evidence in their workplace of:
Entires can be submitted for the following categories
The BVA is strongly encouraging people to submit nominations as a team.
Entrants will also be required to submit photos showcasing team culture, demonstrating initiatives to aid staff wellbeing or moments of positivity.
BVA Junior Vice President Anna Judson, who will also be one of the judges for the awards, said: “The culture in a workplace has an impact on every aspect of a business, but most especially when it comes to building a happy, healthy and resilient workforce.
"That’s why it’s so important that staff feel heard, valued and supported.
"BVA’s Wellbeing Awards are an important opportunity for teams to shout about innovative practices that are going the extra mile to support wellbeing.
"After all, good veterinary workplaces are good for people, good for animals in their care and ultimately good for business.”
The awards are open to the entire veterinary profession and there is no requirement to be a BVA member.
Winners will be announced at BVA’s Gala Dinner during the London Vet Show in November.
Nominations close on Monday, 11th September 2023.
www.bva.co.uk/wellbeing-awards
During the day, visiting RVNs will be treated to a tour of the state-of-the-art, £16 million, 40,000 sq ft hospital, which opened last summer.
Nicola Barrigan, Head of Nursing Services at Southfields, said: “The open day will give visitors an informal opportunity to speak to members of our nursing team in relaxed surroundings to find out a bit more about what life is like here at Southfields.
“There will also be the chance for them to attend nurse-led presentations, including Q&A sessions, chat with our clinicians and discuss progression opportunities with the Linnaeus professional development team.
"Information will also be available on our post-registration programme.”
The open day will begin with pastries and refreshments at 8:45am.
Hospital director Daniel Hogan, himself an RVN, will then give an introduction to Southfields after which there will be a presentation about Linnaeus's referral nursing post-registration programme (PRP) and progression at the hospital.
There will then be a meet the team session with both vets and RVNs, plus a Q&A session before a lunch is provided at 12.30pm, followed by a tour of the hospital and oncology building.
To end the day, there is an optional CPD featuring bite-size nursing sessions from 2pm to 4pm.
To sign up, visit: https://southfields.co.uk/nurse-open-day.
The company has updated its waiting room board kit for veterinary staff to create a visual reminder of the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of dental disease and a tailored dental home care regime.
There is also a Pet Dental Health Month social media pack which includes imagery, videos and copy to use on your practice social media channels and client-facing waiting room screens.
Dental charts are also available to help explain dental aftercare in post-op appointments.
Will Peel, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: "We know that veterinary staff recognise the importance of oral health, so we’ve created this range of materials specifically to support veterinary practices and to help people better understand how they can maintain good dental health in their pets.’
www.animalcare.co.uk/dentalhealthmonth
The company points to research which shows that most dogs and cats whose congestive heart failure is well controlled by medication will have a stable sleeping respiratory rate of less than 30 breaths per minute1,2.
Vetoquinol says SRR is a sensitive indicator of pulmonary oedema or pulmonary effusion which can occur as heart failure patients deteriorate, and that monitoring of SRR is a useful biomarker for veterinary surgeons, allowing you to track progression of congestive heart failure and to detect stability during treatment.
The company also says SRR is most easily detected by the owner when the pet is asleep: using the app to count and record SRR gives clients a good indication of when to seek veterinary intervention and generates data that helps veterinary teams seeking to minimise unnecessary face-to-face contact but still provide emergency care.
While an SRR in the reference range does not exclude heart disease, it reduces the probability that the patient is suffering from left sided heart failure, so may also be a useful measure for remote triage as part of a wider assessment. Other causes of elevated SRR include pain, pneumonia, stress and heatstroke.
Helen Hunter, Product Manager at Vetoquinol and part of the team that developed the app said: "Being able to monitor patients with congestive heart failure is important at any time but during lockdown, with some routine checks having to be postponed, having a means of remote monitoring is more important than ever.
"This tool will help veterinary professionals make the judgement call about whether the pet needs to be seen, especially when the results are provided in the context of monitoring that has taken place over time, providing an assessment of what is normal for that patient."
To complement the addition of the new tool, the site has also launched a webinar delivered by RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cardiology, Dave Dickson of Heart Vets. The presentation discusses the ‘10 Golden Rules of Congestive Heart Failure' and covers topics including the importance of clear radiography and why a cough is not diagnostic of CHF.
Dave said: "Sleeping respiratory rate is one of the most useful ways to monitor an animal in CHF or to look for signs of CHF developing. By encouraging pet owners to monitor and track the dog's sleeping respiratory rate at home, owners can provide vets with a valuable insight into the success of the current treatment regime. The UpLife app is free and will be really helpful to vets and pet owners, both now during lockdown and in the future."
The app can be accessed at www.uplife.uk/srr and it can be communicated to clients at the point when their pet is diagnosed, or shared with clients whose pets already have a diagnosis and are under treatment.
For further information, contact your Vetoquinol Territory Manager, email uk_marketing@vetoquinol.com, or call 01280 814500.
References
The webinars will be presented by specialists in their respective fields; small animal oncologist Sara Verganti and clinical pathologists Francesco Cian and Roberta Rasotto.
Each 30-minute session will focus on a specific aspect of MCT diagnostics followed by a multidisciplinary Q&A. The sessions, which all start at 7:30pm, are:
Dr Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: "Mast cell tumours are the most common form of canine cutaneous neoplasia, although relatively simple to identify, knowing what diagnostic steps to take can be challenging. We believe this truly comprehensive bite size mini-series will provide vets with the confidence to navigate the diagnostic approach for their next MCTs."
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
Turning Over a New Leaf – How to Make Sustainable Change in the Veterinary Profession includes contributions from a range of organisations including the RCVS, Mars Veterinary Health and Investors in the Environment (iiE).
The report covers upcoming changes to the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, the value of external accreditation to support sustainability, and how to approach behaviour change within your team.
Two further articles highlight how changes in clinical practice can combat antimicrobial resistance and reduce levels of surgical waste.
The report also features the personal experiences of practice sustainability leads, who discuss how they have worked with others to improve their sites.
Ellie West, Environmental Sustainability Lead at Linnaeus said: “Changing how we work day-to-day, when we are all so busy as a profession, can be a lot to juggle but sustainability brings a huge range of benefits.
"As well as helping the environment, it can promote the wellbeing of our patients and colleagues while also improving our performance as a business.
“It is important, however, to avoid dictating what sustainable change should be made because it will vary greatly between different teams and locations.
"This report shares ideas from contributors with a variety of roles and responsibilities, who have taken different approaches to supporting the environment but are all united in their commitment to delivering excellent clinical care.”
Sue Paterson, RCVS Junior Vice-President and RCVS Council lead for Environment & Sustainability, said: “Contributing to this report highlights the importance of working together as a profession to understand the environmental challenges we face and adopt solutions that will benefit our planet and the animals we care for.
"Upcoming changes to the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme will cover sustainability across a range of areas and we are committed to ensuring the veterinary profession can fully realise the benefits of this new guidance.”
April Sotomayor, Principal Consultant at iiE, added: “This report offers a range of perspectives that highlight how the veterinary profession can become a leader in sustainability and a shining example to other sectors.”
Download Turning Over a New Leaf – How to Make Sustainable Change in the Veterinary Profession here.
Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml contains the short acting alpha-2 agonist xylazine and is licensed for I/V administration.
It is also licensed for I/M administration in cattle; it has zero milk withdrawal and short one day meat withdrawal and sedation occurs in cattle within two minutes I/V and five to 10 minutes I/M.
Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml joins Dechra’s Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml solution in the company’s anaesthesia and sedation range. Nerfasin vet also contains xylazine and is licensed for I/V administration for sedation and premedication prior to general anaesthesia in horses and cattle.
Alana McGlade, national sales manager at Dechra, said: “Dechra offers a comprehensive range of anaesthesia and sedation products allowing vets to customise protocols to the individual animal.
"Sedaxylan 20mg/ml and Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml solution provide vets with flexible and convenient dosing options.”
Both Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml and Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml are available in 25ml vials.
For more information, talk to your Dechra territory sales manager.
www.dechra.co.uk.
Evidence given to the Women and Equalities parliamentary committee by BUPA last year suggested that 900,000 women may have left the UK workforce in recent years as a result of menopausal symptoms.
With the veterinary profession increasingly female in composition it is hoped that the hub will support more women to stay in the profession and therefore retain their vital skills in the workforce.
Statistics from the Voice of the Veterinary Profession Spring 2023 survey showed that only 14% of vets are aware of a menopause policy at their workplace, while 46% say there is no policy and 39% are unsure.
The survey also revealed that only 59% of vets would feel confident supporting a colleague experiencing menopause.
The new menopause hub provides veterinary specific menopause content to support everyone working in practice including colleagues, managers and partners of people experiencing menopause.
BVA recently signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge – committing to take positive action to make sure everyone experiencing menopause is supported - and is now urging other veterinary employers to do the same.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Anna Judson, said: “We know that menopause is of growing importance to our profession, with female vets now making up more than half the workforce, and we know that issues with managing menopause symptoms prompt a significant number of women to move away from clinical work.
“As part of our Good Veterinary Workplaces campaign we’re committed to supporting all veterinary staff affected by menopause, allowing them to remain in post, and to providing relevant resources to improve employer engagement in this area.
"We urge all veterinary workplaces to sign the pledge and consider what more they could be doing to support their staff in managing menopause symptoms in the workplace.”
BVA members experiencing menopause are also eligible for 3 months free access to the Stella app, which includes a personalised plan to manage your specific symptoms, real-life coach support, menopause resources, progress tracking, and a supportive community.
Content on the Stella app is created in collaboration with a range of clinicians and healthcare professionals and goes through a rigorous fact-checking and review process.
https://www.bva.co.uk/menopause-hub
This, say the authors, could lead to shorter hospitalisation time and less stress for donor cats.
For the study, researchers at the Royal Veterinary College measured the systolic blood pressure of 100 client-owned cats which had been randomly assigned to receive IVFT or no fluid after blood donation.
Owners were also contacted following donation to record any changes in their cat.
The results showed no significant difference in blood pressure between cats that received post-donation IVFT and those that didn't.
The main reported changes were minor bruising at the venepuncture site and mild lethargy, with no significant difference between the IVFT and no-IVFT groups.
These findings suggest that IVFT post-blood donation may not be necessary, as haemodynamic stability appears to be maintained despite the loss of blood.
Dr Guedra Allais, lead author of the study, said: "Our study showed no significant difference in blood pressure at different time points in feline donors that received intravenous fluid compared to others that didn’t receive any fluid.
"Other perfusion parameters such as capillary refill time, heart rate and pulse quality were not evaluated, and we recommend considering intravenous fluid in any feline donors if any major changes are detected on post donation physical examination.”
Reference
Vets with Horsepower is organised annually by Professor Derek Knottenbelt to help raise funds for equine and human charities around the world.
This year the group undertook an endurance motorbike trip of over 1600 miles: from the UK to Germany, across Scandinavia and back, hosting education events for equine vets along the way to raise funds for four charities including BEVA's Power for Ukraine.
BEVA Council member Alison Talbot, said: “Thanks to the generosity of equine vets in the UK we had just hit the halfway mark of raising £10,000, before Vets with Horsepower set off on their epic Scandinavian mission.
"We are so grateful for their donation of £9922 which means we can now buy another five generators, to help twice as many vets and horses in extremely difficult circumstances during enforced power cuts."
The generators will be transported to a collection point in Poland and then on to Ukraine in time for winter.
Donations to the BEVA Trust Power To Ukraine appeal can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/powertoukraine
Any surplus funds will be added to the general fund to support equids in Ukraine.
VetCT says the app, which offers round the clock, rapid access to specialist support, aims to bridge the existing gap for those clinical cases where specialist input is desired, but for which full referral may not be ideal or possible.
It is also hoped that the new service will reduce the amount of time that GPs currently have to spend seeking further clinical advice, currently estimated at 10 hours per week, and reduce the amount of advice that Specialists currently give for free, estimated at 5 hours per week.
Using the app, GPs can send all the relevant information for the consultation, including the history, test results, videos and photos to Diploma-holding specialists across the entire range of specialties, direct from their mobile phone.
They can then choose whether to get an immediate call-back or text chat, a written report or a virtual appointment.
Victoria Johnson, co-Director, said: “Our mission is to help every vet be the best and feel their best every day. Behind the app we have a committed team of over 50 employed specialists, plus 100 radiologists and a full customer support team ready to respond to enquiries.
"All our specialists also work in clinical roles and previously have worked in first opinion practice, and we have so much respect for the challenges our general practitioner colleagues face.
"We want to make their lives that little bit easier, supporting them – with empathy – in giving the best care to complex cases where referral may not be an option.
"We also want to provide pet owners with access to specialist care for their pets, where cost or travel may preclude them from seeing a specialist at a referral centre.”
In addition to the consultation fee, there's an annual practice membership fee of £200 which is reduced for locum vets. VetCT says practices may choose to charge fees on to clients, or some practices may decide to absorb the costs for the support value it offers their clinicians.
VetCT says it will also gifting additional credits to help support vets who may benefit from a helping hand, such as those returning from extended leave, moving to different species areas, or new graduates.
The service is designed to complement existing specialist services. Victoria added: “We recognise the vital importance of physical referrals, and this service in no way replaces that. Indeed, we have started to see evidence that using the app will lead to more patients getting physically referred for the right reasons, at the right time, with the right information.
"However, we also know that many vets and specialists are under huge time pressure. Many specialists felt they were unable to do a good job of dealing with advice queries alongside their busy day job – much as they wanted to help. We hope this app relieves the pressure for both parties, provides fast, exceptional and supportive specialist advice, and increases the number of pets and owners who can benefit from specialist input."
The new app, which will be available for both IOS and Android, will launch at BSAVA Congress 2021, with pre-registration available prior to the launch on 25th March.
To discuss rates and credit options, email: info@vet-com.com.
The pads contain ophytrium and chlorhexidine at 3%. Ophytrium is a purified natural ingredient from Ophiopogon japonicus which, Ceva says, strengthens the mechanical skin barrier1, restores the balance of protective microbial flora2 and reduces irritation, while soothing the skin1. Chlorhexidine is both antibacterial and antifungal.
Ceva says that Douxo S3 Pyo pads, which come in packs of 30, provide antibacterial and antifungal efficacy within one minute and are free from soap, parabens, sulphates, phthalates, colourants and nanoparticles.
They are available in a new, hypoallergenic ‘summertime’ fragrance which pet owners liken to coconut and vanilla.
The pads add to the Douxo S3 Pyo range, which also consists of shampoo and a mousse.
Andrew Fullerton BVSc (Hons) MRCVS, product manager for Douxo S3 at Ceva said: "The new Douxo S3 range has been well received by both veterinary professionals and their clients since its launch, who find that the products are not only effective and well tolerated, but also easy-to-use. The Douxo S3 Pyo pads will enhance this range by offering an easy-to-administer antiseptic action while hydrating and maintaining the skin’s ecosystem.”
For further information, contact cevauk@ceva.com, your local territory manager or visit https://www.douxo.com/uk/Pet-Skin-Care/douxo-s3.
VetNurse.co.uk has been asked to publish the following announcement from The University of Liverpool
Hydrocortisone aceponate (Cortavance®, Virbac Animal Health, Bury St. Edmunds) is a potent but very safe topical glucocorticoid. A recent publication1 clearly demonstrates both its safety and efficacy. In this trial clinical lesions scores were decreased by more than 50% in 11 of 15 dogs after 28 days, and no changes to haematology, biochemistry and ACTH stimulation tests were seen in dogs treated once daily to every other day for up to 70 days.
We have, however, become aware that the wording in the notes for the nurses’ proceedings for the recent BSAVA annual congress has led some people to make the erroneous conclusion that hydrocortisone aceponate is a mild steroid. The text listed glucocorticoids in order of the potency of their adverse effects, not clinical efficacy, although this isn’t clear from the wording. The intention was to emphasise that the side-effects were very mild, not that hydrocortisone aceponate isn’t effective. We can see how this mistaken interpretation has arisen and apologise for any misunderstanding.
Ms Vanessa Schmidt, RCVS Trust/Schering Plough Resident in Veterinary DermatologyDr Neil McEwan, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary DermatologyDr Tim Nuttall, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Dermatology
The University of Liverpool Faculty of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE.
1. Nuttall TJ, Mueller RS, Bensignor E, Verde M, Noli C, Schmidt V, Rème C. Efficacy of a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate spray in the management of canine atopic dermatitis: a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Veterinary Dermatology 2009; available online 03 April 2009: DOI 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2009.00756.x
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
This is the first VN Council election since 2017. There was no election in 2018 due to governance changes and there were too few candidates in 2019.
However, this year, 13 registered veterinary nurses have put themselves forward to compete for the two available places. They are:
Samantha Anderson RVN
Jessica Beckett RVN
Kirsten Cavill RVN
Rebecca Clark RVN
Dorothy Creighton RVN
Lindsey Anne Dodd RVN
Emma Foreman RVN
Racheal Marshall RVN (incumbent)
Megan Oakey RVN
Susannah Phillips RVN
Matthew Rendle RVN (incumbent)
Claire Roberts RVN
Cathy Woodlands RVN
The RCVS has uploaded each of the candidates’ biographies and election statements on to its website: www.rcvs.org.uk/vnvote20.
The elections will start from Monday 16th March when the ballot papers and candidates' manifestos will be posted and emailed to all members of the profession who are eligible to vote.
All votes, whether postal or online, must then be cast by 5pm on Friday 24 April 2020.
As with previous years, the RCVS is also inviting members of the profession to get a better idea of why each candidate is standing by taking part in 'Quiz the candidates' and submitting a question which will then be put directly to the candidates.
Each candidate for both elections will be invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received, and produce a video recording of their answers.
Recordings will be published on the RCVS website and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos) on the week the election starts.
The College says only question per person is allowed, and any which it deems offensive, inappropriate, misleading, libellous or otherwise unlawful will not be distributed to the candidates.
You need to email your question to vnvote20@rcvs.org.uk or tweet to the College’s Twitter account @theRCVS using the hashtag #vnvote20 by midday on Friday 28 February 2020.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for the election, said: "After two years without an election for VN Council it is fantastic to see that a record number of veterinary nurses have put themselves forward as candidates. It demonstrates that there is a desire amongst the profession to engage with VN Council and the important issues it decides on around veterinary nursing education, continuing professional development and registration. It is also the first year that the number of veterinary nurse candidates has outnumbered the number of vets standing for RCVS Council.
"We look forward to launching both elections next month and hope to see record turnouts in both elections. In the meantime please make sure to engage with the process and scrutinise the candidates and their views by submitting a question about an issue of interest to you."
The service has been free of charge since March 15th 2020, when it first became clear how difficult things would become. However, as life has become less restricted, now seemed an appropriate time to introduce a very modest charge to help with the site's ongoing development and maintenance.
Over the last four and a half months, there has been a significant increase in the number of jobs advertised on VetSurgeon (to the extent that VetSurgeon and VetNurse Jobs now have more jobs advertised than either the Veterinary Times or the Veterinary Record). What's more, feedback from advertisers is that they've received more enquiries both on VetNurse.co.uk and over on VetSurgeon Jobs.
On VetSurgeon, this may be due in part to a number of locum vets seeking permanent positions. However, it also seems likely to be a consequence of a 'virtuous circle' whereby more jobs advertised = more visibility on Google and other social networks = more enquiries = more jobs advertised = more visibility and so on.
For this reason, the plan for the future is to optimise the price of advertising on VetNurse.co.uk at the lowest level needed to encourage the largest number of vacancies, the greatest number of enquiries and the revenue needed to pay for the ongoing running of the sites.
For more information about recruitment advertising on VetSurgeon.org.
Otomicol contains miconazole nitrate, prednisolone acetate and polymyxin B.
The product targets a range of pathogens including miconazole and polymyxin B-sensitive, Malassezia and Pseudomonas spp.
Renzo Di Florio, technical vet at Krka UK, said: “With its multifactorial aetiology, ear disease is often challenging to manage, causing frustration for owners and significant discomfort for pets.
"Otomicol is a cost-effective solution that veterinary surgeons can add to their treatment toolbox for cases where bacterial and fungal infection are important factors.”
Otomicol ear drops and cutaneous suspension are available in a 15ml bottle with an extended shelf life of six months after opening.
Otomicol is available from veterinary wholesalers.
https://www.krka.co.uk
Formerly known as BSAVA’s Scottish Congress, Alba delegates will be treated to 28 lectures, four practicals, ten hours of CPD and a commercial exhibition.
There are three lecture streams: one for vets, another for vet nurses and another open to all.
Highlights include ‘Echocardiology’ with Kieran Borgeat, ‘Dermatology: What can nurses do?’ with Sue Paterson, and ‘Wildlife Triage’ with Jenna Richardson.
The practical sessions are open to all and include sampling techniques, suturing and a ferret clinical exam.
There's a gala dinner on Friday 16th from 7:30pm, starting with a drinks reception, followed by dinner and entertainment in the evening, with a live band and ceilidh dancing.
Angela McLaughlin, Scottish Regional Chair at the BSAVA said: “We are delighted that we are returning to Scotland after three years away as this is a great event that allows vets and nurses the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge, while visiting an idyllic part of the country!”
For BSAVA members, tickets cost £240 +VAT for vets, £165 +VAT for veterinary nurses, and £65 +VAT for students.
Day tickets and non-member tickets are also available.
There's an additional fee of £10 +VAT for all practical sessions.
Tickets for the gala dinner are £35 for delegates and £55 for guests.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay, BSAVA’s hotel booking partner, BCD Meetings & Events, can help.
www.bsavaevents.com/bsavaalba2022