The first charge related to his conviction on two counts of common assault by beating two individuals at an incident in December 2016, as a result of which he was made subject to a community order and a restraining order, as well as being fined and made to pay a victim surcharge and costs.
The second charge related to him undertaking, or attempting to undertake non-emergency surgery on the eyelid of one of the individuals referred to in the first charge, and administering, or attempting to administer, a Prescription-Only Veterinary Medicines to the same person.
The third charged related to an allegation that he had supplied the same individual with a Prescription-Only Medication other than in accordance with a valid prescription.
The second charge and third charges related to incidents which occurred some considerable time before the assault, not as a consequence of it.
At the outset of the hearing Mr Sutcliffe admitted the first and second charges against him and that these constituted serious professional misconduct. He denied the third charge. In relation to that charge the Committee found that, having considered the totality of the evidence, it was unable to be sure that the College had proved the allegation to the requisite standard of proof, namely so that the Committee was sure. Accordingly Charge 3 was dismissed.
The Committee decided that the convictions in the first charge rendered Mr Sutcliffe unfit to practise veterinary surgery and that his conduct in Charge 2 constituted serious professional misconduct.
The Committee then went on to consider sanction.
The Committee considered the aggravating features for both charges. For the first charge it considered the actual injury to one of his victims and risk of injury to the other, noting also that both of his victims were vulnerable people and one was a child, and that the overall incident during which the assaults occurred lasted over a seven hour period.
For the second charge, aggravating factors were that the non-emergency surgery performed by Mr Sutcliffe was wholly inappropriate, that there was a risk of injury to the individual on whom he performed the surgery and that his conduct was reckless.
The mitigating factors considered by the Committee were that Mr Sutcliffe recognised the gravity of the findings against him and demonstrated insight into the allegations, that the incident in charge 1, though prolonged, was an isolated one, that the incident in charge 2 was consensual and did not result in actual harm and that neither charge had any connection with Mr Sutcliffe’s veterinary practice, nor did they affect client care or animal welfare.
Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "As recognised by the Committee, the respondent has displayed insight as to the seriousness of his behaviour. Having regard to the evidence of all the character witnesses and the written testimonials the Committee accepts that the respondent’s conduct as set out in charges 1 and 2 was wholly out of character and, therefore, there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour. The Committee considers that the respondent would be fit to return to practise, having regard to his excellent track record as a veterinary surgeon to date, after any period of suspension.
"Having regards to the aggravating and mitigating factors in this case, the Committee has decided that it is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct to give a direction for suspension of the respondent’s name from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.
"The Committee considers that the period of suspension must be sufficient to mark the seriousness of the charges but must be proportionate and fair in the circumstances of the case. The Committee has therefore concluded that the appropriate period of suspension is six months."
Mr Sutcliffe has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to appeal to the Privy Council.
The NSAID's new indication is in addition to its existing license for acute pain and inflammation.
Elanco points to research it carried out which found that over a six week period, owners saw a visible improvement in their cats' performance of daily activities. There was also a 50% reduction in owner-assessed pain and disability (significantly greater than seen in the placebo group)1.
The company says the product, which is administered once-daily as a small flavoured tablet, is well-accepted by most cats, and has a robust safety profile2. It is also a winner of an ISFM Easy to Give Award.
Elanco's Veterinary Technical Consultant, Lepha McCartan said: "It is very exciting to be launching this new indication for Onsior because musculoskeletal disorders are commonplace in cats.
"Although reports vary, studies have shown that radiographic evidence of DJD has a prevalence as high as over 90%.3
"At Elanco we are passionate about keeping cats doing what they love and Onsior enables this while also giving vets more choice for managing chronic musculo-skeletal disease."
For more information, visit: myelanco.co.uk or speak to your Elanco territory manager.
References
The nursing stream will focus on surgery and emergency and critical care nursing, whilst the programme for veterinary surgeons will concentrate on medicine and surgery of the endocrine system and emergency medicine.
In total, the conferences offer more than 27 hours of CPD each through the two veterinary streams, together with the two-day nursing stream.
VetsSouth takes place on 6-7 March, at Sandy Park in Exeter. VetsNorth takes place on 12-13 June at the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester. Early-bird rates are now available for both events.
Speakers for 2019 include Ed Hall, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Bristol, who will discuss pancreatitis in the dog; Dr Georgie Hollis, founder of Intelligent Wound Care, a company which aims to bring the best of modern wound care to veterinary practice and veterinary welfare campaigner and vet Emma Milne who will discuss welfare issues relating to brachycephalic animals.
An exhibition showcasing the latest veterinary products and services and featuring demonstrations and workshops from exhibitors will run alongside the conferences.
Matt Colvan, Event Director, said: "VetsSouth and VetsNorth have established themselves as friendly, relaxed conferences, offering high quality CPD for vets and vet nurses who may not be able to get easily to the larger veterinary events. We urge delegates to take advantage of our time-limited Early-bird offers and register without delay."
Photo: Dr Jackie Demetriou
Doxybactin, a second generation Tetracycline, can be used to target conditions caused by bacteria sensitive to doxycycline such as rhinitis, bronchopneumonia, and interstitial nephritis in dogs and respiratory infections in cats. It will be available in multiple tablet strengths of 50 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg.
Spizobactin (spiramycin and metronidazole) is indicated for the treatment of (peri)oral and periodontal multi-bacterial infections in dogs such as those associated with gingivitis, stomatitis, glossitis, periodontitis, tonsillitis, dental fistula and other fistulous wounds in the oral cavity. It will be available in three different tablet strengths.
Both treatments are meat flavoured and the tablets can be divided twice for accurate dosing. This, Dechra says, is to help avoid the development of antibiotic resistance associated with under dosing.
Dechra Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: "The launch of Spizobactin and Doxybactin to the UK and ROI markets will offer vets even more choice when it comes to the targeted and responsible use of antibiotics for these specific conditions.
Participants travel around South Africa working on game reserves, commercial farms and in poor communities, getting experience of game capture, providing veterinary care in townships and rural areas, working in a private clinic and handling and treating large farm animals.
There are also a range of weekend activities, including kayaking, quad biking, game drives, horse riding, surfing, beach walking, bars and restaurants.
Kim said: “We’ve designed the programme so that it’s suitable for people with a wide range of experience, including veterinary and veterinary nursing students, young people considering a career in the veterinary profession and animal lovers.”
For more information, visit: wildinsideadventures.com
Ludivine, who graduated in 2008, has come over from America to take up the new post, having just completed a three-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
She said: "I’m really enjoying working as part of a great team and working with the various different disciplines here.
"I’m passionate about my ECC speciality and I have a keen interest in respiratory diseases, trauma and acid base disturbances.
"I also like teaching and being updated about the most recent studies in ECC to ensure I can deliver the most up-to-date care possible for our patients."
Ludivine was born in France and originally studied at her home town university in Lyon, progressing to a rotating internship there after graduation.
In 2012, she worked as an emergency veterinary surgeon in several general practices across France and Switzerland, before moving to the United States in 2014 to see how ECC medicine was practiced overseas.
First, she undertook an ECC internship at the University of California, followed by a three-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
Away from work, Ludivine enjoys horse riding, running, work-outs and practising her skiing in the French Alps. She also has two dogs Dalhi her Golden Retriever and Baya her German Shepherd.
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net/en-GB/specialist-services.
The five-part series, which is hosted on Elanco’s customer portal MyElanco.co.uk, covers topics including managing social media communities, how to build a presence using social media advertising and how to respond to new regulations around personal data.
According to a report on Bloomberg, Facebook is reported to be on track to have 32.6 million regular users in the UK despite its falling audience of younger users. Meanwhile Instagram's UK user base was believed to be 16.7 million at the end of 2017. Hence why 81% of small and medium businesses are reported to use some kind of social platform.
Elanco Customer Experience Manager Matthew Rowe said: "The global popularity of social media sites means people now expect businesses to have a social media presence and veterinary practices are no different.
"More veterinary practices are launching business profiles, recognising how vital it is to have a social presence so they can engage with their clients outside of the consultation room. But we realise that it can seem like an intimidating and complex process.
"The workshops have been created to help more vet practices get started with social media and gain more confidence to make the most out of it for the benefit of their business."
To watch the videos, register at MyElanco.co.uk and visit: https://www.myelanco.co.uk/CPD/video-workshop-part1
The association has written a joint letter with the British Equine Veterinary Association and the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate asking for licence to be granted to specials manufacturers to produce isoflurane whilst the shortage persists, which Zoetis forecasts will be until March 2019.
In addition, the association's incoming Chair of the BSAVA Scientific Committee, Ian Self, an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia has provided advice to support practitioners looking for alternative anaesthesia options, available here: https://www.bsava.com/News/ArticleID/2535/Isoflurane-supply.
The association has also made Chapter 14 of its online edition of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Anaesthesia and Analgesia 3rd edition free to access until the end of March 2019. The manual contains further information on alternative solutions such as TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia protocols) which some will be unfamiliar with.
The manual can be accessed here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443231.chap14
The support pack features information on the role anaesthetic induction agents can play in the maintenance of anaesthesia to help veterinary surgeons provide appropriate care for their patients.
The pack includes a user guide to achieving the best outcome when using Alfaxan for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, a summary of peer-reviewed key clinical papers on the use of Alfaxan and how it can be used for the maintenance of anaesthesia, an article discussing the use of intravenous agents to maintain anaesthesia in the dog and cat, frequently asked questions and an Alfaxan dosage chart for CRI (Constant Rate Infusion) and intermittent bolus.
To download the pack, visit www.alfaxan.co.uk.
Richard Beckwith, country manager for Jurox (UK) Ltd. said: "We have received a significant increase in enquiries following the isoflurane supply issues.
"The new support pack will provide veterinary professionals with comprehensive information on Alfaxan to help practices develop options in providing appropriate anaesthesia for patients."
For more information, call Jurox customer services on 0800 500 3171, or e-mail: info@jurox.co.uk.
Miss Padron Vega faced four charges. The first and second alleged that in February 2016, for the purposes of an application to the Food Standards Agency for a Certificate of Competence under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations 2015, she backdated two separate veterinary witness certificates to 7 December 2015. The third charge alleged that her acts of backdating were misleading, dishonest and in breach of the RCVS Principles of Certification.
The fourth charge against Miss Padron Vega was that, between September 2015 and February 2016, she failed to fulfil her duties as an Official Veterinarian in respect of: failing to prepare herself for the implementation of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations 2015; failing to have regard to the information provided to her by her employers about the regulations and their implementation; failing to take any steps to ensure that the two individuals for whom she had given veterinary certification were licensed to perform slaughter in accordance with the regulations; and failing to identify that two individuals were not licensed to slaughter in accordance with the regulations.
The Committee heard that the Welfare at the Time of Killing Regulations were introduced on 5 November 2015 which placed the responsibility on slaughtering operations not to permit animal welfare abuses and required certification by a veterinary witness regarding compliance.
The new regulations required existing slaughter licence holders to apply for a Certificate of Competence before midnight on 8 December 2015 or they would not be permitted to continue operating even with experienced operatives.
During the hearing, Ms Padron Vega admitted charges 1 and 2, admitted that she had been in breach of the Principles of Certification and admitted the fourth charge against her.
However, she denied she had backdated the certificates in a misleading or dishonest way, maintaining that she had done so by mistake.
In considering the facts of the case, however, the Committee rejected this argument and, taking into account that she had been responsible for veterinary certifications in the UK since 2001, found that her conduct was knowingly misleading and dishonest.
The Committee then went on to consider whether the charges she admitted and the charges found against her constituted serious professional misconduct, both individually and cumulatively.
The Committee found that all the charges amounted to serious professional misconduct.
In relation to charge 4 in particular Stuart Drummond, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee has found that the respondent failed to read even those emails which her employer sent to her which were marked ‘urgent’ or ‘OV importance high’. She must have known that her employers were directing attention to some new statutory scheme for she was provided with PowerPoint slides in that regard which she could read at any time of her convenience. The Committee has been driven to the conclusion that the respondent did not even bother to read those slides for, had she done so, she would have known that she needed to apprise herself of the requirements of the impending new statutory scheme.
"The respondent’s failings in this regard are little short of extraordinary, especially given her obligations as Lead OV for FAI Farms. The total abdication of her responsibility to understand the requirements of the Regulations governing the slaughterhouse operations constitutes, in the judgement of this Committee disgraceful conduct in a professional respect."
The Committee then went on to consider the aggravating and mitigating factors in the case. In terms of aggravating features the Committee noted a lack of insight into the gravity of her conduct, that her conduct undermined in the most serious way public confidence in veterinary certification, and that there were animal welfare implications on her conduct as a number of chickens had to be removed from the slaughterhouse and alternative arrangements made because an auditor from the Food Standards Agency found that it was not compliant.
In mitigation the Committee considered that, despite the potential risk of harm, there was no actual harm occasioned to animals, that Miss Padron Vega has had a long and otherwise unblemished career and no previous issues with the RCVS and that she had admitted some of the charges against her.
Stuart Drummond added: "Ultimately, the Committee was driven to the conclusion that the public’s desire to see the implementation of the highest certification standards in relation to activities which impact on animal welfare and public health, and which did not occur on 3 February 2016, must outweigh this particular veterinary surgeon’s desire and need to continue in practice. This is not a conclusion which the Committee has arrived at lightly. On the contrary, it has reached this decision because it has been driven to the conclusion that it would be failing in its public duty to protect the wider public interest in the maintenance of standards of honesty and right conduct in a member of the profession.
"It is, therefore, the conclusion and decision of this Committee that the only proper sanction that can be imposed in this case is that the respondent’s name should be removed from the Register and it directs the Registrar accordingly."
Miss Padron Vega has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to lodge an appeal with the Privy Council.
Metacam is the first NSAID to be licensed for use in guinea pigs, and with it come the first guidelines for appropriate pain relief in this species.
Molly Varga, BVetMed DZooMed MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, said: "Guinea pigs have evolved to hide pain and once obvious signs are visible it often indicates that the animal is no longer coping and its welfare has potentially been compromised. Appropriate pain management in guinea pigs is therefore vital, particularly after soft tissue surgery and regardless of whether signs of pain are visible, to ensure an enhanced recovery and optimal welfare."
Boehringer says that although signs of pain can be difficult to identify in guinea pigs, there are a few which indicate that the patient needs assessment and treatment:
Grinding teeth (a slow steady grind of the molars, different from chattering)
Reluctant to move or walk
Shivers or quivers, can sometimes see rippling along the body
Sits hunched, with hair spiky
Whimpers
Loss of appetite
Breathing may be heavy and laboured
The company adds that as the only licensed NSAID for use in guinea pigs, Metacam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension should be considered for use in all soft-tissue surgery cases in this species.
Alongside the launch of the new indication, Boehringer has produced:
An interactive online dosage calculator to help with quick dose calculations. The company says higher doses can be used based on clinical judgement, allowing for tailoring of doses to individual cases.
A dosing dish and syringe to help owners administer Metacam at home.
A series of expert short videos, supported and narrated by Zoo and Wildlife Medicine specialist Molly Varga. The video series includes a guide to recognising pain in guinea pigs, dosing regimes and an owner video for accurately administrating Metacam at home.
The dosage calculator and the expert videos are available at https://www.boehringer-academy.co.uk. The dosing dish and syringe can be ordered directly from your Boehringer Territory Manager.
According to the company, canine dry eye affects 1 out of 22 dogs and the early symptoms can be easily missed by pet owners, leading to irreversible damage to a dog’s vision, and eventually resulting in blindness.
If you want to get behind the campaign, MSD will supply your practice with a educational video and a special pair of glasses which mimic the effect of dry eye on a dog, so you can better explain the condition to clients and encourage them to book a screening appointment / Schirmer tear test if their pet is at risk.
Middle-aged to older dogs and certain breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, West Highland White Terrier, Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniel, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Pug and Bulldog are more prone to KCS. Dogs with sore eyes and/or affected by conditions such as diabetes, Cushing’s Disease and hypothyroidism may also develop canine dry eye and MSD says they should be tested.
Caroline Darouj, product manager at MSD Animal Health, said: "Certain breeds of dog suffering from pre-existing conditions are at higher risk for canine dry eye and vets should screen regularly for canine dry eye."
“If left untreated, canine Dry Eye can lead to blindness. However, if caught in time, it can be well managed with medication.”
For more information, visit www.optimmune.co.uk
In the Somerset cull area, TB incidence has fallen from 24% before culling started to 12% in year four of the cull, while in Gloucestershire it has fallen from 10.4% to 5.6%.
The Government says the findings are in line with expectation based on the scientific evidence from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial which underpins the approach to tackling bovine TB – and demonstrate progress is being made in delivering the 25-year TB eradication strategy in England to rid our farmers of the impacts of this terrible disease.
Defra has also announced additional measures being taken to help control the disease, including licences for badger control in 11 new areas and the opening of a new round of applications for the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme grants.
Farming Minister George Eustace said: "Bovine TB remains one of the greatest animal health threats to the UK. There is no single measure that will provide an easy answer which is why we are committed to pursuing a wide range of interventions to protect the future of our dairy and beef industries and eradicate the disease within 20 years.
"No one wants to be culling badgers forever so the progress reported today is encouraging."
BVA President John Fishwick said: "We continue to support a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to tackling bovine TB, including the use of badger culling in a targeted, effective and humane manner. TB is a devastating disease and we welcome the positive results emerging in Somerset and Gloucestershire, where licensed culling has now been in place for four years. The recent results in Dorset, indicating a slight upward trend in the incidence of bovine TB, present some cause for concern and we would like to see further investigation of the cattle and wildlife situation in that area.
"BVA supports the principle of badger controls within the Low Risk Areas (LRAs) of England where there is a demonstrated need and where it is done safely, humanely and effectively as part of a comprehensive strategy. We are largely reassured by the greater clarity provided on the decision-making process on how and where badger controls will be introduced in the LRAs. We recognise the expertise and professional judgement of veterinary and scientific colleagues in government who have made the decision to extend the cull in this area, but we would welcome further evidence regarding the level of TB infection in the wildlife reserve in Cumbria as this becomes available.
"Halting the spread of bovine TB is essential and it is vital that we use every available tool in the toolbox to support the Government’s aim to make England TB free. We therefore welcome both the introduction of tighter cattle controls where needed and the re-commencement of the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme, particularly if used as a ‘firebreak’ to mitigate the spread of the disease into the low risk areas. We would also like to see a commitment to funding of further research in this area."
Photo: Coatesy/Shutterstock
Veterinary medicines are defined in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations as:
"any substance or combination of substances that may be used in, or administered to, animals with a view either to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, or to making a medical diagnosis."
On this basis, the VMD says CBD products for use in animals require a marketing authorisation before they can be sold or supplied in the UK.
There are currently no CBD based products that have been granted a UK veterinary marketing authorisation which means that under the cascade, veterinary surgeons must prescribe a legally obtained human CBD product.
Photo: Shutterstock / Lifestyle discover
The scheme, which is part of the company's Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy campaign, includes a pack - endorsed by BEVA and World Horse Welfare - to help yard owners and vets educate owners why they should vaccinate and the benefits of preventative healthcare.
The Yard Excellence Scheme pack includes information on vaccination, weight management, worming and biosecurity. It also helps yard owners implement a range of preventative protocols covering things like worming, vaccination and managing new arrivals, and also put infectious disease outbreak protocols in place.
There are also various things to promote the scheme within the yard, such as yard posters, a horse owner checklist, horse records and responsible horse owner booklets.
All the yards that develop and implement appropriate protocols, in collaboration with their vet, will achieve the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy Yard Excellence Scheme Standard and will be promoted on the scheme's Facebook page (@keepinghorseshealthy).
Yards can also promote their achievement via social media and on their website.
Fieke Bennett, equine business manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Our KBHH Yard Excellence Scheme is aimed at encouraging yards and vets to collaborate more closely towards excellent preventative healthcare practices.
"By encouraging vaccination and other preventative healthcare practices, livery yards will have a healthier population of horses; achieving an environment with happy horses, happy owners, and excellent yard reputation.
"This collaboration supports a strong relationship between the vet and the yard, a healthy yard means owners can enjoy their love of horses without restriction."
For further information talk to your MSD Animal Health Equine Account Manager, ring 01908 685685 or refer to KBHH social media feeds on Facebook page and Twitter (@keepinghorseshealthy).
Stephen, who works for the PDSA, wowed the judges with his photograph of a pair of wild ponies, entered into the 'All creatures great and small' category. He said: "I had a great day out photographing these wild grey ponies on a similarly grey January dayon the Long Mynd, a heath and moorland plateau in the Shropshire hills. I was simply out on a photo walk to take in the scenery and wildlife, look for a good shot and get a breath of fresh air; I’m chuffed that the judges have selected it as a category winner!"
Peter, who graduated from Nottingham University this summer and works at a practice in Bicester, won in the ‘Human:animal bond’ category with his entry: 'Best part of a job', which shows a laid-back 10-week-old cocker spaniel puppy lounging contentedly on his lap. Peter said: "This photo was taken whilst on placement in Chipping Norton as a student. The puppy was in to have her second vaccinations and a general health check after she had been with her new family for a week, and she was on my lap so that I could calm her, examine her, and socialise her. Working in the veterinary world is by no means easy, which is why moments like this are so important. Everyone needs a puppy cuddle!"
This year, the judging panel included David Tipling, one of the world's most widely published wildlife photographers. He said: "Helping to judge this year’s competition was for me a fascinating insight into a vet’s working life. Photography, like any art form, is subjective, but I was looking for pictures that had been composed and thought about and most importantly would linger in the mind long after they had been viewed. Much debate and discussion led us to some clear favourites from which to choose two overall winners."
"The winning shot [by Stephen] is beautifully composed, has a symmetry and used the dark and light tones of the ponies to complement each other, resulting in a striking image that we were all drawn to. I was drawn to [Peter’s] image partly by its abstract nature; on first view it is not obvious the dog is on someone’s lap. It is a strong, engaging image and because of that slightly abstract feel means it stays long in the memory.”
Peter and Stephen each receive £250 worth of gift vouchers from John Lewis.
Whilst bonfire night has always been recognised as a stressful time for pets, fireworks are now common from October right through to New Year. Occasions such as Halloween, Diwali, Christmas and New Year’s Eve can all add to the stress. Other triggers for stress include parties, house visitors, loud music, changes to routine, even Christmas decorations and excited children with new toys.
Each display pack includes a merchandising unit, two posters, a shelf wobbler, a shelf edge strip and pin badges.
To claim your free display pack, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y6wlsqga
For more information, contact Animalcare on 01904 487687 or email: animalcare@animalcare.co.uk
The College says the speed and accuracy of scans produced by the new scanner will revolutionise the treatment of animals at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (QMHA). It also reduces the need for animals to be anaesthetised before being scanned, with most patients now only requiring partial sedation.
The new scanner has been named the 'Otter Scanner' after a patient of the RVC whose owner was made a significant donation towards the RVC's charity, the Animal Care Trust, which funded the new machine.
Professor Dan Chan, Professor of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine and Medical Director of the QMHA at the RVC, said: "It is very uncommon that such an incredible leap in the care of animals can be achieved with a single innovation.
"Because of the vast improvement in speed and quality of the images produced by the ‘Otter Scanner’ our specialists are now able to obtain much more detailed images of various diseases affecting our patients so that the best possible treatment can be planned.
"At the RVC, one of our most important missions is to always improve the welfare and care of animals and this latest innovation is just another example of that commitment. We are forever grateful to all our supporters who have made this possible."
The new policy has been published ahead of an upcoming review of England’s Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing regulations (WATOK) by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Recommendations in the policy address all areas of the slaughter process, including:
The policy also covers a wider range of species and focuses on some of those species-specific needs.
For the first time its recommendations include fish. In order to improve the welfare of farmed finfish, BVA says that UK Governments should include the effective stunning of finfish as well as general welfare protections in WATOK regulations. It also calls for more research into developing effective and humane methods of stunning for decapods (shrimp, lobsters and crabs) and cephalopods (squid and octopus) as well as wild caught fish.
BVA Senior Vice President, Simon Doherty said: "With millions of animals slaughtered each year to provide us with the food we eat, we have a responsibility to provide them with a life worth living and a humane death. Our updated position aims to do just that by building on existing legislation and guiding the industry in a direction that better protects the welfare of animals destined for the food chain.
"Slaughter processes should be designed to minimise avoidable pain, distress, fear, and suffering and this document looks at all of the ways that we as vets can work with industry bodies and farm colleagues to improve the legislation already in place.”
A snapshot survey carried out in 2018 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for the period of one week revealed that nearly 20 million animals (excluding fish) were slaughtered across 248 operating plants in England and Wales during that time.
In order to effect change for such a high quantity of animals, BVA’s new position sets out recommendations for a range of stakeholders, government, industry, researchers and the veterinary profession, at each stage of the slaughter process. Improvements to the way that stunning data is captured and reported on is also on the list of asks, as well as improving regulation of non-stun slaughter and working collaboratively with Islamic scholars and Halal certification bodies to promote the acceptability of recoverable stunning.
Simon added: "From making sure that stunning methods are as effective as possible, to looking at the specific needs of each species, revalidation of training for operators, and championing the role of the Official Veterinarian, there is a lot of work to be done but we look forward to progressing these recommendations and working to improve the welfare of farmed animals across the UK."
The research, led by the Royal Veterinary College in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Nottingham Trent University, also revealed that 66% of owners would recommend their flat-faced breed to others.
Although previous RVC studies found that owners are initially attracted to brachycephalic breeds due to their distinctive appearance, this latest study has revealed that behaviour traits are a core component of why owners ‘love’ their breed and would recommend them to others; essentially, owners come for the looks, but stay for the personality.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of these views, the study, which included over 2,000 owners of Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs, asked owners to describe which aspects of their current breed they would or would not recommend in their own words.
The main reasons for owners recommending their breed included:
Conversely, aspects of their breed that owners would not recommend included:
Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the Royal Veterinary College and leader of the study, said: "With a multitude of stakeholders trying to tackle the current brachycephalic boom in the UK, our results are of real concern to these efforts. Understanding how breed loyalty develops towards brachycephalic breeds, and whether it can be changed once established, is key to reducing the popularity of short-muzzled breeds. If first time owners of flat-faced dogs choose these breeds for the rest of their lives, then the current crisis could continue for decades.
"Although strong focus has been placed upon dissuading new puppy buyers from purchasing brachycephalic breeds, as they are now some of the most popular breeds in the UK, attention should also be turned to current owners. Priority should be given to developing evidence-based strategies to help these owners consider lower risk, healthier breeds when acquiring future dogs. Our novel findings start this process by highlighting the key behavioural characteristics that this owner group value."
Kit, or, to give him his full title, Dr Kit Sturgess MA, VetMB, PhD, CertVR, DSAM, CertVC, FRCVS, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine, has been working as an internist in private referral practice since 2003. In 2006 he became a founding partner in a multidisciplinary referral centre that he saw grow from five to 65 members of staff within five years.
He is also Chair of BSAVA Education Committee, Trustee of Cats Protection and Chair of Trustees of the Wildheart Trust. He was formerly an RCVS Knowledge Trustee and member of RCVS Council.
Kit has authored numerous articles and two textbooks, and presents lectures and research abstracts at conferences worldwide.
Kit will take up the editorship on 2nd September, succeeding Professor Peter Cockcroft. He said: “I am delighted to take on the editorship of Veterinary Evidence. With readers in 150 countries and output that has more than doubled over the past three years, the journal has quickly become a mainstay of evidence-based veterinary medicine, which is a testament to Peter’s enthusiasm and commitment to the development of the journal and its impact on the veterinary community.
"I am excited about leading Veterinary Evidence in its next stage of development, with recent events showing the critical importance of open online access. Veterinary Evidence is ideally placed to support an ever-growing and wide range of veterinary professionals by further developing a multimedia, multiplatform approach facilitating the use of evidence-based medicine in their daily practice."
Veterinary Evidence journal can be read at: veterinaryevidence.org
The programme offers employers a variety of options, including antigen and antibody testing, environmental testing, a daily wellness symptom checker app and ongoing site monitoring to identify asymptomatic spreaders and pre-symptomatic spreaders, neither of which are identified by the current routine government testing programmes.
Dr Tony Cooke, lead scientist and director at ReCoVa-19 (pictured right) said: "Businesses, such as veterinary practices are struggling to serve the needs of their clients while also protecting their employees in their role as essential workers. Vets also recognise the value of reliable testing at a sustainable cost and the best practice approach. Concerns over obligations with regard to the health and safety of employees and uncertainty, are significant barriers to normal working practices but with the level of testing and support we can provide that’s no longer necessary.”
The company says the new programme is highly accurate and affordable, and can be tailored for businesses of all sizes.
For more information, visit: www.recova-19.com.
Two hundred members of the profession took part. The main results were:
No word on the absolute number of 'concerns', but they included:
Jennie Jones, Head of VCMS and Partner at Nockolds Resolution (pictured right), said: "The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown period has impacted many pet owners and veterinary practices. The increased use of remote consultations, and online and remote prescription services has been a great help to many during this time, but it also has its challenges as we all adapt to different ways of working. At the VCMS, we are well-equipped to take on complaints that eventuate in these circumstances, drawing on our past experience with prescription-related grievances and their resolution."
During 2018-19, the VCMS concluded 88% of complaints mediated using the ADR process developed by Nockolds.
Nockolds says it anticipates a rise in prescription-related complaints, and welcomes communication from practices and clients regarding these or any other vet-related complaints. Visit: http://www.nockolds.co.uk
Assets coming up for sale via private treaty and online auction include:
For a full list of assets, visit: https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/timed/gordonbrothers/catalogue-id-gordon10067
Gordon Brothers Valuations & Industrial Director, Simon Bamford said: “Gordon Brothers is pleased to be assisting the Trustees of the Animal Health Trust with the orderly closure of the 100 acre Newmarket facilities, including the sale of the large quantity of associated assets. We are expecting significant interest in the varied array of assets”
The online auction will close at 3.00pm on the 1st October 2020. Viewing is strictly by appointment only on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September 2020 from 9.00am to 4.00pm at AHT, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, CB8 7UU.
For further enquires on the sale or to view by appointment please contact, Josh Chivers jchivers@gordonbrothers.com