The event, sponsored by Provet Cloud, will include interactive workshop sessions on ‘Finding Flexible Working Solutions’, ‘Financial Security and Negotiation Skills’, and ‘Developing Your Personal Brand’.
Women from all areas of the veterinary industry will also be sharing their inspirational career stories.
The speaker line-up for the event includes Flexee’s Silvia Janska, who takes a look at ‘Finding Flexible Working Solutions’, including how they can be implemented in practice to empower individuals and teams, and benefit the business.
Katie Ford and Paul Horwood from VetYou, will be addressing overcoming barriers in talking about, navigating, and creating security with money to arm delegates with negotiation tools and useable resources in their workshop session on ‘Financial Security and Negotiation Skills’
Hamzah Malik from Regent Animal Health will lead a workshop on ‘Developing Your Personal Brand’ to build delegates’ confidence in ways to explore and articulate personal identity and strengths, and apply brand marketing principles to boost career success.
The event will also feature ‘Seeing is Believing’ breakout sessions with female speakers from all spheres of veterinary practice, business, industry, nursing and education, sharing their career stories and taking part in Q&A sessions.
The event is suited to all those thinking about the next career step, considering leadership roles or already working within leadership positions in the veterinary sector.
Veterinary professionals and students can take advantage of an early-bird rate until 20th November.
For more information and to register for the event, visit: https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/7528/home/
Last year, over 1,400 veterinary practices collected more than 6,000 ticks from dogs for the Big Tick Project, contributing to the largest-ever study of tick-borne illnesses in dogs in Britain, if not worldwide.
Now MSD is calling on practices to do the same for cats. The company says that data collected from the contributions will be used in a scientific paper which will help vets make more specific recommendations to cat owners, and help keep their pets safe.
Amanda Melvin, Senior Product Manager for Bravecto said: "We were delighted and rather overwhelmed by the response, support and level of interest in the BTP for dogs from the veterinary profession. We were expecting 100s of ticks to be submitted but they arrived in their 1000s!
"It made us realise that, with the low levels of awareness of the risks of tick-borne disease to both people and animals, there was an even wider issue to be addressed. The risks to cats could not be ignored.
"We have therefore created the BTP for cats and are asking the vets, once again, to show their support by collecting and sending in ticks from their practices. The more samples we receive the better. This way we can help the profession better understand the risks associated with ticks and how best to help cat owners treat their pets."
Those practices that participated in the BTP last year will automatically be registered and will be sent an email with details of this phase of the project. Any practices that did not participate last year and would like to should send their details to vet-support.uk@merck.com.
To support vets in promoting the BTP for cats with their clients MSD Animal Health has designed a range of materials for display in practice and as takeaways for clients. This includes a practice waiting room poster and a cat certificate.
Located in the South East of England, the centre is part of the new School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, and one of the UK's largest veterinary pathology centres, offering high-containment post-mortem examination facilities and histopathology.
The centre is staffed by a team of board-certified veterinary pathologists, veterinary investigation officers and technicians, with expertise in farm-animal, equine, exotic and small-animal pathology.
The new building centres on a large containment level 2 post-mortem examination room with high ceilings, natural lighting, post-mortem examination tables, biological safety cabinets and integrated cold rooms, all served by a powerful winch system which means that post-mortem examinations can be performed on a wide range of species. A viewing gallery overlooks the suite and post-mortem examinations can be recorded and streamed for training purposes.
Professor Roberto La Ragione, Director of the Veterinary Pathology Centre, said: "Veterinary pathology is a growing discipline and its importance has been highlighted in recent disease outbreaks and the important role veterinary pathologists make in drug development. Helping the farming community to be more effective, sustainable and innovative, the Centre will work with partners, businesses and researchers to address some of the unique challenges faced by the veterinary and scientific community.
"It is the close relationships with our external clinical and scientific partners that enables us to be innovative in our approach to education and training here at the Surrey. An example of the latter is the use of digital pathology in teaching, research and diagnostics, which was the subject of discussion at the recent launch of the Veterinary Health Innovation Engine (vHive).
"Together with our partners such as the National Physical Laboratory and the 5G Innovation centre, the Centre is at the forefront of the digitalisation of pathology and innovative big data management.
"The Centre offers the opportunity to inspire the next generation of veterinary pathologists and complements the centres of excellence that already exist in other vet schools and research institutes."
Hosted by Nick Steele, National Consulting Manager at Zoetis and Rachael Whittle, a business coach specialist, the course will present the best techniques to analyse mixed personalities that cause problematic situations, allowing staff to deal with difficulties that may occur on a daily basis. Nick will use his knowledge from working at the world’s largest global animal health company, while Rachael will use her experience in business training and coaching to help anyone that works with people on a daily basis manage these daily challenges, using common examples from their own background.
For the chance to win a free place at this event, send an email with your name, the name of your veterinary practice and the reason attending this course will help grow your practice’s business to royalcaninvet.gbr@royalcanin.com.
Royal Canin will select three applicants at random, and will inform the winners via email, by Thursday 30 June.
Places on the course can also be booked by calling 01453 872731 or by visiting www.spvs-vpma-events.co.uk. Workshops cost £265 plus VAT for non-members and £190 plus VAT for VPMA and SPVS members (group/ bulk booking discounts are also available). Cost includes CPD certificates, lunch and refreshments.
1004 veterinary professionals attended VET Festival to hear talks from a line up of 21 speakers from around the world. On the Friday night, VETFest Live provided an opportunity for delegates to network and relax in front of a number of acts, including Hunter and the Bear, Lucy Spraggan and Morrissey & Marshall.
Noel said: "I think that change is inevitable within veterinary education. My experience with the students of today is that they wish to embrace new learning formats and are especially enthusiastic about learning environments where didactic lectures become an immersive experience. My goal therefore was to achieve the perfect mix of education and a chilled-out festival atmosphere.
"We are learning all the time, and we invite suggestions. I take very seriously the commitment I voiced in the welcome address, which is to reinvest every penny for the greater good for animals and the profession. I sincerely believe that vets and vet nurses will over time question where their money is spent and will take a good hard look not only at what value they get for their investment, but also where their money actually goes."
Picture: Richard Dunwoody.
Effipro Duo contains fipronil to kill adult fleas and ticks, and pyriproxyfen, an insect growth regulator, to sterilise adult fleas and inhibit the immature life stages. It provides three months protection against flea life cycle completion.
The product is presented in Effipro’s patented ‘drop-lock’ pipette, designed to ensure that the solution is released only when the owner is ready.
Effipro Duo is offered in packs of 4 pipettes and in a 24-pipette dispensing pack to suit practices offering health plans.
Product Manager Kate Woolley MRCVS said: "Because Effipro Duo targets not just the adult fleas on the pet but also the key developmental stages in the flea life cycle often found in the home, it represents an integrated and easy-to-use solution, both for on-animal flea and tick control and for long-lasting protection of the home environment.
"Household flea infestations are common all year round and experts agree that the combination of an adulticide and an insect growth regulator is the most effective way for owners to protect their homes from this unpleasant problem¹. For complete flea control in the home, we recommend that it is used in conjunction with Indorex®, the UK’s no. 1 household flea spray².
"Virbac offers one of the most extensive parasiticide ranges on the market and we believe Effipro Duo will provide a popular addition, offering owners long-lasting protection from fleas and ticks for their cats and dogs, while helping practices to retain vital parasite control sales in-house."
The nomination period runs up until 5pm on Tuesday 31 January 2017 and, in order to stand, candidates for Council will need to submit a nomination form, submit a short biography and personal statement and supply a high resolution digital photo.
Each candidate also needs two nominators who are registered veterinary nurses who are not currently on VN Council.
Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, said: "With the publication of the VN Futures Report in July there is now huge scope for VN Council members, current and prospective, to take forward some of its recommendations, for example, around clarifying Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and building a structured and varied career path for veterinary nurses.
"As well as VN Futures there is also a lot of important day-to-day work for VN Council members around veterinary nursing education and professional standards and we would really encourage VNs from all areas of practice to put themselves forward as candidates and to have a say on these crucial issues."
Prospective candidates are invited to attend a ‘Meet the RCVS Day’ at the College’s offices in Belgravia House, London, on Wednesday 23 November 2016 where they will have the opportunity to talk to RCVS President Chris Tufnell and Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, to find out more about the role of the College, its Councils and its committees.
Those interested in attending should contact Emma Lockley, RCVS Events Officer, on e.lockley@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0773. Reasonable expenses for travel will be reimbursed.
The election period starts around mid-March and will run until 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017. Ballot papers will be sent to veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote in the week commencing Monday 13 March 2017.
Nomination forms, guidance notes and frequently asked questions for prospective VN Council candidates are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil17.
Now, when you advertise a job on VetNurse.co.uk, the system can send a message to all your employees (and any contacts in the profession) asking them to pass it on if they know anyone suitable, and to share the advertisement on their other social networks, such as Facebook.
As a further option, practices can also now offer a cash reward for a successful introduction leading to the post being filled. In that case, the message sent to employees and contacts lets them know that there’s a reward for their help.
VetNurse.co.uk Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "Since we relaunched VetNurse Jobs, I’ve noticed a correlation between the number of times that job advertisements are shared by email or on Facebook, and the success that practices have in filling the vacancy.
"Of course, there is nothing to stop you emailing staff and contacts yourself, or offering a reward. But I suspect many don’t, and my hope is that this new feature will really help focus the mind, streamline the process and ultimately help you find the person who'll fit in with your team."
"Share & Reward is another feature exclusively available on VetNurse Jobs, alongside the VetNurse Locums Map and Find Our Jobs on VetNurse (a badge for your website that links to just your jobs).
"There's more on the way!"
According to statistics from the RCVS, almost 40% of veterinary surgeons that have registered in the UK since 2005 qualified from veterinary schools elsewhere in the EU.
Of course, it's not just in general practice that veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses from other EU member states make such an important contribution. They work across all areas of veterinary science, including the fields of animal health and welfare, animal disease surveillance, scientific research and education, wildlife conservation, and public health and food safety.
Figures from the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) estimate that over 90% of vets in meat hygiene services are non-British EU citizens.
To highlight the impact of Brexit on the veterinary profession, the BVA has written to the Secretary of State, Liz Truss MP, and to Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, requesting an early statement to the effect that non-British EU vets and vet nurses who are currently living, studying or working in the UK will continue to be able to do so in future.
BVA is also seeking reassurance for UK veterinary professionals working and studying in other EU member states.
BVA President Sean Wensley said: "It is not yet possible to comment on the reality of ‘Brexit’ since much will depend on forthcoming negotiations and the decisions that will be taken by the Government regarding, for example, whether or not to maintain existing EU legislation and rules. However, we recognise that these unanswered questions are having a profound impact on many of our members – particularly members who are non-British EU citizens, or have family members who are, and members who work alongside colleagues from other European Member States."
In the letters, Mr Wensley wrote: "I am sure there are many significant issues that your Department needs to consider [and] given the profound personal impact that the uncertainty caused by the referendum outcome is having on some of our members, we wanted to contact you at the earliest opportunity. In the forthcoming negotiations about the future relationship between the UK and the EU, we strongly urge you to make the case for all EU citizens and EU-qualified veterinary surgeons and nurses to have ongoing rights to live, work and study in the UK."
In the letter to the Northern Ireland (NI) Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Michelle McIlveen MLA, the BVA President and BVA NI Branch President Seamus O’Kane highlighted NI’s land border with EU member state the Republic of Ireland and called for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area to facilitate movement in an all-island context for both work and study purposes.
VPHA President Lewis Grant said: "Due to the particular focus on public health in many European veterinary degree courses, EU vets make an enormous contribution to both public health and animal health and welfare in the UK - often behind closed doors, monitoring and protecting public health in Approved Premises as well as welfare at slaughter to ensure slaughterhouses meet the standards that are required by law and expected by the public. Without their input and expertise, it would be difficult to ensure that Statutory requirements within the food industry are complied with."
The trial starts on Monday 11 July and will continue for three months to allow the College to determine levels of demand for such a service and, therefore, whether it should be made permanent.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Acting Registrar, said: "This was a potential service identified in our Strategic Plan as a way of allowing veterinary professionals to have informal, confidential, discussions with members of the Professional Conduct Department about potential fitness to practise issues, short of formally raising a concern.
"Although any discussions via the new reporting line or email address will be confidential, if a veterinary surgeon or a veterinary nurse subsequently wishes to raise a formal concern about another veterinary professional, then they generally will need to identify both themselves and the individual in order to take it through our investigation process.
"We have developed a bespoke concerns form for members of the professions who do want to raise concerns about other professionals."
Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who wish to contact a member of the RCVS Professional Conduct Department in confidence can do so by calling 07599 958 294 between 9am and 5pm, or by emailing reporting@rcvs.org.uk.
The bespoke concerns from for members of the profession can be downloaded from www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns.
The service will be available to veterinary practices that use more than £250/€300 of Royal Canin urinary diets per year.
The company has enlisted the support of an independent laboratory to carry out an infrared spectroscopy analysis of the stones, in order to make a quantitative and qualitative assessment of their composition. Royal Canin says that by appreciating the mineral-type in all layers, the best dietary recommendation can be made.
Lee Danks, Royal Canin’s Veterinary Scientific Support Manager, said: "Managing cat and dog urolithiasis can be challenging. This valuable service will improve practices’ diagnostic capacity, enabling a better understanding of a patient’s condition and a much more individualised approach to treatment and long-term prevention."
Royal Canin says there are many complex and interacting contributors to urinary stone formation1. Dietary modifications can influence urine pH, the concentration of minerals within the urine and most critically, urine turn-over through the bladder2. The many interactions between promotors and inhibitors of urolithiasis highlight just how critical a tailored nutritional approach can be to the long-term health of urinary patients.
References
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has given VetSurgeon the data on which these stories were based.
In the 3.5 years since the vaccine was authorised, the incidence of suspected adverse animal reactions has been 0.064%. In other words, for every 10,000 doses sold, the VMD has received reports of 6 adverse reactions. This incidence is considered 'rare', according to the following convention:
The VMD reports that amongst the 40+ authorised dog vaccines in the UK, the incidence of suspected adverse reactions ranges from 0.002% (classified 'very rare') to 0.3% (classified 'uncommon')
However, the VMD is at pains to stress that suspected adverse reaction reports should not be used to compare the relative safety of products. They are, after all, only 'suspected' adverse reactions. The reliability of suspected adverse reaction reports is further complicated by the fact that vaccination against leptospirosis rarely occurs in isolation, making it very difficult to interpret which adverse reactions are attributable to Leptospira vaccines.
Many vaccines providing protection against leptospirosis also contain components for prevention of other diseases, such as distemper, parainfluenza and parvovirus. In addition, many dogs are vaccinated concurrently against other diseases, such as kennel cough and/or rabies, and other products (e.g. flea and worm treatments) may be administered at the same visit. Therefore the clinical signs observed may be related to any of the products used or they may be unrelated.
The VMD says the majority of the most commonly reported suspected adverse reactions to Nobivac L4 are linked to allergic type reactions which are well-recognised potential side effects of any vaccine, and are presented on the product literature.
As to the newspaper claim that: "The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is urging owners not to use Nobivac L4 vaccine on puppies under 12 weeks old.", the WSAVA denied this in the strongest possible terms, saying: "This statement is blatantly untrue. The WSAVA would never ‘urge owners’ and would never make recommendations about individual named commercial products."
In a statement issued in response to the newspaper story, MSD said: "Nothing is more important to MSD Animal Health than the safety and efficacy of our products, and the health and well-being of animals.
"Nobivac L4 was launched in 2013 across Europe to prevent dogs from contracting Leptospirosis which is a serious zoonotic disease. It is one of the most widely used vaccines for dogs with several million doses being used annually to successfully prevent infection in dogs."
"As a responsible animal health company, we take every adverse reaction report seriously and investigate thoroughly. Whenever possible, we work with the pet owner and attending veterinary surgeon to assemble as much clinical information as we can to help determine the cause of a pet’s health issue, and whether or not the product may have been involved .
"We report findings to governing regulatory agencies around the world (based on a country’s respective laws and policies), so that they can make a fully informed, scientific assessment about the safety of the product. We do this so that accurate safety and efficacy information is available for veterinary surgeons prescribing our products."
In a parting shot, the WSAVA said: "The WSAVA guidelines are publicly available on-line and this journalist has clearly not undertaken adequate research before publishing this article."
See: www.wsava.org/educational/vaccination-guidelines-group
The kit contains a guide to effective ear cleaning, an illustrated step-by-step instruction guide on how to administer the Canaural, and a diary and consultation pack so owners can engage with the diagnosis and treatment of their pet’s ear infection.
The Healthy Ears Combi Kit comes in a resealable wipe-clean bag and is available free of charge from veterinary wholesalers.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "The new kit will give owners more confidence in the important role that they play in their pet’s ear health and encourage them to engage in the treatment plan, thereby supporting veterinary professionals in the cycle of care.
"As well as serving as practical storage for the products, it acts as a reminder to dispense CleanAural as well as Canaural, as the self-cleaning mechanism of the animal’s ears is often compromised by infection.
She added: "CleanAural does not compromise the antimicrobial activity of Canaural1 so they are perfect partners for maintaining healthy ears."
Free Healthy Ears Combi Kit can be ordered via your veterinary wholesaler.
Reference
Drawing attention to the symptoms of allergic skin disease that owners should look out for during the warmer months, the leaflet, poster and notice board materials discuss some of the substances that dogs can be allergic to, how to manage skin allergies and what to look for in an itch prevention plan.
The materials have been produced to support Apoquel, the oral therapy for the treatment of canine pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis and the clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis. They feature two dogs – Eric and Daisy – whose lives have been changed by the product.
For more information, contact your Zoetis account manager.
The 3D dental model, which was produced with the help of veterinary dentist John Robinson, demonstrates the recommended method for sectioning and extracting teeth in cats and dogs.
An accurate representation of the animal’s mouth, the teeth are pre-sectioned, indicating how tooth crowns should be divided and where to cut the crown to achieve single root pieces.
Royal Canin's Veterinary Marketing Manager, Marianne Lomberg, said: "We are delighted to offer this new learning tool. These high quality and accurate models will be a valuable addition to the education resources available to veterinary schools and professionals – ultimately helping contribute to a higher standard of dental care available to cats and dogs."
Orders of £300 will receive one free model, orders of £500 will receive two free models.
For more information, contact your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager or visit www.vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk.
Amanda Melvin, Senior Product Manager, said: "We’re very excited about this approval as it will allow us to build on the success of our Bravecto chewable tablets for dogs and provide veterinarians and cat owners with another tool in the fight against ticks and fleas. Being able to offer a full 12 week protection means convenience for cat owners and improved compliance rates for veterinarians, so everyone benefits."
Bravecto is applied topically using the new "Twist’n’Use" pipette design which means the cap doesn’t need to be removed.
Full product details are described in the summary of product characteristics (SPC).
For more information, contact your MSD Animal Health representative.
It is hoped the findings, which were unveiled at the House of Commons yesterday, will enable the welfare priorities of the UK’s 800,000 horses to be addressed.
This is the first time welfare organisations, breeders, the equine industry and the veterinary profession have come together to agree on a strategy to best improve the welfare of horses in the UK.
The equine welfare study found the welfare needs of many horses are not currently being met and the report has highlighted four welfare priorities.
Dr Siobhan Mullan, Research Fellow in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law at the University of Bristol and one of the report’s authors, said: "Bringing together the views of people associated with horses in England and Wales has provided an overview of horse welfare, from the day-to-day concerns of equine caregivers to identifying four priority challenges to equine welfare.
"This research has also identified how equine welfare can be improved, by addressing both the priority challenges, and a wider set of industry and horse-based needs."
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, added: "This research report provides a vital insight to the UK’s equine sector, mapping out the welfare landscape from a wide range of sector experts and stakeholders.
"In order for World Horse Welfare and others to most effectively address the welfare challenges facing UK equines, we need to better understand today’s welfare priorities and this research will provide a valuable guide to help in driving the focus of our educational initiatives and resources over the next few years.”
The priority welfare challenges and solutions outlined in the report are:
Unresolved stress/pain behaviourProblems associated with unresolved stress/pain behaviour affect large numbers of horses, often for long durations with variable severity of suffering caused to individual horses.
More academic research is needed to fully understand the links between behaviour, stress and pain, and objective measures of stress and pain in horses should be developed. Vets, riding instructors, the Pony Club, riding clubs and the equine press have a role in educating horse caregivers about signs of stress and pain and the appropriate responses. Academics and experts also have a role in tackling this issue through evaluating the effectiveness of intervention programmes.
Inappropriate nutritionOverfeeding and obesity are the main welfare problems associated with nutrition and affect large numbers of horses, often for a long time with varying severity of suffering.
Vets have a key role in tackling the problems associated with inappropriate nutrition. A consistent approach by all vets is needed, to prevent horse owners choosing vets that don’t challenge owners about their horses’ nutrition. Feed companies can also play an important role in tackling this issue, although many feed companies already offer appropriate nutrition for a range of horses and exercise situations. Better owner education, based on existing good research, would ensure the right nutritional choices are made for individual horses.
Inappropriate stabling /turnoutWelfare of horses is compromised when the amount of time spent at pasture/stabled does not meet their individual needs, when they are kept in social isolation or when they are exposed to unsuitable grazing conditions. Welfare problems associated with incorrect stabling/turnout affect large numbers of horses for a long time with variable levels of suffering.
Although all horse owners make choices relating to the amount and type of stabling and turnout experienced by their horses, livery yard owners could play a role in addressing this issue. For example, by encouraging different approaches to management, including group housing and the use of all-weather turnout facilities. Strengthening legislation is another possible way for improvement but a ‘one size fits all’ approach would be inappropriate. For example, for some horses, turn out to pasture may not always be suitable.
Delayed deathHorses may be kept alive inappropriately resulting in firstly, prolonging welfare problems, such as continued suffering of a horse in pain. This affects relatively large numbers of horses, for short periods of time with the severity of suffering often being severe. Secondly, an increased risk of suffering, for example where horses are unwanted by their owners, become low value and subsequently aren’t cared for well.
One way for improvement could be by putting pressure on the EU to make changes to the passport regulations. In particular, legislation changes that would enable horses who had received medications, including Phenylbutazone, to be slaughtered to enter the human food chain after a six month withdrawal period. In addition, challenging negative attitudes of horse owners towards timely euthanasia is important.
The research, undertaken over a four year period, was to understand the welfare status of horses in England and Wales, identify priority welfare issues and explore horse owner and industry experts’ perceptions of these issues.
Stakeholders from across the equine industry contributed to the research: from vets to farriers and welfare charities to governing body representatives, participants represented a wide-reaching cross section of horse care roles and responsibilities.
VetNurse Editor Arlo Guthrie said: “The original setup, which reorders a list of available positions by distance from a location, works very well when you know where you want to work.
"The new VetNurse Jobs Map, on the other hand, is ideal for when you’re not sure where exactly you want to work, and just want to know what’s out there.
"We’ve also added a 'World Jobs Map' so that there’s a quick and easy way to see any jobs outside the UK."
The VetNurse Jobs Map is the latest in a string of new features added since a small charge was introduced for advertising jobs in May, including Find our jobs on VetNurse, Share & Reward and the VetNurse Locums Map.
Arlo said: "Now that we charge for advertising on VetNurse Jobs, I’m interested in only one thing, which is offering both job seekers and recruiters the best service available anywhere."
Bayer Animal Health has launched its annual tick awareness campaign, this year titled 'No Bite is Right', with results of a survey which found that 44% of pet owners don't use regular preventative tick treatment.
The OnePoll survey of 4000 pet owners, which was conducted on behalf of the company in January, also found that 60% of pet owners are worried about ticks spreading disease to their pet, and 28% have found one.
As part of the 'No Bite is Right' campaign, owners are being encouraged to speak to their veterinary surgeon about using preventative tick products to help reduce the risk of their pet becoming infected by tick-borne diseases.
Jenny Helm, University of Glasgow Veterinary Clinician, said: "In recent years I have noticed and been made aware from owners and other vets, of a steady rise in tick numbers across the country. With this there is an increased risk of potentially fatal tick-borne diseases being transmitted to pets. However, if a tick can be killed before it bites, this avoids the risk and provides vital protection to the pet."
Richard Wall, Professor of Zoology at Bristol University, said: "Research has shown that in recent years, tick abundance has increased and the period of seasonal activity has extended in many areas. Climate change, particularly warmer, wet winters have had direct effects on tick feeding as well as impacting indirectly on vegetation cover and creating a more suitable habitat. The increase in deer numbers, habitat modification by conservation and changes in farming practices have also all contributed to the growth in numbers."
Stella Huyshe-Shires, from charity Lyme Disease Action, says: "Lyme Borreliosis is a rapidly emerging disease in the UK and a number of experienced healthcare professionals believe the increase in reported cases reflects a genuine rise over the last 20 years, and not just increased awareness leading to more diagnosis. There appears to have been an increase in ticks and, in turn, an increase in the prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in ticks."
'No Bite Is Right' is part of Bayer Animal Health’s wider 'It’s a Jungle Out There' parasite protection initiative. A series of campaign roadshows for pet owners will be taking place this year at the Ayr, Devon and New Forest County Shows. You can find out more about how your practice can get involved with the campaign by following the conversation on www.facebook.com/jungleforpets and downloading campaign materials at www.vetcentre.bayer.co.uk.
Norbrook has announced the launch of Marbodex Aural, the most recent addition to its Otitis Management System for dogs.
Norbrook says the ingredients in Marbodex Aural (marbofloxacin, clotrimazole, dexamethasone) are proven to relieve pain and inflammation quickly, deal with key bacterial and fungal infections effectively and thereby improve pet comfort.
The company says the inclusion of marbofloxacin makes Marbodex Aural an ideal first choice for cases of otitis externa that are:
Marbodex Aural also contains clotrimazole, a broad spectrum antifungal effective against otitis caused by Malassezia pachydermatis, and dexamethasone, a fast acting steroid whose absorption is not increased in inflamed ears.
Marbodex Aural is applied once a day and has two soft nozzles to reduce pain on application and prevent cross-contamination during treatment. It can be used for extended treatment periods of seven to fourteen days when treating persistent infections.
Marbodex Aural is available in all veterinary wholesalers now. For more information about Marbodex and to take advantage of the launch offers, contact your Norbrook Territory Manager or call 01536 741147 for more information.
Reference:
The International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF), a group of 26 veterinary practitioner, neuropharmacology, neuropathology and neurology experts led by Holger Volk, Professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery at the RVC, has issued new guidelines for treating and caring for dogs with epilepsy.
The guidelines have been adopted by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and published in the form of a ‘consensus statement’ in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JVIM).
Professor Volk, who co-chaired the consensus statement process, said: "I was honoured to have been asked to co-chair such an important forum in American veterinary practice. This will be another landmark paper to help improve the care vets deliver for the patients with epilepsy, both in America and beyond.
"Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases encountered by veterinary surgeons and practitioners around the world. The prevalence of the condition means there have been numerous research studies carried out over the years. But, despite such frequent research, there has been a lack of consistency when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.
"This lack of cohesion and collaboration made it difficult for owners and veterinary professionals to communicate effectively on the issue of pet epilepsy. This has led to the global veterinary community changing its approach and, in recent years, working more closely together."
Professor Volk says the aim of these latest guidelines is to provide joined up and collaborative thinking, teaching and learning on various different aspects of the condition that specifically affect America. These include the development of treatment strategies and any potential issues with chronic anti-epileptic drug treatment.
The ACVIM guidelines follow on from seven in-depth consensus statements produced by the IVETF and published open access in BMC Veterinary Research last year, outlining recommendations and classifications on all aspects of canine epilepsy. It was the first time this many veterinary neurology clinicians and neuroscientists formally agreed on the key aspects of the condition.
Professor Volk, who is also the Clinical Director of the RVC’s Small Animal Referral Hospital, added: "There is a real exciting buzz around canine and feline Epilepsy currently. Finally getting to global consensus from the international veterinary community will accelerate research and lead to improved patient care and quality of life for owners and patients alike."
Zoetis has announced that Horse & Country TV (Sky Channel 253) will be airing the Vet Essentials episode on worm control in horses from today until 26th March.
The programme, made in association with Zoetis, follows presenter Jenny Rudall on her mission to explore every aspect of worming horses, including how to tackle encysted small redworm. Jenny talks to vet Ben Gaskell from Minster Vets for the low down on worm control, before heading off to the Moredun Research Institute in Scotland to meet parasitology experts Jacqui Matthews and Thomas Tzelos to find out more about the role of faecal worm egg counts, the damage that can be caused by worm burdens and the growing problem of resistance.
Zoetis vet Wendy Talbot said: "The programme should be a big help to vets when it comes to explaining worming to horse owners. They can tell their clients about it and encourage them to watch. It will help educate them about all aspects of worming and specifically about the threat of encysted small redworm at this time of year. This, in turn, should help protect horses against this potentially fatal parasite."
The company is encouraging the profession to help spread the word about the new to clients by email, via Facebook and by word of mouth.
Elanco Animal Health has launched #PetMagicMoments, a social media campaign designed to drive engagement between veterinary practices and their clients and encourage customer footfall to veterinary practices.
As part of the #PetMagicMoments campaign, the company is inviting veterinary professionals and pet owners to share some of the magic moments they've had with their pet on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There's a weekly prize of a personalised photo cushion for the image that gets the most likes, shares or retweets, and a main prize draw for £500 worth of Forest Holidays’ vouchers.
In addition, Elanco is asking veterinary practice staff to share heart-warming stories that happen in practice, using the hashtag #VetMagicMoments. The practice that shares the most popular post or tweet will win a monthly prize of a £250 restaurant voucher.
Elanco has produced a launch pack to support the campaign and promote it to colleagues and clients. The pack includes:
Matthew Rowe, Milbemax marketing manager at Elanco Animal Health, said: "Facebook users account for 90% of all UK social media users1 with nearly one in four dogs and cats having their own social media feed or page2. Our #PetMagicMoments campaign will build a community of pet owners, vets and vet nurses who share the love they have for their pets, while driving engagement between veterinary practices and their clients on social media and encouraging customer footfall direct to the veterinary practice which will lead to increased revenues for veterinary practices."
Elanco says it will also be sharing worming advice, pet related information, news, statistics and competitions and quizzes, which will all be available for veterinary practices to share via their own social media.
To sign up for the #PetMagicMoments campaign visit www.petmagicmoments.com and download the campaign guide.
For further information, contact your local Elanco Animal Health territory manager.
The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), the veterinary division of International Cat Care, has announced the publication of the new ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Feline Chronic Kidney Disease in this month's Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery1.
The guidelines represent the consensus of an expert panel of clinicians and academics gathered from the UK, France, Australia and North America. In making their recommendations, the panelists considered various management approaches and graded the quality of the available published evidence with respect to their impact on quality of life and longevity.
The authors say dietary management is supported by good evidence. Notably, specific commercial renal diets have been shown to significantly prolong longevity and improve quality of life. A common problem, however, is poor acceptance of these diets, which are generally less palatable than maintenance diets, and the guidelines include a number of recommendations to assist in transitioning cats to a new diet.
Other interventions with good supportive evidence are routine assessment of blood pressure in cats with CKD, and use of antihypertensive medications (when indicated) to help protect organs at particular risk of damage, such as the eyes and heart.
Given the chronic nature of CKD, the guidelines, which are free to access and download, emphasise how vital it is for the veterinary clinic to establish a good relationship with the cat’s owner. This will facilitate treatment plans to be created that take into consideration the wishes and ability of the owner, as well as the needs of the individual cat.
You can read the guidelines here. There is also a podcast recording of the panel chairman Dr Andrew Sparkes discussing the guidelines is available here.
RCVS Knowledge has announced the official launch of Veterinary Evidence – a new resource designed to unite practitioners interested in promoting and using the principles of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) within practice.
Veterinary Evidence – which is supported by the RCVS – represents RCVS Knowledge’s wider mission statement of providing the veterinary community with practice relevant, evidence-based information resources. Papers and publications are now available for use, completely open-access.
Veterinary Evidence aims to become the go-to portal for evidence-based veterinary information, promoting and publishing peer-reviewed papers alongside discussion of EBVM through opinion, clinical and methodological articles.
The site will host a wide range of material – from randomised controlled trials to case studies, Knowledge Summaries and interviews. The content is designed to educate readers in research techniques, responding to the desire amongst many veterinary professionals to become involved in effective practice-based research – including critical appraisal and clinical audit.
Jacqui Molyneux, Chair of the RCVS Knowledge Board of Trustees said: "As a practising veterinary surgeon I, along with many others, recognise the emerging importance of evidence-based veterinary medicine and I believe it will become more and more important as time goes on. We all wish to do the best for our patients but how do we find out what the current ‘best’ is? That’s where this portal will become so useful; collecting and publishing articles that directly help practising vets and nurses to answer that question."
Bradley Viner, the President of the RCVS and a Trustee of RCVS Knowledge, said: "The College was very happy to support our charity partners at RCVS Knowledge in launching this excellent new resource which will be relevant to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in clinical practice. Furthermore, clinical governance is now firmly established as an important principle in the Code of Professional Conducts for both professions and so, by encouraging practitioners to undergo a continuing process of reflection, analysis and improvement, Veterinary Evidence will also be helping them fulfil their professional responsibilities."
Access the full site at: www.veterinaryevidence.org