The RCVS Council has approved a pathway for veterinary and animal health paraprofessionals to become associates of, or accredited by the College and thereby fall within its regulatory remit.

At the June 2017 meeting of RCVS Council, members decided to look into two models by which paraprofessionals working in the veterinary, animal health or related fields, might be regulated by the College under powers granted by the RCVS’s Royal Charter in 2015.

The first was an accreditation model, which would involve the RCVS accrediting an organisation which would regulate the profession in question. The second was an associate/ full regulation model, in which individual paraprofessionals would receive a similar level of regulation to that already received by veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

At its January 2019 meeting, RCVS Council agreed to proceed with both proposed models of paraprofessional regulation, with the suitability of each model being considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the profession applying for recognition.

Paraprofessions whose work will need to be underpinned by Schedule 3 reform would need to apply for the associate model, as the RCVS would be required to be directly responsible for the register of any individuals undertaking such minor acts of veterinary surgery.

Two paraprofessional groups that have already expressed an interest in being regulated by the College, namely meat inspectors and animal behaviourists, will now be invited to apply for associate or accredited status.

Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said: "This is a very significant decision by Council to open up a pathway to related paraprofessions to apply to become regulated by the College.

"It is difficult to give a time-frame at this stage as to when these particular professions will be brought on board, as we will have to go through a process of developing a number of new regulatory structures including registration, education and investigation and disciplinary, as well as the appropriate governing bodies for each of the professions.

"However, we are very pleased that the Association of Meat Inspectors (AMI) and the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) have expressed an interested in being regulated by the College and we look forward to working with them to make this happen."

David Montgomery, President of the ABTC, said: "The ABTC enthusiastically welcomes the news that the RCVS is expanding its influence to include paraprofessionals. We look forward to exploring the opportunity to demonstrate the professional status of ABTC-registered Animal Trainers and Behaviourists by coming under the regulatory umbrella of the RCVS for the benefit of animal welfare."

Ian Robinson, a Trustee of the AMI, said: "The Association of Meat Inspectors welcome the news that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons intends to invite paraprofessionals to be regulated under the ambit of the RCVS. We believe it will offer enhanced security, opportunity and status, and we look forward to further dialogue to explore the various models in due course."

The College says it is also in touch with a number of other paraprofessional groups, including those representing animal musculoskeletal practitioners and equine dental technicians, about the future of paraprofessional regulation. However, before such professions could become associates, there would need to be reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act in order to remedy some of the deficiencies of the current legislative regime and make sure that these groups have appropriate legal underpinning for their work. This, says the College, complements ongoing discussions on changes to the legislative framework to bolster the role of veterinary nurses. 

On particular issue that the College says the new proposals are designed to remedy is that of equine dental procedures being carried out by well-trained but nevertheless unregulated paraprofessionals. Neil Townsend, Chair of the British Equine Veterinary Association’s (BEVA) Allied Professional Committee, said: "Change to the current situation, where legislative enforcement is impossible, horse owners are confused, and horse welfare is compromised, is long overdue. BEVA is really pleased that the RCVS has listened and is supporting a proposal for regulation of all equine dental procedures. We hope that Government will act."

RCVS President Amanda Boag, said: "This is a real milestone in the history of the RCVS and represents quite possibly the biggest change to our regulatory role since the introduction of the Register of veterinary nurses in 2007, and should Schedule 3 reform be achieved it would be the most significant change since the role of veterinary nurses was first recognised in law in 1991. It is particularly befitting for our 175^th anniversary year, as it demonstrates we are an organisation that can evolve to meet the changes occurring in the wider veterinary and animal health sector and use our regulatory experience and expertise to ensure that animal health and welfare and public health is safeguarded in different, but related fields of endeavour."

The full approved paper regarding the review of the minor procedures regime and paraprofessional regulation can be found on the RCVS website at: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/policy/veterinary-legislation-review/ 

The BVA has announced that Ben Goldacre, the best-selling author, broadcaster, campaigner and medical doctor who topped the paperback non-fiction charts with Bad Science, will deliver the 50^th anniversary Wooldridge Memorial Lecture at this year’s London Vet Show (17 - 18 November).

Ben trained in medicine at Oxford and London before becoming a household name through his weekly Bad Science column published in the Guardian between 2003 and 2011.

Ben is the author of three books. His first, Bad Science, published in 2008, sold over half a million copies worldwide and is published in 31 languages. His second, Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients was published in 2012 and his third, a volume of collected journalism entitled I think you’ll find it’s more complicated than that, in 2014. He currently works as an academic in epidemiology.

In his lecture, Ben will be talking about how quacks and charlatans misuse evidence, and the placebo effect, to bamboozle the public. It's an issue of particular interest for the veterinary profession, given the growing focus on evidence-based medicine.

The lecture is open to all London Vet Show attendees and will take place in the BVA Congress Theatre at London’s ExCeL between 12.30 – 1.30 on Friday 17 November.

BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "We know that many people’s first point of call is the media or Dr Google when trying to decide what pet to purchase or how to treat their animal’s - or their own - health! So, I’m sure veterinary colleagues from all areas of the profession will find Dr Goldacre’s insight both engaging and inspiring in their day-to-day and working lives."

Other BVA Congress sessions at London Vet Show 2017 include Nudge, nudge – how can we change owner behaviour for better welfare?; Veterinary workforce crisis: what’s really going on? and Veterinary Surgeons Act: an open and shut case?. BVA Congress sessions as well as associated BVA Farm Animal, BVA/BEVA Equine, and BVA Career Development Streams count towards CPD.

BVA members can get access to the full BVA offering, as well as the usual London Vet Show programme, for 15% less than the lowest advertised price. To book, enter your BVA membership number and the code BVA 8 to claim your discount when you book online at www.londonvetshow.co.uk

Photo: John King 2012

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) and the International Federation for Animal Health Europe (IFAH) have welcomed the European Commission's publication of proposals for revised legislation concerning veterinary medicines and medicated feed earlier today.

The EC says the proposals are designed to increase the availability of veterinary medicines, reduce administrative burden, stimulate competitiveness and innovation, improve the functioning of the internal market and address the issue of antimicrobial resistance.

NOAH says that currently, the manufacturers of veterinary medicines struggle with a regulatory system with some serious flaws, including:

• A highly segmented internal market and regulatory framework characterised by high product development and licence maintenance costs, limiting availability particularly in smaller markets and for minor species,
• Insufficient protection of intellectual property which stifles investment in innovation,
• A disproportionately high administrative burden which diverts funds and expertise away from new product development and risks depriving animals of modern medicines and treatment options.

NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH will be looking at the detail of the texts in the coming days and weeks, and reviewing their potential impact. We look forward to working with the VMD, who have called stakeholder workshops to examine the texts. We will also be supporting our European federation IFAH-Europe as they work determinedly with the European institutions over the coming years to support the Commission's vision for a more efficient regulatory system for veterinary medicines in Europe.

"We believe the value our industry brings to society is very high, despite being quite a small sector. For example, veterinary medicines benefit public health by preventing zoonotic disease and supporting food security.

"With synergies with our own UK Government's commitment to reduce unnecessary red tape, which is a key theme for DEFRA, the animal health industry in Europe needs greater efficiency to cut the red tape for our industry. We look forward to a streamlined registration process which delivers a single European marketing authorisation for all veterinary medicines.

"We will also be considering if the text has any particular implications for the UK animal health market and access to medicines for our animals."

NOAH says it also welcomes the revised medicated feed legislation. Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH believes this is an important route for administering prescription medicines to animals. We will work to help ensure the legislation is capable of maintaining and strengthening this route."

The Pets’n’Vets partnership, a network of veterinary practices in Glasgow and the surrounding areas, has launched a training programme designed to develop the skillsets of newly-qualified RVNs.

Oliver Jackson, Managing Partner at Pets’n’Vets said: "We pride ourselves in investing heavily in the training and enhancing the abilities of our already highly qualified and capable staff. Our latest training programme has been developed in response to a demand from our RVNs for a programme of structured additional training designed to meet their specific needs to enhance and develop their clinical skills.

"The modular programme, which takes place at the award-winning Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital, will feature a line-up of presenters with specialist knowledge delivering a range of learning objectives for participants encompassing such topics as anaesthesia and consulting, will be developed further in future years following feedback from RVNs enrolled on the course."

Ceri Boyd, RVN at the Pets‘n’Vets Family with responsibility for co-ordinating the initiative, said: "There is a growing recognition within the veterinary profession for RVNs to participate in the elevation of the status of veterinary nursing and we want to play an active part in that by helping RVNs blossom and realise their full potential.

"This initiative will endow our RVNs with the confidence they require to progress their skillsets and the initial feedback has been encouraging, with our nurses welcoming this opportunity to enhance their roles and responsibilities, offering the prospect for an even more rewarding career as a consequence of a programme that is not readily available in other veterinary practices."

Forum Animal Health, makers of Apometic, an emetic for dogs, has launched a campaign to raise awareness among vets about the dangers of human foods to dogs, particularly over the festive period.

According to the PDSA, almost half a million dog owners are still giving them chocolate treats intended for human consumption¹ despite the fact that 85%² of consumers know chocolate is poisonous to dogs,.

Chocolate is, of course, not the only human food that is dangerous to dogs. Other treats such as mince pies and Christmas cake (containing raisins or sultanas), as well as food containing onions and leeks, plus sweeteners and human medication, are all potentially lethal if not treated as soon as possible.

The company is also stressing the importance of dog owners presenting their pets at the vets as soon as possible after eating something potentially harmful. Tim Gooders, UK Companion Animal Product Manager at Forum Animal Health said: “During the festive season clients often don’t recognise what is poisonous and don’t know what to do if there is a problem. Their instinctive response is to wait and see, however, animals need to be treated quickly before they have metabolised what they have eaten.” He added that Apometic is most effective if the animal is presented early, pre poisoning.

In order to help raise awareness and alert owners about the importance of acting promptly, the company has created a range of posters which can also be downloaded and printed out from its website.

References

1. Forum Animal Health data on file

2. PDSA PAW report 2013 press release April 2014

In preparation for its first Veterinary Dry Eye Awareness Month, Bayer - maker of Remend Dry Eye Lubricant Drops - is highlighting what it calls a 'blinding gap' in client awareness of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), aka dry eye.

A survey carried out by the company in 2015¹ found that 46% of dog owners were not aware that dogs can potentially suffer from the condition, despite the fact that it affects an estimated 375,000 dogs in the UK.³

The company says ocular conditions account for around one in ten canine consultations in first opinion practice,² with KCS affecting around 5% of all dogs³, and up to 20% of predisposed breeds.⁴

To help raise owner awareness, Bayer will be holding the first veterinary Dry Eye Awareness Month in July.

Because early diagnosis and treatment can have a significant impact on prognosis, the focus of the campaign will be on encouraging pet owners to speak to their veterinary surgeon in the hope of increasing early diagnoses and improving the uptake of regular testing of at-risk breeds.

The campaign will include a dedicated social media element, targeting communities of at-risk breeds by inviting them to pledge their commitment to managing dry eye in their pet. A range of practice materials have also been produced for practices to support the drive in their waiting room.

Hannah Watts, Group Product Manager at Bayer said: "With this significant gap in owner understanding of the significance of KCS in dogs, it was clear that more is needed to be done to encourage owners of at-risk breeds to visit their vet practice for early diagnosis.

"The focus of Dry Eye Awareness Month is to support vets in championing the issue amongst their client base, through a range of educational materials. We hope vets will join us in utilising the month as a platform on which to discuss the prevalence and potential seriousness of the condition if left unmanaged."

Bayer’s research also found how poor understanding of the lifelong nature of the condition is one of the main barriers to owner compliance when managing cases, further highlighting the need for education.⁵

Chris Dixon, Director at Veterinary Vision Ophthalmic Referrals, said: "KCS cases can present acutely, or with subtle clinical signs that will not be detected from initial observations and require a Schirmer tear test to effectively quantify the reflex tear film production. Unless vets are actively discussing the condition with owners, and performing these tests on a regular basis, it is likely that many dogs could remain undiagnosed."

"In any case where ongoing treatment is required, client education is key in successful disease management. Accurate determination of the cause of the KCS will allow for an appropriate choice of medical therapy. When adjunctive tear replacement therapy is required, many owners will admit to not having the time to administer treatments frequently enough, which should factor into the recommendations we make as practitioners. For example, offering a longer acting product which requires less frequent application.” 

You can download the Remend ‘Vision Matters – A Focus on Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca’ educational guide here: www.remend.co.uk/vets-area.

Dry Eye Awareness Month practice display materials can be ordered from your Bayer Territory Manager or email: ahmarketing@bayer.com

References

1. Survey of 2500 pet owners April 2015, commisioned by Bayer
2. O’Neill DG, Church DB, McGreevy PD, Thomson PC, Brodbelt DC. Prevalence of Disorders Recorded in Dogs Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices in England. PLoS ONE. 2014; 9(3)
3. Pierce V & Williams D. Determination of Schirmer Tear Test values in 1000 dogs. BSAVA Abstract 2006
4. Williams D, Mann B. A Crosslinked HA-Based Hydrogel Ameliorates Dry Eye Symptoms in Dogs. International Journal of Biomaterials. Volume 2013, Article ID 460437
5. Survey of 165 veterinary surgeons June 2015

The RCVS has announced that it is cracking down on veterinary nurses who don't comply with their CPD requirements.

Veterinary nurses are required to carry out at least 45 hours of CPD over a rolling three year period.

The results of an audit to discover how many veterinary nurses were complying with this requirement were presented at VN Council last week. 

As part of the audit, the RCVS requested the CPD records of 1,016 veterinary nurses, including:

• a random selection of around 10% of the profession who declared they were compliant when they renewed their registration;

• veterinary nurses who declared they were non-compliant upon renewing their registration;

• veterinary nurses who took part in the previous year’s audit who were not compliant;

• veterinary nurses whose records were requested in the previous year who did not respond.

939 nurses responded, of which 72% (672) were found to be compliant and 28% (267) were non-compliant.

Reasons given by respondents for their failure to comply include maternity leave, family commitments, lack of time or opportunity and illness.

Eight members of the profession had been included in a total of seven of the previous annual audits and, each time, were found to be non-compliant.

As a result, Council decided that any veterinary nurse who was audited and found to be non-compliant in three consecutive years should have their records sent to the CPD Referral Group, a subcommittee comprising members of RCVS and VN Council who review cases of CPD non-compliance for both vets and VNs.

The CPD Referral Group makes decisions on how to follow-up these cases including, in the most serious instances, referring individuals to the Preliminary Investigation Committee.

Racheal Marshall, Chair of VN Council, said: "It is disheartening that a substantial number and proportion of the profession still aren’t compliant and that this proportion has remained static for the last three years with the same reasons occurring year after year including family commitments and lack of time and opportunity.

"However, CPD need not be onerous or expensive and can be done from the comfort of your own practice or home, it could, for example, involve reading relevant clinical papers in a veterinary magazine or journal, reflection on your professional practice, in-house training, participation in webinars and research for presentations as well as organised courses, lectures and webinars. The key is that CPD should be relevant to you and your role and should keep your skills, knowledge and competences up-to-date to ensure that you are providing the best possible care to your patients and clients."

One way to accumulate hours towards your annual CPD requirement is to participate in discussions and read content on VetNurse.co.uk. Just press the 'Claim CPD' above the content, and you'll be able to record the time spent, what you learned and how you plan to put it into practice. The system also records a link to the content you were reading, so you'll be able to refer back to it again later. Then, when you need to submit your record to the RCVS, you can export a VetNurse CPD certificate with your accompanying notes for the selected time period.

For more information about the CPD requirement for both vets and vet nurses, what activities might count as CPD, how to record your CPD and a series of frequently asked questions about CPD please visit www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd.

The full results of the CPD audit can be found in the papers for the February 2019 meeting of VN Council: www.rcvs.org.uk/who-we-are/vn-council/vn-council-meetings/6-february-2019/

The RCVS's new Royal Charter has come into effect today, meaning that the whole of the veterinary nursing profession in the UK is now regulated.

The new Charter received the Great Seal of the Realm and was collected from the House of Lords by RCVS Registrar Gordon Hockey and Policy Consultant Jeff Gill (pictured right). It had previously been approved at a meeting of the Privy Council on 5 November 2014.

Under the changes instituted in the new Charter, there are no longer listed veterinary nurses and all those formerly on the List have effectively been moved to the Register and become RVNs.

As a result they will now be expected to undertake the minimum requirement for continuing professional development (CPD) of 45 hours over a three-year period, will need to follow the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses, and will be subject to the College’s disciplinary system in cases of serious professional misconduct. Any veterinary nurse removed or suspended from the Register will not be entitled to give medical treatment or carry out minor surgery.

Gordon said: “This is a proud day for us and an important day for the profession as a whole. We worked very hard to get to this point and I would like to thank all those who helped us along the way including RCVS and VN Council members, College staff and the members of the profession and representative organisations, in particular the BVA and BVNA, that responded to our consultation on the proposed Charter last year.

“This Charter clarifies the role of the College and its aims and objectives while also modernising many of our regulatory functions. This represents another significant step towards the College becoming a first rate regulator.

“Critically, this Charter fulfils one of our long-term ambitions to create a coherent regulatory system for veterinary nurses and to recognise them as true professionals, dedicated to their vocation, their development and proper conduct.”

During this year’s renewal period for veterinary nurses (in the autumn), those formerly on the List will be expected to confirm that they are undertaking CPD and will also need to disclose any criminal convictions, cautions or adverse findings when they renew their registration. The annual renewal fee for veterinary nurses remains unchanged.

A detailed set of frequently asked questions for former listed veterinary nurses can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/rvn.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has launched Vetmedin 0.75 mg/ml Solution for Injection for dogs.

According to the company, the new injectable form of Vetmedin provides rapid acting treatment for canine congestive heart failure originating from valvular insufficiency (e.g. mitral valve disease, MVD) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Twelve hours after the injection is administered, treatment can be continued by the dog's owner with Vetmedin flavour tablets or Vetmedin hard capsules at the recommended dosage.

Ruth Willis BVM&S DVC MRCVS, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cardiology said: "Parenteral administration of medicines is often preferred in cases of acute congestive heart failure to help minimise patient stress and clinical deterioration. Vetmedin Solution for Injection is therefore a useful addition to our armoury of products for the treatment of acute congestive heart failure due to MVD or DCM."

The injection contains 0.75 mg/ml of the active ingredient, pimobendan, and it is supplied in 5 ml single use vials at the licensed dose of 0.15 mg/kg, with one vial treating a dog up to 25 kg.

In association with the Vets Now emergency treatment service, Boehringer has produced an algorithm which features step-by-step guidance on the recommended treatment protocol for dogs with acute congestive heart failure due to MVD or DCM, together with point of sale material including shelf wobblers for use in practice to raise awareness of the product.

The company is also hosting a free cardiology webinar presented by Ruth Willis entitled 'Acute CHF - a stress free approach'. The online seminar takes place at 8.00pm on Tuesday 19 February and counts for one hour's CPD. The webinar will be available to view after the live event on demand. To register, visit http://www.bi-academy.co.uk/.

For further information, contact your local Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or telephone 01344 746959.

Derby-based Scarsdale Vets has unveiled the result of a £700,000 investment in its referral hospital, Pride Veterinary Centre.

The improvements include a new cat ward designed to offer a quieter, more relaxing area away from other animals, and a new walk-in dog ward which will allow staff to treat larger breeds of dogs more easily. The intensive care unit has been expanded and the practice has developed a new chemotherapy area.

John Turkington, the partner at Scarsdale Vets responsible for overseeing the work said: "We are already really proud of the state-of-the-art facilities we have at Pride, but we are not complacent and that is why we have made this significant investment to improve our facilities and ultimately the services we offer our clients and patients. Patient comfort is paramount, which is why we’ve invested in an additional walk in ward for our larger breeds, and a new cat ward with a separate feline examination and treatment area."

As well as the changes to improve clinical care, the practice has also invested in its kennelling services, increasing the number of 'suites' for cats and dogs to stay in its 'hotel' areas whilst their owners go on holiday.

John added: "We want Pride to be recognised as one of the best veterinary hospitals in Europe and to make that a reality we have increased our ward capacity for patient comfort and clinical treatment areas, as well as improving facilities behind the scenes for our staff, to create a better working environment. Alongside that the improvements to our Pet Resort will also meet the growing demands from clients for those services."

Petplan has announced the winners of its annual Veterinary Awards. 

The awards recognise and celebrate staff and practices throughout the country who have delivered an exceptional level of care, going above and beyond the call of duty in keeping the nation's pets healthy and owners happy.   

Suzanne Cheadle, Petplan's Acting Head of Marketing said: "As the leader in the pet insurance market for over 36 years, we have a rich history of working with veterinary practices across the UK. The Petplan Veterinary Awards recognise and celebrate the fantastic work that goes on across those practices."

She added: "This year saw over 12,000 nominations which demonstrates the appetite from both staff and clients for celebrating exceptional work. We had a wonderful selection of first class finalists and I'd like to congratulate all the winners who thoroughly deserve their awards."

The winners for each category are:

VET OF THE YEAR: Hector Low, Old Mill Veterinary Practice, Isle-of-Lewis
The judges said: "What really stood out was Hector's dedication to the profession and how he moved his practice to a new premises so it could offer better facilities and a wider range of services for animals and owners alike. He has always got his clients and their pets at the forefront of all his decisions and is truly passionate about his role within the profession".
 
VET NURSE OF THE YEAR: Tina Wright, Warbeck House Veterinary Centre, Merseyside
The judges said: "Tina is particularly responsible for setting up an Ear Care Club for animals at the centre who suffer from recurrent ear problems, which she has put her heart and soul into over the last year, while also tutoring student veterinary nurses and running puppy socialisation classes which have proved hugely popular among clients. Tina is a shining example of how vital the role of the vet nurse is when delivering outstanding service to clients and their pets. She is enthusiastic, passionate and always puts her clients' needs first".
 
PRACTICE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR: Henrietta Fidler, Beech House Veterinary Centre, Surrey
The judges said: "Henrietta is somebody who loves her role within the veterinary profession, thriving on the interaction she has between both the clients and animals. She has nurtured and developed strong and solid client relationships as well as good working relationships with her colleagues. If there is anything that the Veterinary Awards highlights, it is that team work is a vital part of the job, and Henrietta is proof of that".
 
PRACTICE OF THE YEAR: The Vets' Place, Cheshire
The judges saiod: "Wendy and Michael Hough set up their practice, The Vets' Place, from scratch in 2009. Since then, the practice has grown from strength to strength. As a small practice they have plenty of opportunity to really get to know their individual clients and their pets and have built strong relationships that their customers value. The Vet's Place is a shining example of the exceptional service a practice can deliver".
 
PRACTICE MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Sharon Lane-Kieltyka, Shepton Veterinary Group Ltd, Somerset
The judges said: "Sharon is a people person through and through which feeds the passion she has for a role that extends beyond the care of clients and their pets. Sharon has overseen a large scale building project that saw the practice double in size and been a key driver in the recent rebranding of the practice, highlighting not only her steadfast can-do attitude, but her ability to drive change in the interest of her clients. Her enthusiasm for the industry is something to be admired".

The five talented winners of the "Vets in your daily life" competition were announced today by DG SANCO, the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumers and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

DG SANCO launched the worldwide photography competition earlier this year, to coincide with World Vet Year 2011, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the veterinary profession.

The five winners are: Somenath Mukhopadhyay (Winner for Asia), Genoveva Kriechbaum (Winner for Middle East), Molly Feltner (Winner for Africa), Ariel Alejandro Corvalán Herrera (Winner for the Americas) and István Konyhás (Winner for Europe).

István Konyhás, European winner and leader of the Hungarian Working Group of Cranes said: "The photo I took in Hortobagy's Bird Hospital (a foundation set up for healing injured wild birds) highlights the care put into healing an injured stork. It also reflects the meticulousness of Dr János Déri trying to re-instate the lost parts of the stork's beak with dental treatment. As a volunteer of the foundation I have taken photos of their work for years so I am pleased to be one of the winners and with the prize money, I hope to be able to take even more interesting and striking photos."

István Konyhás' winning photograph highlights the care put into healing an injured stork. © European Commission.

Molly Feltner, African winner and Communications Officer for the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) commented: "I am delighted to be one of the winners of this photo competition and am particularly proud of what this photos highlights. Working with the MGVP in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) we are dedicated to saving the lives of mountain gorillas. This photo beautifully depicts the doctor-patient relationship between MGVP's veterinarians and gorillas."  

Molly Feltner's winning photograph depicts the relationship between Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project veterinarians and gorillas. © European Commission.

Ariel Alejandro Corvalán Herrera's photograph won the Americas category. © European Commission.

The winning image for the Asia Pacific region was taken by Somenath Mukhopadhyay. © European Commission.

Genoveva Kriechbaum was the winner for the Middle East. © European Commission.

This year's Veterinary Week, from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd May, aims to highlight the contribution of the veterinary profession to society under the slogan "Vets in your daily life." This includes a conference on 'Crisis Management in the Food Chain' (organised by the European Commission) today and tomorrow, during which Commissioner John Dalli will present the prizes to the regional winners of the international photographic competition organised jointly with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Events to celebrate Vet Week will be taking place across the European Union.

Norbrook Laboratories Ltd has announced the launch of Pestigon, a fipronil spot-on solution for cats and dogs.

Rebekah Dudek, Norbrook Veterinary Advisor said: "Pestigon offers a fast-acting and long-lasting treatment for cats and dogs suffering from flea and tick irritations. The new product will have an immediate effect against flea infestations and will kill ticks within the first 24 - 48 hours of application. Fipronil is a tried and tested ingredient with proven efficacy against fleas and ticks. Pestigon provides a fast-acting treatment whose effectiveness will continue against new infestations of fleas for up to 58 days on dogs and 37 days in cats and against ticks for up to 30 days in dogs and 21 days in cats."

To coincide with the launch of Pestigon, Norbrook has rebranded its Permaguard household spray which is now available with 12 month protection. 

Rebekah said: "The total life cycle of a flea can last from a couple of weeks to several months. Only adult fleas live on cats or dogs while the eggs, larvae and pupae can be found around the house in carpet, furniture, bedding etc for up to a year or more. It is therefore crucial that pet owners treat the household to break the life cycle and ensure effective and lasting flea control. Pestigon and Permaguard together will give pet owners a complete treatment."

Pestigon range offers 5 alternatives for cats and dogs depending on size and comes with colour co-ordinated pipettes available in packs of 3, 6 and 24 to allow for single or multiple pipette dispensing.

Norbrook's Small Animal Brand Manager, Michelle Jones said: "Pestigon is licensed as a POM-V product and will be sold exclusively through veterinary practices. We have produced a range of marketing materials for veterinary practices to help them offer support on flea and tick control in the home to their customers." 

Orders for Pestigon and Permaguard can be placed through your Norbrook representative now.