The group’s Board, led by outgoing president, Renay Rickard and incoming president, Julie Beacham, decided to change the trading name to better reflect the diverse nature of the organisation’s membership and promote inclusivity.
The VMG says that in parallel with evolving models of veterinary business management, it has seen its membership expand to include clinical and non-clinical team members from practice, as well as those from industry and academia.
Renay said: "We are seeing a trend where the veterinary practice manager role is now complemented by - and in some cases superseded by - tiers of team leaders, many with management responsibilities and interests.
"This is reflected in our membership, which is increasingly diverse – we have growing numbers of members from the clinical side of practice, such as head nurses and vet team leads, as well as involvement from front-of-house and administration teams. In larger group practices, we have operations staff, marketing managers, finance teams and so on all joining up.
"Part of the success of our organisation is that we have attracted and catered for these diverse roles. Our New to Management series of CPD webinars last year was one example, and we will build on this in 2018, adding in new content. 2018 will also see a new structure for our regional group meetings, with roadshows and day events.
"This diversity in membership brings vibrancy and new ideas with it, vital to the life-blood of any organisation. Our aim is to be inclusive and cater for the needs of anyone with an interest in management through development and support."
The VMG has also launched a new website, www.vetmg.com with a private members’ area which offers various resources, from CPD to protocols.
The awards are designed to recognise successful implementation of quality improvement (QI) in veterinary practice, which can reduce avoidable errors, ensure practice is based on the best available evidence and, ultimately, save lives.
Entrants will need to demonstrate the impact that QI methods have had in their practice, such as increased efficiency, improved clinical or financial effectiveness, the development of a culture of continuous improvement, support in the use of evidence-based approaches, or a general bettering of excellence in care.
The awards are open to any member of a practice, including veterinary surgeons and nurses, practice managers, receptionists, locums, students, and more. You can also nominate a colleague, or vice versa.
Individual winners will get free tickets to an upcoming RCVS Knowledge event and be given a plaque pronouncing them a 'Knowledge Champion', while one team will scoop Knowledge’s 'Champion Practice' award.
RCVS Knowledge Executive Director Chris Gush said: "These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the good work that is going on in practice and to highlight examples of quality improvement.
"I would encourage all – from quality improvement experts to QI beginners – to get involved and enter the awards."
The closing date to submit an application is 1st November 2018, allowing plenty of time for those interested in introducing a quality improvement initiative in their practice to do so and apply for the awards at a later date.
To learn more about QI and how you can get started, visit RCVS Knowledge's QI pages.
Alternatively, you can enter the awards here: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/grants/available-grants/
Themed 'Controlling Disease Threats at Home and from Abroad’, this year's conference will highlight the increasing importance of OVs in safeguarding the UK’s international trade and in protecting human health through disease surveillance and control.
The conference programme includes dedicated lecture streams aimed at large animal, small animal and equine practitioners. Improve says that lecture content has been tailored to cover areas of key relevance for more than 8,000 OVs due to revalidate their qualifications in March 2019. The programme also includes interactive workshops, including drop-in question and answer sessions offering practical advice and guidance on the revalidation process.
An exhibition of products and services for OVs runs alongside the conference.
David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve, said: "This conference remains the only event dedicated to the needs of OVs. They receive industry updates from leading figures in the veterinary sector, attend lectures on OV work from experts and, in so doing, work towards their CPD revalidation requirements. We’re currently finalising a packed programme for this year’s conference and urge OVs to take advantage of our time-limited Early Bird offers and register without delay."
For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com
Davies says pulmonic stenosis is one of the most common congenital heart defects in dogs. In most cases it is caused by a malformation of the pulmonic valve with fusion of the leaflets (type A stenosis) or with the presence of rudimentary valves accompanied by hypoplasia of the annulus (type B stenosis).
Dogs with severe stenosis are at risk of sudden death, heart failure and have a decreased survival time in comparison to normal dogs.
Minimally invasive catheter based procedures (balloon valvuloplasty) have become the treatment of choice for valvular pulmonic stenosis, with good results in most but not all cases. French Bulldogs are predisposed to the condition and tend to not respond to valvuloplasty as well as other dogs.1
In this case, the dog was first referred to Pedro Oliveira, RCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Cardiology at Davies, for treatment of severe pulmonic stenosis.
An echocardiogram confirmed the presence of a type B stenosis accompanied by marked right ventricular hypertrophy and also an atrial septal defect.
A standard balloon valvuloplasty procedure was performed without complications and the dog initially showed improvement (click image right to enlarge). Soon after, however, she began to suffer episodes of weakness and collapse and was readmitted.
An echocardiogram showed that the right ventricular obstruction had worsened.
Pedro said: "Re-stenosis has been reported in up to 16% of cases following balloon valvuloplasty and in this case it was suspected to be due to the formation of scar tissue in the valve leaflets. The pressures inside the right side of the heart were now higher than left allowing blood to flow through the atrial septal defect from the right to the left atrium directly without receiving oxygen from the lungs.
"Whenever Gracie got excited or tried to exercise she would go 'blue' from lack of oxygen and collapse. In fact her quality of life was so poor that euthanasia was suggested at that point. For this reason we decided we should attempt this novel procedure. The only other option would have been open-chest surgery (patch graft) but this held a higher risk of complications during the anaesthesia and even death. Also, the cost of surgery would have been higher than this new option."
Pedro performed the procedure with fellow Davies cardiologist, Jose Matos, while Antonia Mavropoulou guided them using transoesophageal echocardiography.
Under a general anaesthetic the heart structure was assessed using transoesophageal echocardiography and angiography to choose the correct size of the stent for Gracie.
An 8mm wide and 4cm long stainless steel catheter tightly mounted on a balloon was chosen.
This was then positioned across the pulmonic valve and the balloon was expanded forcing the stent to open up to its full size (figure 2B). There was an immediate and significant improvement of blood flow through the stent (figure 2C), the patient recovered well and she was discharged four days later.
Re-examination after three months showed improved flow across the stent and a reversal of the right to left shunting across the atrial septal defect. Gracie stopped experiencing episodes of collapse or cyanosis and is now able to exercise and lead a more normal life.
Pedro said: "This technique has been used in very few cases in the whole world and to the best of our knowledge this is the first time it has been used in the UK.
"It is more technically challenging and costly than a standard ballooning although it may provide an effective, safe, and cheaper alternative to patch graft surgery. In this particular case we feel it made an important difference in terms of quality of life and prognosis for Gracie.
Reference
The company held a draw for the centrifuge via VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk at the start of January. The draw attracted entries from 577 vets and nurses.
However, the rules of the draw stated that people could enter as many times as they liked, so in total there were 1699 entries.
In fact, one gentleman was so eager to win, he entered no less than 759 times.
By comparison, the 155 entries from a Northumberland practice and the 69 entries from staff at Severn Edge Vets looked comparatively modest.
Jo, pictured right with her prize, said: "It’s the first time I've won anything. Our centrifuge was over 10 years old, and ready to spin in its grave. Our new CombiSpin arrived today. I like it because it’s so quiet, takes up hardly any space and looks sleek and robust."
Fiona Sturgess from Vetlab Supplies said: "It’s great that the prize was won for a practice by a veterinary nurse. Perhaps she’ll get a raise! Also nice to hear that it’s replacing a machine that was obviously living on borrowed time.
"All entrants to the draw are entitled to a 20% discount on a new CombiSpin, we’ll be emailing vouchers shortly."
The legislation will come into effect from May 2018, at which point businesses will have six months to comply. The penalty for failing to comply will be an enforcement notice to the business or prosecution.
In August 2017, the Secretary of State launched a consultation on the plans to deliver a manifesto commitment for CCTV to be required in every slaughterhouse in England in all areas where live animals are present, with unrestricted access to footage for Official Veterinarians.
A summary of responses published in November showed that of almost 4,000 respondents, more than 99% were supportive of the plans.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: "We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and want to cement our status as a global leader by continuing to raise the bar.
"Introducing compulsory CCTV cameras in slaughterhouses is a further demonstration to consumers around the world that as we leave the EU, we continue to produce our food to the very highest standards.
"The previous reaction to the consultation highlighted the strength of feeling among the public that all animals should be treated with the utmost respect at all stages of life and be subject to the highest possible welfare standards."
The proposals will also give the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Official Veterinarians (OVs) unfettered access to the last 90 days of footage to help them monitor and enforce animal welfare standards.
BVA President John Fishwick said: "Mandatory CCTV in all areas of slaughterhouses will provide an essential tool in fostering a culture of compassion that could help safeguard animal welfare.
"We commend the Government’s commitment to provide Official Veterinarians with unrestricted access to the footage, which the veterinary profession has long been campaigning for.
"It is vets’ independence and unique qualifications that help ensure the UK will continue to have the highest standards of animal health, welfare and food safety post-Brexit."
Photo: Lititz, Pennsylvania. Hoisting a slaughtered steer in Benjamin Lutz's slaughterhouse, 1942. Wikipedia.
The group attributes part of its success to the various initiatives it runs for employees, including a scheme through which every member of its 220-strong team is allowed five fully paid donation days each year so they can volunteer to support meaningful local causes.
Employees also receive a £500 cash gift when they become new parents or adopt a child and can take 'peternity leave', which offers anyone with a new pet two fully paid days off work to help the animal settle into their new home.
Team members also get birthdays off (with cakes), a health care scheme, subsidised Fitbits and gym memberships.
Tim Harrison, managing director at White Cross Vets, said: "Making White Cross Vets a great place to work is vitally important to us, especially because our people are such a fundamental part of our success. Plus we’ve just launched the second of five new practices that will open during a 12-month period, so we’re continually expanding and recruiting.
"Being at the forefront of the veterinary industry with a wide range of innovative and high-quality employment initiatives, many of which are ideas from individual team members, helps us to attract and retain the best people. This enables us to grow quickly whilst fostering a close-knit and highly motivated team. This ethos also translates into the level of care and standard of service that our clients receive, which is something we’re very proud of."
The awards celebrate the achievements of remarkable people from the farming, veterinary and charity industries, who go beyond the call of duty to better the lives of animals around the world. Nominations were submitted by friends, family, clients and colleagues.
Spanning six categories, the shortlist for the 2018 Ceva Animal Welfare Awards is as follows:
Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award supported by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines
Vet Nurse of the Year Award supported by Agria Pet Insurance
Charity Team of the Year supported by PDSA
Charitable Contribution of the Year supported by Blue Cross
Farm Animal Welfare Award supported by R.A.B.I. and NADIS
International Cat Care Welfare Award
International Cat Care will be choosing the winner of this award from its extensive membership base. The winner will be announced at the awards’ ceremony.
In addition to the scheduled categories, the judges have granted one additional award in special recognition of an individual’s lifetime commitment to animal welfare.
The shortlist for each award was decided following a day of deliberations by a panel of judges chaired by retired veterinary surgeon, Chris Laurence MBE FRCVS. Chris is chairman of the Animal Welfare Foundation, the Canine and Feline Sector Group of the Animal Health and Welfare Board and BVBA (British Veterinary Behaviour Association) and before retiring he was chief veterinary officer at the RSPCA and veterinary director of Dogs Trust. He is also involved in a number of charities and is a trustee of the Pet Blood Bank and the Bella Moss Foundation.
Chris said: "Judging the ever-increasing number of nominations takes a lot of work, just to read them all let alone deciding who should go forward as a finalist. The standard of nomination improves every year and each is an inspiration to the judges because of the selfless effort put in by each nominee to improve animal welfare, often in the most difficult circumstances."
Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health, added: "Year-on-year we are amazed and humbled by the individuals and organisations who dedicate their lives to enhance and improve animal welfare both in the UK and abroad. We are delighted to be able to honour these people, while highlighting their important work to a wider audience."
The winners will be announced and presented with their awards during a ceremony held in Birmingham ahead of BSAVA Congress on 4th April 2018.
To find out more about the awards, visit: www.cevawelfareawards.com.
BEVA says it was aware, from both younger members and their employers, that there were some equine fields, for which the association had no courses, where newer graduates were lacking in clinical skills.
The new Equine Practice Fundamentals Programme comprises 10 individual CPD courses with a mix of lectures and hands-on practicals. BEVA says it builds on the broad training delivered by the universities to specifically provide the pragmatic knowledge and hands-on clinical skills needed by those in the early stages of an equine veterinary career.
The content was designed on the back of consultation with over 60 senior practitioners from across BEVA’s membership.
The average senior practitioner rated the likelihood that they would encourage recent graduates to attend the programme as 9/10 and BEVA says feedback on the initial course proposal was highly encouraging.
The courses cover:
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA, said: "Because BEVA doesn’t seek to make a profit on its CPD we can deliver an outstanding programme that is both highly regarded and affordable. We anticipate that the series will become essential CPD for those looking to establish themselves in equine practice, for practices looking to support the development of new staff, and for employers looking to differentiate between candidates."
The first five courses will be running during 2018 and again in 2019 together with the remaining five. The full series of ten courses can be booked at a discounted rate. Alternatively, each course can be booked individually.
For further information visit https://www.beva.org.uk/Home/Education/CPD/The-Fundamentals-of-Equine-Practice
NDSR’s European Specialist in neurology and neurosurgery Niklas Bergknut is performing the surgery.
He said: "This type of surgery for dogs is not performed in many clinics across the country.
"The pituitary gland is, of course, a very small gland which is very close to the brain, so it requires considerable expertise to perform the operation, followed by a lot of after-care to help the animal recover properly after surgery.
"The pituitary gland produces hormones which are essential for life, so it is then vital to constantly monitor the dog, its blood, hormones and fluid levels both during surgery and for a longer period after surgery.
"Although surgery may be challenging, the aftercare can be even more challenging and requires very skilled internal medicine specialists to manage the patients after surgery.
"Our medics and nurses carry out various blood tests and manage the fluid balance every hour after surgery and all the way through to the dog going home.
"Every department in the hospital has to work closely together to ensure the best possible treatment and the best possible outcome."
Niklas, who learned the technique from Bjorn Meij, Professor of Surgery at the University of Utrecht, described how the operation is performed. He said: "We go in through the mouth, up through the soft palate and into the underside of the cranium. Then you drill a little hole to access the tumour that way.
"It is obviously essential to make sure you are in exactly the right place or the outcome could be disastrous.
"It is also important to operate as early as possible before the tumour gets too big.
"Trying to remove a big tumour is more difficult and holds greater risks because of the damage that can be done to the surrounding brain in attempting to remove the tumour."
Niklas says that if surgery is successful, the results are impressive, with most dogs making a full recovery and not suffering any recurrence of the tumours, a better outcome than treating the dogs with traditional methods such as radiotherapy.
He added: "Removing the tumour like this is the only way of permanently treating tumours of this type. Radiotherapy is very good too but there is a much larger likelihood of the tumour growing back."
For more information, visit www.ndsr.co.uk.
There are 10 candidates standing in this year’s election, including four existing Council members eligible for re-election and six candidates not currently on Council. They are:
Mr David Catlow MRCVS
John C Davies MRCVS
Dr Mandisa Greene MRCVS
Miss Karlien Heyrman MRCVS
Professor John Innes FRCVS
Dr "Not Again" Thomas Lonsdale MRCVS
Dr Susan Paterson FRCVS
Mr Matthew Plumtree MRCVS
Mr Iain Richards MRCVS
Colonel Neil Smith FRCVS
The biographies and statements for each candidate can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote18.
At the time of writing, the College is still waiting for the Legislative Reform Order (LRO) concerning its governance arrangements, including a reduction in the size of Council, to be approved.
Under current arrangements six candidates will be elected to RCVS Council – however, if the LRO completes the legislative process and is passed by both Houses of Parliament, then only the three candidates with the most votes will take up their places on Council.
Ballot papers and candidates’ details are due to be posted to all veterinary surgeons eligible to vote during the week commencing 12 March, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 27 April 2018.
Once again this year the College is inviting veterinary surgeons to email a question for the candidates to vetvote18@rcvs.org.uk or tweet it using the hashtag #vetvote18 by midday on Monday 26 February.
Each candidate will then be asked to answer two questions from all those received, and produce a video recording of their answers. Recordings will be published on the RCVS website and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos) on the week the election commences.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said:"After last year’s record turnout in the RCVS Council elections we are continuing to work with Electoral Reform Services (ERS) to make it easier for members to vote for their preferred candidates.
"While the traditional paper ballot papers and booklets will be posted as usual, ERS will once again send personalised emails linking members to their unique secure voting website and then send regular reminders to those who haven’t yet had the chance have their say."
It's the second of five new practices that White Cross says it plans to open in a 12-month period.
The Hyde team will be headed up by clinic director Mike Robinson MRCVS, pictured with veterinary nurses Anneliese O'Toole & Aimee Lee.
Located on the site of a former pub, the new Hyde practice opened this month following an investment of £250,000. It is equipped with digital dental x-ray and ultrasound machines, an on-site laboratory, pheromone diffusers to relax pets, ultra-soft bedding and warm, cosy LED lighting in the pet wards.
There are separate, sound-proofed wards for dogs and a specialist cat ward featuring kennels positioned so the cats can’t see each other, to minimise stress-levels. Music specifically composed to reduce anxiety in both dogs and cats is also played in the wards.
Tim Harrison, managing director at White Cross Vets, said: "Hyde is a busy suburb of Manchester with a large number of pets in the surrounding area, which made it the ideal location to continue our expansion into the North West.
"Mike and the team are all highly experienced professionals and bring lots of enthusiasm to their new roles. When this is combined with the practice’s state of the art design, there’s no doubt it will prove to be hugely popular.
"It also offers the potential to expand the team to approximately 20 people in the next five years, which is an exciting prospect."
Liz set up vetsnet to bring together all the wellbeing, leadership and management tools being created by individuals, groups and veterinary organisations in one place, and then to curate, streamline and signpost resources to increase accessibility and use by everyone in the profession.
The Aviva scheme is open to anyone and offers the chance to get funding for an important cause within a community. If successful in its bid, Liz says it will allow Vetsnet to rebrand more clearly as a resource hub, increase ease of use and add user ratings, which in turn will help users to find the help they need when they need it.
Liz said: "I setup Vetsnet to meet needs experienced personally in practice life. Great work is being done to address the mental health and organizational issues within the profession, I wanted to curate, signpost and increase accessibility to the growing wealth of resources for all involved in the provision of veterinary services, to make it a happier profession."
Voting closes on 21st November. To add your support to the bid, go to https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-1093, register, opt out of mailing options and cast up to 10 votes for a single or multiple projects. Those with the most votes will be judged and finalists announced in the new year.
Equip EHV 1,4 is licensed for the active immunisation of horses to reduce clinical signs due to infection with Equine Herpesvirus 1 and 4 and to reduce abortion caused by EHV-1 infection.
Zoetis says it has already communicated directly with veterinary surgeons to inform them that Equip Rotavirus will be out of stock from the end of November 2017 until mid-2018.
During this time an imported vaccine for Rotavirus, will be available to provide an interim solution until supply is restored.
Practices wanting to buy the alternative imported Rotavirus vaccine will need to apply to the VMD for a Special Treatment Certificate (STC).
The company says it acknowledges the concern and frustration this causes its customers and wants to reassure the equine community that it is working diligently to restore the supply of Equip Rotavirus as soon as possible.
For more information, contact your Zoetis account manager or Zoetis technical team.
The robot is used to show how well potential new products or prototypes are performing when it comes to plaque removal.
Built using a scan of a real canine mouth and jaw, the 3D-printed model replicates the normal mastication action of a dog and the pressures it might exert on a dental chew. This, the company says, allows it to test the effectiveness of different product materials and shapes more rapidly and then refine its products at a much earlier stage in the research and development process.
Dr Phil McGenity, Global Pet Oral Care Technical Leader, Mars Petcare said the robot allows them to observe the effects of a dental chew much more easily than in a real dog: "Typically, it’s very difficult to look inside the mouth of a dog while it's chewing, but this robot allows us to assess products more rapidly than we’ve ever been able to in the past. It means we can continually improve the texture and materials in our products."
Mars uses the robot to compare different textures and shapes of products by analysing how much plaque is removed from the robot’s teeth.
Phil said: "We apply a plaque mimic to the surface of the teeth, so we can observe how effectively different prototypes or textures remove this mimic. We take before and after images and, using computer analysis, we can accurately determine what percentage of plaque has been removed.
"This robot has been extremely beneficial for us, to see just how visible the effects of our products, such as DentaStix Daily Oral Care, are."
Veterinary dentist John Robinson said: "One of the key benefits of the chewing robot is it allows a preliminary testing stage before you move into clinical trials. Clinical trials are lengthy and expensive, but the chewing robot means the product can be refined and improved to ensure optimum effectiveness.
"Then you can move into the full clinical trial knowing it has already had extensive texture and plaque removal analysis."
He added: "New research developments such as the chewing robot are vital to improving home dental care in dogs and giving vets the confidence to recommend dental chews to dog owners. Although brushing is regarded as the gold standard, vets need to work more closely with owners to improve homecare via the use of dental products."
Mars Petcare has produced a short report explaining each stage its product development and testing. You can download the report on the WALTHAM website: https://www.waltham.com/waltham-research/oral-health-research/oral-health-r-d/
Conducted in partnership with Royal Canin and led by Professor Alex German, the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic, located at the University’s Small Animal Practice, will undertake extensive examinations of cats over 7 years of age.
Lead researcher Nathalie Dowgray BVSc MRCVS MANZCVS, and Kelly Eyre RVN are now recruiting mature cats in Liverpool and the surrounding area to offer health screenings and assessments of musculoskeletal, cardiac and retinal health.
Nathalie, said: "We are inviting 300 cats to take part in the Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare Study (CatPAWS), a 5-year study; the largest of its kind.
"Cats will visit the practice every six months and we’re recruiting as many cats aged 7 to 10 years of age as we can at this stage.
"We will carry out a number of diagnostics including retinal examination and photography, blood and urine sampling and orthopaedic – including gait analysis - and dental examinations.
"The valuable data we collect will enable us to analyse the effects of ageing in more detail than ever before, and on a far larger scale.
"We’re ultimately aiming to improve the quality of life for these patients and instead of simply accepting what some may consider an inevitable decline in function, collectively take strides toward healthy ageing.”
Findings will be shared with Royal Canin, which will be trying to determine the role of nutrition alongside the many other factors affecting ageing in cats.
For more information, email: catpaws@liverpool.ac.uk
Prevomax 10 mg/ml uses benzyl alcohol as a preservative, as opposed to the other injectable formulation of maropitant (Cerenia) which uses metacresol as the preservative.
Dechra says benzyl alcohol causes less injection site pain than metacresol.
Prevomax comes in a 20 ml bottle and has a 56-day broached shelf life.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "We are delighted to launch Prevomax to the UK and IE market.
"Human clinical studies have shown that an injection containing benzyl alcohol causes less pain than an injection preserved with metacresol.
"Prevomax is particularly useful for the treatment and prevention of nausea induced by chemotherapy and for treatment of vomiting, in combination with other supportive measures."
Dechra is inviting veterinary professionals to share their experience of using Prevomax for a chance to win a £100 Amazon gift card.
Entries must be received by February 28 2018 and should be submitted at www.dechra.co.uk/prevomax
The practice is one of few in the UK to use radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, which, it says, has an average, a 95% success rate in treating cats with hyperthyroidism.
Stephanie Lalor MRCVS (pictured right), an RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine at Willows said: "The new therapy is non-invasive and is the gold standard of treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism. It is safe and highly effective and a single injection can be curative. Patients do need to be screened for their suitability and ideally they are treated with medical therapy prior to the RAI.
"Due to the radioactive nature of the treatment, patients must stay with us for 15 days after the injection. Our patients stay in luxury cat condos during their hospitalisation and their day-to-day care is over-seen by our lead radioactive iodine nurse, Vicky Maund."
The new unit is part of a £1 million investment in Willows which includes a dedicated operating theatre for minimally invasive procedures, a range of specialist treatment rooms and more than 40 new kennels.
Toby Gemmill, clinical director at Willows, said: "We are already extremely well placed to offer a wide variety of specialist treatments and this extension has provided us with the space to expand our services further. The new radioactive iodine unit is very exciting and allows us to build on our gold level cat-friendly clinic status."
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net.
The exhibition comprises 22 photographs showing a range of subjects from across the UK and overseas, including cattle during a TB testing day on the island of Arran, a surprising find during surgery, a look down the microscope at feline myofiber disarray and a practical session of bee veterinary medicine.
The photographs were selected from around 1,000 that were submitted to the association's photo competitions by its members in 2016 and 2017.
The exhibition was officially opened today by Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EfraCom) and BVA Honorary Member, at an opening ceremony attended by parliamentarians as well as many of the veterinary surgeons whose photographs feature in the exhibition.
Neil said: "These photos show the diverse range of things that vets are involved in. What we respect from BVA is that we get good clear, evidence-based advice when we need it."
BVA member and Director of Cambridge Veterinary Group Lucy Crosby was commended for her snake intubation picture last year. She said: "The exhibition is a really exciting opportunity for vets to show that their skills extend beyond the operating room to the arts.
"I personally feel privileged to have my photo shown here. The veterinary profession and what we do is diverse and it's important to broadcast to the general public just how important the profession’s contribution is to the country."
BVA President, John Fishwick said: "It's an honour to have the opportunity to exhibit our members’ photographs in the Palace of Westminster. Vets work in practices across the UK, in government policy, public health and food safety, industry and technology, the armed forces, and beyond.
"As a profession, we play a significant role in many areas of personal and political life; an issue that EU exit has brought into sharp relief. With the political landscape shifting so rapidly, it’s apt that we’re showcasing vets’ work to parliamentarians to make sure it’s at the forefront of their minds as they return for the New Year."
The exhibition will be open daily until Thursday 11 January in the Upper Waiting Room of the House of Commons, an area open to Members of Parliament, Peers and visiting members of the public.
To view the photographs exhibited, and many others from BVA’s photo competitions, visit BVA’s Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/britishvets/albums/
The Envirobed cubicle bedding study found that cow comfort is farmers' number one priority, rated 'very important' by 89% and 'quite important' by 9%. A close second, scoring 81% 'very important' and 13% 'quite important', was reducing mastitis bugs. Allied to this, number three was high absorbency bedding, scoring 71% and 16% respectively. Farmers taking part used a variety of different bedding materials.
The importance of reducing humidity in cow housing was also well recognised. To improve ventilation, ridge tiles have been removed by 38% and fans installed by 9% of farmers. Another 18% and 10% respectively are considering these two options.
Sally Russell from Envirosystems points out that keeping cows clean and comfortable doesn't need be compromised by this winter's shortage and high cost of bedding straw: "Although this is driving up the cost of sawdust and some other materials, there are exceptions.
"For example, some farmers with beef cattle and dairy replacements in straw yards are using a deep bed of Envirobed Original, made from 100% dried recycled paper. Others place a 15cm layer on the floor and top it off with straw.
"For cubicles, the usual material of choice is EnviroBed Premium, a blend of dried paper and kiln dried virgin wood sawdust. Per cubicle, the recommended daily quantity and cost are just 1kg at less than 10p."
Envirosystems says both materials are 95% dry matter and mildly alkaline 7.4 pH, helping create a dry and comfortable area that is unfavourable to disease organisms and fly eggs. They are also biodegradeable and compatible with all manure systems.
Envirosystems has given the findings of its research to farming unions, Dairy UK and AHDB Dairy with permission to use the data if it helps them promote an accurate and caring image of farming, contrary to misleading propaganda put about all too often by the industry's numerous critics.
Photo: Comfy Cow, copyright Ivor Davey
Domingo, pictured on the left with Southfields clinical director Henry L’Eplattenier, will join the Essex referral centre as head of cardiopulmonary service at the start of February.
After qualifying in Zaragoza in his native Spain, Domingo completed an internship and several years in practice in the UK, before joining the University of Bristol small animal hospital as a resident.
He then completed a three-year training programme in small animal internal medicine, followed by a four-year programme in cardiology to become an RCVS diplomate and specialist in veterinary cardiology and small animal internal medicine (ECVIM).
After being appointed as head of cardiology and respiratory medicine at Bristol, Domingo joined Dick White Referrals before his move to Southfields.
Domingo said: "I’m delighted to be joining such a progressive and forward-thinking practice as Southfields. It is clear everyone at the practice is dedicated to continuing its growth and dedication to providing the highest possible level of care."
Southfields’ operations manager Daniel Hogan said: "The arrival of Domingo adds another hugely talented specialist to our growing team of experts. He is, without doubt, at the top of his profession and his passion and dedication are traits which will fit perfectly at Southfields as we continue to grow."
Domingo is also a visiting lecturer in cardiology and respiratory medicine at the Catholic University of Valencia, while he is an active clinical researcher and has published widely in many areas of cardiology and respiratory medicine. His areas of special interest are arrhythmias and interventional cardiology.
For more information about Southfields Veterinary Specialists, go to www.southfields.co.uk.
The draft code contains twenty recommendations to seek veterinary advice on the subject, compared to ten in the previous version, highlighting the crucial importance of veterinary surgeons' involvement in the welfare of meat chickens.
The new codes have been welcomed by the BVA, the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) and Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA), who jointly responded to the Government consultation on the updating of the codes.
BVA President John Fishwick said: "We welcome the Government’s recognition of the vital role the veterinary profession plays in poultry welfare, with further references throughout the updated draft code to the importance of seeking veterinary advice.
"We are particularly pleased to see the recommendation that welfare outcomes should be used to assess and monitor the ongoing welfare of the birds as part of the farm health and welfare plan, and with the signposting to the Humane Slaughter Association’s Poultry Catching and Handling Technical Note within the code.
"The British poultry industry already has some of the highest welfare standards in the world and the veterinary profession and poultry industry will continue to work with Defra on further enhancing animal welfare codes to reflect best industry practice."
The draft code was placed in Parliament on 9 January 2018. If there are no objections from Parliament, it will come into force in March 2018.
Photo: Flock of Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Roaming Freely in Front of Chicken Sheds on a Farm in the Rural Village of Chenson, Devon. Shutterstock / Peter Turner Photography
The Disciplinary Committee heard four charges against Dr Schulze Allen.
The first charge related to the original criminal conviction in the County of San Bernardino in California dating from September 2013, where Dr Schulze Allen pleaded guilty to petty theft for which he was fined US $435 and ordered to pay a fee of US $35.
The second charge related to the fact that, on or around 3 December 2013 in a written application for restoration to the Register, Dr Schulze Allen was dishonest in representing that he did not have any cautions or criminal convictions.
The third charge related to the fact that on or around 4 December 2013 in a sworn affidavit before a Notary Public in Riverside, California, he dishonestly and falsely represented that he had, at no time, been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or elsewhere.
The final charge was that, in an email to the RCVS in June 2016, he dishonestly and falsely represented that he had "no criminal record whatsoever".
Having found Dr Schulze Allen guilty of all four charges the Committee then considered whether the conviction rendered him unfit to practise veterinary surgery and whether the remaining charges amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee noted that the conviction was for a minor matter but had regard to all the evidence before it and considered that as an offence of dishonesty it represented a breach of one of the fundamental tenets of the profession. It further considered that Dr Schulze Allen’s dishonesty toward the College and his completing a legal document which he knew would be relied upon by the College was conduct that fell far short of the standard expected of a member of the profession.
With regard to the final charge, the Committee considered this a "clear attempt to deliberately misrepresent the fact that he had a conviction for a criminal offence." The Committee considered that Dr Schulze Allen’s conduct had been aggravated by the fact that it was protracted and repeated over a period of time.
Ultimately the Committee considered that the conviction rendered Dr Schulze Allen unfit to practise veterinary surgery and the remaining charges amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "His conduct represented a blatant disregard of the role of the RCVS and the systems that regulate the veterinary profession. The Committee also remained particularly concerned at Dr Schulze Allen’s very limited insight into his conduct."
He added: "In mitigation the Committee noted that this is not a case where harm was caused to any animals or humans. It noted that prior to these matters which are before the Committee that Dr Schulze Allen had an unblemished career and that he had been of good character. In respect of purely personal mitigation the Committee noted that Dr Schulze Allen is the main breadwinner of the family."
However, the Committee considered that Dr Schulze Allen’s conduct had fallen significantly short of standards expected of a veterinary surgeon.
Ian Green concluded: "The Committee considered that the only appropriate sanction is that of removal from the Register. Such a sanction is required to send a clear message to Dr Schulze Allen and to veterinary surgeons of the unacceptability of being dishonest to the RCVS. Such conduct undermines public confidence in the profession and fails to uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour.
"Accordingly, the Committee has decided that removal from the Register is appropriate and proportionate in this case. The Committee will direct the Registrar to remove the respondent’s name from the Register forthwith."
Dr Schulze Allen has 28 days from the date of the decision to appeal the Committee’s decision.
The Committee’s full findings and decision is available at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary.
This is the first confirmed finding of the virus in the UK this winter and tests have shown it is closely related to the H5N6 strain that has been circulating in wild birds across Europe in recent months. This is different to the strains which affected people in China last year and Public Health England have advised the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency have said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: "This is the first time avian flu has been identified in the UK this winter and while the disease does not represent a threat to the public, it is highly infectious and deadly to birds.
"As the virus has been circulating across Europe, this finding has not come as a surprise. But it is vital that anyone who keeps birds - whether a few in a back garden or thousands on a farm - is vigilant for any signs of disease, reports suspect disease to APHA and maintains good biosecurity to reduce the risk of their birds becoming infected."
Local measures will be put in place to manage the potential threat. These include a local Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) in Dorset as a precautionary measure to prevent disease spread to other birds. This means all captive bird keepers in the area will have to implement enhanced biosecurity measures such as feeding and watering birds undercover so that wild birds do not co-mingle with kept birds; minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures; cleaning and disinfecting footwear; and keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy.
There are no plans for culling or movement restrictions.
BVA President John Fishwick said: "I’d encourage vets to reassure their clients that this strain of Avian Influenza poses a very low risk to public health and the food chain. Defra have acted swiftly to try and contain further spread of the disease, which has likely come from migratory birds, yet vets and poultry owners should remain vigilant for signs of the disease."
British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) President Phil Hammond added: "It’s really important that all bird keepers heed biosecurity advice issued by Defra, and maintain the highest biosecurity standards. Any suspicion of Avian Influenza should be reported to the APHA as soon as possible."
Up-to-date advice and guidance on Avian Influenza is available on the Gov.UK website, including how to spot it, what to do if you suspect it, and measures to prevent it: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#about-avian-influenza
For further advice on Avian Influenza contact the Defra Helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
Trade should not be affected following the findings in wild birds, according to the rules of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE).
Photo: Wild Birds, Shutterstock / aDam Wildlife
Publishing Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "I've lost count of the number of vets who remark that all veterinary recruitment adverts say that there's a 'happy working team' or a 'supportive environment', or 'all the latest toys' and it's only when they arrive at the practice that they discover that everyone's at each other like ferrets in a sack, and the practice's idea of 'all the latest toys' is a 1972 Goblin Teasmade."
VetSurgeon Jobs now includes the ability for advertisers to display in their advert links to the VetSurgeon profiles of other employees at the practice who are prepared to have an informal chat with candidates about what it's like working there.
Using the messaging system on VetSurgeon.org, the potential applicant and the employee can then arrange a time for a chat, without revealing the employee's email address, after which the candidate will hopefully feel far better placed to decide whether it's the job for them.
Arlo said: "Of course, no advertiser is going to display the name of an employee who is going to say bad things about the practice, but it still offers the chance for candidates to ask questions and make their own mind up before applying for an interview."
Aside from that, just the fact that a practice shows that it has the confidence in its employees to put them in touch with potential candidates says something very positive about those practices which use the feature.
To use the new feature, job advertisers need to enter the email address of another employee at the practice who is also a member of VetSurgeon.org and has agreed to talk to candidates, when they place their advertisement. When it goes live, the advert will then contain a direct link to the employee's profile, under the title: "Talk to other employees of this practice."