Hi all,

Just wanted to thank everyone again who came along to the satelitte meeting. I am sure you will agree it was a great day and we heard some interesting talks.

The results for the case report competition are below - Much to the relief of the presenters i forgot my camera so there is no photo to follow.

1st Place - Deoxycorticosterone-producing adrenal carcinoma causing signs of mineralocorticoid excess and hypokalaemic myopathy in a dog

Ruth Gostelow (RVC - Medicine resident )

Second Place - Abdominal mycetoma in a dog caused by Scedosporium apiospermum Rosanne  Jepson (RVC - Medicine Resident)

3rd place - Colonic candidiasis in a dog - Caroline Kisielewicz (Glasgow University - Medicine Resident)

4th place - Four cases of feline hyperprogesteronism - Natasha Hetzel (Bristol University - Medicine Resident)

In total we had 10 excellent submission from practioners and residents - whioch ave the commitee a nice but difficult task of slecting the top 3 . infact we expanded it to four. We hope to secure funding for the competition, so keep the competition in mind when you are on clinics.

Other news is that the commmitee has had alittle re shuffle

Marge Chandler and Clive Elwood have stepped down. Again the Commitee would like to thank them for their hard work and input over the last 4-5 years.

New members of the commitee

Mark Dunning - has joined the program commitee

David Walker - has taken over the PR role from me

My role will change and I  will be keeping an eye on the website and hopefully coming up with some new ideas to make it more interesting ( let me know if you have any) and focusing on the antibiotic usage project.

All the best

Ian

SAMSoc Travel Scholarship 2011

• The scholarship, worth £500, can be awarded to ANY SAMSoc member undertaking international CPD in 2011.
• Applicants should describe how they would intend to use the award in no more than 400 words. Recipients of the award are required to undertake the CPD within a 12 month time period.
• Following completion of their trip the recipient is required to write a short summary article (approx. 1000 words) which will be submitted to the Veterinary press for publication.
• The award is ONLY open to SAMSoc members.
• Last year the travel scholarship was not awarded as nobody applied! Applications should be sent to David Walker (dwalker@ndsr.co.uk) to arrive no later than 31st December 2010; the successful applicant will be notified within 8 weeks of this date. 

 The award will be presented at the pre-BSAVA SAMSoc meeting on 30th March 2011. The award is kindly sponsored by Pfizer.

Efficacy of masitinib in dogs with steroid-resistant inflammatory bowel disease

Fabio Procoli DMV MRCVS, Senior Clinical Training Scholar in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Karin Allenspach Dr.med.vet. PhD DECVIM-CA MRCVS, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Masitinib is a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor licensed for the use in dogs with mast cell tumours, where it has proven efficacy. There also reports that this drug can decrease inflammation in people with several immune mediated disorders, including IBD.

The Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Royal Veterinary College is performing a clinical trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of masitinib as a sole treatment for canine IBD in steroid-refractory cases over a period of 8 weeks.

Further details can be found in the SAMSOC wiki.

Other projects listed

Free plasma metanephrines – a novel diagnostic approach for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in dogs

The Royal Veterinary College

Genetic Basis of Endocrine Disease in Dogs

As part of the LUPA initiative ( http://www.eurolupa.org ), the Royal Veterinary College, University of London and the Universities of Manchester and Uppsala are collaborating to investigate the genetic...

Exocrine Pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) Treatment Study

Exocrine Pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) Treatment Study Aran Mas DVM MRCVS P-J.M.Noble BSc BVM&S PhD MRCVS, A.J.German BVSc PhD CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS

Congenital PSS in Birman Cats - DNA Project

We are currently looking at the predisposition of Birman cats to congenital portosystemic shunts. The project is being run by Angie Hibbert  and Professor Tim Gruffydd-Jones at the Feline Centre Bristol

Diabetes Treatment Survey for vets, nurses and owners

Stijn Neissen RVC

Dear Members,

The 2011 SAMSOC satellite meeting programme is soon to be completed.

Please do yourself a favour and keep your diaries free on:

WEDNESDAY 30th MARCH 2011.

Controversy will be at the very heart of this exhilerating day. Join us and be consumed by one of the talks called:

"Pathologists are from Mars and Clinicians are from Venus – will they ever really understand one another?"

More programme information to follow; one guarantee we can give you at this stage: you will feel seriously left out if you miss it.

SAMSoc Programme Committee 2011

Petplan Charitable Trust PhD Study
to Investigate Feline Infectious Peritonitis-Specific Nucleotide Motifs

A three-year study, leading to a PhD, is being funded by the Petplan Charitable Trust and is available to commence on 1^st February 2011 in the School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford at the University of Bristol.  The aim of the project is to define nucleotide sequence motifs in feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) associated with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and to then develop a diagnostic test for the confirmation of FIP.  The applicant will gain extensive experience in molecular-based techniques and bioinformatic analysis.  Furthermore, the applicant will receive training in the design, conduct and presentation of research. Practical work will be done in the School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford and the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Bristol. The work will be jointly supervised by Professor Stuart Siddell and Drs Chris Helps and Séverine Tasker, supported by collaborators both within the University of Bristol and in other Universities.  Good computer skills are essential, and some experience of molecular research and feline medicine is desirable.  The successful applicant will have a high level of literacy and numeracy, good organisation skills and a willingness to learn and develop research skills to a high standard.  The successful applicant will also have excellent communication skills and confidence in making contact with cat owners and veterinary surgeons.

Applicants must possess, or expect to obtain, a first class, or good upper second class, degree in a biological related subject, or a degree in a veterinary science, and be able to demonstrate a clear interest in FIP.  This project is available to citizens of a number of European countries (including the UK) who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more.

Informal enquiries about the project are encouraged and can be made to Dr Séverine Tasker (email: s.tasker@bristol.ac.uk).

To apply, please send a CV, cover letter, and the names and addresses of two referees to Alison Foxwell, Head of Department’s Office, School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, BS40 5DU (email: cvs-hod-office@bristol.ac.uk), quoting reference SCH/10/09, by December 15^th 2010

A study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has found there’s no substantial link between popular conformation in rabbits, including floppy ears or flat faces, and an increased risk of dental problems¹.

According to the RVC, recent studies estimate dental disease affects up to 18% of the UK's rabbits and breeds with lop ears and short skulls (brachycephaly) have long been suspected of being more at risk.

To investigate whether there is any truth to that suspicion, a team of RVC researchers led by Maria Jackson RVN, Research Assistant in Rabbit Health and Welfare, and Dr Charlotte Burn, Associate Professor in Animal Welfare and Behaviour Science, set out to explore whether these physical features are linked to dental problems.

The study involved visual dental checks of 435 volunteered pedigree rabbits from 49 breeds at British Rabbit Council shows and breeders’ studs across the UK.

The researchers assessed tooth and mouth health using an otoscope, while also recording ear type, head shape (on a purpose-made visual scale), body size, age and sex.

The findings revealed that:

• Many rabbits had no obvious dental issues with 68.28% of rabbits having no incisor abnormalities and 55.40% having no issues with their cheek teeth.
• Lop-eared rabbits were not more likely to have dental problems but were 4.03 times more likely to have watery eyes – a symptom that could be linked to other health issues.
• Flat-faced (brachycephalic) rabbits did not show more dental abnormalities than those with longer faces.
• Longer-faced rabbits (dolichocephalic) were slightly more likely (1.39 times) to have a specific dental issue known as “step or wave mouth”, where the premolars and molars have a step-like pattern and don’t align normally.
• Older age and sex were more consistently linked to dental abnormalities. Male rabbits were 2.06 times more likely to have an incisor abnormality and 2.23 times more likely to have slanted or curved incisor occlusal surfaces. While females were 2.18 times more likely to have long first cheek teeth, although the clinical significance of some of these findings isn’t clear.

In conclusion, the study concluded that diet, environment and regular dental checks might be more important in the development of dental disease.

The researchers also concluded that any breeding decisions should be based on veterinary assessment of dental health, including otoscope or radiography examinations rather than relying solely on visual inspection of the teeth or a rabbit’s conformation.

Maria said: “Our findings add to the evidence that suggests lop ears and a brachycephalic head shape are less important in the development of dental issues in rabbits than was once thought.

"It’s clear that all rabbits, not just those with a non-wild conformation, can be affected by dental problems.

“The importance of feeding good-quality hay or grass and supplementing the diet with extruded pellets, not muesli, cannot be overstated, as diet may well be more important than conformation in the development of dental disease.

"Likewise, providing regular veterinary dental check-ups to rabbits is crucial to facilitate early dental disease detection and give case-specific dietary and treatment recommendations to slow disease progression and support the welfare of rabbits.” 

Reference

1. Jackson, M. A., Betts, M., Hedley, J., & Burn, C. C. (2025). Rabbit Dental Abnormalities: Investigation of Conformational Risk Factors in a Pedigree Rabbit Population. Animals, 15(7), 980. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15070980. 

Photo: depositphotos.com

Manchester-based Anca Bucur MRCVS has been suspended from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons for two months after she was found to have issued a veterinary prescription for tramadol intended for use by her father.

Ms Bucur MRCVS faced three charges against her.

The first charge was that in April 2024, she wrote a prescription for 60 tablets of tramadol 50mg, indicating that it was for the treatment of an animal, when it was intended for the treatment of a human.

The second charge was that she allowed the prescription to be presented at a pharmacy and/or failed to stop that.

The third charge was that her conduct, in relation to the first two charges was dishonest, and misleading, and took place in circumstances where she was not professionally qualified to write a prescription for human use.

At the outset of the hearing, Ms Bucur admitted all the charges and the Committee accepted her admissions.

In relation to charge three, the Committee found that Ms Bucur had been aware that she should not have written the prescription, that she should not have indicated that it was for an animal, that she should not have deleted the prescription for the clinical record on the practice management system, and she should not have allowed or failed to prevent the prescription from being presented for dispensing.

The Committee therefore found all charges proved.

In terms of aggravating factors, the Committee considered that Ms Bucur’s conduct had given rise to a risk of injury because she was not professionally qualified or sufficiently informed to issue a prescription for tramadol, that she had acted recklessly with regard to the potential effects of a controlled, potentially addictive drug and that her conduct had been premeditated.

It also accepted the submission that there was an abuse of Ms Bucur’s professional position as a registered veterinary surgeon, because this had allowed her to issue a prescription.

The Committee also found that Ms Bucur’s conduct was aggravated by her having involved other persons in her misconduct, namely her partner, in an attempt to have the prescription dispensed.

The Committee noted that the charges involved findings of dishonesty, which is regarded at the higher end in terms of the spectrum of gravity of misconduct.

In mitigation, the Committee took into account that the facts proved related to a single incident of the issuing and attempted use of a prescription.

The Committee was of the view that the Ms Bucur’s conduct had failed to promote protection of public health and had breached the legislation around access to controlled drugs.

Even though this was a single incident, the Committee considered that members of the public, if aware of the facts, would be alarmed and concerned at Ms Bucur’s actions.

As a result, the profession could be brought into disrepute and public confidence in the profession undermined.

The Committee therefore found that Ms Bucur’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct in a professional respect.

The Committee then considered whether there were any relevant additional personal aggravating or mitigating factors.

The Committee did not find any further aggravating factors; in mitigation it noted that Ms Bucur had no previous complaints of adverse matters in her career.

The Committee accepted that Ms Bucur had made early, open and frank admissions to her conduct.

She had also offered a fulsome and genuine apology and remorse in her witness statement and in the hearing.

The Committee also accepted that she had since worked without further incident and concluded from her witness statement and evidence that she had developed full insight into her misconduct.

She was able to provide a notable number of references and testimonials which were uniform in speaking to her positive qualities as a veterinary surgeon.

The Committee was able to conclude that this has been a very serious but single lapse of judgement, and that there was a relevant context in that Ms Bucur had clearly acted out of concerns to help her father, however misguided.

There were no suggestions of harm, or risk of harm, to animals.

However, the Committee could not ignore that Ms Bucur’s misconduct had occurred in relation to a controlled drug and had contravened important protections designed to protect the public.

Neil Slater, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee balanced the effect that a suspension would have on Dr Bucur, by depriving her of the ability to practise for a period, with the public interest.

"However, it decided that, in the circumstances, the interests of protecting the public, including the wider public interest, outweighed Dr Bucur’s interests.

“The Committee decided that, in all the circumstances, a suspension was the appropriate and proportionate sanction.

“The Committee considered for how long the suspension should be imposed.

"It considered that the suspension was not required to allow for Dr Bucur to gain any further insight.

"It would purely be required to mark the Committee’s disapproval of Dr Bucur’s misconduct, as a signal to the public and to the profession.

"The Committee concluded that the least period required in all the circumstances is two months.

“The Committee therefore directed to the Registrar that Dr Bucur’s registration be suspended for a period of two months.”

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings 

The Quadstar Foundation, a charity set up by former vet Nick Butcher, has awarded life-changing grants to two vet students, one of whom found out about the grant through VetSurgeon News.

The grants, which are for up to £3,500 per annum, are for students embarking on a gateway or main veterinary degree course, possibly as a second degree.

Amber Cordice was an early recipient of a Quadstar Foundation grant which she has had for the last four years. 

She'd always wanted to be a vet, but didn't quite get the A level grades, so she took an undergraduate Zoology degree and got a first.

She was then awarded a place at Harper and Keele Veterinary School, but just didn't have the money because there is no finance for second degrees. 

So the enterprising student set up a 'Go Fund Me Page' which got reported by VetSurgeon.org News, which is how Nick found out about her challenges and the rest is history.

Except not quite, because then Alicia Guarnieri (pictured) found herself in a similar position.

She'd completed a degree in Bioveterinary Science before starting a vet degree at the University of Bristol.

She said: “I’d managed to save up prior to being offered my place but when Covid hit, most of it went on rent.

"Like Amber, I decided to defer my place. I looked everywhere for grants, spending hours sifting through guides and asking all the vets I knew, but it all came to a dead end."

But then she came across Amber's story on VetSurgeon.org and, through her, found out about the Quadstar Foundation which awarded her with a grant which covers over a third of her tuition costs.

Alicia added: “Finances are a huge barrier to students taking a second degree, particularly after tuition fees increased.

"There are many of us in the same boat, and sadly many who turn down their place solely due to cost.

"Nick and the Quadstar Foundation are truly changing people’s lives by offering this support. 

"Having thought I would never get to this point, I can’t wait to qualify next year and finally become a vet, and I am forever grateful for the help The Quadstar Foundation has provided me.”

Quadstar's latest grantee is Raluca Magadan, a veterinary nurse from Ireland, who is now on the accelerated graduate course at Bristol University.

She said: “Doing a second degree was never going to be easy.

"However, through help from family and locum vet nurse work, I managed to afford my first three years of vet school and made it into final year.

"This is where the difficulty came, as I had to more than forty hours per week of unpaid rotations work, plus clinical EMS during the holiday breaks, which made it very hard for me to earn the money I needed to afford my final year.

"At times it meant I had under £100 to survive an entire month on, which became a big physical and mental challenge.

“That’s when the Quadstar Foundation stepped in and took a weight off my shoulders by helping to pay off my outstanding university fees and providing some financial security in my final months.

"This has been a huge relief and allowed me to finally enjoy my last year at Bristol.

"I can’t thank everyone at the charity enough.”

In addition to funding and mentoring, The Quadstar Foundation helps its grantees with everything from job applications to revision techniques, as well as any mental health crises and helping them to find a place to live.

Nick, who also runs a property and acquisitions company and Animus Surgical, a pet and vet supplies company, said: “Having worked as a vet for many years before setting up my businesses, I have great industry connections and knowledge.

"So, I’m in the privileged position of being able to help committed students to seize the career opportunities they deserve.”

“My main commercial motivation now is to be able to maintain the funding streams required for these grants.

"It’s surprisingly hard to fundraise for individuals.

"That’s why Animus Surgical has just committed to donating 15% of its profits to the Quadstar Foundation.”

He added: “It’s an enormous privilege to support these inspiring young vets who have had such a hard slog to get past the ever-increasing barriers they face. Barriers that back in our day didn’t exist.” 

What a lovely story. VetSurgeon.org is proud to have played a tiny little part in it and wishes Amber, Alicia and Raluca every success in their future careers. And hats off to Nick.

www.quadstar.org 

Vetlife is calling on all members of the veterinary community to lace up their boots and join the Northumberland Vetlife Day Hike on the 9th and 10th of May.

The two-day event, being held in collaboration with the Veterinary Voices Hiking Group, offers a great opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, get together, and raise vital funds for this crucial charity.

The event is being led by passionate hiking enthusiasts and Vetlife trustees Robyn Lowe and Paul Horwood.

Each day's route will cover 12-19 miles of stunning Northumberland coastline, but participants can opt for shorter distances.

Robyn said: "The Northumberland hike is more than just a walk – it's about coming together as a community, supporting one another, and embracing the mental health benefits of being in nature.

"We hope to see as many people as possible join us, not only to enjoy the experience but to help us continue Vetlife's essential work."

While fundraising is not compulsory, participants are encouraged to try and raise £365 for the charity, symbolising the number of days Vetlife provides support for the community each year.

To register your interest, email fundraising@vetlife.org.uk.

Photo: www.depositphotos.com

The RCVS has launched a new section of its website designed to give pet owners a better understanding of how veterinary practices work and is urging vets to share it with clients. 

The advice in the new help section has been designed to highlight the shared responsibilities of animal owners and their vet teams, and to support practices by giving this advice for pet owners in a clear and easy-to-read way.

It explains what pet owners can expect from their vet team - and what is expected of them - throughout the different stages of pet ownership.

The information is split into ten sections:

• Shared responsibilities
• Choosing a veterinary practice
• I’ve found a practice I like – what next?
• Who’s who in your veterinary practice
• Treatment and care
• Prescription medication
• Fees and pricing
• Emergency and out-of-hours care
• When things go right
• If things go wrong

The content in the new resource was informed by the views of the RCVS’s Public Advisory Group (PAG), whose members comprise owners/keepers of companion animals, equine and production animals, as well as other users of veterinary services.

Veterinary surgeon and Chair of the RCVS PAG, Louise Allum MRCVS (pictured), said: "The PAG has performed an essential role in helping to inform the content creation for our animal owner help and advice resource, highlighting the need for greater transparency and support, particularly around veterinary fees, treatment options, and what to expect from vet practices.

"Veterinary professionals work tirelessly to provide the most appropriate care for their patients, and we want to support this by ensuring pet owners have access to clear, accessible information about their rights, responsibilities, and the role of veterinary teams to ensure that expectations are managed.

“We are calling upon veterinary professionals to share this resource with clients far and wide, to help owners understand more about veterinary practice and how they can build a successful partnership with their vet team, ultimately leading to better outcomes for pets, their owners and veterinary professionals alike."

The RCVS will be expanding its help and advice section to include further information for equine and livestock owners in due course.

www.rcvs.org.uk/owner-advice.

Dechra is conducting a survey of vets about otitis externa in dogs, and there's a Fortnum's hamper up for grabs.

The five-minute survey includes questions on the number of otitis externa cases seen in practice, consultation times, common compliance issues, cytology uptake and client behaviour change frameworks.

Completed entries will be entered into a draw for a Fortnum & Mason hamper worth £100.

Charlotte Hill, brand manager at Dechra said: “The otitis externa in dogs survey will provide us with valuable insight into vets’ experiences of the condition.

"It will also allow us to identify any trends that may exist to help us improve how we as a profession approach otitis externa, while supporting owners when treating the condition which can be frustrating to manage.

https://forms.office.com/e/J7frrbL56A 

The BSAVA has today opened Early Bird registration for BSAVA Alba 2025 which is taking place at the Glasgow Crowne Plaza on September 26th-27th.

Delegates will have the opportunity to gain up to 16 hours of CPD, explore a bustling exhibition with 20+ industry-leading exhibitors, and connect and network with colleagues and renowned speakers.

The programme covers a range of topics including ECC, Cardiology, Imaging, Nutrition, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Dermatology and Professional Development all with discussion sessions to further explore how it all relates to real-world practice.

Programme highlights include:

• Feline Otitis (Debbie Gow) – Common causes of feline otitis using the PSPP system, including diagnosis and treatment.
• Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (John Ryan) - Indications, modalities, aims, benefits and limitations of physiotherapy in dogs and cats.
• Critical Care Nutrition: Preventing Malnutrition in Veterinary Patients (Georgia Woods-Lee) - The role of nutrition in managing critically ill veterinary patients, with a focus on preventing malnutrition and supporting recovery.
• Making ECGs Work for You (Frane Ivasovic) - The practical steps required to obtain a high-quality ECG recording, including correct lead placement, patient positioning and machine settings.

Amelia Brunt, Events Manager for BSAVA said: “Our Scottish Committee has worked incredibly hard to make this event accessible to vets and nurses within the profession, and this year’s BSAVA Alba has more hours of CPD on offer than before.

Whether you’re local to Glasgow or are travelling to join us, this event promises to be a fantastic chance to gain some high-quality learning in a friendly and inclusive environment.”

Early bird tickets are available until 31st July, with prices starting at £108 for BSAVA Members and £126 for non-members.

www.bsavaalba.com/home/programme