Eastcott Referrals in Swindon has become the first practice in the UK to use a jaw reconstruction technique in dogs that uses prosthetic titanium implants created on a 3D printer.

The practice's dentistry and oral surgery team, led by Peter Southerden, has now carried out its first two successful reconstructions using the technique, following oral tumour resection.

Use of patient-specific implants (PSI) for jaw reconstruction is a new technique, which provides an alternative to bone regenerative techniques. Both techniques can be used in cases which have had significant jaw resection or need reconstructive surgery after a trauma.

Peter said: "To my knowledge, using this technique to create patient-specific implants for rostral mandibular reconstruction following bilateral rostral mandibulectomy has not been reported in dogs before.

"The reconstructive surgery involves taking pre and post-operative CT scans of the affected area and sending them to a specialist human medical PSI design company, which then uses 3D titanium printing technology to recreate the missing bone.

"In our first two cases, both dogs are doing really well. The feedback we’ve received from owners suggests their dogs have gained significant benefit from the jaw reconstruction process."

Peter is one of three dentistry and oral surgery clinicians at Eastcott alongside Andrew Perry and resident Ingrid Tundo, with a second resident due to join in 2019.

The team caters for dentistry cases including periodontology, endodontics, orthodontics and restorative dentistry, to complex cases including oral tumours, traumatic injuries and congenital issues such as cleft palates.

Peter added: "There aren’t many people with specialist qualifications in this field, possibly only six in the UK and we are the only team working with the backup of a multi-disciplinary referral hospital.

"Having a team of three, soon to be four, is unusual and means we have a big caseload and see a wide range of different cases. We are very keen on developing new techniques such the ones we have already introduced."

For more information about Eastcott Referrals, visit www.eastcottreferrals.co.uk.  

The veterinary dermatologist Sue Paterson has launched Virtual Vet Derms, an online advice service which aims to give general practitioners the advice they need to manage cases within their own practice, without the need for referral.

Virtual Vet Derms has been set up to be able to give advice to veterinary surgeons on any aspect of skin or ear disease whether it is allergy, otitis media, cutaneous neoplasia or endocrine-based in any species, including dogs, cats, small furries, exotic pets including raptors, birds and reptiles, horses, camelids, zoo and farm animals. 

Sue, herself an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology, is supported by a team of veterinary dermatology colleagues as well as veterinary specialists in exotic medicine, internal medicine (including endocrinology) and consultants with expertise in oncology. 

Sue said: "We recognise that not every veterinarian has got access to a local dermatology specialist and that not all clients can or want to travel to a referral centre. The aim of the service is to formalise the advice that dermatology clinicians give to veterinary surgeons to allow them to get detailed help to manage difficult or challenging dermatology cases within their own practice."

The service has been set up under the RCVS Vivet initiative, is approved by all of the major insurance companies and supported with Veterinary Defence Society Insurance cover. 

Virtual Vet Derms offers support in a range of ways. 

• Quick questions
  Short questions that veterinary surgeons can submit via the online form on the Virtual Vet Derms website that just require a brief reply. This may be a dose of a drug, a parasite you want identifying, or the interpretation of a blood sample such as an ACTH stimulation test.

• Veterinary reports
  Veterinary surgeons can use online request forms on the Virtual Vet Derms web site to submit a brief history of the animal and the problem and some good quality photos of the skin condition. There is also the ability to upload histopathology reports, blood samples and any other pertinent information. A detailed written report is sent back to the vet within 48 hours which will describe clinical signs, differential diagnoses, recommended diagnostic tests and treatment option where appropriate. Where possible, Virtual Vet Derms aims to pass the advice request to the nearest dermatologist but vets can ask for advice from any of its specialists. 

• Telemedicine consultations
  For new cases or for cases where initial advice has been sought, in the client's own primary care veterinary practice via the internet. The Virtual Vets Derms specialist can consult with the owner to provide even more specific advice and support. After each teleconsultation the Virtual Vet Derms specialist will produce a report in the same format as the veterinary report to allow the primary care veterinary surgeon to continue to manage the case more effectively. 

• Face to face consultations
  Can also be arranged via the owner’s vet at the specialist's own practice if there is the need for more specialist investigation that may not be available in the primary care veterinary surgery. In these cases, the specialist will take on the direct care of the case and work with the owner and vet on the best course of action.

• General advice 
  Also possible if the vet wishes to direct an owner straight to Virtual Vet Derms. 

For more information, visit: https://virtualvetderms.com

Hysolv Animal Health UK has launched Respiporc FLUpan H1N1, a newly-developed vaccine against swine influenza which protects against the pandemic strain, pdmH1N1(2009).

Hysolv says the vaccine, which was developed by IDT Biologika, has been used successfully in Germany, where 1.7 million doses have been prescribed. The company says field trials have shown that vaccination not only protected against clinical signs of influenza but also resulted in improvements in reproduction and piglet performance.

Two 1 ml doses of the inactivated vaccine can be injected intramuscularly three weeks apart to pigs from 56 days old, providing immunisation to the majority of animals within seven days. 

Hysolv director, Geoff Hooper said: "Swine flu can be devastating to a herd and this vaccine will broaden protection, particularly when used with our existing vaccine Respiporc FLU3, which we are strongly advising."

Respiporc FLU3 protects against three other strains of swine flu (H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2). Hysolv says that when used together, the two vaccines protect pigs against the most relevant strains in the British Isles.

Geoff added: "There have been several flu pandemics throughout the years – the latest in 2009. It is not possible to predict the emergence of a pandemic strain accurately but this vaccine combined with Respiporc FLU3 will greatly decrease the chance of pigs becoming infected."

MSD Animal Health has announced the launch of Bravecto Plus, a topical endo- and ectoparasiticide for cats.

Bravecto Plus contains fluralaner (280 mg/ml), an ectoparasiticide which provides systemic activity against ticks (lxodes ricinus) and fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), and moxidectin (14 mg/ml), an endoparasiticide which provides systemic activity against a range of internal worms, including heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), intestinal roundworm and hookworm.

Bravecto Plus is applied topically using the "Twist'n'Use" pipette. Once applied, the product kills ticks and fleas for 12 weeks, while also treating intestinal roundworm and hookworm and preventing heartworm disease for eight weeks.

Bravecto Plus can also be used as part of a treatment strategy for flea allergy dermatitis.

Bravecto was first launched in 2014 as a chewable tablet for dogs. In 2016 Bravecto spot-on was launched as a topical solution for dogs and cats. More than 80 million doses of Bravecto have been sold in 72 countries since 2014.

Amanda Melvin, marketing manager, at MSD Animal Health, said: "We are pleased to introduce the latest innovation in feline parasite protection to the Bravecto family."

For more information, refer to the summary of product characteristics or contact your MSD account manager.

Sky News reports that IVC, the Bath-headquartered corporate veterinary group, is putting itself up for sale for a cool £1.5 billion.

IVC was formed in 2011, the result of a merger of several independent veterinary hospitals. Under the leadership of David Hillier, and with backing from Summit Partners in 2014, it grew to over 300 practices before being acquired by the Swedish EQT Partners in January 2017.

In August last year the company merged with Evidensia Group, another veterinary corporate group with practices around Europe, bringing the total to more than 850 clinics and hospitals in eight countries. 

EQT has reportedly now instructed Jefferies Investment Bank to auction the business in the first week of November. 

No word yet on where the auction will take place. If you go, be careful not to scratch your nose at the wrong moment ("1.7 billion from the gentleman at the back. Yes, that's YOU, Sir."). 

Lintbells has launched its 'new and improved' Mobility Matters initiative which provides a framework for introducing nurse–led mobility clinics in practice.

The Lintbells Mobility Matters initiative provides materials designed to help improve communication and client understanding of their pet’s condition. It includes a guide on how to set up a mobility-focused nurse-led clinic, together with a step-by-step guide in a flip chart format to help RVNs recommend dietary supplements or modifications. 

To help launch the clinic, Lintbells Veterinary Business Development Executives can provide lunch and learn sessions. Practices can also become approved Mobility Matters practices with certified CPD for the whole team to ensure that the process of recommendation and referral to the clinic occurs seamlessly and involves everyone in the practice. 

Yumove Brand Manager Gemma Cunningham said: "Feedback about the pack is that it helps vets and vet nurses explain mobility problems to owners in a simple but structured way to improve buy-in to a multimodal approach".

Practices that want to register an interest in the initiative can contact their local Lintbells Veterinary Business Development Executive or visit www.lintbellsvet.com.

The RCVS has published a series of case studies designed to help veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in gaining properly informed consent from clients for procedures and treatments.

The case studies were developed by the RCVS Standards Committee and use a variety of examples of where miscommunication between a client and the veterinary practice can lead to an inadequate level of consent being gained for procedures and treatment, including euthanasia.

Examples include damaged teeth being removed during a clean and polish dental procedure without the owner’s express permission and not giving the full range of options available in the case of a dog with an osteosarcoma.

The case studies follow the Standards Committee approving changes to chapter 11 (‘Communication and consent’) of the supporting guidance to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct in January 2018 to give further advice on how to discuss informed consent with clients, who can be responsible for gaining consent for a procedure and additional guidance on consent forms.

Dr Kate Richards MRCVS, Chair of the RCVS Standards Committee, said: "We hope these case studies will prove useful to practitioners who are having to deal with the complexities around making sure that procedures are fully explained to ensure informed consent is gained.

"We understand the difficulties that are encountered and so these case studies, based on real-life scenarios, highlight where things may go wrong and how these incidents can be avoided by being thorough and ensuring that good communication is at the heart of all we do."

To view the case studies, visit www.rcvs.org.uk/informed-consent.

Chapter 11 of the RCVS supporting guidance on communication and consent is available to view at www.rcvs.org.uk/consent

The RCVS reports that its Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS) has passed the one-year mark, dealing with over 2,000 disputes between veterinary practices and clients in that time.

The VCMS, which is administered by Nockolds Solicitors, was formally launched by the RCVS as an alternative dispute resolution service in October 2017 following a year-long trial.

The aim of the service is to resolve, by mediation, disputes between clients and veterinary practices that do not meet the threshold of serious professional misconduct that is needed for the RCVS to investigate a concern through its formal processes.

Since the service’s trial, which started in October 2016, the VCMS has given preliminary mediation advice on how to resolve a case in more than 1,700 instances with over 580 cases having gone to full mediation of which 89% have concluded with a resolution. 

Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Director of Legal Services, said: "From the perspective of both the public and the profession, the establishment of the VCMS has been a "win-win" situation. For the public it has provided them with an additional route to solve those complaints which wouldn’t cross the threshold to progress in the concerns investigation process.

"For the profession it has provided a more appropriate format for resolving a client dispute that doesn’t involve the time, effort and formal process of an RCVS investigation for those cases that will never amount to serious professional misconduct. I think this has been demonstrated by the fact that the vast majority of the profession are willing to engage with the VCMS process, even though it is entirely voluntary.

"The VCMS has also had a positive impact on the College and its concerns investigation process, allowing us to focus greater resources on those cases that do meet our threshold of serious professional misconduct. This has had a very clear impact on the speed with which we either close cases or move them on to the next stage of consideration by the Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC), which, again, is important to both the public and the profession."

The College says that around 90% of cases investigated at Stage 1 of the process are now either closed or referred to PIC within four months – the College’s key performance indicator at this stage. This compares to around 50% of these cases being closed or referred within four months at Stage 1 in 2016.

The College also says that in total (including both preliminary and full mediation cases), 86% of the cases dealt with by VCMS were successfully mediated and feedback from both clients and veterinary practices has been largely positive. In client feedback from the third quarter of 2018, 93% said they would use the VCMS again and 79% considered it to be fair, while the equivalent figure amongst veterinary practices was 94% and 87% respectively.

Jennie Jones, a partner at Nockolds Solicitors who heads up the VCMS, said: "It is a good sign that mediation is largely working as it should when both parties are reporting similar satisfaction rates and we pride ourselves on negotiating resolutions that are acceptable and beneficial for both the clients and the practices.

"It is great to see that our efforts are also having an impact on the RCVS concerns investigation system by allowing it to concentrate on more serious cases."

More information about the RCVS concerns investigation process, including the different stages of an investigation, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns

Further information about the VCMS can be found on its website at www.vetmediation.co.uk or by calling 0345 040 5834.

Invicta Animal Health has launched an improved version EthyCalm, its vapo-coolant spray for desensitising skin before needling a patient.

EthyCalm is sprayed directly on the skin, or, for more fractious patients, can be applied with a swab. 

Invicta says that unlike other products the effect is instant and EthyCalm leaves no residue on the skin surface.

The improved product, EthyCalm Plus, contains 50% more product (good for over 100 applications) and incorporates a new 'on-off' switch for easier application. It is also now packed in a 'no-roll' case to protect from damage.

Rob Watkins, Managing Director of Invicta, said: "EthyCalm has been an incredibly popular product with nurses and vets. As a small company we always listen to our customers and have taken the opportunity to incorporate suggestions for improvement. The result is EthyCalm Plus which offers significant enhancement over the original product".

EthyCalm Plus is available from veterinary wholesalers and for a limited time the price has been held at £25 each.

New research from the RVC has revealed that young, male, crossbred cats are at greater risk of being hit by a car, begging the question as to why they tried to cross the road in the first place.

The study, which was carried out by the VetCompass programme at the RVC, in partnership with Vets Now, also found that cats are most likely to be involved in a traffic accident in the autumn. 

1,407 cat road traffic accident cases that attended Vets Now clinics across the UK between December 2011 and February 2014 were analysed, with researchers finding: 

• Younger cats, aged six months to six years, are at the greatest risk of road traffic accidents.

• Male cats are 1.3 times more at risk of road traffic accidents than female cats. 

• Crossbred cats are 1.9 times more at risk of road traffic accidents compared to purebred cats.

• Cats are more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident in the autumn. However, they are less at risk in winter as compared to spring.

• Those cats that present with abdominal or spinal injuries are more likely to die, as are those that present with an increasing count of injuries.

• The 1,407 cats that were admitted after being hit by a car represented 4.2% of all cats treated at emergency veterinary clinics (n=22,586) during the period. 

RVC veterinary epidemiologist and VetCompass researcher Dr Dan O’Neill said: "One of the scariest times for any cat-owner is when they first start to let their cat go outside unattended. Owners of younger, and especially male, cats need to be especially vigilant. These results help owners to understand the true risks and therefore assist these owners to make the best decisions about if and how they let their cats go outside."

Dr Amanda Boag, Clinical Director of Vets Now, said: "We are very proud to have worked with VetCompass to ensure this important information about risks to our pet cats is made available to vets and the public. Working with our partners such as the RVC, we are committed to ensuring our large clinical database is used to help advance veterinary knowledge and understanding of emergency and critical care practice."

The full paper entitled 'Epidemiology of Road Traffic Accidents in Cats attending emergency-care practices in the UK' is published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice.

A new survey carried out by VET Festival and Centaur Services has revealed that 91% of those working in the veterinary profession are proud to do so, and the majority (53%) feel part of a respected community.

Of the remaining 47% of the 386 veterinary surgeons, nurses, rehabilitation professionals, practice managers, assistants and students who took part in the online survey, 29% expressed uncertainty about whether the profession is respected, and 18% said they do not feel part of a respected community. 

Of those who do not feel part of a respected community, social media bashing and the accusation that you're only in it for the money emerged as repeated explanations.

However, remarks from those who said they DO feel respected included:

• "People are always impressed when you say you work in veterinary."

• "As a professional clients have a certain respect towards me and I feel like a valued member of the community. People always want to talk to the vet in social situations because we have such a fascinating profession."

• "People recognise the hard work to reach the role as a vet and appreciate helping their four-legged family members greatly."

• "Having built up longstanding relationships with clients over the years, I feel we have a great sense of belonging. We support local events and get lots of positive feedback on social media etc." 

When asked whether their vocation in veterinary medicine was all that they thought it would be, 51% of respondents said yes. Of the others, the three most common reasons why their career had not met expectations were: "Low work-life balance", "Financial concerns" and "High demands from clients".

The three things respondents most aspired to were: "Healthy work-life balance" (81%), Making a difference to the lives of animals" (81%), and "Continue to develop my skills" (78%).

When asked what three things respondents would like to change about the profession, 48% said "Client expectations", 46% said "Recognition as a valued role in society" and 46% said "Financial package".

Founder of VET Festival, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick said: "Despite being part of a profession that feels the stresses and strains of failure, financial pressure, difficult relationships, self-confidence, and even fear on a day-to-day basis, it is heartening to see that collectively we still absolutely find a deep sense of fulfilment and pride in what we do.

"Despite the many challenges we face in our vocation, if there is one thing we can learn from these findings, it is that we are all in it together. We cannot be the best version of ourselves without recognising a common sense of purpose and a desire to support each other, in whatever guise as veterinary professionals.

"We give so much of ourselves in companion animal practice to looking after our patients and the families who love them, we sometimes need to remind ourselves of the need to look after ourselves too and most importantly to look after each other as colleagues and friends sharing the same journey, passion, challenges and responsibilities.

This message is integral to the ethos and interactive learning streams of VET Festival 2018."

The University of Bristol's Bristol Veterinary School has launched a new four-year veterinary degree course.

The new course is called Veterinary Science: Accelerated Graduate Entry (BVSc), and will welcome its first students in September 2019.

The school says the course responds to calls for innovation in veterinary education while upholding current best practice in adult education to support independent, self-directed, and collaborative learning. 

Designed for graduate learners, the programme will see students guided through case-based, tutor-facilitated teaching and learning.

The programme is based on a collaborative approach, where students can work together to gain practical experience from BVS clinics and clinical research. 

Students will be taught in new purpose-built teaching facilities at the school in Langford, North Somerset.

The Langford Campus also encompasses equine and small animal hospitals, a dairy farm, diagnostic laboratories, and farm animal, small animal and equine practices.

Professor Richard Hammond, Head of Bristol Veterinary School said: "As someone who was a graduate entry veterinary student myself, I feel passionately about providing opportunities to those who make the choice to train as a vet later in their educational journey.

"This new programme, delivered in purpose built, state-of-the-art facilities will focus on a more student-centred, case-based approach in small groups and with lots of tutor contact and support. We look forward to welcoming our first cohort of students to Bristol in September 2019".