The one day course for general practitioners will be presented by Dr Sonya Miles, an RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine and lead clinician for Highcroft Exotic Vets (an RWAF Gold accredited practice).
It's worth 7.5hrs of CPD. Sonya will be covering:
This course costs £250 and includes lunch, tea/coffee/biscuits, and a certificate of completion.
Apparently there are acres of parking. For those not able to attend, www.justexotics.co.uk has an extensive library of free content including: fact sheets, care sheets, protocols and “How to” videos covering exotic mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, invertebrates and British wildlife, as well as a constantly expanding catalogue of webinars covering these species.
CVS says that in the USA, the veterinary profession is the fifth highest profession for non-fatal injuries, with equine veterinarians sustaining an average of eight serious injuries during their career.
‘The context, consequence and prevention of veterinary workplace injuries: a qualitative and quantitative study in the UK’ will be undertaken at the University of Liverpool in collaboration with CVS colleagues as part of its Clinical Research Awards.
The study will run for three years, supported by £74,400 of CVS funding.
The research will investigate what veterinary injuries are, what context they occur in and what their consequences are.
It will look to highlight areas of the profession where injury prevention training and strategies can be developed and adopted to improve the safety of working in veterinary practice.
For the first phase, University of Liverpool researchers have rolled out the largest ever survey to explore veterinary workplace injuries with over 5,000 CVS staff UK-wide.
The survey investigates how veterinary professionals define injuries, their specific causal mechanisms, and why individuals do or do not report injuries or seek medical treatment.
The survey will be followed by an independent audit of CVS’ accident reporting system.
The results of these two activities will lead to the development of a suite of industry leading ‘open access’ educational tools aimed at promoting injury awareness and prevention to help drive behaviour change and support injury avoidance.\
The research project is being led by Dr. John Tulloch, a Research Fellow and European Specialist in Veterinary Public Health, at the University of Liverpool.
Collaborators include CVS Head of Health and Safety Rebecca Jackson and Director of Learning, Education and Development Dr Martin Whiting.
John said: “Injuries that occur within veterinary practice can tragically at times be life-changing and are often avoidable.
"Currently we do not know some critical details that would help to improve safety within the veterinary workplace.
"If we can better understand these details, we will be able to develop and strengthen prevention measures through policy, education, and training.
"We anticipate that this project will result in safer workplaces within the wider veterinary community and, indirectly, in improved animal treatment through a fitter, healthier and safer profession.”
At the beginning of the hearing legal applications were made to rule that the whole proceedings should be stopped as an abuse of process on various grounds including the delay that had occurred in the matters being referred to the RCVS, and that there had been flaws in the original investigatory process.
There was also application that the evidence of one of the College’s witnesses should be excluded on the grounds that the witness had been convicted of bribery.
The Committee decided that the proceedings should continue but ruled that the statement and evidence of one witness should be excluded from the hearing based upon their conviction.
Mr Gracey faced five charges, all of which he was found guilty of. They were:
Three other charges were found not proven and one allegation was withdrawn by the RCVS.
The Committee then considered if the proven charges amounted to serious professional misconduct.
In doing so it made reference to the Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance, particularly in relation to the 10 Principles of Certification.
Dr Hazel Bentall MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee considered individually and cumulatively all matters it had found proved.
"It concluded that the public relies on veterinary surgeons to be honest and transparent when completing and signing forms.
"There is a public interest in being able to trust the profession to uphold high standards of probity because veterinary surgeons are trusted to play an important role in the promotion of animal health and welfare and associated human health.
"The Committee therefore concluded that cumulatively Charges 1, 2, 3 and 4 amounted to serious professional misconduct because the respondent had failed to meet the necessary high standards of honesty and transparency.
"In particular the fact that there were four separate events relating to animal welfare and public health was significant when considering what sanction to impose.”
“The Committee is satisfied that such conduct, when taken together, would be considered deplorable by other members of the profession.
"The respondent’s conduct on four occasions in respect of four animals and three conflicts of interest called into question his competence in relation to completing such forms.”
In considering the appropriate sanction for Mr Gracey, the Committee took into account both mitigating and aggravating circumstances, as well as a number of character witnesses for the respondent who highlighted his positive personal and professional qualities.
In mitigation, the Committee considered that Mr Gracey has hitherto been of good character with no previous disciplinary findings, that he had admitted some parts of the charges against him at the outset of the hearing, that he had made efforts to avoid repeating the misconduct and remediate it – this included making alternative certification arrangements for his father’s farm and taking more appropriate care with record keeping.
The Committee also acknowledged the significant lapse of time between the date of the misconduct and the hearing and the stress that had caused to Mr Gracey, as well as the insight he had shown into his misconduct.
Taking into account all the factors, the Committee decided that imposing a period of six months suspension from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons was the appropriate sanction for Mr Gracey.
Dr Bentall added: “The Committee concluded that suspension of the respondent’s registration for a period of six months was proportionate.
"The Committee considered whether a shorter period was appropriate bearing in mind the mitigating factors it had found applied in this case.
"It decided that a period of six months was proportionate and the minimum length necessary to meet the public interest balancing the seriousness of the misconduct and the mitigation.
"It decided that a shorter period of suspension would be insufficient to uphold proper standards within the profession, or to have a deterrent effect.
“The Committee was satisfied that the respondent had shown sufficient insight and efforts to remediate his misconduct and it concluded that at the end of this period of suspension he would not pose a further risk to animal welfare or public health.
"The Committee considered that the respondent was a valued veterinary surgeon with extensive farm animal experience and that a more severe sanction such as removal from the RCVS Register would not properly reflect the Committee’s findings on the scale of dishonesty and would not take account of the respondent’s mitigation.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The second biggest financial worry was the cost of dog food (18%), followed by pet insurance (16%).
The news came as Dogs Trust announced that it has had 50,000 requests this year from owners asking the charity to take in their dog, a new record in the charity's history.
The outlook for 2023 doesn't look any more optimistic; the poll also found that 62% of people who don’t currently own a dog think the rising cost of living would prevent them from getting one in 2023, whilst 36% said it ‘definitely would’ and 25% said it ‘probably would’.
In the meantime 21% said they would give their dog fewer presents this year, whilst 13% said they won’t give their dogs a present at all this Christmas, despite giving presents in previous years.
Maybe that's a good thing. After all why were they wasting money in the first place: the dog doesn't know it's Christmas, or appreciate a present.
Perhaps more significantly, fewer dog owners will be going away for a Christmas break this year: 9% said they’d be staying home because they can't afford a dog sitter.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said: “Although it was inevitable that we would reach 50,000 calls from owners no longer able to care for their dogs, it’s still a shock and a stark signifier of the animal welfare crisis the UK now finds itself in.
“Through our December poll, dog owners have told us they’re going to struggle this Christmas, and many more are really worried about what 2023 is going to bring."
Muriel joined Pennard Vets as an office junior on 7th January 1950, when she was 15 years old
She earned a weekly wage of £1 10 shillings, equivalent to £1.50 in today’s money.
Andy Green, a Director at Pennard Vets, said: “Few people in this country have achieved what Muriel has.
"Pennard Vets has been around for over 125 years and Muriel’s journey with us has encompassed a staggering 70 years of that, making her one of only a handful of people in the UK who have completed 70 years with a single employer.
“Muriel is ever-present, reliable, caring, dependable and she makes the best biscuits around.
"She started work at our Sevenoaks practice as a 16-year-old in 1950, when it was just as likely a client would be bringing in a sheep, goat or horse as a dog or cat, and we used loose boxes outside for examinations, treatments isolation and even post-mortems.
“During the subsequent 70 years she was part of the growth in the practice from a single site to multiple sites.
"She was also fantastic at embracing the latest technology as the practice went from handwritten ledgers, double entry bookkeeping and dealing with the terribly difficult to decipher handwritten notes of the vets, to digitalisation, computers, online systems, email, mobile phones and a host of other technological advances.
“Throughout the years her role changed dramatically, and she learned new skills, adapted, and moved with the times, demonstrating our core values of continuous improvement, client focus, compassion and clarity every step of the way.
“When Muriel retired in 2020, sadly lockdown rules denied us the chance for a proper celebration, so we are very pleased to have been able to celebrate together with such a fabulous party.”
Muriel said: “When I started at Pennard Vets, the practice cared for large animals including horses, sheep and cattle on the local farms, but we also had some more unusual clients.
"A special highlight was fielding telephone calls from former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who lived at Chartwell country house, near Westerham, in Kent and employed the practice to look after the health of the black swans living on the estate’s lake.
“Two of the biggest changes I saw during my seven decades at the practice were the business giving up farm work to focus on small animal work as dogs and cats became a bigger part of our families, and the transition from my handwritten notes in ledgers to modern computer systems, but I have always embraced change and enjoyed learning new skills.
"I miss everyone at Pennard Vets but will keep in touch and keep baking for them!”
The tips, put together by Tessa Plagis (communication advisor at St. Anna Advies), Alan Robinson (director of VetDynamics) and Rebecca Robinson (coach at VetDynamics and senior clinician in veterinary anaesthesia at the AHT), are being shared to set the scene for Congress 2023, where international experts will be exploring how time management at organisational, systems, teams and an individual levels can lead to drastic improvements in performance, job satisfaction and wellbeing.
The Association points to the demands on the profession caused by the fact that veterinary professionals have been saying 'yes' to everything for years: yes to more clients, more patients and more overtime.
This, says BSAVA, is taking its toll: experienced practitioners and recent graduates are leaving the profession, and many more are suffering mental and physical health issues associated with sustained high stress.
Tessa Plagis, communication advisor at St. Anna Advies, said: “We are at a tipping point and can’t keep doing what we’ve always done. If we want sustainable veterinary businesses going forward we need to change the structure of how we work.”
Tessa says the issues are both organisational and individual: “Many veterinary professionals struggle to give boundaries.
"We are people pleasers and tend to say ‘yes’, even if that means compromising other important aspects of lives, such as family.
"This set against a background of too few vets, which means that there’s nobody to help us out when there’s too much to-do.”
To find out more about time management, book your ticket for BSAVA Congress at: https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2023/en/page/home, and in the meantime, here are Tessa, Alan and Rebecca's time management tips.
Tessa's tips
Alan's tips
Rebecca's tips
Expanding on the training available in autumn 2022, which was launched based on the results of an extensive training pilot, MMI is offering a total of 14 sessions taking place both online and in person over the next few months. Sessions will be running from January to April 2023. The courses will cover areas that have been identified as priority topics from previous MMI surveys, feedback from the professions, and evaluation of the training pilots.
Mind Matters Initiative Manager, Lisa Quigley, said: “Mental health and wellbeing are impacted by a whole host of structural and societal factors and maintaining a healthy workforce goes far beyond supporting people on an individual level.
"Whilst it is undoubtedly important to provide people with the skills they need to look after themselves, we are aiming to expand on this by providing individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to recognise and address wider collective issues. For example, the importance of creating and maintaining a positive workplace culture.
Session dates and specific topics are as follows:
Mental Health First Aid (£30 in-person)
9am – 5pm
Psychological Safety and Civility (£20 in-person, £15 online)
In-person – 9am – 4pm
Online – 9am – 1pm
Sustaining Your Emotional Health (£15 in-person)
2pm – 5pm
For more information on the training courses, visit: https://vetmindmatters.org/training/
The theme of Congress is 'Thriving in Practice' and there are five lecture streams:
To book your ticket visit https://spvs-congress.co.uk/congress-delegate-tickets/
The one-hour CPD session is being given by Tom Dutton (pictured right), an EBVS specialist in avian medicine and surgery.
Tom said: “We are currently suffering from the biggest avian flu outbreak in UK history.
“As well as the widely reported effect on the UK commercial poultry industry, there have also been a number of cases in captive birds.
“Bird owners are naturally worried about their pets becoming infected and practice vets are also having to field requests from members of the public who are concerned about wild birds.
“This session will help vets to manage enquiries and handle any potential clinical situations with confidence.”
To register for the webinar, email Jess at: GWEReferrals@vets-now.com before 23rd January
The outbreak, which was widely covered in the media, caused concern amongst cat owners.
The findings of an investigation found a link between high concentrations of trichothecene T-2/HT-2 mycotoxins (both poisonous substances, produced by fungi) in certain cat foods.
The first study, published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, describes 580 cats recorded by the RVC’s database during the initial outbreak, the epidemiology of the cases and the link with mycotoxin exposure.
The cats presented with severe reductions in vital blood cells, including white blood cells responsible for fighting infection and platelets responsible for blood clotting.
The research recounts how analysis of these cats’ data – provided both by pet owners and vets - revealed three diets that had been consumed by the majority of affected cats and how this subsequently led to a UK wide recall in June 2021.
Examining the subsequent analysis of the feed samples and the discovery of mycotoxin contamination, which is known to be toxic to bone marrow, and thereby negatively impacting the production of key blood cells, the study concludes that mycotoxin contamination should be considered as the cause of the outbreak.
The second study examines 50 cats identified as having pancytopenia in more depth, providing a detailed picture of clinical findings to better understand the disease process in these cats affected by the outbreak.
Records and data of 50 of the affected cats were assessed to identify additional clinical signs which indicated contact with mycotoxins.
Following examination of the cats’ bone marrow, it was found that all cats suffered a marked toxic insult to their bone marrow.
From this, the study concluded that a differential diagnosis of mycotoxin-induced pancytopenia should be considered in cats presenting with pancytopenia.
Lead author of the research, Dr Barbara Glanemann, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College and Co-head of the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service at the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, said:
“These pieces of research involved a great deal of work from many people (noted as authors and acknowledgements in the papers) and we really appreciate the teamwork involved, and the collaborative support we received.
“We know first-hand how much devastation and concern this outbreak caused for many cat owners across the country and so it is our hope that the studies will help people better understand what happened to cause this outbreak and can be used to not only provide some closure to those affected but also reduce the chances of something similar occurring in the future.”
References
The first phase of research is being conducted this January and February 2023 and will analyse the amount and distribution of UK canine health research funding over the past decade.
Veterinary associations, societies and charities which support canine health research tend to identify funding priorities aligned with their own strategy and scope, taking account of independent peer review from experts in the field of research.
However, the RVC says that as there are many research funders working independently, some important research topics may be overlooked and separately funded projects can inadvertently overlap in their work.
This study endeavours to investigate these issues and consider how resources are prioritised across different areas of canine research.
Participating stakeholders will be asked their opinions on future research funding and this information will contribute to developing a long-term strategy for not-for-profit UK canine health research.
Thereafter, the aim is to create a pilot consultation process for developing a central prioritisation platform for future collaborative canine research.
The RVC’s says it has already got data and support from several major funders but is keen to maximise the scope of this research, so it is now looking for participation from specialist veterinary societies that fund research, and non-university organisations, such as charities, corporates or independent referral practices which conduct their own in-house canine research.
Dr Alison Skipper, Postdoctoral Researcher into Canine Research Funding within VetCompass at the RVC said: “We are really keen to hear from as many non-profit organisations involved with canine health research funding as possible. The breadth and depth of this data is vital to ensure that our findings accurately reflect this sector."
For more information about how to get involved, please visit https://rvc.uk.com/canine-research-funding-analysis.
The 2023 PAW Report will assess how lifestyle changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis have affected the nation’s pets.
The survey, which is open to vets, veterinary nurses and students, closes on 10th February 2023.
Entrants will be in with a chance of winning a £100 One4all voucher, accepted in over 130 high street stores.
Rebecca Ashman, PDSA’s Veterinary Engagement and Communication Manager said: “The PAW Report provides invaluable insight into key areas of pet wellbeing in the UK.
"Lifestyles had to adapt and change through the pandemic, and now as we navigate a cost of living crisis, this research is more vital than ever before.”
Rebecca added: “It takes less than 15 minutes to complete the survey, and by taking part you’ll be helping us maintain an accurate picture of the biggest welfare issues facing pets in the UK today.”
Survey: https://start.yougov.com/refer/vz7hC0lZ0d10nG
The initiative comes after BEVA's new nurse committee ran a survey which found a poor understanding within the profession and amongst clients of what equine nurses can do.
Nurses said they believed they could be given more responsibility and do more within their roles and that there was a lack of opportunity for progression.
BEVA President David Rendle, who is championing this initiative, said: “RVNs are a significant an asset to any equine practice.
“They have invested a lot of time and effort to become highly skilled but in some instances their significant attributes are not being utilised to the full.
“Allowing RVNs to perform the clinical tasks that they are qualified to carry out under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, will provide better job fulfilment and career development as well as free up veterinary surgeons to carry out other tasks, all increasing the efficiency of the veterinary team.
“I feel, and the RVN survey results would seem to confirm, that veterinary surgeons and practice managers do not appreciate how much veterinary nurses are allowed to do in equine practice.
"We all know veterinary nurses have the ability; look at what they do in small animal and human nursing, but we have felt unnecessarily constrained by Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the associated RCVS guidelines.
"If you actually look at Schedule 3 it is clear that we can and should be letting our qualified equine nurses do far more.
“There are so many things in equine practice that nurses do better than vets.
"In addition to performing clinical tasks they can add wider value; they are generally (or are perceived by clients to be!) more patient, empathetic and caring so we should utilise these skills and get nurses to take on some of the roles that take more time and require longer client interactions – discussing parasite control programmes, running weight loss clinics, reviewing healthcare plans, making follow-up phone calls and visits to name just a few.
"Nurses can take a lot of pressure off vets and can add a significant revenue stream for the practice.”
On the 9th February, the BEVA will be hosting an online discussion forum for all members of the practice team to discuss the role of nurses and how their skills, experience and knowledge can be better-used.
It's free for BEVA members: https://www.beva.org.uk/Home/Events/BEVA-Events/Event-Details.aspx?eventDateId=1716
Marie Rippingale Chair of the BEVA Nurse Committee said: “Last year’s recruitment and retention survey revealed that 50% of nurse respondents were earning less than £25,000 per annum and 48% of nurses said they were likely to look for a new job in the next two years.
"When asked their top reasons for leaving, salary was the biggest reason, and common themes on what would help the retention of nurses included salary, work-life balance and career progression.
“The review of Schedule 3 is important so we can encourage delegation of tasks to RVNs.
"This will allow RVNs to demonstrate their value and worth, earning money for the practice and achieving job satisfaction at the same time. This will contribute positively towards the current retention crisis.”
To find out more about what equine veterinary nurses can do in practice visit https://www.beva.org.uk/nurses
Photo: Liphook Equine Hospital.
Gerry, who joined North Downs in 2008, has been clinical director at the hospital since 2012.
He has published scientific literature and lectured across the world on a range of cancer subjects including lymphoma, mast cell tumours, lung tumours, insulin-producing tumours and novel anti-cancer therapies.
He also chairs and participates in a number of European oncology research projects and has a particular interest in collaborative clinical research.
Gerry said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this role, working alongside an incredibly talented and committed team.
“NDSR has achieved so much over the years, not only with cutting-edge treatments and procedures, but also with the implementation of an innovative new nursing structure, an industry-leading internship programme and being among the first veterinary hospitals to achieve a Green iiE award, to name just a few.
Talking about his main aims for the new role, Gerry said: “I want to create opportunities for our amazing team to develop into leadership roles, giving more autonomy to individual services and improving communication between services and management.
“From a care quality perspective, we always want to improve, and I look forward to harnessing innovative ideas and tools that might lead to better outcomes for pets and their families.
https://www.ndsr.co.uk.
The journal provides free access to critical summaries of the best available evidence, called Knowledge Summaries, to help practitioners make informed evidence-based decisions in practice.
The new website has several new features, such as author and reviewer hubs, which contain information to guide contributors through the process of writing or reviewing papers for the journal.
A new ‘answer me’ button allows potential authors to pick a clinical query they are interested in answering and email it straight to the Editor, streamlining the process.
The new site also includes a new submission system, Editorial Manager, which streamlines the editorial process, communications with authors and reviewers, and the management of articles.
Kit Sturgess, Editor-in-Chief of Veterinary Evidence, says: “I am really excited by the new website; its look and functionality will significantly improve rapid access to information and further boost the engagement of the veterinary team with EBVM.
"After an impressive year for Veterinary Evidence, we have also moved to a new submission system, Editorial Manager, aimed at making the experience of submitting and reviewing papers easier and more efficient.
"Through the new website and publishing platform, the journal can get better metrics of how well we are supporting our readers, authors, and reviewers so we can use evidence to drive Quality Improvement.”
veterinaryevidence.org
The competition, whi/ch is open to BVA members, has three categories:
All BVA members are encouraged to take part, whether they are a semi-professional photographer or just handy with a smart phone.
BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “This competition, showcases the unique talents, creativity and skills of BVA members.
“This year, we would love to see how our members can use their passion for photography to capture the essence of our profession. This is an opportunity to show what life as a vet is really like, to capture the hard work and challenges on camera but also to demonstrate the kindness, skills and compassion of our incredible colleagues – as well as the amazing animals they care for.
“This is your chance to show off your talents. We are so excited to see the stunning entries start to pour in and look forward to announcing the winner at this year’s BVA Live event in May.”
Images by the finalists will displayed at this year’s BVA Live event at Birmingham’s NEC on 11 – 12 May 2023.
Finalists will be contacted in advance and receive a free ticket to BVA Live so they can attend the event and the prizegiving to reveal the winners.
Winning photos will also be eligible for £250 worth of John Lewis vouchers.
www.bva.co.uk/photo-comp
The Wellbeing Programme, which has been put together in collaboration with British Veterinary Chronic Illness Support, the British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society, British Veterinary Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender+, the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative, Vetlife, the BVA and others, aims to help people create workplaces and teams where everyone can feel they belong and problems are dealt with before they become catastrophes.
Several of the sessions will allow participants to practice skills, which the Association hopes will be transformative experiences.
Alison Speakman, BSAVA President said: “This year has continued to provide increasing challenges both within the veterinary workforce and in the world at large.
"This has challenged our physical, mental and financial wellbeing which are inextricably linked.
"Therefore, we will be covering aspects of all three with a wide range of presenters included in these conversations, from both within and outwith the veterinary arena.”
New for this year are four separate sessions looking at our understanding of hormonal health and some of the difficulties hormone variations might cause, including menstrual issues, polycystic ovary syndrome, fertility, menopause, understanding and support for gender transition and non-binary people, and male aging.
There will also be wellbeing sessions looking at self-compassion as an antidote to perfectionism and self-criticism, learning to work with grief, flexible working, and developing human-savvy teamwork.
Alison continued: “Whether you wish to expand your knowledge to improve personal understanding and support of your own wellbeing, that of a colleague or friend, or to improve workplace practices and culture, there really is something for everyone to learn.
"Please come along to our safe and supportive space at Congress to improve the wellbeing of our veterinary profession.”
BSAVA has also created a free collection on mental health and wellbeing, looking at resources on both an individual basis and as a team perspective: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/mental-health-and-well-being.
To see the full Wellbeing Programme: https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2023/en/page/wellbeing?&view-type~0=date.
BSAVA Congress tickets: https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2023/en/page/registration-pricing.
Vetigel is a plant based gel which was first introduced to the UK for orthodontic surgeries last year.
It is supplied in a pre-filled syringe and applied directly to the site of bleeding where it creates an initial mechanical seal and then supports the formation of the platelet plug below.
VetPlus says it can be used in many situations where bleeding is an issue and the gel can be applied directly to the site of bleeding, including liver biopsies, mass removals, amputations and enucleations.
Jackie Marshall, VetPlus Technical Advisor, said: “This innovative product is already transforming the way vets perform both dental and surgical procedures, and we have had really positive feedback from those practices where it is being used already.
"Vetigel isn’t intended to replace a surgeon’s technique, but it is designed to stop bleeding where pressure or other methods are ineffective or impractical.
"Because it is a gel, it can conform to a wide range of wound shapes, making it a rapid, effective way of controlling bleeding.
“We believe this product will make a lasting impact on veterinary care, transforming the way surgeries are carried out and assisting haemostasis in animal patients.”
Zak Leavold, a vet based at Calster Vets in Great Yarmouth used Vetigel in an emergency situation, out of hours, on a dog with a bleed due to a kidney laceration.
He said: ‘I genuinely believe the product saved the dog’s life that night.
"I will certainly be keeping Vetigel on hand for any future soft surgeries – just in case!’
Links
DogStem has been shown to be effective, reducing pain and lameness and improving mobility and quality of life for three months to over twelve months following a single injection1,2.
In a prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of DogStem, results showed that2:
TVM highlights how DogStem simplifies the process and reduces the cost of using stem cell therapy in practice because unlike previous therapies, it does not require require a surgical harvesting procedure to be carried out under general anaesthetic.
Helen Harrison, DogStem Technical Vet and Product Manager said: "Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases seen in veterinary practices and is challenging to manage.
"Conventional medical treatments typically address the symptoms rather than the underlying pathological processes.
"At the same time, local treatment options that slow progression of osteoarthritis have been limited and surgical interventions aren’t always possible or may be unrewarding.
"We’re delighted to be able to offer vets DogStem®, a stem cell product with a strong evidence base across numerous mobility and quality of life parameters.’
DogStem can be ordered from NVS, or direct from: www.dogstem.co.uk
Animalcare says hydrocortisone aceponate is a potent, topical anti-inflammatory, proven to quickly relieve itchy and inflamed skin in dogs.
The new product is applied as a spray, designed to make it easy to target affected areas of skin.
Hydrocortisone Cutaneous Spray Solution is presented in a 76 ml size with a two-year shelf life, six months once opened.
Animalcare Product Manager Eleanor Workman Wright said: “Skin problems are extremely common in dogs.
"They can often cause great discomfort to dogs and concern to their owners.
"We believe that Hydrocortisone Cutaneous Spray Solution will be a useful addition to the range of treatment options currently available to vets as they consider the most appropriate care plan for their patients.”
Eight dogs being treated at three veterinary clinics in Norway took part in the study1.
Previous research2 has found a complication rate of 55% when fibreglass casts are used, 20% of them severe. In this study using the Upets Splinting System, only 12.5% of dogs (n=1) had complications that required treatment, and the complications were minor.
Dassiet says the results suggest that the new product has the potential to make veterinary casting safer, more sustainable, and can help control costs associated with cast replacement and treatment of complications.
86% of the veterinary surgeons participating in the study rated the Upets Splinting System as easy to use and said they would use the product on their own dog.
An earlier poll3 questioned vets on their most common concerns about casting and identified that the most significant were fear of complications (57%), the time-consuming nature of casting (54%) and inconvenience (51 %).
Dr. Martin Kaufmann, OrthoPets founder and Dassiet VET COO, said: “Complications often result from a cast that does not fit as well as it should.
"The results of this study suggest that Upets might be the ground-breaking tool that veterinarians have been waiting for as it provides them with the means to achieve a cast shape that is more precise."
For the white paper detailing the trial, visit: www.upets.vet/research.
Purina says the foods contain adjusted and graded levels of protein and phosphorus to address the delicate balance of providing needed protein in older cats against uraemic toxin production in late phase renal decline.
The current advice is that phosphate should be restricted when the renal patient has confirmed CKD, and IRIS provides therapeutic serum phosphate targets for each stage.
Dr Ellie Groves BA(Hons) VetMB MRCVS, Purina Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland, said: “As obligate carnivores, cats have a high requirement for protein, however, around 20% of senior cats have decreased ability to digest protein, and so are absorbing less protein.
"An inadequate intake of protein leads to loss of lean body mass as muscle is catabolised to meet this need.
"We know that this loss of lean body mass is significantly correlated with an increased risk of mortality.
"But we need to be careful – in renal disease, there is the potential for protein breakdown products to increase in the circulation, acting as toxins.
"So, we need to fine-tune the amount of protein, depending on the stage of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI).
"A dual approach, with Early and Advanced products, allows tailoring of protein levels.”
“Alongside protein, phosphorus content is also tailored to the stage of kidney decline.
"Restricting phosphorus can slow the progression of chronic kidney disease by reducing morphological damage to the kidneys and is thought to be the most important influencer of survival in cats with CKD.
"The levels of phosphorus in the products, are tailored, alongside the protein, to reflect the needs of the cat, with increased restriction when cats are in advanced decline and the kidneys are struggling most.”
NF Renal Function Early Care is available in a dry format (1.5kg) and a pouch (tender pieces with chicken 85g).
NF Renal Function Advanced Care is available in 1.5kg and 5kg packs of dry food, and ‘wet’ options of tender pieces with chicken/ salmon (85g pouches) and a mousse (195g can).
Both diets are now available in veterinary wholesalers.
The programme offers a route to achieve a General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert).
In 14 modules (six online and eight face-to-face) delivered over 11 months, the programme covers the fundamental principles of the different imaging modalities, giving an overview of their application and benefits.
Each online module consists of four sessions spread over one month, with video lessons and case-based studies for learners to work through at their own pace.
There'll also be a monthly live webinar for case discussion and film reading sessions with the specialist tutor.
The face-to-face sessions are conducted over two consecutive days and are designed to support learners in consolidating their knowledge and developing skills in ultrasound.
As well as the GPCert, the course also offers a route to a Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) through the company’s partnership with Harper Adams University.
Programme registration includes a subscription to the RCVS Knowledge Library, which includes access to many electronic resources, including the latest journals and clinical research.
Head of Business Development for Improve International in the UK, Dr Charlotte French (pictured right), said: “The successful completion of this programme will increase learners’ skills, knowledge and confidence in dealing with more imaging cases, which will, in turn, enable them to grow their small animal caseload and revenue stream.
"With imaging so often a key element of a successful diagnosis, we are seeing increased interest from veterinary surgeons in upskilling in this fast-moving area and are delighted to offer them the opportunity to do this with our new programme.”
Anna, who has been with the Hertfordshire-based referral centre for seven years, is now an RCVS, EBVS and American Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
She graduated from The University of Liverpool in 2007 and spent four years working in general practice in Kent.
She then went on to complete a rotating internship, followed by a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College where she gained her Master’s degree and Diploma.
Whilst enjoying all aspects of Internal Medicine, she has special interests in endocrinology and haematology. The latter, combined with her love for cats, has fuelled her interest in feline transfusion medicine.
Anna said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Head of Internal Medicine at Davies.
“The Internal Medicine team are the detectives who work to establish a diagnosis, and we often have the added bonus of working closely with other disciplines in our multi-disciplinary environment.
"It is a challenging and highly rewarding service, with a wide variety of cases and I am delighted to work with a first-class team of clinicians and nurses.”
'The Vet' branded surgeries were registered to Quality Pet Care Ltd which was initially acquired by CVS Group plc in August 2021.
The acquisition makes The Pet Vet not only the largest independent family-owned practice by number of sites (12) in the UK, but also the only one with a national presence.
The newly acquired surgeries are in Warrington, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bristol, Nottingham, Liverpool and Morden and Waltham Forest in London.
The Pet Vet already operates three surgeries in South Yorkshire (Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster) and in 2021 opened a 5,500 sq ft surgery on a retail park in Lincoln.
The Pet Vet is under the sole ownership of Rob Jones MRCVS (pictured right with Managing Director, Mel Fuller), who graduated from Bristol in 1987.
Rob practised in companion animal care in London and Australia before opening the first The Pet Vet surgery in Doncaster in 2011.
The practice now has nearly 100 employees, including 24 full time vets, and an annual turnover of over £6m.
Earlier this year, The Pet Vet secured £3.1m from alternative lender ThinCats to fund its growth plan.
A extra cash injection then allowed the family-owned independent to snap up The Vet when it came up for sale in April 2022.
Rob said: "With nearly 70% of the veterinary practice market by revenue already in the ownership of major corporations, a fact of which most consumers are still completely unaware, this is a real opportunity for us as a family business to make a positive difference for pet owners.
"Our acquisition of The Vet will allow us to further advance in-house provision, giving our vets more variety and stimulation in their working day and even greater opportunities for professional development."