Generally, veterinary practices may remain open, but there are national variations in what services should be offered and how, including the conditions under which remote prescribing can be used to help support a case.
Wales currently has the tightest ‘firebreak’ restrictions, meaning practices can only provide essential and urgent work until midnight on 8 November 2020, thereafter, returning to usual operations in line with Wales’ standard measures around workplace safety.
England and Northern Ireland are under national restrictions (4 Nov – 2 Dec, and 16 Oct – 12 Nov, respectively), meaning practices can provide treatment essential for maintaining animal health and welfare, along with non-urgent work providing that social distancing measures and safe working can be maintained.
Veterinary surgeons practising in these three countries may also choose to support a case remotely at an earlier stage, for example, through the remote prescribing of POM-Vs without first having conducted a physical examination.
Scotland remains the only country under regional tiered restrictions, meaning practices can continue to provide treatment whilst maintaining social distancing; however, before remote prescribing is offered, veterinary surgeons should first consider whether the animal can be brought under their care.
The full guidance and corresponding flowcharts should be consulted together and are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/covidfaq2and www.rcvs.org.uk/covidfaq4.
RSPCA Chief Veterinary Officer, Caroline Allen, today praised the vets and nurses who are providing essential care to animals through the crisis.
She said: “This is an incredibly challenging time for the RSPCA, trying to advise the public and keeping emergency services going with fewer staff, strained resources and in line with Government advice.
"I know this is equally stressful and challenging for vet staff too and I wanted to say a huge thank you from everyone at the RSPCA for your hard work, dedication and support you are giving the RSPCA.
"Our call centre team and officer are working hard to maintain a frontline animal welfare service, but we know there may be occasions where we are unable to attend and this may impact demand on the local vet practice."
Current guidance from the BVA defines emergency and urgent treatment as:
Caroline continued: "There are some circumstances particular to the RSPCA, such as animals that have been subject to abuse or severe neglect, or injured/unwell unowned animals, that may not initially appear to be such an “emergency” in the traditional sense, but our officers will only be collecting them if there is considered to be ‘significant impact on health/welfare and likely to deteriorate if left unmanaged’ as covered by the BVA emergency criteria. We would greatly appreciate your support in ensuring we can protect the welfare of these animals.
"Our National Control Centre will also be following the guidance from the BVA and will be limiting, wherever possible, sending members of the public to vets. However, on occasions where there is a welfare need that would justify an essential journey, we will always ask members of the public to call practices first and follow their social distancing protocols.
"For vets who provide care for our shelters and private boarders we understand the support available will be limited, we will be producing further advice for our teams around options, including remote support.
"We do understand and appreciate the current restrictions being put in place by the BVA and we do understand the very serious strain on practices and teams at this time and we hope that we can continue to work together during this unprecedented time."
The company says its Skinsights Learning Academies help support individuals and practices improve the healthcare outcomes for the 25% of dogs medicalised by skin problems in the UK.
A number of recognised industry professionals will be giving interactive, bite-sized talks at the events, including: Filippo De Bellis, Ian Wright, Jill Maddison, Sarah Warren, Rob Pope, Evelyn Maniski and Emily Robson as well as Zoetis veterinary and business consultants.
Zoetis says all the presentations will be highly practical, presented through case reviews, research, workshops and discussions. They will offer the latest information on game-changing therapeutics, best practice work-ups, effective protocols and insightful case-studies.
The sessions are limited to groups of 30 and Zoetis says places are expected to fill quickly.
To reserve your free place, visit: http://www.zoetis.co.uk/LVS2018
If you are unable to secure a seat in the theatre, headsets will be available on the day so you can listen to the lectures whilst on the stand.
Cornerstone Veterinary Clinic, which was founded by Peter Herold in 2011, currently employs a 15-strong team, who are all now practice owners and shareholders in the business.
Peter got the inspiration from reading about how Pennard Vets had become the world’s largest employee-owned practice in order to protect both its independence and core values.
He then contacted the directors at Pennard Vets, who helped guide him through the process.
Peter said: “After starting Cornerstone 11 years ago, we have developed a longstanding, loyal and dedicated team who are all very popular with our established client base across Belfast and beyond.
"I genuinely love Cornerstone, and so do our team and clients, and although I’m not ready to retire yet, the end of my professional life will come in the next decade, so I wanted to start planning for it.
“The obvious option would be to sell the practice to a corporate chain, but I knew that would change how we worked.
"There would be much more emphasis on profit levels, and we’d be forced to make decisions that we were uncomfortable with.
"We have an amazing team who are full of ideas about how to make Cornerstone even better and to guarantee a successful future, the practice needs to continue growing in a way that works for its people, our clients and their pets.
“When I read about Pennard Vets becoming an EOT, it immediately resonated with me, and I hoped it could be an option for Cornerstone.
"I then attended a webinar with speakers from Pennard Vets, and I kept in touch with them afterwards.
"They explained the set-up and how it benefits their team, as well as putting us in touch with specialists in EOTs.
"Ultimately it was Pennard Vets’ knowledge and enthusiasm that convinced me it was the right route for us.”
Peter added: “Our senior team at Cornerstone are all very skilled and share common values in relation to customer service, veterinary care and client charges, and it’s this ethos that makes us popular with clients.
“Making the business an EOT will ensure this continues by safeguarding the future of the business, whilst giving each member of the team the benefit of being a business owner without them having to buy in.
"It also means I can continue to work as a vet, but share the management side of the practice with the entire team who can help to make the important decisions, which is an exciting prospect for everyone involved.”
Matthew Flann from Pennard Vets said: “We became an EOT to maintain our independence and give everyone in our team both autonomy and a voice, as well as preserving our core values around compassion, client focus and continually improving everything we do.
"This came at a time when it’s increasingly difficult for vets to buy into practices and the traditional partner progression model no longer works, which makes EOTs even more appealing and a positive step for the profession as a whole.
“It’s been genuinely transformational for Pennard Vets, and we now regularly hear from practice owners who are exploring becoming an EOT.
"There are now several other successful businesses currently on the journey and when Peter contacted us, we were happy to offer our help and guidance.
"Cornerstone is a successful practice, with a highly skilled and dedicated team, so its independence is worth protecting, and becoming an EOT will give it a bright future.”
In the Horiba-sponsored webinar, Kit will draw on personal experience and case study examples to illustrate how the innovative use of adjunctive tests can support rapid clinical decision-making when triaging patients.
For example, Kit will consider whether inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A can be used to assess if current signs are likely associated with inflammatory diseases, such as pancreatitis, or whether further investigation is required to determine cause of illness.
Kit will also consider the case of Ollie a 10-year-old German shorthaired pointer presenting as vaguely unwell with reduced appetite.
Is this just a flare-up of his chronic osteoarthritis and likely to respond to pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatment, or something else?
Attendees will be able to questions in a live Q&A session at the end of the webinar.
Horiba's team will also be on hand to answer questions on in-house diagnostics.
For free registration, visit: https://bit.ly/3wGADcm
The change to the Practice Standards rules means that RVNs who have at least five years’ experience within the profession are eligible to apply to become PSS Assessors.
PSS Assessors are employees of the RCVS who are responsible for visiting practices that want to join the scheme, are undergoing their re-accreditation assessment or have applied for one or more of the PSS Awards, to ensure they meet the criteria.
The decision to allow RVNs to become PSS Assessors had already been approved by both the Practice Standards Group (the steering committee for the Scheme comprising representatives from all of the major veterinary and veterinary nursing organisations in the UK) and the RCVS Standards Committee.
Matthew Rendle is the Chair of VN Council and also sits as a member of RCVS Council. He said: “I am delighted to see that there is now a pathway to recruit veterinary nurses as PSS Assessors and hope that many of my VN colleagues will take up this opportunity to apply to join the excellent team responsible for ensuring that the Scheme’s stringent standards are met.
"We know that, on a practice-by-practice basis, veterinary nurses often play a big role in helping to coordinate and ensure that the requirements of the Practice Standards Scheme are met, for example, by preparing their team for the assessment, liaising with the RCVS and the Assessor and making sure all standards are complied with in advance. It is great to see that the crucial role they often play in meeting standards is reflected in opening up the ability to become PSS Assessors."
Mandisa Greene, RCVS President and Chair of the Practice Standards Group, added: “This is such an important development for the veterinary nursing profession whose role in the Practice Standards Scheme has long been recognised as invaluable. This decision also opens up new career advancement opportunities for the profession as well, which I’m sure is very welcome."
When the next recruitment round for PSS Assessors takes place, RVNs will be invited to apply to join the roster of Assessors.
In addition to approving the role of RVNs as PSS Assessors, Council also approved a new Equine Emergency Services Clinic accreditation to help incorporate the emerging business model of veterinary practices that provide ambulatory emergency services for equids.
The new accreditation would require these practices to meet the applicable PSS Core Standards, plus the requirements contained in an additional Equine Emergency Services module. The full details of the requirements will be published in due course.
For more information about the Practice Standards Scheme visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/pss
Petplan has announced the finalists for the 2011 Petplan Veterinary Awards.
Now in its 12th year, the Petplan Veterinary Awards received its biggest response yet with over 2,800 nominations submitted for exceptional veterinary staff all over the UK.
The finalists for each of the categories are as follows:
Vet of the YearCharles Bagnal, Orwell Veterinary Group - Ipswich Alison Laurie, Crown Vets - Highlands Daniel Parry, Village Vet Garden Suburb - London
Vet Nurse of the YearEmma Clare, Copthorne Veterinary Clinic - Shropshire Maria Corcoran, Orwell Veterinary Group - Ipswich Ingrid Hunt, Cranbrook Veterinary Centre - Devon
Support Staff of the YearBev Millward, Milton Keynes Veterinary Group - Milton KeynesLauren Hunter, The Ferns Veterinary Practice - Dunkeld Patty Fraser, Loch Leven Equine Practice - Kinross
Vet Practice of the YearAshfield House Veterinary Hospital Ltd - Nottinghamshire Emersons Green Veterinary Surgery Ltd - Avon Leonard Brothers Veterinary Centre Ltd - Shropshire
Alison Andrew, Petplan's Marketing Manager, said: "The nominations get bigger and better every year and we're absolutely delighted to announce the finalists for 2011. With 70% of veterinary practices within 3 miles of their patients, veterinary staff are an important part of the community and that's why we feel it important that they have a chance to receive the recognition they deserve. We're looking forward to revealing the winners on 31st of March."
All finalists will be invited to an elegant awards ceremony that will take place on 31st March at the Birmingham Town Hall, where the winners will be announced.
For further information, visit http://www.petplanvet.co.uk/
The deal is expected to complete by the middle of 2020.
According to the terms of the deal, Vetoquinol will acquire the Profender and Drontal product families, the intellectual property, registrations and other rights currently owned by Bayer AG’s animal health business.
Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco said: "We’re pleased with the continued progress on a number of fronts to move the acquisition of Bayer AG’s animal health business toward completion.
Matthieu Frechin, CEO of Vetoquinol, said: "We are very pleased to acquire the Profender and Drontal product lines that are highly valued by veterinarians and pet owners. The acquisition of these two strong brands is at the heart of our strategy. On the one hand, they will significantly increase the size of our business and our visibility in the parasiticide segment, one of our strategic therapeutic areas. On the other hand, they will strengthen our portfolio of Essentials, the engine of our growth."
Enalees offers a variety of point-of-care isothermal PCR animal diagnostics tests for canine, feline and equine infectious diseases, including parvo, leptospirosis, babesiosis and borreliosis.
The company says its tests are highly specific and sensitive and can detect the presence of a virus, parasite or microbe at a very early stage, without the use of expensive and complex equipment, within 30 minutes.
Lauren Craig is the General Manager of the new subsidiary. She said: “I will be coordinating the launch of the UK subsidiary and working with veterinary professionals to deliver Enalees’ unique portfolio offering in diagnostic testing and in clinic rapid PCR tests.
“I am incredibly excited for the challenge ahead and looking forward to working with a fantastic team with an important mission in this key market.”
www.enalees.com
The company says the Elekta Infinity linear accelerator is the only one of its kind for pets in England.
It features a multi-leaf collimator for very accurate shaping of the radiation beam and a six-degrees-of-freedom couch top designed so the patient can be positioned to reduce or eliminate radiation doses to critical organs.
CVS says the new machine will allow the centre to offer cutting edge treatments such as stereotactic radiation therapy, where high dose rates of focused beams are delivered with high precision over a shortened treatment course.
This, the company claims, will mean fewer, shorter sessions, fewer side effects and the best possible chance of improved outcomes for the animal.
Delphine Holopherne-Doran, Clinical Director at Bristol Vet Specialists, said: “Our new hospital will be at the forefront of cancer care in animals.
“The linear accelerator is state of the art, and allows us to offer advanced, image-guided radiation treatments - for example intensity-modulated or stereotactic radiation therapy.
"The advantage to these treatments is that they will allow a more “hard-hitting” treatment of the tumour, with greater safety for the patient’s healthy tissue.
"It will draw many tumours into the realm of treatability.”
Based at Central Park, Avonmouth, Bristol Vet Specialists referral hospital is due for completion this Autumn.
The model for the forecast was developed by the College with the Institute of Employment Studies using data from the RCVS Registers, the 2019 and 2024 Surveys of the Professions, Office for National Statistics data for projected economic growth and the PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Reports.
However, the model does not take account of the impact of the increasing costs of veterinary care on pet ownership trends, the full effect of which may not yet have been felt.
The main predictions of the model are:
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, said: “In 2021, there were clear concerns about there being a workforce crisis within the veterinary professions, and while that certainly seemed to be the case, and is likely to continue to be so in the short-term, according to this model the future picture for the professions looks much better in most areas of veterinary practice.
“However, government service/public health looks to be an area where there is still a significant shortfall in supply, which is concerning considering the importance of government vets in food safety, disease prevention and international trade and we are willing to continue to work with government to find ways to remedy this shortfall.
“We are aware that there may be some concerns about the implications of the model, particularly concerning the potential oversupply of veterinary nurses.
"While we stand by the robustness of the data, demography is not destiny, and with the planned enhancement of the veterinary nurse role, and the likelihood of suppressed demand due to prior shortages, it is likely that the number of veterinary nursing roles will expand to encompass the number of veterinary nurses available to work in it.
“Finally, we are aware that there are also some limitations to the model in its current form, for example, in terms of regional data.
"This is a work in progress, and we will continue to update and improve the model as and when new data allows.”
The workforce modelling report is available to download from www.rcvs.org.uk/publications
Richard Casey, President of The Veterinary Marketing Group (VMG) said: “Pegasus’s survey has shown some very encouraging results. But it is also very worrying that so many of our colleagues do not feel safe from COVID19 exposure in the workplace.
"I encourage all our colleagues, regardless of whether they are management or not, to reach out to workplace colleagues. Ask them how they’re feeling, what are their concerns and what is working well?
"The same goes for clients. Let’s not assume that because we’re not yet fluent in consulting virtually that the client doesn’t value the flexibility of hearing your expert voice from the comfort of their home.
"Instead, invite feedback on how your new approaches are landing. What could be done differently? The key to managing anyone’s expectations is always clear communication. Even more so in today’s consumer driven, 24/7 economy. The veterinary practices who come out of COVID-19 well, will likely be the ones who embrace the new normal. They’ll have listened to their team and clients needs, and found ways to meet them.”
A new survey by Petplan has given an insight into how veterinary nurses regard their job.
The survey, conducted at BVNA Congress, found that 73% of nurses feel that clients do not have a sufficient understanding of their role in practice.
Louisa Baker, the 2008 Petplan Vet Nurse of the Year, said: "Clients are often not aware of the skills required to be a vet nurse. Most clients believe we just handle the animals whereas we are often involved with surgical activities such as stitching and preparing drips."
Arguably, if pet owners under-appreciate the role of the nurse in practice, then they might also be expected to place a lower financial value on the care they provide. If that is the case, then it makes a lot of sense for vets and practice owners to find novel ways of communicating the breadth of work that nurses do, and its importance, to clients.
Other findings included 40% of nurses agreeing that direct contact with animals, such as caring for them through recovery, is the best part of the job. 54% told Petplan that they find the job extremely rewarding.
Nearly all nurses (99%) said that they value training and CPD to further their careers.
To support this desire to learn, Petplan has launched its Petplan Insurance Advisor training scheme. Already, over 500 nurses have completed one of the scheme's CPD qualifying modules.
The scheme enables the development of individual skills such as the ability to sell products and gain confidence with clients. Available online, vet nurses can participate in the scheme at work or at home. Visit http://www.petplanpia.co.uk/ for more information.
The majority of posters, leaflets and other displays in veterinary practice waiting rooms are more effective at building ambience than increasing the turnover of the practice or selling a particular product or brand, according to a new survey carried out by veterinary marketing agency TMA.
The national survey of more than 100 veterinary practice managers found that:
TMA says it believes practices are missing out on a major marketing opportunity by not changing their displays more often, not being more selective about what is displayed, and not making the most of interactive or digital display technology.
Helen Cawthra, Managing Director of TMA believes that product manufacturers are also missing out on a major opportunity. Significantly less than half of all display and point-of-sale material in vets' waiting rooms is provided by suppliers. On average, 64% is sourced by the veterinary surgeons themselves.
Helen said: "Two thirds of respondents claim that they hardly get any materials from suppliers. The same number claim they would be more likely to put up more if they were provided with it.
"It is all very well building ambience and providing loyalty but in today's market, it is important that vets take hold of every opportunity to generate revenue in every way possible. Vets and the manufacturers are both missing out."
The RCVS is now accepting disclosures from veterinary surgeons about any criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings they may have against them, as part of a voluntary period before the requirement to disclose commences in 2014.
The requirement that veterinary surgeons notify the College about criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings on registration, and on an annual basis as part of their registration renewal each March, was introduced as part of the Code of Professional Conduct in 2012 (section 5.3, see Notes to Editors). However, the College has allowed a bedding-in period for the Code before enforcing the requirement.
From 2014, new registrants will have to disclose any criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings that may affect registration (for example, those from university fitness to practise procedures).
Veterinary surgeons already on the Register (including overseas and non-practising categories, as well as UK-practising) will only be required to disclose criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings that have occurred since April 2006. Fixed-penalty motoring offences are excluded.
The veterinary profession has fallen under the Notifiable Occupations Scheme since April 2006, which means that serious convictions are already passed to the College from the police.
If a veterinary surgeon declares a criminal conviction, this will be initially considered by the Registrar, and, if necessary, referred to the Preliminary Investigation Committee. In some cases, the matter will be referred on to the Disciplinary Committee to decide if the nature of the caution or conviction affects the veterinary surgeon's fitness to practise - in which case the usual sanctions of removal or suspension from the Register could apply.
Eleanor Ferguson, Head of Professional Conduct said: "We hope, through this new requirement, to increase the public's confidence in the veterinary profession, and to safeguard animal health and welfare. The move brings the veterinary profession into line with many others - including registered veterinary nurses, who have made such a disclosure since their Register was introduced, in 2007."
The RCVS has launched a dedicated advice line to assist affected veterinary surgeons, on 07818 113 056, open Monday to Friday, 11am-4pm.
Callers will speak to one of three RCVS solicitors who can advise on the process and the possible outcomes of disclosure. Alternatively, veterinary surgeons can contact disclosure@rcvs.org.uk.
Detailed information regarding the requirement, including examples of the kinds of convictions that may be referred to the Preliminary Investigation Committee, and a disclosure form, can be found on www.rcvs.org.uk/convictions.
Kruuse has launched a range of seven specialized sterile surgical disposable drapes and gowns developed for the surgery team working in equine clinics or hospitals.
The company says its new surgical sets have been designed so they include a comprehensive set of sterile drapes, towels, instrument covers and adhesive tapes needed to perform particular procedures:
Andrew Groom, Managing Director, Kruuse UK Ltd. said: "This exciting new range of products increase the Kruuse's equine product portfolio and develop further our commitment to provide specialist species available products to support the veterinary practitioner."
The new scanner takes scans 50% faster and at a far higher resolution than the outgoing model.
It also boasts a wide bore magnet, simple coil arrangement and large number of channels, which means clinicians can scan different organ systems in patients of all shapes and sizes.
Cave says the new equipment allows it to expand into emerging fields such as cardiac MRI and advanced musculoskeletal imaging.
Tom Cardy, head of neurology, said: “It’s not often in your career you get to work with a truly class-leading piece of equipment such as this.
“The new scanner will greatly improve the patient and client experience we provide. This investment significantly increases the capability of our neurology service and the whole team are excited to get to grips with this amazing piece of kit.”
For more information, visit https://cave-vet-specialists.co.uk.
Photo: L-R Radiographer Tracy Down and imaging nurse Staci Finn
The company says the webinars will equip veterinary professionals with strategies to strengthen wellbeing both individually and for practice teams.
Lauren Hayes, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Royal Canin, said: “Working within clinical veterinary practice can be hugely rewarding and enriching, but it cannot be ignored that our industry also has its challenges.
"Veterinary surgeons have a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to the general population and mental health issues around work life balance and compassion fatigue are widespread.
"Through our webinar series, we hope to encourage conversations around mental health and help provide advice directly from leading experts.”
The one-hour webinars will take place at 7pm every Wednesday throughout September.
https://vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk/news/new-veterinary-professional-health-webinar-series/
Kruuse UK has announced the launch of its new Mud Fever Kits for horses.
Kruuse says the launch follows independent studies last year by Aimi Duff BVM&S, MRCVS (Scott, Mitchell & Associates, Hexham) on the use of Manuka ND dressings for the treatment of Mud Fever.
The kit contains one complete treatment for two legs (or two complete treatments for one leg) including all dressings. There is also a step-by-step guide from the "Ask the Vet" series which explains best treatment protocol, designed to help veterinary surgeons dispense the kit directly to clients with confidence.
According to the company, the benefits of using medical grade Manuka Honey in the treatment of Mud Fever include:
Andrew Groom, Managing Director of Kruuse UK Ltd said: "We are delighted with the initial response to our unique Mud Fever Kits; such additions to our range continue to enhance the Kruuse commitment to equine wound care."
Nockolds Solicitors was approved as the new administrator of the ADR trial by RCVS Council at its June 2016 meeting at Cardiff City Hall. The company was identified and approved by the RCVS Operational Board as meeting its requirements, a decision which the RCVS says has been welcomed by the Veterinary Defence Society and the British Veterinary Association, as well as receiving lay and consumer support.
The current trial, which was launched in November 2014 and is administered by Ombudsman Services, will come to a close by 1 October, when the new trial with Nockolds will start.
Nick Stace, RCVS Chief Executive and Secretary, said: "In order to be able to make an informed choice about how we wish to design and implement a permanent ADR scheme we wanted to ensure that we have as many different options and as much data as possible. It is very important that we get the permanent scheme right and this is why Operational Board made the decision to have a second trial. It was also clear that satisfaction levels from consumers for the previous trial were lower than we would have liked and that we therefore need to explore other options.
"It is important to note that this will not just be a re-run of the first trial with a different administrator – there will be some significant differences between this and our first trial with Ombudsman Services.
"First, this will be a truly alternative process as consumers will be able to access the trial directly rather than having to go through the College’s concerns process first.
"Second, this will be a process of mediation meaning that expert advisors from Nockolds will facilitate communication between the complainant and the veterinary surgeon to try and find a satisfactory solution to the concern."
The trial will be promoted to both the public and the profession as an alternative to the College’s formal concerns investigation process and participation in the trial will be voluntary. There will also still be a panel of veterinary advisors overseeing the trial and helping staff at Nockolds with any clinical queries they may have.
Jennie Jones is a Partner at Nockolds and will head up the trial. She said: "We are committed to providing a service that mediates complaints to find a fair, efficient and proportionate resolution. We are looking forward to working with everyone involved in veterinary profession to develop an effective mediation service that can be accessed by both the public and members of the profession.
"The service will focus on finding effective and practical resolutions. Understanding the root cause of the complaint and re-establishing effective communication are the crucial first steps in mediation and helping the parties to find a solution they can both accept. Over the coming months, we will be working with the RCVS, representative bodies for the profession and consumers to launch the service.
"In addition to mediating complaints, we will share insight in mediation and complaint resolution to inform practitioners and stakeholders and to enhance standards at veterinary practices. This enables complaint analysis to be used to help improve client care, avoid complaints and maintain trust and confidence in the profession."
A bespoke website for the trial will be set up in time for the launch on 1 October 2016.
Zoetis has announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Simparica™ (sarolaner) chewable tablets, a once-monthly medication for the treatment of fleas, ticks and sarcoptic mange in dogs beginning at eight weeks of age.
Dr. Balázs Capári, a Hungarian veterinary specialist in small animal medicine who participated in clinical trials of Simparica said: "The approval of Simparica gives veterinarians a new oral choice in parasite control for dogs. In my experience, Simparica has been shown to rapidly kill fleas and ticks with efficacy that persists for five weeks. Dog owners participating in the trials also reported that Simparica is very palatable; the chewable tablet was easily taken by their dogs. The convenience of a once monthly chewable tablet helps increase compliance with treatment, giving veterinarians and dog owners confidence in continuous protection."
Dr. Catherine Knupp, Executive Vice President and President, Research and Development at Zoetis, said: "At Zoetis, we focus our innovation on the most pressing needs of veterinarians, and that is what guided us to develop a new oral choice to provide dogs with persistent protection from fleas and ticks and treatment of mites that cause sarcoptic mange. Simparica is a result of the collaboration of Zoetis scientists worldwide, who share a determination to develop new medicines that deliver real value to our veterinary customers and the animals in their care. We are excited to bring this innovative medicine, Simparica, to veterinarians and dog owners across Europe."
The active substance of Simparica is sarolaner, a new ectoparasiticide in the isoxazoline class, developed by Zoetis.
Zoetis says the marketing authorization for Simparica was based on the results of field studies conducted in seven countries, involving more than 800 dogs of various breeds from at least eight weeks of age and 1.3 kg of weight. Simparica was shown to provide efficacy for at least five weeks against ticks and fleas. It demonstrated a rapid onset of action, killing fleas before they have a chance to lay eggs and can be used as part of a treatment strategy for the control of Flea Allergy Dermatitis. It proved effective in treating sarcoptic mange, a highly contagious skin disease in dogs.
In studies, Simparica killed all four species of tick dominant in Europe (Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and species of flea that most frequently infect dogs in European countries (Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis). Simparica was well tolerated with no adverse events reported at the therapeutic dose.
Zoetis expects to launch Simparica in the EU in the first quarter of 2016. Simparica chewable tablets will be available in 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg dosage strengths.
For more information about Simparica and full prescribing information, visit http://www.zoetis.com/products-services/companion-animals/dogs.
The new voice skill offers three main features, a chocolate toxicity calculator for dogs, the nearest emergency vet finder, and answers to Vets Now's commonly asked pet health questions.
Head of clinical intelligence at Vets Now, Dave Leicester said: “With many people reluctant or not able to leave their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic, we're making veterinary advice accessible to everyone, through as many channels as possible including our website, video vet service, and now smart speakers.
"We fast-tracked our plans for the innovative voice skill in response to Covid-19 as we know how much pet owners are relying on remote veterinary advice just now — we’ve seen a huge spike in calls to our emergency contact centre and the uptake of our new video triage consultation service has been exceptional, with more than 500 video calls from worried pet owners since its launch in April.
"Our new voice skill is the next step in helping pets and their owners as much as we can during this incredibly difficult time. It’s a first release of the skill but we will continue to build and add advice to it in the weeks and months ahead.”
More information on the veterinary advice skill and how to access it can be found here www.vets-now.com/smart-speaker.
COMMENTI've just tried the new skill, and my first impression is that vets don't have to fear this is going to put them out of a job any time soon.
As with all things Alexa, there is a sporting chance she'll mishear what you said. But the bigger problem is that it may be a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
I've had a dog for the last decade, and I could count the number of times I had a question for the vet that could be answered by an app on the fingers of one finger.
In fact, it was the time our dog ate chocolate.
But would I download a voice assistant just to answer the chocolate question?
No, I wouldn't.
Nor would I download a voice assistant to explain veterinary conditions, simply because I don't have questions of that nature more than once a decade. Who does? And if I wanted to know where the nearest emergency vet was, I'd either Google it or I'd ask Alexa herself (as opposed to summoning the Vets Now voice assistant specifically).
The sentiment behind this idea - making advice more accessible - seems sound, but I suspect that unless this assistant becomes truly encyclopaedic, it is never going to be useful enough to warrant installing on a smart speaker. Even then, one has to wonder whether the average pet owner has enough animal-related questions every month to warrant having an assistant to answer them.
For the study, 12 month's worth of anonymised data from CVS practices was analysed2.
The study concluded that lower engagement between a practice and its staff or clients, recent parental leave, shorter practice employment tenure, and younger age were all associated with an increased likelihood of support staff resignations.
Lower practice client engagement, which CVS says is a proxy for client satisfaction, was associated with increased odds of support staff resigning3, highlighting the potential impact of client incivility on veterinary colleagues who are typically in customer facing roles.
Reduced employee engagement – measured by a ‘employee net promoter score’ (eNPS), where colleagues rate how likely they would recommend the practice as a good place to work4, also correlated with increased resignations.
Within CVS, eNPS has been demonstrated to be positively correlated with the frequency of line manager discussions.
The current data suggests that consistent measurement of employee engagement in a veterinary setting at regular intervals throughout the year can have benefits for line managers in identifying increases in the risk of resignations and practice attrition, allowing them to take proactive steps to improve engagement.
A recent record of taking parental leave was also associated with greater odds of resigning in the following 12 months than staff who have not taken parental leave in the previous 12 months5.
Qualitative studies in other professions highlight the need for greater flexibility in working hours and focused managerial check-in support.
Therefore ‘return to work’ interventions may present an opportunity to improve retention.
Conversely, the increased length of employment tenure was associated with decreasing odds of support staff resignations6, potentially highlighting the role for long service reward schemes, such as the long service holiday awards CVS introduced a couple of years ago. Whilst employee age was associated with the odds of resignations, with a 1% decrease in the odds of support staff resigning with each additional year of age7.
Imogen Schofield, Director of Clinical Research at CVS, said: “Support staff are integral members of the team.
"These key roles contribute to the efficient and effective functioning of a veterinary practice.
"Despite the important roles of support staff, little research exists on these team members and there is no data describing reasons for their attrition.
“This research was done to help the wider industry to understand how we can reduce support staff resignations.
"It aims to identify demographic, payroll and engagement factors associated with resignations.
"We believe it adds valuable insights to previous survey-based research by organisations such as the British Veterinary Receptionist Association.
“Reflecting on our research from 2021, we have introduced a Zero Tolerance Policy to protect our colleagues against intrusive, offensive, violent or aggressive behaviour from clients.
"We have launched monthly interactive Receptionist Support Sessions, giving receptionists the opportunity to connect with their peer network, share experiences and ideas, and feel supported.
"And we are now focussing on developing our support staff through creating new Receptionist and Patient Care Assistant Career Pathways.”
References
The pack highlights the benefits of Adaptil and Feliway and Ceva’s ThunderShirt range of calming wraps.
It contains a wall/notice board display, a poster, an e-book and leaflet for owners, and a social media toolkit with graphics and pre-written posts for practices to use on their own social media channels.
The company is also running its fireworks waiting room display competition this month, in which the five veterinary practices who make best use of the materials for creating a display in their waiting room will win one of five £100 Love 2 Shop vouchers.
There are bonus points for practices that build a den in the waiting room to demonstrate the benefits of having a safe haven for dogs to retreat to when fireworks are going off.
Veterinary professionals can post pictures of the dens and waiting room displays on the Adaptil Facebook page throughout October - www.facebook.com/AdaptilForDogs.
Ceva is running commercial offers in the run up to the firework season, which practices are being encouraged to pass to their clients.
To download the fireworks marketing support pack go to http://bit.ly/3RxGLza.
For further information, contact your Ceva territory manager or email cevauk@ceva.com.
MSD says that no other UK-licensed BRD vaccine can be administered earlier in life and that the onset of immunity for BRSV is 6 days (for calves vaccinated from the day of birth onwards) and 5 days (for calves vaccinated from the age of one week onwards).
Onset of immunity for Pi3V is one week after vaccination. The duration of immunity is 12 weeks for both viruses.
From a practical standpoint, the new license means Bovilis Intranasal RSP Live can now be used on farm at the same time as other early life interventions associated with newborn calves – for example, colostrum/first milk feeding, navel management, tagging, jacketing and necessary pen movements.
Additionally, Bovilis Intranasal RSP Live can be used up to six hours after mixing with the solvent, which MSD says is the longest of all the available intranasal vaccines for these pathogens.
The vaccine is supplied as a nasal suspension product that doesn’t need a specific applicator – although for maximum flexibility an easy-clean injector and nozzle kit is available for vaccinating multiple animals.
The vaccine is available in 5x1 dose, 5 dose and 5x5 dose packs.