Hertfordshire-based, multi-specialist veterinary referral centre Davies Veterinary Specialists' new pro bono scheme has saved the life of a young German shepherd dog twice in fortnight.

'Apollo' first impaled himself on some broken fence panels whilst playing. A splinter of wood, which was around 5cm long and 1.5cm wide, became lodged between his heart and lungs. However, because he initially had no symptoms and there was no obvious puncture wound, his owner Sam Russell from Leighton Buzzard wasn't aware that anything was wrong. It was a week later when the dog suddenly became very anxious, uncomfortable and was struggling to breathe, that Sam rushed him to her local vet practice, Heath and Reach in Bedfordshire.

Hannah Johnston's initial diagnosis was that the dog had some foreign material lodged internally that was causing an infection. Without an urgent CT scan and surgery his chances of survival were minimal, but his owner was uninsured and had no means of affording the treatment. Hannah had recently read about a pro bono scheme introduced by Davies Veterinary Specialists and believed that Apollo's case fitted the criteria.

She said: "It was heart wrenching to think that a young dog, with such a caring owner, was very likely to lose his life and I was determined to do anything I could to help. I couldn't help shedding a tear when DVS agreed to treat him, as I knew Apollo now had a chance. His owner had recently had an awful spate of bad luck and was so deserving of DVS's help."

Manuel Jiménez Peláez, European Veterinary Specialist in Surgery at DVS, who operated on Apollo, said: "A CT scan showed a large, fluid-filled cavity, a partially collapsed lung and a sharp, thin, elongated structure, lodged between Apollo's lungs and his heart. We drained the cavity and successfully removed the foreign body. We also had to remove most of the irreparably damaged left lung."

Apollo was in hospital for two weeks, five days of which were spent in intensive care in a critical condition. Sam was thrilled when she was eventually able to take him home, but two days later disaster struck again. Apollo was diagnosed with gastric dilation volvulus. He needed surgery within six hours to survive the condition and DVS once again stepped in to operate as an emergency, free of charge.

Apollo has made a full recovery is now back at home with the Russell family. Sam Russell said: "Apollo has always been so determined and full of life. Even when he was dangerously ill and in intensive care he wouldn't give up and tried to rouse himself to come home with me. For Davies Vet Specialists to save my dog once is nothing short of amazing but for them to save him twice makes me speechless with gratitude. To be shown such kindness after a dreadful run of bad luck would leave anyone stuck for words."

All first opinion practices are eligible to apply for the DVS pro bono scheme, which will allow an average of one patient per month to receive free treatment. Requests will be based on advocacy from the clinical head of the referring practice and on genuine need. To find out more visit http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/ or call Dr Clive Elwood, Managing Director, on 01582 883950.

Ceva Animal Health has extended its Meloxidyl dogs and cats’ range with the launch of a new 5ml Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats.

The company says the new bottle size will provide more prescription options for veterinary practices currently stocking 15ml bottles and is a perfect post-surgery size to send patients home with. The bottles are also clear brown in colour; designed to make it easier for cat owners to see how much liquid is left in each bottle.

Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats contains meloxicam for the alleviation of pain and inflammation. It is licensed for the treatment of musculo-skeletal disorders and the alleviation of post-operative pain.

Rob McLintock, business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "The new 5ml Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats’ bottle will provide veterinary practices with more prescription options for the management and alleviation of pain and inflammation in cats."

To support the launch of the new 5ml Meloxidyl presentation, Ceva is running a competition to win one of five BSAVA Manuals of Anaesthesia and Analgesia by answering one question: ‘How many millilitres are in the new Meloxidyl cat bottle’? 

To enter the competition, email analgesics-group@ceva.com. Include ‘Meloxidyl competition’ in the subject line and contact details and the answer to the question in the main body of the email.

For further information on Ceva’s analgesic product range, contact your local Ceva territory manager, email analgesics-group@ceva.com or call 01494 781510.

In the week that the National Office of Animal Health has revealed significantly greater levels of pessimism in the animal medicines industry over the impact of Brexit on public health and food production, the BVA also reports that the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) has prevented Defra from consulting the profession over the predicted shortage of veterinary surgeons post-Brexit.

NOAH's third Brexit Barometer found that where in the last report, 17% of its members reported feeling 'very' or 'somewhat pessimistic', that figure has now risen to 32%.

Meanwhile, the National Audit Office has revealed in its 'Progress in Implementing EU Exit' report that Defra has been prevented from consulting with the veterinary market by DExEU.

The report states that Defra is one of the government departments most affected by EU Exit and looks in detail at four of Defra’s main workstreams, including ‘import of animals and animal products’ and ‘exports of animals and animal products’.

In an accompanying press release, the National Audit Office notes that in a no-deal scenario there will be a significant increase in certificates needing to be processed by veterinary surgeons. It says: "Without enough vets, consignments of food could be delayed at the border or prevented from leaving the UK. Defra intended to start engaging with the veterinary industry in April 2018, but has not been permitted to do so and now plans to launch an emergency recruitment campaign in October to at least meet minimum levels of vets required. It plans to meet any remaining gaps through the use of non-veterinarians to check records and processes that do not require veterinary judgement."

The BVA says it has previously outlined concerns about the potential for diluting veterinary certification, and is calling on the Government to fully engage with the veterinary profession before making any changes that could impact the UK’s ability to trade animal products safely and in line with high animal welfare standards.

The RCVS has also weighed in. Amanda Boag, RCVS President, said: "We are glad to see the National Audit Office report recognises that a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario would be likely to reduce the supply of EU veterinary surgeons to the UK and cause uncertainty regarding the status of those EU veterinary surgeons who are currently living and working in the UK and that this would have a particularly serious impact on necessary veterinary work in public health and certification. 

"We continue to engage with Defra and, like the BVA, we want to emphasise the essential need for Government to consult with the profession to ensure their plans meet requirements, including maintenance of the high veterinary standards for which the UK is known. We also want to highlight the importance and value of the veterinary profession in other areas of society including caring for pets, horses and farm animals as well as research, education and industry, and emphasise the impact of workforce shortages on all sectors."

Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Cyclo Spray, an antibiotic spray for veterinary professionals treating hard to reach sites when handling cattle, sheep and pigs.

Dechra says the new product has been developed for use at any angle, even upside down.

Cyclo Spray (chlortetracycline hydrochloride 2.45%) is indicated for the treatment of superficial claw and hoof infections and the prevention of infections of superficial traumatic or surgical wounds.

Dechra Veterinary Products Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: "Vets dealing with livestock can often find that they are twisting themselves into awkward positions to get to hard to reach sites with traditional spray can treatments. Not only are they having to find the right angle to ensure the can works, but also potentially the treatment can drip or take time to dry.

"We've introduced Cyclo Spray to our portfolio to help combat some of those difficulties - it is a new 360 degree spray can allowing users to mark the site of application with confidence from whatever angle. It is non-drip, fast-drying with excellent adhesive characteristics and contains a non-toxic colouring agent."

Cyclo Spray is available in 211ml and 422ml can sizes. No withdrawal days are required for meat and milk.

To promote the launch of the new product, Dechra has also launched a competition giving entrants the chance to win a two day trip to London for two people to ride the London Eye and experience the capital from a 360 degree vantage point.

To enter the competition, with the prize including return rail travel, and dinner, bed and breakfast in a 4* hotel, visit www.dechra.co.uk to download an entry form.

VetSurgeon.org has announced the launch of VetSurgeon Jobs, a new service designed to change the way veterinary surgeons are hired, saving veterinary practices hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds.

Since 1761, when the veterinary profession first came into existence, employers have had no choice but to advertise job opportunities for veterinary surgeons and practice managers in magazines. 

Editing, printing and publishing a magazine is an eye-wateringly expensive business, costs which have been reflected in the price advertisers have had to pay.

The Internet has brought those costs right down. Furthermore, in a survey of job seekers carried out last earlier this month by VetSurgeon.org, 70% said they spend most time browsing jobs online these days, as opposed to in a magazine. 

However, when you look at the costs of advertising on websites published by veterinary magazine publishers, which start at £395 and quickly rise to £795 for a 28-day online advert, it is clear that these prices still reflect the considerable costs of magazine production. 

Today, VetSurgeon.org launches it’s online-only job advertising service, priced simply at £99+VAT, which gets you a 60-day advert on the website most followed by UK veterinary surgeons. 

That price doesn’t just offer a considerable saving over alternatives in the veterinary profession, it also beats the major online-only players outside the profession (including Monster, Reed and Totaljobs)

There’s more to it than just price, though. Unlike the alternatives, VetSurgeon Jobs is not an 'off-the-shelf' solution, but something designed from the ground up for the veterinary profession.

For jobseekers, VetSurgeon Jobs has been designed to make finding the right job as simple and straightforward as possible. Just enter the postcode and search radius, and the available jobs re-order by distance. You can subscribe to be alerted of only those jobs that meet your very specific criteria (such as locum positions within a given radius). Perhaps most importantly, VetSurgeon Jobs is an integral part of the thriving community on VetSurgeon.org. So you can add your CV to your online profile and then engage directly with employers on the site.

For employers, VetSurgeon offers the opportunity to publish a more engaging, interesting advertisement than is currently offered anywhere else, including maps, photos, logos and headline propositions.

Arlo Guthrie said: "It’s a cliche, but if ever there was a 'win-win' situation, this is it. I’m able to offer you the chance to save a small fortune, whilst making some for myself and to reinvest in yet more features designed to support your profession."

For more information, visit https://www.vetsurgeon.org/jobs/, ring 0207 183 2511 or email support@vetsurgeon.org. 

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The RCVS and the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) have issued a joint statement reaffirming the registration protocol for veterinary surgeons and the continued recognition of each other’s accredited veterinary degrees once the transition period arrangements between the UK and the EU end on 1 January 2021.

To carry out the practice of veterinary medicine, a veterinary practitioner must be registered in the jurisdiction in which they are practising ie a veterinary practitioner who practises veterinary medicine in the Republic of Ireland must be registered with the VCI; likewise, a veterinary surgeon who practises in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales, must be registered with the RCVS.

EU Directive 2005/36EC enables a veterinary surgeon who is lawfully established and registered in an EU member state to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis in another member state. This service allows registered veterinary surgeons to occasionally practise in other countries in the European Union for short periods, up to a maximum of 30 days per year.  

From 1st January 2021, the Directive will no longer apply to veterinary practitioners from the Republic of Ireland who may want to provide veterinary services in the UK and that they would therefore need to be registered with the RCVS even if provision of these services is temporary and occasional.

However, in October 2019 the Presidents of the RCVS and the VCI signed a Mutual Qualification Recognition Agreement. The agreement means that the degree in veterinary medicine from University College Dublin can be recognised by the RCVS, and the current eight RCVS-recognised UK veterinary medicine degrees can be recognised by the VCI. The recognised qualifications are accepted as the basis for registration to practise veterinary surgery by the RCVS in the United Kingdom and veterinary medicine by the VCI in the Republic of Ireland.

The VCI and the RCVS emphasised that regardless of whether a trade agreement has been signed between the EU and the UK by 1 January 2021, this will have no bearing on the Mutual Qualification Recognition Agreement currently in place.

Niamh Muldoon, CEO and Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, said: “This historic agreement will enable graduates of Irish and UK veterinary schools to continue to seek to practise in the other country when they wish. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our colleagues in the RCVS in the future for the benefit of the profession in both countries.”

Mandisa Greene, President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said: “I am very glad to be able to affirm our continuing working partnership with our friends and colleagues in the Republic of Ireland. We know that veterinary surgeons based both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have clients and undertake work on both sides of the border, and this Mutual Recognition Agreement will help to ensure that UK and Ireland-qualified veterinary surgeons are able to register in each other’s jurisdictions where required. I too look forward to continuing to work closely with the VCI both on a bilateral basis, and via pan-European institutions such as the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe.”

Turtle Survival Europe has announced that it is to hold a CPD qualifying conference, 'Chelonian Conservation and Welfare in Europe', from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday 16th November 2019 at Writtle University College in Essex.

The programme for the day includes a talk by Matt Rendle, an exotics veterinary nurse, about wound healing in reptiles and the work of the Veterinary Wound Library.

There are also talks about current veterinary practice concerning Chelonia (with a focus on egg retention), the Asian turtle crisis, zoo conservation work, reptile rescue work and perceptions of Chelonia in captivity.

Tickets cost £30-£50, and include refreshments, lunch and optional Sunday workshops.

For more details or to reserve your place, email: turtlesurvivaleurope@gmail.com, or visit: https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/

Virbac has launched Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint, a range of wet and dry clinical diets formulated to help manage both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and osteoarthritis in cats simultaneously.

The new range allows for gradually increasing support for the CKD patient according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage, reducing phosphorous levels whilst avoiding early protein reduction and the associated lean mass loss correlated to a reduction in life expectancy.

Virbac says Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint contains high quality protein, of which more than 85% is of animal origin, to support body condition and limit renal workload.

All of the products in the range contain Mobility Plus Complex, a mix of chondroprotective agents for joint support which are designed to increase joint flexibility and mobility with high levels of Omega 3 and DHA.

Dan Johnson, Product Manager at Virbac said: "CKD is the first cause of mortality at, or after, 5 years of age and osteoarthritis is highly prevalent but under-diagnosed in senior cats, with most cats being diagnosed at an advanced stage.

"So with Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint, Virbac hopes to provide clinicians with a significant advancement in the nutritional management of these feline pathologies."

Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint is presented in three dry and two wet formats:

• Early Kidney & Joint– For cats at IRIS Stage 1. Available in dry and wet chunks in gravy.
• Kidney & Joint – A dry diet for cats at IRIS Stage 2.
• Kidney & Joint Wet Mousse – a highly palatable, energy dense mousse for cats at IRIS Stages 2, 3 & 4 which can be fed alone or in combination with Kidney & Joint or Advanced Kidney & Joint dry.
• Advanced Kidney & Joint – A dry diet for cats at IRIS Stages 3 & 4.

The RCVS has published an inspiring talk about the future of digital veterinary practice given by Dr Adam Little, DVM, President of Exponential Vet Inc., at this year's RCVS Open Day.

In his talk, 'Digital Veterinary Practice', Adam presents an exciting and compelling vision as to how technology will transform the profession and enable veterinary surgeons to offer better care to more patients. 

His talk begins with an interesting look at how technological change has gathered pace in recent years, before considering some of the emerging technologies that could be applied to veterinary practice.

In particular, he talked about the so-called 'Internet of things': the way more and more 'things' other than computers are connected to the Internet.

There are now about 9bn 'things' connected to the internet, by 2020 there are expected to be 50bn. Adam predicted that more and more of them are going to be worn by animals: to measure reproductive health in farm animals; to track performance in equines; and to monitor behaviour and activity in companion animals.

Adam discussed how there is already a smart litter box which measures an animal’s habits, an oral pill camera that can take 360 degree internal photos, 3D printed drugs and digitised microscopy. By uniting these technologies with increasingly accurate virtual reality technology, he said, long-distance examinations could become a real possibility.

In relation to the role of the RCVS, Adam explored how the profession could be proactive in engaging with these technologies, such as by: using regulation as a mechanism to attract 'disruptors' to work alongside the profession; identifying areas of retraining and creating targeted learning opportunities; fostering an entrepreneurial mindset; creating an early-adopter network of practices to foster initial collaboration; and framing industry challenges as targeted problems whose solutions can be crowd-sourced.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is pushing for a reform of the training and revalidation system for Official Veterinarians after conducting a survey of veterinary surgeons which found considerable levels of frustration with the existing system. 

1,300 veterinary surgeons responded to the BVA survey, which was carried out in July. They were asked what Official Controls Qualification (OCQ) they hold or have held in the past, and give reasons for dropping a previously held qualification or choosing not to revalidate. 

According to the BVA, many respondents criticised the current training and revalidation process, which is administered by Improve International on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). 

Factors including time, the cumulative cost of renewing each module at regular intervals, a lack of relevance and duplication of learning across different modules were all cited as reasons for choosing to drop qualifications.  

25% of vets who currently hold the Essential Skills OCQ say they are planning not to renew the qualification, with 67% saying it is because of the expiry of grandfather rights and 66% saying it is because they find the requirements too onerous.

18% of those who currently hold the Tuberculin Testing OCQ are not planning on renewing, either because they are finding the revalidation requirements too onerous (58%), too expensive (42%) or because the work is not sufficiently rewarding (42%).

35% of those who hold the Statutory Surveillance OCQ are not planning on renewing, primarily because of overly onerous revalidation requirements. 

The largest drop off is predicted amongst holders of the Exports OCQ, 38.4% of whom said they plan not to revalidate. 

Amongst the species bolt-ons, 45.5% of the holders of the Small Animal Exports OCQ, 51% of the Ungulate Exports OCQ, 66% of the Equine Exports OCQ, 72.5% of the Avian Exports OCQ, 47% of the Product Exports OCQ, 68% of the Germinal Products Exports OCQ and 32% of the Companion Animals OCQ said they plan not to renew, either because of the expiry of grandfather rights, or the expense or, in the case of Ungulate Exports, because revalidation is too onerous. 

In the current system equine exports are included in the ungulate export OCQ, which the BVA says was a concern for those vets who only work with farm animals. APHA and Improve International have helpfully introduced an equine-only OCQ for exports that better meets the needs of equine-only vets. 

BVA reports that it has had a positive meeting with APHA to discuss the survey results and explore practical solutions to iron out issues with the current system and make it easier to use. As a next step, BVA has agreed to review the modules and make recommendations for improving the structure of training and the revalidation process.

BVA President John Fishwick said: "The unprecedented response rate to this survey really hits home the strength of feeling on this issue. There is an urgent need to review and improve the revalidation process to safeguard against capacity and capability issues in this critical section of the workforce.

"It’s really positive that APHA recognises that there are issues with the current system and is keen to work with us to make it more proportionate and fit for purpose while continuing to maintain high standards.  It’s more important than ever to retain skilled professionals so that the workforce is at full strength to respond robustly to disease outbreaks and meet demand for export certification after Brexit."

Andrew Soldan, APHA Veterinary Director said: "The integrity of our official controls and export certification is vitally important. The Official Controls Qualifications are a key part of this as they provide standardised OV training as well as assurance of high standards.  I’m grateful to BVA for their assistance as we look to make further improvements to the system in the future."

Merial has launched Supleneo flex, a nutraceutical supplement designed to be part of a Total Joint Health programme for dogs, administered once daily. 

Merial says the new product supports its market position as a leading force in canine pain management, supported by the canine NSAID Previcox.

According to the company, Supleneo flex is suitable for all breeds, sizes and ages, and contains three key ingredients associated with joint health: glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulphate and mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E). It is designed to be used as part of an all-round joint care programme, alongside nutrition, weight management and exercise.

Merial says the soft chews are highly palatable and when tested against a range of competitor products, a significant difference was observed, with Supleneo flex readily taken and preferred by dogs.¹

Supleneo flex is supported by printed and digital materials to help with owner education, including a waiting room video and an online information website at www.supleneoflex.co.uk for clients.

For veterinary surgeons, Merial is offering product advertising support and a loyalty programme. 

For more information, telephone Merial on 0870 6000 123 or contact your Territory Manager.

Vita Animal Health has launched Omniotic, a new ear cleaner for use in dogs, cats and rabbits.

Omniotic combines three ingredients to remove ear wax and debris: a detergent, a solvent and an emulsifier. It also contains Octoxynol-9, lactic acid, salicylic acid and parabens, which Vita says have anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

The product is sold in 120ml bottles with a transparent flexible tip designed to be comfortable even in stenosed, tender ear canals. 

Omniotic can be used for regular daily cleaning, especially in predisposed breeds such as spaniels and lop-eared rabbits where ear conformation increases the risk of ear disease.

The product can also be used alongside other antibiotics or anti-fungal medications, something which Vita highlights as being especially important in rabbits, the ear canals of which are less prone to inflammation and stenosis, and for which topical treatment can be very effective. 

Tara Evans, RVN and sales manager said: "Omniotic is an ear cleaner for dogs, cats and rabbits which combines features to meet the needs of owners and vets at the same time. The feedback from our customers is very positive; they are finding the soft, flexible applicator tip is easy to use and well tolerated. The unique combination of ingredients and the multi-species use means Omniotic can be used to support ear health across a wide variety of indications."

For more information and for the latest promotional offers, contact Tara Evans, via email: info@vitaanimalhealth.com, or telephone: 01256 591032.