The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has struck off a Wiltshire-based veterinary surgeon for charges relating to tuberculin (TB) testing on cattle that he undertook and certified at four farms during June and July of 2010.

At the end of the ten-day hearing, the Disciplinary Committee found Sorin Dinu Chelemen guilty of 32 charges relating to his work as an Official Veterinarian (OV) for Animal Health, while employed as a locum at Endell Veterinary Group, Salisbury. Mr Chelemen, who represented himself at the hearing, disputed all of the charges. He also said he had had poor knowledge and comprehension of written and spoken English at the time, which had since improved.

Mr Chelemen gave the Committee detailed accounts of what he said occurred in relation to the TB testing at all four farms. However, in almost all the points where the facts were denied, the Committee found a stark divergence between his evidence and that given by witnesses for the College.

The Committee was generally unimpressed by Mr Chelemen's account of events, finding many of his allegations and explanations for his actions to be incredible or unreliable. For example, he claimed that during his Animal Health training, he had not been given a copy of the 'Manual of Procedures' containing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for TB testing. Although the Committee accepted Mr Chelemen's English had been poor at the time, leading to communication problems, he had satisfactorily demonstrated that he knew how to perform TB tests in accordance with these SOPs when he started work at the practice. Overall, the Committee found Mr Chelemen's attitude was that he had not done anything wrong and nothing was his fault, and that he had little understanding of the professional responsibilities incumbent on an OV.

By contrast, the Committee considered all the witnesses called by the College to have given clear, credible and consistent evidence. Complaints had been made about three farms that were separate and unconnected, and where the tests had been conducted on different dates. These complaints, if not identical, were very similar. The evidence was overwhelming that Mr Chelemen had not followed the SOPs when carrying out testing at three of the farms.

The Committee noted that the measurements recorded by Mr Chelemen did not show the differences which would be normally expected. Mr Chelemen had not measured the animals in accordance with the SOPs when he knew he ought to have, and he had been dishonest in certifying the tests.

When considering sanctions, the Committee found an aggravating factor was that Mr Chelemen's actions undermined procedures to prevent the spread of disease. In particular, he failed to notify the owners of animals on three farms that he had found reactors or inconclusive reactors, resulting in those animals not being isolated. Nor did he submit paperwork to Animal Health about these animals, which was a fundamental breach of his duties as an OV.

In mitigation, the Committee accepted that Mr Chelemen had no previous RCVS disciplinary findings against him; and, that the OV training he received was limited, having regard to English not being his first language and relative inexperience as a TB tester. It also took into account that this disciplinary case had been in progress for three years, his poor health and his financial and family circumstances.

Mrs Judith Webb, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee said: "The Committee is of the view that this is a most serious case, in which the integrity of TB testing was undermined, and animal health was put at risk, which may have resulted in the spread of disease. Furthermore, this case involves findings of dishonesty, which has been held to come at the top end of the spectrum of gravity of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect."

She directed that Mr Chelemen be struck off the Register.

nutravet has launched nutraren, a new product designed to support healthy renal function in cats and dogs.

The new product contains a combination of Omega-3s, toxin binders and antioxidants which the company claims flush out toxins, aid blood flow to the kidneys and maintain kidney architecture.

Matthew Shaw, Managing Director of nutravet said: "We’re really excited to launch nutraren, it’s a product our team have been working on for some time to make sure we have developed the best renal product for vets to recommend to their clients. 

"Using independent trial data, we’ve been able to develop a unique formulation for nutraren containing 100% natural ingredients to benefit a pet’s long-term kidney health."

Authorised veterinary practices can now order nutraren from nutravet.

For more information, contact nutravet on 0845 604 1688, visit: www.nutravet.co.uk or email: info@nutravet.co.uk.

Colourful CPD, the leading provider of non-clinical skills training to the veterinary profession set up by Brian Faulkner FRCVS, has been acquired by Agilio Software, the UK’s leading provider of frontline healthcare operations software.

Brian (pictured right), said: “I am absolutely delighted that Colourful CPD has joined Agilio and I see this as a win-win-win for Colourful CPD, Agilio and the veterinary profession.

"Colourful CPD’s courses complement Agilio’s vast array of existing statutory and mandatory courses which they already distribute within the UK as well as all around the world, thus enabling Colourful CPD to make the move up to the next level, both here and abroad.

I believe veterinary practices, as well as all the roles working within them, will benefit from being able to access a range of new courses and management services from Agilio.”  

To mark its expansion into the veterinary sector, Agilio will be launching iTeam, its HR and rota software, together with iLearn, an online training and CPD accredited platform at the London Vet Show  in November.

https://www.colourfulcpd.com
https://agiliosoftware.com 

Merial Animal Health has launched Allevinix, a flunixin-based non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) pain killer for cattle, pigs and horses.

Victoria Hudson, Product Manager for Merial Animal Health said: "We have positioned Allevinix as the flexible flunixin that meets your needs, because it offers flexibility in every area.

"It is the only flunixin licensed for both intramuscular and intravenous administration in cattle and we know that this will be very welcome for many vets and farmers. It can be used across cattle, pigs and horses, and it is the first injectable NSAID to come in a durable, non-breakable bottle."

Merial says Allevinix is fast-acting against inflammation, pain and fever, reaching peak plasma levels approximately 30 minutes after injection. It is available in 100ml and 250ml PET bottles and joins Ketofen as part of a range of NSAIDs available from Merial. It can also be used in conjunction with Merial's antimicrobial treatment for calf pneumonia - Zactran.

Victoria added: "We believe that vets will find this is a useful and innovative addition to the range of options that they have in terms of NSAIDs. Allevinix has a number of advantages over other flunixin products currently on the market."

International Cat Care is highlighting a new study by the University of Edinburgh which concluded that flatter-faced cats were more likely to have breathing problems and that the breathing difficulties were also associated with increased tear staining and a more sedentary lifestyle¹.

The charity says it joins mounting evidence that brachycephalic cats, including most modern Persians or Exotic Shorthairs, are suffering from a number of health problems, including breathing problems, eye inflammation, skin infections and difficulty eating. 

In the study, published open access in the journal PLOS ONE, cat owners were asked to complete a detailed health questionnaire and submit photographs of their cats so that researchers could measure the muzzle ratio and nose position ratio. 1000 valid questionnaires and 373 valid photographs were received.

The research confirmed that flatter-faced cats (of breeds such as the Persian or Exotic Shorthair), were more likely to have breathing problems and that the breathing difficulties were also associated with increased tear staining and a more sedentary lifestyle.

A previous paper, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS)² showed how the skulls of brachycephalic cats are actually deformed, especially the nose and jaw. 

The charity says that unfortunately, breeds of cat and dog with flat faces are becoming more and more popular, and extremes (of an already abnormal anatomy) can become instant internet celebrities. These breeds and individuals often have large or prominent eyes which are considered by some to be 'cute' because they are baby-like, and the flattened face often has an up-turned or down-turned mouth, which gives it a human or cartoon characteristic of smiling or scowling, such as Grumpy Cat. 

Claire Bessant, Chief Executive of International Cat Care said: "It is very depressing to see the life which has been deliberately dealt to some breeds of cats because of a human desire to develop a certain look. I urge cat lovers to speak out and help others to understand that this is not something we should be doing to cats, and not something we should be tolerating.

"One of the best and most beautifully naturally designed animals – the cat – would not normally have any of these problems; we have created them through selective breeding.

"We should not be encouraging people to breed these cats by calling them 'cute', by being amused at their facial characteristics, or by the fact that they snore – rather we need to understand that this is human intervention that is wholly detrimental to the welfare of the cats and is simply cruel.

"International Cat Care takes an ethical view of all cat breeds and our website (http://icatcare.org/advice/cat-breeds) outlines the problems that exist for some breeds, including very flat-faced cats in the Persians and Exotic breeds. Our stance is that we should never deliberately breed cats for any feature or characteristic that impairs their welfare."

References

1. Farnworth MJ, et al. Flat feline faces: is brachycephaly associated with respiratory abnormalities in the domestic cat (Felis catus)? PLoS One 2016; 11: e0161777. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161777
2. Schlueter C, Budras KD, Ludewig E, et al. Brachycephalic feline noses: CT and anatomical study of the relationship between head conformation and the nasolacrimal drainage system. J Feline Med Surg 2009; 11: 891–900. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.09.010.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool are asking veterinary surgeons to take part in a survey to explore the reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs).

It is hoped the survey will capture the experiences vets have had reporting ADRs, as well as identifying barriers to the current process which could be used to improve the ease with which ADRs are reported in the future.

PhD student Heather Davies (pictured right), who is leading the research project, said: "The survey is an important opportunity to gain insights into the issues that vets  face when dealing with ADRs.

"We want to make the process easier in order to improve the safety of veterinary medicines, and ultimately, we need the help of professionals on the front line in order to do that."

She added: "The survey is relatively short and can be completed anonymously. 

"We’re really keen to gather as many of your experiences as possible so we’d like to encourage veterinary professionals to complete it."

The research is being carried out as part of a PhD project funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in collaboration with the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET), based at the university.

The survey is now open and you can take part here: https://liverpool.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/adrs-vet

Any questions about the survey can be addressed directly to the researchers: Heather Davies (PhD student): H.H.Davies@liverpool.ac.uk and/or Dr David Killick (Supervisor): David.Killick@liverpool.ac.uk.

The Privy Council has partially upheld and partially dismissed an appeal submitted to it by Dr Gerhard Schulze Allen against a decision by the Disciplinary Committee in January 2018 to have him removed from the Register.

The Disciplinary Committee had found Dr Schulze Allen guilty of four charges, namely that he had been convicted of the criminal offence of petty theft in the US which rendered him unfit to practise, and that on three subsequent occasions, twice to the RCVS and once to a notary in California, dishonestly represented that he had no criminal convictions. 

Following the DC hearing, Dr Schulze Allen submitted an appeal to the Privy Council. The basis of his appeal revolved around whether, under Californian law, his conviction for petty theft was a conviction for a criminal offence or an infraction, and whether an infraction under US law was a criminal offence.

The RCVS had argued that while the theft is not a criminal felony in California, it would be considered so under English law. 

However, the Board of the Privy Council which heard the appeal – comprising Lords Wilson, Carnwath and Lloyd-Jones, found the College had not proven beyond all reasonable doubt that Dr Schulze Allen was convicted of a criminal offence under Californian law. It therefore upheld his appeal against the DC’s finding that he had committed a criminal offence.

The Privy Council then considered Dr Schulze Allen’s appeal against the third and fourth of the charges against him - that he was dishonest in his representations to the College that he did not have a ‘criminal’ conviction and did not have a ‘criminal record’. The Privy Council found that, since the conviction for petty theft was an infraction, and was not a criminal offence and did not leave Dr Schulze Allen with a criminal record, then, strictly speaking, his representations to the RCVS were not false and so upheld his appeal against these two charges.

The Privy Council then considered Dr Schulze Allen’s appeal against the College’s second charge against him. This charge was that he had, in a written application for restoration to the Register, represented that he did not have any cautions, criminal convictions or "adverse findings". The College argued that he still had a responsibility to make a full and frank disclosure about his infraction, even if it did not meet the threshold of ‘criminal’ under Californian law. 

The Board of the Privy Council said it had, on Dr Schulze Allen’s behalf, done its best to identify some argument that his conviction for a petty theft infraction did not amount to an "adverse finding", but failed. Rather, it found that "the conviction obviously amounted to an adverse finding." 

The Board added that "there is no material by reference to which the Board [of the Privy Council] can depart from the [Disciplinary] Committee’s conclusion that, in answering “no” to that question, he knew that his answer was untrue. In other words, his denial was dishonest."

The Board therefore allowed the appeal against the DC’s conclusion on the first, third and fourth charges. But it dismissed the appeal against its conclusion on the second charge, namely that in that regard Dr Schulze Allen had been guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect."

The Board then set aside the original sanction, that Dr Schulze Allen be removed from the Register, and tasked the Committee with identifying the appropriate sanction in relation to the second charge.

The Disciplinary Committee will now hold a further hearing to decide the sanction, at some time in the future. In the meantime Dr Schulze Allen remains on the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.

Dunlops has changed its name to Henry Schein Animal Health.

David Hinton, Managing Director said: "As we change our name to Henry Schein Animal Health, we also reaffirm our company's strong commitment to offer a comprehensive array of products and services to help animal health practitioners in the United Kingdom operate more efficient and successful practices, and provide the best quality patient care.

"We have a new name, but we have the same strong team, the same values, and the same dedication to providing excellent service to our customers."

Henry Schein Animal Health’s expanded offerings include VetLink and Thrive. VetLink is a new e-commerce web site system that enables veterinary surgeons to access the growing internet sector, allowing you to sell anything from pet prescriptions to accessories online, to be delivered to your customers’ homes by Henry Schein Animal Health. Thrive is a new veterinary business analysis service that integrates with practice management software to use a Key Performance Indicator based approach that provides insight into a your practice and identifies areas where you can enhance your business.

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

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

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

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

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

The findings revealed that:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reference

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

Photo: depositphotos.com

Animus Surgical has launched Membra, a new hydrogel polymer wound sealant for use in horses, companion animals and aquatics.

Membra is a transparent, water-resistant, non-toxic, biodegradable bandage replacement consisting of a hydrogel polymer which can be applied to open wounds.

It is initially applied as a liquid and quickly gels into a thin, flexible layer over the site. 

The initial liquid phase of Membra allows it to cover open and irregular spaces as well as suture lines and it dries in minutes to form a barrier that covers and protects the incision site or wound.

Being transparent, Membra allows the wound to be seen by the veterinary team and pet owners.

Membra lasts for up to 14 days and naturally biodegrades over time. 

Animus says that Membra lowers the risk of infection or dehiscence.

The company also says that hydrogel polymer has been shown to replace the need for adhesive bandaging on suture lines following major TPLO surgery.

A study concluded that the polymer did not appear to raise the prevalence of incisional complications after TPLO surgery and lasts for 14 days, rather than 24-48 hours with traditional bandaging¹.

Nick Butcher MRCVS, owner of Animus Surgical in the UK, said: “Regular bandaging of open wounds can be costly, time-consuming and stressful for owners and their pets, requiring frequent visits to the practice. 

"The bandaging of some open wounds can be impossible because of the location of the lesion or the affected species (e.g. exotic or aquatic animals) and more aggressive or nervous patients may require sedation.

"Used bandages also add to the volume of clinical waste generated by the practice which requires incineration

“We are therefore delighted to launch Membra to veterinary teams in the UK.

"It has been very successful in the U.S. and we already have a number of UK vets using the product as Membra can positively affect the outcome of open wound management across a range of species, without the need for regular bandage changes.”

To find out how to apply Membra, a range of YouTube videos are available showing a selection of case examples: https://youtube.com/@sutureseal5917. 

www.animussurgical.com.

Reference

1. EJ Harrison, WE Scherrer, J Fragola, NG Patel, SR Perry, V Janković & A J Staatz (2017) Preliminary evaluation of a hydrogel liquid bandage in 30 dogs undergoing tibial plateau levelling osteotomy surgery, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 65:1, 30-33, DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2016.1236710

Virbac has launched Trilotab, the first chewable, flavoured and divisible trilostane tablet to treat Cushing’s syndrome in dogs.

Trilotab is licensed for the treatment of pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH) caused by an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma, which accounts for 85% of spontaneous cases of Cushing’s, and for the treatment of adreno-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADH) caused by a cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumour (ACT), which accounts for the remaining 15% of spontaneous cases¹.

The new tablet is divisible into halves and quarters to facilitate dose adjustment and make administration easier.

Divided tablets remain stable outside of the blister packaging until the next dose is due, thereby avoiding wastage.

Trilotab tablets are chewable and chicken-flavoured to help improve treatment compliance.

They contain hydrolysed chicken flavouring so they can be prescribed for pets allergic to chicken.

Trilotab is administered once daily with food with a starting dose of 2mg trilostane/kg bodyweight. 

The new tabs are available in three presentations: 10mg, 30mg, and 60mg presentations, which Virbac says should help practices reduce their dispensary stockholding.

Andrew Connolly, Marketing Director – UK & Ireland at Virbac, said: ‘The complex nature of Cushing’s syndrome in dogs can make it a challenging condition to manage for both the clinician and the pet owner.

"With the requirement for lifelong treatment, it is our hope that Trilotab’s easy administration and simplified dosing protocols will genuinely help to improve the lives of dogs affected by the disease, whilst making the clinician and pet owner’s lives just a little bit easier too!"

Reference

1. Sanders, K., Kooistra, H.S. and Galac, S. (2018) Treating Canine Cushing’s Syndrome: Current Options and Future Prospects. The Veterinary Journal, 241, 42-51

Petplan Equine has announced the finalists for the fifth annual Petplan Equine Vet of the Year Award.

The winner of the award award, which is sponsored by Petplan Equine in association with Horse & Rider magazine, will be announced at the annual Animal Health Trust Equestrian Awards, being held at London's Lancaster Hotel on Thursday 1^st November, 2012.

The finalists are:

Jess Hill BVM&S MRCVS Woodlands Veterinary Clinic, Cheltenham, Glos, England
Jess, who qualified in 2003 at the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School for Veterinary Studies, is described as simply "brilliant" for her outstanding calm, capable and kind approach to her work and the way in which she makes herself readily available to her clients.  One nomination typifies all those received in praise of Jess' work: "She is incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated and nothing is too much trouble. She is great with horses - always quiet, kind and gentle. She works quickly and confidently, doesn't suggest unnecessary expensive procedures and is always cheerful and a pleasure to be with."

Keith Chandler BVMS Cert EP MRCVS, Kessock Equine Vets, Inverness, Scotland
Keith Chandler, a senior partner at Kessock Equine Vets received several nominations which credited not only him personally for his dedication, knowledge, pragmatic and caring approach but also his practice for its outstanding customer service. Upon receiving news of his nomination, Keith was swift to praise his team and explained: "This nomination reflects the exceptional team I have around me - together we strive to offer continuity, consistency and a minimum level of care to all our clients irrespective of which vet is in attendance."

Lee Paul, BSC BVM&S Cert EP MRCVS, Bushy Equine, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Wales
Nominations for Lee Paul, a specialist in internal and stud medicine who qualified at Edinburgh University's Royal Dick Veterinary School in 2002, unanimously praised his willingness to 'never give up' and to go beyond the call of duty. He is said to be highly dedicated and is praised for his willingness to always be available such as on the occasion when a horse he had been treating for a swelling in her throat presented complications during a weekend when he was not on duty. Despite this Lee, who had been contacted by the duty vet for background information, attended the call himself within an hour complete with the stethoscope he'd collected from the surgery en route and with his family in his car!

This year's judges were David Stickles, Head of Fund Raising at the Animal Health Trust, Alison Bridge, Editor of Horse & Rider magazine, Ben Mayes, President of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and Gil Riley, 2009 Petplan Equine Vet of the Year.

Petplan says that the record number of high calibre nominations made it hard for the judges to choose three finalists. Isabella Von Mesterhazy, Head of Marketing for Petplan Equine said: "Anyone motivated to nominate their vet for this award must hold them in extremely high regard so once again we were very impressed by both the quality and quantity of nominations we received. It is heartwarming and inspiring to read the submissions that describe the outstanding contributions made by all the nominees in keeping owners happy and horses healthy. It has not been easy to select just three to go through to the final."

The winner will be posted on www.petplanequine.co.uk on Friday 2 of November.