The European Parliament has voted 618 votes to 17 for an extension to the transitional arrangements contained within the regulation on the non-commercial movement of pet animals which afford the UK additional protection against rabies, ticks and tapeworms.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) have been lobbying MEPs to support the extension and have strongly welcomed this decision.
The transitional arrangements allow the UK to impose stricter measures on the entry of pet animals and are designed to protect the UK from rabies, ticks and tapeworms (Echinococcus multilocularis).
The vote in the European Parliament today supports an extension of these arrangements until the end of 2011 and puts in place a system so that permanent measures can be imposed in the future for entry to specific Member States based on scientific evidence. The decision will have to be ratified by the European Agriculture Council before coming into force.
Parasitologist Maggie Fisher from ESCCAP said: "This provides the UK with invaluable time to mount a solid scientific case for retaining the requirement for tick and tapeworm treatment indefinitely."
Professor Bill Reilly, President of the BVA, said: "The BVA and BSAVA have worked closely with Defra to secure this extension to the arrangements and we will now be pushing for investment in additional scientific research that will give us a clearer picture of the threat of the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis and other exotic and emerging diseases."
Dr Richard Dixon, President of BSAVA, added: "This decision in Europe is strongly welcomed and we are pleased that veterinary associations across Europe supported our position. The next stage is to gather further evidence to ensure the UK is protected in the future.
"In the meantime, the key message for pet owners is that they must talk to their vets as early as possible to find out how to protect them from disease and parasites when travelling abroad."
Hill's Pet Nutrition has announced an average price reduction of over 5 per cent across almost 80 per cent of its product range from 1st March 2010.
The company says this is the first time in its history that such a big price reduction has been implemented, and it comes with a promise that superior nutritional quality won't be compromised.
The price cut comes following market research by Hill's which shows that after one of the deepest recessions in 50 years, more pet owners are becoming cost-conscious, and many are now buying their petfood in the grocery channel or mixing premium foods with economy products.
Another factor in decision-making for some pet owners is the cost per pack, particularly on the larger bag sizes. From April 2010, some Hill's Prescription Diet products will be resized to make them a more affordable purchase. Canine Prescription Diets c/d, d/d, i/d, k/d and j/d will be moved from a 14 Kg bag to a 12 Kg bag. Feline Prescription Diets c/d, k/d, r/d, i/d and s/d will be moved from a 2 Kg bag to a 1.5 kg bag. The price reduction will also be applied proportionately alongside the smaller bag size, so many clients should see a significant reduction at point of purchase. The smaller bags are also easier for practices to store and can increase frequency of client visits providing more opportunities to offer advice and support.
Blake Hawley, Hill's General Manager for UK and Ireland said, "We would like to thank vets, nurses and support staff for their continued support and dedication. Every pet needs and deserves a nutritional assessment and this price reduction will make it easier for vet teams to recommend the best Hill's product, confident those pets are getting high quality nutrition at new, lower prices. Having listened to what the profession had to say in 2009, this year we will demonstrate our commitment to the veterinary profession in very clear and visible ways."
For an up to date price list and support material to assist in communicating the change to clients, please contact your Hill's Territory Manager or call 0800 282438
Visitors to the company's stand will be invited to make a donation.
Anyone not attending the show, but who nevertheless wants to support this charity's work, will be able to do so via social media.
VetCT says it is hoping to raise a total of £6000 to fund the training of local veterinary teams in wildlife medicine.
Head of Communications, Liz Barton said: “We are learning so much about the far-reaching and important work of WVI through our charity partnership - how they are helping to preserve biodiversity and support the conservation of species, which is absolutely key to global sustainability.
"Education is core to everything we do at VetCT, and we are excited to be raising funds that will be used to support local vets and nurses to undergo comprehensive training in wildlife medicine, enabling the dissemination of knowledge and expertise to support conservation projects globally.”
Olivia Walter, Executive Director of WVI, said: “We are incredibly excited at the prospect of launching our education initiative with the support of VetCT and LVS delegates.
"Training local veterinary teams to provide exceptional care to wildlife is vital to the longevity and success of conservation projects.
"In addition to raising funds and awareness of our work, the direct clinical support from the VetCT experts is helping us to continue providing much needed veterinary input to conservation efforts around the world.”
WVI representatives, including Matthew Rendle RVN and Dr Asumah of the Wildlife Division, Forestry Department, Government of Ghana, will be on VetCT stand D44 at 12:30-1:30pm on Friday 17th November.
The charity will also be on Millpledge Veterinary stand J60, which also supports the work of WVI.
The company points to research which showed that in the US, and despite the importance of annual health checks, 45.7% of cats did not visit a veterinary surgeon in the year the study was conducted. Of those, 41% cited the reason as their “cats did not get sick or injured.” Only 16% said they did not have the money to pay for a veterinary visit.1,2
Apparently, a more recent poll by International Cat Care (ICC) also found that 50% of cat owners struggle to get their cat into a carrier, which is obviously a barrier to taking their pet to the veterinary clinic.
To help more cats get to the vet, International Cat Care has developed educational materials and a range of training aids including free online training videos, podcasts, emails and giveaways. They're available at: https://icatcare.org/international-cat-day.
Dr. Michael McFarland, Chief Medical Officer at Zoetis, said: "Many cat owners find it incredibly difficult and stressful getting cats into a carrier. As a result, many are reluctant to take their cat to their veterinarian unless they have a major health issue.
“Cats are intelligent animals and we want owners to know that they respond well to training. The ICC survey found that owners who use positive training and rewards find it much easier to get their cats into a carrier, so we are delighted to support the #BeCatCurious campaign this year.
“Visits to the veterinarian and giving medicines when needed are essential if we want to keep our pets healthy and protected, for example against parasites. So, encouraging owners to be more curious and to learn something new with their cat can not only strengthen the bond between them but also make life easier and healthier for cats and their owners.
References
The Royal Veterinary College is embarking on an educational tour to provide advice to school children on studying and working in the veterinary sector.
The tour will visit secondary schools in the following towns:
The RVC says the event is designed to demonstrate the diversity of the profession, looking at both clinical and non-clinical careers within it. RVC staff, students and recent graduates will be on hand to answer questions for all of those interested in becoming a vet, veterinary nurse or bio-veterinary scientist.
Visitors will have the chance to carry out practical veterinary and scientific skills and discover diagnosis techniques using the RVC's state-of-the-art Haptic laptop, which contains the Core Skills Trainer; a collection of computer games that use touch technology to teach key manual skills needed to become a veterinary professional.
The event will also allow attendees to compete against each other to test their aptitude for core veterinary skills.
The sessions will be open to secondary school students, teachers, parents and careers advisers. It will present information on the wide-ranging courses offered by the RVC and the differing career choices available in the sector.
Booking is essential in order to attend and can be completed at www.rvc.ac.uk/rvcontour. For further information please call 020 7468 1257 or email schools@rvc.ac.uk.
A new company supplying pet chews to the veterinary profession has launched this month.
The Soft Chew Company has been set up by Kevin Ingram, owner of the veterinary supplier J.A.K Marketing and Niall McFerran, who has in the past worked for a number of veterinary healthcare companies including Animalcare, Ceva and Alstoe.
Kevin said: "The healthcare supplement market in the UK is worth over £20 million and rising but most customers are asked to use products which were designed for use on humans. The aim of The Soft Chew Company is to provide those health benefits in the form of treats that the dogs and cats will readily accept."
The new company's product range will be branded: "Chewz" and marketed as palatable healthcare supplements in order that they will not be confused with pharmaceutical products.
The range will initially consist of:
The Chewz range can be obtained from all wholesalers or directly from J.A.K Marketing.
For further information contact; info@thesoftchewcompany.co.uk or 01347 293150
The University of Bristol, the Rabbit Council, the Pet Industry Federation, the RSPCA and the RWAF have come together for the first time to produce a vision for improving rabbit welfare.The new ten-point vision is based on recommendations resulting from research commissioned by the RSPCA and carried out by the university which found that the welfare needs of many companion rabbits are not being met. It has been endorsed by the Blue Cross, the BVNA, the National Office for Animal Health, PDSA and Wood Green.The Rabbit Welfare Vision Statement states that:All companion rabbits enjoy a good life in which they can experience positive welfare, ie good physical and psychological health) as well as being protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.All rabbits have access to an appropriate diet, known to optimise animal health and minimise the risk of disease. This includes having continual access to both good quality fibre-based material, eg hay or fresh grass, to eat and fresh, clean water.All rabbits live in an environment which meets their physical, social and behavioural needs, eg to run, jump, graze, dig, rest and stand up on their hind legs without their ears touching the roof.All rabbits are sold or rehomed to be kept in compatible pairs or groups.All rabbits are bred, reared and kept in a way known to minimise their chances of developing fear of handling and other stimuli.All rabbits are given regular preventative health care as recommended by veterinary experts, eg vaccinated against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), a virulent and fatal viral disease of rabbits, according to current vaccine licence recommendations.All rabbits are given appropriate and timely veterinary treatment to protect them from pain, disease and suffering.All those working with rabbits, including vets, retailers, breeders, rehoming organisations, undertake effective training programmes and have resources available to them on current good practice in housing and husbandry, the promotion of health and welfare, and the management of disease and welfare risks.All rabbit health and welfare advice and recommendations are based on international scientific knowledge and professional experience. The veterinary professions offers up-to-date expertise in recognition, management and prevention of disease and in practices to promote good welfare.The number of rabbits requiring rehoming, both privately and via rescue organisations, is minimised. Dr Nicola Rooney, Research Fellow in Animal Welfare and Behaviour at the University’s School of Veterinary Sciences, primary author of the strategy and who jointly led the original research, said: “We are delighted to have a vision for rabbit welfare that is strongly rooted in evidence-based information and it’s great that Bristol research is one of the key pieces of research underpinning the strategy.“There is a growing body of scientific understanding on how best to meet rabbits’ health and behavioural needs. Both myself and my colleague, Richard Saunders, are part of the strategy group moving this vision forward and we’re very happy that everyone has joined forces to take this on board.”Dr Jane Tyson, rabbit behaviour and welfare expert at the RSPCA said: “We are really excited that stakeholders in animal welfare, the pet industry, breeders and the veterinary profession have been able to come together to share this vision.“We share a common goal which is improving the lives of rabbits - one of Britain’s most popular pets, but also arguably one of the most misunderstood.”The University of Bristol says the next step will be to develop a roadmap to achieving the vision.
The RCVS has launched the recruitment process for new Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) Assessors, ahead of the Scheme's relaunch in November this year.
The College is looking to recruit 18 experienced veterinary surgeons as Assessors who will work directly with RCVS-accredited practices to help them comply with the Scheme and maintain the highest possible standards of veterinary care.
Successful candidates will be expected to actively assess and inspect veterinary practices at the different PSS accreditation levels - core, general practice and hospital - to encourage continuous improvement; they will work proactively with practice teams to ensure that the Scheme's standards are understood and being worked towards. The College is aiming to recruit Assessors from across the UK who have experience in small animal, equine and/or farm animal practice.
An Open Day will be held at the RCVS on Friday, 12 June 2015, to give prospective candidates more information about the roles. Anyone interested in attending should contact Alicia on 020 7202 0786 or email atAliciaM@rcvs.org.uk. As places are limited, they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The recruitment process is being handled by Thewlis Graham Associates. Those interested in applying should contact them for a confidential discussion on 020 7850 4781. The deadline for applications is Monday, 29 June 2015.
Further information about the role, including the candidate brief and application form, is available at www.thewlisgraham.com.
The authors say that domestic cats are very similar in their behavioural needs to their closest ancestor, the African wildcat, and an indoor-only lifestyle, unless managed appropriately, can give rise to health issues (such as obesity and diabetes) and problem behaviours (including aggression, house-soiling and attention-seeking).
One approach to mitigating these potential problems, they say, is with the use of ‘food puzzles’ – devices which release food when an animal interacts with them, originally developed to provide enrichment for captive zoo and laboratory animals.
Food puzzles take advantage of cats' natural instincts to work for their food. There is a wide range of puzzles on the market: some are mobile (rolled or pushed with the cat’s nose or paws), others are stationary, and they can be used with either wet or dry food. Creative and/or cost-conscious cat owners can even make their own DIY food puzzles by, for example, cutting holes in egg boxes or water bottles.
The authors reviewed existing empirical evidence of the physical and emotional benefits imparted by food puzzles, and collated details of over 30 cases from their own practices where food puzzles were introduced to aid with a specific health or behavioural concern.
Examples include an obese 8-year-old male domestic shorthair cat who lost 20% of his bodyweight within 12 months of puzzle implementation; a 3-year-old British Shorthair male cat, whose impulsive and frustration-based aggression towards his owner instantly improved and resolved completely within 6 months; and a 2-year-old domestic shorthair cat whose fear of people (his owners included) significantly improved following the addition of both mobile and stationary food puzzles, to the point that he would come when called and was relaxed for cuddles.
The article aims to provide veterinary professionals with the information they need to advise clients on the subject. It is free to read here.
Reference
Dantas LMS, Delgado MM, Johnson I and Buffington CAT. Food puzzles for cats: feeding for physical and emotional wellbeing. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 18: 723–732.
As of the start of this week, police forces and local authorities have new legal powers designed to reduce the number of dog attacks.
For the first time, police and local authorities will be able to demand that owners take action to prevent a dog attack or risk fine of up to £20,000. If a complaint has been made about a dog to the council or police, its owners can be ordered to do any or all of the following:
The government has published a manual called Dealing with irresponsible dog ownership: practitioner's manual, to guide police forces and local authorities in the use of their new legal powers to prevent dog attacks.
Animal Welfare Minister Lord de Mauley said: "Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families which is why we are taking tough action against those who allow them to happen. Police and local authorities will now have more powers to demand that irresponsible dog owners take steps to prevent attacks before they occur. This is on top of the tougher prison sentences we introduced earlier this year for owners who allow their dogs to attack people and assistance dogs."
The National Policing Lead for Dangerous Dogs, DCC Gareth Pritchard said: "The Practitioners Manual gives police officers and other practitioners clear guidance on how to best implement the legislative changes, especially the early preventative measures such as Community Protection Notices, to help prevent more serious events occurring in the future. It also provides a platform to share good practice between police forces and partner agencies and it will form part of the ongoing training of Dog Legislation Officers across England and Wales."
Photo credit: iStockphoto/Thinkstock.
The PDSA has announced the start of its annual pet slimming competition, and revealed the 17 competitors who will be fighting to win the title of Pet Fit Club Slimmer Of The Year.
The competition is run to highlight the high level of pet obesity in the UK. According to the charity, around a third of all dogs (2.5M) and a quarter of all cats (2M) are estimated to be overweight.
PDSA research has shown that 87% of owners give their pets treats, despite the fact that 91% realise the resulting obesity can reduce their pet's lifespan. The PDSA's PAW Report, produced in conjunction with YouGov, discovered that a wide range of inappropriate treats are being fed to pets, including fast food, leftovers, crisps, biscuits, chocolate and chips.
Elaine Pendlebury, PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, said: "Obesity is one of the biggest welfare issues affecting pets in the UK today. Sadly, it also means millions of pets are at risk from potentially life-threatening health problems related to obesity."
For more information about the finalists, please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub
The webinar will discuss the importance of self-compassion and provide an overview of Katherine and Sarah’s research into the effectiveness of an online compassion focused therapy (CFT) intervention in improving the mental wellbeing of veterinary professionals.
Katherine and Sarah will also go into more detail about how to get the most out of a CFT course they have created, which will be made freely available for veterinary professionals on the Mind Matters website and on the RCVS YouTube channel .
Katherine said: “Our recent randomised control trial has shown the course to significantly improve resilience and self-compassion and reduce rumination and self-criticism amongst veterinarians.
"Therefore, Sarah and I are delighted to now be disseminating the CFT course freely to the veterinary professions, so that as many people are able to benefit from the evidence-based resource as possible.
“Even though our research was conducted on veterinary surgeons, we hope that the course will be useful to all those working in the veterinary team as the content can be applied in a number of contexts.
“Our webinar will explain more about our research, as well as some of the science behind the effectiveness of the course in a veterinary context.
"So, if you are interested in learning more about how CFT may be able to help you and your team, both in a personal and professional capacity, please do come along.”
Katherine and Sarah’s compassion focused therapy course will be made available on the Mind Matters website in due course. In order to access the online compassion course, individuals are invited to complete a short questionnaire before and after watching one 10-15 minute video each day for 14 days, with the aim of the video intervention being to develop self-compassion skills and reduce self-criticism.
https://vetmindmatters.org/events/
Vets4Pets has announced the opening of its 93rd practice in Kidderminster
The joint venture partnership was opened by husband and wife vets, Edd and Olivia Pring.
Edd and Olivia met at the Royal Veterinary College, where they both studied and graduated in 2002. Now married with two young children, Edd and Olivia wanted to be able to provide a secure future for their young family. Olivia said: "Being a vet is a time-consuming career choice; the hours can really eat into your personal time. Having the ability to open our own practice, spread the work load, not work weekends, have no out of hours AND get business support, means we will be able to do what we love and see our lovely boys grow up".
Vets4pets said it worked particularly hard to find the right property for the new branch. Mark Hanson, Partner Relationship Manager, Vets4Pets said: "Edd and Olivia had recently moved to Kidderminster to be close to family, knowing this we wanted to ensure their practice wouldn't be too far away for them to travel every day. We worked closely with them seeking out sites that would both suit their needs and the criteria that all Vets4Pets practices must adhere to, ensuring the practice's success."
Once a site was made available Edd and Olivia were able to get involved with the design elements of their new practice allowing them to have input on how the practice would function.
Edd said: "It's very nice to be in a purpose-built practice that you have been able to have input into the design and layout, but with the backup of people who have done it all before; learning from their mistakes! We really enjoyed meeting all the other local JVPs who seem like great people. It made us think, if they can do it so can we! Meeting the teams in Nottingham and Peter Watson and the teams in Guernsey was really useful; it was great to see Peter is still so passionate about the business and that we have a great, highly experienced team behind our new business".
Dechra Veterinary Products has picked up a major award at the 2011 Veterinary Marketing Awards for a calendar called 'The Horse in History'.
The calendar, designed to promote all of Dechra's equine products but particularly Equipalazone, also won the award for most innovative use of direct mail. The company's website, http://www.dechra.co.uk/, was highly commended in the New Media category.
The John O'Hara Award is made to the VMA category finalist which, in the opinion of the judges, best demonstrates a high level of innovation or adventurousness in an aspect of the advertising mix. Designed to celebrate the unique position of the horse down the ages in culture, art, science and legend, the calendar featured twelve iconic illustrations, from the white horse carved into the chalk hillside in Uffington, Oxfordshire, to Da Vinci's sculpture.
It also included an embedded competition giving practices the opportunity to win practical aids, including wind up torches and water bottles, with the major prize being a trip to Vienna to see the Lipizzaner Stallions at the Spanish Riding School.
Larry King, Senior Brand Manager at Dechra, said: "Horses have had a unique relationship with man for thousands of years and this is what we wanted to celebrate with our calendar. The monthly competition with 100 prizes on offer and the special prize draw at the end of the year gave it a real point of difference and it proved very popular with our customers. It was the first time we'd run such a campaign over twelve months and we believe it to be unique in the animal health sector.
"We were delighted and honoured to win both the award for best use of direct mail and the John O'Hara award for The Horse in History. It will inspire us on our quest to continually set new standards in the way we communicate with our customers."
The Norman Cavalry
Galloping Horse
The Uffington White Horse
The Anatomy of The Horse
Incitatus
Bucephalus
Altamira Cave Painting
Gran Cavallo
Rocinante
American Carousel Horse
Aethenoth
The BVA has announced that Young Vet Network (YVN) members can now benefit from discounted access to Vetstream, the online peer reviewed service that provides clinical information about the veterinary care of dogs, cats, horses and rabbits.
YVN members, 3-8 years graduated, will now be able to benefit from large discounts (up to 63%) on Vetstream’s services, while graduates up to two years qualified already have free access to Vetstream via Vetstart.
Further information about the new package can be found on the BVA website at http://www.bva.co.uk/youngvetnetwork/vetstream_for_yvn_members.asp
Other YVN news includes the appointment of John Remnant as the new junior graduate BVA Council representative, while senior graduate rep Louisa Rance has given an interview to VETS.TV - the new web TV service currently being piloted by BVA - in which she talks about the work of the YVN and how it is helping newly qualified vets with the challenges faced after leaving vet school.
The RCVS is seeking applicants for an Appointment Group which will be responsible for deciding the membership for the governing body of the new RCVS Fellowship.
In June, RCVS Council approved proposals to develop a new style Fellowship to move it away from being an examination-based award to a formal learned society with routes to entry for those veterinary surgeons who can demonstrate meritorious contributions to clinical practice, to the profession or to learning. The Fellowship by thesis route has been discontinued as of 1 August 2015, although all applications received by this route prior to that date are being processed.
The new Fellowship will be governed and administered by a Fellowship Board with an additional Credentials Panel of up to 30 members to review new applications.
The College says it is now in the process of putting together an Appointment Group which will decide the membership of the Fellowship Board and the Credentials Panel. It is currently seeking to appoint a veterinary surgeon in the earlier stage of their career to the Group. The full details of the role, including details of the person specification, how to apply and information on expenses and remuneration can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/workforus
The Group will be chaired by former RCVS President Lord Trees with other members being RCVS President Dr Bradley Viner and BVA President Sean Wensley as well as a lay observer. The first meeting of the Appointment Group is likely to take place before the end of the year and, once the Fellowship Board and Credentials Panel are established, the Group will be dissolved.
For an informal chat about the role before applying, contact Dr Simon Wallace, RCVS Education and Scientific Officer, on s.wallace@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0702.
The BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) in conjunction with the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) has announced the launch of an update of its popular Pets and Poisons - Keeping Your Animals Safe leaflet, first produced in 2004.
Based on information compiled by the VPIS, the leaflet provides a valuable and easy reference guide for owners on preventing poisoning in the home, in the garden or in open spaces along with advice on what to do if you think your animal has been poisoned.
Veterinary practices can obtain batches of 50 leaflets for the waiting room, free of charge (although a donation to AWF is encouraged) directly from the BVA agents Ten Alps on 020 7878 2307 or Louise.walpole@tenalpspublishing.com
The Disciplinary Committee of the RCVS has refused an application for restoration to the RCVS Register by Dr Janos Nemeth, who had previously been found to have fraudulently registered with the RCVS and struck off.
At the original hearing, in February 2009, Dr Nemeth - the holder of a veterinary science degree from the Szent István University in Budapest, who had practised in the Wokingham area of Berkshire - was found to have dishonestly entered his name in the RCVS Register using a forged document (a Certificate of Membership and Good Professional Behaviour from the Hungarian Veterinary Chamber). The Disciplinary Committee at that time found the evidence that the document was a forgery to be "overwhelming" and concluded that Dr Nemeth had been lying to them about his knowledge of the forgery. It directed that his name should be removed from the Register.
Dr Nemeth lodged an appeal against this decision with the Privy Council, but then took no further steps. Accordingly, the Privy Council dismissed Dr Nemeth's appeal and he was struck off in October 2009.
On lodging his application for restoration, Dr Nemeth had asserted he was not guilty of the original charge. The Committee was disappointed with this aspect of Dr Nemeth's application saying that he would be "well-advised to demonstrate some insight into the seriousness of the original findings."
The Committee emphasised that a finding of dishonesty against a member of the College is "one of great seriousness and never made lightly" and accepted that it may be considered "fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon."
Questioning Dr Nemeth, the Committee was further disappointed to learn that he had not made himself more familiar with the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct, or made a greater effort to keep up to date with veterinary practice in the UK, or provided documentary evidence of attendance at continuing professional development (CPD) meetings.
After considering all the facts presented to it, including the severe personal and financial impact on Dr Nemeth of his removal from the Register, the Committee was not satisfied that he was fit to be restored and did not consider it in the public interest to grant his application.
Acknowledging she could not bind a future Committee as to any further application for restoration by Dr Nemeth, Committee Chairman Mrs Caroline Freedman advised: "Dr Nemeth should provide supporting evidence where possible, including records of CPD, testimonials from other veterinary surgeons or employers, or a more incisive knowledge of the Guide to Professional Conduct. We would remind Dr Nemeth that the onus is on him to establish his fitness to be restored to the Register."
A new publication into the benefits of spironolactone (Prilactone - CEVA Animal Health) has supported its use as part of first-line therapy for the treatment of dogs with congestive heart failure caused by mitral heart disease, according to CEVA.
The double-blind placebo-controlled study1 involved 212 dogs on either spironolactone or a placebo, in addition to conventional therapy including an ACE inhibitor and furosemide. It revealed that over a 15 month period 25.5% of dogs either died, were euthanased or severely worsened in the placebo group compared to 10.8% in the spironolactone group. This represents a 55% reduction in the risk of cardiac morbidity-mortality and a 69% reduction in the risk of cardiac-related death or euthanasia.
Further research2 has also revealed that aldosterone antagonists, such as spironolactone, help to prevent myocardial fibrosis, a pathogenic process involved in the progression of heart failure.
For more information, 'Start Conversation' with Fraser Broadfoot MRCVS at CEVA Animal Health, or ring 01494 781510.
1 Efficacy of spironolactone on survival in dogs with naturally-occurring mitral regurgitation caused by myxomatous mitral value disease. Bernay F, Bland JM, Häggstrőm J, Baduel L, Combes B, Lopez A, Kaltsatos, V. (2010). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.2 Aldosterone receptor antagonists - how cardiovascular actions may explain their beneficial effects in heart failure. Ovaert P, Elliot J, Bernay F, Guillot E, Bardon T. (2010). Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched a campaign supporting veterinary professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa at BSAVA World Congress.
The campaign includes a range of guidance, information and case studies from key opinion leaders.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage the identification of the organism causing infection through cytology, support the selection of the correct treatment and assist with educating clients on how to apply and use products correctly. The cytology guidance has been produced in association with veterinary dermatologists Peter Forsythe and Ariane Neuber, who is also a speaker at this year's Congress in Birmingham.
A new website www.dechra.com/timetochange is being launched to coincide with the campaign which provides online CPD focusing on skin and ear cytology.
Dechra Veterinary Products' Managing Director Bob Parmenter said: "We are delighted to launch It's Time to Change at the largest international veterinary event ever held in the UK. BSAVA World Congress has a reputation for promoting best practice, as does Dechra in its support of veterinary professionals.
"Amid a growing concern surrounding the issues of antimicrobial resistance, the new dermatology drive will aim to support vets through a holistic best practice approach to managing ear disease."
"Without the appropriate treatment combined with correct owner compliance, antimicrobial resistance could be a major issue for the companion animal veterinary profession. That's why we have launched this campaign and we're looking forward to speaking to delegates about why it's time to change."
Referral Dermatologist Sue Paterson MA, VetMB, DVD, DipECVD, MRCVS, RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology is available to speak with delegates at the Dechra Veterinary Products stand on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14.
The Clinical Abstracts provide an opportunity to present new research to the wider veterinary community at Congress and Expo 2025, taking place at Manchester Central on 20th - 22nd March 2025.
Abstracts can be on any veterinary subject, whether it’s the preliminary results of a new study, a discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.
Each application should be based on high-quality clinical research undertaken in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.
Applications are welcome from veterinary surgeons, nurses, practice managers and students, with applications from those working in general practice especially encouraged.
Researchers with research of direct relevance to veterinary practice may also submit an abstract for consideration.
Andy Green, Chair of BSAVA’s Congress Committee said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for veterinary professionals to showcase their research to the global veterinary community, and a chance for delegates to learn about the latest concepts and thinkings in veterinary medicine from their peers.”
Entries for the Clinical Abstracts will close on Monday 18th November.
https://www.bsavacongress.com/clinical-abstracts
Topics include applying the principles of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), making confident diagnostic and prescribing decisions, and managing client expectations around antibiotic use within practice.
In the first episode, Tim explores how to apply the principles of AMS in the consulting room, starting with recognising when antibiotics are genuinely needed.
He explores the role of clinical signs and cytology in guiding diagnosis and treatment decisions, while also emphasising the risks of unnecessary prescribing.
The discussion also covers when empirical antibiotic use may be appropriate and how to ensure these decisions are justified.
Each episode offers practical, evidence-based insights which Krka says can be easily implemented in general practice.
The series is accompanied by downloadable Vet2Vet Insights information sheets that summarise the main take-home messages from each episode.
https://open.spotify.com/show/0uphORU03q29WncwmN2EIa
The information sheets are available here: https://www.krka.co.uk/veterinary-knowledge-hub/articles/responsible-use-of-companion-animal-antibiotics
A new study from the University of Surrey, published today in the journal PLOS One, has identified the specific effects of a malformation which affects affects toy breeds.
According to researchers, Chiari malformation has become prevalent as a result of selective breeding and affects many toy dog breeds which have been bred to look more doll-like, including Griffon Bruxellois, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas and their crosses.
Researchers took brain, skull and vertebrae measurements of 155 Griffon Bruxellois and compared dogs affected by the condition with normal Griffons. They discovered that Griffons with the disease had taller foreheads and that it had also caused the shape of the brain to change, with severely affected animals having their cerebellum pushed underneath the main part of the brain.
The researchers say that although it can be asymptomatic, in many dogs Chiari malformation can cause headaches, problems with walking or even paralysis.
The condition can also affect humans and the University is working with human geneticists at the University of Montreal, in the hope that better understanding of the condition will lead to improved treatment for both dogs and humans.
Lead author, Dr Clare Rusbridge from the new School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said: "Chiari malformation can be described as trying to fit a big foot into a small shoe. It can be very painful, causing headaches and pressure on the brain and can result in fluid filled cavities in the spinal cord. Our latest discoveries will be significant in driving this research forward and hopefully allow us to identify which genes may be associated with the condition.
"Our next steps will be to apply our technique to other breeds with Chiari malformation and investigate more sophisticated ways of screening, so that risk of disease can be detected more easily, at an earlier age and with a single MRI scan.
"We want to engage breeders and give them practical advice about the condition, but it is also important that the public recognises that breeding dogs in a certain way to influence how they look might not be in the animal's best interest. There are responsible breeders out there, who have invested in screening and who are breeding for health as well as producing attractive puppies, and it is vital that people only look to buy from them."
VetSurgeon.org has today launched 'Claim CPD', a new feature which allows members to claim time spent on the site towards the annual requirement for 35 hours documented Continuing Professional Development.
The system has been designed to make recording CPD-qualifying activity, both reading or viewing content and participating in forum discussions, as quick and easy as possible.
Clicking the 'Claim CPD' button towards the top right of a content page on VetSurgeon.org reveals a drop down box into which you tap in the time you've spent on the subject, together with optional notes to remind you what you learned and how you plan to put it into practice.
In your VetSurgeon.org profile, there's a new tab marked 'CPD', visible only to you. Click that to reveal a list of all the time you've accrued, with links back to the content you've recorded towards your CPD. You can also produce a certificate covering the time you've logged in a given period, and upload it to your RCVS PDR.
Claim CPD can be used in various sections of VetSurgeon.org:
FORUMS Now there's more reason than ever before to join forum discussions, ask questions and help each other, because when you learn something in the process, you can record it towards your CPD allowance.
NEWS You may not think it's worth recording the short period of time you spent reading a news story on VetSurgeon.org as CPD. But if the story prompted you to spend time finding out more information, it probably is. For example, say you read about a new POM. You spend a couple of minutes reading about it on VetSurgeon.org. But then you visit the manufacturer's website to learn more about it and discuss it with the Territory Manager. Now it has become a worthwhile amount of time to record.
CPD Claim CPD can also be used to record and claim time spent at any event listed in our CPD and Events Diary. So now you can RSVP to the event AND claim a certificate afterwards. Of course, most of the providers supply their own certificates, but useful for when they don't and if you should misplace your certificate.
GALLERIES Now you can claim any time spent watching videos in the VetSurgeon Galleries towards your CPD requirement (indeed, this new feature was inspired by a veterinary surgeon who contacted us to ask for a certificate for precisely that). In addition, if you contribute a clinical image to our curated galleries, and learn something from the curator's comment, you can claim that too.
Arlo Guthrie, VetSurgeon.org Editor said: “I often hear members remark almost guiltily about how much time they spend on VetSurgeon.org. Now there's no need to feel guilty! Sharing knowledge amongst yourselves in forums has always been a great way to learn, recognised by the RCVS. But now, we've made it really easy to document what you've learned, in good time for the requirement to document all CPD from the start of next year."