The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Council and the Veterinary Nursing Council have decided that there will be no increase in registration and retention fees for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses for 2012.

Last year, the Councils decided that a lower than inflation increase should apply to fees for 2011 to help mitigate the impact of the difficult economic climate on veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses. Members who are over 70 and who cease practising do not have to pay fees if they wish to remain on the Register.

Bradley Viner, RCVS Treasurer said: "We know times are tough financially for many people and hope that freezing fees will help a little. Professional regulation can be costly, but we try to keep fees as low as possible." 

The RCVS financial policy remains that fee increases should be small and incremental in order to avoid a need for periodic sharp fee hikes resulting from inflationary pressures. 

Fees for 2012 will be as follows: 

Lincolnshire veterinary surgeon David Bull MRCVS has won a Vet Futures ‘Headlines of tomorrow’ competition with his entry: ‘Vets and medics collaborate to prevent human and animal obesity’. 

The competition was held at BSAVA Congress in April where Vet Futures-themed fortune cookies contained a message asking those attending ‘What future headline do you want to see?’ and providing a weblink to enter the competition.  

David, a joint partner at Vets4Pets in Lincoln South and an Advanced Practitioner in General Small Animal Surgery, said: "The headline was inspired by topical issues, having ‘One Health’ in mind and the issue of obesity in our patients, as well as the general human population. I feel that these are some of the big issues of our time, especially that of obesity which has been linked to so many other diseases and is essentially a self-induced problem.

“We see so many overweight cats, dogs and rabbits on a daily basis. It seems to be becoming a more common problem, as well as seemingly more accepted in society. This is to the extent that we have some clients that come in worried because they have been told that their dog is too thin, when in actual fact they are in an ideal body condition and are being compared to overweight pets which have become perceived as normal.”

Some of the other topics raised in the competition include the veterinary profession taking the lead in tackling ‘superbugs’, veterinary surgeons topping job satisfaction and wellbeing polls and the profession taking a leading role in One Health and medical advancements.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today released details of the strategy for rolling out vaccination across England.

Under EU law, vaccination can only be carried out in a Protection Zone. As vaccine starts to be delivered by Intervet, vaccination will, therefore, commence in the Protection Zone only. Once vaccination is progressing across the Protection Zone, the intention is to extend or modify the Zone county by county, in order to permit further vaccination. The strategy has been developed and agreed with a Core Group of industry stakeholders. It is designed to be flexible, taking into account the changing nature of the disease, such as moving zones, the varying levels of disease risk in the zones and the availability of vaccine.

More details of the vaccination strategy, alongside indicative prices for the vaccine, can be found on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/control/vaccination-rolloutplan.htm

The RCVS has announced that nominations are now open for the RCVS Elections and launched a new video which explains why you should consider putting your name forward.

Six seats are available on RCVS Council, each for a four-year tenure. Existing RCVS Council Members David Catlow, Jacqui Molyneux, Bob Partridge, Christine Shield, Neil Smith and Clare Tapsfield-Wright are due to retire from Council next year, but are all eligible for re-election.

Last year, for the first time in over a decade, no women candidates stood for election, and the College says it is determined to widen participation in Council amongst the whole profession.

To help veterinary surgeons learn more about what's involved in being a Council Member, the benefits it can bring and the amount of time it requires, the College has produced a short video featuring the experiences of some existing members of Council and their reasons for standing.

Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, said: "We have chosen the theme 'People like you' for these videos because people on the Councils really are no different to their colleagues across all aspects of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions. The thoughts and experiences they describe on camera will sound very familiar to many of their colleagues and peers! We need people of all ages and of varying experiences and professional backgrounds to ensure there is a healthy and diverse range of views available."

The College will also be hosting a special 'Meet the RCVS' day on Tuesday, 10 December for anyone considering standing for election but wanting to find out more first. Further information and bookings are available from Fiona Harcourt, Communications Officer (020 7202 0773 / f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk).

Nominations are open until 5pm on Friday, 31 January 2014, allowing plenty of time to find out more about what's involved and to find two proposers.

Details about how to stand in the elections are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil14.

UK Pet Food has launched the Pet Food & Nutrition Course for Veterinary Professionals which will be hosted by The Webinar Vet and runs from the 6th October to the 4th December 2025.

UK Pet Food says that with pet owners increasingly turning to their vets for nutrition guidance, this course is designed to equip veterinary teams with the knowledge and confidence to offer clear, evidence-based advice.

The course offers 20 hours of CPD comprised of on-demand modules and live Q&A sessions covering pet food formats, clinical nutrition, pet obesity, regulatory frameworks, sustainability, and client communication.

There'll be contributions from independent speakers and chairs from leading academics, veterinary nutritionists, and industry experts

Sarah Hormozi, Head of Science & Education at UK Pet Food, said: “This course is about helping veterinary professionals critically evaluate the science behind pet nutrition.

“We’ve worked with board-certified veterinary nutritionists, academics, industry experts, and veterinary associations to develop a resource that supports everyday clinical conversation - giving the veterinary community practical tools and confidence to talk about pet food and nutrition with clarity and credibility.”

There are early bird tickets for £90 if you book by 15th August 2025.

https://thewebinarvet.com/events/uk-pet-food-2025 

https://www.ukpetfood.org

Photo: www.depositphotos.com

Biomérieux has launched Vetfire, a PCR kit which it claims makes testing for equine infectious respiratory diseases easier and faster.

Biomérieux says the new test, which is used on the Biofire Spotfire System, detects seven infectious respiratory pathogens (six viruses and/or a strain of bacteria*), from a nasopharyngeal swab, in under 20 minutes.

The company says the new test’s ability to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections is important for ensuring antibiotics are used appropriately to reduce the risk of resistance.

Biomérieux says VetFire can be used to make informed decisions about when to isolate and treat animals when respiratory infections are suspected, to mitigate the impact of an outbreak in a contained area, such as a yard, by allowing rapid quarantine measures, and perhaps in time as a standard test ahead of animals travelling for competition, to ensure they are fit and healthy. 

VetFire is commercially available in United Kingdom, Ireland and France, with possible expansion plans to other countries in the near future.

https://www.biomerieux.com/corp/en/our-offer/clinical-products/vetfire.html 

*Equine Herpesvirus type 1, Equine Herpesvirus type 4, Influenza A, Equine Rhinovirus A, Equine Rhinovirus B, Equine Adenovirus 1, Streptococcus equi equi

Two equine journals have joined forces to create a free online collection of their recent articles on endocrinology to raise awareness of these common disorders and to provide veterinary surgeons with what they say is a definitive source of references all in one place.

The collection of references published by Equine Veterinary Education (EVE) and Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) covers a range of topics within the field of endocrinology and includes authoritative review articles on insulin dysregulation², glucocorticoids and laminitis³ and paraneoplastic syndromes⁴.

The initiative has been made possible with the support of British Equine Veterinary Association Trust and has been compiled by leading international authorities on equine endocrinology, Professor Philip Johnson, of University of Missouri and Professor Nicholas Frank of Tufts University, Boston and the University of Nottingham.

They say that equine endocrine disorders, such as Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), are becoming more promptly identified and treated, thanks to ongoing research and advances in diagnosis, pharmacokinetics and management protocols.

PPID, or Cushing's, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is more easily recognised in its advanced form in older horses. Surveys show a PPID prevalence rate of up to 22% in horses over the age of 15⁵, with the odds of developing clinical signs associated with PPID increasing by approximately 20% per year after this age.

Insulin dysregulation (ID), characterised by increased insulin response to oral sugars, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, is identified in both PPID and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)². Both PPID and EMS have been linked to the development of recurrent laminitis with subsequent high risk of mortality⁶. The exact mechanisms which link insulin to laminitis remain to be clarified¹ but this online collection highlights several studies, which partially address this important jigsaw^7-12.

Best practice for the management of EMS is outlined by Professors Nick Frank and Ray Geor in the December issue of EVE¹³. The first goal is to induce weight loss, and guidelines for designing diets for obese equids are provided. Exercise and dietary management¹⁴ have been shown to reduce the clinical signs and indices of inflammation in equine metabolic syndrome^{13 - 15}, however, further studies are needed to quantify the efficacy of these management changes on long-term outcomes.

The online collection also includes several studies addressing the diagnosis of PPID. The value of plasma adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), when interpreted with seasonally adjusted reference ranges, is discussed by several authors^18-20. Professors Frank and Geor advocate it as the most readily accessible test for monitoring PPID cases in a field setting, although they maintain that the thyrotropin- releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test is more sensitive and therefore has advantages when diagnosing PPID in its early stages¹³.

Pergolide has emerged as the drug of first choice for treatment of PPID¹³. While many vets recommend the early introduction of medication in the hope that it may avert the specter of laminitis, at present, there are no trials comparing pergolide with alternatives. Furthermore, there have been no long-term studies to show that horses treated with pergolide before the onset of clinical signs of PPID have better outcomes, including a reduced incidence of developing laminitis, than horses in which treatment is delayed until clinical signs become apparent.

Professor Celia Marr, Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal said: "Better control of PPID and insulin dysregulation should lower the risk of laminitis to help improve the health and longevity of many predisposed horses and ponies.

"Raising awareness of the benefits of early diagnosis and sharing the latest research on these and other associated conditions are imperative to provide horse owners with the best diagnostic and treatment programmes for their horses. However, it is easy to under-estimate obesity: horse owners need to think about improving management of their horses' feeding and exercise in order to avert problems before they become a veterinary issue."

References

1. Kritchevsky, S.E. and Johnson, P.J.  (2014) Current Status and Future Directions: Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.
2. Frank, N. and Tadros, E.M. (2014) Insulin Dysregulation. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.
3. Cornelisse, C.J. and Robinson, N.E. (2013) Glucocortioid therapy and the risk of equine laminitis. Equine Veterinary Education 25, 39-46.
4. Axiak, S. and Johnson, P.J. (2012) Paraneoplastic manifestations of cancer in horses. Equine Veterinary Education 24, 367-376.
5. McGowan, T.W., Pinchbeck, G.P. and McGowan, C.M. (2013) Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 74-79.
6. Tadros, E.M. and Frank, N. (2011) Endocrine disorders and laminitis. Equine Veterinary Education 25, 152-162.
7. TÓth, F., Frank, N., Martin-JimÉNez, T., Elliott, S.B., Geor, R.J. and Boston, R.C. (2010) Measurement of C-peptide concentrations and responses to somatostatin, glucose infusion, and insulin resistance in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 42, 149- 155.
8. Venugopal, C.S., Eades, S., Holmes, E.P. and Beadle, R.E. (2011) Insulin resistance in equine digital vessel rings: An in vitro model to study vascular dysfunction in equine laminitis. Equine Veterinary Journal 43, 744-749.
9. Borer-Weir, K.E., Menzies-Gow, N.J., Bailey, S.R., Harris, P.A. and Elliott, J. (2013) Seasonal and annual influence on insulin and cortisol results from overnight dexamethasone suppression tests in normal ponies and ponies predisposed to laminitis. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 688-693.
10. Burns, T.A., Watts, M.R., Weber, P.S., McCutcheon, L.J., Geor, R.J. and Belknap, J.K. (2013) Distribution of insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor in the digital laminae of mixed-breed ponies: An immunohistochemical study. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 326-332.
11. Gauff, F., Patan-Zugaj, B. and Licka, T.F. (2013) Hyperinsulinaemia increases vascular resistance and endothelin-1 expression in the equine digit. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 613-618.
12. Dunkel, B., Wilford, S.A., Parkinson, N.J., Ward, C., Smith, P., Grahame, L., Brazil, T. and Schott II, H.C. (2014) Severe hypertriglyceridaemia in horses and ponies with endocrine disorders. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.
13. Frank, N. and Geor, R. (2014) Current best practice in clinical management of equine endocrine patients. Equine Veterinary Education to add.
14. Hudson, A.B., McGowan, C.M. and Morgan, R. (2012) The clinical management of EMS at the Philip Leverhulme equine hospital. Equine Veterinary Journal 44, 6.
15. Menzies-Gow, N.J., Wray, H., Bailey, S.R., Harris, P.A. and Elliott, J. (2014) The effect of exercise on plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in normal and previously laminitic ponies. Equine Veterinary Journal 46.
16. Rendle, D.I., Rutledge, F., Hughes, K.J., Heller, J. and Durham, A.E. (2013) Effects of metformin hydrochloride on blood glucose and insulin responses to oral dextrose in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 751-754.
17. Owers, R. and Chubbock, S. (2013) Fight the fat! Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 5-5.
18. Copas, V.E.N. and Durham, A.E. (2012) Circannual variation in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in the UK in normal horses and ponies, and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Equine Veterinary Journal 44, 440-443.
19. McGowan, T.W., Pinchbeck, G.P. and Mc Gowan, C.M. (2013) Evaluation of basal plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction from a population of aged horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 66-73.
20. Rendle, D.I., Litchfield, E., Heller, J. and Hughes, K.J. (2014) Investigation of rhythms of secretion and repeatability of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in healthy horses and horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.

US-based Vet and Tech has announced its 2025 programme of free CPD webinars for vets.

The webinars cover a range of clinical topics, including evaluating Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), cognitive decline in senior dogs, cannabinoid therapy, feline weight loss, corneal ulcers and seizure management.

Vet and Tech says the 10-session series features speakers from top veterinary institutions.

The webinars are available both both live and on-demand.

https://www.vetandtech.com/webinars 

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has opened nominations for its 2025 awards.

The award categories are:

• The Bourgelat Award - For outstanding international contribution to small animal practice or science in their widest context.
• The Simon Award - Recognising contributions to the advancement of all aspects of small animal surgery.
• The Woodrow Award - For significant contributions to the advancement of small animal medicine.
• The Amoroso Award - Honouring contributions to undergraduate teaching of small animal studies. Presented by Hill’s.
• The Blaine Award - For contributions to the advancement of all aspects of non‑client facing small animal veterinary medicine.
• The Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nurse Award - Recognising outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary nursing.
• The Ray Butcher Award - For a non-veterinary individual who has been an ‘unsung hero’ by making a significant contribution to animal welfare in the community.
• The J.A. Wight Memorial Award - For a qualified veterinarian who has made an outstanding contribution to the welfare of companion animals. Presented by the Blue Cross.

Nominations are welcome from both BSAVA members and non-members.

Nominations close on 30^th October 2024 and the winners will be announced on 16^th January 2025.

The BSAVA awards ceremony will take place at the reinvented Congress and Expo 2025, taking place at Manchester Central in March.

https://www.bsava.com/awards.

The International Elbow Working Group has announced a pre-congress meeting at WSAVA in August. The meeting is sponsored by Hills Pet Nutrition and is being held on Wednesday 20th August at University College Dublin.

The meeting offers the opportunity to hear some of the most influential researchers in the field.

The speakers include Professors Hazewinkel and Hedhammar who were responsible for the seminal work that identified that high calcium high energy diets could increase the propensity to developmental bone disease. Professor Hedhammar will be delivering a presentation on the genetics of elbow dysplasia and the implications for breeding programmes, while Professor Hazewinkel will be discussing diagnosis.

Representing the UK, Dr Noel Fitzpatrick will discuss the decision making algorithm for conservative and surgical treatment of elbow dysplasia, incorporating the latest thinking on how to manage the disease. Other topics being presented on the day will be imaging techniques by Professor Van Bree and grading of osteoarthritic lesions by Dr. Tellhelm.

The group has invited practitioners and researchers to submit posters and free communications on the topic of elbow dysplasia for presentation up until 20th July. The congress fee is 80 euros which includes lunch and refreshments. Further details and a registration form can be downloaded at www.iewg-vet.org.

Dechra has expanded its endocrine app with new material on feline hyperthyroidism, with guidance for vets on the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of the condition.

The updated content includes instructions on interpreting blood test results and dosing with Felimazole (thiamazole), which is now available as both a tablet and a honey-flavoured oral solution.

The new Felimazole Oral Solution formulation is presented in a syringe graduated in 0.25 mg increments to ensure accurate dosing.

Thomas Johnson, Dechra companion animal brand manager said: “Consistent management and accurate treatment is key to enabling cats with feline hyperthyroidism to lead long and healthy lives.”

Dechra’s Endocrine app already covers Addison’s disease and canine Cushing’s syndrome. The inclusion of feline hyperthyroidism content aims to provide a single resource for veterinarians managing endocrine disorders in companion animals.

Dechra’s Endocrine app is available at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store

https://www.dechra.co.uk/products#/search=Felimazole 

Virbac has announced that the Bluetongue vaccine, Syvazul BTV 3, that the company distributes, has been granted a marketing authorisation in Great Britain for use in cattle and sheep, with a reduced dose in cattle.

The company says the main breakthrough in this new authorisation is that the dose for cattle has been reduced from 4 ml to 2 ml, improving convenience and aligning with the latest regulatory data.

In cattle, the vaccine is indicated for active immunisation to reduce viraemia caused by BTV-3.

The onset of immunity is 3 weeks after completing the primary vaccination course.

The vaccine can be given to cattle from 2 months of age in naïve animals, or from 3 months if born to immune dams.

For the primary vaccination, two doses of 2ml are given, 3 weeks apart, intramuscularly.

In sheep, the vaccine is indicated for active immunisation to reduce viraemia, mortality, clinical signs and lesions caused by BTV-3.

The onset of immunity is 4 weeks after completing the primary vaccination course.

The vaccine can be given to sheep from 3 months of age, subcutaneously.

For the primary vaccination, one dose of 2 ml is given. 

https://syva.es/en/ 

The RCVS Academy has launched ‘Vet return,’ a free course designed to offer support and guidance to veterinary surgeons returning to clinical practice after a break.

The College says that the course is suitable for veterinary surgeons who:

• Are returning to the UK Practising Register after a period of more than five years, and are therefore required to complete the Veterinary Graduate Development Programme (VetGDP)
• Have not left the UK Practising Register but have been out of practice for a period of time and would like support in returning to work
• Left the UK Practising Register for less than five years, are not required to complete the VetGDP, but would like structured support to refresh their skills
• Have not yet completed the registration process after obtaining their licence-to-practise qualification

The course does not offer clinical training, but the College says it will help vets identify areas for improvement and support them in building confidence and competence.

It also offers guidance on wellbeing and mentorship.

The snappily job titled Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager in the Advancement of the Professions Team, said: "As part of our commitment to supporting the workforce ambitions this is a course that can support not just the returning vets but also offers insight to those who will be supporting them.

"Vets who have taken career breaks have often gained a huge wealth of skills which, combined with their veterinary training, makes them assets to their new teams and the professions.

“The course covers key topics to bring vets up to date with many of the professional aspects of working as a vet and also includes a range of additional content to support their journey, such as practical tips for returning, important recent updates on prescribing, as well as reflective practice and lifelong learning.

"The course also contains video interviews with vets who have already returned, offering valuable insights into how they approached their journey.

The course takes around three hours to complete.

https://academy.rcvs.org.uk