CVS has announced the acquisition of four further veterinary practices bringing the total number of practices it owns across the UK to 92 operating from 253 sites.

The latest practices to join CVS are: Crescent Veterinary Clinic Ltd, Melton Mowbray; Miller & Swann Veterinary Surgery, Elgin; West Mount Vets, Halifax and Anchorage Veterinary Hospital, Acle.

CVS now employs more than 2,300 staff at its veterinary practices and surgeries across the UK and in its related veterinary businesses, including an online pharmacy, two pet crematoriums and six veterinary laboratories.

Specialists in internal medicine from Davies Veterinary Specialists (Davies) in Hertfordshire and Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull are urgently seeking canine patients with chronic small intestinal diarrhoea, to help with a multi-centre study on faecal matter transplantation (FMT).

Faecal matter transplantation (FMT) has been used in people to treat Clostridium difficile infections and has also been trialled in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The researchers believe that FMT offers a potential new option for the treatment of chronic diarrhoea in dogs and the study will investigate whether it contributes to a more rapid resolution of clinical signs. The study is being conducted in association with eight other private practices or universities around the country.

Julien Bazelle, a European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Davies said: "The goal is to recruit, over a short period of time, canine patients with chronic small intestinal diarrhoea, for a randomised trial in which the cohort receives or not FMT at the time of the initial investigations and prior to any other treatment.”

Dogs aged 6 months to 10 years with a history of chronic small intestinal diarrhoea (+/- other GI signs) are needed to participate in the study. Half of the dogs will receive FMT and the other half will be managed without. FMT will be performed in eligible patients during the sedation for their routine abdominal ultrasound. Transplanted faecal matter will be administered via a retention enema.

To be eligible, dogs must not have received antibiotics, probiotics or steroids recently.

If you have a potentially suitable patient please contact: julien.bazelle@vetspecialists.co.uk or Fergus.Allerton@willows.uk.net

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has accepted an undertaking from Stephen Cargill Wilson (68), a retired County Down-based vet, to remove himself from the Register.

Mr Wilson faced two charges. The first was that in October 2017, he provided inaccurate information to an insurer in respect of a Labrador he treated by saying that the dog was presented to him with a lame left foreleg on 13 June 2017, when in fact the dog was presented for treatment on 7 June 2017 and that his conduct was therefore dishonest and misleading.

The second charge was that between 17 January 2017 and 17 January 2018 he failed to have any arrangements in place for Professional Indemnity Insurance (a requirement of the Code of Professional Conduct) and then, that between 8 January and 5 December 2019, he failed to respond to reasonable requests from the RCVS regarding his Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Prior to the hearing, Mr Wilson made an application to the Committee to adjourn the hearing subject to the Committee accepting his undertakings to remove himself from the Register and never to apply to be restored.

Mr Wilson’s legal representative at the hearing submitted to the Disciplinary Committee that granting the application would be in the public interest on the basis that Mr Wilson was 68 years of age and had now retired from the profession and closed his practice, that he had dedicated his entire working life to veterinary practice, had a previously long and unblemished career with no other complaints, and that he was well-regarded by clients and professional colleagues. 

The application was not opposed by the RCVS whose representative informed the Committee that, relating to the charge of dishonesty, the College had taken into account that the insurance claim form was not submitted by Mr Wilson himself, and that there is no evidence of any financial motivation behind the charge nor any allegation of harm to an animal.

Taking into account the submissions from Mr Wilson’s representatives and from the RCVS, as well as precedent cases for such applications, the Committee decided that Mr Wilson’s voluntary undertakings went well beyond any sanction that could be imposed by the Committee and considered that the application would protect the public interest, confidence in the profession, and the welfare of animals.

Professor Alistair Barr FRCVS, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee decided that this is not a case in which the public interest or the welfare of animals demands that there be a full hearing, with determinations made by the Disciplinary Committee. Taking into account proportionality, and weighing in the balance the public interest, the interests of justice, the need to protect the welfare of animals, as well as the interests of both parties, the Committee decided to accede to the respondent’s application.”

The full findings of the Disciplinary Committee can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary

The RCVS has announced that the Codes of Professional Conduct for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses have been updated to state that you should not refer to yourselves or others as 'veterinary nurses' unless registered.

In fact, the change occurred back in June last year, but was only announced via RCVS News and as a one-liner within the 'Overview of decisions made at RCVS Council'.

The announcement raises the pretty fundamental question of what ARE veterinary surgeons and RVNs to call their unqualified colleagues, if not veterinary nurses? How indeed are those unqualified staff working in veterinary practice to describe their job title to their friends, down at the pub? 

VetSurgeon.org sought to clarify the situation with the College, and the first point to make is that the new part of the CoPCs refers only to the use of the words 'veterinary nurse' when used in conjunction. The words 'nurse' or 'nursing' are not protected at all. 

The College says that it is not within its remit to instruct veterinary surgeons or registered nurses as to how they should address unqualified staff, but suggested: 'Care Assistant' or 'Auxilliary'.

However, Ben Myring, RCVS Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer said: "There is nothing to stop someone calling themselves a 'nursing assistant' or a 'head nurse'".

The Codes of Professional Conduct obviously apply only to those who are regulated by it. The title 'veterinary nurse' in unprotected in law and can therefore be used by anyone else. 

So, the immediate implications seem to be as follows:

• Veterinary surgeons and nurses must not refer to unqualified nursing colleagues as 'veterinary nurses'. 
• Currently acceptable alternatives (for the moment at least) are 'nurse' (on its own), 'care assistant, 'auxilliary' or 'nursing assistant'.
• Marketing and other materials which a regulated individual has responsibility for should be updated to reflect the change (for example, if a small practice owned by a veterinary surgeon refers to its unqualified nursing assistants as veterinary nurses on its website, that should be changed).
• When asked, down the pub, what they do, unqualified nursing assistants are legally still entitled to describe themselves as 'veterinary nurses'.

Do you have any other suggestions as to how unqualified nursing staff should be styled? Post them below.

RCVS Knowledge is asking vets working in small animal practice to take part in a survey and share their views on how vet teams can be supported to deliver contextualised care.

The survey is part of an initiative to develop a 'roadmap' for what needs to happen to support veterinary teams to deliver contextualised care and shared decision-making.

The survey will be used alongside interviews with people in a range of roles in the veterinary sector, including veterinary receptionists and practice managers, to gather insights about what makes it easier or more difficult to practise contextualised care and what could help support its delivery.

Pet owners will also be surveyed and invited to focus groups to understand what matters most to them when making decisions about their pets’ health, and what would help them to feel supported to decide the veterinary care that is right for them and their pet.

Sally Everitt, Clinical Lead – Evidence at RCVS Knowledge, said: “Although the term contextualised care is now being widely used, and a requirement to practise contextualised care is included in the RCVS Guidance for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, there is little information available on how contextualised care is most effectively delivered in practice.

"Our research aims to address a gap in the evidence about what the barriers and enablers are and what needs to change to support veterinary teams to deliver contextualised care.”

The survey is open to veterinary surgeons currently in clinical practice in the UK working with dogs and cats.

The survey can be accessed here until 17th April 2025: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90806393/rcvskresearchprofessionals 

Photo: www.depositphotos.com

Vetlab Supplies, the Sussex-based veterinary equipment and consumables supplier, is holding a draw to win a CombiSpin veterinary centrifuge, worth £895.

The draw, which is open to UK mainland veterinary practices, can be entered here until 31st January 2018.

Fiona Sturgess, Vetlab's Sales and Marketing Manager, said: “The CombiSpin is designed for centrifuging relatively small volumes of biological liquids. It’s also very quiet, making it ideally suited for veterinary practice laboratories.

“So whether you’re entering on your own behalf as a practice owner, or to win one for your boss, it’s a great prize to win, and your chances are a lot better than with the National Lottery!"

Everyone who enters the draw (apart from the winner, of course), will be given 20% off the price of a new CombiSpin for their practice, valid to the end of the year.

More information about the CombiSpin is available here: http://vetlabsupplies.co.uk/products/combispin-veterinary-centrifuge/ 

The Royal Veterinary College has been named as the top veterinary school in the QS World University Rankings 2021.

Compiled by global higher education analysts, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the rankings provide a comparative analysis on the performance of 14,435 individual university programs, taken by students at 1,452 universities in 86 locations around the world, across 51 academic disciplines and five broad Faculty Areas. The rankings are determined by a range of criteria, including academic reputation, research impact, number of citations, employer reputation and the h-index. 

In addition to maintaining a perfect score for the Academic Reputation indicator (100) for a second year running, the RVC saw improvements across every category. Research impact was recognised with the RVC scoring 98.9 in Citations per Paper. This was supported by the 97.5 score for h-index, surpassing 2020’s 96.9.

Rankings for Employer Reputation also increased by 29% since 2020, with the RVC now scoring 83.3.

Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC, said: "Last year, we made a commitment to redouble our efforts in seeking to regain the top spot in the QS rankings, and I am delighted that we have achieved it. This would be remarkable in normal times but, in the context of COVID-19, it is all the more so and a real tribute to the whole RVC community.

"It is the result of enormous efforts made by all RVC staff and students, and I could not be prouder to be Principal of the RVC. The QS rankings are important for our reputation and international standings. With so many outstanding veterinary schools worldwide and with peer recognition one of the metrics, it is particularly pleasing to be first amongst equals."

The full set of rankings can be found at: https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings/2021

Tramadol has become a controlled drug and has been added to Schedule 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001

The change to the regulations, which was made by the Home Office means that the drug is now subject to special requirements when writing prescriptions.

The RCVS says practitioners should also note that:

• Prescriptions for Schedule 3 controlled drugs are only valid for 28 days and are non-repeatable.
• It is an offence to supply a Schedule 3 controlled drug against a fax or email prescription; the original prescription must be obtained before the medicine is dispensed.
• If supplying a Schedule 3 controlled drug against another veterinary surgeon’s prescription, checks need to be made to ensure that the prescription has come from a UK address and that the signature is genuine.
• The date on which the drug was supplied must be marked on the prescription and the prescription retained on the practice premises for at least five years.

Although tramadol is exempt from Safe Custody Regulations, the RCVS advises that all Schedule 3 controlled drugs are locked away.

The Home Office has also reclassified ketamine as a Class B controlled drug. However, it remains under Schedule 4 (Part 1) of the 2001 Regulations meaning that the legal requirements for supply, storage and record keeping remain the same.

The RCVS therefore continues to advise that practice premises should:

• Record the use of ketamine in an informal register.
• Store ketamine in a controlled drugs cabinet.
• Destroy ketamine in the presence of an authorised witness.

Further details about the specific requirements for controlled drugs can be found in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s Guidance Note No 20 – Controlled Drugs.

Practice premises can also contact the RCVS Professional Conduct Department for further guidance on 020 7202 0789 or profcon@rcvs.org.uk.

The RCVS has announced the winners of its 2021 Honours and Awards, which this year included the veterinary surgeon who developed propofol and the ex-BVA President who steered the Association through the early stages of the pandemic.

The awards were:

Queen’s Medal - to Dr John (Iain) Glen MRCVS (pictured right) who, at AstraZeneca, was responsible for the discovery and development of the anaesthetic drug propofol, one of the world’s most common anaesthetics for medical and veterinary use.

Honorary Associateships - Two were awarded this year. The first went to Professor Stuart Carter, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Liverpool’s Institution of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences. The second was awarded to Anthony Martin, a philanthropist with a particular interest in supporting national and international charities working with the veterinary profession to improve animal welfare.

Impact Award - Two were awarded this year. The first went to Alison Lambert, the founder and owner of veterinary business consultancy Onswitch which helps veterinary businesses create customer-centred practice so that pets, horses and livestock receive the best care. The second was awarded to Dr Gwenllian Rees for her involvement in the Arwain Vet Cymru (AVC) project, a collaborative national antimicrobial stewardship program for farm vets in Wales.

Inspiration Awards - Daniella Dos Santos MRCVS was nominated for her leadership role at the BVA during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic. The second award went to Professor Mandy Peffers, a Wellcome Trust Clinical Intermediate Fellow in Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science at the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences at the University of Liverpool.

The International Award was posthumously awarded to Emeritus Professor Michael Day, the prolific researcher and writer.

A new award this year is the Compassion Award, which was given to David Martin MRCVS for his work helping practitioners identify the signs of non-accidental injury.

Another new award this year is the Student Community Award, given to Jack Church, who - on top of his studies - has been volunteering on a covid ward, and Lavinia Economu, for her work to inspire young people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and different socio-economic backgrounds into the veterinary professions..

Dr Mandisa Greene MRCVS, RCVS President, said: “I am so impressed by the breadth and depth of the awards nominations that we received this year which demonstrate the very best that the veterinary professions have to offer.

“From veterinary students to veterinary surgeons and nurses who have been practising for decades, all our award winners demonstrate that veterinary professionals and veterinary science has a profound and positive impact not only on animal health and welfare but also wider society. I am immensely happy and proud for them all and look forward to formally being able to present them with their awards later this year.”

A formal awards ceremony, hosted by Mandisa, will take place on Thursday, 23 September 2021. Further details on the event and how to attend will be published later this year.

The BVA has issued a new policy position on non-traditional companion animals (NTCAs), aka exotics, after finding that 81% of vets are concerned that their needs are not being met, with many saying that owners being unable to care for them properly is a major welfare issue. 

The BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession research found the most cited welfare issue facing exotics was ‘irresponsible animal ownership’ (82%).

Vets who treat NTCAs reported that 58% of the NTCAs they see do not have their five animal welfare needs met and 26% have seen a rise in the number brought in for treatment in the past year. 

BVA Senior Vice President and zoo veterinary surgeon Justine Shotton said: “The welfare of non-traditional companion animals has long been a concern of many vets and this is demonstrated in our recent research.

"It is worrying that a quarter of vets are seeing an increase in the number brought in for treatment and sad to hear that so many cite irresponsible ownership as the top cause behind welfare issues.

"We know people who keep these animals have the right intentions to give them best care they can but their needs are so complex it can be difficult to do so, particularly if they are a new pet and owners are not sure exactly what they need.

"It is so important that potential buyers give careful consideration to buying such an animal before bringing one home.

"We’d also urge any vets who are approached by potential keepers for advice to strongly encourage them to do their research to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to care for them properly before buying an exotic species.”

BVA's new policy position calls for more regulation of online sales and third-party advertising of NTCAs and an end to the import of wild-caught reptiles and amphibians for non-conservation reasons. 

BVA also recommends a pre-purchase test, both demonstrating a potential owner’s knowledge on how to properly care for an NTCA, and helping to improve education around the needs of the species.

Past BVA President and Chair of the Working Group Sean Wensley said: “The new policy position makes recommendations which will help to protect the welfare of NTCAs, including calling for improved regulation of their keeping and sale.

"It highlights issues such as the welfare risks of certain breeding practices and stresses the need to move away from the wild-capture of animals for the pet trade.

"Taken together, the 32 recommendations present a clear veterinary view on the ethical sourcing and care of these species.”

www.bva.co.uk/exoticpets

The Vet Channel has launched VetPod, a customisable video display system for practice waiting rooms.  

The VetPod system is comprised of three elements: a website where you select the media you want to display in your waiting room, the VetPod, which downloads the videos you select, and a monitor on which to display them in your waiting room.

The Vet Channel says it is updating its media library regularly, so you can pick content which ties in with your practices' clinical focus, marketing strategy and promotional offerings.

The system also allows you to upload your own logos, photographs and videos, and display practice specific information, such as staff news, opening hours, special clinics and promotions. In addition The Vet Channel's in-house design studio can create bold, eye-catching media content to reflect your brand and promote every aspect of your services.

Anthony Beliovich from Companion Care said: "Enquiries about microchipping and flea treatment increased by 25% after we installed The Vet Channel."

For more information, visit  http://www.thevetchannel.co.uk/, email  enquiries@thevetchannel.co.uk, or ring: 0844 8111406

Alternatively, you'll be able to see a demonstration of VetPod at BSAVA Congress this year.

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, in Solihull, has launched the UK’s first congenital heart disease referral clinic for puppies and kittens.

The clinic will assess cats and dogs under six months old where a heart murmur has been detected.

Willows will then recommend a course of action and, if required, carry out keyhole surgery.

Chris Linney, head of cardiology at Willows, said: "This is the first specialist-led, congenital heart disease clinic in the country and will use some of the latest and most advanced equipment available in the veterinary world. As well as advanced ultrasound, we also have state-of-the-art CT available for assessment of complex cases.

"With the support of the 24/7 hospital service and other specialist disciplines here at Willows, it means we can offer excellent care to our patients, their owners and referring vets.

"All young animals with murmurs may benefit from the clinic, but those that are always recommended to undergo assessment are puppies with murmurs grade three (out of six) and over, and kittens with murmurs grade four (out of six) and over.

"By reviewing these animals at a younger age, we hope to be able to put care plans in place that can improve their long-term health.

"We will also offer a precise diagnosis, outlook and prognosis on the cause of the heart murmur and, where needed, carry out minimally-invasive keyhole surgery.

"Often, the earlier these are performed the better the outlook for the patient."

For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net.