A study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal has concluded that a diagnostic-led approach to tapeworm treatment in horses, using a saliva-based test to identify infected horses, can considerably reduce the need for anticestode anthelmintics¹.

Saliva was collected from 237 horses at the UK welfare charity, Bransby Horses, where EquiSal Tapeworm saliva testing was used to inform on anthelmintic administration over the course of a year. This diagnostic-led approach reduced the use of anti-tapeworm treatments by 86% compared to 6 monthly interval treatment strategies. 

Austin Davis Biologics Ltd, the maker of the EquiSal Tapeworm saliva test, says it accurately diagnoses horses with a tapeworm infection, providing a low, borderline or moderate/high diagnosis. 

Treatment is recommended for horses with a borderline or moderate/high result².

In this latest study, the company says most horses diagnosed below the treatment threshold in the first saliva test remained below the threshold in the following two tests and 168 horses (71%) required no anti-tapeworm treatment at all.

Importantly, no increase in tapeworm infection prevalence was observed during the study period and only seven horses received treatment following all three saliva tests, suggesting that some horses are more susceptible to tapeworm infections. 

The EVJ has prepared a podcast summarising the study findings here: https://evj.podbean.com/e/evj-of-the-hoof-podcast-no-1-march-2018-use-of-saliva-based-diagnostic-test-to-identify-tapeworm-infection-in-horses-in-the-uk/.

The study authors have also prepared a video abstract which can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/254338616 . 

EquiSal saliva collection kits are available at trade prices to veterinary practices and SQPs. Contact enquiries@equisal.com or visit www.equisal.com for more information. 

References

1. Lightbody, K. L., Matthews, J. B., Kemp-Symonds, J. G., Lambert, P. A. and Austin, C. J. (2018), Use of a saliva-based diagnostic test to identify tapeworm infection in horses in the UK. Equine Vet J, 50: 213–219. 
2. Lightbody, K.L, Davis, P.J. and Austin, C.J. (2016) Validation of a novel saliva-based ELISA test for diagnosing tapeworm burden in horses. Vet Clin Path 45, 335-346

The RCVS President Kate Richards has issued a statement in support of Ukraine, whilst one practitioner, dental Specialist Bob Partridge, has donated a day's takings and is encouraging others to do the same. 

Kate said: "In recent days we have watched the unfolding events in Ukraine in horror, shock and with tremendous sadness.

"We are determined to offer as much help and support as we can to our Ukrainian veterinary colleagues fleeing this crisis and seeking refuge in the UK.

To that end, the College offers a financial support scheme for refugees which is immediately available for Ukrainian veterinary surgeons with refugee status.

The scheme enables refugee vets to take the RCVS Statutory Examination for free, offers financial support to attend exams, free access to the RCVS library and free membership of BSAVA, BVA, BEVA, BCVA and VMG.

In addition, whilst Russian-based business interests comprise less than 0.1% of the College's investment portfolio, it has instructed its fund managers to get rid of all Russian investments at the very earliest opportunity. 

Meanwhile, veterinary dentist Bob Partridge has donated a day's takings from his Harrogate-based, Specialist-led small animal dental referral practice, VetDentist, to the British Red Cross Ukraine.

He said: "I got home late and exhausted, turned on the news, and knew that my “tough day” was as nothing compared to the troubles, the fear and the pain experienced by the people of Ukraine."

Other members of Bob's team followed suit, as did the team at Training-Progress, and they hope others will do the same. 

Bob said: "Please put your money where your mouth (or keyboard) is!"

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

Photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 Aleksej Leonov

Winchester-based Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists has launched a new website about cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), otherwise more snappily known as Alabama Rot.

The practice has been leading research into the devastating disease since 2012 and has collated information on all confirmed cases across the country. 

The disease, which originally appeared in the late 1980s, was first detected in the UK in 2012.

When it affects the kidneys, it has a 90% mortality rate.  

The new site offers advice and information, including a live map of confirmed cases across the UK, for both vets and pet owners.

David Walker, American, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores and is the UK’s foremost authority on the disease. 

He said: “We have been at the forefront of research into CRGV for almost a decade now and have witnessed first-hand the often-devastating effects of the disease. 

“In launching this new website, we aim to inform pet owners and colleagues in the veterinary industry about CRGV. 

“We hope the confirmed case map will prove useful.

"Although an environmental trigger has not been definitively proven, the seasonality of the disease makes it eminently possible and the map allows everyone to see the location of confirmed cases.”   

So far this year, Anderson Moores has recorded a total of 26 confirmed cases of CRGV.

This number comes on the back of 47 confirmed cases during 2020, 19 cases in 2019 and 18 in 2018.

277 cases have been confirmed since the disease was first recognised in the UK in 2012. 

David said: “As we enter the winter months, we want to advise dog owners around the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops an unexplained skin lesion(s), especially on the leg. 

“Unfortunately, we find ourselves in the time of year when cases are most commonly identified – 92% of dogs with the disease are seen between November and May.

"This is understandably a concern for dog owners; however, the disease remains rare.

“If a dog is suspected to be suffering from CRGV, the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive management which may be best provided at a specialist facility. 

“Treatment primarily revolves around intensive management of the acute kidney injury and is sadly only successful in around 10% cent of cases.” 

Visit https://www.alabama-rot.co.uk .  

Building work has started on the new Harper & Keele Veterinary School, which is due to take its first students on the veterinary medicine course in 2020, and will also serve students on Veterinary Nursing, Veterinary Physiotherapy and wider animal sciences courses at Harper Adams.

The 2,200sqm building – equivalent to half a hockey pitch or four netball courts – will include a range of facilities across two floors. It will have two new lecture theatres, a number of IT-rich teaching and learning spaces, general teaching rooms and various environments for teaching clinical skills.

The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Llewellyn, said: "Our plans for the Veterinary School are proceeding well, with our first student intake to the new veterinary medicine course due in 2020.

"The building on the Harper Adams site will provide a great range of teaching facilities for our students, to complement the wide range of animal facilities we already have on campus.  We are excited to see the progress that is being made with the Harper & Keele Veterinary School, which is generating considerable interest within the veterinary profession, and we look forward to seeing the new building take shape in the coming months."

Picture shows: Vice Chancellor Dr David Llewellyn, McPhillips’ Marketing Manager Mark Kiddie, Site Manager Ed Bickford, McPhillips’ Managing Director Paul Inions, Head of Estates and Facilities at Harper Adams University, Jonathan Cain,

The RCVS has published two reports on the impact of the pandemic on the personal and professional lives of veterinary surgeons and nurses since March 2020.

The reports summarise the results of two surveys that were conducted between July and August last year.

Of the 28,718 veterinary surgeons who were sent the survey, 22% fully completed and submitted the questionnaire.

Some of the main findings included: 

• 67% of veterinary nurses experienced a change in shift patterns at some point in the pandemic, compared with 57% of veterinary surgeons;
• 49% of veterinary nurses worked additional hours due to others being furloughed, compared to 40% of veterinary surgeons;
• 37% of veterinary nurses were furloughed, compared with 23% of veterinary surgeons;
• Many veterinary nurses reported taking on extra responsibilities such as: general domestic cleaning (70%), clinical cleaning (65%) and reception work (63%);
• 53% of veterinary surgeons who worked extra hours did so completely unpaid or mostly unpaid, compared to 21% of veterinary nurses;
• 38% of veterinary surgeons and 40% of veterinary nurses had to self-isolate at some point during the pandemic;
• 38% of veterinary surgeons said they worked remotely at some point during the pandemic – with the peaks being in the earliest phase of the pandemic in March to May 2020. In comparison, 23.5% of veterinary nurses worked remotely during the pandemic;
• 7% of veterinary surgeons and 8% of veterinary nurses had to shield at some point during the pandemic due to being clinically vulnerable;

Around 40% of veterinary surgeons and over 40% of veterinary nurses said they had experienced concerns for their personal safety aside from catching Covid.

These safety concerns mostly related to client interactions at the practice either during the day or out-of-hours.

Many respondents experienced conflict between their personal wellbeing and professional role, and found it difficult to juggle their work and caring responsibilities.

Many respondents also said their mental health was adversely affected by the experience of working during the pandemic.

A large majority of respondents said they had personally seen an increase in caseload due to new animal ownership.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: “While many of the results of the survey may not be especially surprising and confirm what we have already been told anecdotally, it is very important that we have this hard data to hand on the overall impact of the pandemic on individual members of the professions.

“These two reports complement the six surveys that we have conducted with veterinary practices on the economic impact of the pandemic to give us as clear and holistic a picture as possible about the challenges that the professions and the veterinary sector as a whole have faced since March 2020.

"This not only provides a useful historical snapshot, but builds an evidence base to inform future temporary changes should the pandemic continue into more waves, or should future such crises arise.

“The results of the two individual surveys make it clear it has been a tough time for the professions.

"A good proportion of respondents also acknowledged that positive developments have come from the past two years, including the way the profession has demonstrated remarkable resilience, flexibility and adaptability, as well as forging a stronger team spirit under such difficult circumstances.

“However, a large number of both vets and vet nurses who responded said that the experiences since March 2020 have left them feeling more pessimistic about veterinary work and their place within it.

"I would like to reassure members of the veterinary team that the RCVS is aware and understands.

"We tried throughout the pandemic to support the professions with relevant temporary guidance changes, and we are now working with a range of stakeholders on critical issues such as the workforce crisis, which has been in part caused by Covid.

"We are also developing tools, training and resources to support the professions, via our programmes such as RCVS Leadership and Mind Matters.”

The full coronavirus impact survey reports can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications. 

VetSurgeon Jobs has launched the VetSurgeon Locum Map, a free new service designed to help connect veterinary practices with locum vets. 

Locum vets can now come and update their VetSurgeon Profile to display their location and a business card on a map of the UK which practices can browse when they need a locum (NB. login required to see the locums on the map). 

Clicking on a locum’s flag on the VetSurgeon Locum Map reveals a summary profile and the distance they can travel. There are plans to add more detail in the future.

VetSurgeon.org Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "This is all part of our programme of ongoing development with VetSurgeon Jobs, to make sure it is the ‘go to’ place for anyone looking to hire a veterinary surgeon or find a job. 

"Whilst I’m here, I’d like to thank the practices and businesses that have already advertised on VetSurgeon Jobs. Your continued support is what allows us to develop these kinds of new features, all designed to help lower your recruitment costs."

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has suspended a Cardigan veterinary surgeon from the RCVS Register for five months, for failure to perform accurate bovine tuberculin testing and for falsely certifying the test results.

During the two-day hearing, Dewi Wyn Lewis, of Priory Veterinary Ltd, Cardigan, answered charges about inaccurate skin fold measurements and false certification relating to two visits he made as an Official Veterinarian to a farm in April 2009 to undertake tuberculin testing.

Mr Lewis accepted that he had not carried out the tuberculin tests in the way required by Animal Health (AH) - an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - and had taken short cuts to save time. However, he denied the charges, arguing that, although instructions to Official Veterinarians clearly required the use of callipers to measure the skin folds of cattle necks on Day One of testing, not using callipers and using his finger and thumb did not amount to failing to measure. 

He also argued (and it was accepted by the Committee) that, regarding Day Two of testing, there was inconsistency in AH's instructions on calliper use, which in written form required using callipers for measuring every animal but in practice accepted use of callipers when a reaction could be detected by manually palpating the skin. On Day Two, Mr Lewis said, he had done what AH required: he had used callipers on the cattle he identified for closer examination.

The Committee, however, found that by failing to use callipers on the first day, as required by AH, Mr Lewis had failed to measure the skin folds of almost all of the 104 cattle. The Committee was also satisfied that, on the second day, 10-20% of the herd were not even touched by Mr Lewis and the Committee accepted the evidence of the three other witnesses present during the testing, which indicated that Mr Lewis had failed to carry out careful assessment and manual palpation of every animal.

The Committee then considered whether Mr Lewis had dishonestly signed the certificate, or had signed a false certificate which he ought to have known was inaccurate. The Committee noted that there were no previous Disciplinary findings against Mr Lewis, and was prepared to believe his assertion that, although he knew he had not carried out the tests in strict compliance with AH's instructions, he genuinely believed his methods to be at least as accurate as measuring with callipers and did not think he was doing anything wrong or dishonest. The Committee could not then be sure that Mr Lewis had realised what he was doing was dishonest. However, the Committee noted that 'false' also means 'inaccurate' and, as Mr Lewis ought to have known that as his testing methods were not adequate, he also should have known that a considerable number of measurements on the certificate were inaccurate and that the certificate itself was inaccurate. 

After considering the facts of the case, the Committee concluded that Mr Lewis's actions amounted to serious professional misconduct and directed that he should be suspended from the Register for five months, after which he may return to practice. In relation to the sanction, the Committee said:  "In reaching this decision it is relevant that the false certification was not dishonest and that there was professional and personal mitigation put forward on behalf of Mr Lewis. The Committee has paid regard to the fact that Mr Lewis is an experienced veterinary surgeon who is highly thought of in his local area. It does not believe that there is any likelihood that he will repeat his previous conduct."

The Committee also said it gave considerable weight to the fact that Mr Lewis had had to wait an additional three-month period for the hearing because of an earlier adjournment.

A new study conducted by Waltham and Spillers in collaboration with Michigan State University, Massey University and the University of Minnesota, has shown that the equine diet, more specifically starch-rich food, can influence adrenocorticotropin hormone or ‘ACTH’, potentially leading to an incorrect disease diagnosis in some horses when ACTH is used to test for Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID).

The threshold values for diagnosis of the disease currently vary dependent on the season, but Waltham says these new findings suggest that diet should also be considered.¹

PPID, formerly termed Equine Cushing’s Disease, results from a change in hormone regulation in the pituitary gland, which is situated just below the brain. In healthy equids, the release of some hormones from this gland is controlled through another; dopamine. However, in those with PPID, there is a reduction in the amount of dopamine released. This, in turn, removes the restriction of the hormones from the pituitary gland. One such hormone under this control is adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH.

A simple baseline ACTH test is often used to diagnose PPID, with a result above a certain level deemed as positive. However diagnosis is not clear cut as there is a grey area between the threshold for normal and positive results.

Diagnosis can also be challenging because the circulating concentration of ACTH is seasonal, peaking in the Autumn. It is also known to vary with stress, exercise and nutritional state (fasted or fed). When the results lie in the grey zone (between the maximum normal and the minimum disease level), a modified test can be used. This involves measuring the ACTH level before and after administering thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH stimulates the release of hormones from the pituitary gland for all horses. However, the subsequent increase in the circulating ACTH is much greater for those with PPID, even in the early stages of the disease, than healthy animals.

The research investigated the impact of different factors on ACTH levels. Eight senior horses and eight adult horses were all fed grass hay and a rotation of four complementary feed options over seven weeks. The base diet was a low starch and sugar pellet fortified with vitamins and minerals. Horses were fed either the base feed alone or in reduced amounts with one of three options; feeds rich in sugar, starch or fibre. All diets provided the same amount of total energy. The effect of each of these on the ACTH concentrations at specific time points was measured.

As expected, the ACTH in the blood from the senior horses was higher than for the adults. As with previous studies, the level of ACTH was raised in October (Autumn) compared to March, May and August, regardless of age. However, the results revealed that diet can also influence the ACTH levels in horses. The senior horses had much higher levels of circulating ACTH when fed the starch rich diet compared to the adult group at the same time of the year.

Reference

1. Jacob S.I., Geor R.J, Weber P.S.D., Harris P.A., McCue M.E. 2018 Effect of dietary carbohydrates and time of year on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol concentrations in adult and aged horses. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 63, 15-22

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service has installed a £1.4 million Siemens Magnetom Sola 1.5 magnet scanner, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK veterinary market.

Willows' Head of Imaging Andrew Parry, an RCVS and European Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging (pictured on the left with Clinical Director, Toby Gemmill), said: "There are very few veterinary hospitals anywhere in the country which would have the case-load or the complexity of cases to justify such a sizeable investment. Additionally, this magnet will bring multiple opportunities for clinical research which could ultimately lead to improvements in animal health."

Andrew added: “To my knowledge, we are the only centre in the UK that has fully replaced a high-field magnet MRI with a complete new solution.

"This is very unusual as scanners tend to be upgraded from a high field to higher field, rather than replaced altogether.

"However, our aim wasn’t to purely upgrade the equipment, it was to have access to the best diagnostic imaging equipment available, in order to ensure high quality images are obtained and interpreted, providing the most accurate and rapid diagnosis for our patients. This can make a significant difference to the level of care we are able to provide for pets."

For more information, visit: willows.uk.net

The number of veterinary students suffering from stress has dropped by 23% over the last four years, according to a survey conducted by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS).

In the BVA/AVS Survey 2012, sponsored by Vets4Pets, 82% of students reported suffering from stress currently or while at university, with this figure falling to 63% of students in 2016. Those who reported suffering from depression also fell from 33% to 27%.

By far the biggest contributor to, or trigger of, mental health problems was veterinary students’ studies, with 83% citing this as the main reason. Other contributions to, or triggers of, mental health issues cited by students included:

• Lack of free time (58%)
• Relationship or family issues (44%)
• Other financial worries (40%)
• Stress of finding extra-mural studies (EMS) placements (34%)
• The cost of EMS (23%)
• Having to work as well as study (19%)
• Other (9%)

Researchers say that the fall in students reporting stress could be attributed to improved university support for students, with almost three quarters (72%) of survey respondents saying they felt supported in terms of welfare.

In recent years, a number of initiatives have been developed to help and support students. They range from the counselling and peer mentoring services available through individual universities to the confidential support offered by the independent charity Vetlife through its helpline, health support programme and fund for financial support.

While the significant fall in veterinary students reporting stress is positive, the BVA/AVS survey also shows that there are a range of factors that affect students, including financial pressures. A third of veterinary students work part-time to supplement their income and around half of students say they usually have less funds than they need, with the average shortfall per term estimated at £1,231.

Hannah Mason, President of the Association of Veterinary Students, said: "There is no escaping that veterinary medicine is a challenging degree. On top of strenuous exams, holidays are filled with compulsory EMS making it hard to sustain part-time work which is often needed to supplement the expense of a five or six year degree. It is therefore no surprise that stress is a problem in the vet student population. Whilst it is pleasing to see that the numbers reporting stress have declined, the majority of vet students still report having suffered at some point during their degree. We now have various counselling services and peer support systems across the universities to help students to cope better. However, while it is important to have reactive strategies in place, we also need to examine the fundamental reasons why vet students are stressed and how we can prevent it from occurring."

Gudrun Ravetz, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "A significant drop in those students reporting stress is very much to be welcomed. But any veterinary student feeling stressed, under pressure and unable to cope is one too many. The truth is that there will be pressure in the work we do and there will be times that we feel stressed. Veterinary medicine university courses are tough and that is reflected in studies being the number one contributor to mental health and wellbeing concerns in the survey. But as a veterinary family, we need to help our colleagues to cope from the earliest stages of their career and make the right resources available to them, along with creating the right kind of supportive culture. We also need to recognise and work on solutions for what can be a toxic mixture of a highly demanding course, little leisure time and huge financial pressure. It is the responsibility of everyone in the profession to nurture a robust, skilled, compassionate and happy new generation of vets."

Katherine Heyes RVN has been reprimanded and warned as to her future conduct by the RCVS VN Disciplinary Committee after she was convicted of being drunk in an aircraft. 

At first glance, one might ask why? After all, who - other than the pilot - would fly with Thomas Cook sober?

However, there's a world of difference between being not entirely sober and Ms Heyes's level of intoxication, which according to the judge at Greater Manchester Magistrates Court, made her 'every passenger's worst nightmare', and earned her a sentence of 80 hours community service, a victim surcharge of £80 and £250 in costs. 

At the start of her disciplinary hearing, Ms Heyes admitted the facts of her 2020 conviction, but denied that the conviction rendered her unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse.

The Committee then considered whether Ms Heyes's conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct.

The Disciplinary Guidance states: “A conviction may be related to professional or personal behaviour and whether it renders a respondent unfit to practise is a matter of judgment for the Disciplinary Committee.

"Behaviour unconnected with the practice of veterinary surgery can cause concerns about the protection of animals or the wider public interest.”

The Committee concluded that the conviction and underlying behaviour was sufficiently serious that it required a finding that Ms Heyes was unfit to practise veterinary nursing on public interest grounds and that it also breached Code 6.5 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses which states: ‘Veterinary nurses must not engage in any activity or behaviour that would be likely to bring the profession into disrepute or undermine public confidence in the profession’.

The Committee then considered the most appropriate sanction for Ms Heyes, taking into account the relevant aggravating and mitigating factors.

Aggravating factors included the risk Ms Heyes caused to passengers, including children and that she had behaved recklessly, falling far below the standard to be expected of a member of the veterinary nursing profession. 

In mitigation, the Committee considered this was a single and isolated incident, Ms Heyes had no previous disciplinary findings against her and following her conviction she had shown developing insight.

It also noted that she had continued to practise as a competent and dedicated veterinary nurse.

Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee decided to reprimand Ms Heyes because of its finding that the charge amounted to disgraceful conduct and rendered Ms Heyes unfit to practise.

"Such a sanction was necessary in the Committee’s view because the conviction brought the profession into disrepute.

"Whilst the charge was not so serious as to require suspension or removal from the register, the Committee decided it is necessary to issue a formal warning to Ms Heyes as to her future conduct.

“Taking into account the overall circumstances of the case including the positive references and the fact that a number of mitigating factors set out in the Disciplinary Committee Sanctions Guidance were present in this case, the Committee was satisfied that this sanction would meet the public interest and protect the reputation of the profession and uphold standards within the profession; thereby maintaining public confidence in the College as the regulator for veterinary nurses.”

The full details of the hearing and the Committee’s decision can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary

Dechra has launched a 9g sachet version of its prednisolone treatment, Equisolon, for horses with severe equine asthma.

The oral corticosteroid powder formulation was previously only available in 180g tubs.

Severe equine asthma, which was previously known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Heaves, can lead to airway neutrophil influx and excessive mucus production. Although it is generally managed by environmental measures to suppose triggering factors, it can be combined with corticosteroid therapy to control airway inflammation in more severe cases.

Alana McGlade BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS, Equine Business Manager, said: "Severe equine asthma is the most common cause of chronic coughing in mature horses. Attributed to a hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens and dust, clinical signs - such as inflammation of the airways - can be alleviated by Equisolon’s active ingredient prednisolone.

"Prednisolone has been shown to have positive effects on clinical signs, endoscopic evaluation, arterial blood gases and pulmonary function when used in conjunction with environmental changes to reduce a horse’s exposure to potential triggers.

"Previously, vets would have had to measure out the powder but the sachets make dosing more convenient. The sachets come in a box of 10, so each pack will treat one 300 kg horse for 10 days or one 600 kg horse for 5 days. As the sachets are pre-measured, horses get exactly the dose they need.” 

Equisolon oral powder contains 33.3 mg/g of prednisolone and should be administered at 1 mg prednisolone per kg of body weight per day. Treatment can be repeated at 24 hour intervals during 10 consecutive days.

For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk

Peter Myatt and Stephen Ashman MsRCVS have won the BVA's third annual BVA Veterinary Photographer of the Year competition, fighting off competition from over 500 other entries.

Stephen, who works for the PDSA, wowed the judges with his photograph of a pair of wild ponies, entered into the 'All creatures great and small' category. He said: "I had a great day out photographing these wild grey ponies on a similarly grey January dayon the Long Mynd, a heath and moorland plateau in the Shropshire hills. I was simply out on a photo walk to take in the scenery and wildlife, look for a good shot and get a breath of fresh air; I’m chuffed that the judges have selected it as a category winner!"

Peter, who graduated from Nottingham University this summer and works at a practice in Bicester, won in the ‘Human:animal bond’ category with his entry: 'Best part of a job', which shows a laid-back 10-week-old cocker spaniel puppy lounging contentedly on his lap. Peter said: "This photo was taken whilst on placement in Chipping Norton as a student. The puppy was in to have her second vaccinations and a general health check after she had been with her new family for a week, and she was on my lap so that I could calm her, examine her, and socialise her. Working in the veterinary world is by no means easy, which is why moments like this are so important. Everyone needs a puppy cuddle!"

This year, the judging panel included David Tipling, one of the world's most widely published wildlife photographers. He said: "Helping to judge this year’s competition was for me a fascinating insight into a vet’s working life. Photography, like any art form, is subjective, but I was looking for pictures that had been composed and thought about and most importantly would linger in the mind long after they had been viewed. Much debate and discussion led us to some clear favourites from which to choose two overall winners."

"The winning shot [by Stephen] is beautifully composed, has a symmetry and used the dark and light tones of the ponies to complement each other, resulting in a striking image that we were all drawn to. I was drawn to [Peter’s] image partly by its abstract nature; on first view it is not obvious the dog is on someone’s lap. It is a strong, engaging image and because of that slightly abstract feel means it stays long in the memory.”

Peter and Stephen each receive £250 worth of gift vouchers from John Lewis.