Originally known as ‘Our Dumb Friends League’, the Blue Cross was formed in 1897 to help the working horses of London, who were often underfed, struggled to carry heavy loads and became injured on slippery asphalt roads created for new motor vehicles.
Bill Bailey said: “I had a great time transforming into a Pearly King! I love all animals, so having an opportunity to celebrate Blue Cross’ heritage and highlight the support that they have continued to offer to horses, and other animals, since their inception was really special."
Iain Heaton, Deputy CEO and CFO at Blue Cross, says: “We are delighted to share these recreated historic images with our supporters, beneficiaries, and the British public. Bill, David, Lauren, and our hard-working rehoming team have done a phenomenal job at demonstrating how we have supported both pets and people over the last 125 years, and we can’t wait to see people’s response.
To learn more about the Blue Cross's heritage, visit: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/125-years-of-blue-cross
Feeding companion animals with unprocessed products has become increasingly popular, and whilst ready-prepared raw pet foods are produced in highly controlled environments, Horiba says they may still present a bacterial risk.
Conor’s presentation will include discussion about the main pathogens that can cause issues, such as E. coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella.
He will also touch on potential risk to owners, for example raw food associated with zoonotic diseases, including TB; whilst also covering possible benefits too.
Paul Lymer, Veterinary Business Manager at Horiba UK said: “Veterinary teams are in a unique position when it comes to supporting and advising owners on day-to-day care.
“We appreciate though that raw feeding is definitely a topic which prompts discussion amongst both veterinary staff and pet owners.
"So our latest CPD webinar will help to educate and present a balanced view, ensuring that although the choice remains with the owner on what to feed, veterinary staff are armed with the knowledge to help them do so safely.”
To register for the event, visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6301418110266818573
James says he is sticking his neck out after seeing a significant increase in cases where dogs with diabetes are referred too late to save their sight.
He said: “If we are given the chance to assess a dog with diabetes as soon as cataracts develop then it is usually pretty straightforward to restore vision with a specialist operation.
“Often, diabetic dogs are referred to us too late because vets unwittingly delay referral while they enhance control of the diabetes.
“Unfortunately, this can mean it can become too late to perform sight-saving surgery and the dog may even have to have their eyes removed on welfare grounds.
“When cataract surgery wasn’t commonplace and as successful, maybe 20 years ago, there was more of a justification to delay surgery. But that isn’t necessary now with advances in veterinary care.
“It’s why it’s so important to improve education about this issue and raise more awareness of what can be done to both vets and dog owners alike.”
Dave Dickson MRCVS (pictured right) said: "The ECG series is full of case examples and practical advice, delivered by the friendly cardiologists at HeartVets.
"The course should give you confidence to record and interpret ECGs in practice, knowing how to put the ECG information into context with each case and improving how you manage cardiac cases in practice."
ECGs for Vets and Nurses, an online course offering an introduction to ECGs.
The course, which costs £95 for three month's access, has over seven-and-a-half hours of content, divided up into 20-45 minute webinars, so you can watch at your own pace.
For more information, visit: https://heartvets.co.uk/learning-zone/
This, says the company, suggests that infection could be more common among seemingly healthy dogs than vets or owners realise, which may mean there is a greater risk of perioperative bleeding caused by the coagulopathies associated with A. vasorum2 than previously thought.
Elanco says another recent study indicates that there may be a bigger environmental risk for dogs than previously thought, too.
In the study, by Robbins et al, L3 larvae of A. vasorum and Crenosoma vulpis arising from the gastropod intermediate host were found to be immediately infective to dogs and remain so for up to eight weeks, meaning that dogs may only need to lick the molluscs’ slime to be at risk of infection.3
Elanco says this new data means A.vasorum should be added to many differential diagnosis lists, and that pre-operative testing could also be wise.
Jenny Helm, BVMS Cert SAM Dip-ECVIM CA FHEA MRCVS, European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, said: “Owners need to be aware that healthy dogs could be silently carrying and spreading the disease and that asymptomatic carriers could develop clinical signs at any time.
"They need to be aware that dogs don’t necessarily have to eat slugs and snails to become infected, as recent evidence suggest that other routes of transmission are possible.” To improve data on the prevalence of lungworm, Elanco has developed a version of its lungworm map specifically for veterinary surgeons, where you are invited to upload your cases (including asymptomatic positive cases: www.lungwormmap-vet.co.uk.
For those practices which want to run lungworm awareness campaigns in their area, Elanco has a how-to guide, posters and artwork available to download at www.myelanco.co.uk.
References
For the research1, 190 faecal samples were collected from dogs in 140 households (114 samples from raw fed dogs and 76 from non-raw fed dogs).
Salmonella species was detected in 4% of the samples (all raw fed) and antimicrobial-resistant E. coli was detected in 40% of all dogs, but in 62% of raw fed dogs.
The authors say that statistical analysis confirmed that this represented a significantly higher prevalence of AMR E. coli, including multidrug resistance and third generation cephalosporin resistance, and Salmonella species in dogs fed raw compared to non-raw meat diets.
The authors concluded that strategies should be implemented to increase the awareness of the risks of feeding raw meat diets to dogs, to reduce any potential risk to owners, their families, and their pets.
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP says: “In this study, an association between raw meat diets in dogs and faecal carriage of potentially dangerous enteric bacteria has been observed.
"Readers should keep in mind that cross-sectional studies such as this one lay the basis for additional research more suited to prove causality.”
Reference
Aimed at all members of the veterinary team across Europe, the webinar is moderated by veterinary nutrition expert Dottie Laflamme.
The webinar, which will also be available on demand after the event, follows others in the series that allow conversations about nutrition to be integrated into everyday consultations.
Speakers Shoshanah Verton Shaw, RVT, VTS (nutrition), and Marge Chandler (a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition) will be sharing their tips for handling nutrition discussions in a non-confrontational way that preserves the client bond with the vet and the practice.
Registration for this and another three free webinars is available at https://bit.ly/purinawebinars2022.
35% think the rising cost of living is already making it more difficult to give their dogs all they need.
By far the greatest worry was how they would manage to pay vet bills, which 49% named as their main concern.
The second biggest worry was affording dog food (17%), closely followed by insurance (15%).
Non-dog owners in the UK, meanwhile, were asked whether the rising cost of living would prevent them from adopting or buying a dog. Over half (54%) said that it would.
The Dogs Trust says this research mirrors its own experience, seeing a steady increase in the number of requests from owners who have decided to give up their dog.
It harks back to the year after the 2008 recession, when the increase in the number of stray and abandoned dogs reached over 25% in the UK.
Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust CEO, said: "We know from the experience of the 2008 recession that economic crisis can and will lead to people needing to give up their beloved dogs. Sadly, many loving dog owners simply won’t be able to afford to keep them.
“At Dogs Trust we’re rehoming and fostering dogs as quickly as we can - but as soon as we free up a kennel space, there’s a dog to fill it again.
“We’ve already taken 13,000 calls this year from owners who need to give up their dogs – a 58% increase on last year.
“We know that dog owners need immediate help and we’re working hard to find ways to support them - but it takes time.
“However, there are other ways we help, like our Hope Project, which aims to keep anyone experiencing a housing crisis and their dog together, and helping people find other services such as pet food banks or local charities that could ease the burden.”
“We want dog owners to realise that they don’t have to wait until they are in crisis to call us for help.”
In his new role, Ian will guide the development of interventions, strategies, process changes and campaigns to improve responsible pharmaceutical usage across Mars Veterinary Health’s 2,500+ global veterinary clinics.
Ian was previously Head of Internal Medicine at Hertfordshire-based Davies Veterinary Specialists and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) subject matter expert on the clinical board of Linnaeus.
Mars says that this new role is one of several actions it is taking to promote pharmaceutical stewardship and combat antimicrobial resistance, include the implementation of a formal responsible pharmaceutical stewardship programme across all its veterinary clinics globally during the next several years.
Ian said: “As one of the leading providers of veterinary care in the world, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to lead the way toward a more sustainable profession.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a critical One Health issue, and I look forward to continue working with colleagues across more than 2,500 clinics to support responsible antibiotic prescribing.
"Energy and interest in this area is growing profession-wide, demonstrating a reassuring recognition of how we can make meaningful improvements for people, pets, and the planet long into the future.”
The new technique enables the surgeon to suspend a modified acrylic lens from a damaged capsule, which has historically not been possible.
Gary and Chris have published a paper analysing the results of the surgery in the Journal of Small Animal Practice: "Post-operative outcomes in canine eyes receiving a rhexis-fixated prosthetic intra-ocular lens: 30 cases (2014-2020)1"
Surgery was carried out in a total of 30 eyes using a modified acrylic IOL, where the lens capsule could not accommodate a conventional prosthetic endo-capsular IOL.
Over a follow-up period from three to 76 months, 26 of the 30 eyes remained visual.
Chris said: “It’s a novel technique for implanting a prosthetic lens into the eyes of patients who otherwise may have not been suitable for surgery, either saving or restoring their sight.
“Gary developed a method of modifying the lens to fit in the eye in dogs where the lens capsule is damaged.
For more information, visit www.veterinaryvision.co.uk.
The event offers over 80 hours of CPD across seven streams – with everything from hypotension and sepsis to breaking bad news to clients – as well as world-renowned speakers and networking opportunities.
Søren Boysen from the University of Calgary in Canada and Sophie Adamantos from Paragon Referrals in Wakefield, are among several high-profile speakers at this year’s Congress.
Chief Executive for GB Snowsport, Victoria Gosling OBE, will open Congress as keynote speaker where she’ll focus on perseverance, resilience and teamwork.
Also speaking are Prof. John Williams, Richard Casey, executive director at the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and VDS trainer Elly Russell.
Arlene Connor, an RVN and head of clinical operations at Vets Now and IVC Evidensia has planned the programme alongside national ECC lead Dan Lewis (pictured right).
She said: “We’re so excited to be returning to the Royal Armouries for our 19th Vets Now ECC Congress – around a theme which celebrates us all being together again.
"The past two years have been a challenge for all of us in the veterinary professions and we hope to mitigate that with a return to face-to-face learning and networking, as well as the chance to have some fun.
"Events like this can be hugely inspirational — for the organisers as well as the attendees — and we truly can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors like old times.”
Dan added: “There’s a brilliant line-up of live speakers, workshops, a packed exhibition hall and more opportunities than ever for delegates to meet old friends and make new ones, as well as to learn from some of the world’s leading veterinary experts discussing emergency and critical care.
“Our programme again this year has been carefully tailored to provide an inclusive learning experience for vets and vet nurses no matter what stage they’re at in their career, from students through to specialists.
Tickets range in price from £45 + VAT for exhibition-only tickets, up to £470 + VAT for a vet to attend for 2 days plus the Gala dinner.
To book your ticket, go to www.vets-now.com/congress2022
The study1, the largest in the world to date, investigated anonymised veterinary clinical records of a random sample of almost 4,000 hamsters.
The three most common hamster species were Syrian (golden) hamster (73.5%), Djungarian (winter white dwarf) hamster (13.8%) and Roborovski hamster (6.4%).
From a list of the 20 most common disorders across all hamster species, the most common disorders were "wet tail" – (diarrhoea or liquid discharge) (7.33%), bite injuries from other hamsters (5.88%), overgrown nails (4.13%), overgrown front teeth (3.98%) and traumatic injury (3.80%).
The average age at death across all hamsters was 21 months (1.75 years).
The RVC says a better awareness of the average lifespan of pet hamsters should help veterinary surgeons build realistic expectations for hamster owners and may also help owners accept the animal welfare benefit for euthanasia.
It is also helpful to help children understand the typical natural lifecycle of pet hamsters.
Other findings included:
Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “Hamsters can make good pets for both adults and children but until now, very little was published about their health.
"Parents can now help their children with realistic expectations of how long their hamster may live and what are the most common conditions to look out for to protect the health of these delightful little creatures.”
The RVC has an advice sheet on hamster care here: https://rvc.uk.com/hamster-care.
The videos were primarily created to support veterinary treatment in light of the conflict in Ukraine, but VetCT says they are also useful for UK veterinary professionals dealing with natural disasters such as flooding and fires.
The videos were created by VetCT Emergency and Critical Care specialists with special interest and expertise in trauma in conflict zones, including Dr Erin Mays, an Officer in the US Army Veterinary Corps, and Dr Guillaume Hoareau (pictured right), whose PhD in collaboration with the US Air Force focussed on resuscitation and haemorrhage control.
Victoria Johnson, VetCT Director, said: “As a global teleconsulting and teleradiology company we are incredibly fortunate to have some exceptional expertise in a broad range of clinical areas.
"The response to our call within our team for production of videos that will help support the treatment and welfare of animals caught up in natural or man-made disasters was outstanding.
"We are delighted to be able to offer this expert training free of charge and hope it proves helpful to many of our colleagues working hard to help the people and pets of Ukraine and beyond.”
VetCT is encouraging colleagues to share the videos within the veterinary profession globally to help veterinary teams involved in treating trauma in animals.
To watch the films, visit: https://www.vet-ct.com/gb/news/2022/may/11/free-trauma-training/
Viewers are invited to make a voluntary donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) charity to support humanitarian aid efforts globally here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vetct-trauma-training.
—ENDS—
Photo Caption 1: Victoria Johnson, VetCT Founder and Director
Photo Caption 2: Trauma training videos QR link
Called the RCVS Academy, the new platform offers training in the following areas:
The College says the content has been developed in partnership with members of the profession to make sure it meets the needs of the veterinary team, including new graduates and registrants, and those who have been in the profession for many years.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive, said: “As part of our ambition to be a compassionate regulator, we would like to ensure that all veterinary professionals have access to learning resources that will help them meet the standards set by their peers on RCVS Council.
"We’re aware of the pressures that veterinary professions are facing and the Academy has been built to respond to changing learning needs.
“The learning resources available on the platform have been designed to help vet teams develop their understanding of the RCVS professional guidelines and also how they can apply them in their everyday role. "
https://academy.rcvs.org.uk/
Together, they're producing an educational video to be distributed and used by registered career advisers across the Southwest of England, and subsequently across the rest of England.
Remi qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in London as a registered veterinary nurse in 2019 and then applied to start the graduate Veterinary Medicine programme at the same university.
She said: “I didn’t quite get the grades to study to be a vet straight away, but I always knew that I wanted to focus on a surgical career path and having gone through the university application twice, I want to help other students realise that they too can pursue a career as a vet or vet nurse.
“I met the managing director of JHP Recruitment, Justin Powlesland, at a networking event and explained how keen I was to help more people realise that there is more than one way to become a veterinary professional and to encourage school age children not to dismiss a veterinary career from an early age.
Justin said: “We have employed a production company and are now looking for a location to film it.
"Ideally, we need a teaching hospital to offer us some space for a day, as we want to set our interview with Remi in a clinical setting, where there is plenty of equipment to see.
"We are hoping to film this summer and are appealing for help to find a location.
“The video will tell Remi’s story about the hurdles she has faced and overcome to ultimately study to become a vet, it will also show students where the veterinary industry can take them and the different roles and routes to study that are available.
"As well as the video, a downloadable PDF version will be created, which are both great resources for career advisers that we will also share across social media.”
Remi added: “I really hope that what we are doing will encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to consider going to into higher education to start a career in veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing – that’s the ultimate goal.”
Any teaching hospital that can help with a filming location is being asked to contact Justin via email Justin@jhprecruitment.com or to call him on 07506 981 354.
Game players have to 'catch' falling symbols marked with a '+' or the Credelio Plus ingredients, milbemycin oxime and lotilaner to win points, and avoid ones with fleas, ticks and worms, which lose points.
In addition to the £50 vouchers, there are goody packs for four runners up each month.
William Hawker, Parasiticides Marketing Manager at Elanco Animal Health said: "We are excited to showcase our novel new game at BVA Live with this exciting drop and offer all attendees the first chance to play Plus Plummet and win some great prizes by topping the leaderboard every month."
To play the game, visit: https://www.myelanco.co.uk/brand/plus-plummet
Incidentally, if you're at BVA Live, you're invited to join Elanco at the Exhibitor Showcase Theatre tomorrow from 09:00-09:50 for ‘Parasitology: Testing Times? Navigating the current challenges in practice’.
Cat Henstridge (BVSc MRCVS, small animal vet) will be interviewing Ian Wright (head of ESCCAP) and answering questions on everything from when to test, when to treat and how to communicate with pet owners about choice and the parasiticide treatment options available.
Photo: Elanco launches Plus Plummet at BVA Live
The report is the culmination of the work of a joint RCVS and VSC BAME Student Support Working Group, set up to explore key issues in supporting BAME veterinary students during their studies.
The Working Group made a total of 14 recommendations, which included:
Stephanie-Rae Flicker is a recent Royal Veterinary College (RVC) graduate who co-chaired the Working Group alongside Professor Rob Pettitt from the University of Liverpool.
She said: “I hope this encourages and supports our veterinary institutions to actively implement change regarding discrimination faced during studies and placements, nurturing role models and helping affected students develop sense of belonging and community during their studies and beyond.
"Many thanks to all that have contributed to the completion of this Report – we hope the recommendations have a lasting impact, and benefit those both already present and yet to enter our profession."
RCVS/VSC BAME Student Support Working Group Report.
Although developed by the RCVS and VSC BAME Student Support Working Group ostensibly for use by Universities, EMS placement host practices and other educational establishments, it is recommended that all veterinary practices review the guidance.
The Guidance on Religious Clothing and Beliefs covers issues such as: balancing accommodations for religious dress with clinical considerations, and making accommodations for religious observance in academic timetabling and exams.
Gurpreet Gill, RCVS Leadership and Inclusion Manager said: “This document is about recognising that personal religious beliefs should be respected and accommodated as far as possible, while also not compromising professional responsibilities such as infection control, effective communication and the health and safety of individuals and their colleagues.
"Most importantly, it is about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment and ensuring that all students are able to express their religious identity whilst participating in educational and workplace settings.
“Although the guidance is not exhaustive, we would highly recommend that, where relevant, educators, practices and other veterinary workplaces review, adopt and adapt this guidance for their own settings to ensure that all members of the professions are welcomed and included.”
The Guidance on Religious Clothing is available to download from: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/publications/guidance-on-religious-clothing-and-beliefs/
The new guidance replaces Chapter 25 of the Supporting Guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct.
Routine Veterinary Practice describes the procedures and techniques performed on animals by veterinary surgeons (or veterinary nurses under their direction) in the course of their professional duties, which ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to their care.
CVR is when routine procedures are undertaken for the benefit of the animal/s, with the concurrent intention to generate new knowledge that benefits animals, such as developing new procedures, improving a diagnosis, changing a routine procedure, or comparing existing procedures.
While the idea of CVR is not new, this is the first time that the RCVS has provided specific guidance on it.
The guidance also introduces an obligation, which comes into effect on 1st September, to obtain ethics review for all studies where one would be expected to obtain permission from the owner/keeper of an animal prior to being enrolled, or when consent is needed for use of previously collected samples or the use of data from an animal.
The newly drafted Chapter 25 gives extra guidance on the following areas:
Chair of the Standards Committee and incoming RCVS President, Dr Melissa Donald (pictured right), said: “We hope that the guidance will inspire confidence in our veterinary colleagues at all levels to undertake treatment routes which develop veterinary knowledge as a whole, while still being for the benefit of the animal being treated.”
For further information or advice on whether a proposed procedure would be covered by the guidance, contact the Standards and Advice team via advice@rcvs.org.uk.
The new guidance will be found on the RCVS website from the 1st July: www.rcvs.org.uk/recognised
For further information in relation to ethics review of proposed veterinary clinical research studies, contact the Secretary to the RCVS Ethics Review Panel via ethics@rcvs.org.uk or visit www.rcvs.org.uk/ethics
Animalcare says hydrocortisone aceponate is a potent, topical anti-inflammatory, proven to quickly relieve itchy and inflamed skin in dogs.
The new product is applied as a spray, designed to make it easy to target affected areas of skin.
Hydrocortisone Cutaneous Spray Solution is presented in a 76 ml size with a two-year shelf life, six months once opened.
Animalcare Product Manager Eleanor Workman Wright said: “Skin problems are extremely common in dogs.
"They can often cause great discomfort to dogs and concern to their owners.
"We believe that Hydrocortisone Cutaneous Spray Solution will be a useful addition to the range of treatment options currently available to vets as they consider the most appropriate care plan for their patients.”
Eight dogs being treated at three veterinary clinics in Norway took part in the study1.
Previous research2 has found a complication rate of 55% when fibreglass casts are used, 20% of them severe. In this study using the Upets Splinting System, only 12.5% of dogs (n=1) had complications that required treatment, and the complications were minor.
Dassiet says the results suggest that the new product has the potential to make veterinary casting safer, more sustainable, and can help control costs associated with cast replacement and treatment of complications.
86% of the veterinary surgeons participating in the study rated the Upets Splinting System as easy to use and said they would use the product on their own dog.
An earlier poll3 questioned vets on their most common concerns about casting and identified that the most significant were fear of complications (57%), the time-consuming nature of casting (54%) and inconvenience (51 %).
Dr. Martin Kaufmann, OrthoPets founder and Dassiet VET COO, said: “Complications often result from a cast that does not fit as well as it should.
"The results of this study suggest that Upets might be the ground-breaking tool that veterinarians have been waiting for as it provides them with the means to achieve a cast shape that is more precise."
For the white paper detailing the trial, visit: www.upets.vet/research.
Purina says the foods contain adjusted and graded levels of protein and phosphorus to address the delicate balance of providing needed protein in older cats against uraemic toxin production in late phase renal decline.
The current advice is that phosphate should be restricted when the renal patient has confirmed CKD, and IRIS provides therapeutic serum phosphate targets for each stage.
Dr Ellie Groves BA(Hons) VetMB MRCVS, Purina Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland, said: “As obligate carnivores, cats have a high requirement for protein, however, around 20% of senior cats have decreased ability to digest protein, and so are absorbing less protein.
"An inadequate intake of protein leads to loss of lean body mass as muscle is catabolised to meet this need.
"We know that this loss of lean body mass is significantly correlated with an increased risk of mortality.
"But we need to be careful – in renal disease, there is the potential for protein breakdown products to increase in the circulation, acting as toxins.
"So, we need to fine-tune the amount of protein, depending on the stage of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI).
"A dual approach, with Early and Advanced products, allows tailoring of protein levels.”
“Alongside protein, phosphorus content is also tailored to the stage of kidney decline.
"Restricting phosphorus can slow the progression of chronic kidney disease by reducing morphological damage to the kidneys and is thought to be the most important influencer of survival in cats with CKD.
"The levels of phosphorus in the products, are tailored, alongside the protein, to reflect the needs of the cat, with increased restriction when cats are in advanced decline and the kidneys are struggling most.”
NF Renal Function Early Care is available in a dry format (1.5kg) and a pouch (tender pieces with chicken 85g).
NF Renal Function Advanced Care is available in 1.5kg and 5kg packs of dry food, and ‘wet’ options of tender pieces with chicken/ salmon (85g pouches) and a mousse (195g can).
Both diets are now available in veterinary wholesalers.
The programme offers a route to achieve a General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert).
In 14 modules (six online and eight face-to-face) delivered over 11 months, the programme covers the fundamental principles of the different imaging modalities, giving an overview of their application and benefits.
Each online module consists of four sessions spread over one month, with video lessons and case-based studies for learners to work through at their own pace.
There'll also be a monthly live webinar for case discussion and film reading sessions with the specialist tutor.
The face-to-face sessions are conducted over two consecutive days and are designed to support learners in consolidating their knowledge and developing skills in ultrasound.
As well as the GPCert, the course also offers a route to a Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) through the company’s partnership with Harper Adams University.
Programme registration includes a subscription to the RCVS Knowledge Library, which includes access to many electronic resources, including the latest journals and clinical research.
Head of Business Development for Improve International in the UK, Dr Charlotte French (pictured right), said: “The successful completion of this programme will increase learners’ skills, knowledge and confidence in dealing with more imaging cases, which will, in turn, enable them to grow their small animal caseload and revenue stream.
"With imaging so often a key element of a successful diagnosis, we are seeing increased interest from veterinary surgeons in upskilling in this fast-moving area and are delighted to offer them the opportunity to do this with our new programme.”
Anna, who has been with the Hertfordshire-based referral centre for seven years, is now an RCVS, EBVS and American Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
She graduated from The University of Liverpool in 2007 and spent four years working in general practice in Kent.
She then went on to complete a rotating internship, followed by a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College where she gained her Master’s degree and Diploma.
Whilst enjoying all aspects of Internal Medicine, she has special interests in endocrinology and haematology. The latter, combined with her love for cats, has fuelled her interest in feline transfusion medicine.
Anna said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Head of Internal Medicine at Davies.
“The Internal Medicine team are the detectives who work to establish a diagnosis, and we often have the added bonus of working closely with other disciplines in our multi-disciplinary environment.
"It is a challenging and highly rewarding service, with a wide variety of cases and I am delighted to work with a first-class team of clinicians and nurses.”
'The Vet' branded surgeries were registered to Quality Pet Care Ltd which was initially acquired by CVS Group plc in August 2021.
The acquisition makes The Pet Vet not only the largest independent family-owned practice by number of sites (12) in the UK, but also the only one with a national presence.
The newly acquired surgeries are in Warrington, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bristol, Nottingham, Liverpool and Morden and Waltham Forest in London.
The Pet Vet already operates three surgeries in South Yorkshire (Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster) and in 2021 opened a 5,500 sq ft surgery on a retail park in Lincoln.
The Pet Vet is under the sole ownership of Rob Jones MRCVS (pictured right with Managing Director, Mel Fuller), who graduated from Bristol in 1987.
Rob practised in companion animal care in London and Australia before opening the first The Pet Vet surgery in Doncaster in 2011.
The practice now has nearly 100 employees, including 24 full time vets, and an annual turnover of over £6m.
Earlier this year, The Pet Vet secured £3.1m from alternative lender ThinCats to fund its growth plan.
A extra cash injection then allowed the family-owned independent to snap up The Vet when it came up for sale in April 2022.
Rob said: "With nearly 70% of the veterinary practice market by revenue already in the ownership of major corporations, a fact of which most consumers are still completely unaware, this is a real opportunity for us as a family business to make a positive difference for pet owners.
"Our acquisition of The Vet will allow us to further advance in-house provision, giving our vets more variety and stimulation in their working day and even greater opportunities for professional development."