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The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has severely reprimanded and warned as to his future conduct a veterinary surgeon who failed to make sufficient enquiries about the location or condition of a cat; unreasonably refused to provide it with first aid and pain relief; and failed to provide it with adequate 24-hour emergency care.
Following a three-day hearing, the Committee found Marcus Kutschera, of South London Emergency Veterinary Centre, Streatham, guilty of serious professional misconduct in relation to events on 16 May 2011. Mr Kutschera was Clinical Director of the practice, which provided out-of-hours emergency services to several London veterinary practices. At about 1.45am, the practice received two telephone calls from a representative of a registered charity about a cat, which the caller considered should be seen by a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible. The charity was itself a client of one of the practices whose out-of-hours emergency services were provided by the South London Emergency Veterinary Centre. The cat was later euthanased by the RSPCA.
After listening to a recording of a telephone call between a representative of the charity and Mr Kutschera, during which Mr Kutschera failed to ask about either the condition or location of the cat, the Committee was in no doubt that the caller believed Mr Kutschera would not see the cat unless he was able to pay when it was presented. The Committee said that, once the telephone call had been received, the primary responsibility of the veterinary surgeon was the welfare of the animal, and Mr Kutschera had no good reason not to see the cat or to follow the procedures set out in the Guide to Professional Conduct 2010. If he had made proper inquiries, he would have been able to make a provisional diagnosis that the cat was likely to be euthanased. Mr Kutschera was guilty of unreasonably refusing to provide first aid and/or pain relief to the animal, and of failing to provide adequate 24-hour emergency care.
The Committee concluded that Mr Kutschera's conduct fell far short of that to be expected of a veterinary surgeon. Although he did recommend that the cat should be taken to the RSPCA, his primary concern was the ability of the client to make a payment on presentation of the cat, and not the animal's welfare. He had a responsibility for ensuring that proper emergency cover was provided.
In mitigation, the Committee noted that the event was a single, short telephone call between Mr Kutschera and the client in the early hours of the morning, and there was no evidence to suggest similar behaviour on his part on other occasions. Mr Kutschera accepted that he made no inquiries into the cat's condition or location, and the Committee accepted that he had shown some insight into what went badly wrong. He said that he had subsequently changed his practice when speaking to clients on the telephone. The Committee also took account of the impact on Mr Kutschera of the case hanging over him since the complaint was made in August 2011 and, as the cost of the Disciplinary Committee inquiry was not covered by his professional indemnity insurance, he had taken on a substantial financial commitment to pay for legal representation.
Professor Peter Lees, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee said: "The primary purpose of the sanction is not to punish but to protect the welfare of animals, maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct. Whilst there are undoubted financial issues that can arise in the operation of an out-of-hours service, the primary responsibility of the veterinary surgeon is for the welfare of the animal."
The Committee recommended that Mr Kutschera undertake, within 12 months, continuing professional development training, with a particular emphasis on animal welfare, ethics and client care, in the context of providing out-of-hours services. It imposed on Mr Kutschera the sanction of a severe reprimand and a warning as to his future conduct.
Elanco Animal Health has announced the launch of Kexxtone this month, a new treatment which it claims can reduce the incidence of ketosis in dairy cows by 74%* following a single treatment.1
Kexxtone is a targeted solution for any dairy cow or heifer that is expected to develop ketosis around the period of calving. It is administered as a bolus,and provides coverage during the main risk period for the condition.
Ketosis often goes undetected because the signs are not immediately apparent. However, it is a common condition, affecting around 30% of cows2 and has a negative impact upon cow health, fertility and milk production. Ketosis can result, on average, in milk losses of around 350-500 litres per cow4 per lactation. The cost of production losses and disease related consequential losses due to subclinical ketosis has been estimated at around 250-600 EUR per cow.5
Elanco says this new approach is likely to significantly expand the array of options open to vets actively involved in dairy herd health management. Kexxtone comes with the benefit of a zero day milk and meat withdrawal3 and the formulation is based on monensin - a molecule with a long history of beneficial use.
According to the company, Kexxtone uses novel technology to allow a continuous and regular release of the active ingredient into the rumen which forms a gel when exposed to rumen fluid. This gel is progressively released into the rumen by a pressure sensitive spring in the Kexxtone device. The active ingredient shifts the microbial balance in the rumen to produce more of the glucose precursor propionic acid, therefore increasing glucose delivery and ultimately increasing the energy available to the cow. This improvement in energy utilisation buffers dairy cows against the tendency to drop into negative energy balance during the transition period around calving and early lactation - the major cause of ketosis.
Mike Steele, Technical Consultant at Elanco said: "Kexxtone offers an exciting opportunity in which everyone wins - vets who can offer positive interventions able to make a big impact on the bottom line, are going to be increasingly integral to their farm clients' herd health planning framework. It's no longer just about nutritional intervention and emergency salvage; it's about being able to proactively easily measure the true herd prevalence of ketosis and where appropriate, take preventative targeted action to really make a difference."
Kexxtone is available to order now from veterinary wholesalers - for further information contact the Elanco Territory Manager or call Elanco Animal Health on 01256 353131.
References
Loseley, the ice-cream maker, has announced that it has developed a new way of making flavoured ice-cream by adapting the diet fed to its cows.
The first variety to be made using the new technique is 'Eton Mess', for which the company's herd is being fed a diet of strawberries and meringues.
Loseley says its cattle - which are housed at the Beechdean Dairies farm in Buckinghamshire - have already been feeding on the ingredients found in the much loved pudding for over a year, to ensure their milk supply is infused with the strawberry and meringue flavours. Apparently, huge amounts of strawberries are having to be air-freighted into the UK in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply through the seasons.Andrew Howard Managing Director of Beechdean Dairies said: "We have been perfecting the quantities in the cattle feed for over 18 months to perfect the Eton Mess flavour. The cows need to be fed just the right quantities of meringues, strawberries, fat and hay to make the perfect Eton Mess ice cream. We believe ice cream should be great quality, tasty and interesting. Our products will always deliver against these criteria."Vince Bamford, Fast Moving Consumer Goods Editor at The Grocer, the UK's leading grocery trade magazine said: "Loseley's flavour development process is cutting edge - I have tasted the product and it is delicious. It is an exciting innovation for the ice cream category."
Bayer Animal Health, maker of Tracer microchips, has produced a new video in which Emma Milne and Petlog Executive Celia Walsom consider the implications for practices of the change in the law which will make it compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped from April 2016.
The 15-minute video considers various issues, such as:
A survey carried out by Fish4Dogs has found that a 'staggering' 43% of dog owners do not brush their dog's teeth.
As part of the research, 800 people from across the UK were quizzed about their attitude to their pet's dental care in the lead up to the British Dental Health Foundation's 'National Smile Month' (May 20th-June 20th).
The survey also found that:
Graham Smith, Chief Executive of Fish4Dogs said: "This research is definitely an interesting read about people's attitudes and behaviours towards dental care for their dogs. National Smile Month campaigns for healthy and happy teeth and there is no reason this shouldn't apply to our pets too. At Fish4Dogs we have never doubted how important dogs are to their owners, but it is clear that with wider awareness we could encourage teeth brushing to become more regular and an introduction of dry food into dogs' diets and all see improved results."
The Hertfordshire-based referral centre Davies Veterinary Specialists, has announced it is to support Mission Rabies, a charity which aims to reduce the number of children in India that die as a result of contracting rabies from dogs.
According to the charity, it is estimated that at least one child dies from rabies every hour in India, normally contracted from dog bites. Mission Rabies aims to establish the country's first National Rabies Network to supply cheap, effective vaccines nationwide and monitor disease prevalence. The campaign will also include surgical training programmes in rabies danger zones, to train local vets in the best field techniques for dog population and vaccination control. The charity says it intends to vaccinate two million dogs in the key hotspot areas of India over the next three years.
Davies Veterinary Specialists is donating 50,000 rabies vaccines, to be used during the first month of the campaign, which launches this September.
VetSurgeon.org member Ian Battersby, one of Davies Veterinary Specialists' Internal Medicine team, is one of the organisers of the project, which is also supported by Dogs Trust, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Worldwide Veterinary Service. Ian will be travelling to India in September whilst other staff from DVS are planning various fund raising events, including marathons, evening talks to dog owners, a fund raising choir concert and an online auction to members of the veterinary profession. The auction will go live in June and lots will include in-house training seminars from members of the DVS clinical staff and gifts donated by local organisations.
DVS Managing director Clive Elwood said: "This is a very important project delivering veterinary care and expertise that will have a real impact on human lives. We are delighted to be able to help such a worthwhile cause."
The Guardian has published it's University Guide 2014, which ranks Cambridge as the best vet school, and Bristol as the worst.
Universities were ranked by the Guardian according to a number of criteria, including what percentage of students are satisfied with the course, the student:staff ratio and the amount spent per student.
The full league table of universities (with their Guardian scores in brackets) was:
Interestingly, though, only 76% of Cambridge students are in graduate level jobs, or studying further, within six months of graduation, compared to Glasgow's 95%. Meanwhile, Nottingham had the highest percentage of students that were satisfied with the course and the teaching. Liverpool had the highest spend per student, and Cambridge had the lowest student:staff ratio.
Plimsoll has published the results of a study into the profitability of UK veterinary practices which has revealed a widening gap between firms making outstanding profits and those losing money.
The Plimsoll Analysis found average profit margins have fallen to 6.4% of sales and 151 of the UK's top 500 practices are now running at a loss. However, the same study has revealed 61 businesses are making record profits.
Of the 61 'rich' companies:
Of the 151 'poor' companies:
David Pattison, senior analyst at Plimsoll, said: "Sometimes the public perception of profit is wrong. It's seen as companies taking advantage of their position or exploiting their commercial advantages unfairly. But these successful companies should be proud of their achievements. In an industry not known for its successes, these businesses should act as benchmarks to the rest of the industry showing what can be achieved."
Mr. Pattison added: "The latest Plimsoll Analysis highlights that the industry is being split into two types of company and the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger and bigger.
"For the companies that are falling behind, they need to re-evaluate their strategy and retain profit in order to improve their financial strength."
The Plimsoll Analysis provides an individual profile of each of the UK's top practices. It offers an overall financial rating, a valuation and an acquisition attractiveness assessment on each company. VetSurgeon.org members can have a £50 discount off this report by calling 01642 626419 and quoting reference PR/AA54.
For more information, contact Chris Glancey on 01642 626 419, or email c.glancey@plimsoll.co.uk
Equine vets at the Animal Health Trust are appealing to horse riders to help with a research project, to assess the interaction between horse, saddle and rider.
Dr Sue Dyson, Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust and Line Greve, PhD student, are conducting the study to find out how the horse, rider and saddle can influence each other. They are trying to understand better why a saddle may persistently slip to one side in some horses.
Line said: "Saddle slip is a problem seen in all sorts of horses and ponies and can contribute to back pain and thus impaired performance. Research suggests that 25% of British dressage horses have a history of back-related problems and subsequent reduced performance. Our preliminary studies involve just over 700 riders but for a more accurate picture we would like to bump this figure up to 1000 plus. We are urging all riders, whatever their level or ability, to help by completing the questionnaire."
The online questionnaire should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and all answers remain anonymous. The questions cover saddle types, fitting, use and maintenance; rider experience, training and 'handedness'; as well as horse type, use and any previous lameness or back-related problems.
To take part in the study, complete the questionnaire here: http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/premise_questionnaire.html. The AHT says that by doing so, you'll be helping to protect and improve the future health, welfare and longevity of the ridden horse.
The results will be presented at the Saddle Research Trust Conference in 2014.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has directed that Somerset-based veterinary surgeon Dr Marcus Hutber be removed from the Register, having found him guilty of serious professional misconduct following multiple complaints made against him.
During the 11-day hearing, the Disciplinary Committee heard eight, separate and unrelated complaints against Dr Marcus Hutber, made whilst he was the owner of the veterinary company Epivet Ltd, with practices in Williton and Wiveliscombe, in 2009. The complaints involved a series of allegations including lack of adequate professional care, failure to have regard to animal welfare, failure to make or maintain adequate clinical records (and to provide them on request), and failure to treat clients with courtesy and respect.
In the first case, Dr Hutber was found to have performed surgery on a dog inadequately; failed to provide adequate post-operative pain relief; failed to obtain informed consent for the surgery from the dog's owner; and, failed to keep adequate clinical records of the dog's treatment. In a second case of inadequate professional care, Dr Hutber failed to ensure a cat's condition was monitored adequately; failed to ensure that the cat received appropriate fluid therapy; and, failed to keep adequate clinical records.
Dr Hutber was found to have brought the profession into disrepute by speaking rudely to one of his clients. On a separate occasion, a different client was found to have been treated without due courtesy or respect when Dr Hutber told her to come to the practice at once to get tablets and give them to her dog, otherwise the dog would die (of a disease he had diagnosed without carrying out the necessary investigations) - an instruction he then later repeated despite being told the dog was now being treated at a different practice.
One other complaint, where charges were proved, involved Dr Hutber's refusal to provide an animal's clinical records to a former client.
The Disciplinary Committee found Dr Hutber's conduct in respect of the charges proved in relation to each complaint, standing alone and taken collectively, amounted to serious professional misconduct.
In reaching its findings, the Committee considered the oral evidence and written statements of 20 witnesses (including Dr Hutber), two expert witness reports, a large quantity of documentary evidence, Dr Hutber's extensive rebuttal material and Counsels' submissions. Generally, the Committee preferred the evidence of the College's witnesses to that of Dr Hutber. Despite the Committee accepting he was of previous good character, it found him to be unhelpful and uncooperative, frequently lapsing into periods of silence that could last minutes, and staring fixedly (and, in the Committee's view, intimidatingly) at witnesses and College Counsel. There were also inconsistencies between his written rebuttal to the College, his witness statement and his oral evidence, about which the Committee found him evasive and illogical.
The Committee considered Dr Hutber had shown no insight into the allegations, or appreciated the significance or impact of his conduct upon his clients and their animals. He had shown no remorse or regret for his actions, and had continued to assert that he had done nothing wrong.
Further, he had caused actual injury to an animal by subjecting it to unnecessary revision surgery; displayed an inadequate and incomplete understanding of the concept of informed consent; demonstrated a lamentable lack of concern for animal welfare; brought the profession into disrepute with his treatment of his clients; and, exhibited conduct that fell far short of that to be expected of a member of the veterinary profession.
Chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee, Professor Peter Lees, said: "The Committee has found that there were fundamental failings in the Respondent's clinical competence, and that there were serious defects in his interpersonal skills in relation to clients. He has throughout displayed a tendency to blame others for things which have gone wrong. [The Committee] is not satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of the Respondent having the ability or inclination to remedy his failings [and] remains unconvinced that there is a real possibility of a change in his attitude.
"The Committee is fully conscious that the purpose of sanction is not to punish, but to protect animals and the wider public interest and to uphold the reputation of the veterinary profession. Having regard to the serious aggravating factors [in this case], the Committee considers that the Respondent's conduct, taken as a whole, is so serious that removal of his professional status is the only appropriate sanction."
Accordingly, the Committee directed the Registrar to remove Dr Hutber's name from the Register.
The full details of the Committee's findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
A new study of UK snail behaviour using LED and UV light tracking has found that the nocturnal creatures can explore the length of an average British garden in just one night, reaching a top speed of 1mph (metre per hour).
The 'Slime Watch' report was commissioned by Bayer Animal Health, makers of Advocate, as part of its 'Be Lungworm Aware' campaign and led by Dr Dave Hodgson, Associate Professor of Ecology at the University of Exeter, who studied the habits of 450 garden snails, recording their movements using LED lights and UV paint. This is the first time snails have been studied in this way.
The study found that snails will travel distances of up to 25 metres in a 24-hour period, and seek out areas of shelter, such as long grass, trees or objects, including dogs' toys, left in the garden overnight. The four researchers from Exeter University also discovered that snails move in convoys, piggy-backing on the slime of other snails to conserve energy. It is thought that a snail could use up to 30 per cent of its energy in slime production alone.
Dr Hodgson said: "Until now no one has fully understood the habits of these fascinating creatures that we encounter in our gardens every day. In this research we wanted to solve the mystery surrounding gastropod activity and provide a resource for gardeners and pet owners wanting to better safeguard the health of their plants and pets. By learning more about the behaviour of snails, we hope dog owners can better understand they ways in which dogs can encounter snails on a day-to-day basis and the lungworm risk they present, taking the appropriate precautions."
The RCVS is now accepting disclosures from veterinary surgeons about any criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings they may have against them, as part of a voluntary period before the requirement to disclose commences in 2014.
The requirement that veterinary surgeons notify the College about criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings on registration, and on an annual basis as part of their registration renewal each March, was introduced as part of the Code of Professional Conduct in 2012 (section 5.3, see Notes to Editors). However, the College has allowed a bedding-in period for the Code before enforcing the requirement.
From 2014, new registrants will have to disclose any criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings that may affect registration (for example, those from university fitness to practise procedures).
Veterinary surgeons already on the Register (including overseas and non-practising categories, as well as UK-practising) will only be required to disclose criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings that have occurred since April 2006. Fixed-penalty motoring offences are excluded.
The veterinary profession has fallen under the Notifiable Occupations Scheme since April 2006, which means that serious convictions are already passed to the College from the police.
If a veterinary surgeon declares a criminal conviction, this will be initially considered by the Registrar, and, if necessary, referred to the Preliminary Investigation Committee. In some cases, the matter will be referred on to the Disciplinary Committee to decide if the nature of the caution or conviction affects the veterinary surgeon's fitness to practise - in which case the usual sanctions of removal or suspension from the Register could apply.
Eleanor Ferguson, Head of Professional Conduct said: "We hope, through this new requirement, to increase the public's confidence in the veterinary profession, and to safeguard animal health and welfare. The move brings the veterinary profession into line with many others - including registered veterinary nurses, who have made such a disclosure since their Register was introduced, in 2007."
The RCVS has launched a dedicated advice line to assist affected veterinary surgeons, on 07818 113 056, open Monday to Friday, 11am-4pm.
Callers will speak to one of three RCVS solicitors who can advise on the process and the possible outcomes of disclosure. Alternatively, veterinary surgeons can contact disclosure@rcvs.org.uk.
Detailed information regarding the requirement, including examples of the kinds of convictions that may be referred to the Preliminary Investigation Committee, and a disclosure form, can be found on www.rcvs.org.uk/convictions.
Next week, Princess Anne will unveil a new life-sized bronze of the Household Cavalry horse Sefton at the Royal Veterinary College in North Mymms, Hertfordshire.
The statue of Sefton is sited outside the College's Teaching and Research Centre, standing on the footprint of the former Sefton Equine Hospital, a facility which has now been relocated to a new Equine Referral Hospital on campus.
Sefton suffered terrible injuries in the Hyde Park bombing of July 1982 in which four men and seven horses died. In the aftermath of the bombing, as the most severely injured horse, his story of recovery captured the nation's hearts and the horse came to symbolise the resilience that is characteristic of the armed forces.
Many who knew and rode Sefton have provided the detailed briefings necessary for the sculptor, Camilla Le May, to capture the character and spirit of a great horse. Camilla said: "It was fascinating to talk to those who rode and knew Sefton well and this, along with studying old photos, enabled me to find out some of his individual traits such as the way he often tilted his head, looking back over his shoulder, which I chose to represent in this work. He was by all accounts a strong character and quite a handful, especially in his youth. Perhaps it was partly this strength of character that helped him pull through his appalling injuries."
Professor Josh Slater, head of the equine clinical group at the RVC, said: "The College has a proud tradition of furthering care and developing innovative treatments through dedicated equine veterinary surgeons and nurses. We were proud to have received a grant from The Horse Trust in 1986 to build our former equine hospital in Sefton's memory. Whilst we may have moved our practice to bigger and better facilities this new statue will serve as a reminder of the bravery and resilience of Sefton that inspired so many."
The new statue was commissioned to recognise and honour the life-time achievements of one of the College's longest servicing senior academics Professor Peter Lees, who retired in 2010. It was funded by RVC Honorary Fellow and Chairman of Norbrook Lord Ballyedmond OBE.
Professor Stuart Reid, Principal at the RVC, said: "I would like to thank the generosity of our friend Lord Ballyedmond for his kind donation in recognition of our esteemed colleague Professor Lees that has enabled us create this statue in memory of a great horse."
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has agreed to adjourn multiple charges against a County Durham-based veterinary surgeon following her undertakings to request removal from the RCVS Register and never to apply to be restored to it.
At the hearing held yesterday, Silke Birgitt Lindridge was charged with disgraceful conduct in a professional respect in regard to four separate allegations, spanning the period of June 2011 to September 2012 whilst in practice at the Safe Hands Veterinary Group. Two of the allegations related to failures to euthanase or arrange the euthanasia of a cat and a dog and being dishonest and/or misleading about these failures, with their respective owners. The other two allegations related to administering a vaccine (Fevaxyn) which was more than two years past its expiry date to a cat, and failure to provide or take adequate steps to provide promptly all the relevant clinical information to a veterinary practice taking over the responsibility for the treatment of a Labrador Cross.
However, before the Disciplinary Committee had heard evidence in respect of these charges, Mrs Lindridge, who did not attend the hearing, had lodged her application for adjournment on the basis that she would request that the Registrar remove her name from the Register with immediate effect and undertake never to apply to be restored to it. The Disciplinary Committee made no enquiry into the facts of the four charges and emphasised that they had neither been proved against, nor admitted by, the respondent.
Removal from the RCVS Register removes a veterinary surgeon's right to practise in the UK. The respondent informed the RCVS that she had no wish to return to the practice of veterinary surgery in this country. Should she subsequently apply to be restored to the Register, the Disciplinary Committee would resume its consideration of the charges, along with the breach of her undertaking.
The Disciplinary Committee was advised that the views of the animal owners involved had been sought and that all had agreed with the proposed course of action.
Speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, its Chairman, Professor Peter Lees, said: "Having considered the information before it, the Committee has decided it would not be in the public interest to proceed to a full hearing. It is satisfied that the undertakings offered by the respondent [Mrs Lindridge] protect the welfare of animals and uphold the reputation of the profession."
Professor Lees added: "The undertakings offered by the respondent to request the Registrar to remove her name from the Register with immediate effect and never to make an application for restoration to the Register, go beyond any sanction that this Committee could impose at the conclusion of a contested hearing. It does not consider that it would be proportionate for either party to incur the substantial costs of a contested hearing."
The Kennel Club has announced the results of some research which shows that children's pester power was behind the decision to buy a dog for one in four households1.
One in ten said their children chose the breed or crossbreed that they ended up buying. One in ten also said they buy dogs as presents, something which the Kennel Club highlights as a concern in the run up to Christmas.
The Kennel Club's Discover Dogs survey, which has been conducted to highlight the event of the same name which takes place at Earls Court on 9th and 10th November, has also revealed that too many people are buying a dog without realising that there are great differences between the care needs of the different breeds and crossbreeds. One in ten admitted that they did no research about their chosen breed but bought their puppy because of the way that it looked. A further 40% said that they chose their puppy because they liked the way that the breed looked overall.
According to Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations, 'wrong breed' and 'can't cope' account for 15% of the dogs that need to be rehomed, a situation that could be easily avoided with the right research2. Only 17% of people in the Kennel Club's Discover Dogs survey say that their choice of dog was influenced by whether it would suit their lifestyle.
To try and address this issue, the Kennel Club has launched a Discover Dogs homework pack for children, to help them to do vital research about dog ownership.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "Children have a major influence on their parents' decision to buy a dog in the first place, and then over which type of dog they buy. In the lead up to Christmas we want families to be thinking carefully about whether a dog is right for them, and if so which breed would suit their lifestyle, rather than buying on a whim, and this is what the Discover Dogs event is all about.
"We have released the Discover Dogs homework packs to help children get all of the information that they and their parents need to make the right choice about their lifelong companion. This ranges from the type of dog they buy, where they buy it from, and what that dog will need throughout its life."
Children under 12 years old go free to the Kennel Club's Discover Dogs event, where they will be entertained in the Young Kennel Club Kids' Zone with fun dog displays, face painting, treasure hunts and much more.
The Young Kennel Club is open to children aged 6-24 years old and it helps young dog lovers to learn new skills, understand more about dogs, to build confidence and to make new friends. The homework pack can be found at www.discoverdogs.org.uk/buyingadog.
French veterinary surgeons went on strike yesterday, and 10,000 marched on the streets of Paris in protest at Government plans to restrict their ability to supply certain farm animal antibiotics.
According to the National Union of Practicing Veterinarians (SNVEL), French veterinary surgeons saw the Government plans as an attack on their integrity and competence, and called for the strike, the first of its kind in history.
As a result of the strike, French Ministers have apparently pledged to retract their plans, something which was welcomed by veterinary representatives at the end of the march to the Ministry of Health (see right; click to enlarge).
At the same time, the SNVEL organised a 'Day Without Veterinarians' in all the French Departments. Given that there are only 11,000 practicing vets in France, 10,000 of whom were in Paris, that bit can't have been a particularly difficult logistical challenge.
Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched Trifexis, an oral tablet to provide dogs with three-in-one protection against fleas, intestinal nematodes and heartworm.
Trifexis contains two active ingredients: spinosad, which is active against fleas, and milbemycin oxime, which is active against intestinal nematodes and heartworm.
Pointing to a survey which found that two out of three owners prefer administering medication in tablet form, Elanco says it is offering the prescription-only product in a beef-flavoured tablet format that delivers vet practices with an exclusive solution many pet owners would choose.2
Matthew Rowe, senior brand manager at Elanco Companion Animal Health said: "By combining spinosad with milbemycin oxime, Trifexis provides the fast speed of flea kill already experienced with Comfortis (killing 100% of fleas within four hours), but now with the added protection against the hidden danger of intestinal nematodes and heartworm disease; of specific concern for owners whose dogs travel to or from heartworm endemic areas."
Prof. Patrick Bourdeau, Dip ECVD-Dip EVPC, of the Veterinary School of Nantes (Oniris), France, added: "Until now, the treatment of intestinal nematodes has often been overlooked. Recent independent research shows that in Europe a majority of dogs (70%) are treated against fleas; whereas the year-round (and potentially zoonotic) threat of intestinal nematodes is commonly overlooked, with only 49% of dogs being treated.2 The benefit of Trifexis is that it aids treatment compliance against these important yet overlooked worms by providing a tablet format, combined with flea control."
In addition, Elanco highlights the fact that the tablet format satisfies a need for those owners who prefer the cleanliness and assured efficacy of tablet administration, have young children or pets in the home, dogs that swim or are bathed frequently or dogs with skin sensitivity or dermatological issues.
For further information about Elanco's new Trifexis three-in-one oral tablet treatment, contact your local Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or telephone 01256 353131.
Vets that took part in the Vet Charity Challenge 2013 have raised a total of £50,000 which was presented to three animal charities at the London Vet Show.
The Vet Charity Challenge took place in September, when 53 teams of four spent the day walking, running, cycling, kayaking and orienteering, along with a variety of mental tasks. The money it raised has been distributed between Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, SPANA and Animals Asia
Jason Rogers, BCF Technology Marketing Manager and one of the organisers said: "The response we got for the Challenge this year has been remarkable with double the number of teams we had in 2012. It was quite a sight to see over 200 people at the briefing at the start of the day. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and get into the spirit of the event. The amount raised this year is truly amazing."
One of the participants, Kerry Lambert from Ashworth Veterinary Group, Hampshire said: "The day was both exhilarating and exhausting. It was very well organised and friendly."
Caitrina Harrison from Vétoquinol added: "As one of the sponsors for this year's Vet Charity Challenge, Vétoquinol had three of the 53 teams entered. The amazing team spirit, fun atmosphere and inter-company rivalry all contributed to a fantastic event. The day was well organised and certainly our three teams, had a fantastic time. We'll be back again next year!"
Speaking for the three charities that benefited from the donations, Deborah Bourne, Corporate Fundraiser from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to all the sponsors and competitors who got involved with this year's inspirational Vet Charity Challenge! Thanks to the determination, team spirit and generosity of everyone who took part, the money raised from this fantastic event will enable us to train more life changing hearing dogs to support deaf adults and children across the UK."
Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College have officially launched a new Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in Hertfordshire, to investigate the optimum methods to achieve good control, and ultimately diabetic remission, in diabetic cats.
Led by Dr Stijn Niessen, the team at the new clinic will offer diabetic cats optimum management, while at the same time gathering information to enhance current scientific understanding of the best treatment for diabetic cats.
Feline diabetes mellitus is a costly, chronic disease which can significantly decrease the quality of life of both cat owners and their pets. However, a proportion of diabetic cats can achieve diabetic remission and no longer require insulin therapy, which is increasingly considered the ultimate goal in treating diabetic cats. According to the RVC, early evidence suggests that good, early blood glucose control increases remission rates in diabetic cats. However, there is little evidence about which treatment protocol offers the best blood glucose control and chance of remission.Stijn said: "Our mission is to investigate the best method of achieving good blood glucose control, and diabetic remission, in diabetic cats. The clinic also aims to identify predictors of diabetic remission, which will help veterinarians advise their clients on the chance of their cat achieving diabetic remission in the future."
He added: "Interestingly, most cats seem to suffer from a similar type of diabetes as most humans. We always suspected cats to be extremely wise, but isn't it interesting to know that they also might hold the answer to many questions we have about the human disease!"
The clinic is currently recruiting cats that have had diabetes for less than 4 months' duration for a clinical trial, examining the effect of new insulins on blood glucose control and remission rate.
Enrolled cats will qualify for full underlying disease assessment at the referral hospital, several re-examination appointments, 12 months of prescription diabetic food, and 6 months of insulin therapy - all at no cost to owners.
For more information on the trial or the work of the clinic, contact Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic: telephone: 01707 666 605 or email: fdrc@rvc.ac.uk
Isle of Wight based veterinary surgeon Dan Forster has had his mobile practice named as the best Business to Consumer Start-up at the inaugural Ready for Business Awards 2013.
Dan launched The Mobile Vet in June 2013, since when he has treated patients from across the Isle of Wight and allowed members of the community who may have been unable to take their pets to the vets for years due to illness or age-related conditions access care for their animals. He says his service has also reactivated many dormant patients who had not visited a vet for many years and had fallen behind with vaccinations, plus those who had decided not to visit because their pets were too nervous or aggressive. Apparently, the service has also gone down well with busy families and households with multiple pets.
The judging panel included David Hitchcock of Barclays, Amanda Hurford from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Titus Sharpe, chief executive of MVF Global and winner of the Sunday Times Tech Track 2013. They selected The Mobile Vet as the winner due to its innovative approach whilst still offering all the traditional veterinary services its customers require. The judges were also impressed by its potential for growth, not just in the South East, but possibly throughout the UK and its drive to continually invest in the latest equipment and create additional job opportunities.
Dan said: "We are truly delighted to have our achievements recognised with such a prestigious accolade so soon after launching The Mobile Vet. The help we received to get started and the on-going support available to us has made it possible to develop our idea into a thriving business operation and we now look forward to pushing ahead with our plans for the future."
Kevin Horne, chairman of the Cavendish Consortium added: "In what was a highly competitive category, The Mobile Vet stood out as offering a very difference proposition to its customers and demonstrated a clear understanding of the needs of its clients. We were impressed by the drive and determination shown by Dan and his colleagues to make what is an extremely novel idea a business reality and wish them, and all the other worthy finalists, well as they strive forward."
Merial has announced the launch of Oncept IL-2, the first veterinary immunotherapeutic product in Europe for the management of cancer in pets.
Described by the company as a true breakthrough in the field of veterinary oncology, Oncept IL-2 is an adjunct immunotherapy for feline fibrosarcoma.
Merial says the product is based on recombinant canarypox vector technology it developed collaboratively with veterinary oncologists, and which is used in several of its vaccines, including PUREVAX FeLV and PUREVAX Rabies.
Oncept IL-2 is indicated for cats with fibrosarcoma (2-5 cm diameter) without metastasis or lymph node involvement, in order to reduce the risk of relapse and to increase the relapse-free interval. It should be used in addition to surgery and radiotherapy.
Kevin Whelan, Merial's Technical Manager said: "Following injection around the tumour surgery site, the recombinant canarypox vector virus enters the cat's cells, which then produce interleukin-2. The presence of this cytokine stimulates an anti-tumour immune response by a variety of mechanisms, including the induction of T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells."
In a field efficacy trial, a treatment course with Oncept IL-2 (consisting of 6 subcutaneous administrations in the tumour bed over a 7-week period), as an adjunct to surgery and radiotherapy, was shown to significantly reduce the risk of relapse and to increase the time to relapse.
The product is available in packs of 6 doses, which is sufficient for a treatment course. Please contact your local Merial Territory Manager for further information or email oncept@merial.com
The RCVS is inviting responses from veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and animal owners to a call for evidence on the provision of 24-hour emergency veterinary care, in order to understand how best to meet the expectations of all those involved.
In an open letter to the profession and the public published on the RCVS website, the Chairman of the RCVS Standards Committee, Clare Tapsfield-Wright, said:
"Over the past two years, lay people working with the RCVS have raised questions about the veterinary profession's ability to provide 24/7 to the extent required by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, and said there is a disconnect between the public's expectations and the profession's capacity to meet those expectations."
Clare also refers to an RCVS Disciplinary Committee Inquiry in June 2013, which raised a number of issues on home visits by veterinary surgeons, including: speed of response; travelling time and distance; daytime versus out-of-hours obligations; individual versus corporate responsibility; and, staffing levels and contingency plans.
The letter is accompanied by a range of background information, including the reports of Lay Observers to the RCVS Preliminary Investigation Committee; Working Party reports from the College's 2009 consultation on 24-hour emergency cover; and, further details about the June 2013 DC Inquiry.
The College says additional feedback will be sought through next year's RCVS Survey of the Professions, and via focus group research for animal owners. Once all responses have been collated, a number of individuals and organisations will be invited to a Standards Committee meeting to present and discuss their views.
Responses in writing are invited by 5pm on Monday, 17 February 2014, and should be emailed to 24-7@rcvs.org.uk or posted to the Professional Conduct Department, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF.
A new study, led by academics at the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences and published online in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, has investigated the occurrence of dog aggression towards people with a survey of UK dog owners.
Nearly 15,000 questionnaires were distributed to dog owners of which 4,000 were returned and used in the analysis.
The researchers found that:
The study highlighted that the majority of dogs showing aggression do so in just one of these situations. Researchers say this indicates that the common tendency to categorise dogs as either generally 'safe' or 'vicious' is a misconception, and that most dogs show aggression as a learnt response to particular situations.
Dr Rachel Casey, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare, said: "Dog owners and members of the public need to be aware that any dog could potentially show aggression if it is anxious or feels threatened, even when it has never done so before.
"On the other hand, dogs which have shown aggressive signs in one situation are not necessarily 'dangerous' when in other contexts - an important consideration in the assessment of animals, such as in rehoming centres."
The study also compared the characteristics of those dogs reported to show aggression with those which had never done so. It was revealed that factors such as training classes attended, type of training method used, the sex and neuter status of dogs, the age category of owners, and the breed of dogs were all associated with the occurrence of aggression.
Different risk factors were found to be significant in statistical models examining aggression to family members and unfamiliar people. This suggests that different factors are important in the development of aggressive signs depending on the situation.
The research also highlighted that although general characteristics, such as breed type, are significant risk factors across large populations they explain only a small amount of the overall difference between aggressive and non-aggressive dogs. This suggests that it is not appropriate to evaluate the risk of aggressive behaviour in an individual dog using characteristics such as breed type.
Reference
Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): occurrence in different contexts and risk factors, Rachel A. Casey, Bethany Loftus, Christine Bolster, Gemma J. Richards, Emily J. Blackwell, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, published online 11 December 2013.
Unite and the British Veterinary Union (BVU) have written to the government asking for the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), which regulates such governing bodies as the General Medical Council, General Dental Council, and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), to have 'scrutiny' of the RCVS.
In a letter to junior minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, the BVU chair Dr Shams Mir cited the case of Munhuwepasi Chikosi struck off the register of veterinary surgeons by the RCVS in June 2013.
Dr Mir said that this case was "widely seen by the veterinary profession as blatant miscarriage of justice and many expressions of 'outrage' were published in the veterinary press and online.
"One popular online veterinary forum recorded over a thousand posts criticising and challenging various aspects of the decision."
The current statutory duties of the RCVS, established by Royal Charter in 1844, are determined by the Veterinary Surgeons Act (VSA) of 1966, which Unite says is now 'outdated.
Dr Mir said: "BVU petitions the government to extend the remit of the PSA to incorporate the RCVS to ensure appropriate overview and scrutiny.
"The RCVS proposed new Royal Charter could be exploited by the RCVS to give itself proxy powers to introduce incontestable new regulatory measures."
Unite has asked for an urgent meeting with Mr. Eustice.
Unite professional officer Jane Beach said: "Our initiative is designed to safeguard the interests of both the public, and practicing vets and veterinary nurses in the UK.
"Basically, the way that the RCVS is presently constituted means that it is both judge and jury in disciplinary matters. It sets the rules and hands down the judgements - and we believe that an extra layer of scrutiny needs to be introduced which we would like to be the PSA."
Grahame Gardner has launched 'Smitten', a new range of scrubwear for women with a 20% introductory discount.
The company says the new range incorporates the influence of streetwear, resulting in a relaxed scrubwear collection which young and style conscious staff will love.
The fabrics used in the new range have been designed for the working environment. The first fabric to be launched to the UK market is 'Miracle' a stretchable and comfortable fabric which Grahame Gardner says feels great to the touch, but wears well and complements the fashionable garment styles.
James Greenlees, Managing Director at Grahame Gardner said: "There is no question that Scrubwear has come a long way over the past decade and at Grahame Gardner we have played a major part in this evolution, firstly with the hugely popular Urbane Scrubs and now Smitten. Smitten represents the next incarnation of scrubwear, and allows more individuality than ever before within healthcare uniforms. We cannot wait to get this out into the workplace as we know it will certainly make a real impact with our customers."
More information can be found at www.grahamegardner.co.uk, under scrubs and patientwear within the GG Collection.