VET Festival organisers have announced that American physical therapist and Master Yoga teacher Lara Heimann will be joining clinical experts from around the world on the speaker panel of VET Festival 2019.

The two-day event, now in its fifth year, aims to combine world-class CPD for the whole practice team with an outdoor ‘festival’ atmosphere.   

The organisers say that the wellbeing of veterinary professionals has always been a strong focus of VET Festival, but the inclusion of Lara Heimann in the Wellness and Practice Development lecture, takes it to a new level. Laura has developed her own vinyasa yoga style and regularly leads international retreats and workshops.

Speakers in the clinical programme will include:

• Dr Antonio Pozzi, Head of the Clinic for Small Animal Surgery at the University of Zurich, Switzerland

• Dr Susan Little, co-owner of two feline specialty practices in Ottawa, Canada, and past president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners

• Dr Ronaldo da Costa, Professor in Neurology and Neurosurgery at Ohio State University, USA.

• Veterinary cardiologist Professor John E Rush.  A Diplomate of both the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care, Dr Rush has been a professor for 25 years at the Cummings Veterinary Medicine Centre at Tufts University in Massachusetts

• Behaviourist Dr Sarah Heath. A founding Diplomate of the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine

• Soft-tissue surgeon Professor Christopher Adin. Professor Adin is Chair of the University of Florida’s Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences and Associate Professor of Soft Tissue.

Veterinary nurses are welcome to attend any of the lectures, in addition to those in the dedicated nursing stream. An exhibition of the latest products and services for all veterinary professionals takes place in a dedicated arena.

Nicole Cooper, event director, said: "VET Festival is unique in bringing together cutting-edge, inspirational learning, fun and the great outdoors. CPD from our world-leading speakers is delivered in a high quality and contemporary setting but, once work is done, we encourage delegates to relax and enjoy free admission for them, their friends and family to the VETFest Live Party Night."

She added: "With the wellness and wellbeing of members of our profession increasingly in the spotlight, we’re delighted to welcome Lara Heimann for 2019 and hope that she will help our delegates to develop practical solutions to living healthier and more balanced lives."

Supported by MWI Animal Health, VET Festival also offers a 'Family Hub', a place where children can play whilst their parents listen to lectures. 

Alan White Group Commercial Director at MWI Animal Health, said: "Balancing work and family life can often be a juggling act, particularly in the veterinary profession where time is in short supply. This can sometimes compromise the work-life balance of vets, nurses and other team members. At VET Festival, the 'Family Hub' means that there is no compromise and that both our attendees and their families can get the best out of their time with us."

You can buy tickets here: https://www.vetfestival.co.uk/delegate-info/ticket-information

The British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS) has announced it's going to subsidise the ticket prices for vets to attend its 2022 Conference, taking place from Friday 4th November to Sunday 6th November at the Conference Aston, Birmingham.

Mark Naguib MRCVS, Public Relations Officer at the BVZS said: "Our conference is the largest gathering of exotic pet, wildlife and zoo vets in the UK and one of the best places to gain CPD in these fields whether you’re a new graduate or an experienced specialist." 

The BVZS says it is subsidising the ticket price in recognition both of how the cost of living crisis is affecting the profession, and because after two years of socially-distanced online conferences, meeting in person is more important than ever. 

The Society says it believes this is important enough that it is prepared to make a loss on the event in order to provide a real service not just to its members, but also to the whole veterinary zoological community.

The conference will once again feature dedicated streams covering zoo health, nursing, exotic pets and wildlife health.

There will also be a student stream, including back-to-basics exotics talks and a dedicated student networking session.

There will be evening entertainment on the Saturday and the opportunity to socialise and network. 

https://www.bvzs.co.uk/bvzs/about/conference-2022 

The BSAVA has announced the launch of a free new online publication: BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines

Edited by Fred Nind and Pam Mosedale, with contributions from experts in the field, has been developed to provide a comprehensive guide to a wide variety of veterinary medicines issues that affect small animal practice. It looks like a very polished production, and should prove a valuable tool for all members of the practice team.

Many infringements of the law relating to the possession, use and disposal of veterinary medicines are criminal offences, and it was the aim of the Editors to produce an authoritative guide to help practitioners stay on the correct side of the law in an area where this can sometimes be problematic.

Legislation
As Fred and Pam noted in the March 2009 issue of Companion: 'Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) change every year, whilst waste disposal provisions and dangerous drugs regulations seem to be updated even more often. This means that what you learned at a course attended last year or from a booklet published two years ago may no longer be accurate.' The format of the BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines, means that it is capable of being updated as the rules and regulations change, helping veterinary surgeons, nurses, practice managers, receptionists, students and kennel staff to get it right - first time and every time.

Storage
Efficient stock control, ambient storage conditions, stock rotation based on expiry dates and correct labelling are just some of the areas that need to be addressed when considering management of the practice dispensary. The section of the guide on Correct storage and dispensary management provides recommendations on how this can be achieved.

Dispensing
Prescribing and labelling veterinary medicines are activities that every practitioner performs many times a day, and it is important that the detailed legal provisions governing these actions are adhered to. Covering such areas as: who may write a prescription; breaking packaging; and the additional regulations that apply for the supply of Controlled Drugs, the Prescribing and labelling section helps guide the practitioner through this complicated area.   

The BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines is available to all, not just BSAVA members, and the Editors hope will 'provide balm for all those worrying about the practical and legal constraints on the use of veterinary medicines.'

Click here to download the BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines (pdf 5mb)

Yorkshire-based Richard Sutcliffe MRCVS has been suspended for six months after being convicted of common assault, and for conducting surgery and administering POM-V medicine to a person.

The first charge related to his conviction on two counts of common assault by beating two individuals at an incident in December 2016, as a result of which he was made subject to a community order and a restraining order, as well as being fined and made to pay a victim surcharge and costs.

The second charge related to him undertaking, or attempting to undertake non-emergency surgery on the eyelid of one of the individuals referred to in the first charge, and administering, or attempting to administer, a Prescription-Only Veterinary Medicines to the same person. 

The third charged related to an allegation that he had supplied the same individual with a Prescription-Only Medication other than in accordance with a valid prescription.

The second charge and third charges related to incidents which occurred some considerable time before the assault, not as a consequence of it.  

At the outset of the hearing Mr Sutcliffe admitted the first and second charges against him and that these constituted serious professional misconduct. He denied the third charge. In relation to that charge the Committee found that, having considered the totality of the evidence, it was unable to be sure that the College had proved the allegation to the requisite standard of proof, namely so that the Committee was sure. Accordingly Charge 3 was dismissed.

The Committee decided that the convictions in the first charge rendered Mr Sutcliffe unfit to practise veterinary surgery and that his conduct in Charge 2 constituted serious professional misconduct.

The Committee then went on to consider sanction.

The Committee considered the aggravating features for both charges. For the first charge it considered the actual injury to one of his victims and risk of injury to the other, noting also that both of his victims were vulnerable people and one was a child, and that the overall incident during which the assaults occurred lasted over a seven hour period.

For the second charge, aggravating factors were that the non-emergency surgery performed by Mr Sutcliffe was wholly inappropriate, that there was a risk of injury to the individual on whom he performed the surgery and that his conduct was reckless.

The mitigating factors considered by the Committee were that Mr Sutcliffe recognised the gravity of the findings against him and demonstrated insight into the allegations, that the incident in charge 1, though prolonged, was an isolated one, that the incident in charge 2 was consensual and did not result in actual harm and that neither charge had any connection with Mr Sutcliffe’s veterinary practice, nor did they affect client care or animal welfare. 

Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "As recognised by the Committee, the respondent has displayed insight as to the seriousness of his behaviour. Having regard to the evidence of all the character witnesses and the written testimonials the Committee accepts that the respondent’s conduct as set out in charges 1 and 2 was wholly out of character and, therefore, there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour. The Committee considers that the respondent would be fit to return to practise, having regard to his excellent track record as a veterinary surgeon to date, after any period of suspension.

"Having regards to the aggravating and mitigating factors in this case, the Committee has decided that it is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct to give a direction for suspension of the respondent’s name from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.

"The Committee considers that the period of suspension must be sufficient to mark the seriousness of the charges but must be proportionate and fair in the circumstances of the case. The Committee has therefore concluded that the appropriate period of suspension is six months."

Mr Sutcliffe has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to appeal to the Privy Council.

Pets'n'Vets has launched Totally Grad!, a new veterinary graduate programme designed to helping new grads embark on a fulfilling veterinary career in independent practice.

The programme offers a structured and heavily supported first year in practice, including hands-on surgical training and seminars from Advanced Veterinary Practitioners, at the Pets'n'Vets' Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital in Glasgow.

Totally Grad! also includes a mentor plan and additional monthly benchmarking and seminars and support.

Oliver Jackson, partner at Pets'n'Vets said: "We are well aware that many larger veterinary entities run new graduate programmes and we are proud to say that Totally Grad! offers great advantages that come with our independent structure.

"Independent practice can offer a rewarding working environment for new graduates – particularly progressive practices such as ours. We  can offer new graduates not only the close-knit, friendly, helpful, stable, first-opinion experience, but also provide opportunities for career growth and development.

"We have the facility for graduates to explore their particular areas of interest. Indeed, in our practice it is possible for a new graduate to change our way of working – the decision-makers are available and listening. We now have many vets working with us who have come through the practice from our graduate system and who have gone on to help shape our practice.

"The success of our Laparoscopic and Cardiology clinics can be attributed to those vets, as can various other client service initiatives and ways of working. New blood brings new ideas and we welcome that."

Totally Grad! will also be open to fellow independent practices.

Oliver added: "By opening up our Totally Grad! programme, we are offering a simple, accessible facility to those fellow independent practices able and willing to provide a mentor and allow their graduate vets to be out of their practice for one or two days per month over a 12 month period. It fits perfectly with our Roundhouse Referrals offering which offers advice, CPD and support to local practices."

Any independent practices interested in participating in the programme can contact oliver.jackson@petsnvets.org while final year students interested in learning more about the programme can visit the website at www.totallygrad.co.uk and/or email Karen W at hello@totallygrad.co.uk

Vets Now has launched a new library of free Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) CPD webinars, and a new emergency support line for its partner practices. 

The webinars already available cover subjects like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), emergency diagnostics and traumatic brain injury, presented by experienced emergency vets Aoife Reid, Liron Levy-Hirsch and Jacqueline Seymour. 

More content is due to be added to the library in the coming weeks, including guest webinars from TVM UK on rodenticide and seizure management, and from clinical psychologists Dr Jo Becket and Dr Jess Brown on “thrive, not just survive” and “when stress gets too much”. There will also be a session from ECC specialist Tobias Grave (pictured right) on how to deal with some of the most common pet emergencies. 

Tobias will also be on hand to help veterinary surgeons and nurses whose practices use Vets Now for their out-of-hours service with both general advice and a second opinion on potentially complex cases via the new support line. 

Tobias said: “Covid-19 is bringing fresh challenges to vets and vet nurses every day. With clinicians seeing a caseload which is mainly emergency and often having to triage patients over the phone or by video consult, it’s never been so important to come together as a profession.

"Both our webinars and our specialist support line for practices who use our service will help equip vet professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to deal with challenging emergencies in practice."

You can find Vets Now’s library of free ECC webinars here.

Vétoquinol has released the results of a survey of 1000 dog owners, which looked into their attitudes towards long-term medication for their pet¹.

Owners were asked to rate how important various factors were to them when it came to giving medicine long term to their dog. They were also asked to consider what they felt was most important to their vet when it came to choosing a medicine.

• Effectiveness: 85% of dog owners felt that effectiveness was highly important.
• Side effects: 77% of dog owners said a limited range of side effects was either highly important (47%) or important (30%) in deciding their preference for a particular medication for their dog. Interestingly, owners thought that veterinary surgeons are slightly less concerned about side effects than they are: only 34% of owners think side effects are highly important to their vet). 
• Easy of administration: Only 24% of owners rated how easily a medication can be given as highly important. 28% said it was of medium importance.
• Established brand: 30% of dog owners felt this was of medium importance, and 24% felt this of least importance.
• Cost: surprisingly, the cost of medication was found to be one of the least important factors, with only 14% saying it was highly important to them.

Vétoquinol says the fact that dog owners rate the effectiveness of a medication much more highly than the cost means there is very little reason to compromise on treatment based on a presumption of what clients will want to pay. These findings are also largely very positive in that they suggest that dog owners believe that in many areas vets are making decisions based on criteria that are important to owners. The area where there is the greatest mismatch is over the risk of side effects of medication.

Pet owners think that vets may take the risk of side effects from long-term medications less seriously than the owners themselves might prefer. It suggests that the risk of potential harm, no matter how small the risk of actual harm is, may be more unacceptable to the dog owner than vets and nurses might otherwise presume. When prescribing long-term medication there is a need to talk about the risks associated with medication more openly and to take the client's attitudes to risk into consideration.

^1. A survey of 1048 dog owners, carried out by petbuzz, on behalf of Vétoquinol, March 2011

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has restored a veterinary surgeon who had previously been convicted of fraud to the Register, after finding him fit to resume practising.

Matthew Morgan had pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud in July 2013 having fraudulently claimed over £200,000 in pet insurance claims between November 2009 and December 2012. In August 2013 he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, for which he served 12 months and was then released on licence.

Following his conviction and sentence, his case was brought to the RCVS Disciplinary Committee in February 2014 where it was decided to strike him off the Register. When his licence period expired on 18 August 2015, Mr Morgan applied for restoration to the Register.

During the course of the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee heard evidence from Mr Morgan, who accepted the findings of the Committee, describing the evidence as ‘fair’ and acknowledging the seriousness of his actions.

The Committee felt that Mr Morgan’s criminal conduct was very grave, as reflected in his custodial sentence and the fact that, as an Australian citizen, he had been issued with a deportation notice by the Home Office. It also felt that his crime had struck at the heart of public confidence in a profession for which honesty and integrity is expected.

However, the Committee considered that Mr Morgan, if restored, would pose few risks in respect of protection of the public, having no concerns about his competence as a veterinary surgeon, and accepted that there was little future risk to animal welfare if he were to be restored.

The Committee also considered that, since his release from prison, Mr Morgan has taken extensive steps to rehabilitate himself, has undertaken continuing professional development and has been working as a veterinary care assistant at two veterinary practices to keep up-to-date with current practice.

Furthermore, the Committee was satisfied that there was public support for Mr Morgan continuing as a veterinary surgeon given the references and testimonials submitted on his behalf.

In coming to its conclusion the Disciplinary Committee reiterated the seriousness of Mr Morgan’s criminal offending, saying that it had caused it “the greatest concern”. However, it also felt that issues of rehabilitation needed to be considered.

Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee cannot emphasise enough the fact that veterinary surgeons who commit acts of fraud in the exercise of their practice can expect severe consequences, both in the criminal courts and within their own College and there can be no doubt that the decision to remove the applicant from the Register was a proper reflection of the seriousness of his offending.

“Given all of the matters referred to above, however, the Committee considers that the applicant has demonstrated sufficiently that he has learned the lessons required and is now fit to be restored to the Register.”

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has launched Don’t Break Your Vet, a campaign to encourage horse owners to help reduce the risks that equine veterinary surgeons face.

The campaign comprises a series of short videos featuring equine behaviourist Gemma Pearson MRCVS. The videos demonstrate quick and simple ways of teaching horses to be quiet, relaxed and safe for injections, clipping, worming, examinations and other veterinary procedures.

Equine practices can share the video links with clients here.

According to a paper published in the journal Equine Veterinary Education in January, an equine vet may expect to sustain between seven and eight work-related injuries that impede them from practicing, during a 30-year working life.¹ 

This is far a higher figure than other civilian occupations such as the construction industry, prison service and the fire brigade.

Bruising, fracture and laceration to the leg or the head were the most common injuries reported with the main cause being a kick with a hind limb. Nearly a quarter of these reported injuries required hospital admission and 7% resulted in loss of consciousness.

David Mountford, CEO at BEVA said: "Many accidents reportedly occur when vets are trying to work with horses who have learnt to avoid examination or treatment and where handlers are not in full control. Gemma’s work at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and her amazing videos show how a little preparation can have a big impact on horse, owner and vet safety.”

David Catlow, Blue Cross director of clinical services, said: "These videos are a superb resource to help with behaviour training in horses and to help them remain calm and manageable in all sorts of circumstances. Time spent on behaviour training of horses, using positive reinforcement methods such as these, is time well spent for everyone’s safety. Blue Cross invests a great deal of time in behaviour training on the horses we rehome, and it works."

The seven practical videos cover how clients can train and prepare their horse for:

• Easy injections
• Learning to stand still
• Calm clipping
• Leading and trotting up
• Happy Heads
• Clicker Training
• Worry-Free Worming

David Mountford added: "These videos make interesting viewing for vets as well as horse owners and build on Gemma’s eBEVA webinar "Practical Equine Behaviour" and the Guidance on Managing Equine Risks that BEVA has produced.”

You can watch the videos here.

1. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eve.12891/full

Photo:  Equine vets Malcolm Morley and Gemma Pearson

The University of Surrey has announced the launch of ArroGen Veterinary Forensics, the first forensic service dedicated to combating crimes against animals.

The new service, a partnership between the university's School of Veterinary Medicine and Arrogen Forensics, will arm enforcement agencies such as the RSPCA and UK police forces with detailed evidence to help prosecute individuals for crimes against or involving animals.

Arrogen Veterinary Forensics is led by Dr Alex Stoll, Lead Forensic Veterinary Pathologist at the University of Surrey and Operations Director at ArroGen, and Jo Millington, Scientific Director and Lead Forensic Scientist at ArroGen, pictured right. 

Alex said: "A key objective is to help investigators increase the success rate in the prosecution of individuals who commit crimes against animals. We are working closely with the RSPCA and UK police forces to optimise the scientific evidence that could form the missing link in their investigations.

"Another objective of the collaboration is to develop a strong social justice agenda with the aim of disrupting crime patterns. It is becoming increasingly well documented that animal cruelty can be used as a component part of domestic violence and there is a growing body of evidence to indicate that people who harm animals are more likely to abuse humans. We want to work with agencies to address the progression of animal to human criminal behaviour."

Jo said: "This unique collaboration brings together experts in animal diagnostics and research with specialists who have worked within the forensic sphere of the UK human Criminal Justice system for many years.

"Why not apply the same principles to the investigation of animal crime? By harnessing our collective knowledge of forensic and animal science we are simply building on our existing infrastructure and experience as human medico-legal practitioners to offer a novel and focussed integrated animal forensics service."

For more information, visit: http://vetforensics.co.uk

Ceva Animal Health has launched Assure Ewe, a subsidised testing scheme to assist practitioners identify the cause of enzootic abortion on-farm.

The company says industry estimates are that 12 million accessible breeding ewes (91%) are not vaccinated against enzootic abortion in the UK, and that this should concern all practitioners with sheep clients.

Any flock with an abortion rate of over 2% could, it says, be suffering from the disease, and at a cost of £85 per aborted ewe, those are losses producers can ill-afford to ignore.

Stephenie Clarke from Ceva said: "Abortion remains one of the most significant reasons for loss in sheep flocks and an abortion storm can lead to crippling results on farm.

"Enzootic abortion caused by C. abortus remains the main cause of ovine abortion in the UK¹ and once in a flock, takes time to control as exposed ewes can become latently infected."

Assure Ewe is a subsidised blood testing scheme open to all flocks with 50 or more breeding ewes. In contrast to other schemes, evidence of an abortion does not need to have taken place.

Blood samples should be collected from six ewes, with full farm and vet details also supplied. Upon results, Ceva says it will share information with the participating veterinary surgeon to discuss with the farmer.

Stephenie added: "Assure Ewe is a very user-friendly, simple scheme that will help facilitate conversations between vets and farmers while, at the same time, providing useful testing information to vets. Ceva encourages evidence based veterinary decisions, and this is just one example of such an initiative."

If C. abortus is identified in a flock, a veterinary-devised plan combining vaccination with Cevac Chlamydia, biosecurity and only purchasing stock from accredited flocks will assist disease control and eventual eradication.

For further information about the scheme, contact your Ceva territory manager.

Reference

1. Nadis Abortion in Ewes editorial information www.nadis.org.uk 

The British College of Veterinary Specialists (BCVSp) has approached the RCVS Practice Standards Group (PSG) to look at the feasibility of a new Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) accreditation strand: Veterinary Specialist Hospital (Multidisciplinary), or VSH(M).

The BCVSp says the aim of its proposal is to identify practices that offer a multi-disciplinary referral service, to incorporate standards for specialist care and to define training, veterinary and nursing qualifications, behaviours and facilities which optimise management of cases with complex problems and those requiring advanced diagnostic and/or therapeutic approaches.

Terry Emmerson Hospital Director at North Downs Specialist Referrals and BCVSp trustee said: "Increasing numbers of veterinary graduates are choosing to pursue training leading to post-graduate diplomas and RCVS recognition as Specialists.

"Many vets and nurses are working in groups that allow a multidisciplinary approach to be offered to animals with complex problems. We hope that we can devise a new accreditation strand to give the animal-owning public the ability to distinguish multidisciplinary specialist hospitals from general veterinary hospitals in order to make informed choices regarding the veterinary care they wish to access for their animals."

BCVSp has proposed that prior to entry into the new strand, VSH(M)s would first be required to meet the Core, GP and Veterinary Hospital requirements in all of the modules (Small Animal or Equine as appropriate) and achieve Awards Points at Outstanding level in the relevant modules. BCVSp has put forward an outline plan which is currently being considered by the PSG in which VSH(M)s will be required to offer a minimum number of services but there will also be scope for individual units to highlight particular areas of expertise.

Celia Marr, BCVSp Chairman said: "A key element of the strand we are working on is that each service will be led by RCVS Specialists ensuring on-going accreditation of the experience and expertise within the range of services that together underpin a multidisciplinary approach to case management. We have consulted widely amongst our members to reach consensus on the standards each specialist service should be aiming for."

She added: "We hope to work together with the PSG to develop an accreditation within this strand over the next few years, however working through the current PSS modules to Awards Points level is not easy. Specialist-staffed hospitals aiming for the multidisciplinary strand will need to start planning their approach as soon as possible."

Mandisa Greene, Chair of the Practice Standards Group, said: "The RCVS Practice Standards Group welcomes BCSVp’s proposal and the passion of the group for developing this new accreditation level. Both the PSG and the RCVS Standards Committee will be working with the BCVSp to consider the proposal's feasibility, how the accreditation level might be achieved, potential levels of interest and other criteria in the coming months. It is critical that specific criteria which BCVSp and the RCVS Practice Standards Group develop together are clear, transparent and testable."

Photo: Newmarket Equine Hospital