Virbac is offering its customers a discount on subscriptions to Vet Care Consult, an interactive veterinary medicine and anatomy tool designed to improve client understanding and aid compliance.
Vet Care Consult, designed by MediProductions with advice from veterinary specialists, uses more than 600 3D graphics, animations, videos and other imagery to help veterinary staff explain diagnoses and to discuss therapeutic options.
The veterinary surgeon or nurse selects the target species, then the relevant organ or system. A range of animations and videos are then offered to help explain their recommendation. The tool includes the option to email owners a link to a specific animation or video so that they can discuss the recommended treatment with family later. It can be used on a PC or tablet and is also available as an iPhone app.
A single user subscription normally costs £41 per month or £410 per annum.
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Senior Product Manager at Virbac, said: "Gone are the days of scribbling diagrams on scraps of paper and whiteboards or pointing to a model of a stifle that has seen better days!
"Vet Care Consult harnesses the latest technology to help the veterinary team communicate more effectively with clients, helping them to understand their pets' health and wellness issues. Better communication leads to improved compliance which, in turn, helps to strengthen the vital bond between a practice and its clients."
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
Lauren Pears, an Australian entrepreneur, is about to launch the country's first 'cat café' in London, where aficionados of felines will be able to enjoy a cappuccino in the company of ... a cat.
Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium is aimed at city dwellers who are unable to have their own pet, novelty seekers, parents and tourists.
At this stage, Ms Pears intends to have around 10 cats in the café, with up to 50 people having coffee with them at any one time.
Interest in the new café has been phenomenal: over £100,000 has been raised for the project so far, via the crowd-funding website Indiegogo, and over 3000 pre-sales tickets sent to those people who have invested.
Meanwhile the British Small Animal Veterinary Association has highlighted some of the potential problems with the concept. BSAVA President Professor Michael Day said: "While some cats appear content living in groups and interacting with human strangers, other cats can be very stressed in these circumstances. It isn't always easy to identify whether a cat is suffering from stress - this is often missed or misinterpreted. For example, inactivity can be seen as contentment, but they are actually internalising their anxiety. The input of a veterinary behaviourist and appropriate staff training will be essential."
Biogal has announced the launch of the PCRun Molecular Detection Kit, designed to give PCR results in clinic or in the lab within an hour.
The new kit doesn't require any other equipment, such as a thermocycler.
PCRun is a molecular assay based on the isothermal amplification of part of the HapI gene. The company says it is intended for the qualitative detection of pathogenic species of Leptospires only.
The PCRun has been tested at the OEI Leptospira Reference Laboratory in Ireland, on sample materials including urine and kidney biopsies collected from cows experimentally infected with L. hardjo as well as kidney cells.
According to the company, no false positive results were observed in all 63 samples tested and there was excellent correlation between Real Time PCR and PCRun reactions.
Results of the study and a list of serovars tested with PCRun are available from Biogal. See: http://www.biogal.co.il/products/pcrun
As part of an increasing focus on wellbeing at Congress, Jenny will be sharing her thoughts on balancing a successful career with family commitments. Prior to becoming a dragon, Jenny worked in banking for 30 years. She became CEO of cash machine company Hanco, bought out the business, turned it round and sold it for £50 million.
The expanded 2020 Congress programme offers 450 hours of CPD delivered by more than 100 globally recognised speakers. The Association says this year's highlights include more 'open to all' streams, a new range of practical workshops, small group sessions, wetlabs and nurse case reports. There will also be an increased number of AVP streams, an infectious disease stream as well as a popular favourites stream, which will include endocrinology, critical care and trauma medicine, ophthalmology and cardiology.
New wet labs are being introduced, with a chicken anatomy refresher focussing on linking this knowledge to clinical presentations and common procedures. There's a similar session for rabbit anatomy along with a new dermatology practical and surgery of the small intestine.
BSAVA Congress Programme Committee Chair Sue Murphy said: "Our ethos with the 2020 programme is to deliver unrivalled education, designed to tackle the current needs of the profession, with topical, clinically relevant and evidence-based content. Each stream is devised by our committee of volunteer vets, nurses and practice managers, ensuring our entire programme is created by the profession, for the profession."
BSAVA President, Sue Paterson said: "We are extremely proud to be hosting such an impressive programme of education at our 63rd annual Congress and 30th year in Birmingham. With our prestigious keynote speaker, the small animal focussed exhibition, the BSAVA Awards and a packed social programme including a DJ, band, Bongo’s Bingo and Silent Disco at the V20 Party Night, Congress 2020 celebrates the very best of the profession; a not to be missed date in this year’s veterinary calendar!"
To register for BSAVA Congress visit www.bsavaevents.com. If you book before the 29th January, you'll get 20% off.
Intervet/Schering-Plough has announced that Estrumate®, in both the 10ml and 20ml vial size is back in stock and available to order from your veterinary wholesaler.
The stock out situation had arisen as a result of increased demand during the early part of the year but the company is confident that there will be sufficient stock to supply the increased level of demand in the foreseeable future. Intervet/Schering-Plough would like to thank their clients for the patience and understanding.
Further information is available from Intervet/Schering-Plough Account Managers or the Veterinary Support Group (VSG) on 01908 685685.
Owners of hyperthyroid cats say they would rather veterinary surgeons prescribed the appropriate dosage for their pets than have an easy way to administer the medicine, according to new research carried out by feline expert Dr Sarah Caney BVSc PhD DSAM (Feline) MRCVS.
111 cat owners were questioned for the research, which was supported by Dechra Veterinary Products and has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
Dechra says the results of the study challenge long-held perceptions, and should encourage a reappraisal of the approach to oral anti-thyroid medication:
89% of cat owners agreed with the statement that it 'was more important to me that the vet prescribes the most appropriate dose for my cat than that they provide me with an easy method of administering the medicine.'
Dr Caney said: "The survey has shown that cat owners are not a barrier to prescribing twice daily medication. Their overwhelming drive is to provide the best level of care that they can.
"From an owner perspective, the ideal anti-thyroid medication offers low doses and a variety of dosing strategies to ensure that each individual cat receives the dose they need and no more."
The findings revealed that 'once daily treatment' was not ranked as the most important statement on dosing by any of the owners and that only 21% of owners who had experienced oral dosing of their cat described the process as either 'tricky' or 'very difficult'.
Craig Sankey, Brand Manager for Felimazole at Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "We are very pleased to have supported such an important piece of independent research relating to feline hyperthyroidism which challenges some of the assumptions made about owner needs.
"Ease of administering the medicine is not the overwhelming issue for owners of cats with hyperthyroidism - administering the correct dose is. In fact, 79 % of cat owners questioned were happy to give pills twice a day if necessary."
To see the latest research in full, please visit www.dechra.co.uk/hyperthyroidism
The RCVS is now accepting applications from veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who wish to serve as members of the RCVS Ethics Review Panel (ERP).
The ERP has been established by the RCVS in order to facilitate access to ethical review for those wishing to undertake practice-based research outside of a university or industry context. The ERP will begin considering research proposals from veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses from 1 August 2016 and the trial will run for a period of one year. The process will be limited to considering research projects involving cats and/or dogs during the trial period, with the possibility of expanding to other species if the trial is extended or made permanent.
The trial came about following a joint working party established by the RCVS and British Veterinary Association which reported on ethical review and found that an increasing amount of clinical research was being conducted by vets based in private practice. One of the key recommendations of the report was that the RCVS should consider establishing a committee for ethical review of practice-based research.
Ahead of the launch of the ERP, the RCVS is currently looking to recruit four veterinary surgeon members and a veterinary nurse member to the Panel to join a lay member and ethicist Chair.
More details about the roles, the function of the ERP and how to apply can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/workforus and www.rcvs.org.uk/ethics. Those who are interested in applying can also email ethics@rcvs.org.uk for an informal discussion. The closing date for applications is 15 April 2016.
The webinars are open to veterinary clinics across the UK and the US, including those not affiliated to Premier Vet Alliance.
The programme is as follows:
Jo Wells, Premier Vet Alliance’s Business Relationship Manager said: “We’ve concentrated on providing a blend of practical advice and insights, people management support and also some inspiring motivational ideas.
“Because we operate globally, we’ve engaged speakers from both sides of the Altlantic which presents insights into alternative ways of working and thinking. We’ve also kept the webinars to just an hour-long in length so they are time efficient.
“As well as providing what we hope will be valuable content, the webinars will also encourage a platform for networking and on-going communication.
To register for the first event on Thurday 24th February, visit: https://tinyl.io/5ZtP
The Human Factors aspect of the course considers how interactions between people and their environment can affect patient care and outcomes.
Systems Thinking looks at how well-designed systems in practice can help achieve better results.
Pam Mosedale, Quality Improvement Clinical Lead at RCVS Knowledge said: “When’s the last time you thought about the impact human interactions between your team are having on your patients?
"What about the processes you use to deliver care?
“Every veterinary professional wants to achieve good outcomes, but the role that Human Factors and systems can play is sometimes overlooked.
"Making sure that your processes are well-designed, and understanding how the people in your team interact with them can optimise the quality of care you provide, while improving team wellbeing."
“That is why we’re delighted to announce the launch of free, practical support on Human Factors and Systems Thinking for all veterinary teams.”
learn.rcvsknowledge.org
The multicentre observational study described 382 placements of catheters across 19 different institutions, recording the placement techniques and tracking resulting complications to determine the associated risk factors.
The majority of the data was collected by veterinary nurses across the country.
The risk factors identified included the number of insertion attempts, whether a second subsequent placement was required, the frequency that the catheter was flushed and if the flush solution was compound sodium lactate.
In addition to identifying the risk factors, the study also found that complications occurred in just over one-quarter of placements, with limb swelling and phlebitis being the most common (11.5%).
The second most common complication observed was PIVC dislodgement/patient interference (7.9%).
As a result of these findings, the researchers are calling for more vigilant monitoring of patients with a PIVC in situ, particularly if they have experienced any of the factors that increase their risk of complications.
Eleanor said: “PIVCs are placed every day in almost all veterinary practices, yet there is little evidence to inform how best to place and manage them.
"I am passionate about providing the best care for cats and dogs, and it was fantastic to work with like-minded nurses and vets who wanted to gather the evidence that we can use to improve the care of our patients.
"I look forward to continuing this area of research, and believe veterinary nurses are best placed to undertake this work as it is part our of daily working lives."
Dr Christopher Scudder, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College and senior author in the study, said: “The hope is that this study will stimulate more research about PIVCs, and that sufficient evidence will be developed to help reduce complications associated with these routinely placed devices.”
Reference
Cat Professional is carrying out a survey to assess the use of Zylkène in cats with idiopathic cystitis (FIC), and is looking for owners whose cats are using the treatment to complete an online survey.
Zylkène is a nutritional supplement which has been reported to have positive effects in managing stress in cats and dogs. Zylkène is commonly used for reduction of stress in cats with FIC.
Veterinary practices that agree to help Cat Professional recruit clients whose FIC cats are receiving Zylkène will receive:
On completion of the survey, participants will receive a free electronic copy of the book 'Caring for a cat with lower urinary tract disease'.
For more information on the study, please visit our website: http://www.catprofessional.com.
The survey is accessible from the home page or directly at http://www.catprofessional.com/urinary-survey.html
AT Veterinary Systems has launched the IRIS Imaging Solution, a 'digital hub' for veterinary practices which the company says goes beyond many traditional PACS (Picture Archiving Communications Systems), offering a multi-user and multi-screen imaging solution.
With IRIS Imaging Solution practice staff can archive, access, view, process, manipulate, review and communicate DICOM files and other digital media, as well as entire DICOM studies (constituting multiple files) from any terminal on the network. These DICOM files can be stored together with clinical and patient records as well as text notes, lab reports, forms, photos and images.
AT Veterinary Systems says IRIS is ideal for practices that want a cost-effective, quick and easy to use imaging solution that is especially configured for swift data transfer throughout a network. Added benefits also include a large data storage capacity, off site data storage facility, remote access capability and automated data back up and network synchronisation.
Jacqui Garrett, Business Development Manager at AT Veterinary Systems said: "We work hard at AT Veterinary Systems to offer veterinary practices cutting edge software that meets all of their needs. With IRIS Imaging Solution we have employed the latest technology to provide a professional, dynamic and easy to use imaging and information management system."
For more information about IRIS Imaging Solution please visit http://www.irisimaging.co.uk/
Changes to the registration procedure for veterinary surgeons, which are being put forward for approval by the Privy Council, have caused some concern in the profession.
Most contentious is the new requirement for veterinary surgeons to confirm their contact details annually, or face removal from the register.
Judging from the remarks in the VetSurgeon forums, many in the profession see this as just another example of bureaucratic-big-brother-pen-pushing-time-wasting (a perception that probably hasn't been helped by the RCVS stating that the change is driven by the need to meet EU Directive 2006/123/EC). Nor would Lynne Hill's remarks have done anything to calm the situation. She said: "If that [the requirement for vets to confirm their address once a year] is beyond the wit and the capability of supposed professional people that we expect to follow a guide to professional conduct, to act as professionals in everything that they do, then I really despair of this profession.
"I do not see anything wrong with the College asking people to confirm their address year in, year out when they make a payment. And if those people cannot be responsible for doing that then they deserve to go forward to be taken off the Register because, if they can't do that, God only knows what else they may well be doing in their professional lives!"
At face value, it's completely understandable why the new regulation was bound to get members' backs up. I mean, the threat of losing your license to practise because you didn't confirm something which hasn't changed anyway. It's a bit extreme isn't it?
The truth of the matter is probably a little more prosaic:
At present, many members pay registration fees by standing order, and may never have updated their contact details. You could argue that it is only right that the authority changed with regulating veterinary surgeons knows how to get hold of them. If a consequence of this is also that the RCVS is able to work more efficiently and cost-effectively (apart from anything else, it shouldn't have to spend so much time tracking down and chasing non-payers), then so much the better.
Pfizer is giving away a free equine weigh tape with every purchase of Equest & Equest Pramox (while stocks last), to help encourage accurate treatment against encysted small redworms this season.
According to the company, Equest & Equest Pramox are the only wormers in the UK that treat encysted small redworm in a single dose. Using a weigh tape to work out their horse's weight will help your clients avoid under dosing, which increases the risk of resistance development.
Pfizer says small redworms are the most common worms found in horses today. They can pose a very serious health risk to horses and it's important for owners to make sure that they are treated properly during the autumn or early winter.
Small redworms can grow up to 2.5cm in length and are thin and reddish in colour. Small redworm eggs are passed in the faeces and then hatch on pasture and continue to develop into more advanced larval stages before being ingested by the horse as it grazes. The larvae burrow deeply into the wall of the gut where they encyst and may account for up to 90% of the redworm burden in the horse1. Encysted small redworm will not show up in a Faecal Worm Egg Count - even if the horse has shown a negative or low count it could still be harbouring several million encysted small redworms2.
Encysted small redworms can remain dormant inside a horse for up to two years, but they usually 'wake-up' in late winter or early spring, developing and emerging from the gut wall all at the same time. In severe infestations mass emergence can lead to a disease syndrome known as 'larval cyathostominosis', causing diarrhoea and colic with up to a 50% mortality rate3. Young horses of less than six years of age can often be at higher risk of the disease3 but small redworm can cause life-threatening illness at any time of year and in any age of horse.
Ben Gaskell, Pfizer's veterinary adviser said: "Treating encysted small redworms successfully in the late autumn or early winter is important to avoid the risk of larval cyathostominosis. It's important to advise your customers to choose a product that is licensed to treat the worms they are targeting and that they give the correct dose, by weighing their horse beforehand, as this will help preserve the efficacy of the drug used."
Pfizer's Does your wormer measure up campaign is backed with point of sale materials and a media campaign. To receive a free weigh tape, valued at £7 your clients need to buy a tube of Equest or Equest Pramox, fill in an application form and send Pfizer the batch and expiry flap from the pack. Pfizer will then send them a FREE Weigh Tape while stocks last.
For further information contact your Pfizer Account Manager.
References
1. Bairden K. et al (2001) Veterinary Record 148, 138-1412. Dowdall S.M.J. et al (2002) Veterinary Parasitology 106, 225‑2423. McWilliam H. et al (2010) International Journal for Parasitology 40, 265-275
Royal Canin has announced the launch of two new veterinary diets designed to tackle obesity in cats and dogs.
'Satiety Small Dog' is for adult dogs with an ideal weight up to 10kg. 'Satiety Wet' has been developed for those dogs who prefer wet food, or who are used to eating a combination of wet and dry food.
Satiety Small Dog is available in 1.5kg, 3.5kg and 8kg bags and contains a blend of fibres that Royal Canin says increases the volume of stomach contents and promotes satiety. The company says the new diet also contains specific nutrients which contribute to maintaining good oral health, and a high protein content to help maintain muscle mass during the weight loss programme.
Satiety Small Dog is designed to improve digestive tolerance in smaller breeds, as it has a different blend of fibre and higher levels of butyrate than Satiety Canine, which is formulated for the needs of medium and larger dogs. The diet contains less dietary oxalate which Royal Canin claims is of benefit to smaller dogs that are at a greater risk of developing calcium oxalate uroliths.
The second new diet, Satiety Wet for Dogs, is available in 410g and 195g cans. The diet has a high protein content (14.1g per 100kcal), and is enriched with nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Royal Canin also highlights what it says is a particularly innovative feature: a high fibre content in a canned diet.
Ian Williams, Veterinary Scientific Support Manager at Royal Canin, said: "Almost 60% of dogs and 40% of cats in the UK and Ireland are overweight or obese. With obesity comes an increased risk of animals developing conditions affecting the upper respiratory tract, cardiopulmonary system, joints and urinary tract. In cats obesity is also a major risk factor for Type II diabetes mellitus. In essence, obesity can lead to a decreased life expectancy and a reduced quality of life.
"Royal Canin has a proven track record of developing innovative diets to help these pets and the latest additions to our range really will complement the existing choice for vets and their clients."
Bayer Animal Health has been enjoying considerable success in its efforts to raise awareness of the danger of lungworm amongst pet owners.
The company signed model and 'Strictly Come Dancing' presenter Tess Daly to front it's Be Lungworm Aware campaign at Crufts this year.
Coincidentally, her previous involvement in the Be Lungworm Aware campaign has led her to believe that her Golden Retriever, Sam, died of lungworm.
She said: "Back then I didn’t even realise lungworm existed. It was only subsequently that I became aware of the parasite and symptoms and I thought, ‘hang on this sounds horribly familiar’.
"It wasn’t confirmed what was causing Sam’s symptoms, but he was very tired, off his food and coughing a lot. Eventually we had to send him to a specialist vet centre as his symptoms worsened. They did all sorts of tests on him, and even a blood transfusion in an attempt to save his life, it was awful. We had to liquefy all his food and feed him through a syringe, and by this point he was vomiting and had severe diarrhoea, and in the end we had no choice but to put him down, he just couldn’t carry on."
Tess's involvement in the campaign is definitely paying dividends in raising awareness. Here she is talking about it in a Daily Telegraph video. There's also a piece in What's on TV. And although the Daily Mail seems more interested in her 'casual but slick ensemble', the photographs get the message across and there's a video there too.
Bayer has also launched an interactive lungworm map to assist with plotting the prevalence of the disease across the UK. The company says it is part of a wider research programme to better monitor and document the spread of the disease. Vets are asked to report cases of lungworm in their practices to be added to the map, so dog owners can then view reported cases of lungworm in their area at www.lungworm.co.uk.
Badger culling is necessary in certain circumstances to tackle the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), according to the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).
This week the BVA's Council approved the new policy position adding the veterinary profession's voice to the ongoing debate on bTB.
Earlier in the year BVA President Nicky Paull welcomed the announcement of a pilot badger cull in west Wales. The BVA has now updated its bTB policy to more strongly state the case for humane, targeted and managed culling in specific areas where badgers are regarded as a significant contributor to the persistent presence of bTB.
The BVA's policy also states that the current Government strategy for bTB control is inadequate and calls for simultaneous control measures in both cattle and badgers and other wildlife and susceptible farmed species.
Nicky Paull, President of the BVA, said: "Bovine TB has an unacceptable impact on animal health and welfare and has the potential to be a risk to public health. Yet the current strategy for dealing with it is inadequate.
"Where I practise in Cornwall vets and farmers are desperate for effective measures to help us get on top of this inexorable disease.
"Veterinary surgeons take an active role in surveillance, diagnosis and treatment of disease and we know that the only way to control bTB is through simultaneous and coordinated measures across all susceptible species.
"In no way does our new policy position detract from the continued focus on cattle-to-cattle spread, within both the veterinary profession and the farming community, which continues to play a key role in attempts to control the disease.
"But the BVA believes that humane, targeted and managed culling of badgers in some areas will be necessary if we are to reverse the increasing prevalence of bTB."
The British Veterinary Association has welcomed a report published by The Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding, which sets out eight priority welfare problems.
Commenting on the report, BVA President Carl Padgett said: "We welcome the Dog Advisory Council's report which highlights key welfare issues of dog breeding and makes sound, practical recommendations for addressing them."
The eight priority problems addressed are:
Mr Padgett continued:"The Dog Advisory Council has covered these high priority concerns in some detail. I am pleased that the recommendations give strong support to screening programmes including the BVA/KC schemes for hip and elbow dysplasia and syringomyelia and that they suggest ocular examination under the BVA/KC/ISDS eye scheme should be regarded as routine for all dogs used for breeding.
"I am also delighted that the Council has recognised the value of using a reputable puppy contract, highlighting the puppy contract and puppy information pack (PIP) recently launched by the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation and RSPCA. The contract and PIP arm buyers with the knowledge to give themselves the best chance of getting a fit, healthy and happy, well socialised pet to join their household and they have been designed to help good breeders demonstrate the care and attention they have devoted to their puppies' breeding and upbringing.
"We must all continue to work together to address these welfare challenges and keep up the momentum to improve dog breeding."
New research published in Epidemiology and Infection (Cambridge University Press) reveals that direct contact between badgers and cattle is rare, suggesting that it may be rare for bovine tuberculosis (TB) to be passed on through the two species meeting each other on pasture.
For the research, which was conducted by the Royal Veterinary College and the Food and Environment Research Agency, researchers investigated direct and indirect interactions between badgers and cattle by fitting automated high-tech proximity loggers to animals and placing base stations at badger latrines located on pasture, in an area of south-west England with a high-density badger population, over a period of 12-months.
Direct interactions (within 1.4 metres) between badgers and cows at pasture were very rare, with only four out of over 500,000 animal-to-animal contacts recorded between the two species.
Indirect interactions (visits to badger latrines) were far more frequent than direct contacts, with 400 visits by badgers and 1700 visits by cattle recorded. This suggests that indirect contacts might be more important than direct in terms of disease transmission at pasture.
During the study half of the badgers tested positive for TB, however the infection status of individual badgers did not affect the frequency or duration of their visits to latrines located on pasture grazed by cattle.
Bovine tuberculosis caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis is endemic in cattle in parts of England and Wales and its control is hindered by the presence of infection in the European badger. While M. bovis is clearly transmitted between cattle and badgers, it is has not previously been known where, when or how often transmission occurs.
Dr Julian Drewe from the Royal Veterinary College who led the study, said: "Our findings reveal that direct contacts between badgers and cattle at pasture are surprisingly rare, despite ample opportunity for interactions to occur, suggesting that the two species may be ignoring or even actively avoiding one another. The study was conducted in an area with a high badger population, so it is likely that such direct contact will be even less frequent in areas of the country where there are fewer badgers.
"Indirect visits by both species to badger latrines were significantly more common than direct contacts between badgers and cattle, which suggests that these represent the more typical nature of interspecies contact. Future research aiming to quantify TB risk to cattle from badgers might be best to focus on indirect contacts occurring at latrines and on contacts occurring away from pasture, for example in farm buildings.
"This clearly has disease management implications, and more work is now needed in this area to look at how such contact can be limited, to reduce the number of cases of bovine TB in the future."
The WSAVA is calling on veterinary surgeons and nurses to volunteer to help with outreach projects in Africa in September 2014.
The projects are part of a new initiative from WSAVA called the 'WSAVA Global Outreach', which is designed to help share the knowledge and experience of its members more widely around the world.
The first two projects will take place as an extension of the WSAVA World Congress in Cape Town, from 16th-19th September:
The WSAVA-SAVA Community Veterinary Clinics ProgrammeThe WSAVA is also offering the opportunity for ten veterinary surgeons registered to attend World Congress to volunteer for a five day placement working with the South African Veterinary Association's Community Veterinary Clinic (SAVA-CVC). They will assist with a range of activities including running mobile veterinary clinics and providing basic care such as vaccination and parasite treatments. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to carry out basic diagnostics and treatment including neutering.
WSAVA President Colin Burrows said: "WSAVA Global Outreach is a vehicle to enable us to create a lasting legacy in every region which hosts World Congress because, if we all work together, we can help to build a better future everyone in the profession."
Further details on how to apply for both volunteer programmes can be found at www.wsava.org.
The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) and the International Federation for Animal Health Europe (IFAH) have welcomed the European Commission's publication of proposals for revised legislation concerning veterinary medicines and medicated feed earlier today.
The EC says the proposals are designed to increase the availability of veterinary medicines, reduce administrative burden, stimulate competitiveness and innovation, improve the functioning of the internal market and address the issue of antimicrobial resistance.
NOAH says that currently, the manufacturers of veterinary medicines struggle with a regulatory system with some serious flaws, including:
NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH will be looking at the detail of the texts in the coming days and weeks, and reviewing their potential impact. We look forward to working with the VMD, who have called stakeholder workshops to examine the texts. We will also be supporting our European federation IFAH-Europe as they work determinedly with the European institutions over the coming years to support the Commission's vision for a more efficient regulatory system for veterinary medicines in Europe.
"We believe the value our industry brings to society is very high, despite being quite a small sector. For example, veterinary medicines benefit public health by preventing zoonotic disease and supporting food security.
"With synergies with our own UK Government's commitment to reduce unnecessary red tape, which is a key theme for DEFRA, the animal health industry in Europe needs greater efficiency to cut the red tape for our industry. We look forward to a streamlined registration process which delivers a single European marketing authorisation for all veterinary medicines.
"We will also be considering if the text has any particular implications for the UK animal health market and access to medicines for our animals."
NOAH says it also welcomes the revised medicated feed legislation. Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH believes this is an important route for administering prescription medicines to animals. We will work to help ensure the legislation is capable of maintaining and strengthening this route."
Braving the elements, a record 12 candidates sat the examinations for the Certificate in Veterinary Practice Management last week, seven of which passed their selected elements, and four of which have been awarded their certificate.
The new CVPMs are, Julie Beacham at Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre in Aylesbury, Liz Howes at The Oxford Cat Clinic in Oxford, Helen Kington from Hungerford and Renay Rickard at the Pelyn Veterinary Group in Lostwithiel. An official presentation of the awards will take place at the Veterinary Practice Management Association Congress Dinner on 28th January 2010 at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
The candidates are managers in very different types of veterinary businesses, which the VPMA says is confirmation that the CVPM is applicable and has wide appeal in veterinary management.
Lucy Bartlett of CVS (UK) Ltd, Straight Mile Equine Clinic, Lisa Marter of The Arundel Equine Hospital and Steven Broomfield of The Blue Cross, were also successful in achieving a pass in the written and oral sections of the examination and will be able to complete the CVPM by submitting and passing the portfolio section of the exam next year.
There are now 61 holders of the CVPM since its inception in 1996. The next examination session will be held on 2nd December 2011.
The RCVS has restored its full approval to the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Science.
The full approval was granted by the RCVS Council in March, at the recommendation of the Education Policy and Specialisation Committee (EPSC), following the positive report of a visitation carried out in mid-December 2011 under the chairmanship of former RCVS President Stephen Ware.
The School had been under conditional approval since a visit in March 2007, and a subsequent revisit in October 2009 had identified that although progress had been made, work still needed to be completed to improve some of the facilities, particularly in small animal surgery and on the farm.
The RCVS Council commended the hard work and improvements displayed by the School, and was pleased to restore it to full approval status.
Professor Stuart Reid, EPSC Chairman said: "The University has demonstrated a welcome and continued commitment to the development of the School, and is to be congratulated on making significant financial investments in staffing and facilities, despite the current difficult economic climate.
"There is a positive and constructive atmosphere, which is a credit to the Head of School and all the staff who have clearly worked extremely hard to meet the challenges presented to them at a time of change within the university sector as a whole."
The School is next scheduled for a full visitation in 2014.
Supreme Petfoods is calling on veterinary surgeons and nurses to take part in its 'Think Rabbit Month' campaign coming up in May.
The campaign is designed to attract more rabbit and guinea pig owners into practices.
Over 500 UK vet practices took part in the campaign last year and, according to the company, many used the opportunity to raise awareness about their rabbit healthcare services, such as dental checks and vaccination programs.
In the run up to Think Rabbit Month, Supreme has published the 'Think Rabbit Virtual Manual', a guide which shows how to make veterinary practices more rabbit friendly. It is now free to download from Supreme's website. In addition, there are a range of goodie bag giveaways, money off vouchers, care guides and food samples for clients, together with educational material to promote best practice care.
Participating practices can display the Think Rabbit 'Small Furry Promise' certificate, posters for the waiting room and can register for the 'Happy Hoppers Club' - a scheme that brings vets and pet owners together to promote small furry welfare.
The event is backed by RCVS Exotics Specialist, Molly Varga who said: "I'd encourage all vet practices to take part in Think Rabbit Month this May to help improve the health and welfare of the nation's rabbits and guinea pigs."
Vets and nurses are also being encouraged to help promote the national 'Rabbit Habits' survey to learn more about how owners care for their pets. The results will be shared with the profession in due course.
For more information, visit: http://www.supremepetfoods.com/think-rabbit/
Rather than offering 'death by Powerpoint', where large numbers of delegates are invited to sit and stare at a Powerpoint screen for an hour, followed by a few questions at the end, IVC and VetSurgeon.org invited a smaller, more intimate group to come and discuss a subject on Zoom, a recording of which was then made available for everyone else to watch later.
In the case of VetSurgeon.org, the first such meeting was 'Let's Talk About Small Animal Surgery' with Alasdair Hotston-Moore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1rD3zfcUZE
Meanwhile, IVC has based its recent CPD sessions about equine emergencies on a very similar model. During the event, short case studies were presented in a format which allowed for discussion all the way through.
IVC Evidensia Equine Clinical Board Vice Chair, Mark Tabachnik said: "We decided on a reflective, case-based approach rather than the usual monologue, where so much information is thrown at you, you’re lucky to catch a couple of snippets. I wanted something that was a little more relaxed and more collaborative, like a group of colleagues chatting about the cases from their night on call over a drink or two at the pub.”
It's a format which seems to be proving popular. Chessie Greenham of Fyrnwy Vets in Shropshire said: "Interesting cases that reflected on call life, worked through in an approachable style that is easily applied to real life scenarios."