22% (6,785) of veterinary surgeons eligible to vote did so, compared to the previous record of 18.8%.
The votes were as follows:
For the two places available on VN Council one new member was elected and one existing member re-elected for four year terms. Andrea Jeffery was re-elected with 1,293 votes, while Susan Howarth was elected with 1,064 votes.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said: "Congratulations to all those elected to RCVS Council and VN Council and thank you to all those who stood as candidates in both elections.
"We would especially like to thank Jerry Davies, Peter Jinman and Bradley Viner who are standing down from RCVS Council this year after deciding not to seek re-election, in addition to Chris Gray and Tom Witte for their contributions to RCVS Council and Marie Rippingale for her contribution to VN Council.
"Thank you also to all those who took the time to ask questions of our candidates and cast a vote. This year we made a concerted attempt to make it even easier for the electorate to vote, with secure links to the voting websites sent by email and regular email reminders to those who hadn’t yet voted. The fact that both record numbers and proportions of the professions voted this year is testament to our efforts to further increase engagement with veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.
"However, while we welcome these significant increases, we recognise that it is still a relatively small proportion of the profession voting in these elections and so will continue to think of new ways to engage with the professions not just at election time, but across our many activities."
All the successful candidates will take up their positions at RCVS Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day – on Friday 7 July 2017 at the Royal Institute of British Architects where the formal declaration of both election results will also take place.
BCF Technology has launched a new series of CPD videos on VetSurgeon.org, this time showing how to conduct a basic cardiac ultrasound examination in small animals. The videos are followed by a short online quiz.
BCF in-house vet Kimberly Palgrave BS BVM&S GPCert(DI) MRCVS presents a series of free online instructional step-by-step videos demonstrating how to perform a basic cardiac ultrasound examination in the general practice setting.
These 3-5 minute videos, which were produced in collaboration with The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, also cover how to alter the controls on your ultrasound machine to get the most from your equipment.
The cardiac ultrasound videos follow the very popular series of videos created by BCF on scanning the small animal abdomen last year. The abdominal videos have had in total over 25,000 views on YouTube so far.
Kimberly Palgrave said: "Following some fantastic feedback on the abdominal ultrasound videos, we decided to produce this series of basic echocardiography videos. People were asking for help with cardiac examinations and we were happy to help. Please do let us know what you think and what you would like us to cover next."
Gavin Mitchell from BCF said: "We are committed to helping you learn more to ensure you and your team get the very best from your ultrasound equipment. These videos are just one way that BCF contribute to veterinary learning. We run and support training courses and we can also arrange for a member of our team to come into your practice and provide a day of training. At BCF we do so much more than just sell ultrasound and X-ray kit. We strive to help you learn how to use your diagnostic imaging equipment and support you with advice, technical back-up, service and repair."
To see the new cardiac ultrasound videos visit the BCF Technology Gallery here on VetSurgeon.org. Complete the short online quiz at the end, and you will also receive a CPD certificate.
For more information, or to arrange a demo for your veterinary practice, call +44 (0)1506 460 023.
Liz, co-founder of WellVet, will present data from a survey conducted by SPVS and Veterinary Woman: ‘Menopause and the Effect on Veterinary Professionals and Teams’, which showed the impact of menopause on an important, experienced demographic, with up to 80% of women experiencing negative physical and mental effects, which are moderate to severe in 30% of women1.
Belinda, Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh will present on conclusions from her research on menopause at work.
Belinda will also share findings from the government-funded Supporting Healthy Ageing at Work (SHAW) Project, a 3-year investigation into hidden health factors affecting how workers over 50 engage with work.
Her presentation will include a synopsis of suggested workplace interventions to trial as a result of this research.
The session will discuss possible solutions to support improved retention and happier, healthier work for longer across the veterinary sector. It will present an opportunity for veterinary teams to be part of the phase 3 of the SHAW project and trial the evidence-based workplace interventions that have emerged from the phase 1 data.
Liz said: “We could be doing a lot more to support healthier, longer working lives for many women impacted.
“If you are unable to attend this session, please encourage representatives from across your organisations and businesses to attend.
"This could be the start of a hugely positive pan-profession move to improve working life for many.”
The session will take place on 18th November 2022 from 15:45 – 16:35 at London Vet Show in the Business Theatre. https://london.vetshow.com/conference-programme-2022/menopause-interventions-in-veterinary-practice
Webinarvet will be hosting a lead-in session to this on 15th October 2022 at 8pm. https://www.thewebinarvet.com/webinar/the-m-word-now-is-the-time-to-talk-about-it
Reference
532 veterinary practices responded to the survey, which was sent to 3,096 veterinary practices for which the RCVS had a unique email address, on 3rd April.
The survey found that:
Three-quarters of those who responded to the survey answered a question on how the RCVS could better support veterinary practices through the crisis. The most frequent response (27%) was that the RCVS needed to provide clearer guidance, in particular as to what services it was permissible for veterinary practices to provide [the College published its updated guidance and flowchart on 9 April].
Of those who responded to the question, 15% felt that the RCVS was doing a good job or that there was nothing more it should do, while just 2% of responses expressed negative sentiment towards the RCVS.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive, said: “I would like to thank all those practices who took the time in what is already a very fraught situation to respond to our survey and provide the evidence we need to gain a holistic picture of coronavirus’ impact on the business and economics of veterinary practices. We plan to continue running these surveys on a regular basis in order to gauge impact over time and the findings will feed into our policy and decision-making.
"This ongoing research will also be a vital tool when we are talking to Government and other bodies about the impact of policy on the veterinary sector. On this note, we are aware of the challenges of a minimum furlough period of three weeks given the need for practices to take steps to offer 24/7 emergency and critical care, and have written to government on this with some case studies around the impact this is having.
"To those on the ground it won’t come as too much of a surprise that the impact of the coronavirus has been profound in areas such as practice turnover and staffing, with many vets, veterinary nurses and other support staff being furloughed with the aim of signing them up to the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
"There are some bright spots in the data we’ve gathered – very few practices reported that they had made or were planning to make staff redundant, and many practices reported mitigating the challenge of social distancing by carrying out consultations with new and existing clients remotely.
"Since the survey took place we have also taken steps to meet some of the requests for greater clarity and guidance from the RCVS with the publication of our flowchart helping practices to decide what treatments it is appropriate to carry out safely amidst the COVID-19 pandemic."
The survey results can be read in full at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications.
The next practice impact survey is planned for early May.
CVS has announced the official opening of Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists, a new small animal referral hospital in Alton, Hampshire.
The hospital was officially opened last Saturday by the Town Mayor of Alton during an open day attended by local dignitaries, about a hundred vets and representatives from the veterinary industry and various animal charities. Dr Caner Salih, a consultant cardiac surgeon at the Evelina London Children's Hospital was a special guest.
CVS says it has invested more than £4.3 million to create one of the most advanced, multi-disciplinary specialist veterinary hospitals in the UK. It occupies 1,300 square metres and employs forty people, including nine referral clinicians (seven of whom are boarded specialists), support and admin staff.
Lumbry Park offers a range of advanced diagnostics and treatments for dogs and cats across a range of specialties, including high-field MRI and CT scanning, key-hole surgery, interventional cardiac procedures, and joint replacements. Cardiology specialist Dr Luca Ferasin is Lumbry Park's Clinical Director, reporting to Professor John Innes, CVS' Referral Director.
Simon Innes, Chief Executive of CVS, pictured fifth from left, said: "The opening of Lumbry Park is a proud moment for CVS and the culmination of a huge amount of work by John, Luca and the team involved. They have worked together to create a fantastic environment in which our specialists can offer the highest standard of veterinary care to our patients and their owners and we are delighted to bring their expertise to veterinary practices and their clients right across the South East of England."
CVS Referral Director, Professor John Innes said: "The opening of Lumbry Park marks a major step for CVS in terms of investment in veterinary specialist services and we will work to ensure that it develops an international reputation for the standard of care it provides. The Hospital is easily accessible and has the space and rural setting to provide a professional and pleasant environment for our patients, their owners, and our team. Luca and his excellent team are raring to go and we look forward to welcoming our first patients next week."
Alton Town Mayor Mrs Pam Jones added: "I am delighted that Alton has been chosen as the location for such a prestigious veterinary centre and I am honoured to be asked to open it."
The clinic will be headed up by Dr Ursula Dietrich, an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology, who will be stepping down as senior lecturer in veterinary ophthalmology at The Royal Veterinary College to take up her new post.
Ursula has held a number of prestigious positions including Chair of the Scientific Committee of European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists from 2007-2012, member of the Examination Committee of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists from 2002-2006 and Associate Editor (Ophthalmology) of the Journal of Small Animal Practice since 2012-18. She also holds Diplomas from the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Opthalmologists.
Ursula said: “I am thrilled to take on this new role, heading up The London Cat Clinic’s new opthalmology centre. The clinic is doing wonderful things in feline veterinary care as the largest specialist practice devoted solely to cats in the UK. The ophthalmology service is the next exciting development in achieving our goal of being a centre of excellence in feline veterinary medicine."
London Cat Clinic Founder, Dr Jeremy Campbell, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Dietrich to the team, as she brings with her a wealth of experience in the field of feline ophthalmology. She will be a wonderful asset to The London Cat Clinic, as we embark on an exciting new chapter.”
For more information about referring a case to The London Cat Clinic, visit: https://www.thelondoncatclinic.co.uk/
The company has published data from its 2021 Assure Ewe subsidised testing scheme, which found that 48% of farms that submitted samples after last year’s lambing season tested positive for EAE1 caused by Chlamydia abortus.
This, Ceva says, mirrors the results from the 2020 testing initiative, demonstrating that EAE remains a significant issue on UK farms.
Katherine Timms BVetMed (Hons) MRCVS, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health said: “EAE is a significant problem on UK farms, and it can be exceptionally expensive and frustrating to deal with, as infected sheep aborting and shedding have the potential to cause an abortion storm the following year.
“Any abortion outbreak should therefore be identified and managed as quickly and effectively as possible to help prevent the rest of the ewes in the flock from becoming infected.
"Vaccination and strict biosecurity provide the best protection against EAE and farmers can vaccinate their ewes from five months of age until four weeks prior to tupping, as long as the ewe is not in lamb.”
For further information, contact your local Ceva Animal Health account manager or visit www.enzooticabortion.co.uk.
The 2,200sqm building – equivalent to half a hockey pitch or four netball courts – will include a range of facilities across two floors. It will have two new lecture theatres, a number of IT-rich teaching and learning spaces, general teaching rooms and various environments for teaching clinical skills.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Llewellyn, said: "Our plans for the Veterinary School are proceeding well, with our first student intake to the new veterinary medicine course due in 2020.
"The building on the Harper Adams site will provide a great range of teaching facilities for our students, to complement the wide range of animal facilities we already have on campus. We are excited to see the progress that is being made with the Harper & Keele Veterinary School, which is generating considerable interest within the veterinary profession, and we look forward to seeing the new building take shape in the coming months."
Picture shows: Vice Chancellor Dr David Llewellyn, McPhillips’ Marketing Manager Mark Kiddie, Site Manager Ed Bickford, McPhillips’ Managing Director Paul Inions, Head of Estates and Facilities at Harper Adams University, Jonathan Cain,
Nurtured Pets has launched the Anti-Lick Strip PreventTM, ProTM and Pro CTM, billed as an alternative to the clumsy and uncomfortable e-collar.
The Anti-Lick Strips deter animals from licking, biting or chewing of hot spots, granulomas and surgical sites. According to the company, they are also an effective deterrent to prevent such behaviours brought on by anxiety, boredom or even insect bites.
Hayley Booth, product manager at Nutured Pets said: "The UK pet market has been crying out for products like these for years. The unique bandages have medical grade adhesive on one side and all-natural active ingredients on the other. The combination of cayenne pepper, lemon powder, clove oil and oregano delivers a natural deterrent to the animal's nose and tongue to prevent it from interfering with the affected area.
"The Pro and Pro C are made exclusively for vets; the Pro can be used for direct application onto the pet's fur, ideal for securing IVs or catheters, the Pro C has a stronger adhesive and is ideal for over-wrapping gauze and cast materials.
"The Prevent then provides a profitable over the counter version for take home use. The preventative nature of these pet plasters may help promote healing and lessons the chance of infection, inflammation or re-opened wounds. In clinical trials, pets avoided the Anti-Lick Strip over 90% of the time proving these unique bandage strips really do work.
"The innovative features and benefits of the products themselves combined with extensive retail marketing support and highly visible point of sale display materials mean they're a must have for every vet practice."
For more information or a product sample, visit www.nurturedpets.co.uk or call 02476 302 222.
Anthony Chadwick, a referral dermatologist, has teamed up with other experts to offer a series of web-based seminars with the aim of bringing accessible and convenient CPD to vets. 50 VetSurgeon members can attend the webinars for half price. Just enter the word vetsurgeon in the discount box on the site.
The webinars can be viewed from a practice or office and cover key veterinary topics including:
The webinars will be broadcast between 9.00 pm and 10.00 pm in a series running from 22 April to 27 May 2010.
Anthony said: "Many vets don't finish consulting until 7.00 pm and then have evening or family commitments. This can make finding the time to attend high quality CPD difficult, particularly if it's a long way away.
"Webinars are already proving popular as a convenient but effective form of CPD in many sectors so I'm hoping to help the veterinary profession share the benefits they offer. Certainly my own experience is that they are easy to access and offer excellent value without the hassle of travel and late nights."
To view the webinars vets need a fixed line broadband connection, a PC with a sound card and a headset. Once payment is made, delegates are given instructions online to enable them to view the webinar they have selected.
The cost to view the whole series is £80.
Further information, including the full course schedule, is available at http://www.thewebinarvet.com/ or by contacting Anthony Chadwick on 0151 270 1759.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has restored Joseph Lennox Holmes to the Register of Veterinary Surgeons, two years after he was originally struck off.
Mr Holmes was removed from the Register in February 2012 after the Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of multiple charges of serious professional conduct. Mr Holmes lodged an appeal against the decision, which was heard and dismissed by the Privy Council.
The original charges related to two separate complaints; the first involved numerous charges in respect of Mr Holmes' treatment of a King Charles Spaniel between October 2007 and March 2008; the second, several charges in relation to his treatment of three cats in 2008.
The Committee found that the majority of the charges amounted to serious professional misconduct. In removing Mr Holmes from the Register, the Committee found that "aggravating factors in both... cases included actual injuries to the animals... and a serious breach of the trust which Mr Holmes' clients had placed in him to make the welfare of the animals his primary consideration according to the standards to be expected of the profession". In addition, the Committee cited 10 further aggravating factors including lack of reference to continuing professional development (CPD) in clinical policies and practices; lack of reference to accepted practice; lack of appreciation of the importance of adequate pain relief when performing painful surgical procedures; reluctance to consider referral as an option; and lack of understanding about what information is required by a client to enable fully informed consent to be given.
Following the dismissal of Mr Holmes' appeal by the Privy Council, his first application for restoration was heard by the Disciplinary Committee in February 2013. The Committee was not satisfied that he was fit to be restored to the Register, citing the fact that his application was "premature" and that he had failed to truly appreciate the seriousness of the findings against him. The Committee was also unimpressed with the efforts he had made to keep up-to-date with skills and developments in practice and with his CPD, noting in particular that he had made very limited attempts to observe the function and experience the culture of a modern first opinion practice.
However, in this week's two-day hearing, the Committee was satisfied that Mr Holmes was now fit to be restored to the Register. It heard that Mr Holmes had made a concerted effort to engage in CPD and bring his skills and knowledge up-to-date. During a period of observation at a veterinary practice, he had gained insight into modern practice and the need for veterinary general practitioners to be aware of the advantages in referring patients to specialists.
Professor Noreen Burrows, who chaired and spoke on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, said: "The Committee has concluded that, in the course of genuine efforts to do what was necessary to address the deficiencies identified during the original Inquiry and at the last restoration hearing, the Applicant has at last understood the seriousness of his previous misconduct and has learned new skills and, most importantly, to recognise his limitations from the extensive course of study, reflection, and other training that he has undertaken."
Furthermore, the Committee was satisfied that Mr Holmes had gained a proper understanding of the importance of securing the informed consent of his clients and building a relationship of trust with them and, in addition, recognising the importance of maintaining close relations with fellow professionals and engaging with CPD opportunities.
Additional factors considered when making the decision included: that he had been off the Register for two years; that, through self-improvement, he had equipped himself to treat animals appropriately; the impact that being removed from the Register had in both personal and financial terms; his conduct since being removed from the Register; and, a number of positive testimonials from previous clients and professional colleagues.
The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
Addison’s disease is caused by a reduction in corticosteroid secretion from the adrenal glands. Symptoms can include lack of appetite, tremors or vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, low heart rate, muscle weakness, low body temperature and collapse. If left untreated, Addison’s disease can present as an acute, life-threatening emergency.
Zycortal is the only European licensed treatment for the disease. It is a prolonged-release suspension used as replacement therapy for mineralocorticoid. Dechra says it has proved highly effective in clinical trials with more than 80% of dogs responding positively to treatment1.
The golden rules are available at: www.dechra.co.uk/goldenrules.
Dechra has also produced a series of six video presentations to help veterinary surgeons in their diagnosis and treatment and created a dedicated owner website - www.myaddisonsdog.co.uk - to help owners understand the condition and monitor their pet's progress.
Dechra Brand Manager Craig Sankey said: "Addison’s can be a hidden disease but Zycortal presents a very visible answer. With the wealth of expertise from the endocrinologists, the Five Golden Rules should be an important reference tool for vets.
"We hope that the series of resources we have produced, used in partnership with Zycortal, will make the diagnosis, treatment and management of dogs with Addison’s an easier journey for both vets and owner."
The webinar will be presented by Marge Chandler DVM, MS, MANZCVS, DACVIM (SAIM, Nutrition), MRCVS and Dr Michael Lappin DVM, PhD, DACVIM.
Marge is an independent consultant in small animal nutrition and internal medicine and Chair of the FEDIAF Scientific Advisory Committee, founding member of the European Veterinary Nutrition Educators Group, and Co-Chair of the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee.
Michael is the Kenneth W. Smith Professor in Small Animal Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at Colorado State University. He is on the editorial board of Feline Medicine and Surgery and Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian and is the editor of the textbook, Feline Internal Medicine Secrets.
The webinar will discuss the value supplements can offer to pets who are already on complete diets, how supplements are regulated and the importance of quality control.
The session will also cover the challenges for vets in selecting supplements for their clinical practice, what factors can determine the choice of supplement, and how you can critically evaluate the evidence supporting a supplement.
Marge and Michael will also provide tips for communicating the benefits of supplements to clients.
Daniel Rodes Moltó of the Purina Institute said: “We are pleased to offer this interactive webinar on how to evaluate and select supplements using an evidence-based approach in a non-promotional setting.
"Webinar attendees are welcome to submit questions for our speakers in advance and to ask questions during the live event, which promises to be an enjoyable and lively session supporting the aim of improving the lives of pets.”
https://webapp.spotme.com/login/eventspace/CollaborativeCareMay2023
They say that the free system offers an easy way for veterinary practices to improve client service, streamline workflows, and enhance animal welfare.
Boop uses AI and computer vision to auto-populate vaccination details and capture things like microchip numbers, to ensure certificates are positively identifiable and compliant with the RCVS 10 principles of certification and electronic signing guidance.
Pet owners can then store and access digital vaccination certificates on their mobile phone through the Boop app, where they can also look-up chip details, up to 30% of which are not properly registered.
The app also lets owners share vaccination certificates easily with boarding and day care establishments via email or whatsapp.
Charlie said: “Boop brings a vaccination record service fit for 2025, enabling vets to add more value to their vaccination service and owners to care better for their pet.
"By linking to the microchip, vets can be confident that every record belongs to the right pet—making care safer, more accurate, and more convenient.”
Once signed up, practices can start issuing digital vaccination certificates immediately, without changing their existing PMS or workflows.
www.booppet.app/vets
The WikiQuiz project - a free online question and answer tool which enables vets, vet students and vet nurses to test their knowledge - is now online thanks to £4,770 of funding from the RCVS Trust.
WikiQuiz is a new resource to enable vets and students to structure and direct their learning, and links directly to information on WikiVet, the free research and academic collaboration resource put together by over 40 academics, veterinary surgeons and students from the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and Nottingham, and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). However, unlike its namesake Wikipedia, WikiVet is designed to be an accurate, peer-reviewed source of information for the veterinary profession and tailored to the undergraduate veterinary curriculum. Some of the material is also of interest to veterinary nurses, in particular those pursuing advanced professional qualifications.
Nick Short, Head of E-Media at the RVC said: "WikiQuiz is purpose-built for vets and students to structure and direct their learning. The questions and answers in WikiQuiz will help vets and veterinary students and work out what topics they might need to study, and link them directly to relevant information published on WikiVet.
"The Wikipedia concept is familiar and popular with students and vets; however, the information on the site can lack quality and relevance", he continued. "In creating WikiVet, we've used the look and feel of Wikipedia - but by making WikiVet available only to veterinary students, surgeons and nurses, introducing a peer-review system and appointing an editorial board to oversee the site, we can ensure the information published is relevant and accurate.
"We are hugely grateful to the RCVS Trust for supporting this project."
Cherry Bushell, RCVS Trust Director said: "Veterinary undergraduates and veterinary surgeons alike need to be able to assess where there are any gaps in their knowledge as part of planning their learning and development. The WikiQuiz resource helps them to do this.
"Using good quality online tools and information can save vets and students valuable time - which is one reason why we chose to support WikiQuiz. The WikiVet project also fits very well with the online Library services provided to vets, veterinary nurses and students by the Trust."
Veterinary surgeons, students and nurses can apply for a free log-in to WikiVet at http://www.wikivet.net/.
The RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee has suspended a Northants-based registered veterinary nurse who admitted to acting dishonestly with her employer, a client and a pet database company by taking home a patient that was supposed to have been euthanised.
During the two-day hearing, the Committee heard how Sally-Ann Roberts, formerly of the Best Friends Veterinary Group in Thrapston, had deliberately gone against the wishes of the owners of a 14-year-old Maine Coon cat called Jason that he be euthanised, rather than treated further, and instead had taken the cat home with her for "intensive nursing". Jason had subsequently escaped from Ms Robert's residence, leading her to fabricate a story, first to the pet database company, and then to Jason's owners and her employer, that he had escaped from the practice, before being returned by a member of the public two days later and then euthanised as originally requested.
Ms Roberts acted with her veterinary surgeon colleague Przemyslaw Bogdanowicz, who chose not to euthanise Jason and who, for his part, received a three-month suspension from the RCVS Disciplinary Committee in December 2012. She repeated the false account on a number of occasions, both orally and in written statements, and also forged the signature of Jason's owner on official documentation in order to substantiate her story.
Only when Ms Roberts was interviewed for a second time by her then employer's area manager, did she finally admit to what had actually happened. Shortly afterwards, Ms Roberts was suspended from the practice and, following an internal disciplinary hearing a few days later, was dismissed by them for gross misconduct, along with Mr Bogdanowicz. There was no evidence available as to what ultimately happened to Jason.
Explaining her actions to the Committee, Ms Roberts said she was upset that Jason's owners wanted him to be euthanised and felt that he could recover if given some love and attention. She had asked Mr Bogdanowicz to discuss this possibility with Jason's owners, but he had refused, agreeing instead that she could continue Jason's treatment at her home. After Jason escaped, Ms Roberts said she was "devastated" and had "panicked", inventing the story of Jason's escape to cover her actions, which she now acknowledged were "wrong" and "stupid", and which she "bitterly regretted". Ms Roberts expressed sorrow and remorse for her behaviour, which she said would never occur again, and stated that being a veterinary nurse was everything to her.
In view of the admitted facts, the Committee judged that Ms Robert's dishonesty and breach of client trust, as well the distinct risk of injury to which she exposed Jason, amounted to serious professional misconduct. In deciding on an appropriate sanction, the Committee balanced a number of aggravating factors (in particular, the forged signature) against Ms Roberts' "strong mitigation", which included her admitting the entirety of the charges against her, her medical and personal problems at the time, the insight she had shown into the effects of her actions on Jason's owners and her previous unblemished career.
Professor Peter Lees, chairing and speak on behalf of the Committee, said: "The Committee has concluded that the Respondent has shown insight into the seriousness of her misconduct and that there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour. In light of the Respondent's admission, her insight, her remorse and the high regard in which she is held by her professional colleagues, it is the Committee's view that the sanction of two months' suspension is appropriate and proportionate."
The Committee's full decisions on facts and sanction are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary.
The outreach programme began earlier this month at the Devon County Show (pictured right), where the College used the opportunity to spread the word about its petsneedvets campaign, handing out over 1000 promotional bags in the process.
Next on the itinerary is the Royal Welsh Show near Builth Wells from the 23rd to 26th July. From there, the College will be heading to the BBC Countryfile Live event, held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire from the 2nd to 5th August.
Ian Holloway, Director of Communications at the RCVS, said: "Following the success and popularity of our stand at Countryfile Live over the past two years we decided that this year we would broaden our horizons and attend some of the UK’s most prestigious and well-attended regional events.
"We have our ever-popular careers materials available, and it was wonderful to see dozens of young people at the Devon County Show asking us about how they can become veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, as they always have the past two years at Countryfile. This is a really encouraging level of interest in the professions and we’re very happy to provide information to help them fulfil their aspirations.
"Attending more and different public events is a trend we are very keen on continuing with and we will be looking at other events to attend in different parts of the UK for next year."
For more information about upcoming events involving the RCVS visit www.rcvs.org.uk/events
Photo: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Given the improbability of anyone being alerted by a goldfish: "blub-blub-behind-blub-you-blub-blub-the-blub-frying-blub-blub-pan-is-blub-on-fire-blub", one has to presume the respondents were talking about dogs.
But no, according to npower, 10% of the participants in its survey reported that their cat or dog had directly saved their life, or the life of someone they know.
Really? Saved by a cat? I should have thought a cat would be more likely to turn on it's heels and strut out of the room nonchalantly.
Still, the point of the npower's research was to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide. In its press release, the company pointed out that pets can suffer CO poisoning symptoms of vomiting, tiredness and erratic behaviour before people.
So perhaps that's what the cat owners meant when they'd been saved by the cat: like a miner would say they were saved by a canary.
The RSPCA is asking veterinary surgeons to take part in a new survey which aims to build a true picture of the scale of the problem of illegally imported puppies being brought into the UK.
Amongst other things, the survey asks what you consider to be the greatest concerns regarding the poor breeding, dealing and illegal import of puppies and what you think can be done to tackle these and the associated problems.
You can take part in the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/QQNBVFV
James Yeates, Chief Veterinary Officer, said: "RSPCA intelligence suggests that there is a growing illegal trade in puppies from other EU countries and is causing serious health and welfare problems. In many cases puppies are dying or becoming seriously ill. Risk factors appear to include being taken from their mothers too early, not being vaccinated and having to endure long journeys in poor conditions.
"However, it's very difficult to get a full view on the scale of the problem as many cases never get reported to the RSPCA. Vets are likely to be the first port of call when a puppy bought by an unsuspecting buyer becomes sick and may be faced with many of these cases - if sadly not all.
"We're interested in hearing from vets to get their evidence from practice and to hear their ideas about how we can tackle the lucrative illegal trade in puppies."
The newly-formed British Mobile Veterinary Association has announced that it will officially launch alongside the London Vet Show, at The Bird In Hand in Kensington at 7:00pm on the 19th November.
The launch will include an inaugural general meeting (AGM) followed by a networking dinner with special guest, mobile vet colleague, author, LVS speaker and IAAHPC President, Dr. Kathy Cooney, DVM (USA).
Co-Founder and owner of Vets2Home - Peaceful Pet Goodbyes Susan Gregersen said: "Having been a mobile vet for ten years, I am thrilled to see such a massive year-on-year increase in new mobile practices around the UK over the past 10 years and it seems a logical step to organise the growing number of colleagues operating this rather atypical and alternative practice model in an official Association.
Amy Bergs, owner of The Cat Doctor in Surrey and co-founder of the BMVA said: "It is our hope, through the BMVA and the online directory of mobile member practices, that we can help raise awareness among pet owners and vet colleagues alike about the valuable and high standard of services we offer to pets and their owners in their own home."
Susan added: "Offering veterinary health care to our patients in their own home, whenever possible, is a natural progression in a convenience-driven society and where companion animals are now regarded as fully fledged family members seeking only the very best in veterinary attention and health care. Demand for these services are clearly exploding as many owners now turn to dedicated, un-hurried and convenient services such as those offered by personal, flexible mobile vets and as comprehensive services are often offered in collaboration with local, forward-thinking full-service practices."
Amy, who is a cat-only mobile vet in her third year, added: "Providing quality at-home veterinary care is rewarding but not always easy, often requiring skills and techniques that can only be gained through experience. The ability to exchange and build professional knowledge in this developing, niche area is therefore invaluable and we hope all mobile vet colleagues in the UK will join us in this new initiative. By bringing together many like-minded individuals into an official association and online mobile vet directory, we aim to increase awareness of this alternative type of veterinary care – a goal which will benefit not only our members but also the patients and clients that appreciate our services."
For more information, membership enquiries or if you would like to attend the first AGM in London, contact Susan Gregersen on info@bmva.org.uk or call on 01273 842115. The BMVA and Online Directory can be found on www.bmva.org.uk (don't get the letters jumbled up) which will be launched shortly after the inauguration.
The marketing pack includes a poster, leaflet and a counter top display which highlight the stress factors facing pets and provide pet owners with an overview of how Feliway and Adaptil help pets cope with challenging situations.
Ceva will also be running a competition for pet owners to win £150 of John Lewis vouchers in a prize draw. To enter, they need to email cevauk@ceva.com with the subject 'Stress Free Christmas' and their name and contact number. The competition closes on 24 December 2017 and the winner will be contacted by telephone in January 2018.
Claire Russell, brand manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Big family gatherings, noisy toys and being home alone more often are just some of the stressful situations that pets can find themselves in during the festive period. Our new marketing pack will help highlight these stress factors amongst pet owners and raise awareness of how Feliway and Adaptil can help support their pets."
To request a Christmas marketing pack, contact your Ceva Animal Health account manager, email cevauk@ceva.com or contact customer services on 01494 781510.
The company says there is often an increase in admissions of hibernating species at this time of year, particularly hedgehogs, and it is thought that numbers of sick and injured wildlife handed over by the general public may increase this year as people spend more time in their gardens and local parks due to coronavirus restrictions.
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society suggests that if uncertain about a hedgehog’s hydration status, it is always best to assume a degree of dehydration.
Macahl regularly donates Oralade to wildlife sanctuaries where it is in widespread use. One such sanctuary is the Wildlife Aid Foundation, based in Surrey, which says: "We frequently use Oralade to help our patients which are suffering from mild dehydration and are reluctant to eat. It works really well for species such as hedgehogs, foxes and badgers as the smell seems to encourage them to lap. It really does give them a boost and can get them eating solid food again which is critical for their rehabilitation."
Macahl says Oralade GI support is suitable for oral rehydration in many wildlife species, including hedgehogs. The suggested maintenance dose is 50ml per kg per 24hrs, with additional quantities needed to correct a hydration deficit. Identifying dehydration is similar to pet species, and includes assessment of skin tent, gum colour, and capillary refill time.
The website, web-vetneurology.com, has an open access veterinary neurology literature section with up-to-date research on all aspects of neurological diagnosis and treatment.
The website also includes a case study section showing video footage and cross-sectional imaging studies of interesting and illustrative cases.
New, common and rare cases of clinical neurology presentations seen in cats and dogs are added every month.
There's also a range of webinars and podcasts.
The first podcast series - Neurology for Vets and Pets – aims to demystify veterinary neurology in small ‘bite-sized’ episodes, aiming to keep vets up to date on how to diagnose and treat the most common problems in practice and the clinical signs they will see in their cat and dog patients.
The second - Neurology for Specialists - is for vets who have a special interest in neurology, looking at the most challenging neurological problems in dogs and cats, and focusing on the latest publications - often presented by the authors of these studies.
Laurent Garosi said: “The reason behind this website is purely altruistic. We share a passion for neurology and - like the launch of our earlier Facebook page – we wanted to use this platform to share the fifty-plus combined years of experience we have between us.
“We do hope that we have created a comprehensive source of veterinary education and that it will act as an invaluable veterinary neurology resource for vets around the globe for many years to come.”
The website has been developed and supported by PRN Pharmacal in the United States.
Organisers of The London Vet Show 2009 report that the event was a great sucess, greeted with 'considerable delight' by delegates and exhibitors alike.
The event, which featured clinical and commercial lectures as well as a major exhibition, ran on 6th and 7th November at London's Olympia Conference Centre. 2410 veterinary professionals attended, and most were there for both days.
VetSurgeon.org attended the event, asking commercial exhibitors: "What's New?" Those of you that didn't make it to the show can click here to watch a video of their answers.
Overall feedback from vets about the quality of the CPD programme was overwhelmingly positive. Delegate feedback forms rated the quality of speakers in the programme as 4.39 out of 5, and rated the event as 4.68 out of 5 in terms of value for money.
Rachel Bolus of Riverside Veterinary Practice said: "All the lectures were to a really good standard - a lot of CPD for a very cheap price."
Bridget O'Farrell of Dick Vet Small Animal Practice agreed: "Very cheap for two days of CPD and the quality of the speakers has been very good. I went to five lectures yesterday and planning on six today. It's been a very worthwhile exercise and I would certainly recommend this to my peers".
Event organiser Phil Nelson said: "We have witnessed an amazing two days, surpassing all delegate estimates and it's gone down really well. The 2010 exhibition is already 40% bigger than this year almost 12 months out and looks set to sell out. We are carefully listening to the delegates and exhibitors comments, and have already a number of plans to develop and build the event going forward. But as a starting point we could never have dreamt for the launch event to be so well received."
For 2010 the London Vet Show is moving to the bigger Olympia National Hall having out grown the Conference Centre. It will run on October 22nd and 23rd. It is committed to retaining the same approach to offering affordable and World Class CPD qualifying clinical and commercial content for all the UKs vets. Having very quickly established itself as a major part of the veterinary calendar the organisers expect to announce their 2010 programme in the early part of 2010.
Virbac Animal Health has announced that registrations on BackHome BioTec, the company's microchip identification service, were moved to the Petlog Database with effect from Monday 12 September 2011.
Virbac says it moved to the UK's largest independent microchip registration database in order to offer an enhanced level of service and support, both to veterinary staff and pet owners.
Practices using the BackHome BioTec system are being asked to log onto www.virbacbackhome.co.uk to create a new account.
Gillian Brown, Product Manager for BackHome at Virbac, said: "BackHome has established itself as a popular, cost-effective and easy to use microchipping system. We believe that in appointing Petlog to manage our registrations we will now be offering a 'best of breed' service for veterinary staff and pet owners.
"We're extremely grateful to Celia Walsom, Petlog Executive, and her team. They have demonstrated unfailing energy, expertise and total dedication to ensuring this move has run smoothly and effectively for all our customers. I am confident that they will benefit from Petlog's commitment to provide a comprehensive identification service which is easy, convenient and secure to use.
"All our existing customers need to do is go to the new website (www.virbacbackhome.co.uk/) and set up an account - it's a simple and quick process. We'll also be providing a range of promotional materials to help them communicate the change to their own clients."
Petlog is owned and managed by the Kennel Club. Virbac says it is fully data compliant and defers income to ensure it can honour its lifetime promise to pet owners. Its Lost and Found helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year and it is also a founder member of the European Pet Network.
Further information on BackHome BioTec is available on the new website, which also contains a direct link to Petlog.
For further information about BackHome BioTec, please contact your Virbac Territory Manager or call the company on 01359 243243.