Animalcare has announced that its Pentobarbital product, Pentoject, will be back in wholesalers in February. 

The company says a combination of unprecedented demand for the product and logistics issues, together with an issue involving the manufacturer of the active ingredient, has resulted in a delay in receiving stock into the UK.

Animalcare says it has a shipment awaiting dispatch to the UK from its European manufacturing plant as soon as licensing is completed by the VMD, Home Office and European counterparts. There is another batch in production, expected into the UK in early March.

Kai Crawshaw, Product Manager at Animalcare, said: "We are working hard with the VMD and Home Office to expedite the import licensing process and also with our manufacturer to ensure we can get as much stock as quickly as possible back into the marketplace. We sincerely apologise to any clinics that are experiencing a shortage but are glad to say that stock is on the way."

Fort Dodge has released figures today which point to a continued modest slowdown in the UK veterinary sector, being mitigated by a slight increase in average transaction value (the amount a client spends in a year).

Matthew Rowe, Companion Animal Marketing Manager at Fort Dodge, said:  "It's been clear for some time that the veterinary sector is being hit by static growth and an increasingly competitive environment.  The reduction in turnover being experienced by many practices is primarily down to current clients visiting less often and fewer new clients being attracted."

Key findings of the Fort Dodge Index for the first quarter of 2009 are:

• Turnover growth (derived from professional fees and drug sales) has decreased to 0.7% from 1.1% in March 2008 which, according to FDI analyst Alan Robinson, looks less optimistic for practices looking to achieve a 6-7% annual growth rate to maintain growth above inflation.
• Turnover per vet is up 1% partly due a slight reduction in overall vet numbers. The data shows that professional fees and vet generated turnover is up by 0.8% and 2.5% respectively, reflecting increased surgical consultations but slightly reduced surgical procedures. Nurse turnover is up by 1.7%.
• Transaction volume growth (derived from active client and patient numbers and their frequency of visits to the practice) has decreased to -0.7% from -0.3% last year. The reduction in client numbers is due mainly to reduced numbers of new clients (-3%) compared with -1.1% this time last year. On a more positive note, client retention at +2.5% helps to counteract this. It compares with a figure of 0.9% last year.
• Total client growth reduced by -0.5% this quarter and, when it comes to numbers of clients being lost by practices, Alan Robinson says it's clear that 'bonded' clients (those with vaccinated animals) are more easily retained with only -0.2% being lost. For non-bonded clients, the loss rate is higher at -0.7%.
• The contribution of nurse consultations to practice turnover has increased slightly. They now make up 6.7% of practice turnover, up 1.1% on March 2008
• Average transaction value has shown a 10.7% increase from £35.97 in March 2008 to £39.83 per visit in this quarter. Transaction value is generated by the prices charged for products and services and the number of products and services sold per transaction.

Alan Robinson said:  "In the current climate, the only contributor to turnover growth in many practices seems to be a steady rise in the price of professional fees, consultations and surgery.  These have continued to push up average transaction values (by 1.4%) and client values (1.2%) in this first quarter of 2009 despite reducing visit frequency.  Drug related income increases seem to be driven by a small increase of POM mark-ups in many practices.

"But this alone will not sustain a successful business and, with transaction volumes still falling, the priority for practices is to maintain client footfall despite increasing competition and falling pet ownership.  In today's market, retaining clients is a cheaper and more effective way to maintain client and patient numbers so an emphasis on 'bonding' clients though preventative health care and heath maintenance programmes is key.

"We're seeing a steady increase in the number of practices running these programmes but the percentage of pets involved is still woefully low so the message is that practices can and must do better.

Invicta Animal Health has announced the launch of Ocuvance, a nutritional supplement to support ocular health in dogs and cats.

The company says Ocuvance is formulated to provide an antioxidant complex supporting and maintaining the health of eyes. The tablets contain lutein, a xanthophyll pigment found within the eye. They also contain anthocyanosides derived from bilberry extract to support rhodopsin production. The formulation also contains vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium.

Ocuvance is presented in packs of 30 scored tablets; sufficient for a one month supply for the average sized dog.

Rob Watkins, Managing Director of Invicta, said: "We are delighted to make Ocuvance available to veterinary surgeons in the UK. A recent veterinary study¹ has shown there can be significant ophthalmic benefits of antioxidant supplementation.

We carefully formulated Ocuvance to provide a range of high quality ingredients to maintain normal visual function whilst still being affordable for owners”.

Ocuvance is now available from all veterinary wholesalers.

Reference

1. Williams, D. Fitchie, A. Colitz, C. An Oral Antioxidant Formulation Delaying and Potentially Reversing Canine Diabetic Cataract: A Placebo-controlled Double-masked Pilot Study. Int J Diabetes Clin Res 2015, 2:1

According to this month's Veterinary Practice magazine, Vetstream Ltd., the erstwhile publisher of Veterinary Review, has been granted a Company Voluntary Arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986. 

VP reports that the CVA is an alternative to liquidation which in this case will allow Vetstream to make a partial repayment to it's creditors (who are collectively owed £1.15 million) of 40.08p in the pound over three years.

As I reported earlier, Vetstream Ltd now plans to focus on electronic media, including its CD-Rom products (Canis, Felis, Equis and Lapis) and www.myvetstream.com.

With the latter, they face some stiff competition, not least from this site which uses state-of-the-art software to provide the latest networking and information sharing features for vets, but also vetsonline.com, a more recent entrant to the marketplace from the publishers of Vet Times.

The BVA, the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) and Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) have jointly welcomed a New Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens and Pullets which was laid before parliament on Thursday.

The new code is one of a series of welfare codes currently being reviewed and updated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) following recent consultations.

BVA President John Fishwick said: "We warmly welcome these updates and we are particularly pleased to see the vital role the veterinary profession plays in maintaining poultry welfare recognised throughout the new code.

"We are also delighted to see the benefits of veterinary surveillance systems highlighted, with owners and keepers encouraged to use local and national disease surveillance sources to better understand poultry disease patterns and their local health and welfare landscape. This was a key element in our joint consultation response and reflects BVA’s recently published Position on veterinary scanning surveillance (animal health and disease monitoring).

"We are also pleased to see signposting within the Code of Practice to the Humane Slaughter Association’s Code of Practice for the Disposal of Chicks in Hatcheries, which outlines in detail information about humane methods of killing and good practice.

"The British poultry industry has some of the highest welfare standards in the world and the veterinary profession is fully committed to working with Defra on further enhancing animal welfare codes to reflect best industry practice."

Photo: Flock of Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Roaming Freely in Front of Chicken Sheds on a Farm in the Rural Village of Chenson, Devon. Shutterstock / Peter Turner Photography

The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative has published A Guide to Enhancing Wellbeing and Managing Work Stress in the Veterinary Workplace.

Written in association with Dr Elinor O’Connor, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, the guide is designed for anyone with an interest in the wellbeing of the veterinary team. It provides practical advice to veterinary workplaces on managing stress and promoting wellbeing, alongside examples from the three winning practices of the 2016 MMI/SPVS Wellbeing Awards.

Elinor said: "Addressing stress in veterinary work not only has benefits for the health and wellbeing of each person in the veterinary team, but the business case for reducing work-related stress is clear; stress is associated with poorer performance, increased absenteeism and higher employee turnover. The wellbeing guide provides information about proven techniques for reducing stress at work combined with suggestions for how they might be applied in veterinary workplaces."

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO and Mind Matters Director, said: "Stress at work is an important issue right across the veterinary team. It is sometimes considered just an acceptable part of working in an environment that can be difficult to control, but things can change.

"By making wellbeing a priority practices can support individuals and help their team work better together, and thus provide the best treatment for the animals under their care. This leaflet unpacks some of the root causes of work-related stress and may be of particular interest to practice managers, line managers or health and safety officers."

Good to see that the guide includes a recommendation that practices have measures in place to identify and resolve conflict at work and a clear policy on harassment or bullying, something which research by VetSurgeon.org, VetNurse.co.uk and ex-BSAVA Head of Scientific Policy, Sally Everitt MRCVS found correlated with reduced reports of sustained unpleasant behaviour in practice, a significant source of stress.

The guide can be downloaded here: https://www.vetmindmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/MMI-12pp-web.pdf.

Ceva Animal Health has launched Dermipred (prednisolone) for the management of pruritus and skin inflammation in cases of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD).

Dermipred is available in two pack sizes – 10mg and 20mg - to treat a range of dog sizes. Both presentations feature a four-way break tablet to enable accurate and flexible dosing, and the product is flavoured to aid compliance. The product is blister-packed for easy dispensing.

Ceva has produced an accompanying electronic brochure on CAD management options. It includes: understanding and decoding CAD, diagnosis and management of the condition.

Allison Henry, Dermipred product manager at Ceva said: "CAD affects approximately a million dogs in the UK, with 70% of all owners believing that the condition has had an impact on their dogs’ quality of life¹.

"The addition of Dermipred to Ceva’s extensive dermatology range will provide veterinary professionals with even more treatment options for the management of pruritus and skin inflammation in CAD cases."

To support the launch of Dermipred, Ceva will be running an offer on its dermatology range of products: every client purchasing a box of each Dermipred presentation and a bottle of Modulis will receive one box of Dermipred 10mg, one bottle of the same Modulis size and one bottle of Douxo Calm shampoo and mousse free.

For further information, contact your local Ceva account manager or email cevauk@ceva.com.

Reference

1. Linek M, Favrot C. Impact of CAD on the Health-Related Quality of Life of A ected Dogs and the Quality of Life of Their Owners. Vet Derm 2010 Oct;21(5):456-62. 

Zoetis has added digital cytology testing to Vetscan Imagyst, giving practices access to a network of remote pathologists and AI technology for fecal testing. 

With Vetscan Imagyst, samples are prepared in-clinic using traditional methods, but submitted digitally, rather than sending physical slides to a laboratory. In this way, results are available in hours, allowing vets to offer same-day diagnosis and treatment.

The company says the new digital cytology application offers fast, accurate reviews of common cytology specimens, such as fine-needle aspirates,

Jamie Brannan, President International Operations, Zoetis said: "Veterinarians have told us that Vetscan Imagyst technology helps them make better informed decisions in a more transparent way for pet owners. With the cytology feature, Vetscan Imagyst will now offer one platform for multiple tests.”

He added: “We are excited to build on the incredible momentum that began with the AI fecal analysis launch. Vetscan Imagyst has been a significant part of the Zoetis portfolio and continues to evolve to meet diagnostic needs in practices around the world. The unique all-in-one technology has added immense value to veterinary clinics, facilitating fast, more accurate results, leading to quicker diagnoses and decisions that ultimately strengthen the bond of trust between veterinarians and their clients.”

For more information, contact your Zoetis representative or visit www.vetscanimagyst.com

VetSurgeon.org has launched a new survey of vets designed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of social media as a professional tool, and what more could be done to help the profession collaborate more effectively.

Probably the two most popular social media platforms for veterinary surgeons in the UK are Facebook (and its various veterinary groups) and VetSurgeon.org.

Facebook has the advantage that so many people use it to share photographs with family and friends, so they are already on the site and it is only a very short hop over to participate in a veterinary discussion group. That makes it an excellent way to get a broad opinion on almost any subject. 

But, and it is a very big 'but', Facebook was never designed to be a platform for sharing clinical information or discussing cases. So, for example, you cannot see the professional qualifications of anyone contributing to the discussion unless they happen also to be your 'friend', so it can be hard to tell whether they have any idea what they're talking about, or are, in fact, the leading light. 

There are various other aspects of Facebook that are problematic when it comes to clinical discussions, including the difficulty in referring back to useful information shared and the way in which 'me too' replies can drown out good quality information. 

The survey aims to find out how much of a problem vets think these things are, whether certain groups within the profession could be better served by social media - for example those that may find it daunting asking for help in an online group, and what features vets would like VetSurgeon.org to invest in.

The survey can be completed anonymously, but if you give your name at the end, you'll be entered into a draw for a case of champagne (or equivalent). 

Take part here: https://bit.ly/2lzzpy4

Please share this story amongst your colleagues!

VetSurgeon.org has relaunched its community as THE most effective way for veterinary surgeons to get answers to their questions.

It’s very simple.

If you’re a member of VetSurgeon.org, visit the site as soon as possible, and login.

You will then see a red box inviting you to subscribe to a NEW daily or weekly email digest of new questions posted by fellow vets. The box is on the main site home page, and on the community home page.

Subscribe. Today. Now. No time like the present.

Then, whenever you have a question, post it on the site and it will be added to the digest and sent to all subscribed members of the community.

When you get your VetSurgeon Digest, you’ll be presented with a list of the latest questions to skim, both clinical and non-clinical.

Some may catch your eye because you can help, others because you too are interested to know the answer.

Either way, time spent helping others with their questions, or reading answers, counts towards your annual CPD requirement for which you can generate a certificate on the site.

Furthermore, all questions and answers are databased as a searchable knowledge resource for everyone, so whether you’re asking or answering, you’re giving something back to your profession.

So, subscribe now! Did I say that already?

BENEFITS FOR VETERINARY SURGEONS

• Posting your question to be shared on the Daily Digest will be the quickest way to get your question out to the largest number of colleagues.
• The VetSurgeon Community now exists solely to help vets help one another.
• The new question format helpfully focuses the mind, both of the questioner and the answerer.
• All questions and answers add to a searchable bank of opinion and knowledge.
• Everyone who answers questions is strongly encouraged to share their level of qualification / experience, so as to put their answer in context
• Answers from referral practitioners, academia and industry are highlighted (when marked as the answer)

In short, this offers all the benefits of social media for knowledge-sharing, but with none of the baggage that so often comes with it.

The Animal Protection Agency (APA) is highlighting the publication of new, evidence-based guidelines for the inspection of animal establishments such as pet shops, breeding centres, boarding kennels and sanctuaries.

For decades, animal welfare and public health issues have been reported at a variety of animal establishments. The Animal Protection Agency says that inconsistent inspection methods and a lack of objective guidelines have contributed to a situation it describes as unacceptable.

The new report, ‘Guidelines for Inspection of Companion and Commercial Animal Establishments', which was part-funded by the APA and is published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science¹, offers guidelines for animal husbandry (including invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds) and inspection protocols for a variety of commercial and non-commercial establishments.

Space for animals, responsible handover, facility layout and human health and safety are among the issues detailed in the publication, which also offers a scoring tool.

The APA says the publication is believed to be the most objective information resource of its kind anywhere in the world. It is freely accessible to anyone, whether for formal governmental, professional managerial or private use.

Lead author and biologist Clifford Warwick said: "Clear, definitive and objective guidance for animal care and facility inspection has long been needed to enable responsible authorities to oversee animal health and welfare with confidence, and hopefully many will welcome and find helpful this new report."

Co-author and veterinary expert Mike Jessop MRCVS said: "Animal welfare and improved public health are the clear winners from a standardised inspection system that is applicable to all companion animal establishments. Moving to a more objective and evidenced system of inspection is long overdue. The same principles and protocols are readily adaptable to encompass inspection of any animal holding facility."

Animal Protection Agency Director Elaine Toland said: "Britain has been called a 'nation of animal lovers', and many want the best for their pets. But there is also a nation of 'animal traders and keepers' out there who often aim to provide the most 'cost effective' and therefore lowest possible standards of space, habitat and general care that they can get away with, and that mindset needs to change."

Reference

1. Warwick C, Jessop M, Arena P, Pilny A and Steedman C (2018) Guidelines for Inspection of Companion and Commercial Animal Establishments. Front. Vet. Sci. 5:151. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00151 

The traditional NVQ 'portfolio' system for student veterinary nurses could be phased out from next summer, under draft proposals from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Awarding Body, which has responsibility for the delivery of VN qualifications.

Proposals include an initial year of full-time college study, during which the student does not need to be employed in a Training Practice (TP), the introduction of compulsory farm animal work experience, the phasing out of the separate Equine Veterinary Nursing qualification and a reduction in practice-based assessment.

The catalyst for reviewing the VN qualification came from Ofqual's plans to introduce the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) from summer next year, which effectively scraps the NVQ in its current form. This gave the RCVS Awarding Body an excellent opportunity to reconsider work-based training for VNs in order to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.

The Awarding Body's proposals, on which comments are invited, aim to reduce bureaucracy for those involved with VN training, increase the number of practices able to take part and improve accessibility of training, ultimately increasing the number of qualified VNs available to the profession.

Under the new proposals, VN work-based training would be a two-year, 70-credit Level 3 qualification, equivalent to 700 hours' learning. The first year of this qualification could be delivered either as a full-time college course, or as a part-time day-release over two years (extending the complete training to three years). The first year would incorporate 25 days' work placement, including small animal, equine and farm animal environments - the first time a compulsory farm animal component has been introduced. This first year of the course could be directly accessed by school leavers, as there is no requirement for them to be employed in a practice.

Students would be employed in a Training Practice for the second 'clinical' year (or third year for part-time students). An online log of practical experience, similar to the Professional Development Phase for new veterinary graduates, would replace the current portfolio, with a more comprehensive end-of-year practical exam. There would no longer be a requirement for practice-based assessors, although students would still need to be supported by an experienced clinical mentor, a role many current assessors may assume.

The economic feasibility of Equine Veterinary Nurse (EVN) training was also considered, with the conclusion that a broader-based primary qualification, with all students carrying out work experience in a range of practice types, was more sustainable.

The number of training practices has long been recognised as a limiting factor in the UK's capacity to train VNs. In addition to standard TPs, proposals have therefore been made for Auxiliary TPs (ATPs). ATPs would be able to employ and train VN students even if they do not have the facilities to provide all of the work experience required:  a formal agreement to allow students to fill the gaps at another practice would be in place.

Finally, the proposals include a beefed up range of post-registration education options, allowing Registered Veterinary Nurses to develop, and be recognised, in their own areas of interest. This would help to create a career ladder for RVNs and assist in their retention within the profession.

"The proposals have been developed following a period of consultation with those involved with the delivery of VN training, and with employers," says Jacqui Molyneux, RCVS Council Member and Chairman of the VN Awarding Body.

"Feedback suggests that the current syllabus and training provides competent nurses who are highly regarded within the profession, but that training is overly burdensome for the practices involved. This, coupled with a recognised shortage of both Training Practices and qualified VNs, meant it was appropriate to think more creatively about how the qualification could be delivered. We hope that the draft proposals will be welcomed by both the veterinary nursing and veterinary professions, and would urge people involved to let us know what they think."

The proposals are available on RCVSonline (www.rcvs.org.uk/latestnews ) - please email your comments to Miss Jane Dawson, Project Consultant (jkhdawson@aol.com), by 31 October 2009. It is appreciated that this is a short deadline, however, the time-frame of the QCF is driving development, as is the need to allow colleges and training providers the maximum possible time to develop the new training structure for 2010/11 delivery.