Veterinary surgeons Lewis Grant and Professor Quintin McKellar have joined Dr Lydia Brown in the New Year's Honours List.
Mr Grant, former veterinary manager in the Meat Hygiene Service, Food Standards Agency and animal welfare representative of the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) was awarded an MBE. Professor Quintin McKellar, Principal of the Royal Veterinary College has been awarded a CBE for services to science.
BVA Honorary Member the Earl of Selborne was also recognised with a GBE for services to science.
Harvey Locke, President of the BVA, said: "On behalf of the BVA I would like to congratulate Dr Brown, Lewis Grant, Professor McKellar and Lord Selborne on their fantastic achievements. These national honours underline the importance of veterinary medicine."
BCF Technology has announced the launch of the Logiq S7 Expert ultrasound system.
BCF says the new system offers the latest in ultrasound technology and represents a significant leap forward in imaging capability.
The Logiq S7 ultrasound system includes features such as B-Flow, Elastography, Flow Quantification, Contrast Imaging, B-Steer+, 3D/4D ultrasound, Volume Imaging and Multi-Modality Imaging Display.
Nigel Perry from BCF said: "The new Logiq S7 Expert provides the highest image quality currently available in the market. With a wide range of probes available for every veterinary application. If you are looking for the ultimate in ultrasound capability then the Logiq S7 is the system for you."
For more information, visit http://www.bcftechnology.co.uk/ or call +44(0)1506 460 023.
Guidelines on the examination of rams for breeding have now been officially updated, thanks to the pooled expertise of delegates at a recent Sheep Fertility Workshop, sponsored by Ceva Animal Health, the Sheep Veterinary Society and EBLEX-AHDB.The previous Sheep Veterinary Society guidelines on the examination of rams for breeding were drawn up in 2007. However, the society says that to date, there has been considerable variation in the practice of ram fertility testing amongst sheep vets across the country.
The Sheep Fertility Workshop, which was held in Edinburgh in June 1014, brought together veterinary experts and scientists to discuss the provision of a comprehensive, evidence-based, best practice protocol, with clear recommendations for practitioners on the assessment of rams.Dr Fiona Lovatt, senior vice president of the Sheep Veterinary Society and director of Flock Health Ltd, who coordinated the workshop, said: "The outcome of some active debating was the recognition that various elements of the guidelines needed to be updated in line with currently recognised best practice. One thing that is really essential is that the practising vet is clear as to the reason for the ram PBE and carefully considers how to communicate the findings and their limitations to the ram's owner."
The updated guidelines cover three levels of ram pre-breeding examinations (PBE):
Carol Atkinson, Ceva's reprodAction range marketing manager, said: "We are proud to have supported the workshop, the outcome of which has been some valuable modifications to the guidelines. We now have a robust, practical benchmarking system in place to help ensure consistency of ram fertility and flock health and development."
The workshop was funded by the Sheep Veterinary Society, Ceva Animal Health and EBLEX-AHDB, with contributions in kind from Innovis, Zoetis and Novartis Animal Health.
The guidelines are available to all members of the Sheep Veterinary Society and can be downloaded from www.sheepvetsoc.org.uk, together with two further forms that are available following appropriate training: SVS Ram PBE data collection and SVS Ram certificate. The Sheep Veterinary Society will be holding a series of CPD days for practitioners in advance of next year's breeding season. Further details will be posted on the website shortly.
Elle says she created the course she wished she had when she first qualified, one which offers provides practical tools and tailored support to build confidence, overcome self-doubt, and thrive in veterinary practice.
She said: “I remember what it felt like to step into practice as a newly qualified vet nurse—feeling unsure, overwhelmed, and constantly questioning whether I was good enough.
"That’s why I created this course - to give vet professionals the support and confidence they deserve.”
The Confidence Coaching CPD Course includes:
Elle says the course is ideal for both vets and vet nurses, in particular those struggling with confidence in their clinical skills, and professionals looking to progress in their careers.
The course costs £350, but as part of the launch, Elle is offering a 25% limited-time discount for those who sign up early using the code: PVN25.
https://thepositivevetnurse.com/cpd-course
VetSurgeon.org member Dr Sarah Caney's company, Cat Professional, is conducting a survey of owner experiences of caring for cats with chronic kidney disease and is looking for practices to help recruit participants.
Recruited practices will be given a complimentary print copy of the new client education book 'Caring for a cat with chronic kidney disease' by Dr Sarah Caney and a set of flyers to give out to eligible cat owners.
Owners completing the survey will each receive a complimentary electronic copy of the same book.
The book is aimed at owners and aims to support veterinary recommendations regarding management of this common condition.
To find out more about this survey please visit http://www.catprofessional.com/ or contact Dr Sarah Caney on 07711 390219.
Virbac has announced that Canine Prostate Awareness Month, its initiative to highlight the prevalence of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), will be running again in November, and is urging practices to join in.
The initiative is timed to coincide with Movember, the fundraising initiative for male prostate disease and testicular cancer. Virbac says it hopes CPAM will remind owners that men are not the only ones to suffer from prostate disorders. Indeed, more than 80% of entire male dogs over the age of five are thought to suffer from BPH1.
As part of CPAM, Virbac is providing participating practices with promotional materials including owner educational and display materials, a template press release for local media, and free branded slip leads to pass on to owners who have had their dog checked.
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Senior Product Manager, said: "CPAM is a well-supported initiative and, running it at a time when the media spotlight is already on the dangers of prostate cancer in men, means we can spread the message that owners should also be monitoring older dogs for signs of prostate disease."
Virbac has introduced Odelis CPSE, the first ELISA test to screen for, diagnose and monitor BPH. It is available from three UK diagnostic laboratories. According to the company it is a cost-effective, precise and reliable alternative to rectal palpation. It also offers Ypozane, a tablet treatment for BPH, which takes effect within a week and lasts for six months.
Chris added: "The problem with BPH is that the majority of dogs suffer in silence. It is a painful condition that goes unnoticed until it reaches an advanced stage, where the owner notices blood in the urine or painful urination.
"We're providing practices with all the materials they need to promote the campaign in their locality and hope that those getting involved will find it effective in terms of bringing clients into the practice for advice on BPH. We've also organised coverage in national dog magazines to drive clients to practices."
Practices that diagnose a dog with BPH during CPAM are asked to contact Virbac with details as it plans to collate a series of case studies from the initiative. Love2Shop vouchers to the value of £50 will be provided for the five most pertinent case studies submitted by the end of 2013.
For further information on CPAM, email cpam@virbac.co.uk, contact your Virbac Territory Manager or call the company direct on 01359 243243.
Reference
Perhaps the biggest initiative thus far has been the installation of solar panels which meet the electrical needs of the 25 vets, nurses and support staff at its Kirriemuir branch.
In recent months, the group has also invested in a water purifier and oxygen generation system, installed composting bins made from recycled pallets and changed food packaging to eco-friendly and recyclable materials.
Compostable paper towels are now being used across the practices and, through a partnership with PetsApp, appointment reminders, invoices and receipts are sent electronically.
Anything that does have to be printed is printed on FSC certified paper.
Eco-friendly cleaning supplies and sustainable office products are also being sourced from local suppliers.
Other initiatives include avoiding single-use plastic wherever possible, using water butts to collect rainwater for watering plants and washing vans, and planting wildflowers to encourage wildlife.
The group has also installed energy-efficient LED lighting, along with a system to prompt people to turn off lights, and is currently switching signage lighting to LEDs.
Katrin Lewis said: “As we celebrate our 75th anniversary this year, we’ve clearly always been committed to providing the best care for our clients, but it’s vital that this also extends to the impact we have on the planet.
"We’ve therefore embarked on green mission to ensure our practices are as sustainable as possible.
“We’ve also taken inspiration and advice from practices within XLVets, the community of independently-owned veterinary practices that work collaboratively for the greater good of the industry.
"This has helped us to share best practice when it comes to sustainability and make further improvements to our procedures.
“We now have colleagues from all four of our practices in the green team and we’re continually looking at new ways of improving our green credentials.
"Even simple things like using spare Loxicom syringes for lab work, and washing lines instead of relying on tumble drying, as well as redesigning our recycling plan, are making a noticeable and positive difference.
“Since the start of the year, we’ve significantly reduced our carbon footprint and we’re now looking at a number of other exciting initiatives that we’ll be ready to unveil in the coming months.”
VetSurgeon member Neil Forbes FRCVS, Specialist in Avian Medicine at Vets Now Referrals, has been dealing with a rather interesting case: an owl that swallowed a sock.
John Dowling, the owner of a falconry business and keeper of the 13 week old Indian eagle owl called Lydon noticed he was not eating properly, and then looked dazed and confused when taking part in the Stonehouse Horticultural Show & Summer Jolly. After the show, Lydon looked like he was trying to vomit but couldn't, so John took him to Vets Now Referrals in Swindon for a consultation.
Neil examined Lydon and found there was a hard swelling in his abdomen. Radiographs confirmed a bloated and very full stomach. The decision was taken to operate on Lydon to remove whatever was inside. Fearing a growth or tumour, Neil was rather surprised to find instead a smelly old sock in Lydon's stomach. With the sock successfully removed, Lydon was able to go home a few hours later, none the worse for his experience.
Lydon's owner, John, said: "Lydon is a hand-reared Indian eagle and is often in and around the house. The sock is a toy he has played with since he was a owlet, and never did I think he would, or could, have eaten it!
"I was obviously surprised when Neil found the sock in Lydon's stomach but more relieved than anything. I feared the worst but was delighted to find out it wasn't something more sinister."
Neil said: "Never in my 28 years of avian medicine experience have I treated an owl that swallowed a sock, it's just unheard of. Thankfully John brought Lydon into our clinic for a consultation upon suspicion something wasn't quite right and we were able to remove the sock preventing further health deterioration.
"We would always advise owners of pets to be careful when leaving items around the house, as you can never predict how mischievous pets can be."
A new study1 published in the Equine Veterinary Journal's (EVJ) special American Association of Equine Practitioners supplement has concluded that maggots can play an integral role in modern veterinary care for a variety of wounds in horses.
The study assessed the efficacy of maggot debridement therapy in a diversity of equine lesions and found that the method was beneficial in 93% of cases.
Maggots have been used for the treatment of wounds for hundreds of years. Freshly emerged, germ-free larvae of the common green bottle fly are usually used for the purpose. Their wound-healing action is attributed to a debridement effect, an antiseptic effect, a direct effect on cytokine and cell proliferation involved in wound healing and breakdown of biofilm formation. Maggots also destroy and digest bacteria and may also be beneficial in the fight against multi-drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.
The study involved the retrospective analysis of 41 horses with various lesions including foot injury, limb laceration, soft tissue abscesses and musculoskeletal infection. Depending on the type, size and location of the wound the maggots were applied either in direct or indirect contact. In some cases a second maggot application was necessary to reach the desired level of healing. Debridement, disinfection and healing occurred in all but three cases, in less than a week. Of the three that did not respond two were complicated by the presence of tumours and one by pre-existing damage to the underlying bone.
Olivier Lepage of the University of Lyon, who led the study, said: "These results show that maggot debridement therapy potentially has an integral place in modern veterinary wound care. It can be used to treat many types of lesions, although not those involving tumours or bone sequestration. Associated high costs present a limiting factor but maggot debridement therapy should certainly be considered for lesions that fail to respond to conventional methods."
Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the EVJ, said: "Horses often suffer from non-healing wounds, particularly in the limbs where the skin is under continuous movement and there is very little subcutaneous tissue. Although at first glance this study might seem counter-intuitive and we might think of maggots as being the last thing one would want on a clean wound, it shows that maggots can be an effective way to clear damaged tissue and this is an important adjunctive approach in equine wound management."
1The use of maggot debridement therapy in 41 equids OM Lepage, A Doumbia, MF Perron-Lepage and M Gangl. EVJ ISSN 0425-1644 DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00609.x
The study is published by Wiley-Blackwell and can be accessed at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00609.x/abstract
Compassion Understood, a new company set up to provide veterinary staff with training in how to help clients deal with pet loss, and provide owners with a new information resource on the subject, launched at BSAVA this week.
The new service has been set up partly in response to a survey which showed a disparity between what veterinary professionals think clients need in relation to euthanasia and what they actually want.
The research1 showed that 60% of owners felt their vet handled the euthanasia of their pet very well, leaving 40% who had a clear desire for veterinary staff to understand more, to help prepare them better for their loss, and to signpost where they can access more support if required.
Compassion Understood Managing Director Douglas Muir said: "Our research showed that 70% of veterinary professionals felt that further training in supporting clients through pet loss would be beneficial, and only 35% of vets felt well-equipped to answer questions from pet owners about the right time to say goodbye.
"This, coupled with a very clear need for more support expressed by the owners in our surveys, led me to see that there was a double need: more training was needed in end-of-life for the practice team, on communication as well as clinical aspects of end-of-life; also some kind of resource was needed for pet owners, so they could access clear and helpful information.
"There are some very good support sites out there, but the information is quite fragmented and not easy to find. We wanted to pull everything together in one place and from there we could signpost them to where to get further help if needed. And so Compassion Understood was born, to help veterinary practices, and pet owners."
The new Compassion Understood Pet Loss Support Training programme has been put together with the help of end-of-life and hospice vet Dr Susan Gregersen. She said: "Speaking to colleagues in the many practices we collaborate with, I’ve learned just how many feel inadequately prepared. They’re unhappy that they’re short of time – and sometimes skills – to do a good job when an often-distraught client needs them most. But if a client is left with bad memories at the end of life, they may not return to the same practice with another pet; as we know, about 1 in 5 do not¹."
The programme includes modules covering the clinical aspects of assessing quality of life, decision-making around end-of-life, pre-euthanasia preparation, and palliative and animal hospice care. Other aspects covered are the emotional and psychological aspects of losing a pet, as well as how to protect the practice team from compassion fatigue or emotional depletion.
The training programme is fully online, and can be completed at the learner’s own pace. The learning approaches and delivery have been overseen by educational expert, Dr Jenny Moffett previously of the University of Surrey, herself a veterinarian with a keen interest in communication and pet loss support.
Susan said: "Vet school training on end of life and euthanasia is still sparse, as many vets will agree. I see the online course as being about learning to care rather than to cure, giving vets the confidence and skill to show real compassion while remaining professional."
Pet Loss Survey, 2015. Compassion Understood. Data on file.
The company has been gathering information on the health, wellbeing and life expectancy of hundreds of thousands of dogs since 2014.
Sean McCormack (pictured right), Head Vet at tails.com, said: “As a vet in practice, you gain an understanding of general animal issues and trends. But what this data can do is look over hundreds of thousands of dogs, unpick all of the nutritional, breed and age-related data we’ve collected over time, and then provide an insight-rich window into the best possible way to care for our dogs.
“We’re really just scratching the surface in terms of what we have at our disposal. There’s real potential for Data Labs to fundamentally change the way that we view dog nutrition and dog health going forwards.”
According to the company, the database has already revealed that:
Lorna Brightmore, Lead Data Scientist at tails.com, said: "Even at this early stage, we are finding strong associations between a number of health factors and longevity and our conclusions will only become stronger over time.”
The first major milestone of Data Labs will be the publication of tails.com’s first peer-reviewed scientific paper.
The paper will detail the effects of body weight, body condition, gender and neutering on the longevity and health of dogs, with further scientific papers planned for publication in the coming months and years.
For more information, visit www.tails.com/gb/data-labs/.
RCVS Council member Professor the Lord Trees has today submitted a Private Members’ Bill to the ballot of the House of Lords which would legally protect the title ‘Veterinary Nurse’.
If the Bill is drawn sufficiently highly in the ballot, it will be debated in the Lords and the Commons. If approved by both Houses, it'll become law.
As it is drawn up, the Bill would prohibit use of the title ‘Veterinary Nurse’ for any person whose name is not on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. Any non-registered person who used the title Veterinary Nurse or a name, title or description that implied they were on the Register would be guilty of an offence and may be fined or convicted under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.
Lord Trees said: “It is very exciting, and a privilege, to be entering a Private Members’ Bill to protect the title veterinary nurse into the ballot for Private Members’ Bills in Parliament. If we are drawn high enough in the ballot and if we can get Parliamentary time – two important ‘ifs’ – I am confident that the Bill will receive total cross-party support.
“It would mark the final brick in the wall of creating a fully-fledged, recognised and protected veterinary nursing profession. This is what the veterinary nursing profession merits and the public deserve.”
The House of Lords ballot will be drawn before the summer recess. In the meantime, the RCVS is encouraging registered veterinary nurses to back its campaign to protect the title and raise awareness of the issue with their clients.
Further details about the campaign, including a short animated film, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vntitle
The founders of ioLight, Andrew Monk and Richard Williams, will be in attendance on the Bayer stand to answer questions about the new product.
James Crawford, Head of Marketing at Bayer, said: "Bayer is delighted to present the ioLight microscope on our stand at the London Vet Show 2016. The microscope provides fantastically clear images and is simple to use, showing off Bayer's products for all our customers to see."
Professor Mike Taylor, a Diplomate of the European Veterinary Parasitology College, is in the process of evaluating the ioLight microscope as a tool for the diagnosis of parasitic infections of farm animals.
Normally he uses a laboratory microscope for this work but they are not routinely used on a farm. He has also tried a portable digital microscope, but finds it does not give the resolution required for identification of protozoan parasite species or for counting nematode eggs. Mike said: "The ioLight’s portability, image quality and connectivity to the Apple iPad offer great potential for the development of rapid methods for identifying parasites, or determining parasite burdens. I can envisage its use by both veterinarians and suitably trained livestock farmers, in the practice laboratory or directly on the farm."
Andrew Monk said: "Since our launch earlier this year we have seen a massive interest from the veterinary sector. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate our microscope to such a large audience, and are looking forward to working with Bayer."
For more information visit iolight.co.uk or email Andrew Monk at andrew.monk@iolight.co.uk.
Dr Mark Johnston, CEO of Vetstream said: “The usage data of Vetlexicon has continually shown us how important the client factsheets are to practices helping clients understand the health and welfare of their animals.
"Whilst most of our subscribers are accepting of the Vetlexicon content in English, the preferred language of many pet owners is not necessarily English, and we wanted to help practices with that.
"So a major new dimension to the new Vetlexicon website is to enable the content to be made available in many European and Asian languages so that when you are viewing a client factsheet, you can instantly see that content in Spanish, French or Korean and then print it out on paper and give to the owners for them to share with friends or family on their return to home; or to print it as a PDF and email it to them.
"Practices have told us that this will be so useful for the relationship with their clients, and so it is great to be able to provide that now.”
The company says it has also improved the interface and functionality of the site and made it mobile phone friendly.
www.vetlexicon.com
YourVets, the network of privately owned small animal veterinary practices has opened a new clinic in Dagenham, Essex and is re-opening an expanded and improved practice in Wythall, Birmingham later this month.
YourVets already has five clinics operating throughout the West Midlands and Essex, with the philosophy of providing a friendly, caring and high-quality service at an affordable price.
YourVets says its Dagenham clinic is a new, purpose-built facility while the Wythall premises has been enlarged and improved to supersede the old Pet Vaccination Clinic. The Wythall clinic has also been re-branded under the YourVets name, to reflect that fact that its veterinary care has grown to encompass the full range of veterinary procedures, rather than just vaccinations.
The clinics are equipped with high-tech equipment and top-class facilities. They offer a walk in appointment service to provide clients with maximum convenience and flexibility and have easy access to YourVets' own affordable 24-hour emergency service. Owners can also register their pets and order prescriptions online, for added speed and efficiency.
Jonathan Stirling, Managing Director of the PVC/YourVets group, said: "At Dagenham and Wythall, as with all our clinics, visitors and staff will be able to benefit from outstanding facilities, including air conditioned buildings, easy parking and the very latest medical equipment in a relaxed, fun and welcoming atmosphere."
Faye Fraser, Practice Manager at the YourVets Coventry clinic, says: "I love my role at YourVets. It gives me immense satisfaction to know that so many pets and owners have access to our truly affordable prices and professional veterinary service. We all care deeply about the animals we treat, and my love for animals extends into my home life, too. I have two rescue cats Tarot and Sorrell, who both need lifelong medical care."
YourVets currently has clinics at Coventry and Nuneaton in the West Midlands and Rayleigh in Essex. YourVets Dagenham opened on 4th February 2012 and the new-look YourVets Wythall will launch on 12th February 2012, with a special open day.
For more information about YourVetsvisit http://www.yourvets.co.uk/.
The day also has a stream for veterinary nurses, and another for the whole practice team.
The vet programme is as follows:
https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/feline-celebration-day
LacriProtect is designed to increase the depth of the tear film in the management of dry eye, during anaesthesia, or in case of irritation.
It contains a carbomer-based formula in individual, resealable single-use pipettes, so that each application is hygienic and free from cross-contamination.
This, says Samaxia, is particularly useful in clinical settings.
Lacri+ contains 0.4% cross-linked sodium hyaluronate and urea, and is designed to hydrate, lubricate and protect the ocular surface.
It comes in a multi-dispense bottle with a tip-seal mechanism and multilayer filtration to ensure sterility and give a shelf life of three months after opening.
https://www.samaxia.com
Some say he pees Propofol, and that he once proposed to a Black Welsh Mountain Sheep called Blodwen. All we know is he's called The Stinge, and that he's challenged veterinary surgeons and nurses to beat his lap time in an electronic 'reasonably priced car' at the Alstoe Animal Health stand (G40) at the London Vet Show.
Alstoe says that for legal reasons (and because it doesn't have the money), The Stinge's better known cousin from BBC's Top Gear will not be making an appearance.
However the company is able to run to a bottle of champagne for the vet or nurse that sets the best lap time each day of the show.
Niall McFerran from Alstoe said: "Believe me, the Stinge is not a fast driver, so I think it will be very easy for the first contestant to beat him/her! The real question will be who is actually fastest each day. We are looking forward to having some fun".
Medivet is celebrating its 100th batch collection for Vet Blood Supplies, the north London-based bloodbank set up in 2007 to provide blood products for its branches around the country.
Veterinary nurse Laura Brind, who is responsible for collecting the blood, said: "We are really proud to celebrate the 100th collection. We travel to Retired Greyhound Trust kennels across south-east England who kindly agreed to arrange the donation in return for free preventative treatment for the dogs."
The collection was taken from Barn Kennels, the Portsmouth branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust, which has been donating blood for the past 18 months.
Brinsea has announced the launch of the new Vetario range of intensive care units.
The company says the new models are the result of a 2 year design programme to provide the ideal environment for the successful recovery of small mammals, reptiles and birds.
The new S40 and S50 models incorporate the features found on the previous S10 and S20 models, but with improvements to the control systems, sturdiness and ease of cleaning.
According to the blurb: "The two models are approximately 40 and 100 litres volume respectively, and available with either standard or 'M' control systems. The cabinets are moulded from tough, gloss-finished ABS, making them durable and easy to clean. The importance of cleaning extends to all aspects of the design: the cabinets split to allow the base to be immersed and the fan and heater are both easily accessed for cleaning. The digital push button control panels are wipe clean without disturbing the settings. The 'M' models show humidity (as well as temperature) and include temperature and power-off alarms, enriched oxygen compatibility and nebuliser fitting. Inlet and recirculating filters keep the risks of respiratory problems from airborne contamination to a minimum. Both models are portable, which makes them ideal for isolating animals: a sensitive cat recovering from an anaesthetic can be safely accommodated away from barking dogs, for example."
Prices start at £420 (including 20% VAT).
For more information, telephone: 0845 226 0120
Two veterinary surgeons from the Animal Health Trust have won international awards for outstanding work in diagnostic imaging at 16th International Veterinary Radiology Association (IVRA) meeting held in Bursa Turkey.
Dr Sue Dyson, Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the AHT, was awarded the IVRA J Kevin Kealy Award, which recognises members of the IVRA who have made substantial, scientific contributions to veterinary radiology.
The Award, established in 2003, is named in honour of Emeritus Professor J. Kevin Kealy, organiser of the first meeting of the IVRA, the first President, and an Honorary Member of the Association.
Sue has lectured internationally and published more than 200 refereed papers in scientific journals, as well as being a major author and editor of four books. On receiving the award, she said: "I was hugely surprised to receive this award and feel extremely honoured."
Past president of the IVRA, Peter Lord, said: "It is hard to imagine that equine diagnostic imaging today would be the same without the contributions of Sue Dyson and her colleagues. She is an outstanding recipient of the J Kevin Kealy Award."
Ruth Dennis, Head of Diagnostic Imaging (pictured above right), was awarded the European Association of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (EAVDI) Douglas and Williamson Award, established in 1983, to recognise outstanding achievement within the field of veterinary diagnostic imaging.
Ruth was President of the EAVDI between 2000 and 2002 and her long standing contributions to the association have been recognised with this award.
Ruth said: "I am very honoured to receive this award, especially since, as a vet student in Cambridge in the late 1970s, I was taught by Sidney Douglas and David Williamson, who were pioneers of veterinary radiology."
Nuria Corzo-Menendez, current EAVDI President, said: "Ruth's contributions to veterinary diagnostic imaging are vast and we will always be grateful for such great additions to our field."
WikiVet has announced the launch of a new information resource about undesirable behaviour in cats for veterinary professionals and students.
The resource has been produced by WikiVet in collaboration with Ceva Santé Animale following a survey of 800 cat owners by the Royal Veterinary College in which 75% said that problem behaviour is a subject that they expected vets to be knowledgeable about.
WikiVet says that despite this level of concern and expectation among cat owners, many find that their local vet is less knowledgeable than they anticipated and cannot offer the effective advice they need. Hence the new resource.
The new Feline Behaviour Section on WikiVet is described as the first of its kind and contains over 40 encyclopaedic pages on the topic of feline behaviour as well as expert videos and an interactive quiz. The section includes information on normal feline behaviour, problem behaviours and how to manage them, as well as the importance of cats' environment.
Jon Bowen leads the Veterinary Behaviour Service at the RVC, is an expert in feline behaviour and has contributed his knowledge to the resource. He said: "I am thrilled to have been involved in the creation of these new resources which will help to raise awareness and understanding of this complex and previously under-appreciated topic."
To mark the beginning of the project WikiVet is launching the Feline Behaviour Global Student Challenge. This is an online quiz which gives participants the chance to test their expertise and identify gaps in their knowledge. The top three scores will be rewarded with a £50 ebook prize. Once the competition has ended, the quiz will be available to users of WikiVet.
Martin Mitchell, Group Communications Director at Ceva Santé Animale, said: "In an increasingly urban and stressful world, the veterinary profession has a major role to play in educating the public about behaviour related issues. As Ceva, we are delighted to partner WikiVet in the development of this valuable new online resource that we all hope will help veterinarians and future veterinarians to pass on their knowledge to help improve the bond between cats and their owners."
For more information, visit: http://en.wikivet.net/Feline_Behaviour_Launch
Graham, 72, who worked at Westover Veterinary Centre in Norfolk for 40 years, set off on his bike from his home in Crostwick last week. He aims to complete the journey in two years, following a route that will take him through Western Europe and into Greece before flying to Ethiopia and cycling through Kenya, where he spent eight years as a government veterinary officer in his early career. He will then follow the Indian Ocean down the African continent's east coast to Cape Town.
Graham said: "I’m no stranger to life on the road – my first job on qualifying was as a field vet in Kenya which I did for eight years. This will be a real adventure though as I am definitely not an accomplished cyclist, however I look forward to the challenge and to raising money for AWF. The route may change slightly as the trip goes along, but that’s down more to government travel advice than my decision - for example, although not currently on my route, I would still like to cycle through Egypt to give a lecture or two, however we’ll need to see what’s possible."
Graham cycled via London to join the annual AWF Discussion Forum in Westminster, attended by other vets, parliamentarians and key stakeholders from the sector, before continuing his cycle to the English south coast with TV vet Emma Milne. Along the way Graham will also be working with equine charitable organisations including the Brooke, SPANA and World Horse Welfare, giving equine welfare and dentistry talks, as well as occasionally returning to the UK to lecture and attend AWF Trustee meetings.
If you would like to sponsor Graham and donate to AWF, or simply find out more about his trip through his regular blog posts, visit vetduncdares.wordpress.com.
Research conducted by the PDSA in 2017 found that 75% of dogs had received a primary vaccination course when young, which dropped to 72% in 2019. According to the BSAVA, it's the first time that vaccination rates have seen a sustained drop over a three year period since vaccinations were first introduced to the UK in the '60s.
The project, titled 'A mixed methods approach to quantifying and characterising vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy in UK companion animals' will combine quantitative analysis of existing data from electronic health records with qualitative approaches. It will include interviews and focus-group discussions with vets and owners to gain an in-depth understanding of patterns of uptake of vaccination in UK.
Experiences, perceptions and behaviours around uptake of vaccination and the rise of vaccine hesitancy in UK pet owners will also be investigated.
Dr Gina Pinchbeck, project leader at the University of Liverpool said: “Vaccination is a vital component of preventive healthcare and it is well acknowledged that sub-optimal vaccination uptake may be associated with re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases in populations.
“It is essential that we understand the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the pet population so that we can use the best methods to promote vaccine acceptance and uptake and this will be the primary focus of the study.”
The study will include the development of a knowledge and dissemination strategy, in association with PetSavers and BSAVA. This will include a project website, publication of scientific research and other articles for both practicing veterinary surgeons and for pet-owners, press releases, conference presentations and public-engagement presentations.
BSAVA President Professor Ian Ramsey added: “This project will be of great value to the veterinary profession and continues the co-operation between BSAVA and the University of Liverpool to build on the successes of the original SAVSNET partnership.”
For information on how to apply for the PhD, contact Dr Gina Pinchbeck (ginap@liverpool.ac.uk).
The practice will offer 24/7 care with the same team managing both daytime and out-of-hours emergencies to offer continuity and familiarity for clients and their pets.
Facilities at the practice include heated hospital cages for small mammals such as rabbits and rodents, custom-built vivaria with species-appropriate UV lighting tailored to different reptile requirements and advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment specifically designed for exotic animal care.
Molly said: "We know that exotic pets require highly specialised care and our mission is to provide that expertise with compassion.
"Our entire team is trained and experienced in handling, treating, and advising on a diverse range of exotic species.
"We are committed to providing the highest standard of care for every animal that comes through our doors.”
The practice is now open for new client registrations.
www.theexoticanimalvets.co.uk