Across Europe, the company has over 30 technical experts who get over 2,500 technical calls each year about Cushing’s.
The company also publishes the Dechra Academy, which provides a range of free online courses for vets.
There's also Dechra’s endocrinology app which was developed using data from the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass database to help vets diagnose and manage the endocrine disorders Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism) and Cushing’s syndrome.
For owners, Dechra publishes the 'Suspecting Cushing’s' website and has created the Cushing’s monitoring app to help simplify the management process, improve compliance with medication and increase engagement in the dog’s care.
Sarah Musgrave, companion animal brand manager at Dechra, said: “Dechra has extensive experience in endocrinology.
"Cushing’s can be a challenge to identify, diagnose and manage and our ‘They’ve got Cushing’s. You’ve got us’ initiative demonstrates the comprehensive support that we have available for both vets and dog owners to help ensure that dogs with Cushing’s live long and healthy lives.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/cushings-connect
Zoetis says AI Masses delivers fast, accurate, in-clinic screening of common lymph node and skin/subcutaneous masses in minutes, making Vetscan Imagyst the most capable veterinary AI analyser in the world.
AI Masses uses an algorithm to identify and classify common skin/subcutaneous mass and lymph node aspirates at the point of care.
At additional charge, for added diagnostic confidence, Zoetis also offers expert clinical pathologist reviews via Digital Cytology and Add-on Expert Review within hours.
Abhay Nayak, President, Global Diagnostics at Zoetis said: “By empowering veterinary teams with valuable insights into potentially cancerous cells, we are helping to reduce waiting times and alleviate stress for pet owners facing some of the most challenging moments with their beloved pets.
https://www.zoetisdiagnostics.com/uk/point-of-care
Merial has launched a 'Vaccination Back on Track' promotion via vet practices that administer Merial vaccines.
Under the scheme, owners of all horses over 12 months of age that have not yet been vaccinated against equine influenza or are overdue a booster obtain a primary vaccination course at an attractive discounted rate. A tetanus component is also available if required.
Dr Emma Batson from Merial said: "With continuing cases of equine flu recorded in the UK, and a global increase in the number of serious outbreaks, it has never been more important to ensure that horses are protected against this underestimated threat.
"It's often not fully understood that equine flu can be transferred indirectly via inanimate objects such as horse boxes, fencing or human clothing. With just 37% of horses in the UK estimated to be vaccinated, this leaves a significant naive and vulnerable population at risk".
Merial says there is no limit on the number of horses that can be vaccinated, making it a particularly attractive offer for those with more than one horse or yard(s).
Participating practices have the option to run the scheme in any month between now and December 2009. For information, contact your Merial Territory Manager.
The meeting will be led by Dr Rosanne Jepson BVSc MVetMed PhD DipACVIM DipECVIM PGCertVetEd FHEA MRCVS, Associate Professor Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist at the RVC. It will consist of two talks.
The first, ‘Hypertension and concurrent diseases’, will cover how veterinary surgeons should manage and treat hypertension when it presents with other concurrent diseases such as CKD and hyperthyroidism.
The second, ‘Overview of diagnosis and stage specific management of feline CKD’, will review the recently updated IRIS guidelines and discuss the latest and most up-to-date methods in diagnosing and managing CKD in both the early and later stages.
The meeting will account for two hours CPD.
To register for the CPD meeting, contact your local Ceva account manager or email your name, practice name and telephone number to cevauk@ceva.com.
The event will include empowering talks by Vet Empowered founders Katie Ford and Claire Grigson MsRCVS.
Expert guests include Aoife Smith, an ex-RVN and psychotherapist, Chloé Hannigan from VetYogi and Jo Kelly, a registered veterinary nurse and accredited nutritional therapist.
There'll be hands-on workshops and immersive activities aimed at challenging comfort zones, fostering connections, and cultivating a mindset of growth and empowerment.
The organisers say Vet Empowered Live also offers the chance to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and build a supportive community of peers committed to personal and professional growth.
Katie said: "We're thrilled to bring Vet Empowered Live to life and provide veterinary professionals with a unique opportunity to invest in their personal development.
"Our mission is to empower individuals to unlock their full potential, overcome obstacles, and create fulfilling careers on their own terms.
"We are passionate about providing a safe and inspiring space to do this."
Tickets cost £150 and include six hours of CPD and food and drink throughout the day.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vet-empowered-live-confidence-beyond-manchester-2024-tickets-775605325407
https://www.vetempowered.com
Council members voted in favour of becoming a fully-appointed governing Council and to explore retaining elected representation on a future council or committee focussed on 'upstream regulation' and development of the profession
Council also voted to move towards greater parity between professional and lay RCVS Council members, but delayed a decision on the precise balance until it has the opportunity to consider the matter in more detail.
Council voted to remove veterinary school appointees from Council, agreeing to discuss the future composition of the RCVS Education Committee at a later date.
Council then voted to further investigate a number of alternative governance arrangement suggestions, including independent oversight of the College, and to review term limits across all appointed positions.
RCVS President Linda Belton said: “Thank you to all who took part in the consultation and made suggestions on alternative and additional arrangements that might be made regarding our governance.
"Thank you also to Council members for a robust discussion of these proposals.
“We still have a number of important governance issues to discuss at a future date and the proposals that Council members have voted to approve today will not be brought into immediate effect, but will be included in our proposals to government for new veterinary legislation.
“As we seek reform of veterinary regulation via new primary legislation, it is important that our governance arrangements not only inspire public confidence and trust but also allow us, as a Royal College that regulates, to work with the professions on our upstream regulatory activities, not only to ensure that individuals are fit for practice, but also that we maintain a profession fit for purpose.
“The decision to explore retaining an elected element on a future veterinary council or committee, responsible for work dedicated to the development of the professions, gives a clear indication of the value of our ‘Royal College that regulates’ model.
"We have also made a further commitment to public assurance by agreeing to explore independent oversight of the RCVS.
“Any future appointments process developed by the RCVS will be committed to adhering to the Public Standards Authority’s principles on appointments; these are merit; fairness; transparency and openness; and inspiring confidence.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil-nov24
The RSPCA has released the latest figures showing the extent of cruelty to animals in the UK.
In 2007, they show a:
"These animals are the helpless victims of our affluent, throwaway society," says Tim Wass, Chief Officer of the RSPCA Inspectorate. "They're bought on a whim and discarded when the novelty wears off. Today's must-have item quickly turns into tomorrow's cast-off.
"Worse still," added Tim, "some animals are violently abused because they don't meet their owners' unrealistic expectations: like the cat kicked to death for having muddy paws or the dog strangled with its lead for misbehaving."
But the year RSPCA reports that there has been good news too, with the success of the new Animal Welfare Act already starting to take effect. The new Act - which came into force during 2007 - has made it possible to take action sooner than ever before in situations where there are animal welfare concerns.
The Act is already producing powerful results in its first twelve months. Where animal welfare concerns have prompted the RSPCA to give advice to an animal owner, that advice was followed and the problems resolved 92% of the time, meaning that no further action was necessary. Tim said: "Even in these early days, the benefits of the new law are clear. Without the new Act, this year's cruelty figures could have been even more horrific."
He added: "Dogs have always borne the brunt of cruelty - from violent outbursts to extreme neglect. But that's what makes this year's horrendous 34% increase even more shocking: it's a massive increase on an already high figure."
It was hoped that last year's leap in convictions for cruelty to horses was an anomaly. But this year's figures show that the higher numbers have been maintained - they increased by 33% between 2005 and 2006 - and then increased by a further 13% to 119 in 2007.
The rise in banning orders is a big improvement on the previous year, which had actually recorded a fall. The new Animal Welfare Act obliges courts to explain their reasons if they don't impose a ban and this may have contributed to the increase. The new requirement seems to have focussed attention on preventative action which can prevent suffering and save lives.
Tim said: "The main reason we take people to court is to prevent cruelty being repeated. It's very reassuring to see the courts taking this seriously by issuing more and more banning orders, which prevent those convicted of cruelty from keeping animals in future."
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, makers of Caninsulin, is launching Pet Diabetes Month, a call to arms for owners to check if their pets might be at risk of diabetes. To enable the testing, urine glucose test strips will be made available free of charge to vet practices to dispense during Pet Diabetes Month (1 - 30 November 2009).
ISPAH says that despite general awareness of the signs of diabetes in humans, many pet owners still have little understanding of the condition in their animals. The urine-sampling aspect of the campaign, entitled the Great Pet 'Pee' Test, intends to address this by making test strips freely available. It is hoped that many of the undiagnosed diabetics in the UK's pet population will be identified during the campaign and appropriate treatment plans undertaken.
Practices wishing to participate in Pet Diabetes Month and the Great Pet 'Pee' Test will benefit from practice leaflets containing the test strips, waiting room posters, the website http://www.petdiabetesmonth.co.uk/ and the opportunity to be included in a regional PR campaign.
Shoumik Das BVM&S MRCVS, Marketing Manager for Caninsulin, said; "The tremendous success of National Vaccination Month clearly demonstrates that pet owners are keen to take an active interest in the care of their pet, but often don't know where to start. By providing the test strips free to practices to distribute to pet owners we are once again giving them the tools to take control of their pets' health. If we can identify even a few of the missing thousands of pets potentially at risk from diabetes, that has to be good news for the pets and also vet practices."
Interested practices should contact their local Intervet/Schering-Plough Territory Manager or phone the company's Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
Bayer has unveiled a major TV marketing campaign to promote Drontal.
An advertising campaign featuring the Drontal Schnauzer will run for two months. In addition, the company is sponsoring the TV series The Dog Whisperer, which is due to be aired from October to December this year.
The company is also launching a competition to enable owners to show off their pets and win a number of prizes. They include appearing in a double page spread in Your Dog and Your Cat magazines, holidays at pet-friendly hotels, digital cameras, shopping vouchers, pet accessories and much, much more! Pet owners will be able to submit photos, videos and stories to http://www.mypetsuperstar.com/ which has four competition categories:
Dan White, Drontal product manager said: "My Pet Superstar aims to celebrate the unique traits and talents that make us love and take pride in our pets. Visitors to the website will be able to vote for their favourite entries and even post these to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. With four very different categories, this competition will be wide open to all dog and cat owners. Our motto is that healthy pets are happy pets, and we will use the competition to remind dog and cat owners about the benefits of regular worming.
Practices can get involved by displaying waiting room materials including A4 static window posters, shelf wobblers and mobile hanging devices by calling 0845 257 4798.
Virbac is offering its customers a discount on subscriptions to Vet Care Consult, an interactive veterinary medicine and anatomy tool designed to improve client understanding and aid compliance.
Vet Care Consult, designed by MediProductions with advice from veterinary specialists, uses more than 600 3D graphics, animations, videos and other imagery to help veterinary staff explain diagnoses and to discuss therapeutic options.
The veterinary surgeon or nurse selects the target species, then the relevant organ or system. A range of animations and videos are then offered to help explain their recommendation. The tool includes the option to email owners a link to a specific animation or video so that they can discuss the recommended treatment with family later. It can be used on a PC or tablet and is also available as an iPhone app.
A single user subscription normally costs £41 per month or £410 per annum.
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Senior Product Manager at Virbac, said: "Gone are the days of scribbling diagrams on scraps of paper and whiteboards or pointing to a model of a stifle that has seen better days!
"Vet Care Consult harnesses the latest technology to help the veterinary team communicate more effectively with clients, helping them to understand their pets' health and wellness issues. Better communication leads to improved compliance which, in turn, helps to strengthen the vital bond between a practice and its clients."
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
The Veterinary Benevolent Fund has launched a new campaign to get a sticker displaying the organisation's helpline telephone number for veterinary professionals in every practice.
The charity has produced a video which explains why.
http://vimeo.com/80551830
Do you have a VBF sticker displayed in your practice? If not, you can order one today. Visit www.vetlife.org.uk
The Human Factors aspect of the course considers how interactions between people and their environment can affect patient care and outcomes.
Systems Thinking looks at how well-designed systems in practice can help achieve better results.
Pam Mosedale, Quality Improvement Clinical Lead at RCVS Knowledge said: “When’s the last time you thought about the impact human interactions between your team are having on your patients?
"What about the processes you use to deliver care?
“Every veterinary professional wants to achieve good outcomes, but the role that Human Factors and systems can play is sometimes overlooked.
"Making sure that your processes are well-designed, and understanding how the people in your team interact with them can optimise the quality of care you provide, while improving team wellbeing."
“That is why we’re delighted to announce the launch of free, practical support on Human Factors and Systems Thinking for all veterinary teams.”
learn.rcvsknowledge.org
The World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) has announced that nominations are now open for its Young Poultry Veterinarian of the Year 2015 Award, sponsored by Zoetis.
The award, now in its fourth year, is open to qualified poultry veterinarians who are under the age of 35 on January 1, 2015. The winner will be selected by a global panel of judges and will receive a USD$5,000 contribution towards attending international scientific or continued professional development meetings.
The WVPA is calling for nominations to be made on behalf of young veterinarians who have excellent poultry diagnostic and advisory skills, are effective communicators and transferors of their knowledge and can demonstrate a real passion for their industry.
Nigel Horrox, vice president of the WVPA said: "We continue to be impressed by the calibre of entries for this award, and we are confident that this year will be no exception.
"We are looking for an individual who is not only invaluable to their local poultry industry, but who consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty and is a credit to their profession."
Hector Badillo, group director of global marketing at Zoetis, said the contribution made by young poultry veterinarians is vital to the future of the industry. "We are proud to support this award, which recognises top new talent in the global poultry industry and the outstanding contribution made by an individual."
Entries for the award are to be made via the dedicated website: www.wvpa-award.com. Nominees/applicants are asked to describe in 500 words or less their role and achievements in the industry and why they feel they should win the award. The award will be presented at the XIX Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cape Town, South Africa, September 7-11, 2015.
Closing date for entries is March 31, 2015.
RCVS President Peter Jinman has announced that a review will be carried out into the circumstances that led to higher-than-expected expenditure on the College's new database and development works in the Lower Ground Floor at Belgravia House.
He said: "That the work was required was not in question, but that expenditure over the extended timescale of both projects rose above initial budgets is both to be regretted and subject to analysis as to cause."
The RCVS Officer team has asked Professor Bill McKelvey - a new member of the College's Governance Review Group - and two of the College's Privy Council-appointed Council members to look at all aspects that relate to its budgeting and expenditure process.
The setting up of the enquiry has been cleared and approved by Sir David Barnes, who chairs the RCVS Governance Review Group.
All reports from Professor McKelvey will be scrutinised by the Governance Review Group, Officers, the Planning and Resources Committee and Council.
The nomination period runs up until 5pm on Tuesday 31 January 2017 and, in order to stand, candidates need to submit a nomination form, a short biography and personal statement, and supply a high resolution digital photo.
Each candidate also needs two nominators: veterinary surgeons who are on the College’s Register but are not current RCVS Council members.
Dr Chris Tufnell, RCVS President, discusses RCVS Council and various committees in a video urging members of the profession to put themselves forward:
The election period starts around mid-March and will run until 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017. Ballot papers will be sent to veterinary surgeons who are eligible to vote in the week commencing Monday 13 March 2017.
Nomination forms, guidance notes and frequently asked questions for prospective RCVS Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil17.
For the project, the company has developed a Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) clinical assessment tool which can be used by a vet or nurse in practice to make a diagnosis.
The assessment is a holistic one which includes taking a history of the animal, a full physical examination, an exercise test and an examination of the dog’s nostrils.
The results of the assessment are then discussed with the owner to agree on a course of treatment.
During each consultation, vets and nurses also look to talk sensitively with clients about breeding, buying and owning brachycephalic dog breeds, offering welfare advice on how to manage their dog’s lifestyle, including issues such as keeping their weight low and looking after them in hot weather.
CVS says it hopes this will increase a general level of welfare awareness amongst brachycephalic dog owners.
CVS has also created a collection of resources for its teams, including new clinical frameworks and veterinary guidelines, webinars and a CPD day on the subject.
The company has also created materials to help vets and nurses have what can be challenging discussions with clients, including consultation room posters and practice reception TV videos which showing the physiology of the brachycephalic breed.
CVS says that since launch in July last year, the 25 participating practices have conducted nearly 900 brachycephalic assessments, and it aims to have at least 5% of Pugs, French Bulldogs and Bulldogs undergoing assessment across its small animal division by 2028.
Avis includes over 350 articles, images, client factsheets, and diagnostic trees about avian diseases, diagnostic techniques, medications, legislation and parasitology, with a particular focus on domestic poultry.
The publishers say that content on Avis is authored and reviewed by leading avian veterinary specialists, including the St David’s Poultry Team, which has over 350 years of poultry veterinary experience.
Vetstream CEO, Dr Mark Johnston MRCVS said: We are really delighted to have worked with such a strong contribution from the St David’s Poultry Team whose experience in commercial flocks is provided to veterinarians being presented with smaller flocks.
"We have also had significant additional contributions for this launch edition of Avis across a broad range of poultry veterinary expertise.
"We want as many people as possible to take Avis for a “test flight” and so will be providing free access to all Vetlexicon subscribers for the month of June.”
www.vetlexicon.com
Pfizer Animal Health has launched a dedicated Equine Business Unit to provide a higher level of service and a comprehensive range of products to equine vets across the UK.
Created following the merger with Fort Dodge, the Pfizer Equine Business Unit is headed by Ben Lacey MA Vet MB MRCVS, who has previously held both technical and sales roles at Pfizer. Ben and his team have a brief to offer a breadth of product, support and flexibility not previously available to equine vets.
The product range offered by the Pfizer Equine Business Unit includes the Equest range of parasiticides; the Duvaxyn vaccines for Equine Herpes Virus, West Nile Virus and Rotavirus and products such as Equimidine and Torbugesic. Also offered are existing Pfizer brands such as the Equip vaccine range, the antibiotic Excenel Sterile Powder, the NSAID Rimadyl for Horses and Depo-MedroneV.
Five experienced account managers with a strong track record in the equine sector have been appointed by Pfizer to build relationships with equine vet practices on a regional basis. They are:
South East England Mark BakerWest Midlands, Cheshire, Wales Laurie MayEast Anglia, East Midlands Penny McCannSouth West, South Wales Anna CunninghamThe North, Scotland Alexandra Cox
Ben Lacey said: "Building our new team and combining the highly regarded products offered previously by both Fort Dodge and Pfizer has proved a stimulating process. We've also worked closely with many of our existing practice customers to look at how we can develop the service we provide to them.
"We're now able to offer a product range which I believe is unrivalled in the market and a highly committed team of equine professionals, who share a vision and passion for equine health. We're looking forward to building our business with both existing and new customers in the months ahead."
Defra has announced that Great Britain is to be declared bluetongue-free from 5th July 2011.
From this date, bluetongue susceptible species being exported from Great Britain will no longer need to be vaccinated against BTV8 or meet any of the other 'Annex III conditions.
However, the current EU Bluetongue Directive only allows bluetongue vaccination within a protection zone, so from 5th July vaccination will no longer be permitted in Great Britain.
The British Veterinary Association is supporting Defra to lobby for these rules to be changed to allow vaccination in bluetongue areas.
Harvey Locke, BVA President, said: "The move to bluetongue freedom is thanks to the excellent partnership between government, farmers and vets across Great Britain. It is a tremendous achievement to turn the situation around from the outbreak in 2007 to freedom in 2011.
"We are disappointed that changes to the EU Directive to allow vaccination to continue could not be made before the deadline and we will continue to work with Defra to try to secure this change as soon as possible to allow vets and farmers to make the right choice to protect their herds.
"Those farmers and vets that wish to vaccinate must do so before the 5th July.
"The BVA would reiterate the message to farmers to source stock responsibly to help avoid a future outbreak."
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched a case study competition to find out how veterinary professionals are using Celox, its new haemostatic agent designed to stop heavy bleeding.
According to the company, Celox Veterinary forms a gel-like clot within 30 seconds when mixed with blood.
Dechra says it would like examples of how it has been used, whether for planned procedures or in an emergency, and is asking veterinary surgeons and nurses to send in case histories and photos for the chance to win an iPad2.
Rachel Horton, Dechra's Brand Manager for Woundcare, said: "Celox Veterinary was launched to the market last year, with the human version of the product being used with great success on the battlefield by the British military for several years.
"Now we are asking veterinary professionals to share their experiences of using Celox Veterinary in practice, whether used in its gauze or granular form. It is ideal for fast-acting haemostasis, and provides a quick and efficient solution wherever and whenever bleeding needs to be stopped fast.
"Entrants providing case histories with accompanying photos can enter as many times as they like and have a chance to win an iPad2. Learning about how veterinary professionals are using products is important to Dechra Veterinary Products and assists in developing the high level of support we offer to vets and vet nurses."
Dechra says Celox Veterinary is being used not only for trauma injuries and emergency first aid but also for planned operations including castration, mass removal, nasal polyps, dental extractions and soft palate resections.
Case histories should be emailed to Rachel.Horton@dechra.com before the closing date of July 20th 2012 to be eligible for the draw. For further information about Celox Veterinary, please visit see www.dechra.com