Ceva Animal Health has launched a month-long TV advertising campaign for its veterinary behaviour product, Adaptil, in the run up to the fireworks season.

Running throughout October, the campaign is designed to raise awareness among dog owners of how Adaptil Calm can help dogs cope during the fireworks and Christmas party season.

The advertising campaign will target 3.3 million pet owners and it will air on over 60 channels including C4 channels (Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4, Drama, Good Food, Really, W and Home), Sky channels, ITV2 and ITVBe.

Abigail King, behaviour product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "The fireworks and party season can be an extremely upsetting time of the year for the nation’s pets.

"By highlighting the benefits of Adaptil at this key time of the year we hope to ensure that dogs are better prepared for the challenges of fireworks and loud noises."

Ceva says the TV advertising campaign will be supported by a digital campaign for both Adaptil and Feliway.

To watch the Adaptil TV advertisement visit https://www.adaptil.com/uk/Success-Stories/Finley.

A new white paper from Zoetis has identified three areas where the veterinary profession needs to make systemic changes in order to tackle the retention crisis, at a time when 48% of UK veterinary surgeons have considered leaving the field, and 75% of vets in the UK have taken time off work at least once in the last year due to work-related mental health issues.

Zoetis says that the problem appears not to be an endemic wellbeing issue for which the answer might be to develop greater individual resilience, but rather it is a symptom of the working environment itself, fuelled by structural, cultural and economic factors. 

This, the company argues, means that concentrating on individual resilience may be misguided, and a new approach is needed, one that addresses the environmental factors at play. 

The white paper identifies three areas for change: 

Firstly, a complete reimagining of the veterinary workplace with more flexible and sustainable working models. 

This includes considering more flexible work rotas, using technology to ease workloads, and enhancing the supporting role of veterinary nurses.

Indeed the most important factor in improving workplace wellbeing and professional satisfaction, cited by 27% of vets, was to better train veterinary nurses to take on more responsibility. 

Secondly, finding ways to adapt to meet growing and varied client needs. 

The white paper recommends enhancing communication training, adopting technology for better client management, and offering more support for vets when managing emotionally challenging conversations with clients.

Finally, the paper calls for a rethink over how vets are selected for in the first place.

Currently, the profession draws from a pool of 96% white, 29% fee-paying, largely female people who are not representative of the market they serve.

Greater diversity in the profession, Zoetis says, delivers social benefits, strategic advantages and workplaces with broader perspectives and greater psychological safety.

Stephanie Armstrong, Regional President at Zoetis, said: “Addressing retention in the veterinary field requires looking beyond individual well-being to systemic factors.

"By fostering better work environments and providing support, we can help ensure that veterinarians continue to provide vital services to our communities.” 

Zoetis is urging stakeholders across the veterinary and animal health sector to review the white paper’s insights and join a collective effort to implement solutions. 

https://www2.zoetis.co.uk/about-zoetis/news-media/knowledge-hub/transforming-veterinary-practice-for-the-21st-century 

Chanelle has announced this morning that 35,000 bottles of IsoVet are now available from wholesalers, with more supplies due in the coming months.

Chanelle's head of sales and marketing, Killian Gaffney said: "The total UK market is around 80,000 bottles annually. However, with the major supplier announcing some re-stocking in March but full availability still under question, there is a real sense of urgency for practitioners.

"The Chanelle team worked throughout December with our manufacturing division to ensure that the UK product shortfall could be alleviated.

"Air freighting supplies seemed the obvious course of action, and ensured we could supply the UK market as quickly as possible."

For further information, contact: Chanelle on 00353 91 841 788.

Novartis Animal Health UK Ltd has announced the launch of CLiKZiN Pour On for sheep, a short meat withhold period (MWP) product that can be used throughout Spring and Summer for the prevention of blowfly strike in sheep and lambs.

CLiKZiN is a ready-to-use water-based product that protects sheep for eight weeks, and has a meat withhold period of seven days. The product is a line extension of CLiK which offers a longer period of protection at 16 weeks and has a longer withhold period of 40 days. Novartis says that used in conjunction with CLiK, CLiKZiN offers versatile protection throughout the year.

The launch of CLiKZiN comes at the same time that Vetrazin has been reformulated, resulting in a longer meat withhold period for sheep treated with the product.

Thomas Tiley MRCVS from Novartis Animal Health said: "Farmers need reliable protection from the repugnant threat of blowfly strike. CLiKZiN provides eight weeks blowfly prevention together with the trusted performance and safety record associated with CLiK. It also offers the greater flexibility of a seven day meat withhold.

"This makes CLiKZiN ideally suited for a variety of production schedules and stock including lambs for slaughter and pre-shearing ewes."

Blowfly strike can be devastating to sheep, causing severe impact on the welfare of the animal. Within days of a blowfly laying its eggs, clinically normal sheep can be afflicted with flesh eating maggots. This makes prompt and effective treatment critical.

National Sheep Association Chief Executive Peter Morris said: "Fly strike is a terrible burden to the sheep industry both in terms of the welfare of the sheep and economically.

"Having a product available that gives effective prevention against fly strike whilst at the same time having a withdrawal period which does not impinge on the ability of the sheep farmer to market lambs is very welcome. The sheep farmers' armoury against the every day afflictions which affect sheep has been significantly enhanced."

Exotic animal vet and star of CBBC’s ‘The Pets Factor’, Fabian Rivers has won the BVA Young Vet of the Year Award 2020.

The award, which is sponsored by Zoetis, is for early-career vets who have gone above and beyond the usual call of duty or who are making a difference within their community or the veterinary profession. Fabian was picked out of three finalists at a virtual award ceremony last night. 

The judges said he'd wowed them with his ongoing proactive contributions to the veterinary profession and his passion for raising awareness around exotic animal care.

Fabian is a practising vet and the latest member of the team on CBBC children’s TV show, ‘The Pets Factor’. He is also a recent graduate member of BVA Council.

In his spare time, he is an active writer. Whilst attending the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, which he graduated from in 2018, he wrote his own student blog, ‘Dready Vet’. Since then, he has published several articles on a variety of topical and important issues such as ethnicity and race, diversity within the profession, feminism, Halal slaughter and reptile health and welfare.

The judges credited Fabian for his passion for communicating the complex welfare needs of non-traditional companion animals to the public. 

Fabian said: "First of all I’d like to pay tribute to Nat and Ben and all the nominees. They are really important to where the veterinary profession goes in the future and I’m indebted to them for what they’ve been able to do in a short period of time. They are an inspiration to me.

"Thank you to the judges. It’s really important that we start to celebrate each other and celebrate our wins. This is something I’ve tried hard to do this year.

"Thank you to everyone who’s supported me and been part of this journey. It means a huge amount.”

BVA President James Russell said: "Fabian has made a significant impact within the profession and beyond. The broad reach of his work – on issues that affect our profession and animal welfare – has made a national impact and promoted our profession to new audiences of all ages.

"During a particularly challenging year for all of us, Fabian has shown immense leadership and he is a truly deserving winner of the BVA Young Vet Award 2020."

Vet AI, which launched Joii, its remote veterinary consultation service earlier this year, has announced a partnership with pet insurer Animal Friends.

Animal Friends is launching a pilot programme through which its customers will be able to check their pets' symptoms, get advice on treatment or find out if they need to visit a vet clinic on Joii. 

Paul Hallett, co-founder of Vet-AI said: "Animal Friends is a perfect partner for Vet-AI, not only do we share common goals around animal welfare and the profession as a whole, but strategically we are both laser focused on the customer. In the coming few years we will support their customers by providing them with 24 hour expert-led care, at the click of a button. This will drive our business forward, helping us reach more pet owners and improve the care their pets receive."

Wes Pearson, Managing Director of Animal Friends said: "This partnership demonstrates our commitment to provide our pet parents with innovative options to ensure their pet receives the best care. Being able to access professional advice from the comfort of their own home and at a time that suits them can dramatically reduce stress for both the pet and the pet parent. We are excited to be working with Vet-AI and believe that the Joii app will bring expert knowledge and extra peace of mind to our customers."

Oh no, not another company talking about 'pet parents'. Is it just me, or is it not rather patronising?

Virbac Animal Health has launched Microbex, a POM-V shampoo for the control of Malassezia proliferation and associated clinical signs.

The arrival of Microbex extends the Virbac shampoo range to eight, providing vets with the most comprehensive specialist options in the management of skin conditions, says the company.

Microbex (POM-V) contains 3% chlorhexidine. Product manager Chris Geddes MRCVS said: "Chlorhexidine at this level provides a complete treatment for Malassezia.

"The shampoo also has a flexible application schedule and simple dosing cap, both of which are designed to help improve client compliance and treatment success rate.

Chris added: "Microbex is available in 200ml bottles making it an attractive purchase option for clients."

Further details can be found in the NOAH compendium http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/. For details on launch promotion contact your local Virbac territory manager or call Virbac on 01359 243243.

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched a new oxytetracycline spray which the company says offers more accurate antibiotic delivery whether the can is used in an upright or inverted position.

Alasdair King MRCVS, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health veterinary manager, says new Engemycin Spray has been developed specifically to address problems reported with traditional aerosol cans:

"Antibiotic sprays are used widely, yet they can become a practical nuisance to both vets and farmers simply because many cans do not perform satisfactorily. All too frequently the nozzle leaks or detaches, the spray pattern is irregular - particularly if the can is held upside down as it so often needs to be - or the valve clogs before the can is empty. This can be a source of great frustration to users, but new Engemycin Spray overcomes all these problems."

Intervet/Schering Plough says Engemycin Spray combines a unique, quick-drying formulation with an innovative, non-clogging spray valve. The quick-drying formulation minimises wastage from the sprayed area, while the new valve - which works as well when the can is upside down - cuts spraying time and ensures more reliable and constant delivery of antibiotic. The valve is unique and designed to enable the can to fully empty.

Engemycin Spray is licensed for the treatment of foot and wound infections in cattle, sheep or pigs following surgery or physical injury. The new product is available now from wholesalers.

Veterinary surgeons are increasingly gloomy about Brexit, according to the latest Voice of the Profession survey of 839 practitioners carried out by the BVA in September and October this year.

According to the survey, 64% of veterinary surgeons now see Brexit as more of a threat than an opportunity for the UK veterinary profession, compared to just half in autumn 2016. Conversely, the number that see Brexit as being more of an opportunity has dropped from 18% to 14% over the same period. 

Vets working in academia and industry were the most gloomy: 69% of vets in academia and 58% of vets in industry see Brexit as more of a threat to their own area of work than an opportunity.

The biggest impact appears to have been on veterinary recruitment, with 53% saying Brexit has made it harder to recruit veterinary surgeons, compared to only 18% in 2016. By comparison, only 11% said it has become harder to recruit veterinary nurses.

51% also now consider Brexit as a threat to animal welfare, compared to 43% in 2016.

BVA President Simon Doherty (pictured right, looking decidedly chipper despite it all) said: "As the UK Government ramps up its planning for a no-deal scenario, it’s clear that the veterinary profession is becoming increasingly concerned about the potential impact of Brexit.

"Top of vets’ list of concerns is significant veterinary workforce shortages across critical areas of animal welfare and public health. Veterinary concerns around animal welfare have also increased as the Government continues to stall on introducing new legislation to enshrine animal sentience in UK law before March.

"From pet passports and food safety, to disease surveillance and trade certification, there is no area of veterinary work that is not touched by Brexit. So, we can fully understand why our members are worried about the future. BVA will continue to raise these important veterinary issues with policymakers to ensure the profession is considered as Brexit discussions continue."

The BVA briefings on “Brexit and the veterinary profession” and “No deal Brexit and the veterinary profession” set out all of the issues of interest in more detail.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has issued a reprimand and warning to Essex-based Donald Stuart Bremner MRCVS, following a conviction of harassment and perverting the course of justice.

Dr Bremner was convicted in 2017 of harassing his ex-wife, and for perverting the course of justice by sending his daughter an e-mail, pressuring her to ask her mother to withdraw the charges against him. He pleaded guilty to both of the charges, saying he did not understand that it was a condition of his bail that he could not contact his ex-wife. He also expressed shame and remorse at his actions, explaining that his behaviour was triggered by extreme anger, grief and stress.

In relation to the charges, the Respondent was committed to prison for 12 months, suspended for 12 months, ordered to comply with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement within 12 months, and ordered to pay £85 in costs and £115 as a surcharge to pay for victim services.

The Committee found the facts proved based on the certified copy of the certificate of conviction, as well as the Respondent’s admissions to the facts of the charges. It was satisfied that the Respondent brought the profession into disrepute by the seriousness of his convictions. In addition, the Committee regarded the Respondent as having deficient insight and a need to fully accept personal responsibility for his actions and their consequences. 

The Committee was also satisfied that the nature of the communications sent by the Respondent which led to the convictions and the breach of bail conditions, coupled with deficient insight amounted to serious professional misconduct and rendered him unfit to practise veterinary surgery.

The Committee considered various mitigating factors including the fact that no actual harm occurred to any animal, there were no concerns raised about the respondent’s practice, that he has a long and unblemished career, and that he showed some insight into his offences which continues to develop.

The Committee also took into account that preventing the Respondent from practicing could mean the loss of jobs for 33 or so employees, which weighed heavily on their decision. The Committee also agreed with the RCVS’s submissions that there was a very low likelihood of repetition of the offending behaviour. Aggravating factors included the emotional harm caused to the Respondent’s ex-wife, and that the harassment was a course of conduct sustained over a period of five months.

Therefore, when taking into account the particulars of this case, the Committee decided to impose a reprimand and warning on the basis that it would be proportionate to maintain public confidence in the profession in light of the serious nature of these charges. 

Chitra Karve, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee was of the view that the conviction for intending to interfere with the course of justice was particularly serious, in light of the need to maintain public confidence in the profession, because it involved a disregard of proper criminal process.

"However, a particular feature of this case is the risk to the jobs of 33 or so employees if the Respondent were to be prevented from practising as a result of the Committee’s imposition of a sanction. It is this mitigating factor which weighed most heavily with the committee and they therefore concluded that both a Reprimand as to this conduct and a Warning as to any future conduct is sufficient and proportionate in this case to meet the need to maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards."

Mr Bremner has 28 days in which to make an appeal about the Committee’s decision to the Privy Council.

The British Veterinary Union has announced that union members working at the Valley Vets group in South Wales will take strike action for two weeks from 8am on Tuesday 16th July.

The strike follows a breakdown in negotiations for better pay and conditions earlier in the year.

Valley Vets, which is owned by VetPartners, offered a 7.27% increase to its lowest paid staff, with smaller increases for higher paid staff.

However, the BVU rejected the offer, describing it as a "derisory real terms pay cut".

A postal ballot was held and 94% of members voted for industrial action, with a 93% turnout.

The BVU says it is open to restarting negotiations in the hope that an improved offer will make the strike unnecessary. 

15 of the major UK member organisations, vet schools and policy-making bodies have come together to affirm their commitment to veterinary medicine based on sound scientific principles, in a new publication produced by RCVS Knowledge and the charity Sense about Science.

Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters: Our Commitment to the Future represents the first time that such a broad and influential group has united in support of a single issue in the veterinary profession. 

The publication contains a number of case studies which illustrate the impact that evidence can have – and has had – on animal health and welfare. It also provides a rationale for veterinary professionals to contribute to the evidence base and put evidence into practice, to the benefit of animals, owners and veterinary teams themselves.

The signatories to the commitment are: 

• Animal and Plant Health Agency

• British Cattle Veterinary Association

• British Equine Veterinary Association

• British Small Animal Veterinary Association

• British Veterinary Association

• British Veterinary Nursing Association

• RCVS Knowledge

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

• Royal Veterinary College

• University of Bristol

• University of Cambridge

• University of Liverpool

• University of Nottingham

• University of Surrey

• Veterinary Policy Research Foundation

No sign of the BAHVS, I see.  

Jacqui Molyneux, Chair of the Board of Trustees of RCVS Knowledge, said: "Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters is a milestone publication for the professions, representing the first time the majority of the key institutions have aligned under the same EBVM banner.

"A celebration of decades of incredible discoveries, achievements and improvements in animal health, it also serves to remind us that even the earliest forms of veterinary medicine were underpinned by evidence."

UK Chief Vet Christine Middlemiss said: "What’s the evidence? An evidence-based approach is vital in all areas of our profession, whatever is keeping you awake at night. For me, it is the threat of African swine fever and avian flu. The evidence I rely on comes from our specialist surveillance monitoring and testing, veterinary epidemiologists and disease modellers. It enables me to make timely, proportionate risk-based decisions that stand up to scrutiny.

"If you are managing veterinary care in practice, the evidence you rely on to underpin your standards of clinical care comes from multiple sources too. Evidence-based veterinary medicine allows us to refine and tailor strategies to be effective and efficient, making full use of existing and new technologies. 

"The profession has taken great strides towards embracing evidence-based veterinary medicine and building on this will strengthen the links between clinical decision-making, policy development and future research."

Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, added: "We are impressed by the contributions from our co-signatories, which clearly demonstrate the phenomenal impact on patient outcomes that conducting research and using evidence can have. We are also delighted that Sense about Science, a flagbearer for evidence, transparency and rational thinking, has joined with us to highlight the many benefits EBVM can bring.   

"The publication also makes a strong case for much-needed funding for research to grow the evidence base, which would put powerful, robust data into the hands of veterinary professionals as they make critical decisions that can affect patient outcomes.

"It is our hope that the calibre, diversity and sheer number of the organisations putting their name to this commitment will galvanise all vets and their teams to expand their use of evidence in practice."

Rebecca Asher, Deputy Director at Sense about Science, said: "This is a showcase of game changers in veterinary care and we hope it will inspire and motivate everyone in the profession.

"We were delighted that RCVS Knowledge approached us to collaborate with them and other leading institutions in the veterinary research community to affirm their commitment to an evidence-based approach to veterinary medicine.

"Everyone expects treatment for humans to be underpinned by evidence. We now expect the same of the whole veterinary community when it comes to the treatment of animals."

The full commitment and portfolio of case studies can be read in Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters, available for free online: bit.ly/EBVMMatters.

Agria Pet Insurance has announced the launch of a new campaign to highlight the threat to animals from everyday poisons and toxins. 

As part of its campaign, the company is encouraging vets and nurses to help clients keep their pets safe by sharing knowledge about specific toxins - increasing awareness of substances which can cause harm. 

To support vets in advising clients, Agria has produced a poster designed for in-practice display (pictured right, click to enlarge), covering some of the main threats to cats and dogs that owners may come across in their everyday lives. Dangers include: ingestion of antifreeze and paracetamol by cats, certain human foods and rock salt by dogs.

International Cat Care, currently running the campaign ‘Keeping Cats Safe’ in conjunction with Agria, feels that many poisonings could be prevented if only owners knew the risks. 

Claire Bessant, from the charity, said “Accidental poisonings are heartbreaking because they are so often preventable - owners just weren’t aware of the dangers. Even worse, sometimes people are trying to help their animals - such as when owners give paracetamol, unaware that it can be lethal for cats.

"We’re delighted that Agria is helping reduce the risk of poisoning with this veterinary campaign and we encourage vets to do their bit and display a poster."

To order a copy of Agria’s poster – ‘Responsible Pet Ownership Month – taking extra care of your pet!’– to display in your practice, email the Agria vet team at admin.vet@agriapet.co.uk, or call them on 03330 30 83 90.