CEVA Animal Health's live enzootic abortion vaccine, CEVAC^® Chlamydophila, has been renamed CEVAC^® Chlamydia and repackaged in a larger bottle size. 

According to the company, infectious abortion, particularly enzootic abortion (Chlamydiosis) can wipe out up to 50% of lambs but strategic use of CEVAC Chlamydia, a live enzootic abortion vaccine, can help keep the flock safe. It can prevent abortion and also control excretion and the threat of infection. For added convenience CEVAC Chlamydia can be used on the same day as the toxoplasmosis vaccine. This can save administration time and money.

For extra efficiency with big flocks CEVAC Chlamydia is now available in a larger, 50 dose bottle in addition to the original 20 dose bottle. It is administered using a special multi-dose injector gun.

CEVA says that a strategic vaccination every four years will help flocks remain chlamydiosis-free. Routine preventative measures are also advised prior to mating and when new sheep are introduced to the flock, to ensure abortion and infection rates always remain as low as possible.  All animals should be vaccinated in the first year, with replacements being vaccinated from six months of age, at least four weeks prior to tupping.

For further product information contact your local CEVA representative or CEVA Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG or visit the website at www.ceva.uk.com

A new book written by a man who is both married to and brother of a veterinary surgeon (not the same one, I hasten to add), offers a husband's take on a vet's life.

Author Steve Ankers is married to Margaret Ankers MRCVS (Acorn Veterinary Surgery) and brother of John Prescott MRCVS (now retired, but remains a consultant to Robson & Prescott).

His book, called It's a Dog's Life for the Other Half, is brimfull of funny anecdotes, including: holding hands with a famous actress inside a cow's rectum; a dog who ate a Cliff Richard cassette; a cat who ate a Chihuahua but spat out the tail and a vulture who travelled hundreds of miles on a car roof-rack.

Terry Jones (you know, the Python) described the book as "Hilarious and eminently readable".

It's a Dog's Life for the Other Half may be the literary equivalent of a busman's holiday for the members of this site, but I'm half way through and it's one of those rare books that's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face at least once a page.

It's a Dog's Life for the Other Half is available now from all good bookshops, including Amazon RRP £12.99. It is also available as an e-book.

A bogus vet who pleaded guilty to a number animal cruelty and fraud offences is being sought by Humberside Police after he failed to appear at court for sentencing.

Jayson Paul Wells (pictured right), 30, of Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is wanted by detectives in Grimsby after he failed to appear at Grimsby Crown Court.

The RCVS assisted Humberside Police with its original investigation and is publicising its appeal to help locate Mr Wells. Police believe that he may be trading as a herdsman in Nottingham or Cornwall and are keen to establish whether he is currently in either location.

Mr Wells was arrested on 2 October 2013 and charged with the following offences:

• Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between 1 October 2012 and 31 January 2013
• Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between 1 December 2012 and 1 January 2013
• Fraud by false representation between 1 September 2012 and 1 October 2012
• Fraud by false representation on 15 December 2012
• Fraud by false representation on 15 December 2012

Mr Wells pleaded guilty to all offences.

Anyone who is aware of his whereabouts is asked to call Humberside Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The RCVS and the BVA have issued a joint statement to help the veterinary profession interpret the guidance released by Government on 19 March about who qualifies as ‘key workers’ in relation to the closure of schools.

The relevant section of the Government advice states: "This [key worker status] includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines)."

The RCVS/BVA statement, which is intended to help veterinary surgeons decide whether or not they can claim ‘key worker’ status and ask for their children to continue to be taken into schools, reminds veterinary surgeons to consider the wider societal picture and ensure that they only claim ‘key worker’ status if absolutely necessary.

The statement also stresses that the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct responsibility of the veterinary surgeon to take steps to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief to animals according to their skills and the specific situation continues, and veterinary practices will need to continue to carry out this work. It is important that animal owners are able to focus on their own health, and not need to worry about their pets. Both the RCVS and BVA believe that veterinary surgeons who are providing this essential work can be considered key workers.

The statement in full is as follows:

Veterinary surgeons as key workers in relation to school closures

RCVS and BVA appreciate that veterinary surgeons will feel a great deal of uncertainty at the present time, and that many will be facing considerable difficulties due to the closure of schools for most pupils.

The official government advice can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision.

The guidance emphasises that if children can be at home then they should be, in order to help to prevent the virus from spreading.

The government has granted key worker status by sector rather than profession. Some veterinary work will definitely fall into the ‘key worker’ category. RCVS and BVA are therefore providing some additional advice below, following consultation with the UK Chief Veterinary Officer:

• Vets carrying out work linked to food production
  Veterinary surgeons working in food production from ‘farm to fork’ are considered to be key workers. This includes:
  1. Farm vets
  2. Official Veterinarians working in the food chain, including abattoir and other related inspection and certification work
• Vets working in emergency care
  The responsibility of the veterinary surgeon to take steps to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief to animals according to their skills and the specific situation continues, and veterinary practices will need to continue to carry out this work. It is important that animal owners are able to focus on their own health, and not need to worry about their pets. Veterinary surgeons who are providing this essential work can be considered key workers.
• Other companion animal practice work
  In light of the Government guidance published on 19 March it is not clear that veterinary surgeons working in companion animal practice can be considered key workers. Veterinary surgeons should consider the possibility of reputational damage to the profession if vets doing work which could be regarded as non-essential claim key worker status at this time, given that we are facing a public health emergency. Anyone doing so must be confident that their claim to key worker status is defensible. Practices may need to rationalise their work and ultimately this must be a decision for individual veterinary surgeons and veterinary practices.

Summary
At this time the provision of public health and the maintenance of food production need to take priority, and veterinary surgeons working in these areas should be considered key workers.

Veterinary surgeons working in emergency care can also be considered key workers. This will not apply to every veterinary surgeon in clinical practice, and practices may need to consider rationalising their services to achieve this.

The guidance has been welcomed by both the BSAVA and BEVA. David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: "As veterinary professionals we are duty-bound to provide essential care, relieve suffering and protect the health of the public. Recognition as key workers in such circumstances is welcomed but we would encourage vets to only add to the burden faced by schools where animal welfare is at risk and all other avenues have been explored."

The RVC has published a new VetCompass study which has concluded that prescribing antibiotics or nutraceuticals at first presentation of uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs causes no difference in clinical resolution of these cases.

The study¹ suggests that dogs with uncomplicated diarrhoea do not need antibiotics as part of their veterinary care plans. 

The study included a random sample of 894 dogs aged between three months and 10 years old diagnosed with uncomplicated diarrhoea in 2019.

Of these, 355 (39.7%) dogs were prescribed antibiotics, and 539 (60.3%) dogs were not prescribed antibiotics (with or without additional supportive treatment) at first presentation for diarrhoea.

For the analysis, the dogs were balanced for a range of other differences between the groups including age, breed, bodyweight, insurance status, the presence of two or more medical conditions, vomiting, reduced appetite, blood in faeces, raised temperature, duration of diarrhoea, additional treatment prescription and veterinary group.

The researchers say this effectively meant that the only difference between the two groups was that one group received antibiotic treatment while the other did not.

The likelihood of clinical resolution of diarrhoea in the dogs prescribed antibiotics was 88.3%, compared with 87.9% in dogs not prescribed antibiotics.

This tiny difference of 0.4% between the groups was not statistically significant, leading to the conclusion that antibiotic treatment did not cause any beneficial effects in the treatment of uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs.

Almost nine in 10 dogs with uncomplicated diarrhoea recovered after a single veterinary visit regardless of antibiotic treatment.

As an additional analysis, the study also explored gastrointestinal nutraceuticals (products derived from food sources that aim to restore digestive health such as probiotics and prebiotics) for treatment of uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs.

Gastrointestinal nutraceutical prescription (with or without other supportive treatment) at first presentation of uncomplicated diarrhoea caused no statistically significant difference in clinical resolution compared to dogs not prescribed gastrointestinal nutraceuticals.

Camilla Pegram, VetCompass PhD student at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “This study used an exciting new approach that allowed us to determine ‘cause’ rather than being limited to ‘association’.

"Diarrhoea is a common condition in dogs and is often treated with antibiotics.

"However, this study highlighted that antibiotic prescription at first presentation of diarrhoea caused no difference in clinical resolution.

"Therefore, this arms veterinarians with the evidence-base for restricting antibiotics for uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs, and owners should be prepared to only have an antibiotic prescription if absolutely necessary.”

Fergus Allerton, project lead for the PROTECT ME guidelines and co-author of the paper said: “Rational antimicrobial use is critical to defend ourselves and our pets against the growing threat from antimicrobial resistance.

"This study provides vital evidence to strengthen recommendations to withhold antibiotics when treating dogs with acute diarrhoea. Knowing that the outcome will be the same without antibiotics should reassure veterinarians to adopt this approach consistently.”

Reference

1. PEGRAM, C., DIAZ-ORDAZ, K., BRODBELT, D. C., CHANG, Y., TAYLER, S., ALLERTON, F., PRISK, L., CHURCH, D. B. & O’NEILL D.G. 2023. Do antimicrobials or gastrointestinal nutraceuticals prescribed at first presentation for acute diarrhoea cause a better clinical outcome in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK? PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291057 

Merial Animal Health has launched Locatim, an oral antibody supplement to aid calf scour management.

Manufactured from the colostrum of high health status cows that are hyper-immunised against E.coli, rotavirus and coronavirus, Locatim contains a guaranteed concentration of specific antibodies to enterotoxic E.coli F5 (K99).

Merial says that when given alongside the dam’s colostrum, Locatim provides enhanced protection against infection, reducing calf mortality due to neonatal diarrhoea caused by E.coli F5 (K99), and helping to protect calf health during the critical rearing period.

According to the company, a single 60ml oral dose provides direct transfer of these specific antibodies, giving local protection within the digestive tract and systemic protection following absorption through the intestinal mucosa.

For optimal absorption Locatim should be administered during the first four hours of life, but it can be given up to 12 hours after birth.

Locatim can be administered to every calf born during an outbreak of scour; at times of peak calving, when environmental challenge is high; or it can be used to enhance protection in individual calves identified as being at high risk of disease due to factors such as dystocia, weakness or the poor quality of the dam’s colostrum.

For information on purchasing stock contact your local Merial Animal Health territory manager.  

Boehringer Ingelheim has launched Arthritis AWARE, a campaign to raise awareness that osteoarthritis is much more common in young dogs than previously thought.

Although the disease is commonly diagnosed later in life, a 2022 study of 123 dogs found that 40% of those aged between one and four years old had radiographic osteoarthritis, of which about half had clinical signs and of those only 2 were being treated for pain¹.

Another 2022 study found that 38% of dogs over the age of one had osteoarthritic pain, but only half of them were presented for lameness or stiffness².

Geoffrey Guyot, Pain and Inflammation Franchise Lead at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, said: “Clinical signs of early osteoarthritis can be subtle.

"Some young dogs may present with overt lameness, but many compensate for years and manage to continue to perform their daily activities.

"Common compensations include gait or posture changes to unload the painful joint, which often go unnoticed.” 

Boehringer says the aim of its campaign is to shift the perception of osteoarthritis as an old dog disease, to one which could affect dogs of all ages.​

Boehringer also wants the campaign to bridge the gap between vets and dog owners, making it easier for owners to spot the early signs and initiate conversations about the condition.

Geoffrey added: "We hope the Arthritis AWARE campaign will raise awareness of early OA among owners to create more opportunities for you to diagnose and treat dogs with arthritis and improve their outcome.

"We encourage vet practices to join us on the journey so we can help improve dogs’ wellbeing together.”

Vet practices can help spread the word by downloading the Arthritis AWARE campaign pack which includes a waiting room video, a poster, owner-facing leaflets, and social media assets.

www.metacam.co.uk/aware

References

1. Enomoto et al. Prevalence of Radiographic Osteoarthritis and Associated Clinical Signs in Young Dogs. ACVS Surgery Summit (2022). https://www.eventscribe.net/2022/ACVS/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=1098164
2. Wright, A. et al. Identification of canine osteoarthritis using an owner‐reported questionnaire and treatment monitoring using functional mobility tests. J Small Anim Pract 63, 609–618 (2022). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13500

The Forestry Commission, together with other agencies and landowners, is stepping up efforts to find out why some dogs have fallen ill while on countryside walks.

Over 50 cases of so called Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) occurred during the autumn of 2009 and 2010 in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, East Anglia and Warwickshire, although there have been reports from further afield.

Symptoms include severe vomiting, diarrhoea, shaking / trembling and high temperature, and have generally been displayed by animals within 24 hours of walking in the countryside, especially in woodlands. A small number of dogs have died. The cause of Seasonal Canine Illness remains unknown.

Jo Atkinson, from the Forestry Commission, said:  "Although no cases have yet been reported this year, we are working with our many partners to get a clearer picture of the distribution and reasons behind this upsetting sickness. Both dog owners and vets can play their part too in helping protect cherished pets."

Moves to tackle the illness include:

• Agencies including the Forestry Commission and Notts County Councilhave teamed up to ensure that data collection on incidents is co-ordinated to achieve a much better picture of any outbreaks. It is likely that cases have gone unreported in previous years.
• The Animal Health Trust is asking dog owners who have walked in affected areas to fill in a questionnaire at www.aht.org.uk/seasonal_illness.html even if dogs did not fall ill.
• Nottingham University Veterinary School is to carry out two research projects to try and develop a test for a possible toxin which may be to blame.
• Landowners are seeking to work with vets to learn about cases more rapidly so they can inform people using their sites for dog walking.
• The Veterinary Poisons Information Service will monitor reports for unusual cases which could be SCI.

Veterinary surgeons are asked to:

1. Report suspected cases in Nottinghamshire to enquiries.sherwood@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
2. Report suspected cases from elsewhere in the country to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service
3. Collect and store samples for possible use by Nottingham University.
4. Encourage pet owners to complete the Animal Health Trust questionnaire.
5. Display the questionnaire prominently in surgeries.

The following small animal medicine dentistry CPD events have been announced for 2019.

If you are speaking at or hosting a small animal CPD event in 2019, please email details to press@vetsurgeon.org for it to be considered for addition to this list.

This list includes events from CPD Solutions, Improve International, the Veterinary Poisons Information Service and the Small Animal Medicine Society.

The RCVS has announced that over the next few years, it is planning to roll out a new outcomes-based model of continuing professional development (CPD), whereby practitioners will be obliged to reflect upon what they learned and to record their reflections.

A shift towards a more outcomes-based model of CPD for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses has been under discussion for a number of years and one of its main proponents has been the current RCVS Senior Vice-President Professor Stephen May (pictured right), who chaired the CPD Policy Working Party. 

Stephen said: "There has been increasing recognition over a range of different professions that CPD records based on ‘inputs’ alone, for example, measuring the number of hours attending a lecture, do not necessarily prove that any significant learning has taken place or that this learning will be used to improve professional practice. 

"By contrast, research has demonstrated that CPD activities focused on outcomes encourage professionals to reflect on what they have learned, how they will apply their learning and how it will improve their practice, which has a positive impact on professionalism and patient health outcomes. Numerous other professions, including human medicine and dentistry, have moved to this model and the veterinary world has been somewhat ‘behind the curve’ as a result.

"However, as with any significant shift in policy, there has been a recognition that we needed to take the profession with us and not force through change. This is why, in March 2017, we launched a pilot scheme for the outcomes-based model with veterinary and veterinary nurse volunteers, including people who, during the initial consultation stage, had voiced some skepticism towards the concept.

"The overall feedback from volunteers was very positive and supportive towards the changes and I look forward, over the coming years, to talking to the professions at large about the benefits of the approach and how to best engage with the model."

In all, around 120 volunteers took part in the pilot, of whom 70% were veterinary surgeons and 30% veterinary nurses. When the pilot finished in October 2018, volunteers provided feedback as part of the evaluation process. Of the 57% of volunteers (n=70) who responded to the survey: 

• 77% said they would be willing to use an outcomes-based CPD model in the future; 

• 41% found it ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to implement outcomes-based CPD while only 11% thought it was either ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’;

• 61% thought that the outcomes-based model made CPD more meaningful for them and 25% said it encouraged them to undertake a wider range of CPD activities than previously;

• Other feedback included the need for a better CPD recording system and more information and guidance ahead of any future changes. 

Following the feedback, particularly around the need for a new approach to CPD recording, it was also recommended to Council that a new online CPD recording system should be introduced. This system will integrate the current disparate systems, such as the Student Experience Log (for vet students), Nursing Progress Log (for student VNs) and the Professional Development Phase (for recent vet graduates), making it a ‘one-stop shop’ professional development recording platform.

Richard Burley, RCVS Chief Technology Officer, said: "We will be building a new platform, consolidating all professional development-related capability for all members, into a single, integrated solution, seamlessly accessible via our ‘My Account’ online portal, and forthcoming mobile app. We have assembled a new, dedicated, software development team to drive this work and more details about this system will be published in coming months."

Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS Director of Education, added:"Following the approval of the CPD proposals by RCVS Council, a phased roll-out of the new model and the accompanying IT system will take place. This includes recruiting a group of volunteers from the profession later this year to get some initial feedback around the guidance resources and online CPD platform, with members of the profession being voluntarily able to sign up to the new model and IT system from January 2020 onwards. 

"Implementation of the new CPD requirement for all members is expected to start in January 2022 but, prior to that, we will be working hard to talk to the profession about why an outcomes-based model is a more effective and meaningful way of undertaking CPD and this will include workshops, webinars and roadshows. Look out for more news on our plans over the coming months."

For more information about the College’s current CPD policy requirement and policy, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd

The Privy Council has approved a Recognition Order for the University of Surrey’s veterinary degree and it will be formally accredited by the RCVS from late next month.

The new Order will come into force on the 18th February 2020, from when students who graduate with the University of Surrey’s veterinary degree will automatically be able to join the Register of Veterinary Surgeons and to practise veterinary medicine in the UK.

The university’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Science (BVMSci Hons) degree will enter the College’s cyclical accreditation process and be subject to annual monitoring for quality assurance.

Accreditation of the degree was a five-year process during which the RCVS worked with the University of Surrey to ensure that its curriculum and programme met the College’s quality standards, including two interim accreditation visitations in 2017 and 2018 and a final accreditation visit in 2019.

Dr Niall Connell, RCVS President, said: “We are very glad that the University of Surrey’s veterinary degree has now cleared the last hurdle and that, as of next month, it will join the roster as the UK’s eighth recognised veterinary degree. I commend the hard work that the faculty, students and the university’s clinical partners have put in to develop the course over the past five years and we look forward to continue to work with them to ensure that the high standards are maintained."

Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said: "I am delighted that the University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine has become the UK’s eighth provider of veterinary education. The support and enthusiasm of our partner practice network has been essential in delivering our vision of competent, confident and compassionate veterinary graduates."

The full RCVS accreditation standards for veterinary degrees can be found here: www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/accrediting-primary-qualifications/accrediting-veterinary-degrees/accreditation-standards/

Photo: (from l-r) Susan Paterson, Chair of the RCVS Education Committee, Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, and Niall Connell, RCVS President.

Zoetis has launched a one-dose vial of Rispoval IntraNasal, in order to offer respiratory health protection in calves as soon as possible after birth without either waiting to batch them in groups or wasting unused vaccine in multi-dose packs.

To make ready for use, the vaccine is reconstituted by mixing a powder with sterile diluent. Once mixed, the licensed shelf life is two hours. This means any that is unused in multi-dose packs must be thrown away. By stocking a combination of one- and multi-dose packs, farmers can eliminate this.

The vaccine protects against two primary viral causes of pneumonia in young calves, BRSv and Pi3v¹. Surveillance of blood samples from 2,145 calves with pneumonia signs found 78% exposed to BRSv, 81% to Pi3v². The product licence allows use from nine days of age, with onset of immunity to BRSv and Pi3v after five and 10 days respectively. The licence also specifies a duration of immunity of 12 weeks.

Zoetis vet Carolyn Hogan says that viruses are the instigator of a majority of respiratory health problems: "Early-life protection also helps reduce the threat from opportunistic secondary bacterial infections, such as Pasteurella.

"Good respiratory health is essential to ensure calves develop to achieve their lifetime potential. But it's estimated that 67% of pneumonia cases occur in calves less than three months of age³.

"Whether suckled or reared, calves that don’t grow effectively in the early weeks are unlikely to catch up later. On both dairy and beef units, proactive management of the calf living space, nutrition and disease resilience is critical to maximise lifetime productivity, which is clearly so important under today's farm business economics.

More information about the benefits of managing respiratory health in calves is available at plantoproduce.co.uk.