The survey is open to all veterinary surgeon members and participants will be entered into a free prize draw to win £500 of BEVA CPD vouchers.
As we all know, antibiotic resistance is increasing throughout human and veterinary medicine, and there are few new antibiotics being produced. As BEVA says, it’s therefore imperative for vets to protect the usage of antimicrobials to maintain their effectiveness for the future.
To that end, the purpose of the survey is to help fill in gaps in knowledge about how antimicrobials are being used and also the current landscape of resistant infections encountered in equine practice.
The survey has been designed by Amie Wilson and Dr Gina Pinchbeck at the University of Liverpool and Tim Mair the incoming President of BEVA.
Tim said: "This survey will assess any changes in prescribing of antimicrobials in equine practice since the last survey in 2009. In addition, we will collect data on the current frequency and types of antimicrobial resistant infections seen by clinicians in all areas of equine practice and what infection control and audit practices are currently using to combat this."
The survey results should lead to a greater understanding of the role of antimicrobial treatment in the overall epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in horses and will help protect antibiotics for the future of equine and human health.
To take part in the survey, visit: https://liverpool.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/beva-questionnaire-2019-final
The results will be announced to coincide with European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November 2019.
If you have any questions about the survey you can contact the researchers direct: Amie Wilson, University of Liverpool A.wilson3@liv.ac.uk; Dr Gina Pinchbeck, University of Liverpool ginap@liv.ac.uk; Tim Mair, British Equine Veterinary Association tim.mair@btinternet.com
The first is a new formulation of Sustain, which the company says will be the first UK veterinary product for cats to contain a prebiotic, probiotic and postbiotic.
The company has also launched Gomega for Cats, which contains a purified fish oil source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids which VetPlus says supports cardiovascular health and kidney function.
Jackie Marshall, Technical Advisor at VetPlus, said: “The launch of these two products will help our veterinary partners provide the best care for felines from gastrointestinal support through to aiding with renal and cardiac health.
Sustain for Cats and Gomega for Cats are now in stock and available from veterinary wholesalers.
www.vetplus.co.uk
MDC Exports had launched a new biodegradable poo bag dispenser, aimed at veterinary practices and pet owners.
The idea is that pet owners can fix the dispenser to a wall, somewhere they'll be able to grab a bag on their way out of the door. The dispenser also has two strong hooks for other essentials such as dog leads or keys.
MDC Exports says their poo bags are generously-sized and feature long handles for simple tying and carrying. For more information, contact MDC Exports Limited on 01582 655600, or e-mail: mdcexports@btconnect.com
Oh I wish I was a travel journalist sometimes.
Consistent with previous surveys, lameness was shown to be more likely to be caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis in the limb rather than problems in the foot.
Blue Cross carries out NEHS in May each year in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA). It is sponsored by Dodson & Horrell and Zoetis and supported by the UK’s leading equestrian organisations and charities.
This year saw a 14% increase in participation compared to 2015, with survey records returned for almost 16,751 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and 5635 people taking part. Most horses were kept in livery or a private yard and used for leisure and hacking.
Lameness has been consistently seen as the most common syndrome affecting horses in the NEHS results year on year. In the latest survey a total of 32.9% (24.4% in 2015) of horses and ponies with health problems were recorded as lame. Overall, as in previous years, lameness in the limb was more common than lameness caused by problems in the foot.
A breakdown of the types of lameness revealed that 47.4% were recorded as suffering from proximal limb lameness, 31.9% from causes of foot lameness other than laminitis and 20.7% from laminitis. Degenerative joint disease (including foot and proximal limb) was the most frequently reported single cause of lameness (41.2% of all lameness) and the most frequently reported joint affected by DJD was the hock (15.3% of all lameness).
Reports of foot lameness (excluding laminitis) more than doubled this year at 10.5% (4.5% in 2015) of all syndromes reported with pus in the foot being the most frequently recorded problem. This could possibly be attributed to the persistent wet weather during and prior to the survey, which can increase susceptibility to the condition.
Josh Slater from the Royal Veterinary College, who is a member of BEVA’s Health & Medicines Committee and analysed the NEHS data, said: "The data gleaned from the survey remains consistent year on year, confirming the reliability of our findings for benchmarking, referencing and research. This year’s increase in overall lameness may be in part attributed to the higher incidence of pus in the foot but may also be because owners are becoming more aware of lameness issues. Ongoing research on lameness has generated significant media coverage over the past year, helping to raise understanding of the importance of accurate diagnosis and treatment both from welfare and performance perspectives."
The six most notable disease syndromes identified in the 2016 National Equine Health Survey are:
Gemma Taylor, Education Officer at Blue Cross said: "The significant increase in participation again this year shows that owners and keepers of horses are really getting behind the survey and recognising its importance in safeguarding the future health and of the UK’s horses. Over the past year NEHS data has been referred to in leading equestrian and veterinary media, showing its credibility as a valuable benchmarking reference."
The 2016 NEHS survey results are now available. To download a copy visit http://www.bluecross.org.uk/nehs2016results and to register for next year’s survey please visit www.bluecross.org.uk/nehs
It's National Veterinary Nurse Week from 26th October to 1st November and vet nurses across the country will be raising awareness of the important job they do in caring for the nation's pets. Bonny Millar CVT(USA), RVN, REVN, Vice President of the BVNA and VN week organiser has called for vets and practice managers to support the initiative.
She said: "This is an ideal opportunity for practices to use their nurses to full effect. A lot of our efforts go on behind the scenes and so nurses are sometimes not fully appreciated by pet owners. We are encouraging practices to get their nurses out at front of house, running clinics and offering clients help and expert advice. Reducing barriers and educating the wider public about the role of the vet nurse can only be a good thing. Vets and practice managers know what a great contribution a good vet nurse can make to the practice and we would love to see them make a big effort to be ‘loud and proud' during National VN Week."
Bonnie added: "Last year hundreds of veterinary nurses took part in VN Week and we raised over £5000 for charity. This year our nominated charity is the Animal Cancer Trust so I hope practices really support their nurses in helping raise money for this important cause."
The British Veterinary Nursing Association is co-ordinating the various activities going on around the country and has arranged two pet health check days in Roundhay Park in Leeds on 26th October and Kensington Gardens in London on 1st November, sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition. Nurses are also being encouraged to make a special effort with prizes on offer thanks to sponsors Animalcare (Satellite Navigation system), Merial (lap top) and Vetoquinol (Nintendo Wii) for the most innovative event, most public involvement and most money raised for charity.
Further information and a registration pack is available from the BVNA http://www.bvna.org.uk/ (Tel 01279 408644). Any members of the practice interested in keeping up to date with the activities planned for VN Week can also visit the blog for the event at http://vnweek.wordpress.com/
The BSAVA has announced the launch of its third smartphone app - the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary App.
This member-only access app is available to download now from iTunes and Android Market and offers the same reference materials found in the latest 7th edition printed version.
The BSAVA says the app contains more than 450 drug monographs and a wealth of additional information, allowing easy and rapid access to vital information about those medications that veterinary surgeons most commonly prescribe. It is hoped that the convenience of having the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary on a smartphone will mean that vets in practice will always have this valuable reference tool within easy reach.
Once the app is installed it will ask for a validation code that can be obtained from the smartphone app validation code page within My BSAVA pages at www.bsava.com. All future BSAVA member-only smartphone apps will be validated using the same process.
BSAVA IT Manager Emma Hayes said: "BSAVA is continually aiming to provide a range of valuable member benefits in a variety of formats so they can be used in the most efficient and effective way by our members. The BSAVA Formulary was a natural candidate for release as a mobile application, following the successful launch as an online searchable database at Congress in April. By developing this application it has also provided us with a platform that will enable us to produce additional useful applications in the future that can provide unrestricted content for our members."
The BSAVA Small Animal Formulary App follows on from the BSAVA Congress App and the BSAVA Guide to the use of Veterinary Medicines App. You can find out more about these other BSAVA smartphone apps through My BSAVA at www.bsava.com.
The first MRCVS to be killed in the First World War has been honoured with a portrait at the College's offices in Belgravia House - 100 years after his death.
The portrait of Lieutenant Vincent Fox, who was from Dundalk, Co Louth, and was an alumnus of the then Royal Veterinary College in Dublin, was presented by his great grand-nephew, James Tierney, and received by RCVS Registrar Gordon Hockey.
Lieutenant Fox, a member of the former Army Veterinary Corps (AVC), was killed in action by a shell on August 26 1914 during the Battle of Le Cateau in northern France in which British and French forces fought to impede a German advance. He is now buried in the nearby Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery at Caudry.
Paul Watkins, a veterinary surgeon and military historian, conducted the research into Lieutenant Fox, his career and his deeds in the First World War, with the help of his family. He said: "The family story was that he had been found dead in a church with no mark or scars on him and, in fact, this turned out to be completely true.
"The church where he died was in the village of Audencourt in northern France where a dressing station had been set up for the wounded.
"The key issue was that, in the absence of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Lieutenant Fox was ordered to take charge of the medical treatment of the men using his skills as a veterinary surgeon. I'm sure he did his very best under such extreme circumstances but he would have been very ill-equipped."
Talking more generally about the role of the AVC during the First World War, Dr Watkins said: "The AVC made very significant contributions to the war effort because there were so many horses and mules deployed. They would have been responsible for a range of tasks from husbandry - and educating other soldiers on husbandry - to the treatment of injured animals."
In total, some 67 veterinary surgeons are believed to have been killed in the First World War - of whom 34 died from disease, 24 died as a result of wounds and nine were killed in action.
On presenting the portrait, which was drawn by artist Dave Gleeson based on a photograph of Lieutenant Fox, Mr Tierney, from Dublin, said: "I am very pleased that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has accepted this portrait as future generations of vets will be able to see it here and learn about my great grand-uncle's story.
"He has become my hero because he died while trying to save human lives and, for me, that's a huge source of pride.
"While his story is very interesting, however, it's not just about him. There are 66 other names on the RCVS First World War memorial and they all have a story to tell as well."
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, added: "We are very pleased to receive this portrait of Lieutenant Fox in recognition of the sacrifice he made during the First World War. The fact that he died while tending to his wounded fellow soldiers demonstrates the caring nature of the profession and the wider contribution to society made by veterinary surgeons.
"In this centenary year I would also like to commend the contribution made by members of the profession as a whole during the war."
Throughout the centenary the RCVS Knowledge Library blog - written by Clare Boulton, Head of Library and Information Services - will be updated with stories about the conduct of veterinary surgeons in the First World War. Visit rcvsknowledgelibraryblog.org to see the updates.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Celox Veterinary, a product which stops arterial or venous haemorrhage within 3 minutes, described as 'revolutionary' by the company.
Celox Veterinary is available in both a granule formulation and in two sizes of gauze. The granules can be poured into a wound. Once pressure is applied, a clot forms and arterial and venous haemorrhage is stopped within three minutes, independent of the body's normal clotting processes. Celox Veterinary Gauze has the granules ready bonded onto its surface for ease of use.
Dechra says the product works by bonding with red blood cells and gelling with fluids to produce a robust clot which sticks to moist tissue to plug the bleeding site. It can be helpful in treating a wide range of veterinary cases including:
Celox Veterinary is made from chitosan, a natural polysaccharide and by-product of the shrimp industry. It generates no heat while in use and small amounts of residual material left in the body are naturally metabolised.
Dechra Product Manager Rachel Horton said: "Wound care is an area in which Dechra is known for its innovative product range. We are delighted to take this to the next level by offering this revolutionary treatment to vets and believe it will soon establish itself as an efficacious tool when they are faced with significant injuries and severe bleeding."
For further information on Celox Veterinary, please contact your Territory Manager or call Dechra direct on (01939) 211200.
The awards were:
Queen’s Medal - to Dr John (Iain) Glen MRCVS (pictured right) who, at AstraZeneca, was responsible for the discovery and development of the anaesthetic drug propofol, one of the world’s most common anaesthetics for medical and veterinary use.
Honorary Associateships - Two were awarded this year. The first went to Professor Stuart Carter, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Liverpool’s Institution of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences. The second was awarded to Anthony Martin, a philanthropist with a particular interest in supporting national and international charities working with the veterinary profession to improve animal welfare.
Impact Award - Two were awarded this year. The first went to Alison Lambert, the founder and owner of veterinary business consultancy Onswitch which helps veterinary businesses create customer-centred practice so that pets, horses and livestock receive the best care. The second was awarded to Dr Gwenllian Rees for her involvement in the Arwain Vet Cymru (AVC) project, a collaborative national antimicrobial stewardship program for farm vets in Wales.
Inspiration Awards - Daniella Dos Santos MRCVS was nominated for her leadership role at the BVA during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic. The second award went to Professor Mandy Peffers, a Wellcome Trust Clinical Intermediate Fellow in Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science at the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences at the University of Liverpool.
The International Award was posthumously awarded to Emeritus Professor Michael Day, the prolific researcher and writer.
A new award this year is the Compassion Award, which was given to David Martin MRCVS for his work helping practitioners identify the signs of non-accidental injury.
Another new award this year is the Student Community Award, given to Jack Church, who - on top of his studies - has been volunteering on a covid ward, and Lavinia Economu, for her work to inspire young people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and different socio-economic backgrounds into the veterinary professions..
Dr Mandisa Greene MRCVS, RCVS President, said: “I am so impressed by the breadth and depth of the awards nominations that we received this year which demonstrate the very best that the veterinary professions have to offer.
“From veterinary students to veterinary surgeons and nurses who have been practising for decades, all our award winners demonstrate that veterinary professionals and veterinary science has a profound and positive impact not only on animal health and welfare but also wider society. I am immensely happy and proud for them all and look forward to formally being able to present them with their awards later this year.”
A formal awards ceremony, hosted by Mandisa, will take place on Thursday, 23 September 2021. Further details on the event and how to attend will be published later this year.
The company says that as a community interest company, it can help to bridge the gap between charities, which provide help only for those who are eligible, and commercial practices, which are becoming increasingly unaffordable as they are acquired by corporates and private equity companies.
The rules governing CIC companies mean that their assets can only be used for their social objectives and there is a limit to the money that can be distributed to shareholders: 5% above the Bank of England base rate to a maximum of 35% of profits.
Animal Trust does not charge consultation fees, so all pets are initially seen free of charge. If it turns out there’s nothing wrong, there's no charge. If treatment or medicine is required, prices are published on the website, so clients can see exactly what everything costs.
Founder Owen Monie says: “We are here to provide a comprehensive vet service for people who earn a real, living wage. We want to deliver the best access to good vet care and to remove the barriers that stop people getting care for their animals – that’s why we provide free consultations. This means pet owners can get professional advice without worrying about having to pay a consultation fee. If no treatment is needed – there’s no fee. It’s as simple as that.”
Owen says that large corporations argue they can bring better management, efficiency and innovation to the sector, and claim that costs have gone up in part due to advances in animal medicine and clients’ expectations.
"That may well be true, but big isn’t always better. In addition to its legal status as a CIC, Animal Trust lives by a set of core values (straightforward, accessible, sustainable and fair) that are becoming increasingly meaningful to customers and clients as an alternative to companies who appear to be only interested in the bottom line. There isn’t an NHS equivalent for animals – so is becoming a CIC the model that all vet practices should be looking to adopt?"
Virbac, in conjunction with the European Veterinary Dental Society, has launched an online dental charting system called the Electronic Veterinary Dental Scoring System for use by small animal practitioners.
The system aims to enhance the performance of clinicians conducting dentistry and to encourage a thorough review of the oral cavity during the annual check up.
The system allows you to record clinical findings on online dental charts and build up a history for each patient. There are also a series of tutorials to help in making clinical decisions. Virbac says the e-VDS system also encourages owner compliance with treatment regimes as it provides downloadable materials, including an assessment of their pet and follow up reports.
Dr Gottfried Morgenegg-Wegmüller, who was the EVDS project lead on this development, said: "It was always my vision to give veterinary dentistry the importance it deserves. The most effective way to achieve this is by targeting the general practitioner and encouraging them to have a closer look at the oral cavity of their patients."
Victoria Hudson, Product Manager for dental products at Virbac, said: "Poor dental health is a major issue for dogs and cats yet many practices are yet to capitalise on the opportunity to help increase the animal's welfare and health. Many owners are simply unaware of the importance of caring for their pet's teeth.
"The new e-VDS system is a great leap forward in dental care, offering not just electronic charting but a raft of additional support materials, all of which are practical and easy to use. We hope many practices will be keen to try it - and will soon be reaping the benefit!"
e-VDS is available free of charge on http://www.my-virbac.co.uk/, Virbac's practice support portal. Practices can also contact their territory manager for more details.
Jon Pycock, President of BEVA said: "A significant number of BEVA members have young children and we want to make it as easy as possible for them to enjoy Congress without having to worry about making separate plans for childcare at home. We have already had a great response to the idea and it’s looking like the crèche is going to be very popular."
The theme of this year's Congress is helping horse vets celebrate the benefits and pleasures of their job.
In addition to the social and scientific programme at Congress, there will be special sessions on reproduction, non-clinical aspects of being a vet, succession planning, a moral maze debate on specials manufacturing and role play demonstrations on how to manage difficult situations in practice.
Dr Juan Samper, Associate Dean for students and instruction at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine will be giving the plenary lecture on the challenges and opportunities in equine practice.
There will also be specific lecture streams for veterinary nurses, equine dental technicians and farriers.
For more information on the BEVA Congress crèche or to reserve your child's place, contact Jocelyn@beva.org.uk or call 01638 723558. BEVA says places are limited so early booking is advised.
The BEVA Congress programme can be viewed at www.bevacongress.org.
At this year’s event, sessions include ‘Backyard pigs – Notifiable Diseases and Zoonosis’, and a discussion on the role of paraprofessionals in the sector led by Simon Hall, APHA’s Director for EU Exit and Trade.
Drop-in Q&A sessions, workshops offering practical advice and guidance on the revalidation process and a strong focus on the Cymorth TB programme in Wales also feature.
The conference programme includes dedicated lecture streams aimed at large animal, small animal and equine practitioners and, with more than 8,000 OVs due to revalidate their qualifications in March 2019, Improve says lecture content has been tailored to cover areas of key relevance for them.
An exhibition of products and services for OV’s runs alongside the conference.
APHA’s recently appointed Veterinary Director, Dr Andrew Soldan (pictured right), said: "Having recently taken on the role of Veterinary Director for APHA, I am very much looking forward to meeting up with our OV’s and exploring some of the key challenges facing us all, as we seek to control animal disease threats at home and from abroad."
David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve International, said: "This conference has established itself as an annual fixture in the OV diary and it remains the only event dedicated to their needs. This year’s packed programme will again highlight the growing importance of OV’s, particularly as we look ahead to the post-Brexit era."
For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com
Christine said: "Tests conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a pet cat in England.
"This is a very rare event with infected animals detected to date only showing mild clinical signs and recovering within in a few days.
"There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change."
Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said: "This is the first case of a domestic cat testing positive for COVID-19 in the UK but should not be a cause for alarm.
"The investigation into this case suggest that the infection was spread from humans to animal, and not the other way round. At this time, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease to humans.
The pet cat was initially diagnosed by a vet with feline herpes virus, but the sample was also tested for SARS-CoV-2 as part of a research programme at the Centre for Virus Research at Glasgow University. Follow-up samples tested at the APHA laboratory in Weybridge confirmed the cat was also co-infected with SARS-CoV2 , the virus known to cause COVID-19 in humans.
BSAVA advice for practising vets about coronavirus is here and further information about testing is available here.
Nutraflex contains turmeric curcumin complex and boswellia extract, which Nutravet says work synergistically to support the natural systems that control inflammation.
The new product also contains glucosamine, a structural component of cartilage, and chondroitin sulphate to help maintain synovial fluid viscosity.
Nutravet claims the new product is fast acting, soothes stiff joints, aids long-term mobility, flexibility and joint structure, and supports the natural systems that control inflammation.
Chris Jones, Director at Nutravet said: “We’re delighted to be adding Nutraflex to our market-leading range of natural health products for pets.
"We’re always looking at ways of improving our products and Nutraflex provides our authorised stockists with a high strength veterinary exclusive joint support, supported by independent trial data, which works quickly to ultimately help pets that are suffering with joint stiffness.”
Nutraflex is available to order exclusively to authorised veterinary practices.
For more information, contact Nutravet on 0845 604 1688, email info@nutravet.co.uk or visit www.nutravet.com.
The Executors of the Will of the late Mary Brancker have notified the Veterinary Benevolent Fund that she left a share of her estate to the charity.
Mary Brancker was one of only a handful of women vets when she qualified in 1937. She went on to found the Society of Women Veterinary Surgeons; became one of the first women on BVA Council and was later awarded an OBE for her services as BVA President during the century's most serious outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and a CBE in 2000 for services to animal health and welfare.
Mary was a long-time member of the VBF - a charity that has been run by vets for the profession for over a hundred years.
The VBF currently provides the Vet Helpline, the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme and the Vetlife website. The charity says it plans to use Brancker's £40,000 bequest specifically for the redevelopment of the Vetlife website which is currently underway and for other essential support for veterinary colleagues in need. The new version of the website will be launched at the London Vet Show in November.
VBF's President Lydia Brown said: "Mary was a personal friend and her gift is so typical of her kindness and her appreciation of her career. I hope others will follow Mary's wonderful example and consider giving generously to VBF. A legacy is of enormous benefit to our charity and the veterinary profession as a whole. Although we are making every effort to adapt to the changing needs of the profession there is always more that can be done if we have sufficient funding."
Veterinary Benevolent Fund T: 020 7908 6385E: info@vetlife.org.uk
Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support ProgrammeT: 07946 634220E: VSHSP@vetlife.org.uk
Vet HelplineT: 07659 811118
See www.vetlife.org.uk for more information. Donations can be made to VBF on-line at www.virginmoneygiving.com
For the study, researchers from the RVC’s VetCompass Programme identified 2,105 hypothyroidism cases diagnosed amongst a study population of 905,553 UK dogs.
This revealed an annual frequency of one case in 400 dogs (0.23%) for the condition, with the most common breeds diagnosed being Standard Doberman Pinschers (x 17.02), Tibetan Terriers (x11.25), Boxers (x10.44) and Alaskan Malamutes (x 9.71).
The average age at first diagnosis was 7.65 years.
Other findings included:
Dr Rebecca Geddes, Lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Animals and last author of the paper, said: “It is great to have this data from UK primary care practices, which will help highlight high risk breeds to veterinary surgeons so they can diagnose and treat affected dogs as early as possible. Hypothyroidism is usually straightforward to manage with medication that can greatly improve quality of life in affected dogs.”
Reference
Virbac has launched an iPhone app designed to support veterinary surgeons in the diagnosis of canine dermatological conditions.
Called Virbac-Derm-Diag it enables clinicians to create a clinical history (including photographs) of a patient then recommends a clinical chronological approach for the diagnosis of many of the canine skin diseases seen most commonly in practice. It also contains a library of downloadable monographs, videos and images of skin diseases which can be used to support discussions with owners about diagnosis and potential treatment regimes.
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Product Manager, said: "Dog skin disorders are among the most common health problems seen in practice and have a wide range of causative factors. We are really excited about the launch of the app, which should prove really useful as vets work through the various steps of history-taking and examination required to reach an accurate diagnosis.
It also provides a wealth of materials to help them explain the implications of diagnosis to owners and recommended treatment options."
Veterinary dermatologist Anthony Chadwick said: "This is an ideal app for those vets who have an interest in dermatology and want readily accessible information at their fingertips. The images of lesions are likely to be particularly helpful."
Virbac Derm-Diag, it is available by searching for 'Virbac' in the app store (or click here). The content is restricted to veterinary surgeons, who must register at www.virbacderm.com to gain an access code.
Virbac says an iPad version will be available within weeks and there are plans to launch the app on other platforms shortly.
Armed with the new microscope, New Forest Equine Vets (NFEV) has started offering a mobile equine veterinary service, including expert worming advice.
The microscope captures images with a resolution of 1 micron, with a live magnification of x200 and x400 or more, which means that the practice can carry out an accurate egg count in the yard, rather than sending faecal samples off to the lab.
This, they say, allows for a more a more accurate result, because posting faeces can lead to the sample desiccating and the eggs hatching, leading to false negative results. It also allows the veterinary surgeon to give immediate advice and treatment.
Dr. Beth Robinson BVSc Cert AVP(EP) MRCVS, co-owner of NFEV, says "One of the main aims of performing worm egg counts is to identify horses shedding low numbers of eggs so that we can maintain a low number of parasites on the pasture that have not been exposed to wormers and therefore have not been placed under selection pressure for resistance. In horses shedding high numbers of eggs, worm egg count reduction tests are a useful way of assessing whether treatment has been effective."
Andrew Monk, co-founder of ioLight, said: "The product is incredibly simple to use. By using a tablet both the owner and vet can view the image and discuss treatment. We hope that more horse owners in the New Forest will use the services from NFEV to protect their animals, and that it will encourage other equine practices to purchase a microscope so they can also offer a similar high quality service. We have made a video with NFEV to demonstrate their service and encourage other equine vets to use the ioLight microscope in their own mobile clinics."
Beth added: "We are delighted to be working with ioLight and horse owners to keep their animals healthy and improve equine welfare."
The work done by vetsurgeon.org and vetnurse.co.uk attempted to identify the sorts of unpleasant behaviour that veterinary surgeons and and nurses found themselves on the receiving end of, and the impact that it had on them. It was not, however, able to quantify the prevalence of these types of behaviour other than to the extent that there were 677 reports.
The new survey of over 650 vet nurses and student vet nurses found that not only did 96% agree or strongly agree that bullying and incivility is a serious problem in the profession, but 70% of respondents had personally experienced a mental health concern as a result.
Other findings from the survey were:
The full findings of the survey will be revealed at the MMI Student Veterinary Nurse Wellbeing Discussion Forum, taking place on Wednesday 3rd November.
Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges highlighted in the survey and how they can be addressed. The results will also be published at a session led by Jill McDonald, VN Futures Project Coordinator at BVNA Congress, taking place Saturday 2nd – Monday 4th October.
Lisa Quigley, Mind Matters Initiative Manager, said: “A number of our survey findings are extremely concerning, particularly the high levels of bullying, incivility and discrimination reported by participants. We conducted the survey with the intention of finding out more about what systemic issues across workplace practices were impacting on the profession’s mental health.
"We want to thank everyone who took part and shared their experiences with us. There were some upsetting accounts shared with us about experiences of bullying and discrimination – no one should go through this at any point in their life, let alone at their place of work.
"Decisive action needs to be taken to tackle this and we will be using the findings of the survey to help form our 2022-2027 strategy and decide what resources and training we create for the profession. Supporting the wellbeing of veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses is one of our key priorities, and will be part of all future MMI activities.”
“I would encourage as many veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses as possible to attend the upcoming Student Veterinary Nurse Wellbeing Discussion Forum and our session at BVNA to have your voice heard about what steps need to be taken to improve the mental wellbeing of the profession.
"We recognise that these results may bring some difficult emotions to the fore for many people, and we would encourage anyone who has experienced bullying or discrimination to seek help from an organisation such as Vetlife or the National Bullying Helpline.
"I would urge anyone who witnesses bullying or discrimination in the workplace to speak out, wherever it is safe to do so. This takes immense courage, but it is only by calling out this behaviour that it can begin to be addressed. We will be launching Active Bystander training in early 2022, to equip people with the confidence to call out unacceptable behaviour, and the skills to proactively support colleagues who have been targeted.”
Matthew Rendle, Chair of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council, added: “As a veterinary nurse some of these results were a difficult read and I would like to thank those student vet nurses and newly qualified vet nurses who came forward with great honesty and bravery with their views and experiences, as it couldn’t have been easy.
“We take these matters very seriously and opening up the conversation is an important first step. I hope that, following these results, we can take look at things such as strengthening reporting mechanisms for bullying and discrimination and encouraging better workplace practices to mitigate against these incidents.
“While it’s easy to focus on the negatives, I do think that these survey results have given us positive steps to build on, not least that people know how to access mental health support so they’re not suffering in silence and the role that our amazing clinical coaches are playing in supporting people with their mental health, and how we can better give them the tools for this support.”
Royal Canin has launched a range of new renal diets to help support cats and dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
According to the company, CKD patients are twice as likely to show signs of anorexia, food intolerance and loss of appetite than non-CKD pets, so the focus with the new diets has been on different aromatic profiles, textures and tastes to provide choice and encourage feeding without compromising the nutritional management of the pets with CKD.
Royal Canin says each of the diets in the new Renal range has been developed with a unique aromatic profile, so that cats and dogs can be attracted to their food bowl even after an episode of food aversion.
The new range also provides two different textures of dry diet for both cats and dogs. In addition to the classic kibbles found in Renal and Renal Special, the new Renal Select diet for cats has a pillow kibble with a thin, crunchy shell and a soft centre for cats who used to love crunching but are beginning to struggle with harder kibbles. The new kibbles for dogs are designed to be easy to rehydrate, providing the taste of a dry diet in a softer, easier to chew format. A new Renal Wet range is also available with a 'loaf' or 'chunks-in-gravy' texture and these can be combined with any dry diet to allow even greater variety of textures.
With CKD causing frequent fluctuations in an animal's sense of taste, Royal Canin has made the feline range available in smaller 500g bags, making it easier for owners to swap between the differing options as their pet's tastes alter.
Royal Canin's Veterinary Marketing Manager, Marianne Lomberg, said: "The efficiency of a renal diet depends upon it being fed on a continuing basis and so our new range provides a complete range of aromatic profiles and textures to keep your CKD patients enjoying every meal without compromising on their nutritional management. Royal Canin has a proven track record of developing innovative diets to help pets, and the new Renal Diets are an exciting new move for us."
Royal Canin is also offering a 'patient compliance guarantee' where vets and their clients can claim their money back if a pet does not like any of the many diet combinations offered by the range.
The Cheshire-based specialist referral centre provides advanced surgical procedures and specialist veterinary support to practices in north west England and north and mid-Wales.
Its specialist disciplines include orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, a specialist diabetes clinic, spinal surgery, anaesthesia and intensive care, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, pain management, neurology (medical and surgical), oncology and internal medicine.
Liz Cousins, Northwest's Hospital Manager said: "Following our recent brand transition from Northwest Surgeons to Northwest Veterinary Specialists we are delighted to receive this accreditation.
"The scheme examines every part of what we do, from customer experience, equipment and facilities right through to clinical governance. In a hospital with more than 85 colleagues, that’s a lot of work to do to meet the high standards.
"Our new brand name reflects the range of specialist services we offer and this accreditation gives confidence to fellow veterinary surgeons and pet owners that we really do offer the very best specialist care for pets.
"We continually strive for excellence across the business, and this is another way of demonstrating just how good the specialists are at Northwest Veterinary Specialists."
Picture shows: Matt Gurney, European Veterinary Specialist in Anaesthesia and Analgesia (centre) with Kathryn Humphreys, Head of Nursing, (right), Jenny Pearson, support Services Manager, (left) with the RCVS Hospital Accreditation.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched a new cattle and sheep vaccine which it says gives vets an additional opportunity to prescribe the broadest possible protection against clostridial diseases.
Bravoxin 10 is a low dose clostridial vaccine containing antigens for protection against C. perfringens type A, C.perfringens type B, C.perfringens type C, C.perfringens type D, C.novyi type B, C.septicum, C.tetani, C.sordellii, C.haemolyticum and C.chauvoei.
Dosage volumes are 2ml for cattle and 1ml for sheep and the new vaccine can be used in animals from as young as two weeks old if the dam has not been previously vaccinated. A booster dose pre-calving or lambing will also deliver 8-12 weeks passive immunity in calves and lambs (apart from against C.haemolyticum).
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health ruminant veterinary adviser Rosemary Booth MRCVS said: "Clostridial bacteria take the lives of cattle and sheep on a regular basis and are the cause of a significant proportion of the sudden livestock deaths in this country. In 2007, an independent survey of over 500 UK dairy and beef farmers revealed that half the interviewees had experienced calves or adult cattle dying for no apparent reason. The reality is that many of these losses could have been due to clostridial diseases. Farmer respondents valued the livestock loss at anywhere between £505 and £1243 per animal. Even at the lowest stock valuation, preventing the loss through broad-spectrum vaccination would pay for nearly five years of Bravoxin 10 use in a 100 cow herd.
"Now that additional clostridial pathogens such as C. sordellii and C. perfringens A have been recognised by the VLA and SAC as significant causes of deaths on both cattle and sheep farms, it makes sense to widen pathogen cover on some ruminant livestock units. Bravoxin 10 allows practitioners to prescribe the broadest possible disease protection."
The sheep industry already understands the importance of broad-spectrum vaccination against clostridial diseases, but Iain Carrington from Intake Veterinary Services based in Northumberland believes cattle producers should also upgrade their protection.
"There was a time that clostridial disease control in cattle meant vaccinating your youngstock against blackleg at turnout, or discovering dead animals and then reacting with blackleg vaccine," he said. "But over the last few years, I have seen an increased incidence of different clostridial diseases in far from typical circumstances.
"There are also a large number of cattle deaths going undiagnosed and it is likely that many are caused by clostridial species. As a result, we are now advising many of our clients to take a broader-spectrum vaccination approach to ensure adequate protection - not only of the cows themselves - but also their calves through good colostral transfer," he said.
Bravoxin 10 is a prescription-only medicine (POM-V). For further information, contact the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
Fitzpatrick Referrals scooped two awards at last week's Vet Marketing Awards, held at the London Vet Show.
The practice picked up the Training Initiatives Award, in recognition of its CPD, Internship and Residency programmes, the launch of Fitzpatrick Learning Academy and the commitment of Fitzpatrick Referrals to pushing the boundaries to advance the veterinary profession.
Noel Fitzpatrick was also awarded the 2011 Science prize for his dedication and commitment to moving the profession forward through scientific and technological development, his research, philosophy and practice.
Organised by Grove House Publishing, who produce OvertheCounter magazine,Vet Marketing and Farm Business, the Vet Marketing Awards are designed to award best practice companies and individuals who are driving innovation in branding, communications and product development, in a way that promotes health and wellbeing for the good of practice, customer, and animals in their care.
Commenting on the Training Initiatives Award, the judges said: "The mission of Fitzpatrick Referrals is to deliver 'the best level of surgical, medical and compassionate care for small animals,' and they have certainly achieved this since the opening of their state-of-the-art practice in 2008. To offer their unparalleled level of care means a high level of training for their staff, and for vets and trainees from across the country. The judges were impressed that they offer more residencies, internships and fellowships than any other private practice in Europe, their commitment to CPD and the in-depth nature of their entry."
Presenting Noel Fitzpatrick with his Science Award, host of the awards ceremony, Alan Whibley, publisher of Vet Marketing said: "For the judges, this is was by far the winner in this category. Noel Fitzpatrick advances scientific and technological development in the veterinary profession, based on the moral and ethical obligation to adopt these new techniques responsibly. He pushes the boundaries, through technology, and also his support for his fellow veterinarians, through internships, CPD lectures and key note speeches, such as the one earlier today. He promulgates the moral imperative to ensure that whilst the client is fully aware of every procedure possible, that a pet is a member of the family and should be treated as such."
The RCVS has announced that the Codes of Professional Conduct for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses have been updated to state that you should not refer to yourselves or others as 'veterinary nurses' unless registered.
In fact, the change occurred back in June last year, but was only announced via RCVS News and as a one-liner within the 'Overview of decisions made at RCVS Council'.
The announcement raises the pretty fundamental question of what ARE veterinary surgeons and RVNs to call their unqualified colleagues, if not veterinary nurses? How indeed are those unqualified staff working in veterinary practice to describe their job title to their friends, down at the pub?
VetSurgeon.org sought to clarify the situation with the College, and the first point to make is that the new part of the CoPCs refers only to the use of the words 'veterinary nurse' when used in conjunction. The words 'nurse' or 'nursing' are not protected at all.
The College says that it is not within its remit to instruct veterinary surgeons or registered nurses as to how they should address unqualified staff, but suggested: 'Care Assistant' or 'Auxilliary'.
However, Ben Myring, RCVS Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer said: "There is nothing to stop someone calling themselves a 'nursing assistant' or a 'head nurse'".
The Codes of Professional Conduct obviously apply only to those who are regulated by it. The title 'veterinary nurse' in unprotected in law and can therefore be used by anyone else.
So, the immediate implications seem to be as follows:
Do you have any other suggestions as to how unqualified nursing staff should be styled? Post them below.