Dechra Veterinary Products is warning veterinary professionals it is experiencing supply issues with Oxyglobin, Haemoglobin Glutamer-200.
Dechra has supplied Oxyglobin under an exclusive UK distributor agreement with Biopure Corporation since 2002. In 2009, the assets of Biopure Corporation were acquired by OPK Biotech, which has its headquarters in Cambridge, MA, USA. OPK Biotech is working to resume manufacture of Oxyglobin as soon as possible but it is not expected this will happen until well into 2011.
Bob Parmenter, Managing Director of Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "Unfortunately we are now out of stock of Oxyglobin and, due to the supplier's manufacturing issues, we are unlikely to receive new supplies in the immediate future. I would like to apologise to veterinary professionals for any inconvenience this will cause to their practice but unfortunately this situation is out of our control. We have written to all our Oxyglobin customers to inform them of the position and will keep in contact to advise them when the situation has changed."
Dechra is advising veterinary professionals that the Pet Blood Bank may be able to offer an alternative product, while Oxyglobin is out of stock. The Pet Blood Bank can be contacted on 01509 232 222, Monday to Friday between 0830 and 1830. The organisation offers a same day and next day delivery service, along with an advice line. Full details of products and services are available by logging on to www.petbloodbank.org
In the study, which was supported by MSD and led by Rosie Lyle of Bishopton Veterinary Group, 18 farmers placed temperature loggers in the fridge where they normally store vaccines. Temperatures were then monitored between February and April. Throughout this period, 89% of loggers recorded a temperature outside the 2–8°C range at least once, and 43% recorded temperatures outside this range more than 50% of the time.
The authors say that these findings raise potential concerns about vaccine efficacy.
Rosie found that 55% of the loggers recorded a temperature over 8°C, and 39% recorded a temperature below 2°C.
Across all the fridges monitored, the maximum temperature recorded was 12°C and the minimum was -11.5°C.
Rosie said: "This is a surprisingly wide range. Obviously, these findings are concerning for farmers as we know that both too high and too low temperatures can impair vaccine efficacy.
"Live vaccines tend to be particularly sensitive to elevated temperatures, whereas inactivated vaccines are more affected by freezing, especially when the adjuvant contains aluminium salts".
"It’s important for both farmers and vets to be aware of potential concerns about vaccine efficacy, given the possible impact on herd health and the potential for vaccine failure to reduce trust in vaccines and herd health recommendations".
In light of Rosie’s findings, other XLVets practices are now encouraging farmers to take action to improve medicine storage, including using max/min thermometers or temperature loggers to track fridge temperature, as well as taking steps to maximise the efficiency of each fridge.
Susan Goodfellow, Marketing Manager at XLVets, said: "We wouldn’t have known that this is an important issue to highlight to farmers without collecting the information, so Rosie’s study was very valuable.
"In the XLVets community, we support clinical leadership with these kind of projects – we actively collect data and make sure that farmers can benefit from the latest findings. As a group of independent practices working together, we can achieve much more than we could in isolation."
For the research, Which? conducted an online poll of 1,009 pet owners who had had an issue with their vet in the past two years.
It also conducted qualitative interviews with 14 owners who had complained.
The most common reasons for complaint were:
Of the 1009 pet owners who had experienced some kind of problem with their vet, 57% did NOT make a complaint, 33% because they did not want to fall out with their vet.
Pet owners who wish to complain about veterinary services have three options: to complain directly to their practice, to use the voluntary Vet Client Mediation Service (VCMS), or to raise a 'concern' with the RCVS.
The Which? report found that of those who did complain to their practice, 35% were not happy with the outcome and 31% with the way it was handled.
Which? found that although the VCMS reported a high resolution rate of 84% in 2022-23, its interviewees had found it a bit hit or miss.
Finally, Which? found the process of complaining to the regulator flawed by the fact that the threshold for the College to progress a 'concern' is set so high, because College has no jurisdiction at a practice level, and because it has no sanctions to use in enforcing consumer law.
The report recommends that:
Full report: https://www.which.co.uk/policy-and-insight/article/complaints-and-redress-in-veterinary-services-a5z611X9tZzf
CommentI loved the regal response from the RCVS to The Guardian about the case studies in the Which? report: “the facts presented in the case studies do not completely align with those reported to us”.
That aside, surely the big issue here is not so much that consumers have little way to complain effectively.
That is important, of course, but isn't it more important to consider what they are complaining about, which in the main is MONEY.
Driven by the advances in veterinary medicine, the innate desire of vets to provide the best possible care, anthropomorphising pet owners saying they want 'the best' for their fur baby (without necessarily having the wherewithal), corporatisation and society's changing expectations about working conditions, prices have been going up at a rate far outstripping inflation.
Increasing prices have of course been accompanied by an increase the standards of care and the range of clinical equipment.
But the question everyone must ask is at what point the cost of veterinary care for a dog outstrips the benefits of owning one?
These complaints are the canary in the coalmine.
The 2-day course, which includes both theory and practical sessions, will be taught by Ingrid Tundo, lecturer and head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department at the University of Edinburgh (pictured right), at IM3's Advanced Centre for Education near Dublin on the 10th and 11th August 2021.
The course will cover all the basic aspects of veterinary dentistry including oral examination and charting, dental radiography, local anaesthetic techniques and basic oral surgery including extractions.
The cost of the course is £600 and there's a 15% discount for BVDA members (so if you're interested in the course, then joining the BVDA is a bit of a no-brainer).
To register, visit: https://www.bvda.co.uk/education/courses/essential-dentistry-for-vets, or email Rob Davis (BVDA Education Officer) at davis4ginger@yahoo.co.uk for further information.
Fort Dodge Animal Health has announced that its Duvaxyn WNV vaccine against West Nile Virus (WNV) is now available in the UK, following its licensing through the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
Duvaxyn WNV is the first vaccine available in Europe to protect horses against this emerging disease threat. 288 horses and two people in Italy were found to be infected with WNV during the outbreak that hit northern Italy in late 2008 where it is now considered endemic. The disease is endemic in all areas of North America where it has claimed the lives of both horses and humans.
West Nile Virus is caused by a highly contagious flavivirus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, primarily of the Culex species. The natural hosts of West Nile virus are birds, with migratory birds from Africa carrying the disease. Mosquitoes become infected after taking a blood meal from infected birds and then may transmit the disease to horses and even humans. While horses are 'dead end hosts,' the consequences can be severe as the virus causes encephalitis or meningitis. Mortality rates among horses which develop neurological signs are high and there is no palliative cure for the disease. Treatment is limited to symptomatic relief which can be long and expensive.
Sabrina Jordan, UK Business Manager for Equine Vaccines at Fort Dodge said: "WNV is an increasing threat to the equestrian sector in the UK and is a particular challenge for owners who transport their horses around the world.
"The fact that a vaccine is now available will undoubtedly offer peace of mind to the equestrian community. They can be reassured that horses in the UK can now be vaccinated against WNV with a vaccine that has already been shown to be highly effective in protecting horses in America.
"With any vaccine, a record that a horse has been vaccinated with Duvaxyn WNV should be recorded in its horse passport. By presenting this vaccine in pre-filled syringes with Infovax-ID labels, we've aimed to make both the administration and record keeping of Duvaxyn WNV as convenient as possible.
"To build understanding of this potentially fatal disease threat, we are continuing to work with governments and authorities at a national and European level, as well as working in partnership with the UK's veterinary community to ensure that owners are fully informed about the risk WNV poses and of the benefits of vaccination."
Alstoe Animal Health has introduced a new, palatable joint nutrient supplement for horses.
According to the company, the benefits of feeding equine joint nutrient supplements to assist with maintaining mobility and supporting health joint function has been well documented, but until now, their flavours have often had to be disguised by mixing them into the feed in an attempt to ensure compliance.
Easeflex Equine palatable pellets include alfalfa, an equine favourite which has been used in the USA for some time, and shown to be readily accepted by horses, without the need to mix with the feed.
Alstoe says Easeflex Equine contains high levels of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate, which are important in the production of glycosaminoglycans, and which have chondroprotective properties that aid in the natural renewal of cartilaginous tissue. Easeflex Equine palatable pellets also include MSM (methyl-sulphonyl-methane), a source of bioavailable sulphur, a key component of connective tissue and important in the synthesis of articular cartilage. Antioxidants are also present to help prevent damage by free radicals, as well as the essential trace minerals, copper, zinc and manganese.
Easeflex Equine palatable pellets can be fed to horses, ponies and donkeys of any age. The company recommends initial daily feeding of a double loading quantity for the first four to six weeks, thereafter reducing to a maintenance level or as directed by the veterinary surgeon. The amount of pellets to be fed depends on the weight of the animal, one small scoop containing 28g of pellets can be a daily dose for a horse of up to 450kg. Easeflex Equine palatable pellets are available in 1.7kg and 4.54kg tubs.
Vetark has launched Aqua-Sed, a fish anaesthetic which has obtained the first permit for use as a fish euthanasia product.
Vetark says the new product enables the humane euthanasia of seriously ill or severely injured fish, as well as being a sedative to facilitate fish handling.
The new product incorporates a dosing pump to ensure accurate dosing, a critical aspect of fish anaesthetics.
The 250ml bottle and pump will be on sale at £13.13+VAT and is available under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme from Vetark.
Further information on fish anaesthesia visit the Vetark website on www.vetark.co.uk
As part of the programme, the College aims to form a network of UK-wide rural Mental Health First Aiders in the vet profession starting with rural geographies.
The network will bolster the understanding of common mental health conditions, help individuals identify signs of mental ill-health both in themselves and others, promote self-care and provide the tools for how to effectively support people experiencing poor mental health.
Angharad Belcher, Director of the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI), said: “Veterinary surgeons working in rural and ambulatory services are often integral members of their local communities with a deep connection with farmers, animal owners and the wider rural community.
"However, as MMI-funded research conducted by Scotland’s Rural College with vets has demonstrated, veterinary work in such areas can often be very challenging which is compounded by working alone or having relatively limited contact with professional colleagues.
“Effective early intervention in cases of mental ill-health and distress can have significant impacts, and so this course will arm participants with the relevant knowledge of how to identify mental health issues and will allow them to signpost people to the most effective and relevant sources of help.”
The free training, fully funded by MMI, will be delivered online in four sessions which are each two-and-a-half hours long.
The dates of the training sessions are Monday 11th, Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st July.
To register for the course, visit: www.vetmindmatters.org/training/
The closing date for registrations is 5pm Friday 10th June.
For those who are unsure about joining the course, MHFA England has organised an online question and answers session ahead of the application date at 7pm on Tuesday 7 June.
To attend the Q & A contact Lacey Pitcher, Mind Matters Outreach and Engagement Senior Officer on l.pitcher@rcvs.org.uk.
The Royal Veterinary College has carried out the first ever open-heart surgery to treat a stenotic tricuspid valve in a dog.
The three-year-old Labrador, Mabel, suffered from congenital tricuspid dysplasia. She was referred to cardiology specialists at RVC Small Animal Referrals where her tricuspid valve was found to be completely fused in the middle, with just two very small openings for her blood to flow through.
In a procedure that took a little over an hour, the RVC team examined and worked on the valve. The College reports that Mabel’s surgery was a success and her stenosis was relieved.
Mabel was subsequently found to have a moderate amount of regurgitation into the right atrial chamber, but after a few more days of additional monitoring at the RVC she was able to return home.
The surgery was carried out by Professor of Small Animal Surgery Dan Brockman at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals. He was assisted by a team of RVC specialists to provide pre and post-operative care, including a perfusionist, a team of three anaesthetists, two surgery nurses, three surgeons and a cardiology veterinary specialist-in-training. In addition, Professor of Veterinary Cardiology Virginia Luis Fuentes and veterinary specialist-in-training Dr Rosie Payne were members of the Cardiology Service’s investigation into Mabel’s condition.
RVC students were also involved in the Mabel’s initial examinations at the hospital, providing them with an insight into the procedure. The examinations included cardiac ultrasound using the newest generation of cardiac ultrasound equipment, which is able to capture 3D and 4D images. The new ultrasound scanner was funded in part by the RVC’s charity, the Animal Care Trust.
After the surgery, the emergency and critical care (ECC) team and the Cardiology Service took over Mabel’s care, with Professor Brockman remaining involved. This saw up to four senior ECC clinicians, a number of veterinary specialists-in-training and half a dozen highly trained ECC technicians working in shifts around the clock to care for Mabel and ensure a good recovery.
According to the RVC, there have been previous attempts by veterinary surgeons to open stenotic valves with balloon valvuloplasty. However, because it is very difficult to tear the stenotic valve, this approach has not proved very successful. There is also a high risk when putting canines onto bypass. Canines have fragile blood vessels, and cannulae need to be inserted into several of these vessels, creating a danger that a major vessel tears.
Commenting on why the RVC team decided to perform this procedure at this point, and on Mabel, Dan said: "Lots of things fed into this decision. First and foremost, we had a patient whose pathology made surgery the best solution. I explained to the owner and was very honest that this procedure would be really breaking new ground. Based on what the human paediatric cardiac surgeons will do, and our limited experience of balloon-valvuloplasty suggests this is the best approach for these dogs
"The operation itself is risky, much worse than most other operations. In our hands, for this type of disease, we have about an 80% chance of getting them through the procedure. The owner has to gamble what life the dog has left against the promise of a more normal quality of life and life-span following the operation."
In relation to Mabel’s prognosis if the surgery had not been undertaken, Professor Luis Fuentes said: "It is likely that the signs of right-sided heart failure would have been more difficult to control. Her ability to exercise would have become less and less, and she would have also been at risk of having abnormal heart rhythms associated with the enlargement of the right atrium. Generally we expect them to develop more and more signs as the disease progresses. These are difficult cases to manage on a long-term basis with drugs. Her life expectancy would have been substantially reduced.
"I thought Mabel was almost a perfect candidate to have the procedure here as Dan has a lot of experience replacing tricuspid valves in dogs with tricuspid dysplasia. In those cases there is usually leaking, but Mabel’s case was unusual in that she has minimal leaking and she was most affected by the stenosis. That means you may not have to implant any additional valve structure."
Speaking two weeks after the operation, owner Annabelle Meek, from Melton Mowbray, said: "Mabel has just come back in from wandering around the perimeter of my garden for the first time since before the operation. It’s more than half an acre and she has been ambling around happily following a scent.
"I would like to thank absolutely everybody. It’s been an enormous team effort on all sides. Every single person I met at the RVC, from the man on the gate to all the hospital staff, was so friendly. After she came home Dan Brockman phoned me every day to see how she was doing. The RVC should be very proud of what they have done for Mabel."
The VCMS, which is administered by Nockolds Solicitors, was formally launched by the RCVS as an alternative dispute resolution service in October 2017 following a year-long trial.
The aim of the service is to resolve, by mediation, disputes between clients and veterinary practices that do not meet the threshold of serious professional misconduct that is needed for the RCVS to investigate a concern through its formal processes.
Since the service’s trial, which started in October 2016, the VCMS has given preliminary mediation advice on how to resolve a case in more than 1,700 instances with over 580 cases having gone to full mediation of which 89% have concluded with a resolution.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Director of Legal Services, said: "From the perspective of both the public and the profession, the establishment of the VCMS has been a "win-win" situation. For the public it has provided them with an additional route to solve those complaints which wouldn’t cross the threshold to progress in the concerns investigation process.
"For the profession it has provided a more appropriate format for resolving a client dispute that doesn’t involve the time, effort and formal process of an RCVS investigation for those cases that will never amount to serious professional misconduct. I think this has been demonstrated by the fact that the vast majority of the profession are willing to engage with the VCMS process, even though it is entirely voluntary.
"The VCMS has also had a positive impact on the College and its concerns investigation process, allowing us to focus greater resources on those cases that do meet our threshold of serious professional misconduct. This has had a very clear impact on the speed with which we either close cases or move them on to the next stage of consideration by the Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC), which, again, is important to both the public and the profession."
The College says that around 90% of cases investigated at Stage 1 of the process are now either closed or referred to PIC within four months – the College’s key performance indicator at this stage. This compares to around 50% of these cases being closed or referred within four months at Stage 1 in 2016.
The College also says that in total (including both preliminary and full mediation cases), 86% of the cases dealt with by VCMS were successfully mediated and feedback from both clients and veterinary practices has been largely positive. In client feedback from the third quarter of 2018, 93% said they would use the VCMS again and 79% considered it to be fair, while the equivalent figure amongst veterinary practices was 94% and 87% respectively.
Jennie Jones, a partner at Nockolds Solicitors who heads up the VCMS, said: "It is a good sign that mediation is largely working as it should when both parties are reporting similar satisfaction rates and we pride ourselves on negotiating resolutions that are acceptable and beneficial for both the clients and the practices.
"It is great to see that our efforts are also having an impact on the RCVS concerns investigation system by allowing it to concentrate on more serious cases."
More information about the RCVS concerns investigation process, including the different stages of an investigation, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns
Further information about the VCMS can be found on its website at www.vetmediation.co.uk or by calling 0345 040 5834.
Amanda Melvin, Marketing Manager for the Companion Animal Team at MSD Animal Health said: "Research has shown that up to 20% of diabetic pets die, or are euthanised, within a year of diagnosis1 so we want to do everything we can to prevent any further increases in this figure.
"Recent circumstances have put most practices under a great deal of strain and it's become clear from the increase in calls we're receiving that there is a high demand for more information and resources to support the care of diabetic pets.
"We've therefore decided that with Pet Diabetes Month in November, our best way of supporting veterinary practices is to make them aware of, and know how to access the resources we have available to help them."
The diabetes resources include veterinary nurse clinics and training, getting the most out ofVetPen, monitoring support tools and case advice.
Veterinary professionals can subscribe for access to the materials as individuals or as a practice team.
For further information, visit https://www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk/ahp/caninsulin/tools.
References
A new survey by Petplan has given an insight into how veterinary nurses regard their job.
The survey, conducted at BVNA Congress, found that 73% of nurses feel that clients do not have a sufficient understanding of their role in practice.
Louisa Baker, the 2008 Petplan Vet Nurse of the Year, said: "Clients are often not aware of the skills required to be a vet nurse. Most clients believe we just handle the animals whereas we are often involved with surgical activities such as stitching and preparing drips."
Arguably, if pet owners under-appreciate the role of the nurse in practice, then they might also be expected to place a lower financial value on the care they provide. If that is the case, then it makes a lot of sense for vets and practice owners to find novel ways of communicating the breadth of work that nurses do, and its importance, to clients.
Other findings included 40% of nurses agreeing that direct contact with animals, such as caring for them through recovery, is the best part of the job. 54% told Petplan that they find the job extremely rewarding.
Nearly all nurses (99%) said that they value training and CPD to further their careers.
To support this desire to learn, Petplan has launched its Petplan Insurance Advisor training scheme. Already, over 500 nurses have completed one of the scheme's CPD qualifying modules.
The scheme enables the development of individual skills such as the ability to sell products and gain confidence with clients. Available online, vet nurses can participate in the scheme at work or at home. Visit http://www.petplanpia.co.uk/ for more information.
Protek Biochem Ltd., a company set up by champion horse-rider Debbie Topping, has won the rights to sell Envirocair Veterinary, a new range of disinfectants and sanitisers targeted at dogs, cats and other domestic pets, as well as horses and farm animals.
The product is claimed to kill 99.99% of all viral, bacterial and fungal infections, and lasts for 14 days.
Debbie said: "I did not consider myself a businesswoman, just a normal horse-rider and animal lover. However, I was so impressed when I tried Envirocair Veterinary that, when I was offered the opportunity to become the main UK distributor, I jumped at the chance."
According to the company, the product is being used by a number of the horses and trainers heading to the London Olympics in 2012. It is now being rolled out across the rest of the UK's animal care sector.
Debbie says that veterinary surgeons, farmers, dog kennels, animal rescue centres, breeders and others will all be able to benefit from the new product: "Envirocair Veterinary doesn't harm skin or irritate the respiratory tract, so you don't need to get dressed up in special clothing every time you use it.
"Used properly, it quite literally kills the threat of major animal diseases such as parvovirus in dogs, which can otherwise be fatal in less than 72 hours.
"It's not an exaggeration to say that Envirocair will protect the health and even save the lives of countless numbers of animals across the UK."
Debbie signed the distribution agreement with the manufacturer Biotech International Ltd last month, before officially launching Envirocair Veterinary this week.
For more information on Protek Biochem Ltd or Envirocair Veterinary, visit http://www.protekbiochem.com/.
Cystease® S, CEVA Animal Health's urinary tract support product for cats, is now available in a new 100 tablet pack size for greater convenience to the practice.
CEVA`s small animal veterinary advisor Fraser Broadfoot said: "Previously Cystease® S was only available in 300 tablet packs. The new 100 tablet pack size makes the product easier to store in the practice and easier to dispense to clients."
To help vets gain easy access to information on Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), CEVA Animal Health have also produced a highly informative technical review on the subject. Produced in conjunction with Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore, head of the feline clinic at the University of Edinburgh, the eight-page, colour brochure contains practical information on the clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of FLUTD and also includes behavioural advice on reducing stress in cats, which can be a major cause of FLUTD.
To receive a free copy of CEVA's FLUTD technical review and for further information on Cystease® S, please contact Fraser Broadfoot MRCVS on 01494 781510, CEVA Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG.
The British Veterinary Association has launched a guidance poster to encourage farm animal vets to use anthelmintics responsibly, following ongoing concern about the development of resistance to these medicines.
According to BVA, misuse of anthelmintics in grazing animals, leading to resistance, is an increasing problem, which has now become a serious threat to the health and welfare of animals.
In response to growing concerns the BVA's Medicines Group has produced a poster that will be distributed to BVA members inside the Veterinary Record (23 January 2010 issue) and will be available to download from the BVA website.
The poster, accompanied by additional online guidance, clearly outlines Do's and Don'ts in the use of anthelmintics and carries the strong message "Think Twice Before Prescribing Anthelmintics". The poster is intended for display in veterinary practices as a reminder to vets and their clients of the need for responsible use of these medicinal products.
The poster carries advice on encouraging farm health planning and worming strategies, targeting the drug used to the parasite, the importance of not underdosing, quarantining incoming animals, and investigating and reporting suspected cases of resistance to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It clearly tells vets not to treat unnecessarily and not to blanket treat.
Peter Jones, Chair of the BVA's Medicines Group, said: "Every use of anthelmintics increases the risk of resistance developing. Veterinary surgeons have a duty to ensure anthelmintic use is judicious and limited to circumstances when treatment can be effective, targeted and based on sound veterinary diagnosis.
"The BVA advises all vets to work with their farming clients to develop a farm health plan that encompasses an effective worming strategy and a full grazing management programme to reduce the need for treatment.
"Vets must also promote good worming practice to ensure dosage is based on accurate weight measurements. Underdosing is a major factor in the development of resistance."
Professor Bill Reilly, President of the BVA, added: "Action to minimise the development of resistance is urgent and essential and we hope this poster will serve as a constant reminder to vets to think twice before prescribing anthelmintics."
The RCVS has published the conclusions of The McKelvey Report, a review into the circumstances leading to a substantial overspend on the College's new database and development works at Belgravia House.
The review was carried out by Professor Bill McKelvey - a member of the College's Governance Review Group - and two of the College's Privy Council-appointed Council members to consider all aspects relating to the College's budgeting and expenditure process, and propose lessons that could be learned.
Whilst the full report has not yet been published, its conclusions highlight:
Overall, the report concluded that:
Weaknesses exist in the governance of the RCVS which pose significant risks to the proper conduct of its business. Executive staff have not been provided with a robust governance framework by the Council, and this has led to a number of unnecessary misunderstandings between Executive staff and Non Executive members of Council. These matters should be urgently addressed by Council in order to ensure that the confidence of ordinary members of the profession in their College can be restored.
Dr Jerry Davies, RCVS President said: "That such a review was required is regretted, but I would like to thank Professor McKelvey, Richard Davis and Judith Webb for their diligence in this work. Their recommendations will be a very helpful addition to the work that is currently underway to ensure corporate governance is fit for purpose and, in particular, that the management of capital projects within the College is optimised."
The full report is available here.
Suffolk veterinary surgeon Gerhard Putter is appealing for support for a gala evening on 14th March 2015 to raise funds for a bucket list set up by his colleague, vet Lisa Milella, who has been diagnosed with incurable Motor Neurone Disease.
Lisa, one of the world’s few specialist animal dental surgeons, has volunteered for charity International Animal Rescue (IAR) for many years. She is also a trustee of the charity. During her time working with IAR, she has worked in countries including India and Indonesia, treating animals including abused bears, orangutans and slow lorises, which have suffered cruelty at the hands of humans. Now, as her health deteriorates, she is unable to work herself, but she is devoting her remaining time to fundraising for IAR to ensure her work can continue when she is no longer here.
Gerhard, who works at the Mulbery Court Veterinary Centre in Sudbury and is also a specialist veterinary dental surgeon, has worked with Lisa many times. He is now hosting the gala evening at Stoke by Nayland Golf Club to support her fundraising efforts. Tickets cost £25.00 per person and include a buffet, entertainment, raffle and other attractions.
He said: "Lisa helped 'dancing bears' which had had their teeth knocked out with iron bars to make them easier to control; slow lorises which had their teeth clipped off by illegal traders before being sold as pets and even orangutans, which are sometimes beaten by their captors, leaving them with broken teeth and bruises. I've seen at first-hand how important her work is and have worked with her on a number of volunteer projects.
"Her diagnosis with MND is a terrible personal tragedy for her but she is focusing on the positive and trying to do what she can for these animals while she still can. The teams at Mulberry Court and the All Animal Dental Centre are determined to support her but the success of our Gala Evening depends on the generosity of people willing to support Lisa’s Mission to raise as much money as possible.
"We hope everyone will get behind us and buy tickets. We would also welcome gifts for our raffle and any other offers of help."
For more information, please email Gerhard Putter, at Mulberry Court Vet Surgery, allanimaldentalcentre@gmail.com or contact him on 01787 881888.
The upgraded site uses 'machine learning', a type of artificial intelligence based on pattern recognition, to offer personalised content. The technology is now commonly used in consumer sites, such as Netflix and Amazon, but until now has not been used in the veterinary world. Content is further personalised for those vets and nurses that complete their profile on the site.
The upgrade was commissioned after Boehringer carried out a user experience survey of its old website, which revealed that whilst vets appreciated the CPD and educational materials, many were trawling through content that was not of interest to them or struggling to find what they wanted.
Jemima Mead, brand manager at Boehringer, said: "We aimed to create an engaging portal – a one-stop shop for vets who want to access high quality CPD and/or relevant information about any of our products. Vets are busy people so need to find relevant information quickly – giving them more time to focus on their clinical responsibilities. Our new slick site, tailored to their individual professional preferences, provides a valuable service that simply has not existed before."
As part of the partnership between the two companies, anyone who takes part in one of Improve's CPD courses in 2018 will be entitled to 6 months' half-price pet insurance from Agria.
Online Bitesize CPD modules cover topics including: cardiology, ophthalmology, small animal medicine, feline medicine and exotic animals. Modules are 20, 40 or 60 minutes in length and provide veterinary professionals with interactive experiences which count toward annual CPD requirements in short convenient bursts, earning digital badges and certificates to demonstrate total CPD achieved.
Nick White, Head of Veterinary Channel at Agria, said: "We’re delighted that our partnership with Improve International will give veterinary professionals free, instant access to high-quality and engaging CPD. Not only are the modules available varied and highly relevant, the 'bitesize' nature of the training makes it extremely convenient for busy practice staff to access.
"This is a great incentive for any practices not yet working with Agria to get onboard. As well as benefitting from free CPD, practices will also be working with a specialist lifetime insurer offering 5 weeks free insurance policies and much more for clients and their pets."
For more information, contact your Agria Business Development Manager or visit: www.agriapet.co.uk/bitesize and complete the Contact Us section, using 'FREE CPD' in the subject line of the enquiry box.
The Crafty Vet Project aims to ignite your interest in one of a range of creative hobbies, which include cheese, beer, candle, soap and teddy-bear making, with kits available for sale from the new 'Craft Corner' section of their website. £3 from the sale of each kit will go to Vetlife.
Sarah said: "We wanted other veterinary professionals to experience the same pleasure that we get from creative hobbies. It is a chance for people no matter what day you have had to switch off, follow a pattern or instructions and come out with something at the end that you can be truly proud of."
Your new hobby might even turn into a nice sideline business. Sarah said: "One evening over a catch-up Zoe and I were discussing items that we wished we had in practice to make our lives as nurses easier.
"Despite having drunk 2 bottles of wine together we felt that there and then was the best time to start our new business. Two hours later having chopped up an old pair of curtains, accidently sewn my jumper sleeve into the material and woken my husband up at 3am to our cackles, we had the first prototype of our Slumberpet Recovery Coat.
"Our business has grown nicely since then and we are still coming up with more ideas, albeit in a slightly more sober, professional manner."
To select and order your hobby kit, visit: https://www.vnpetproducts.co.uk/craft-corner
The one day course for general practitioners will be presented by Dr Sonya Miles, an RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine and lead clinician for Highcroft Exotic Vets (an RWAF Gold accredited practice).
It's worth 7.5hrs of CPD. Sonya will be covering:
This course costs £250 and includes lunch, tea/coffee/biscuits, and a certificate of completion.
Apparently there are acres of parking. For those not able to attend, www.justexotics.co.uk has an extensive library of free content including: fact sheets, care sheets, protocols and “How to” videos covering exotic mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, invertebrates and British wildlife, as well as a constantly expanding catalogue of webinars covering these species.
The 3D dental model, which was produced with the help of veterinary dentist John Robinson, demonstrates the recommended method for sectioning and extracting teeth in cats and dogs.
An accurate representation of the animal’s mouth, the teeth are pre-sectioned, indicating how tooth crowns should be divided and where to cut the crown to achieve single root pieces.
Royal Canin's Veterinary Marketing Manager, Marianne Lomberg, said: "We are delighted to offer this new learning tool. These high quality and accurate models will be a valuable addition to the education resources available to veterinary schools and professionals – ultimately helping contribute to a higher standard of dental care available to cats and dogs."
Orders of £300 will receive one free model, orders of £500 will receive two free models.
For more information, contact your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager or visit www.vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk.
An environmental photojournalist, Mr Gekoski has won various well-known wildlife photography awards and is regularly featured in the press, most recently for his book Animosity: Human - Animal Conflict in the 21st Century.
Aaron will join BVA President James Russell, Association of Veterinary Students (AVS) Senior Vice President Izzie Arthur and two other judges nominated by the competition sponsor iM3 Veterinary Dentistry. The BVA photography competition has already had over 200 entries for this year's award since it launched in January. Split into three categories, entrants are asked to focus on images that capture the human-animal bond in day-to-day veterinary work, as well as photos of pets or wildlife taken outside of the working environment.
Submissions for each category can be taken on a phone or a high-spec camera, and should take into account responsible animal interaction and positive animal health and welfare.
The three categories are:
Aaron said: “It's a huge honour to be a judge for the BVA Veterinary Photographer of the Year Award, the most prestigious photographic competition for the veterinary profession. The competition helps shine a light on the invaluable and relentless work carried out by vets around the world; work that may otherwise go unnoticed. I look forward to bringing my experience as an environmental photojournalist to the judging process."
The BVA Veterinary Photographer of the Year Award 2021 closes at 11.59 GMT on 8th March 2021. Winners will be announced in April. They will receive a £250 John Lewis voucher and their pictures exhibited by BVA.
Find out more and submit your entries at www.bva.co.uk/photo-comp
Hill's Pet Nutrition is running an interesting prize draw to highlight a recent study which shows that by using Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare, sterile struvite uroliths can be dissolved in as little as 14 days.1
Send a canine or feline urolith for analysis at the Minnesota Urolith Center by the end of June, and you'll be entered into the draw to win a sparkling diamond worth £2000 (or €2000 in the Republic of Ireland. And no, Hill's hasn't explained why it's a cheaper rock up for grabs in Ireland).
You can download a form at www.hillspet.co.uk/urolith or www.hillspet.ie/urolith to send along with the uroliths.
Almost 80 percent of veterinarians polled on-line recently, used dietary means, either all or some of the time to treat FLUTD.2 It has been suggested that stones account for just 10 percent of non-obstructive and 15 percent of cases of obstructive FLUTD.3
Hill's says that along with its ability to dissolve sterile struvite stones in as little as 14 days, Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare dry pet food also has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that help to break the cycle of inflammation and reduce discomfort in cats with FIC, making it an appropriate choice in most cases of FLUTD.
The British Veterinary Association has expressed disappointment at the Government's decision to introduce a licensing regime rather than impose an outright ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.
Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman announced today that a ban on circus animals could not be introduced in the UK now because a ban introduced in Austria is currently being challenged under European law. In a written ministerial statement she said that the Government will now draw up standards for a new licensing regime.
BVA President Harvey Locke said: "The BVA strongly supported a ban because we believe the welfare of these animals is emblematic of the way we treat all animals under the care of humans.
"The welfare needs of non-domesticated, wild animals cannot be met within the environment of a travelling circus; especially in terms of accommodation and the ability to express normal behaviour. A licensing scheme will not address these issues."
Together with the RPSCA, Captive Animals' Protection Society and the Born Free Foundation, the BVA has wholeheartedly supported The Independent's campaign to ban wild animals in circuses. Over 15,000 people have signed The Independent's online petition, which is still open. Mr Locke will be joining representatives from these groups to present the petition to Downing Street next week.
Mr Locke added: "Although it only affects a small number of animals at present there is no guarantee that the number of wild animals in circuses won't increase in the future and, despite the best intentions, the needs of these animals cannot be met adequately by the environmental conditions of a travelling circus.
"As soon as the Austria situation is resolved, we would urge the Government to reconsider and take action to prohibit the exploitation of these majestic animals whose existence in the confines of a circus is solely to entertain people."