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AB Science, a young Paris-based biotech company, has announced the pan-European commercial launch of its veterinary anticancer drug, Masivet
Masivet was approved in November 2008 by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for the treatment of dogs with non-resectable grade 2 or 3 mast cell tumours. Masivet's active pharmaceutical ingredient is masitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Masitinib, discovered and developed by AB Science, belongs to a therapeutic class of drug known as targeted therapy that is, according to AB Science, revolutionising the treatment of cancer in humans.
Alain Moussy, CEO of AB Science said: "Masivet is the first product ever registered as a cancer treatment in veterinary medicine. AB Science is a dynamic and very entrepreneurial biotech company, and is proud to have introduced a drug that can extend the life of dogs suffering from cancer ahead of the large pharmaceutical companies".
The company says Mastocytoma can be an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis, and represents up to 20% of all cutaneous canine tumours. Some breeds are particularly susceptible, among them Golden Retrievers, Labradors and Boxers. Cancers have the same prevalence in dogs as in humans (1 dog in 4 will suffer from cancer during its lifetime) but surprisingly, no drugs developed for veterinary medicine with a demonstrated efficacy and safety have ever been approved until the arrival of Masivet.
The company claims two main benefits of the new treatment:
AB Science is a biotech company specialising in developing targeted drugs for high need indications, such as cancers, chronic inflammatory diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Masitinib is the most advanced drug in the pipeline. Now being marketed in veterinary medicine, masitinib is also under development in humans, with phase 3 clinical studies in pancreatic cancer and in gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST).
Alain Moussy said: "This registration in veterinary medicine is good news for the future success of masitinib in humans, for whom we are aggressively developing it in cancers and other indications with high morbidity or pain.
"It is very unusual to develop such an innovative product simultaneously in veterinary and human medicines, and even more so that the product is registered in veterinary medicine first. There is no doubt that experts in human oncology will be watching Masivet's future very closely from now on.. However, people will have to wait a while before benefiting from masitinib because it is unlikely to be available to man before 2012".
For more information, see www.masivet.com and www.ab-science.com
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has suspended a London-based veterinary surgeon from the Register for six months, having found that her falsification of clinical records amounted to serious professional misconduct.
At the two-day hearing, Dr Nicola Ersilova was charged with, and admitted to, three separate incidences of false and dishonest clinical record keeping following her treatment of a collapsed cat, whilst working at Vets Now in Thamesmead, London.
The Committee heard how Dr Ersilova had suspected that Lafite the cat, belonging to Mr Yingzhan Xiao, had been poisoned, so administered fluids and treated her with Lidocaine. A lay colleague, who was assisting with the treatment, subsequently observed Dr Ersilova standing staring at the cat, which had stopped breathing, then leaving the room to go and speak to Mr Xiao. The lay colleague's evidence confirmed to the Committee that Lafite's heart was still beating at this point, and that Dr Ersilova was then heard telling Mr Xiao that Lafite had died while being treated. The lay colleague later discovered that Dr Ersilova had listed calcium gluconate on Mr Xiao's bill and not Lidocaine and, when she questioned the entry, Dr Ersilova told her she was worried about getting into trouble if she had listed Lidocaine.
Whilst reporting these irregularities to the senior veterinary surgeon at Vets Now, the lay colleague noticed that Dr Ersilova had also written "CPR unsuccessful" in the notes, although she was certain CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) had not been attempted.
During a subsequent Vets Now investigation, Dr Ersilova admitted adding this false information concerning Lidocaine, calcium gluconate and CPR, saying during interview that she was aware it was serious professional misconduct and that she was prepared to take the consequences. Vets Now reported the matter to the RCVS.
The Committee considered that all evidence before it fully supported the charges against Dr Ersilova, that her conduct was clearly dishonest, and that her actions were inexcusable, especially for someone as experienced as she was. It stated that a veterinary surgeon's duty to make only truthful and accurate records was so manifest and well known to veterinary surgeons that there could be no real excuse to make such false, misleading and dishonest entries.
The Committee highlighted the comment by Dr Ersilova that she knew she had done something wrong but did not expect her colleague to report her, as providing no explanation, or excuse, for doing something which she knew to be wrong.
A number of submissions were made to the Committee in mitigation, including that Dr Ersilova had admitted her dishonesty to both her employers and the Committee; had an otherwise unblemished record over 22 years of practice; had received no immediate financial gain by her actions; and, did not cause any animal suffering.
Accepting these submissions, the Committee nevertheless felt it needed to balance them against other factors. Dr Ersilova's decision to falsify the records was premeditated and had not been taken without an opportunity for full reflection. There were numerous entries in the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct that highlighted the importance of professional integrity and accuracy, and, given the importance which the Code attached to the duty of veterinary surgeons to be truthful and honest in all their dealings with their clients, the Committee found Dr Ersilova's conduct to be "most reprehensible".
Speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, its Vice-Chairman, Professor Sheila Crispin, said: "It is of great importance that the public should be able to retain confidence in the honesty and integrity of members of the profession. Both the public and other members of the profession must be entitled to rely on the truthfulness of what a veterinary surgeon has written in the clinical records of any animal [they have] treated.
"It is [our] decision that the sanction of suspension adequately reflects the seriousness of the [Dr Ersilova's] conduct. The sanction imposed is ... the most appropriate to inform the profession how seriously such dishonest conduct will be taken, because such conduct clearly brings the profession into disrepute and ... cannot and will not be tolerated."
The Committee then concluded that the least period of suspension that could be justified was one of six months.
The statistic came to light as a result of Ceva's Mercury Challenge1, in which veterinary practices from around Europe took blood pressure readings from over 10,000 cats over seven years old, 4000 of which were from the UK.
The Challenge results, which were recently presented at Ceva Cat Expertise 2021 by the international feline medicine specialist, Dr Andy Sparkes, showed that more than 40% of cats enrolled in the Mercury Challenge were hypertensive, with a blood pressure about 30% higher than the blood pressure value found in healthy cats.
Ceva says this high percentage suggests that feline hypertension may be even more common than suspected, especially in the ageing cat population, with the mean age of hypertensive cats found to be 13 years old in the Challenge.
The study also found that up to one in three cats had both hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Feline hypertension is also associated with hyperthyroidism.
Jodie Tanner, veterinary surgeon at Lime Tree Vets in Staffordshire who participated in the Mercury Challenge said: “We were surprised by how many of the cats whose blood pressure we measured as part of the Mercury Challenge were actually hypertensive and were taken aback at the number of hypertensive cats which lacked clinical signs or target organ damage.
"These hypertensive cats would have previously gone undetected prior to us screening our older patients and they would probably have only presented when they had advanced target organ damage, such as blindness.
“Measuring blood pressure in cats is now incorporated into our bespoke preventative health care plan – The Pet Plus Membership – and our ‘Gold Plan’ is tailored to our patients over eight years of age.
"Included in the Gold Plan are twice yearly blood pressure checks, so we can pick up hypertension cases as early as possible, and the plan also includes twice yearly urine screens and yearly blood screens to pick up other common diseases seen in older cats such as hyperthyroidism and CKD.”
Ceva has a range of resources available to support veterinary practices, including those that want to set up vet nurse blood pressure clinics. There's a digital hypertension tool kit available by registering at www.easethepressure.co.uk, where you will also find information on the Hypertension CPD Hub, an Ease the Pressure pack containing resources to support vet practices, owner communications materials and information about Ceva’s online Hypertension Ambassador CPD course. A vet practice social media pack is also available.
For further information, visit www.easethepressure.co.uk or contact your local Ceva territory manager.
Reference
Researchers studied 840 patients with breast, prostate, lung or colorectal cancer. 280 patients that had received only alternative medicine were matched to 560 control patients who chose conventional cancer therapy.
Overall, cancer patients who used alternative medicine were 2.5 times more likely to die within a 5 year period than those who chose conventional cancer therapy.
However, people with breast cancer were 5.7 times more likely to die in the same period if they used alternative medicine rather than conventional medicine.
This evidence flies in the face of the British Association of Veterinary Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons' claim that homeopathy cures cancer.
But more importantly, one of the main reasons why practitioners in both human and veterinary medicine so often acquiesce to their patients' use of alternative medicine is because of the perception that they do no harm. After all, homeopathy is only water, right?
This study provides perhaps the first evidence that the reverse may be true. That if you do not actively deter clients from using discredited forms of alternative medicine, you may be allowing them to sentence themselves, or rather their dog, to an early death.
IMV Technologies is a reproduction biotechnology company which has worked in the field of animal artificial insemination and embryo transfer for over 50 years, with operations in more than 130 countries and subsidiaries in the USA, India, China, Italy and the Netherlands.
The newly-formed IMV Imaging now has over 500 employees, which, it says, will make it better placed to deliver the best quality ultrasound, X-ray and three-dimensional veterinary-specific imaging equipment.
The directors and senior management team from BCF and ECM are remaining to lead IMV Imaging.
Alan Picken, CEO of IMV imaging said: "The merger and creation of IMV imaging is a very exciting development for our companies. Building on our strong legacy, it allows us to deliver a wider portfolio of products and services to our customers worldwide and ultimately to deliver improved animal care.”
Bovilis Nasalgen-C can be used for the active immunisation of calves from the day of birth onwards to reduce clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease and nasal viral shedding from infection with BCoV.
MSD says respiratory disease in UK calves is widespread and comes at a high cost from an emotional and business productivity perspective.
It is also continually highlighted as a critical area for overuse of antibiotics.
Despite all this, there is an under use of vaccination in the UK cattle sector1.
Speaking at BCVA last week, Paul Burr MRCVS, director of Biobest Laboratories said: “Recent UK studies show bovine coronavirus being the most prevalent virus found in routine disease screening and nasal swab samples taken during a bovine respiratory disease outbreak.
"BCoV was found in 39% of over 400 nasal swab samples taken between 2020 and 2022 from BRD affected cattle on UK farms2.”
Kat Baxter-Smith, veterinary adviser with MSD Animal Health, said: “Whilst the pathogenicity of BCoV within the BRD complex remains an unknown quantity, its ubiquitous presence in the UK cattle population – and the recent human experience of coronavirus as a significant respiratory pathogen – suggests a need for a re-evaluation of BRD control by vets and farmers.
“Just as coronavirus is a pathogen associated with the common cold and Covid-19, BCoV is a proven pathogen that directly impacts the calf respiratory tract.
"Consequently, the availability of this new BRD vaccine presents veterinary professionals with another tool in their armoury to improve control of this costly disease.
“If diagnostics suggest BCoV is implicated in any BRD problem, the availability of Bovilis Nasalgen-C allows UK cattle farmers to effectively administer protection for young calves via a single 2ml intranasal dose that can quickly reach the site of action.
"This will support the development of immunity against BCoV early in life, the onset of which starts five days after administration and has a 12-week duration.”
Bovilis Nasalgen-C comes can be used on the same day with Bovilis INtranasal RSPÔ Live, which offers protection against both Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) and Parainfluenza-3 Virus (Pi3).
Bovilis Nasalgen-C can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature after reconstitution, can be given to cattle using a syringe or applicator device and is available in one, five and 20 dose packs, suitable for both small and large herds.
References:
Veterinary surgeons have named their top new veterinary products of 2012 in a survey carried out by CM Research.
As part of the research, 343 vets working in UK practice were asked what they considered to be the best new product of 2012. Their answers were unprompted, and they were only allowed to mention one product or service. For this reason, some vets voted for products that were launched earlier than 2012. The full results were as follows:
Hill's y/dAn iodine restrictive hyperthyroid management food launched by Hill's Pet Nutrition in May 2012 won with an overwhelming 31% of the votes. www.hillspet.co.uk
Cardalis (CEVA Animal Health)Launched towards the end of 2012, CEVA's combined ACE inhibitor / spirolactone for heart failure in dogs scored a creditable 9.6% of mentions. www.ceva.co.uk
Seresto (Bayer Animal Health)Bayer's 8-month flea and tick collar came third with 6% of the votes. www.seresto.com.
Caninsulin Vetpen from MSDLaunched in July 2012, this new insulin delivery pen for Caninsulin is designed to improving dosing accuracy, consistency and ease of use. The user-friendly pen design is said to improve initial pet owner acceptance and on-going compliance.
Atopica Cat (Novartis Animal Health)Novartis launched Atopica Cat, an oral version of its treatment for chronic allergic dermatitis, at the start of 2012. www.itchfreepet.co.uk
Comfortis (Elanco)Launched in 2011, Comfortis is a novel oral flea adulticide for dogs which kills adult fleas rapidly for a month. www.comfortis.com
Nobivac Myxo RHD (MSD)The first vaccine to combine 12 months protection against both myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease within a single inoculation. It is a non-adjuvanted vaccine which, according to MSD, delivers greater simplicity of protocol and enhanced disease protection.
Cimalgex (Vétoquinol)Launched towards the end of 2011, Vetoquinol's 2nd generation Cox-2 inhibitor is said by the company to be very well tolerated, have an excellent efficacy profile and be very easy to use, meaning that Cimalgex allows veterinary patients to benefit from pain relief in situations where clinicians would have been worried about the risks versus the benefits of prescribing a NSAID for pain management.
Activyl (MSD)MSD's novel flea spot-on is the first to work by bioactivation, only becoming an insecticide after being ingested by the flea, thus minimising owner's exposure to insecticides. Said to be effective against the other stages of the flea life cycle, too. www.activyl.co.uk
RevitaCAM (Abbott)RevitaCAM is the first and only veterinary NSAID (meloxicam) with oromucousal delivery. www.revitacam.co.uk.
Metacam for cats (Boehringer Ingelheim)Boehringer extended its Metacam 0.5 mg/ml Oral Suspension for Cats range with the launch of a 30ml bottle size in July. www.metacam.co.uk.
Zuprevo (MSD)MSD's antibiotic to combat bovine respiratory disease (BRD) was launched in the third quarter of 2011. www.zuprevo.com
V-Gel (Docsinnovent)V-gel was the first ever species-specific supraglottic airway device (pictured top right), currently available for cats and rabbits. Billed as the latest ground breaking technology for a safer anaesthesia, easier breathing and avoiding damage to the throat and trachea; a safer alternative to ET tubes. www.docsinnovent.com
Onsior (Novartis Animal Health)The tissue-selective oral and injectable Cox-2 inhibiting NSAID from Novartis was actually launched back in 2009.
Certifect (Merial)Merial's flea and tick spot-on for dogs was launched by Ray Mears in the UK in February 2012. www.certifect.co.uk
Calmex (VetPlus)Somewhat controversial when it made its first appearance in 2011, Calmex is a feed to help dogs and cats that may experience behavioural problems as a result of their environment or situations that may cause anxiety or fear. More info.
Comfortan (Dechra)The first licensed methadone for dogs was launched by Eurovet towards the end of 2011, before it was acquired by Dechra in May 2012. www.dechra.co.uk
Hill's Vet EssentialsHill's vet-exclusive petfood range is designed to meet essential dietary needs at every life stage. More info.
Trocoxil (Pfizer)Trocoxil, Pfizer's NSAID for canine osteoarthritis was remarkable for its once monthly dosage regime, when launched back in 2009.
VerafloxBayer launched its next generation fluoroquinolone antimicrobial for bacterial infections in cats and dogs at the end of 2011
YumoveYumove is a joint support supplement from Lintbells, containing glucosamine and chondroitin. More information.
The clinic will offer referrals in orthopaedics, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, neurology and advanced imaging from a team which includes Rory Bell, an RCVS and European Recognised Specialist in Internal Medicine, and Jonathan Bell, an EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery.
The practice says it has some of the most advanced equipment in Europe, including a Siemens 128 slice CT scanner and a Siemens 1.5T Aera MRI scanner. The clinic also has three environmentally-controlled theatres, with CT and MRI scanning capabilities.
Dr Stuart Cooke BVetMed CertSAS MRCVS, one of Swift Referrals founders said: “We’re delighted to launch Swift Referrals, and would like to thank everyone who helped us get here. We are proud to be able to say that we house some of the most advanced equipment in the continent, from the very best advanced imaging machines, to specialist treatment and aftercare rooms. We also have some of the most skilled veterinary experts operating in them, day in and day out. Our clinicians are leaders in their field of expertise, with years of experience and very advanced training."
For more information: www.swiftreferrals.co.uk/.
The company says that the Phillips tuberculin gun is easier to use, clean and maintain than the most commonly used device, and it also offers practices doing government TB testing work the opportunity to make substantial savings on the cost of consumables.
Dave Gilbert MRCVS, director with Dairy Insight said: "There is no official requirement to use a single make of gun for TB testing work, so with tightening margins for work in this arena it makes sense for practices to explore valid cost-saving options.
"Having trialled this NJ Phillips gun over the last 12 months in our own farm practice we’ve been very pleased with it, particularly when it comes to changing needles. I’ve always found this process fiddly, especially when you have cold hands. We’ve also made substantial savings on consumables, which are over 70p per needle cheaper for the V-Grip."
The V-Grip is precision engineered for optimum dosing accuracy and comes with a visible chamber, to help ensure correct administration of tuberculin.
For more information, contact Dairy Insight at: info@dairyinsight.co.uk
Briar House Veterinary Surgery achieved 944 top rated reviews over the past 12 months, with pet-owners leaving comments such as 'Absolutely fantastic would recommend to everybody', 'Brilliant all round service' and 'You can tell that they love and care for the animals as much as the owners do'.
Briar House said: "We are absolutely delighted to win the Vet Help Direct Best UK Vet award, it means so much to the practice and team. We would like to say a big thank you to all of our wonderful clients and patients for taking the time to review your experience with us. We are very proud of our surgery, so it is a pleasure to receive such positive feedback from our clients."
Silver and Bronze Awards were achieved by Vets 1 Group and St Anne’s Veterinary Group, with 350 and 330 top reviews respectively. Other winners included Lamond Veterinary Clinic (Best Scottish Vet), Bridgnorth Veterinary Centre (Best Small Practice), Penmellyn Equine Vets (Best Equine Vet), Medivet The Vets Hendon (Best London Vet), The Mobile Vet (Best Mobile Vet), St James Veterinary Group (Best Welsh Vet) and Cedar Grove Veterinary Clinic (Best Northern Ireland Vet).
The full list of results, including those making the Top 25, can be viewed here.
Susie Samuel, Managing Director of VetHelpDirect said: "Reviews are a great way to find out what your clients really think, offering insight into where you are excelling or where there could be improvements. They are also excellent for building your online reputation, which will give you the competitive edge over other local practices, ultimately leading to new clients.
"More than ever, people are using review sites to seek 'real' opinions, in fact a recent survey in the US found that 97% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, and 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendation.1 While these numbers may not truly reflect the situation in the UK veterinary industry, they are quite staggering, and signal that reviews and online reputation is going to become increasingly more important.
For more information about building your online reputation, contact Vet Help Direct on 0845 4961 204 or email: info@vethelpdirect.com.
Reference:
Animalcare has announced the launch of Fungiconazol (ketoconazole), the UK's only veterinary licenced antifungal tablet for dogs, indicated for the treatment of ringworm.
Each Fungiconazol tablet contains 200 or 400mg of ketoconazole, to be administered at a dosage of 10mg per kg bodyweight once daily. Each tablet can be split into quarters or halves, allowing accurate treatment for dogs from 5kg (¼ x 200mg tablet daily) to 60kg (1½ x 400mg tablet daily) and beyond. The hypoallergenic chicken flavoured tablets mean that Fungiconazol is also suitable for dogs with food allergies or atopic dermatitis.
Animalcare Product Manager Tony Liepman said "This is a great addition to our antimicrobial range, and shows once again that it’s possible for us to be innovative without breaking anyone's budget. With the supply of the first and only licensed canine antifungal tablet on the market, we have ensured that all veterinary practices have access to Animalcare’s Technical Support department for further advice on treatment or its use in their patients."
Both 200mg and 400mg presentations of Fungiconazol, in 100 tablet blister packs, are now available from wholesalers.
For further information contact Animalcare on 01904 487687, or speak to your regional Animalcare representative (found at www.animalcare.co.uk/contact-us).
The practice has also strengthened its surgery services with the appointment of Dr Delphine Holopherne-Doran, European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.
Ivan graduated from Bristol University in 1997. He worked in Hertfordshire before completing a surgical residency under the tutelage of Professor Peter Holt at Bristol University. Ivan has worked in referral centres in the UK and France. He is an RCVS Diplomate in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery and a Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery. Before joining Highcroft, he spent six years working as a senior staff surgeon at Bristol University.
Ed graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 1996. He worked in a mixed practice in Buckinghamshire before undertaking training positions at the RVC, University of Liverpool and the University of Cambridge. He passed the specialist Diploma examinations of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2003. He has previously been a senior surgeon and member of academic staff at the University of Bristol and has worked in private referral practice.
Delphine graduated from Maisons-Alfort (Paris) Vet School in 1998. After working as an equine vet, where she developed an interest in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, she returned to vet school in Nantes where she ran the Anaesthesia department for 11 years. During this time, she gained a Master’s degree and a PhD in cardiovascular pharmacology and completed a residency, gaining European board certification in anaesthesia and analgesia, which led her to visit and train in universities around the world.
Highcroft Hospital Director Mr Chris Mayers said: “Ivan and Ed bring a wealth of experience in urinary tract surgery and, in particular, in urinary incontinence to Highcroft. The most common presentations are juvenile animals with ectopic ureters or urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (post-spay incontinence). Ivan and Ed offer an innovative, minimally-invasive procedure using cystoscopically-guided laser ablation for patients with intramural ectopic ureters. Interventional radiology techniques are also a major interest for the team providing new, minimally-invasive solutions for intrahepatic shunts. The two surgeons have firmly adopted Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass Systems (SUBS) in treating cats with ureteral obstruction, typically caused by calculi.
"Delphine adds world-class expertise in anaesthesia and analgesia and is already making a huge contribution to our hospital. With a high degree of skill in managing cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology cases, Delphine boosts our ability to support highly challenging and complex patients. Her knowledge of the use of local and region blocks for treating highly challenging pain cases and the anaesthesia of complex cardiovascular patients provides outstanding care for patients and promotes the highest standard in analgesia."
Highcroft Veterinary Group is based at 615 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Bristol and can be contacted on 01275 832410.
The survey was promoted to the profession via the websites, by Veterinary Times and through the RCVS Mind Matters newsletter. The data was then anonymised, analysed and reported on by Sally Everitt MRCVS, ex Head of Scientific Policy at BSAVA.
677 participants reported being on the receiving end - within the last year - of at least one of 15 types of unpleasant behaviour which ranged from being physically intimidated through to being on the receiving end of sly glances. However, on average, each respondent experienced no less than five different types of unpleasant behaviour.
Of these, 390 were veterinary nurses, 252 were veterinary surgeons and 13 were practice managers.
The most frequently reported behaviours were: 'being belittled in front of other staff' (73%), 'being criticised minutely, repeatedly and seemingly unfairly' (65%), 'being aware of management or senior staff talking negatively about you behind your back' (51%), and '‘having your authority undermined to others in the practice, for example by having your instructions countermanded commonly and without consultation' (50%).
Seen in isolation, some might question whether these sorts of behaviour amount to bullying. It is important therefore to stress both that they typically formed part of a pattern of behaviour (the five different behaviour types reported, on average, by each respondent), and that the survey specifically asked only for reports where the behaviour was repeated.
Separately, 344 people also said they were currently on the receiving end of sustained patterns of behaviour, usually from one person, which seemed designed to make their life unpleasant.
Respondents were also invited to describe in more detail how they felt they had been mistreated at their practice.
Sally said: "Reading the responses, four main themes stood out: not feeling part of the team, lack of respect, lack of support and issues around management including not being listened to and perceptions of being treated unfairly."
Participants in the survey were then asked to describe what impact the behaviour had on their working life.
Sally said: "The answers to this question often demonstrated that the respondents had been very upset by the behaviours. Of the 560 replies to this question, 220 described an impact on their mental health, from anxiety to breakdowns and suicidal thoughts. 120 respondents talked specifically about the impact on their lack or loss of confidence, and 207 talked about leaving their job or the profession entirely."
Survey participants were then asked what they planned to do about it. Out of 680 replies, 195 talked about moving practice as soon as they can, 164 said they would take it up with the practice manager (however, of the 55 who reported this in the free text answer, 30 said it led to no change or made things worse), and 109 said they had no choice but to suffer in silence. 45 said they had or would leave the profession and only 35 said they would take it up with the perpetrator themselves.
As regards who is bullying who, more or less the same number of people reported being bullied by a veterinary surgeon as a veterinary nurse. What was interesting, and important for those in positions of leadership to note, is that veterinary nurses were much more likely to be bullied by other nurses and vets by other vets.
Finally, respondents were asked a series of questions about whether there was a zero tolerance of bullying or conflict resolution policy in force and enforced at their practice. Only 24 and 28% of respondents respectively were aware of such policies being in place. What was also clear was that having such policies and enforcing them correlated with lower levels of being on the receiving end of sustained patterns of unpleasant behaviour at the practice.
Arlo Guthrie, Editor of VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk said: “Above all else, I want to thank everyone who shared their experience so that others can draw comfort in knowing they are by no means alone in this. I also want you to know that you’ve been heard.
"Given the survey design, it is not possible to draw any conclusions concerning the prevalence of bullying in the veterinary profession. What we can say for sure is that there have been 680 reports. If, as the data indicates, these are from different practices, then it is something that goes on in a significant proportion of veterinary practices."
"The million dollar question is what needs to be done next. It seems to me that the first and most important thing is that the profession needs to talk about behaviour and its impact openly and candidly, mirroring the great strides forward in the area of mental health."
In addition, the survey report proposes further discussion - at both a practice and professional organisation level - about things which:
As one veterinary nurse commented: "Pay is obviously important when you have a mortgage and bills, but not dreading going into work every day, it’s priceless!"
To download the report in full, click the link below:
PDF
The Apple iPad made its UK debut last week. I queued outside the Apple shop for over 15 minutes (well, it was Salisbury, not Regent Street) on launch day to get my hands on one of the first and review it for VetSurgeon members.
For those that don't have the time for long-winded reviews, I'll come straight to the point: buy one, you won't regret it. Even if you get home and decide you have no use for a tablet computer, you could probably put it on ebay and turn a small profit. But you won't. You'll just keep finding more reasons why the iPad is an indispensable piece of kit.
I won't dwell on the technical specifications of the thing. All you really need to know is that it's a touchscreen tablet computer about the size of a small hardback, though it weighs a little more. I don't know (or care) what sort of chip it contains. Whatever it is, it's more than capable of handling the tasks the iPad is designed to do, effortlessly.
So why is the iPad a 'must have'? Because it transforms the experience of browsing the Internet, reading email etc. from being a bit of a hassle, to being as simple and quick as, er, picking up and opening a book. I think the best way to illustrate my point is to describe the uses I've found for it in the first 4 days of ownership:
BrowsingI wanted to know what's on locally for children this weekend. Normally I'd have to go and power up the computer upstairs. Not anymore. Now I just pick the iPad up off the kitchen table. It wakes instantaneously, and the browser opens at the press of a button. Incidentally, once I'd found the Sherborne Fair, it was only another couple of clicks before it was displayed on the built-in map, along with an estimated time to get there. In my case, it also makes my job easier - I can dip into the VetSurgeon and VetNurse forums much more easily when away from my desk (something I intend to be more of, from now on).
EmailNot much to say, except that once again, it's a pleasure to be able to check my email at the press of a button, rather than having to go upstairs and power up my desktop, or wait whilst my wife's interminably slow laptop gets its act together. No, the touch screen keyboard is not quite as well suited to the task as a normal keyboard. Having said that, I typed half this article on my iPad last night at very nearly the same two-handed speed as I would have on my desktop.
Read the newspaperThe Times is now available on the iPad for £9.99 per month. You just press the download button any time after 7:00am, and a few minutes later it appears on the screen. If you fall into the camp that says: 'it'll-never-catch-on-....-nothing'll-replace-the-feel-of-a-book-or-a-newspaper', I wouldn't have argued with you a week ago. Now I would. The iPad version is beautifully intuitive, and a pleasure to read. Despite a few grumbles (where is The Sunday Times?), I'll be cancelling my print subscription.
PhotographsThis is really the first viable alternative to the traditional print photograph album. And it's not just an alternative, it's a far superior way of storing and retrieving photographs. The iPad's high quality display means your pictures really leap off the screen. Its portability and ease of access mean that you might actually look at your photos and share them with others from time-to-time, rather than leaving them to gather dust in a box, or sit in an unvisited folder on your computer. I'm digitising 20 year's worth of photographs for this reason.
Other uses and appsThe list of software applications for the iPad is growing every day. Meantime, any app designed for the iPhone will also run on the iPad, though they don't make full use of the big screen. There are thousands of rather pointless apps, seemingly designed not to meet a need nobody knew they had. But amongst the rubbish, there are some genuinely useful apps out there:
A couple of minor irritations about the iPad. Currently it doesn't support the rich editing feature used by default when you post to the VetSurgeon forums, or elsewhere on the site. Fortunately, there's a quick workaround, which is to visit your VetSurgeon profile (My Account > Edit My Profile > Display Options tab) and set the Content Editor to 'Plain text'. Also, very occasionally the iPad freezes, at which point you have to press the On/Off and Home buttons together for six seconds to reset. Doubtless both these will be fixed in the next software update, due in the next month or two, I think.
The 'twitterati' has bemoaned the iPad's lack of hardware features and flexibility. There's nowhere to insert a DVD. No camera. No USB port. No card reader. But that rather misses the point. The iPad isn't a replacement for a desktop or laptop unless the only things you use a computer for are browsing and email. Anyone who wants to store and edit video, edit photographs, or create anything other than fairly basic documents or spreadsheets, still needs a bigger machine with USB ports and DVD drives galore. What the iPad does is free you from having to browse electronic media at a desk. And it does so in such user-friendly way that I'll be ordering one for my Mum (aged 62) and my grandmother (aged 92).
There are six models available. Three memory sizes: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with either wi-fi Internet access, or wi-fi plus 3G mobile phone access. Prices from £429 to about £700 (to which you'll need to add the cost of a protective wallet). I plumped for the 64GB memory (probably overkill), wi-fi only model, on the basis that there are enough BT Openzone wi-fi hotspots now to mean I'll never be far from one.
I'm not normally one for hyperbole. But in this case, I'll forgive Mr. Jobs calling the iPad 'a magical and revolutionary product'.
It is.
Hannah, who graduated from the RVC in 2015, was nominated for her dedication to excelling in first-opinion practice through her farm, small animal and equine work as a mixed animal vet in Aberystwyth.
She was selected from a field of more than 100 entrants by the award judges BVA President Malcolm Morley, President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Melissa Donald, Professor the Lord Trees, Zoetis National Veterinary Manager Jonny Lambert and last year’s winner of the award, Alex Davies.
Hannah said: “This is fantastic! I’m so pleased to accept this award.
"I want to say a huge thanks to my practice for giving me the freedom to explore my passions and enabling me to work with a wide of range of species.
"I want to particularly mention my mentors Dafydd, Phil and Kate, who inspired me to focus on what I love.”
BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “Hannah’s incredible enthusiasm and passion for her work as a mixed-practice vet really made her stand-out to us.
"She is excelling in her work across species, which is challenging enough, but she’s also doing it at a high level.
"It is great to recognise the contribution that Hannah and other first-opinion vets make to our profession."
BVA president-elect John Blackwell has found himself on the front page of The Times today, and interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme, with a call to end the practice of slitting animal's throats and allowing them to bleed to death in order to produce kosher and halal meat.
According to the newspaper, 600,000 animals are killed this way every week in the UK.
Mr Blackwell is urging Jews and Muslims to allow meat-producing animals to be stunned before they are killed.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Blackwell said: "As veterinary surgeons, it is one of the most important issues on our radar. This is something that can be changed in an instant."
See other media reports here.
Established over 100 years ago, Alfreton Park Veterinary Hospital is based in a purpose-built clinic; one of four International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) recognised Cat Friendly Practices in Derbyshire.
Dr Nick Pine MA VetMB MRCVS has been at Alfreton Park since 1999 and has become a Medivet Branch Partner following the acquisition, together with his colleague Dr Matt Ingram CertSAS MRCVS. He said: "We are excited about joining the Medivet Partnership. It will help us to continue to develop what is an already successful, trusted and highly respected local practice and enable us to offer even more opportunities for our people."
Medivet Chief Executive Officer Dr Arnold Levy, said: "Alfreton Park is an impressive practice with a great team and we are delighted to welcome them to Medivet. Our model is focused on adding value to every practice that joins our partnership, and we look forward to working with Nick and Matt to build an even brighter future for the practice, its clients and patients."
The survey, which received over 1300 responses, found that the problem is more noticeable amongst locum vets (69% have worked when they’ve not felt well enough) and employees (64%) but is also an issue amongst partners and the self-employed (57%). It’s more common for vets in clinical practice (65%) than in non-clinical roles (51%). In all of these sectors over half of vets reported working when they were unwell.
18% of the vets surveyed said they do not take sick leave because they feel uncomfortable doing so. This is more common amongst younger vets (25% of under 35s compared to 19% of 35-54-year olds, and 8% of over 55s) and female vets (21% compared to 11% of male vets).
The main reasons given for not taking time off when sick are concerns about the impact on colleagues and worries about "letting the team down". One respondent said: "Because I would leave the practice understaffed and the remaining vets would have to work a lot harder and longer as a result." Another said: "Being ill is not an option. The practice is short staffed."
Members also reported a perceived culture of working through sickness. One said: "The veterinary industry on the whole has a 'phone in dead' policy ie don't call in sick!" and another said: "[I] feel that I am judged for taking time off, even when I lost my voice and was unable to consult."
A small number of responses (36 of the 450 vets who commented) mentioned that they did not receive sick pay or only received limited sick pay, so they avoided taking sick leave for financial reasons.
The BVA is reminding all vets that they have a legal right not to attend work when they aren’t well enough do so and that any concerns should be discussed with managers. The free BVA legal helpline is available to members to provide further guidance on taking sick leave.
BVA President Daniella Dos Santos said: "We know that veterinary workplaces are under enormous pressure from staff shortages, and none of us wants to feel like we are letting our colleagues down, but presenteeism only stores up more problems for the future.
"Working when you are ill puts your own health and wellbeing at risk longer term and can also put your colleagues, clients and patients under your care at risk.
"It’s particularly worrying that some of our colleagues feel pressure to work when they feel unwell, especially younger members. As a profession we have made huge steps forward in recognising the issues around mental health and supporting one another and being physically unwell should be the same.
“Anyone who is concerned should speak to their manager and remember that BVA members can always get free advice and support via the BVA legal helpline. Ultimately, it’s important to create a workplace culture that supports the entire veterinary team to prioritise their own physical and mental health."
Photo: Javier Brosch / Shutterstock
The study1, which was conducted in collaboration with Plymouth University, sought to find out what influences owners to buy a flat-faced breed, and once this decision has been made, how they go about acquiring a puppy. The study surveyed owners of the top 10 most popular Kennel Club registered breeds in the UK, to compare how influences upon breed choice and purchasing processes differed between owners of flat-faced breeds and popular longer-faced breeds.
Appearance was found to be the number one reason owners purchase flat-faced breeds, attracted by their large, round, wide-set eyes, and flat rounded faces. However, such characteristics are linked with lifelong respiratory, eye and skin problems, and a reduced lifespan compared with longer-faced breeds.
Key influencing factors associated with the choice of a brachycephalic breed included:
When it came to buying a flat-faced dog, owners were:
Dr Rowena Packer, lead author of the study and Research Fellow at RVC, said: "With their small size and baby-like features, some people cannot resist the looks of a brachycephalic dog. With growing evidence that these breeds are faced with a range of chronic and severe health conditions directly linked with their appearance, it is of huge concern that many people drawn to these breeds prioritise a dog’s looks over their long-term health and wellbeing.
"Potential puppy buyers attracted to the appearance of these breeds should seriously consider whether they are emotionally and financially prepared to take on a breed with high risks of health complications, and consider whether alternative, lower-risk breeds would better fit their lifestyle."
Co-author of the study and Associate Professor of Animal Welfare at Plymouth University, Dr Mark Farnworth, said: "Owners must be aware that as puppy-buyers, they are consumers, and their choices affect not only the health of the puppy they purchase, but also the health of the breed more widely. If owners do not follow recommended processes when purchasing a puppy, for example those set out in BVA AWF & RSPCA ‘Puppy Contract’, unscrupulous breeders will be kept in business, and continue to profit from the breeding and sale of unhealthy dogs. Without consumer awareness, breed health improvements are not possible and the overall health of these breeds will likely decline."
Paula Boyden, Dogs Trust Veterinary Director said: "The increased popularity of breeds such as Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs is a huge welfare concern, particularly as this research indicates that the health of the breed was not a major consideration for potential puppy buyers. Many people mistakenly believe that the breathing sounds these breeds often make are endearing traits, rather than an indication of respiratory problems associated with their conformation. Dogs Trust urges anyone thinking of getting a puppy to look beyond the appearance of a breed, understand the impact on health, research the seller and buy responsibly."
Researchers say that the French Bulldog is set to become the most registered dog in 2017, overtaking the Labrador Retrievers’ 27-year reign at the top. The study therefore makes a number of recommendations, including:
Photo: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 Credit: Cristorresfer
The company is making the claim based on a £20,000 study it conducted with three dermatology specialists from three different clinics, in different parts of the country.
Trevor Hardcastle, Vet-AI’s chief data scientist said: "We have undertaken a small-scale trial of remote diagnosis of dermatology conditions by veterinary dermatology specialists in canine patients, which has resulted in almost perfect agreement. No significant evidence was found that veterinary dermatology specialists are measurably compromised in their ability to accurately diagnose common dermatology conditions by being remote from the patient."
Strangely, given the strength of the claim, its importance and Vet AI's obvious vested interest in the result, there was no other information contained within the company's press release. No mention of who the specialists were, nothing about the study design, and nothing about the basis on which the claim is made.
However, presuming the company meant Specialists not specialists, it would be very unusual if they had agreed for an announcement of this importance to be made without the evidence being reasonably robust. So it's probably worth suspending judgement until the study is published in full.
Meantime, the company also says its own research into online diagnosis amongst pet owners has shown that more than 50% of people have avoided taking their pets to the vet for cost reasons, yet more than 65% have tried online self-diagnosis. Again, Vet AI doesn't reveal how many pet owners were asked, or how they were sampled.
Vet-AI co-founder Sarah Warren said: "Things like dermatological issues are beautifully aligned to remote consultation because they’re visual so we can gain a wealth of information from images and distribution maps and easily recommend treatments.
"This needs to happen in a regulated, ethical and correct way with a view to improving animal welfare.
"The RCVS has a chance to ensure that people have access to quality vet help online in an effective way. They can do this, or they can allow them to continue accessing poor-quality advice. As a profession, it’s vital we respond to the needs of pet owners."
The apple-flavoured, gastro-resistant granules can be mixed with dry feed to make administration easier for owners.
Animalcare says that up to 37% of leisure horses and 93% of race horses are reported to be affected by gastric ulcers1, for which the most prescribed treatment is omeprazole.
Equizol’s granule formulation has been developed to support owners who find syringe administration difficult or wasteful. It is presented in packs of 28 sachets, each containing sufficient omeprazole to treat 200 kg body weight. Owners mix the appropriate number of sachets into a small amount of the horse’s feed.
Animalcare Product Manager James Beaumont said: “Offering innovative product solutions which better meet our customer’s needs is our goal and Equizol is a perfect example. Our established equine healthcare range includes products for pain management, infusion therapy and microchips. Now, with the launch of Equizol, we are offering an innovative, easy-to-use and cost-effective solution to the common problem of gastric ulcers, based on tried and trusted omeprazole. We are delighted to add it to our range.”
If, as is predicted, social distancing methods need to be employed to reduce the spread of the virus, or clients find themselves having to self-isolate, video consultations may offer a way in which veterinary practices can continue to serve their clients, maintain animal welfare and, importantly, revenue.
VetHelpDirect's video consultation system, which was announced earlier this year, is still in the Beta testing phase, and the plan had been to roll out the full service in May.
Under the circumstances, however, the company has decided to offer the service to all practices immediately, free of charge for the next three months.
To use the video consultation service, you do need to subscribe to use VetHelpDirect, a service through which you can manage client reviews of your practice. That costs £38 per month, per practice and a further £16 for branch practices.
Susie Samuel, CEO of VetHelpDirect said: “The Coronavirus presents a very real business risk to veterinary practices and a health risk to staff.
"As cases increase, animal owners in quarantine will not be able to visit the vet when their animals become unwell. In these cases, veterinary practitioners will not be able to discuss an animal’s symptoms with their owner in person and could end up relying solely on telephone consultations which would most likely be conducted free of charge.
"Our video platform allows vets to collect payment for a consultation as usual, hold the consultation with the animal’s owner and if a pet needs to be seen, the owner could, in theory, drop it off at the surgery without making personal contact with the vet clinic staff."
VetHelpDirect has not yet decided precisely what the video consultation service will cost after the free period, but it is likely to be around the £20 per month mark. In addition, there is a 4.8% transaction fee.
For more information, contact Susie Samuel susie@vethelpdirect.com
COMMENTDespite the emergence of a number of online-only, limited-service veterinary video consultation providers, it seems like very few, if any independent practices are yet offering this service. There is a danger that unless they do so very soon, they will find themselves at a real disadvantage to the first movers. But there is still time; according to VetHelpDirect's research, 38% of people say they would use video consultations with their own vet but only 7% with a vet they don't know..
It strikes me that now is a very good moment to start offering clients this kind of service, because regardless of government advice, there will doubtless be some who will want to avoid a trip to the vets whilst the outbreak persists.
The flowchart, which was produced in partnership with the National Animal Health and Welfare Panel (NAHWP) and with support from Dogs Trust, outlines what vets should consider when a client presents an animal with a pet passport and aim to help them navigate client confidentiality, how to report concerns of illegal imports, and an overview of how local authorities are likely to respond.
The Association says that in recent years, vets have mentioned finding it 'difficult' or 'very difficult' to report concerns to Trading Standards in the BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession surveys. Other concerns included breaching client confidentiality, a lack of proof or sufficient evidence to investigate, a perceived lack of interest from local authorities if a case was reported, and uncertainty about whom to contact and how to report suspicions.
Findings released by Dogs Trust earlier this week show broadly similar concerns about reporting suspected illegal pet import cases.
BVA and NAHWP have issued the following advice for vets:
Report any suspicions that the animal in your care does not comply with Pet Travel Scheme requirements to your Local Authority Animal Health Function – either Trading Standards or Environmental Health Services.
Find out how to contact your local authority via a pre-agreed number for your practice. Find a direct contact number for your local Trading Standards or call Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06, who will refer you directly to the relevant local authority.
Note this number down on the joint BVA and NAHWP compliance flowchart and put up the poster in visible locations around your practice for staff to refer to.
BVA is also in talks with local authority forums in Wales and Scotland and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland to launch similar guidance and compliance resources for vets in the devolved administrations.
BVA President Daniella Dos Santos said: "Veterinary teams can often be the first to suspect that an animal may have been illegally imported when an owner takes their pet for its first check-up. But our surveys have identified a compelling need for clearly defined routes and mechanisms for vets to more easily report suspected cases of illegal import.
"Our flow chart and supporting guidance aim to empower vets to report any such cases, thus helping to tackle the scourge of illegal importation and protecting animal welfare, both of the imported dogs and the larger canine population in the UK.
"I would encourage veterinary teams to put up the poster in their practices and use it to help report any suspicions to relevant authorities with ease."
The flowchart is available as a pull-out poster in this week’s Vet Record and can also be downloaded along with accompanying guidance notes here: www.bva.co.uk/illegalimportguidance
Salmoporc gives protection against Salmonella Typhimurium and its monophasic variants. It is administered orally to piglets and through subcutaneous injection in sows.
According to the company, Salmoporc is the only live, attenuated salmonella vaccine licensed for pigs in the UK and Ireland.
Ceva says salmonella in UK and Irish herds is the highest in the EU, with a prevalence of 19.5% and 17.5% respectively. It is particularly difficult to control in outdoor herds since the bacteria can survive in soil for a year, even longer in dried dung and has been detected in fields two years after being vacated by pigs.
Outdoor bred, or reared, pigmeat accounts for 12% of retail sales and the majority of this is processed.
Dr Rike Schmelz from Ceva said: "Salmonella is an increasing problem on pig farms and the bacteria are transmitted through breeding pyramids which eventually supply finishing pigs. Clinical cases of diarrhoea often occur after weaning and tend to be treated with antibiotics."
Rike added: "The monophasic variant of S. Typhimurium is already multi-drug resistant and vaccinating pigs can help farmers to substantially reduce their use of expensive antibiotics. In addition, with the removal of zinc oxide at therapeutic levels from the feed in mid-2022, salmonella and other enteric diseases are likely to become more apparent."
Ceva says that by immunising their pigs against S. Typhimurium, farmers will gain an economic benefit from lowered mortality and improved daily liveweight gain (DLWG) among their pigs.
In independent trials at the University of Ghent in Belgium, between three and 29 weeks, vaccinated piglets from three herds gained between 30g and 39g, significantly more per day than unvaccinated controls.
Trials in Germany have shown that, with vaccination of sows and gilts at the top of the breeding pyramid, combined with a competent hygiene programme, it is possible to eliminate salmonella from the supply chain.
The website has been redesigned to help pet owners improve their understanding of the disease and support their commitment to treating their pet, thus improving the survival rates of diabetic pets.
The site includes videos which show how to give insulin injections to dogs and cats. There are also links to the Pet Diabetes Tracker App, which helps owners of diabetic pets monitor and record their pets’ progress. There are also tools to help pet owners build glucose curves they can share with their veterinary practice, and FAQs that will answer their main concerns.
The company is also offering additional support to help veterinary practices raise awareness of pet diabetes in the form of staff training and a Pet Diabetes Month Resource Pack.
Caroline Darouj, Senior Product Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Pet diabetes continues to rise in the UK1,2 due to the growing prevalance of obesity in our pets. Research has shown that up to 20% of diabetic pets die, or are euthanised, within a year of diagnosis3. Many of these early deaths however, are avoidable and effective management can result in good outcomes in most pets. A diabetes diagnosis should not be a life sentence for our pets.
"This campaign and new website will make a big difference, giving practices the tools to engage pet owners, provide treatments plans and explain effective disease management. Diabetes is a disease with many elements that can feel overwhelming for pet owners so it’s vital that all veterinary practice team members have the right resources to be able to advise and support them so their pets can lead long and happy lives."
To sign up for a pack practices should go to www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk/PDM
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