Freelance Surgical has published a series of bite-sized instructional videos about veterinary electrosurgery and the Gima Diathermy Unit, presented by Alasdair Hotston Moore FRCVS.

Freelance Surgical says electrosurgery has yet to take off in the veterinary profession in the way that it has in human surgery because many veterinary surgeons are still unfamiliar with the technology and have concerns about safety. 

In fact, the company says, it can make surgery more efficient, faster and safer.

In the new series of videos, Alasdair Hotston Moore covers the background of electrosurgery, an overview of the Gima Diathermy unit and a practical demonstration of how to use the equipment correctly and safely.

Bilitis Hammond, Veterinary Specialist at Freelance Surgical said: “With the GIMA electrocautery units being so popular, we were surprised to find there was very little training on best use available online.

"We wanted to offer some short bitesize videos that show surgeons what this machine can offer so they are using it to its full potential and safely.

"We feel these videos will be a huge asset to everyone in practice. “

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfKRtTQ2EA16cP-gfkqSVdA 

https://www.freelance-veterinary.co.uk/surgery/electrosurgery 

The British Veterinary Association has responded to 'alarmist' headlines linking contact with cats to schizophrenia due to the risks posed by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

The report in today's Independent contains some important messages regarding the need for good personal hygiene and the need for pregnant women and immuno-compromised groups to be aware of the risks. However, the BVA says it is concerned that the headlines could cause significant alarm to cat owners.

Most people who become infected are asymptomatic but 10-20% can show transient symptoms which are flu-like. There is a more serious risk to pregnant women and those who are immuno-compromised, but as with all infections common sense and good personal hygiene reduces the risk significantly and the BVA says there is no reason that families with, or those intending to have, children shouldn't have pet cats.

As outlined in the article sources of infection include eating undercooked meat and vegetables that have not been washed properly and contact with cats. It is not known which the greater source of infection is but according to the BVA, anecdotal evidence suggests that meat is likely to be more important than contact with cats. The BVA says it echoes advice that meat should be prepared and cooked properly, and offers the following hygiene advice for cat owners:

• Wash hands after handling a cat
• Do not allow children near cat litter trays
• Ensure faeces in cat litter is removed promptly and disposed of where people cannot be contaminated by it 
• Pregnant women should avoid cleaning out litter trays and use protective gloves if they cannot avoid it

BVA Past President and veterinary surgeon Harvey Locke said: "While the facts are true, the headlines in this story have been quite alarmist and we are very keen to reassure cat owners that the risks can be managed with good basic hygiene and common sense.

"The biggest threat is to pregnant women and those who are immuno-compromised, which we have known for some time. It is useful to reiterate that they should take extra care but there is no need for people to get rid of their pet cats or choose not to have cats as pets."

The BVA is inviting vets to come to a BVA Congress panel discussion at the London Vet Show about the risks and benefits of neutering dogs, as new evidence suggests the answer might not be as clear cut as previously thought. 

‘Is neutering dogs doing more harm than good?’ (BVA Congress Theatre, Thursday 16th November 2023 at 10.30am), will explore the latest research into the science of neutering and its impact on dog health and welfare, particularly on behaviour, and will also consider the role of non-surgical alternatives.

The session will be chaired by BVA President Dr Anna Judson, joined by:

• Dr Sarah Heath, Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine, Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice
• Dr Neil Mottram BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS, Technical Manager, Virbac
• Nicola Lakeman, Nutrition Manager, IVC Evidensia
• Dr Michelle Kutzler, Full Professor, Oregon State University

The BVA says statistics from its Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey show that among clients who chose to neuter their dogs last year, only 6% picked non-surgical options.

Awareness of these options is low, with vets reporting that 9% of their clients had requested information about non-surgical options when considering neutering, such as sustained-release implants to suppress testosterone production in male dogs.

Among those who considered non-surgical options, clients cited the cost and need for repeat treatments as their main concerns (mentioned by 67% and 58% of vets, respectively), followed by individual variation in the effect and duration of non-surgical alternatives (22% of vets).

Anna said: “Canine neutering is a firmly established part of preventive pet healthcare in the UK, but it is also very much a live discussion within the veterinary profession, with a healthy ongoing debate around its merits and risks, based on evolving evidence.

"BVA’s survey shows low awareness among clients about all available neutering options for their pets, with only a tiny percentage choosing to go down the non-surgical route.

“Our BVA Congress discussion will offer vet professionals in small animal practice insight into the latest research on neutering, including potential longer-term impacts on a dog’s health and behaviour, and views on what that might mean for how vets discuss neutering options with clients.

"The panellists will also share useful tips on how to deal with clients’ questions about surgical and non-surgical options for their pets.”

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20427670/2023/193/S1

Doubtless it's been in your diary for months, but next week sees the start of National BBQ Week and to make the occasion, the BVA has released the results of a survey which shows that most vets (71%) actively check labels and ask questions about the meat, fish and dairy products they buy. 

BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey panel, which polls over 1,000 UK vets, highlighted that many vets support the higher welfare standards of British farming, with 9 out of 10 vets saying they would be more likely to buy food if it was labelled as British or locally sourced. Over three quarters of vets said that they would be more likely to buy free-range (77%) or food that carried a Farm Assurance Scheme label (over 50% for Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured; formerly known as Freedom Food).

BVA President Sean Wensley encouraged consumers to check labels as the warmer weather sees BBQs and picnics take centre stage in gatherings of families and friends. He said: "Animal welfare should be a paramount consideration whether we’re thinking about purchasing pets or the food we eat. For vets it’s a top priority that the animals we rear for food have a good life and a humane death.

"Vets are not alone in caring about where their food comes from. To support high standards of animal welfare, all of us can vote for good animal health and welfare through our thoughtful meat, fish, and dairy purchases and send a strong message to food producers and retailers this summer."

BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey panel also revealed that 9 out of 10 vets would be less likely to buy meat or fish if it was labelled as not stunned prior to slaughter.

BVA is leading a campaign to end slaughter without pre-stunning for animal welfare reasons and calling for better labelling of food to help consumers make pro-animal welfare choices.

To find out more about BVA’s campaign to end non-stun slaughter, visit: http://www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/Campaigns/An-end-to-non-stun-slaughter

Image: CC BY-SA 2.0 cyclonebill

Boehringer Ingelheim - maker of Bovela - has announced the results of the 3rd annual BVD Survey, which has found amongst other things that 85% of respondents hadn't restarted a vaccination course when most of them should have.

1,219 farmers took part in the survey: 44% beef and 56% dairy. For the first time, the survey was also tailored for the regions. 488 responses came from famers in England, 380 from Scotland, 164 from Wales and 237 from Northern Ireland. 

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Matt Yarnall, who led the project, said: "Headline findings are that farmers have regrets about holding onto persistently infected animals (PIs) which, at the end of the day, no-one should be doing.

"The financial benefit of being free of BVD was estimated as being over £90 per cow per year and when asked what impact BVD has had on their herd, the majority of producers highlighted poor fertility and high levels of disease in the herd.”

Boehringer says the identification of persistently infected animals (PIs) through tag and testing, supported by improved herd biosecurity and vaccination, could cost as little as £10 per cow per year, representing a significant return on investment for a disease with severe financial impact.

Matt said: "Herd biosecurity is also hugely variable. The most commonly selected response was operating a closed herd but, as most practitioners will know, the definition of a true closed herd and the real-life execution of that can be two very different things."

Highlighting one of the other major challenges for producers in cattle-dense areas, results from Scotland that showed that 51% of farmers with neighbouring cattle are worried about their neighbours' BVD status.

Matt said: "Perhaps the most alarming finding was the lack of awareness of the intricacies of some BVD vaccination courses, especially around when they need to be restarted, in order to achieve the protection needed."

2017 survey data from last year showed that 71% of producers were failing to achieve adequate protection when using a BVD vaccine that requires a booster six months after the primary course.

Boehringer says the results showed this is mostly down to not properly understanding the exact nature of the timings for the two-dose primary course, dates of service and calving and then the booster date.

Matt added: "For any practitioner advising clients, the 2018 finding that a shocking 85% haven’t restarted a vaccination course when the majority should have done, should ideally serve as a clear call to action."

For more information about the findings of the National BVD Survey, email bvdzero.uk@boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Ceva Animal Health has announced that Vectra 3D spot-on solution for dogs and Vectra Felis 423mg/42.3mg spot-on solution for cats have been recategorised from POM-V to NFA-VPS products.

The re-categorisation means veterinary practices can sell the topical parasiticides to ‘walk-in clients’ without the need of a prescription. 

Andrew Fullerton, veterinary surgeon and product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: “The new NFA-VPS category for Vectra 3D spot-on solution for dogs and Vectra Felis 423mg/42.3mg spot-on solution for cats provides veterinary practices with greater flexibility to sell easy-to-use, fast and effective parasite prevention and treatment without a prescription."

For more information, contact your Ceva Animal Health account manager or email cevauk@ceva.com.

Vet Futures, the joint initiative by the RCVS and BVA to stimulate debate about the future of the profession, has opened a new discussion about whether VAT on vet fees for pets should be dropped.

The discussion has been opened by this month's Vet Futures guest blogger, Stuart Winter, the Sunday Express small animal columnist and a campaigner to end VAT on pet fees.

Stuart argues that owning a pet is not a luxury to be taxed when they need medical intervention, because owning a companion improves the health and wellbeing of its owner.

He writes that removing VAT on veterinary fees for domestic animals, or at least reducing it to five pence in the pound, would improve the nation's animal welfare. It would allow low-income families to seek medical attention earlier, he argues, while allowing more owners to afford and take out pet insurance.

He says that shifting Government thinking on the subject might be a Herculean task, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't campaign for its removal. "No Chancellor delights in losing revenue. Treating, curing and caring for sick and injured animals is nothing more than a service and services are ripe to be harvested.

"It is time for a counter argument. Pet ownership is not a luxury. It is more than a privilege. Is it not a human right? Welcoming animals into our lives makes our lives more fulfilled and more civilised."

To tie in with the discussion, Vet Futures is inviting vets to take part in a poll which asks: "Would you agree that VAT should no longer be levelled on vet fees?"

The College is encouraging members of the veterinary team and the public to take part in the poll so that it can generate debate on the issue of VAT and better understand the full consequences if it was removed.

January's poll asked members of the profession if they could recognise the signs of mental ill-health in a colleague. Reassuringly, just over half (58%) of the 65 respondents said they would be able to recognise the signs, although that leaves 40% who would not feel comfortable in their ability to do so.

To read Stuart Winter's blog, contribute to the discussion and vote in the poll, visit www.vetfutures.org.uk

Essex-based Sarah Mason MRCVS, someone who already has more qualifications than could be stored on the Internet, has now achieved an industry-first by being the first clinician to be recognised as a Specialist in both oncology and radiation oncology.

Sarah, who practices at Southfields Veterinary Specialists, was already a European and Royal College Specialist in oncology. Now, after studying for a year and passing the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) exams this autumn, she has now been recognised as a European Specialist in radiation oncology as well. 

Sarah said: "I intend to use my experience to grow the radiation and oncology service at Southfields and, with the benefit of our new linear accelerator and state-of-the-art hospital, deliver the most advanced treatment options for our veterinary patients. 

"I also intend to use my experience and expertise to contribute to the further development of radiation oncology as a specialist qualification in Europe."

Congratulations Sarah!

Dechra Animal Health has published the results of a study which found that antibiotic use was reduced by 43% in beef calves treated with Solacyl, its oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID).

The company says this means that using Solacyl as an alternative to antibiotics could reduce overall antibiotic use by 4.4 tonnes a year. 

The research was carried out by dairy veterinary consultant Owen Atkinson BVSc DHCP MRCVS, an RCVS recognised specialist in cattle health and production, at three English calf rearing units between November 2017 and May 2018. It involved four groups of beef calves from different dairy farms.

The 258 calves were given Solacyl (sodium salicylate) in-feed on the five days immediately upon arrival at the units (a high-risk period for animals to contract bovine respiratory disease).

According to Dechra, the use of Solacyl resulted in a reduction in antibiotic use of between 16% and 73% (based on doses), depending on the farm. Across all groups, the reduction was 43%.

Dechra says that neither the health of the calves nor the profitability of the rearing operations were compromised. 

Owen Atkinson said: "I was involved in analysing the data and the data showed that there was no significant difference in growth rates or in mortality or in days to reach a target weight in the calves that had Solacyl, compared to previous batches of calves that had followed a prophylactic antibiotic protocol.

"I think this is an ideal protocol for those farmers who are competent, who are able to spot early pneumonia symptoms and are prepared to perhaps treat a slightly higher proportion of calves than they would otherwise have treated. They can now do that with higher confidence that their results should be as good as if they had used prophylactic antibiotics."

Dechra Farm Animal Veterinary Adviser Alana McGlade BVmedsci (hons) BVM BVS MRCVS added: "Sodium salicylate has the same fever-controlling, pain-managing and inflammation-reducing benefits in livestock as aspirin can have in humans.

"It can be administered conveniently to groups of animals, which means it can be given prior to known stress points in animals’ lives. This can be continued through and after those events, providing a welfare benefit and reducing the risk of a loss of appetite and its resulting effects.

"Solacyl can be administered without the supervision of a vet and that makes it a cost-effective and practical solution for farmers that can lead to a notable reduction in routine antibiotic use whilst protecting the welfare of a herd."

Dechra has now published a white paper which you can download here: "Enhancing welfare and combating antimicrobial resistance while maintaining productivity on calf units". 

The results of the research will be presented at the BCVA Congress in October 2018.

The long-awaited Panorama programme about the veterinary profession will air on Thursday 22 July at 9pm on BBC One.

Rumour has it that the programme will cover a range of issues, including the role of unqualified nursing staff in the practice, support for new graduates, over-charging in relation to insurance and regulation of corporate practices.

The RCVS says it expects increased public interest in the regulation of the profession following the programme and is gearing itself up to address any concerns it raises. A statement will be posted on www.rcvs.org.uk immediately following the programme, and the RCVS has said that it will work with the British Veterinary Association and other organisations to ensure that the robust nature of the regulatory system is communicated to the public, from undergraduate degrees through the Professional Development Phase and the Guide to Professional Conduct, to mandatory continuing professional development and the voluntary Practice Standards Scheme and Register for Veterinary Nurses.

In a statement issued today, the RCVS said: "We currently receive around 700 complaints a year - about one every 15 years of a member's practising life. It's a record to be proud of. However, if the programme raises areas of genuine concern, we will do all we can to act on them and we have already made it clear to the BBC that we would expect their support in this."

Jamie Rushton has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after being convicted of sexual assault and jailed for 18 months.

Mr Rushton was convicted of sexual assault after pleading guilty at Wood Green Crown Court in December 2022.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, made subject to a restraining order and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

He was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs and a £140 victims’ surcharge.

Mr Rushton did not attend the RCVS hearing, where the facts of the charge were proven by the certificate of conviction and the judge’s sentencing remarks.

In considering whether the conviction rendered Mr Rushton unfit to practise veterinary medicine, the Committee considered that the case involved the sexual assault of a vulnerable woman who was also a professional colleague, and was a serious abuse of trust, reflected in the custodial sentence.

Dr Neil Slater MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “It was evident from the judge’s sentencing remarks that [the victim] had been seriously affected by the knowledge of what had occurred on that evening.

"That knowledge was bound, in itself, to be very distressing and according to the victim’s impact statement had a long- lasting impact on the victim’s self-esteem, resilience and relationship with others.

"The victim’s level of distress can only have been increased by the knowledge that the respondent had filmed and/or photographed his activity while she was unconscious and that the images were included on a memory stick which contained a number of other voyeuristic images.”

"The Committee was satisfied that the respondent’s behaviour had caused [the victim] significant psychological injury and carried with it a risk of causing such injury.

“The Committee was also satisfied that [the victim] was especially vulnerable because of the significant quantity of alcohol that she had consumed.

"In the circumstances that evolved, she was in the respondent’s care.

"The respondent abused the position of trust and responsibility that he occupied.

"He was a senior colleague, at a professional conference.

"Instead of taking appropriate steps to secure the welfare of [the victim], he used the position in which he found himself to engage in predatory sexual misconduct.

"Furthermore, his behaviour was opportunistic and, as the judge said, “clearly driven by [his] sexual desires."

Taking into account these factors, the Committee found that Dr Rushton was unfit to practise and next considered the sanction.

The Committee found no mitigating factors regarding the conviction but did take into account the fact there had been no previous regulatory findings against him.

In deciding the sanction, the Committee also noted that there was little evidence before them that Dr Rushton had shown serious insight into the impact of his offending.

Neil added: “In this context the Committee also noted that the respondent maintained a plea of not guilty until three days before a rearranged trial was due to take place, and subsequently advanced an account of what he said was his relationship with [the victim] which the judge found to be false.

“Taking all of these factors into account, the Committee is satisfied that removal from the register is the only proportionate outcome to this case.

"This sanction is necessary to declare and uphold appropriate standards of conduct for members of the veterinary profession and to maintain public confidence in the profession.”

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings 

The Animal Health Trust and the Kennel Club have announced that a new, non-invasive DNA test for the genetic mutation causing macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) in Labradors will be available from the Animal Health Trust DNA Testing Service from Monday 26 January 2015.

Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is a hereditary eye disease which, although painless, causes severe visual impairment in affected dogs. 

The mutation for MCD is recessive; meaning only dogs that inherit two copies of the mutation will be affected. Dogs identified by the test as Clear have no copies of the mutation whereas Carriers have one copy of the mutation. Clears and Carriers cannot develop MCD, although Carriers will pass the mutation on to about half of their puppies if they reproduce. Dogs identified as Genetically Affected have two copies of the mutation and will develop MCD around middle-age. The DNA test can be used to screen dogs at any age and provides a means of eliminating the causal mutation from the Labrador Retriever gene pool.

Dogs affected with MCD will develop cloudy eyes, due to an abnormal accumulation of carbohydrates (known as glycosaminoglycans) in their corneas. The only treatment for the disease in people is to surgically perform a corneal transplant; however this has not yet been performed successfully in the dog for the treatment of MCD.

Dr Cathryn Mellersh, Head of Canine Genetics at the Animal Health Trust, said: "We're really pleased to be able to provide this new test in 2015. Screening Labradors for the mutation responsible for this condition will help to identify those dogs at risk of developing MCD, and/or passing it on to their puppies. Dogs don't typically develop MCD until middle age - so without a DNA test there is a chance that affected dogs are unknowingly bred from. Now, affected and carriers dogs can easily be identified through one simple test giving breeders peace of mind.

"By developing this test and encouraging screening within the Labrador population we hope that this horrible disease can now be eliminated from the breed. This is the aim behind all of our work in canine genetics and we're thrilled to have been able to make such good progress in developing this test after MCD was first reported in Labradors by one of own veterinary ophthalmologists in 2013. Since then we've worked closely with the ophthalmology team here at the Animal Health Trust and Labrador owners and breeders from various European countries and have managed to identify the mutation and launch this test within two years, which is great news for Labrador owners."

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "The Labrador is the most popular breed in the UK, so there is certainly a high demand for puppies, and it is crucial that those being bred are as healthy as possible.

"This test will further assist breeders of Labradors in breeding healthy, happy examples of the breed and we are delighted to be able to offer another tool to improve and maintain the breed's health.

"The work carried out at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust really does make a massive difference to the lives of dogs and we are thrilled that Labrador breeders will now be able to make use of another health test to protect the health of the breed they love."

For more information, visit www.ahtdnatesting.co.uk. The test costs £48 inc VAT, with a 10% discount when at least 20 samples are submitted within a month. Interested parties should contact dnatesting@aht.org.uk with a start date to request a discount code.