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VetSurgeon.org publishes a curated feed of veterinary news for practising veterinary surgeons, with a primary focus on the UK profession.
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The Best UK Vets Awards are given to the practices that accumulate the largest number of positive reviews from clients on vethelpdirect.com and any-uk-vet.co.uk over the course of the year.
Penmellyn Vets achieved 839 positive ratings; 200 more than their nearest rivals, reflecting the tremendous level of engagement they have with their clients, something which also shone through in the sentiments expressed in their client reviews.
Penmellyn Vets is an independent practice owned by six veterinary surgeons, who are all based in Cornwall. They have been providing veterinary care to the pets and horses of Cornwall for over 130 years. They still cover their own out of hours’ care and their services include preventative healthcare packages for their cat and dog-owning clients, ‘LifeCare’ and ‘LifeCare+’. The latter grants clients access to unlimited vet and nurse consultations 6 days a week – something that is currently only offered by Penmellyn Vets in Cornwall.
Philip Harris, one of the partners at Penmellyn Vets said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won this award and want to say thank you to each and every one of our clients who took the time to leave a review. And my thanks to the Penmellyn staff for their hard work and commitment to providing the outstanding customer service that has been recognised by this award. I couldn’t be more proud of them. We’re an independent practice and very traditional in many ways, so I think as we’ve grown as a group, with a goal of excellence always in patient care, our values have kept us grounded and very client-centric. We look forward to celebrating the award with our team at the awards ceremony in the coming weeks."
Blacks Vets in Dudley were awarded the Silver award after receiving a very commendable 620 qualifying client reviews.
Tracey Jewkes, Managing Director, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded Silver in the Best UK Vet 2017 Award and would like to take this opportunity to send a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful clients for voting for us again this year. Our consistency at the top of this award for the past 3 years is a reflection of both the calibre and heart Team Blacks give to pets, clients and each other year after year. We could not be more proud of each and every team member here, nor could we feel more privileged to take great care of so many much loved pets in our local community."
Inglis Veterinary Hospital in Dunfermline, Scotland received 358 qualifying reviews and received the Bronze award. They also went on to win the Best Scottish Vet Award 2017.
The full list of winners is:
This year’s winners of the small category awards are:
Petplan has announced that Richard Williams MRCVS from the Vale Veterinary Centre in Barry has won its Vet of the Year award.
The award is one of a number handed out each year to celebrate exceptional veterinary surgeons, nurses, practices, practice managers and vet support staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in keeping pets healthy and giving owners peace of mind.
The independent panel of judges was particularly impressed with Richard’s tireless dedication to veterinary care. They said: "He is considered by both clients and colleagues to be a great communicator, is constantly researching new and improved techniques, is brilliant at motivating staff and proactively encourages the professional development of his team – he truly leads by example."
On receiving the award, Richard said: "I’m completely surprised, overjoyed and humbled that my clients have taken the time out of their busy days to vote. It’s a great feeling."
Other winners included:
Isabella von Mesterhazy, Head of Marketing at Petplan, said: "Through the annual Petplan Veterinary Awards we’re able to pay tribute to the incredible work carried out by members of the veterinary profession across the UK. Their dedication allows pet owners to rest safe in the knowledge that, whether it’s for a routine check-up, an unexpected illness or injury or a simple procedure, their much-loved pets are in safe hands when they visit their vets. We’re elated to be able to announce the deserving winners, and congratulate them on such a fantastic achievement!"
For more information about the awards and to learn more about the winners, please visit http://www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards/winners.asp.
Instead of conducting major open surgery, Chris Shales, an RCVS and European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, Andrew Kent, a European Specialist in Internal Medicine, and the cardiology team at Willows are using coil embolization, a minimally invasive technique which they say is far safer and less likely to lead to post-operative complications.
The procedure involves threading tiny coils, via the jugular vein, through the venous system and positioning them in the blood vessel that needs to be closed. The coils encourage the blood to form a clot and so, over time, seal the vein.
Chris said: "This procedure of treating intrahepatic portosystemic shunts is associated with a lower risk of mortality and a lower surgical morbidity rate when comparted to open surgery. The overall outcome of the two approaches is similar in terms of reduction of flow through the shunt vessel.
"Access is gained via a small incision in the neck to allow the team to operate on the liver via the jugular vein using fluoroscopy to visualise the placement of a stent within the vena cava and embolization coils within the abnormal vessel.
"Intrahepatic shunts can be extremely challenging for the surgical team to access with the result that standard, open surgical treatment of these abnormal vessels can risk life-threatening complications and animals can require a significant time to recover."
For more information about shunt surgery at Willows, contact Chris Shales or Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist Andrew Kent on 0121 712 7070 or email enquiries@willows.uk.net.
Photo: Chris Shales, left, with Andrew Kent, centre, and cardiologist Mike Martin ('pass me a gin and tonic, would you').
Themed 'Controlling Disease Threats at Home and from Abroad’, this year's conference will highlight the increasing importance of OVs in safeguarding the UK’s international trade and in protecting human health through disease surveillance and control.
The conference programme includes dedicated lecture streams aimed at large animal, small animal and equine practitioners. Improve says that lecture content has been tailored to cover areas of key relevance for more than 8,000 OVs due to revalidate their qualifications in March 2019. The programme also includes interactive workshops, including drop-in question and answer sessions offering practical advice and guidance on the revalidation process.
An exhibition of products and services for OVs runs alongside the conference.
David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve, said: "This conference remains the only event dedicated to the needs of OVs. They receive industry updates from leading figures in the veterinary sector, attend lectures on OV work from experts and, in so doing, work towards their CPD revalidation requirements. We’re currently finalising a packed programme for this year’s conference and urge OVs to take advantage of our time-limited Early Bird offers and register without delay."
For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com
Reverse wound bandages are made with the adhesive on the outside and design printed on the inside, making it easier to apply the bandage without over-tightening.
The company says it has launched the new reverse-wound bandage in response to demand from veterinary practices.
The bandages come in two widths: five and 7.5 cm, in a range of colours and designs which were chosen by veterinary nurses. They are 2.2m long, stretching to 4.5m, and J.A.K Marketing says they are super flexible, lightweight and easy to tear.
For more information, visit: https://www.jakmarketing.co.uk/products/aniwrap-sketch.html
It comes hot on the heels of the as-yet-unsubstantiated claim that remote dermatology diagnoses are as accurate as those conducted in person, and against a background of much debate in the profession about the risks and advantages of the various forms of telemedicine.
For this new study "Reliability of smartphone-based radiographic interpretation for evaluating cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in dogs", researchers from Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil, took thoracic radiographs from the medical records of 121 patients with cardiogenic pulmonary oedema or other differential diagnoses from three veterinary teaching hospitals.
All the images were then interpreted by two observers: a board-certified radiologist and an experienced cardiologist, both of whom were blinded to the patients’ diagnosis.
The images were reviewed both as JPEG images on a smartphone, and using a DICOM-viewing platform with an interval of four months between each viewing to reduce interpretation bias. The reviewers were asked to state only whether cardiogenic pulmonary oedema was present or absent. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed between interfaces and reviewers.
The authors say that the results of this study were consistent with previous research; a similar study found that small intestinal mechanical obstructions could be diagnosed from JPEG images of abdominal radiographs on a smartphone by radiologists.2
Lead author, Flavio Jojima said: "The diagnostic accuracy for cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in dogs was not significantly impaired when specialists used smartphones compared to a DICOM-viewing platform to interpret thoracic radiographs.
"This may provide supporting evidence for the use of smartphones for off-site expert interpretation of diagnostic radiographs, particularly in an out-of-hours clinical scenario, but not for routine interpretation of radiographs with a smartphone interface."
Nicholas Jeffery, editor of JSAP said: "These findings are reassuring. In off-site circumstances, particularly where immediate assessment and interpretation is needed, the use of smartphones could speed up the decision making process and enhance patient outcomes."
References
Creature Comforts will be using the cash both to open the clinics and build a proprietary app which will give owners seamless 24/7 access to veterinary care, whilst allowing vets to work more flexibly and more often from home.
VetSurgeon.org caught up with Russell Welsh (pictured), co-founder of the new business alongside Daniel Attia.
Russell said: "During the pandemic, there was a recognition that employers needed to do more to attract and retain veterinary staff, and so there has been a move towards more flexible working and better employment packages.
"The problem is that we then saw a massive increase in the number of pets, and the profession is struggling to meet demand.
"On top of that, the corporatisation of the profession has meant that both staff and owners often feel less connected with each other.
"We think the answer lies in independent practices making better use of technology to reduce the workload on veterinary staff whilst creating a better, seamless, more personal experience for pet owners.
"There are of course companies offering online consultations, but they tend to be stand alone services, or belong to corporate groups.
"What we're doing differently is developing our own system so that we don't lose control of any stage in the client journey and can make sure the quality of care, after care and service is consistently high.
"We'll also be putting together a share option scheme, so our employees will really feel a proper sense of ownership."
https://www.creaturecomforts.co.uk
The five-part series, which is hosted on Elanco’s customer portal MyElanco.co.uk, covers topics including managing social media communities, how to build a presence using social media advertising and how to respond to new regulations around personal data.
According to a report on Bloomberg, Facebook is reported to be on track to have 32.6 million regular users in the UK despite its falling audience of younger users. Meanwhile Instagram's UK user base was believed to be 16.7 million at the end of 2017. Hence why 81% of small and medium businesses are reported to use some kind of social platform.
Elanco Customer Experience Manager Matthew Rowe said: "The global popularity of social media sites means people now expect businesses to have a social media presence and veterinary practices are no different.
"More veterinary practices are launching business profiles, recognising how vital it is to have a social presence so they can engage with their clients outside of the consultation room. But we realise that it can seem like an intimidating and complex process.
"The workshops have been created to help more vet practices get started with social media and gain more confidence to make the most out of it for the benefit of their business."
To watch the videos, register at MyElanco.co.uk and visit: https://www.myelanco.co.uk/CPD/video-workshop-part1
The strange phenomenon was spotted by Veterinary Vision's clinical director Chris Dixon when he examined Dachshund called Margo, which had been referred for the treatment of a corneal ulcer and fungal infection.
Chris said: “I was assessing Margo’s eye and was very surprised to see a face smiling back at me.
"It perhaps doesn't bear quite the same resemblance as the Turin Shroud. Still, I've never seen anything like it before.
"The good news is that it does not appear to have affected her vision at all.”
Apparently the smiling face is still there, even after Chris performed a corneal graft.
Chris added: "I think we can safely say that Margo is a very happy dog, both inside and out!"
This is Vita's first foray into the companion animal sector after more than 20 years developing health solutions for honey bees.
The new range includes six products supporting a range of common health conditions; Omnicondro for joint health, Omnicardio for cardiovascular function, Omniomega containing essential fatty acids, Omnicutis skin support, Omnimatrix to aid skin healing and Omniotic ear cleaner. They are approved for use in different species according to product, including dogs, cats, rabbits and horses.
The new products are available direct from the company's Sales Manager, Tara Evans RVN. She said: "I am delighted to introduce practices to this cutting-edge range of supplements. At Vita Animal Health we recognise the vital role of the veterinary team in supporting pet health and offering clients choice. The range of Vita products offers new and innovative solutions in some important areas."
The product launch includes promotional offers for veterinary practices and there is a loyalty card scheme for owners.
For more information, visit www.vitaanimalhealth.com, email info@vitaanimalhealth.com, or telephone 01256 591032.
The app allows trainers to store and share medical records and treatment plans, identify horses and, with a Bio Thermo chip, monitor temperature non-invasively.
In Ireland, the Irish Horse Racing Board (IHRB) requires every yard keep a Blue Book which has to be submitted monthly. In the Blue Book, every medication given to every horse is recorded, with the amounts, the name of the medication and its batch number all written in by hand. EquiTrace enables a trainer to email the blue book information direct from their mobile phone.
Vincent O’Connor, senior vet at Sycamore Lodge Equine Hospital on the Curragh, Ireland, says he has found the app very easy to use and particularly appreciates the way it suggests stand down periods required for intraarticular medication, where injections into different joints require different numbers of days withdrawal before competition. The experience of John Oxx, whose winner I Know I Can was disqualified because of a positive test for TCA (triamcinolone acetonide) on 2 July 2020, is a case in point. Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer and Head of Anti-Doping, stated that the minimum recommended stand down time for TCA would be 14 days but added that the stifle is a complex joint and can be associated with longer excretion times than might be expected.
Kevin Corley said: "Keeping a horse’s identity straight might seem a simple thing, but when you have a yard where staff and horses can change frequently and records are kept in the office, far away from the stables and fields where the horses are, it is not as easy as you think. I remember a time when I was called out to genetically test four two year olds, each valued at over €50,000 because their registration documents had been lost before they had been filed and no one knew which one was which."
EquiTrace has been in trials in Ireland, England, USA, Sweden and Italy and Kevin says every yard which has tested the app has kept it in operation.
EquiTrace is a subscription service, with a basic service for $1/€1 per month per horse and a premium subscription at $2/€2 per month per horse. A scanner available from EquiTrace as a one-time cost is required to operate the system, ranging in price from €250 to €400 or USA $350 to $550.
EquiTrace works with all ISO-compliant microchips but some of the service offerings are dependent on the type of chip in the horse.
EquiTrace is available on Apple and Google appstores. Establishments with over 200 horses can contact EquiTrace directly to arrange a subscription. Current clients include DK Weld in Ireland, Ramsey Farm and Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, USA, Kinsale Stud in the UK and Avantea in Italy.
For more information, visit: https://equitrace.app
Andrew Harrison, a partner at Three Counties Equine Hospital in Gloucestershire, has been appointed as the new President of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) for 2014/15.
Andrew took over the role from Paul Jepson at the end of BEVA Congress last week. Mark Bowen, Associate Professor of Veterinary Internal Medicine at The University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, becomes President Elect.Andrew said: "It is a privilege and an honour to take up the presidential reins for the next 12 months. It is unrealistic to expect to "change the world" in such a short time frame so the plan is to target certain areas, such as progressing New Safer Horse Rescue courses, strengthening BEVA's relationship with the BHA and moving forward with the regulation of Musculoskeletal Paraprofessionals. Not least it is a priority this year to make sure we keep aspiring vets realistically informed about future employment in our profession given the proliferation of undergraduate places available at UK and English speaking mainland European vet schools."
For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.
Andrew, who is head of dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery at Eastcott Referrals in Swindon simultaneously became an RVCS Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry.
Eastcott Referrals managing director Peter Southerden, who is also a recognised EVDC specialist in dentistry, said: "This is a terrific achievement by Andrew.
"He’s spent six years studying on the EVDC’s training programme which finally culminated in four days of intense examinations.
"He now joins just eight other veterinary dentists in the UK who are recognised by the EVDC."
Andrew is now planning to build on his qualifications. He said: "I aim to start studying again in January when I hope to begin a Fellowship of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
"The Fellowship is overseen by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and is a post-specialist qualification indicating further specialisation in maxillofacial surgery.
"It’s two more years of study, including the need for publication in an international journal, and then an exam in the US.
"The primary benefit is the continued development of my skills, insuring that, here at Eastcott, we are operating to the highest international standards and can treat patients with the most complex problems.
"Peter is an ACVS Founding Fellow in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, currently the only fellow of the ACVS in Europe, so I’m proudly following in his footsteps to become the first resident of the Fellowship in Europe.
"It shows our commitment to dental and maxillofacial work and we believe we are leading the way with our cutting-edge surgical procedures and innovations within our state-of the-art facilities.
"We are not just one of the foremost centres of excellence for this specialist work in the UK but throughout Europe, too."
A new solution to a problem vets encounter when using a conventional, usually human health, laryngoscope on small animals has been devised by Prof Paul Flecknell of Newcastle University in collaboration with Alstoe Animal Health.
Called the FlecknellTM , this small animal laryngoscope uses a specially-designed, streamline, slimmed-down blade to maximise the view of the larynx, particularly with rabbits in mind. According to Alstoe, the new design also greatly reduces the risk of damage to an animal's gums or pharynx as the blade is inserted.
Prof Flecknell, MA, VetMB, PhD, DECLAM, DLAS, DECVA, (Hon) DACLAM, (Hon) FRCVS said: "Many practitioners have complained that existing blades were not suitable for small animal work and they were not happy with using a blind technique, as they really wanted to see the larynx and intubate under direct vision.
"So, over several years of development, we worked through prototypes and changed both the shape of the blade and the type and position of the light source. As well as trying the prototypes ourselves, Alstoe carried out trial work with vets in practice, resulting in this final design, which we think is much easier to use than other blades currently on the market.
"We hope this will encourage vets to intubate more rabbits, since this will enable them to be anaesthetised more safely. One of the commonest problems seen is depressed respiration progressing to apnoea, and trying to assist ventilation using a face mask often results only in inflation of the stomach, making matters worse. Once an endotracheal tube is in place, ventilation can be assisted easily if needed."
Niall McFerran from Alstoe said: "The Flecknell still requires some practice to master the use of the blade, and so we have produced a DVD and leaflet demonstrating its use. The Flecknell blade can be used to intubate a range of small animals, cats, dogs, as well as the original target rabbits.
"We were delighted to have worked with such an eminent specialist as Prof Flecknell and his team on a genuinely vet-led need to help with animal welfare. And this is just the start, as 2009 is going to be the busiest ever year for new product introductions for Alstoe Animal Health."
For more information, contact Alstoe Animal Health www.alstoe.co.uk
As part of the new arrangement, Battersea will give StreetVet operational and logistical support, including advice from its staff, clinical support, and kennel space for animals in urgent need of care.
Battersea also plans to work with StreetVet on a range of projects that will help the charity to reach more dogs in need. For example, providing advice and training to hostel staff to promote and facilitate hostels accepting dogs – creating more safe places to sleep for both dogs and their owners.
Battersea’s Deputy Chief Executive, Peter Laurie, said: "I’m excited at the prospect of Battersea and StreetVet coming together for a partnership that aligns both organisations’ strategic values. Both of us care deeply about the welfare of dogs, particularly those most in need. StreetVet relies almost entirely on the support of a growing network of volunteers, including members of the Battersea clinic team, and is a great example of a volunteer-led organisation delivering significant impact on a wide geographical scale. By working together, we can increase our collective impact and help more animals in need."
Sam Joseph MRCVS, a co-founder of StreetVet, said: "We are really excited about the official partnership between StreetVet and Battersea. As a small, growing charity, StreetVet will hugely benefit from the expertise, infrastructure and resources of one of the country's most loved and respected animal charities."
He added: "This partnership will help StreetVet continue to provide free, accessible veterinary care to those most in need, while further increasing the impact that Battersea has on the welfare of dogs and cats across the UK."
Photo: L-R Peter Laurie (Battersea), Jade Statt and Sam Joseph (StreetVet), Shaun Opperman (Battersea) and Blue the Staffie
Vetoquinol has announced the launch of Enisyl-FTM, the first L-Lysine supplement developed for veterinary use in the UK and Ireland.
Vetoquinol says a unique distributing pump and paste formulation will aid compliance in cats that require L-Lysine supplementation and make administration of L-Lysine much easier. Each pump action delivers 1ml of Enisyl-F paste at each press, which can be applied directly into the cat's mouth or on the paw to be licked off. It can also be added to food.
Zorica Agbaba, Enisyl-F's Product manager said: "We are delighted to have launched Enisyl-F and I am sure it will prove very useful to veterinary surgeons, especially when it comes to aiding compliance in cats that require L-Lysine supplementation."
To try Enisyl-F or for more information about the product, contact your local Vetoquinol representative or call Vetoquinol main office on 01280 814 500 (UK) or 1800 406 117 (ROI free phone number). Alternatively visit http://www.vetoquinol.co.uk/ website.
The study was part of a research project called VetCompass, through which the RVC, in collaboration with Vets Now, collects anonymised clinical information on over 6 million companion animals under veterinary care in the UK.
The study investigated bitches presented with difficulty giving birth (dystocia) from among almost 20,000 bitches attending 50 Vets Now surgeries. Researchers found that out of 20,000 bitches receiving emergency veterinary care, 3.7 per cent of these were treated because of difficulties encountered giving birth.
The most commonly affected breeds were the French Bulldog (15.9 times more likely), Boston Terrier (12.9 times more likely), Chihuahua (10.4 times more likely) and Pug (11.3 times more likely).
Dr Dan O’Neill, a companion animal epidemiologist within the VetCompass Programme, said: "Giving birth in dogs is not always a benign process and our research shows this risk is especially exacerbated in some common brachycephalic and toy breeds. Prospective owners should bear these welfare costs for high risk breeds in mind when choosing their new puppy."
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: 'VetCompass' research will not only enable dog breeders to make responsible breeding choices to improve the health of these dogs, it will help to highlight what puppy buyers need to be looking out for if they are intent on owning one of these breeds. If people are choosing a breed simply for its looks and are not going to a reputable breeder, they are likely to face high vet costs and a lifetime of heartache."
This study builds on previous 'purchasing' research by the RVC which found that appearance is the number one reason why owners purchase flat-faced breeds, even though their large, round, wide-set eyes, and flat rounded faces are linked with a variety of inherited diseases.
Dr Rowena Packer, lead author of the study and Research Fellow at RVC, said: "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."
I invited Marc Abraham to come and answer some of the concerns raised on VetSurgeon about the ITV Pets Undercover programme.
His PR agency has instead pointed me in the direction of a response he has posted on his own website this morning. Click the link below.
http://www.marcthevet.com/response-to-%e2%80%98pets-undercover%e2%80%99/
Kriptazen is supplied with a twist-adjustable and weight-graduated dosing pump which means farmers can administer a precise dose up to 60kg without having to calculate it in ml’s first. Virbac says this will help to reduce the risk of incorrect dosing and toxicity issues.
Virbac’s Technical Product Manager Rosie Naylor said: "We are delighted to bring Kriptazen to the market. The trusted active halofuginone, along with the innovative weight graduated dosing pump, provides practices with added peace of mind when it comes to treatment."
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
The 'Room For Rabbits' campaign follows research in which 38% of vets said they think rabbits’ environment is the most neglected welfare need1, with over a quarter of the UK’s rabbits being kept in inadequate housing conditions, and almost half of them living alone2.
The RAW survey also found that 90% of vets believe that rabbits’ welfare in the UK is improving3.
Room for Rabbits will throw a spotlight on rabbits’ environment, with a variety of initiatives during RAW including vet blogs and videos on how to adapt bunnies’ housing for all seasons, boredom buster ideas, a competition to encourage owners to create a RAW ‘gold standard’ environment, and downloadable packs containing resources for practices to create their own RAW campaigns.
Holly Castle, Senior Brand Manager at Burgess Pet Care, RAAG member and organisers of RAW, said: “We are delighted that RAW continues to have a positive impact, with our survey showing that 90% of vets believe that the welfare of the UK’s rabbits is improving - but there is always more than we can do.
“Since the previous RAW campaign, we have successfully launched RAAG, which recognises that the welfare of these wonderful creatures needs to be high on the agenda year-round.
"By bringing together the expertise of the RAW partners, RAAG is focused on encouraging everyone involved with rabbits to support the first Good Practice Code for rabbits’ welfare in England to ensure it becomes enshrined in law.
"One of the ways to achieve this is through initiatives like RAW, which is the UK’s largest welfare campaign of its kind.
“We recognise that vets’ practices were really stretched last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant it was difficult to support campaigns like RAW.
"However, following a surge in demand for rabbit ownership in the UK during the past two years, it is vitally important that we educate more owners than ever before and continue to help improve rabbits’ welfare."
“The veterinary community plays a hugely important role in ensuring that owners have access to the right information, and we are urging practices to throw their support behind this year’s RAW to ensure that we reach as many owners as possible.
Professor Ian Ramsey, Past President of the BSAVA, which endorses RAW, said: "The BSAVA is once again delighted to support RAW and the theme of this year’s campaign.
"Rabbits remain one of the most misunderstood pets in the UK, but we are confident that vets across the UK will again show their support for this important campaign to improve the lives of pet rabbits.”
The RAAG is encouraging vets’ practices to sign up to receive updates about RAW at https://www.rabbitawarenessactiongroup.co.uk/raw-pack-reminder/.
Downloadable RAW vet packs will also be available from 6th June.
Petplan Equine, the equine insurance provider, has announced the three finalists for the inaugural Petplan Equine Vet of the Year Award.
They are:
The winner of this new people's award will be announced at the glittering 20th annual Animal Health Trust (AHT) Equestrian Awards ceremony to be held at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel on the evening of Thursday 6th November 2008.
Owners and riders were asked nominate their local equine vet for the award if they felt that they were deserving of the recognition that this accolade would bring. A short list was drawn up from the nominations received and an independent panel has selected the finalists from whom the winner will be announced and receive his or her award at the AHT Equestrian Awards.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Animal Health Trust Equestrian Awards, which recognise the outstanding achievements made by horses, riders, owners and trainers throughout the equestrian world. This milestone coincides with Petplan Equine's 20th anniversary and, since 1994 when the Petplan Equine Charitable Trust was founded, it has raised over £5 million, almost £500,000 of which has been donated to the AHT to fund research and development.
Jo Whittaker of Petplan Equine said: "It has been a privilege to be involved with the AHT Awards over the years. We are particularly excited to be able to recognise the amazing hard work and commitment of people within the equine veterinary profession and those who provide outstanding service to horse owners. We received some very strong nominations and selecting just three was not easy although, in the case of the finalists it was clear that each consistently went beyond the call of duty."
She added: "Horse welfare is paramount at Petplan Equine and the company is committed to promoting responsible horse ownership, through its charitable contributions, wide range of policies and publications such as the Horse Handbook. This award has been created to give the equine community the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the vet who has made the most outstanding contribution to the care of horses."
The winner will be posted on www.petplanequine.co.uk on Friday 7th November
You can complete the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) survey at: yougov.com/pdsa.
Rebecca Ashman, PDSA Policy and Campaigns Manager, said: "Since 2011, our PAW Report has provided valuable insight into pet health and wellbeing across the UK.
"It delivers a vital evidence base for education programmes, campaigns and collaborative work in the veterinary and welfare sectors. It also enables us to monitor the impact of welfare initiatives on pet wellbeing issues which are of most concern to the veterinary profession.
"The survey only takes 15 minutes to complete, and by taking part, you’ll be helping us to capture an accurate picture of the welfare issues that are of the biggest concern for the veterinary profession. You can also be entered into a prize draw to win a GoPro HERO5 Session Action Camera."
For more information and to download the 2017 PAW Report, visit pdsa.org.uk/pawreport.
The BVA, the Mayhew Animal Hospital, Dogs Today magazine and the Kennel Club are amongst various organisations that have criticised Morrisons for its Christmas advert - which can be seen here - in which a child is seen passing a slice of Christmas pudding to the family dog.
BVA President Peter Jones said: "It is vital that advertisers use animals responsibly and we are disappointed to see the Morrisons Christmas desserts TV commercial depicting a small boy feeding Christmas pudding to his dog. Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and mince pies - because they contain raisins or sultanas - are potentially harmful to pets and in some cases can lead to kidney failure.
"While we accept that many pet owners understand what is and what is not appropriate to feed their pets, children watch adverts and can be easily influenced by what they see. Veterinary organisations and animal welfare charities work really hard to promote messages about responsible pet ownership and TV adverts such as this one, with huge audiences, can undermine this work."
But hang on a second. Watching the advert, the child isn't actually feeding the dog anything. Rather, the dog is passed a bit of pudding which it then goes and places in a flowerpot, causing the plant to wilt. The dog isn't being fed the stuff, it's being asked to get rid of it.
Surely what this advert is really saying is: nobody likes Christmas pudding, least of all children and dogs.
Mind you, it does look like all this fuss is proving a very effective public awareness campaign about the danger of feeding a dog raisins or sultanas.
Proposals being considered include insisting that dog breeders only sell puppies they have bred themselves and demanding that puppies are shown alongside their mother before sale.
Another proposal is to make it illegal to complete the sale of a puppy unless the new owner is present, thereby preventing online sales.
In addition, the government plans to regulate the advertising of all pets, making it a requirement for licensed sellers to display their licence number, the country of origin and the country of residence of any pet advertised for sale.
Measures to tackle puppy smuggling across borders will also be explored, alongside measures to address the breeding of dogs with harmful genetic disorders.
The Government says legislation introducing these proposals could be brought forward early in the New Year.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Any unscrupulous mistreatment of animals is disturbing – so in our drive to achieve the highest animal welfare standards in the world, we continually look at what more can be done. The arrival of a happy, healthy puppy, as I know myself, is a memorable time for a family – but it’s absolutely right we do everything we can to eradicate animal cruelty from our society. The proposals my government is developing will be an important step forward."
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: "At this time of year it is all too easy to be moved by images online or adverts in the local press advertising new born puppies looking for a home for Christmas. But what we don’t see is all too often a sad history of mistreatment and malpractice. That is why we are looking at how we can go further to crack down on unscrupulous breeders so pet owners will have no doubt their new dogs have had the right start in life.
"This is one part of our efforts to ensure we have the highest animal welfare standards in the world. We have also ensured CCTV cameras will be mandatory in all slaughterhouses and will increase prison sentences from six months to five years for animal abusers."
In addition, the Government has confirmed that it will be taking forward proposals already put out for consultation earlier this year. They include a ban on the sale of puppies and kittens under the age of eight weeks, which will now extend to include rabbits, as well as compulsory licensing for anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs.
Photo: Litter of Terrier Mix Puppies Playing in Dog Bed Outside on Wooden Deck, Shutterstock/Anna Hoychuk
Vets Now is expanding its referral service with the acquisition of Great Western Referrals, a referral hospital in Swindon.
The acquisition is Vets Now Referrals' second permanent site to complement its original referral service in Glasgow and its first operation in England, allowing it to extend its specialised veterinary services across the South West.
Vets Now Referrals says it plans to enhance its new acquisition by improving the premises and extending the current referral team, beginning with the appointment of a new orthopaedic surgeon who will support the current RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Surgery: Hannes Bergmann DrVetMed DipECVS MRCVS.
As part of the acquisition, Great Western Referrals will be renamed Vets Now Referrals. It will offer a full small animal referral service with specialists trained in Surgery (Orthopaedics, Soft-Tissue, Spinal), Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, as well as Avian and Exotic Medicine. In addition, an independent out of hours emergency service will also be available from Vets Now at the hospital for all member practices in the area.
Vets Now Referrals will incorporate the specialist care currently offered for exotic pets, Great Western Exotic Vets. This service will continue to be run as Great Western Exotics and will retain the expertise of Neil A Forbes BVEtMed DipECZM(avian) FRCVS, an RCVS and European Recognised Specialist in Avian Medicine.
Richard Dixon, Founder of Vets Now Ltd said: "We are very excited to be extending our Referrals network and will be working hard with the local referring practices and their clients in the surrounding area. We want the local practices to have a strong and genuine say in how the business operates, and some of the early changes already planned have come from discussions with those practices."
"We have been hugely impressed by the exceptional levels of clinical experience within the existing team at Great Western Referrals, as well as their energy and commitment to deliver the best level of specialist care to pets. We will be building on this team and tailoring the service to individual practice needs. Through our acquisition we will also bring resources to help the service grow, bringing added security to the clinical team in Swindon."
"In addition to the referral service, we are very pleased that Vets Now will be operating its highly regarded and well established out of hours emergency service, which we believe will continue to benefit local member practices and their clients."
For further information about the service, visit www.vetsnowreferrals.com/ or call 01793 603 800.
Richard Dixon and Neil Forbes announce Vets Now's acquisition of Great Western Referrals.