The BVA, the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) and Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) have jointly welcomed a New Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens and Pullets which was laid before parliament on Thursday.

The new code is one of a series of welfare codes currently being reviewed and updated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) following recent consultations.

BVA President John Fishwick said: "We warmly welcome these updates and we are particularly pleased to see the vital role the veterinary profession plays in maintaining poultry welfare recognised throughout the new code.

"We are also delighted to see the benefits of veterinary surveillance systems highlighted, with owners and keepers encouraged to use local and national disease surveillance sources to better understand poultry disease patterns and their local health and welfare landscape. This was a key element in our joint consultation response and reflects BVA’s recently published Position on veterinary scanning surveillance (animal health and disease monitoring).

"We are also pleased to see signposting within the Code of Practice to the Humane Slaughter Association’s Code of Practice for the Disposal of Chicks in Hatcheries, which outlines in detail information about humane methods of killing and good practice.

"The British poultry industry has some of the highest welfare standards in the world and the veterinary profession is fully committed to working with Defra on further enhancing animal welfare codes to reflect best industry practice."

Photo: Flock of Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Roaming Freely in Front of Chicken Sheds on a Farm in the Rural Village of Chenson, Devon. Shutterstock / Peter Turner Photography

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull, West Midlands, is now offering transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) for the treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs.

Willows says it is currently the only centre in the UK to offer the procedure, and one of very few in the world.

Simon Swift, an RCVS and European specialist in small animal cardiology (pictured right), heads the cardiology team at Willows.

He said: “Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) is already considered an alternative to surgical repair in human patients and there have been some very promising early clinical results in dogs.

“The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia through a small incision in the chest wall.

“Access within the beating heart is achieved by a needle puncture at the apex of the heart which is highlighted by continuous X-ray images and an ultrasound of the heart via a probe placed in the oesophagus.

“This allows correct positioning of a V-clamp across the mitral valve to reduce the amount of leakage.

“It’s a procedure that delivers meaningful results and an improved quality of life and, because it’s a minimally invasive process, patients are typically discharged from hospital within two days.”

www.willows.uk.net

Chris Linney and Fabio Sarcinella, the heads of cardiology at Linnaeus-owned Paragon and Willows have made veterinary history by performing the first ever interventional cardiology procedures on pets in the United Arab Emirates.

The pair were invited to carry out the laparoscopic surgery on four dogs suffering from pulmonic stenosis by the British Veterinary Centre.

Chris Linney said: “The British Veterinary Clinic had previously referred a case to Fabio at Willows and subsequently got in touch about a further four cases in need of surgery, inviting us to fly out to Abu Dhabi to operate on these cases for them.

“It was a pioneering moment for the British Veterinary Centre and a first for the region and the Middle East.

“It’s the very first time that interventional cardiology has been performed in the UAE so, with the fantastic facilities and dedicated staff at the BVC, we have made history in the region!

“It was also the first time that Fabio and I had worked together and now we hope that this will be the first of many such collaborations.”

Fabio added: “With our collective expertise and knowledge, we know we can improve the lives of so many dogs that are living with conditions like pulmonic stenosis.

“Two of the dogs required balloon valvuloplasty and two required pulmonary stents inserted.

“All four dogs had great initial post-operative results and would be expected to lead happier, healthier lives as a result of these procedures.'

The RCVS Operational Board has announced that it will ask Council to review its decision to remove postgraduate postnominals from the Register, following the largely negative response from the profession to the idea, including a petition from Derbyshire surgeon, Victoria Lilley.

The original decision was made by Council in June 2012 as part of a package of measures aimed at developing clarity around postgraduate skills and knowledge.

The College says that the removal of postgraduate postnominals from the Register was intended to help dispel confusion amongst the public and some members of the profession about the level of various qualifications, by introducing the Advanced Practitioner status alongside the existing Specialist list.

Chairman of the Operational Board, CEO Nick Stace, said: "Over the last few days we have listened to the disquiet amongst the profession - which has included direct contact with staff and Operational Board members, a petition and discussion on fora and social media - and feel that we should address some misunderstandings but also give Council the opportunity to review the decision at its 5 June meeting.

"Many good points have been made by members of the profession and I am pleased that the Operational Board has agreed to reflect on them and consider whether there is a better way to achieve the clarity we were seeking for the public and the profession.

"The introduction of Advanced Practitioner status is a positive move for both the profession and the public, and underlines the College's commitment to lifelong learning.

"It is important to have the profession's support for the direction we are taking in advancing standards across the sector."

The College has also provided some Q&A's concerning the original decision made by Council in 2012, as follows.

1. When did this process start?
   A Specialisation Working Party was set up in spring 2010 under the chairmanship of Professor Sir Kenneth Calman to review routes to specialisation, and clarity around postgraduate qualifications. It was, in part, in response to a report produced by Professor Philip Lowe, on behalf of Defra, around veterinary expertise in food animal production, although the Working Party's remit went wider.
2. Was the profession consulted?
   The recommendations of the Working Party were sent out to consultation amongst the profession and the public in November 2011. The story featured on the front page of the November 2011 issue of RCVS News, which was sent to every member of the College, and received media coverage. We received 290 responses: 265 from individuals and 25 from organisations or groups of individuals.
3. To what has Council agreed?
   Council unanimously agreed recommendations from the Specialisation Working Party in June 2012. As well as recommending increasing scope of the Specialist list, changing the wording in the Code of Professional Conduct, and setting up the Advanced Practitioner status, it was agreed that: "The RCVS should simplify significantly the listing of postnominal letters for qualifications against Members' names in the published Register and on the RCVS website (Find a Vet). Official lists should show only the registerable degree (eg BVMS, or DVM, or BVetMed etc), followed by either MRCVS or FRCVS, and indicating whether the individual is on the list of specialists or the list of advanced practitioners. Thus: i. John Brown BVSc MRCVS ii. Jane Smith BVM&S MRCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery iii. Peter Jones, MVB, FRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Anaesthesia" This change would only have taken effect once the Advanced Practitioner list was in place and had bedded in.
4. Why was this proposal made?
   There were three key reasons for the decision in 2012: a) A qualification marks knowledge acquired at a specific point in time and is not necessarily an indicator of current knowledge and skills. Meanwhile, the status of Advanced Practitioner or Specialist will be revalidated every five years and require the individual actively to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. b) Market research has indicated that members of the public were unsure about the various postnominals and what they stood for. Veterinary surgeons are also confused about the level of different qualifications. c) It is increasingly difficult to adjudicate on which postnominals should be included in the Register, and new requests are made on a regular basis, including qualifications that are not straightforward to assess in terms of their quality or relevance. While it may seem easy to say that just RCVS postgraduate qualifications should be included, since we began phasing out the RCVS Diplomas and encouraging veterinary surgeons to take European ones, this has been less clear-cut.
5. Is the RCVS removing our qualifications?
   No. There has never been an intention to remove anyone's qualifications.
   The original decision in 2012 was not to print them in the Register or include on the RCVS website. Individuals would have been free to use them as they wished, for example, in practice marketing, on stationery etc.
6. How are veterinary nurses affected?
   There is no change to the position for veterinary nurses.
7. Is the RCVS devaluing non-modular certificates?
   Both modular (CertAVP) and non-modular certificates are valid for those wishing to apply to join the Advanced Practitioner list. Those with the non-modular certificates are asked to complete either the RCVS 'A' module in the CertAVP or other equivalent modules or 100 hours of CPD that covers the same ground, over their first five-year accreditation period.
8. Is Advanced Practitioner status just a money-making exercise for the RCVS?
   The Advanced Practitioners status is being introduced to give a clear signal to the profession and the public that a practitioner has developed their skills and knowledge in a specific area, and is committed to maintaining them. An administration fee is paid to the College to join and remain on the list, in the same way that it is for Specialists. It is not a money-making scheme and the fees are set to cover costs.
9. What's happening now?
   The RCVS Operational Board met on 24 April and considered the decision that had been made by Council in June 2012 and the subsequent unhappiness amongst the profession that had been catalysed by recently-published information about the Advanced Practitioner status. The Board felt that although the rationale behind the original 2012 decision was sound, the issues that the change aimed to address could now be tackled in other ways. It has therefore requested that Council review its decision at its 5 June meeting. A paper will be developed which outlines possible routes forward, which will be available on the RCVS website in due course.

SureFlap, a microchip pet product company, will be launching SureFeed, a new automatic cat feeder at the London Vet Show, Stand L32, on the 21^st - 22^nd November 2013. 

The company, which already sells a range of microchip-operated pet doors, says the new products are designed to keep food fresh and the kitchen free of smells and flies.  

SureFeed will be available in two models: the SureFeed Pet Feeder, which opens when any pet approaches, and the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder which in addition functions as a selective pet feeder that opens only when it identifies a cat with a registered microchip or RFID collar tag.

Both products feature a bowl which seals shut to keep wet food fresh.    

Dr Nick Hill, inventor of SureFeed as well as founder and inventor of SureFlap says this is an exciting new development for the company: "Many cats are fussy eaters and prefer to eat food when it is fresh, others are on special diets and this can be a problem in multi-pet households. Even in households where each cat is on the same diet, a 'greedy' cat, or even dog, can eat most of the food. This can result in one pet becoming overweight while the other starts to lose condition. The SureFeed product range has been designed to address all these issues." 

The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder recognises a cat's unique microchip number and when an authorised cat is present, the sealed lid over the bowl slides back to reveal the food. Once the cat has left the feeder, the lid slides back over the bowl. The SureFeed Pet Feeder features the same sealed lid which is triggered to open by any approaching pet, closing again when the pet has finished feeding. 

Nick said: "The SureFeed product range is the culmination of two years' intensive development work. The feeders incorporate a number of features to maximise usability, such as the Microchip Pet Feeder's side guards and lid which folds up to the rear, which shield the food from other pets while the authorised cat is eating. The feeders are both easy to wipe clean and the food bowl, mat and lid can be removed and are dishwasher-safe.

"The SureFeed Pet Feeder and Microchip Pet Feeder are the first in a suite of pet feeding products from SureFlap incorporating sealed operation and flexible feeding options and we are looking forward to developing the range in the future."

SureFeed products will be available to order from early 2014 but in the meantime, you can see them in action at Stand L32 at the London Vet Show.

California-based Signostics, Inc. has launched SpeqView^TM, billed as the world's smallest and most cost-effective veterinary ultrasound device. 

Using MotionScape and SectorView technology, and offering multiple transducer frequencies, the SpeqView delivers high-resolution images for key veterinary applications including: cystocentesis; bladder volume; foreign object localization; abdominal imaging; and musculo-skeletal diagnosis.

Jeff Green, Signostics Vice-President of Sales and Marketing said: "The SpeqView provides a break-through for veterinary practices. For the first time there is an ultrasound device that is highly portable, simple to use and individually affordable. The SpeqView improves veterinary practice efficiency and income by allowing immediate diagnosis in the consulting room, or in the field and by providing better animal care.

He added: "Weighing a little over half a pound, the SpeqView features extended battery life and amazing portability, and is worn around your neck like a stethoscope or placed in your pocket until the next use." 

The SpeqView is configured to use 3.5MHz and 7.5MHz transducers and comes with a comprehensive warranty, which covers the system and transducers and eliminates the need for annual service contracts. Signostics also offers extensive training and education programs delivered on site, online and in collaboration with leading veterinary institutions and educators. No interest, twelve-month financing is available.

For more information visit www.SpeqView.com or contact Signostics on 001 877 5744667.

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester has confirmed three new cases of the potentially fatal cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), aka Alabama Rot. 

The disease, which originally appeared in the late 1980s, was first detected in the UK in 2012. It affects the kidneys and has a 90% mortality rate.  

The team at Anderson Moores, which has been leading research into this disease, wants to alert colleagues to these new cases, which have been confirmed since 1st January.

By comparison 18 cases were reported in the whole of 2018, 19 in 2019, and 47 in 2020.

The new cases have been identified in Herefordshire, Greater London and Exeter. 

David Walker, American, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores Vet Specialists and is the UK’s foremost authority on the disease. He said: “We’re very sad to confirm three new cases of CRGV already in 2021. Unfortunately, we find ourselves at the time of year when cases are most commonly identified.

"As well as these confirmed cases, we are awaiting results on a number of other dogs that have sadly been euthanised with suspected CRGV. It is understandably a worrying time of year for dog owners with regards to CRGV; however, the disease remains rare. 

"We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.” 

Previous cases have been identified in Gloucestershire, Surrey, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cornwall, Devon and Staffordshire. 

Mr Walker added: “If a dog becomes affected by CRGV, the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive veterinary care which may be best provided at a specialist facility such as Anderson Moores. 

“Treatment primarily revolves around intensive management of the acute kidney injury and is sadly only successful in around 10% of cases. 

“However, the team here at Anderson Moores successfully treated a suspected case of CRGV in a Labrador Retriever. Molly was referred to our internal medicine team just before Christmas due to limb swelling and a deep, painful ulcerative lesion on one of her legs. 

“Following four days’ intensive treatment, her condition started to improve and we began to cautiously hope she would survive the disease. 

“Molly continued to slowly improve and, after two nerve-wracking weeks, she was discharged to continue her recovery at home."

To find out more about CRGV, visit www.andersonmoores.com and the Alabama Rot Research Fund at www.arrf.co.uk. 

North Downs Specialist Referrals in Bletchingley has announced the launch of a new specialist dentistry and oral surgery referral service led by Rachel Perry, an EBVS European Veterinary Specialist, RCVS Specialist in Dentistry and honorary lecturer in dentistry at the Royal Veterinary College.

Rachel has also qualified as a member of the dentistry chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, and regularly tends to the oral health of zoo and sanctuary animals, including bears, cheetahs, tigers and snow leopards.

She said: "I’m excited to be joining North Downs, which is renowned as a centre of excellence for specialist veterinary care, and I’m really looking forward to this new role. There is a clear benefit in having a multidisciplinary team on site to approach oral surgery cases.

"Dentistry is such a rewarding area and can deliver immediate changes to our patients’ health and well-being.

"Many dental diseases can also be prevented, so I am committed to educating owners about their pets’ oral health and also veterinary surgeons and nurses, about new techniques, best practice, materials and equipment."

North Downs hospital director Terry Emmerson said: "Our aim is always to provide first-class care for our patients and to give an excellent service to their owners and the vets who refer cases to us.

"Rachel’s new dentistry service will be yet another specialist discipline on offer at North Downs to further extend the excellent care and treatment we offer here."

The appointment means that North Downs has a total of 11 specialist services, and makes it one of only a handful of centres in the UK that offer a dentistry service run by a dentistry specialist.

According to this month's Veterinary Practice magazine, Vetstream Ltd., the erstwhile publisher of Veterinary Review, has been granted a Company Voluntary Arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986. 

VP reports that the CVA is an alternative to liquidation which in this case will allow Vetstream to make a partial repayment to it's creditors (who are collectively owed £1.15 million) of 40.08p in the pound over three years.

As I reported earlier, Vetstream Ltd now plans to focus on electronic media, including its CD-Rom products (Canis, Felis, Equis and Lapis) and www.myvetstream.com.

With the latter, they face some stiff competition, not least from this site which uses state-of-the-art software to provide the latest networking and information sharing features for vets, but also vetsonline.com, a more recent entrant to the marketplace from the publishers of Vet Times.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has launched Working with dogs in health care settings, the first ever nationwide protocol for animals in health care, in order to encourage more hospitals to explore animal therapy.

The protocol provides evidence-based best practice criteria so that hospitals and other health settings can introduce animals into the care environment.

By following it, the RCN says services will be able to ensure the safety of patients and health care staff as well as the animals and their owners, while allowing patients to reap the benefits that interaction with animals can bring. 

Publication of the protocol was prompted by an RCN survey last year which found that although the majority of respondents thought animals were hugely beneficial to patients, most nurses said animals were not allowed in their workplace.

The survey found that nine out of 10 nurses believe animals can help improve the health of patients with depression and other mental health problems with 60% of respondents also acknowledging that animals can help speed patient recovery.

Amanda Cheesley, RCN Professional Lead for Long-term Conditions and End-of-Life Care, said: "Anyone who’s worked in this area can see the amazing impact animals have on the health of adults and children alike.

"However there are so many myths around the dangers of having animals in health care settings that most organisations are too concerned to try it out.

"This protocol will help to dispel these fears by supporting hospitals to include animals in the care they deliver in a safe and professional way.

"We hope that it will encourage all health services to consider how animals can help their patients and help us to remove the taboo from what is a really remarkable area of care."

The protocol has been welcomed by the British Veterinary Association. Simon Doherty, BVA Junior Vice President, said: "This new protocol highlights the importance of the bond between humans and animals. It also serves as a welcome reminder at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week of how caring for and interacting with ‘man’s best friend’ can help to relieve stress and enhance wellbeing and a sense of companionship.

"It’s positive that the working group consulted with a wide range of organisations on welfare and safety considerations in developing this protocol, as ensuring the wellbeing of both humans and animals in these settings is paramount. As a fellow member of the UK One Health Coordination Group, BVA is very pleased to see a joined-up and forward-thinking approach to this important area of work."

Photo: Therapy Dog Visiting Young Female Patient In Hospital, Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock

A new study of UK snail behaviour using LED and UV light tracking has found that the nocturnal creatures can explore the length of an average British garden in just one night, reaching a top speed of 1mph (metre per hour).

The 'Slime Watch' report was commissioned by Bayer Animal Health, makers of Advocate, as part of its 'Be Lungworm Aware' campaign and led by Dr Dave Hodgson, Associate Professor of Ecology at the University of Exeter, who studied the habits of 450 garden snails, recording their movements using LED lights and UV paint. This is the first time snails have been studied in this way.

The study found that snails will travel distances of up to 25 metres in a 24-hour period, and seek out areas of shelter, such as long grass, trees or objects, including dogs' toys, left in the garden overnight. The four researchers from Exeter University also discovered that snails move in convoys, piggy-backing on the slime of other snails to conserve energy. It is thought that a snail could use up to 30 per cent of its energy in slime production alone.

Dr Hodgson said: "Until now no one has fully understood the habits of these fascinating creatures that we encounter in our gardens every day. In this research we wanted to solve the mystery surrounding gastropod activity and provide a resource for gardeners and pet owners wanting to better safeguard the health of their plants and pets. By learning more about the behaviour of snails, we hope dog owners can better understand they ways in which dogs can encounter snails on a day-to-day basis and the lungworm risk they present, taking the appropriate precautions."

The RCVS has announced that the Disciplinary Committee (DC) and the Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC) have appointed Ian Arundale and Dr Bradley Viner as their new Chairs, respectively.

Ian Arundale (pictured right) was appointed as the new Chair of the DC following an application process from within existing Disciplinary Committee members, with the final interview panel consisting of Amanda Boag (President at the time), Ian Green (current DC Chair) and Miran Uddin (an independent barrister who works in regulatory law). Ian begins his role as chair in late October.

Ian is Deputy Chief Constable of Cleveland Police in the north east of England and was a police officer for 32 years serving in South Wales, West Mercia and Dyfed-Powys Police Forces. He currently provides expert witness services to inquests, courts and public inquiries. Ian has worked internationally and has assisted police forces and organisations in the USA, India, the Far East and New Zealand. In addition to his work with the RCVS, Ian is also the Chairperson of the Audit Committee for the City of Cardiff Council and is a board member of the International Law Enforcement Forum (ILEF).

Ian said: "I am pleased to have been selected as DC Chair and am looking forward to chairing the committee. The role of the DC is crucial to ensuring the RCVS protects and upholds the high standards of the UK veterinary professions, and I am humbled to be in a position to support this important function."

Dr Martin Whiting has been appointed as the new Vice Chair for the DC. Dr Whiting qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2006. Following a few years in practice, he returned to academia to complete a Masters in Medical Law and Ethics and a PhD in the public interest in veterinary professional regulation. Martin was appointed as Lecturer in Veterinary Ethics and Law at the RVC in 2013 and became an RCVS and European Specialist in Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law. In 2017, Martin moved to the Home Office to work with the Animals in Science Committee and is currently the Head of Operations for the Animals in Science Regulation Unit.

Dr Bradley Viner has been appointed as the new Chair of the RCVS PIC and began his role on 1 July 2019.

Bradley was appointed through an independent selection process led by an external HR consultancy, with RCVS Council ratifying the final appointments. Bradley replaces Andrew Ash, who chaired the PIC from July 2015 up until Bradley’s appointment.

Bradley established his own small animal practice in Pinner, Middlesex, which then grew to a group of five practices in north-west London. In 2017 he sold his practices to the Linnaeus Group and now works for them as Group Clinical Quality Lead across all their sites. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2017 for Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice. Bradley was an elected member of RCVS Council between 2005 and 2017, including four years as RCVS Treasurer and one year as RCVS President in 2015-16.

Bradley said: "I was delighted to have been selected as Chair of this Statutory Committee as I feel it is one of the most important interfaces between the College, the profession and the public. It has a vital role to play in protecting animal welfare and the reputation of the profession, but I am well aware that fear of disciplinary proceedings can be very stressful to those involved. I undertake to continually strive to work to find a balance that ensures the Committee maintains a well-regulated profession acting in the public interest but also makes every effort to avoid causing unnecessary stress on members that are subject to its proceedings."

More information about the RCVS concerns investigation and disciplinary processes can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns. 

Essity, the global hygiene and health company, has announced dates for four wound care CPD events being held by the company's Veterinary Academy.

The Essity Veterinary Academy covers four topics of education: Anatomy and Physiology of Wound Healing, Infection Management, Exudate Management and a Wound Assessment Workshop. 

Richard Barker, Account Sales Executive said: "Essity Veterinary Academy events allow us to educate veterinary professionals with a full, comprehensive day of wound management.

"We have run our Academy events for the last two years and the feedback we have had has always been positive, therefore the decision to run four events again this year was an easy one.

"The events offer a great opportunity to share best practice with other veterinary professionals, and to obtain invaluable information from our Medical Education Manager, who has vast experience in dealing with all areas of wound management. We are very lucky to be able to offer these events free of charge and we can’t wait for the first event to begin on 18^th June."

Essity is hosting these events across four venues, with the days running from 09:00 – 16:00, refreshments and lunch provided. The venues available this year are:

• 18^th June, Huntingdon Racecourse

• 9^th July, West Midlands Safari Park

• 17^th September, Durham Cricket Club (Emirates Stadium)

• 24^th September, Edinburgh Zoo

To book your place, email animalhealthcare@essity.com, giving your name, job title, practice details, telephone number and any dietary requirements.

Alternatively, if you would like further information please dial 01482 670124.