Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has announced the formation of a new independent advisory group to recommend a future delivery model for veterinary surveillance in England and Wales.
The Advisory Group will be chaired by Dirk Pfeiffer, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College. According to the AHVLA, it will include representatives from government, the veterinary profession and the livestock farming and private laboratory industries and is being created so all those with an interest in veterinary surveillance can shape a future model and ensure that all issues are thoroughly considered.
Veterinary surveillance seeks to identify new or re-emerging threats to our livestock population and to public health. It involves a partnership approach between livestock keepers, private veterinary surgeons, the Scottish Agricultural College, industry bodies and AHVLA in order to effectively gather and assess intelligence.
AHVLA is seeking to identify ways to undertake veterinary surveillance both more effectively and at an affordable cost to the taxpayer. Work in this area has been on-going since 2010, and the merger of the former Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has created opportunities to review how veterinary surveillance can best be delivered.
The new model will aim to address capacity imbalances in the current service where provision sometimes outstrips demand. The independent advisory group are also expected to recommend how better and closer working methods across the partners can make the surveillance stronger as well as more cost effective.
Surveillance has historically been based on in-depth investigation of disease incidents with an emphasis on post mortem examinations carried out at AHVLA's regional laboratories. This system is a key element in the government's risk-based approach to the management of animal disease related threats.
AHVLA says that the current model, although successful in identifying diseases in the past, can be improved upon. A recent internal AHVLA report identified viable options for achieving better surveillance at the same or lower cost by, for example, exploring moving towards risk and intelligence based surveillance and improving the value added by working more closely in partnership with vets and their farmer clients and other sources of intelligence data.
In mid-January 2012, AHVLA will also be publishing, and publicising, an online survey aimed at individual veterinary practioners and livestock keepers. The survey will seek individual opinions on the inputs, mechanisms, outputs and value of surveillance in England and Wales Work is expected to run until spring 2012, following which recommendations on a way forward will be made.
Carl Padgett, President of the BVA, said: “Veterinary surveillance is an essential component in our animal health, public health, food security, and international trade work.
“The emergence of Schmallenberg virus in ruminants in northern Europe demonstrates the current value and ongoing need for a robust surveillance system to work both nationally and internationally.
“The BVA welcomes the establishment of the advisory group and particularly the wide range of veterinary expertise and experience that is represented on the group. It is important that views from both veterinary practitioners and veterinary scientists are fed into this review.
“While we understand that AHVLA and Defra must ensure value for money from the surveillance network, any future model must be shaped by good surveillance strategies, not the need to cut costs.
“We urge all practitioners in England and Wales to contribute to the discussions by completing the online survey.
“We look forward to engaging with the advisory group as it carries out the review and beyond.”
The Veterinary Capability and Capacity Project (VCCP) is co-chaired by the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens, RCVS Senior Vice-President Dr Chris Tufnell, and BVA Senior Vice-President Gudrun Ravetz. The project board also comprises the CVOs for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Sheila Voas, Christianne Glossop and Robert Huey, as well as the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Food Standards Agency.
The project’s objective is to work with the veterinary sector to better understand the UK’s workforce needs and ensure that both the Government and veterinary businesses can continue to protect animal health and welfare, safeguard the food chain and maintain levels of public health and public services, and enable trade in animals and animal products.
The project will include a joint BVA-RCVS submission to the Migration Advisory Committee’s call for evidence on workforce issues post-Brexit. Three working groups have been set up within the project to look specifically at issues of veterinary resources, recruitment and retention.
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: "Leaving the EU provides us with an opportunity to develop gold standard policies on animal welfare. The UK Government is determined to get a good Brexit deal for Britain and Ministers have been absolutely clear we will maintain our world-leading animal welfare standards.
"The VCCP is a great example of collaborative working between government, professional bodies and regulators to prepare for our exit from the European Union.
"I am pleased the Prime Minister has set out the government’s aim to secure the status of the veterinary workforce as a top priority as we leave the EU. The UK’s vets - both Official Veterinarians and those in the private sector - play a key role in protecting our country from endemic and exotic diseases, tackling outbreaks when they occur, safeguarding our animals and tackling global challenges like antibiotic resistance."
Chris Tufnell said: "Since the vote to leave the European Union last year the RCVS has been working in partnership with BVA to highlight to Government and others the potential workforce shortages that could arise from a loss of non-UK EU-qualified vets, particularly in public health work where they tend to predominate. Our position was highlighted in our Brexit Principles published earlier this year and at an event organised by us and the BVA at the Palace of Westminster for MPs and Peers.
"We are very glad that Defra is working proactively with us and BVA to understand the scale of the issues and map out the risks and opportunities and to help us plan for a number of different scenarios in advance so that we do not find ourselves in a position whereby animal health and welfare or public health might be compromised by workforce shortages."
BVA Senior Vice President Gudrun Ravetz said: "Vets provide the foundation for the UK’s high animal health and welfare, and make an essential contribution to the UK economy and wider society. Veterinary teams up and down the country support the UK’s 11 million pet-owning households; not a penny of the UK’s £12.7 billion livestock industry could be realised without vets; and vets are vital to facilitating UK trade, through health certification and controls, so that consumers have confidence in the food safety and welfare of the products they buy.
"Non-UK EU vets make up around 50% of our new workforce each year yet, since the EU referendum; we are facing increasing problems in recruiting and retaining EU colleagues to the UK. The impact of the loss of even a small percentage of the veterinary workforce could have serious repercussions on the practices, communities and industries that vets serve. This profession-wide project is pivotal to ensuring we have a veterinary workforce that can serve the UK’s needs post-Brexit."
The BVA’s Brexit and the veterinary profession report can be found at www.bva.co.uk/news-campaigns-and-policy/policy/future-of-the-profession/brexit/
To read the College’s Brexit Principles in full visit www.rcvs.org.uk/brexit
The Prime Minister has set out the government’s offer for EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU on their rights and status after the UK leaves the EU: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-the-position-of-eu-citizens-in-the-uk-and-uk-nationals-in-the-eu
The government’s response to House of Lord’s EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee’s inquiry into Brexit: Farm Animal Welfare also addresses veterinary capability post-Brexit:https://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/eu-energy-environment-subcommittee/Brexit-farm-animal-welfare/Gov-Brexit-farm-anim.pdf
The theme this year is 'The ever-complex cat: a multidisciplinary approach to feline medicine', around which there will be a full programme of talks and lectures, including more than 30 hours of CPD.
The main strands for each day are:
Keynote speaker Professor Kenneth Simpson, BVM&S, PhD, Chief of the Section of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Cornell University will deliver a series of talks on his specialisms, including gastrointestinal (GI) disease, pancreatitis and liver enzyme interpretation.
Joining him are more than twenty international feline experts who will be considering the cat from all angles, from imaging and clinical pathology to histology.
Nathalie Dowgray, Head of ISFM, said: "We are very excited about the line-up of speakers for this year’s congress, it is a fantastic opportunity for vets to understand the complexity of feline medicine and come away better able to manage difficult cases."
New for this year are live panel sessions in which delegates will be able to join the speakers in expert discussion on key feline topics, as well as opportunities to network and chat directly with leading names in the veterinary industry.
Delegates will also have access to all of the content for six months of on-demand learning after congress ends.
Registration is open now and available at a special early bird rate until March 31st. This year there are bursary places available for veterinary surgeons and students from low-income countries. More information about eligibility and how to apply can be found on the website.
To register, visit: https://icatcare.org/events/isfm-world-feline-congress/
The mandatory regulation of veterinary practices, including statutory powers of entry and inspection, is one of the main parts of the College's proposals for new primary legislation that would replace the current Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
The working group, which is expected to present the details of a Mandatory Practice Regulation system to Council by the end of 2024, will be chaired by RCVS President Sue Paterson FRCVS.
It will include Standards Committee Chair Linda Belton MRCVS and Practice Standards Group Chair Belinda Andrews-Jones RVN, alongside veterinary, veterinary nursing, lay and external representatives.
Sue said: “With over 70% of practice premises currently under its ambit, our Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) has shown how keen practices are to maintain high standards.
"However, it is a voluntary scheme and, as a result, there is no mechanism to ensure standards across all practices, or to ensure change in those rare situations where it is needed.
“At present, the RCVS only regulates individual veterinary surgeons and nurses, and the veterinary sector does not have an equivalent to the Care Quality Commission, which considers human healthcare premises.
"This means that the onus for maintaining standards within the workplace falls on regulated individuals rather than the business structure.
"We will consider what a scheme that puts more statutory responsibility on business owners to maintain standards should look like.
“I look forward to working with colleagues in RCVS Council, VN Council and other veterinary organisations via this group to really flesh out what this regulatory system might look like in the future, to make sure it is appropriate, robust, proportionate and enforceable.
"Establishing these details will also prove invaluable in our lobbying work with government, ministers and MPs.”
The 'Obesity Care in Practice' webinars are designed to help you recognise obesity, create individual weight-loss plans and turn failing cases into successful ones.
The webinars will be presented by Georgia Woods RVN, CertCFVHNut, VTS (Nutrition). Georgia is clinic nurse at the Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic at the University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital. She has been dealing exclusively with obese pets and nutrition for the past five years.
Georgia said: “Pet obesity is on the rise and it’s one of the biggest challenges that veterinary professionals face. It reduces pets’ quality of life and leads to a range of illnesses that shorten life expectancy. This two-part webinar will help veterinarians, veterinary nurses and practice managers to effectively manage pet obesity and make a difference to the lives of their patients."
The first webinar: Obesity Care in Practice – Essential Elements, takes place on Tuesday 22nd September at 8pm.
The second webinar: Tailored plans and problem cases, takes place on Tuesday 20th October 2020 at 8pm.
To register for the free webinars, visit: https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/register-royal-canin-weight-management-series/
Suicide postvention is the response and provision of support after a suicide.
It aims to support recovery, and to prevent further adverse outcomes in the aftermath including the prevention of further deaths by suicide.
The new guidance is intended for people who have been affected by the suicide of a veterinary professional, people who support those who have been affected, and for managers and leaders in veterinary workplaces who are working to prevent suicide.
The guidance examines veterinary workplace considerations after a suicide, including immediate aftermath and longer term.
It also covers communication, including talking both with colleagues and clients, and publicly on social media and elsewhere.
It finishes with a checklist of actions for veterinary workplaces affected by suicide considering immediate, short term, and ongoing actions for support and postvention.
As well as providing this guidance, Vetlife can provide individualised support to practices and individuals who have experienced a suicide through its Postvention Service.
If you are a UK veterinary professional who has been affected by suicide or wants support for a veterinary workplace, contact 0303 040 2551.
You can download the guidance here.
He takes over the role from Huw Griffiths at the end of BEVA Congress 7th -10th September 2022. Roger Smith becomes President Elect.
Following graduation from The University of Bristol in 2001, David worked in farm animal and equine practice in Somerset before completing an internship at Liphook Equine Hospital.
A three-year Horserace Betting Levy Board residency at The University of Glasgow and Liphook Equine Hospital enabled him to train as a specialist in equine internal medicine and to gain a masters by research into equine asthma and an RCVS certificate in equine medicine.
David spent several years at Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire and had spells at The Royal Veterinary College, London and Charles Sturt University in Australia before moving to Rainbow Equine Hospital in Yorkshire where he led the internal medicine and laboratory services as a director and subsequently a clinical director following the hospital’s acquisition by the VetPartners group.
David returned to his Westcountry roots in 2020 and now combines work as an independent equine medicine and therapeutics consultant with running the family farm on the edge of Exmoor.
He is chair of BEVA’s health and medicines committee.
During his presidential year David is keen to continue build on his recent work around antimicrobial and anthelmintic resistance as well as expanding BEVA’s global outreach to support more equine vets and have a greater impact on equine welfare.
He said: “I’ve had a great time being part of the profession for the past 20 years and I am now in a position to give something back.
“Huw has driven much activity in the past year around recruitment and retention and I hope to be able to build on this and action results from the recent survey, under Huw’s continued supervision. I am also determined to maintain momentum around BEVA’s antimicrobial and anthelmintic resistance work as well as step up collaboration internationally on these and other projects to extend BEVA’s global outreach.
“Around 99% of the world’s horses are cared for by around 1% of the world’s vets so we are not going to change things overnight; however, BEVA has so much to offer and we should use our resources to support equine welfare, irrespective of where equine vets and their patients live and work.”
The survey of 2067 past or present adult dog owners, of which 1,170 had experienced the loss of a dog, also found that about half had experienced barriers to opening up about their feelings following the death of their pet.
Some of the reasons given for not opening up included believing others wouldn’t understand their feelings (22%), fear of being judged for being upset (15%), feeling embarrassed about their levels of distress (12%) and not being able to find the right words to describe their feelings (13%).
74% felt they could turn to close family to share feelings of grief over the loss of the dog, but only 13% felt they could discuss it with employers and colleagues.
Samantha Davis, Legacy and In-Memory Manager at Dogs Trust, says: “The loss of a pet dog can be as devastating as losing a family member.
"Dogs hold a special place in our hearts, offering unconditional love and companionship, and when they pass away, the grief can be profound and, sadly for some, isolating.
“It's really important that owners who experience the loss of their canine companions can open up and share their feelings with friends and family.
"Many will find solace in knowing they are not alone."
To support people who have lost a dog, Dogs Trust is holding a 3.5km walk to bring people together to share their memories of their beloved animal.
Walk for Our Old Friends (WOOF) will take place in Salcey Forest, Northampton, on Sunday 6th October 2024 between 4pm-7pm.
As walkers make their way through the forest, there will be opportunities for moments of remembrance and celebration.
The charity will also provide support resources for those participating with a team onsite as well as online information to help people cope with their loss.
Dogs Trust is also providing online resources for people to organise their own walk in memory of their much missed four legged friends.
https://events.dogstrust.org.uk/event/walk-for-our-old-friends
COMMENT
Was this survey desperately flawed, or has our relationship with our dogs become unhealthily anthropomorphic?
It's hard to think of any other explanation for why such large proportion of people equate the death of a dog with the death of a brother, sister, parent or child.
Surely the death of a close family member is in an altogether different league than the death of even the most beloved dog.
If people are developing unhealthily close relationships with their animals, the question is why?
Are they being pushed by commercial interests which encourage people to think of themselves as 'pet parents' in order that they feel compelled to spend more on their 'child'.
Or is there some other factor in play?
Does it matter anyway?
Perhaps not.
But more and more we hear stories of people saddling themselves with crippling levels of debt on treatment because they cannot face the inevitable.
Perhaps it is time to return to a more healthy, more matter-of-fact relationship with our pets.
No less loving, just tempered by the acceptance of the fact that it is not human. It's a dog.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has dismissed a case against an Essex-based veterinary surgeon, having found him not guilty of charges relating to the measurement of horses and ponies.
At the ten-day hearing, Marc Auerbach of Oak Equine Veterinary Surgery, Ongar, answered charges relating to measuring the height of 29 horses/ponies presented for measurement by two agents in early 2009. Dr Auerbach had undertaken these measurements as an Official Measurer (OM) for the Joint Measuring Board (JMB), which provides a system for independently measuring and certifying the size of competition horses/ponies. An animal's financial value relates to its size, with larger animals being more likely to win in their competitive class.
The case centred on the expected accuracy of such measurements, whether Dr Auerbach was dishonest in colluding with the agents, or whether there had been signs of malpractice which a reasonably competent vet acting as an OM ought to detect.
From evidence submitted, the Committee determined a margin for measurement accuracy, and consequently dismissed from its consideration ten animals where the difference between the initial measurement and the re-measurement was 3 cm or less. However, the College submitted that the average difference was so great that, either, Dr Auerbach had failed to take sufficient steps to ensure that the correct measurements were recorded, or else he had been dishonest. Dr Auerbach's Counsel accepted the inference that presenting agents were dishonest, but denied that Dr Auerbach was dishonest or had failed to pick up signs of malpractice on the part of the agents.
The Committee was of the view that there may be unscrupulous presenters capable of materially interfering with the height of horses. While it was unable to determine with certainty the extent to which it could be done, the Committee formed the view that unscrupulous interference (together with intrinsic variables) could have caused the differences between measurement and re-measurement in the 19 horses.
The Committee noted there was no evidence of improper payments being received by anyone. It also accepted evidence that Dr Auerbach was not a dishonest man, taking into account his record of 23 years of honesty and excellence in the profession, unchallenged character references and the lack of any credible motive for him to act dishonestly.
Next, the Committee considered whether there had been signs of preparation malpractice which ought to have been picked up by any reasonably competent veterinary surgeon acting as an OM. The College submitted that Dr Auerbach had failed to take several steps including the amount of time and attention given to the animals he measured, and whether they might be drugged or sedated.
The Committee concluded from the evidence, including scientific papers, that mildly sedated animals may not be distinguishable from properly prepared animals; well-behaved horses were not an indication that something was amiss. The Committee accepted that Dr Auerbach took around 15-20 minutes to measure each of the horses presented on 9 January; and, in the absence of guidance from the JMB, it could not conclude this was rushed or unreasonable. Consequently, the Committee was unable to be satisfied, so that it was sure, that the allegation of failure to take sufficient steps to ensure the recording of correct measurements was proved.
"Accordingly, the decision of the Committee is that the facts set out in the Charge in relation to all the horses and ponies listed have not been proved to the necessary standard of proof," said Prof Peter Lees, speaking on behalf of the Committee as he directed the charges be dismissed.
The wellbeing room is designed to offer staff a comfortable space to relax during breaks, or before or after shifts. It has comfortable seating and a small library of books covering topics such as personal development, mindfulness and stress reduction.
There are also two 'jars of joy' staff can dip into which feature top tips for emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. Employees are also being invited to put forward their own top tips on wellbeing to share with colleagues.
It is hoped that the room will also provide employees with a sanctuary from social media, emails and telephones.
Sounds like a great idea to me, although the library titles look a bit uninspiring for my taste. My ideal wellbeing room would have a few John Grishams on the shelves, limitless music, a Sony playstation, oh, and a minibar.
Although developed by the RCVS and VSC BAME Student Support Working Group ostensibly for use by Universities, EMS placement host practices and other educational establishments, it is recommended that all veterinary practices review the guidance.
The Guidance on Religious Clothing and Beliefs covers issues such as: balancing accommodations for religious dress with clinical considerations, and making accommodations for religious observance in academic timetabling and exams.
Gurpreet Gill, RCVS Leadership and Inclusion Manager said: “This document is about recognising that personal religious beliefs should be respected and accommodated as far as possible, while also not compromising professional responsibilities such as infection control, effective communication and the health and safety of individuals and their colleagues.
"Most importantly, it is about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment and ensuring that all students are able to express their religious identity whilst participating in educational and workplace settings.
“Although the guidance is not exhaustive, we would highly recommend that, where relevant, educators, practices and other veterinary workplaces review, adopt and adapt this guidance for their own settings to ensure that all members of the professions are welcomed and included.”
The Guidance on Religious Clothing is available to download from: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/publications/guidance-on-religious-clothing-and-beliefs/
The judging panel, comprising BVA President Anna Judson, RCVS President Sue Paterson, National Veterinary Lead Ruminant and Equine at Zoetis UK Ally Ward, and last year’s award winner Hannah Hunt, selected the finalists based on their inspirational work which includes supporting clients and colleagues, providing outstanding and consistent care for patients, inspiring others and giving back to their community, championing causes in the profession and going above and beyond the normal call of duty.
Rebecca, who graduated from Bristol in 2015, was nominated for her work co-founding Veterinary Education Malawi, an animal welfare charity which provides free veterinary services to low-income communities and educational support both to the para vets in the country and to the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), its only vet school.
Henry, a commercial poultry and gamebird vet, was nominated for his work tackling outbreaks of avian influenza and encouraging other young vets to take up roles in the poultry industry.
Henry is also a European College of Poultry Veterinary Science resident, mental health first aider and trustee of regional rural mental health charity You Are Not Alone (YANA), co-lead of his practice green group, and deputy rotation lead for the new RVC poultry rotation, which takes its first students in 2024.
Camilla is an equine vet who was nominated for her dedication to promoting the veterinary profession, equine welfare, and for her work setting up the ambulatory equine practice, Perth Equine Vets.
A Glasgow 2015 graduate, Camilla set up Perth Equine Vets in 2020 growing it into the three vet practice it is today.
She organises frequent events, most recently a “get into vet school” day for upcoming vet students, which saw more than 40 potential senior school pupils attend, alongside educational demos for owners to increase their own knowledge. She also regularly creates blogs and videos on the practice social media accounts which helps horse owners learn essential skills.
BVA President Anna Judson said: “BVA’s Young Vet of the Year showcases exceptional vets from across the UK making an invaluable contribution to the profession.
"This year we have been blown away by all the incredible nominations, but these three young vets really stood out for their contribution to their fields and their commitment to their unique causes and passions.
"Congratulations to all of the finalists, you are a credit to the veterinary profession and we know you have bright futures ahead of you.”
The winner of BVA Young Vet of the Year will be announced at BVA's Gala Dinner taking place at the London Vet Show on 16th November.
Photo: R-L, Camilla Church, Henry Lamb and Rebecca Hampson
Merial has announced the launch of V LINE, a new range of parasiticides sold exclusively through veterinary practices.
The first two products, called Broadline for cats and NexGard for dogs, will be unveiled at the BSAVA Congress at the start of next month.
Broadline is a broad-acting POM spot-on for cats containing eprinomectin, praziquantel, s-methoprene and fipronil, indicated for use against tapeworms, ticks, roundworms and fleas.
NexGard is a POM flea and tick control product for dogs given monthly as a palatable soft chew. It contains a novel active ingredient called afoxolaner which, according to Merial, has a new and distinct mode of action that provides a fast speed of flea kill.
Roddy Webster, Head of Pets at Merial said: "We are pleased to announce the launch of Broadline and NexGard. Merial is a market leader with a strong heritage in anti-parasitics and we have leveraged that expertise as well as our understanding of what pet owners want, to deliver these truly consumer-focused solutions. Such prescription-only innovations also demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the veterinary profession."
Those veterinary surgeons being audited are being asked to share their records for 2013 to 2015 by either allowing the College to access their online Professional Development Record or by sending the RCVS a copy of their CPD record cards. The deadline for sharing records is Friday 14 October 2016.
The audit is focused on six groups:
If any of the veterinary surgeons who have been audited are found to be non-compliant (ie. less than 105 hours of CPD over a rolling three-year period), they will be asked to explain why and send a plan stating how they will make up the hours in order to become compliant.
The College says it is also keen to remind veterinary surgeons that CPD encompasses a wide range of recorded activities, which can be clinical or non-clinical, including private reading/study, webinars, mentoring, clinical audit and discussion groups as well as attending seminars and workshops.
More information about what counts as CPD can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd
Those with any questions about the auditing process or what constitutes CPD can contact Jenny Soreskog-Turp, Education Officer at the College, on cpd@rcvs.org.uk
Ed's note: Don't forget to claim your VetSurgeon.org CPD certificate detailing time you've recorded reading content and taking part in qualifying discussions on the site. Click 'My Account' and then the 'CPD' tab to view your records and create your certificate.
The three presentations, which are between 30 minutes and an hour in length, are aimed at vets but may also be of interest to veterinary nurses. They cover: ‘Topical therapy in canine atopic dermatitis’ and ‘Antimicrobial resistance’ presented by Dr Tim Nuttall and ‘Emotional considerations in dealing with dermatology cases’ by Dr Sarah Heath.
The presentations will be available for download from 7th June 2021, and viewers will be able to enter into a prize draw to win a £50 Love2Shop voucher and a free Cytology Manual.
To pre-register, visit: https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/ceva-dermatology-tea-time-top-ups-bite-size-cpd-sessions/
The researchers say that the findings pave the way to generating new and important information about the development chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension (HTN) in cats.
The RVC says that about 30% of cats aged 10 years or older have CKD, which equates to approximately 600,000 in the UK.
Of these, about 40% will also have hypertension.
The research team was led by principal investigator at the RVC, Dr Rosanne Jepson, alongside joint first author from Queen Mary University of London, Dr Helen Warren, and Professor Patricia Munroe.
The team examined the archives of 1,022 domestic cats seen at both the RVC’s Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital and Bow PDSA Pet Hospital since 1992, looking for genetic associations with CKD and HTN using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach.
The GWAS approach used a special feline array to characterise over 63,000 genetic differences across the feline genome.
The team examined the influence of different genes on disease traits which may point to new ways of treatment as the pathways and proteins controlled by these genes can indicate novel mechanisms for disease development.
Researchers say that this study method has historically been used for rarer and breed-specific conditions where single genetic mutations might be occurring.
However, the findings show it could now be used to generate new information about common and complex diseases which are likely to be the result of genetic, lifestyle and environmental risks.
Rosanne Jepson, Principal Author of the paper and Associate Professor in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the RVC, said: “This was an exciting opportunity to explore potential genetic influences on the development of chronic kidney disease and systemic hypertension in cats, collaborating with key opinion leaders who work and have published extensively in this field in human medicine.
“These conditions are complex - meaning that there are many factors relating to genetics, lifestyle and environment that cumulatively determine whether an individual may develop either CKD or hypertension in their lifetime.
“This study has shown us, as proof of concept, that large scale genomic studies will be important for understanding the pathogenesis of such complex disease conditions and may help to identify novel pathways as targets for diagnosis and management in the future.”
The researchers, from the Dick Vet Equine Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, and the University of Padova found that affected horses have major abnormalities in the structure of their neuromuscular junctions, microscopic sites of communication between nerves and muscles that are crucial for normal muscle function.
These abnormalities are believed to represent a toxin specific signature, effectively a ‘smoking gun’, for a neurotoxic enzyme termed a phospholipase A2.
Work is now underway to definitively identify the source of the toxin, in the hope that it will lead to novel treatments and improved diagnostics for this devastating disease.
The researchers think the toxin is likely to be produced by a microbe such as a bacterium or fungus growing on the horse’s pasture during the cold and dry weather which commonly precedes the disease.
Neurotoxic phospholipase A2 toxins are also present in the venom of many poisonous snakes, and there are many similarities between the signs of grass sickness and those of snake envenomation.
While there is no suggestion that venomous snakes cause grass sickness, it is hoped that some of the drugs that are currently being developed to treat and promote nerve regeneration in people paralysed by snake venoms can aid recovery of horses from grass sickness.
The researchers say that the neurotoxin most likely also causes the apparently identical diseases (termed animal dysautonomias) which affect cats, dogs, hares, rabbits, llamas, alpacas and sheep, and that their finding contradicts the previous leading hypothesis that grass sickness is a form of botulism.
This breakthrough is summarised in an editorial in the January 2025 issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ).
The editorial, by Bruce McGorum and colleagues, looks at the implications of their article 'Equine grass sickness is associated with major abnormalities in the ultrastructure of skeletal neuromuscular junctions2".
Bruce said: “Identifying a probable cause of Equine Grass Sickness represents a significant breakthrough.
"We hope that this discovery will lead to novel treatments and improved diagnostics for this devastating condition.
"We are very grateful for the generous support we have received from horse owners, veterinary surgeons, scientists, charities and funding bodies.”
Bruce's editorial is currently available on Early View, free for 12 weeks, and will also be published in the January 2025 print issue of the EVJ.
Reference
The National Equine Health Survey is an online snapshot survey designed to uncover common health issues in horses, directly from horse owners themselves. Results of the survey are used to build a picture of equine health and disease in the UK and define priorities for future research, training and education.
Over the past six years the survey, in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association, has developed to become one of the UK’s most important endemic disease monitoring initiative. The results are referenced in leading veterinary and equestrian publications and papers and are regarded as valuable benchmarks for our general knowledge of horse health.
Blue Cross Education Officer Gemma Taylor said: "These majestic police horses have taken part in our survey and we hope that they will encourage others to follow suit and be ambassadors for horse welfare.
"The more data we can collect from the National Equine Health Survey the more robust our results will be, helping us to steer equine awareness, education and research to keep our nation’s horses healthier."
Last year survey records were returned for almost 17,000 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and the six most notable disease syndromes identified.
To take part in the National Equine Health Survey, visit: www.bluecross.org.uk/NEHS
To find out more about Blue Cross’s rescue and rehoming work with horses and ponies visit bluecross.org.uk
The charity highlights that loneliness affects the mental wellbeing of many in the profession, from locums being away from friends and family, students away from loved ones, those who feel isolated at their practice, and vets worried about the lonely farmers they are supporting.
Vetlife Helpline Manager Rosie Allister said: “Every call to Vetlife Helpline is completely confidential and we would never speak or write about them, even anonymised, but we do hear themes around loneliness in our calls.
"It takes courage to acknowledge feeling lonely. There’s a stigma to it, and it’s often trivialised. Saying you’re lonely can feel like disclosing a vulnerability. People feel they need to hide it, to put on a façade.”
The new leaflet encourages those who are experiencing loneliness to open up if they are struggling and gives advice on how it can be combatted.
It can be downloaded here: https://www.vetlife.org.uk/mental-health/loneliness-isolation/
Hill’s Nurse Roadshows return in May with a 4 venue tour of the southern region. The theme is weight management and mobility and the organisers promise fun-filled, fact-packed events.
The evenings will address a broad ranging syllabus that includes setting up a weight management clinic using the latest dietary innovations alongside sessions on how to effectively promote it to your clients. It also will explain how to develop an individual exercise plan for both overweight but mobile animals, and for those overweight pets with mobility impairment.
Guest speakers include vet Lowri Davies who runs her own sports medicine and rehabilitation veterinary clinic in Swansea and is a holder of Certificates in both Veterinary Acupuncture and Canine Rehabilitation and Julie Corey Dip AVN (Med) Cert AAB MBIPDT (Adv) who qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1994 and has a Certificate in Applied Animal Behaviour as well as an Advanced Grade from the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers (BIPDT).
The roadshows are being held at Milton Keynes on 12th of May, Tunbridge Wells on 13th of May, Exeter on 14th of May and Cheltenham on 15th of May. All the roadshow events run from 7.00 pm for an 8pm start and include a buffet meal and refreshments.
To book a free place at any of the roadshows including the practice based event in Cardiff call Jane Quail, Education Coordinator at Hill’s on 01923 814454.
Novartis Animal Health has launched a 0.5L pack of the anthelmintic Zolvix to make the product more readily available for quarantine dosing, and for the smaller sheep farmer.
Novartis says that because Zolvix is a broad spectrum anthelmintic that has the ability to kill all common sheep gastro-intestinal nematodes, including those resistant to existing treatments, it has a key role to play in quarantine treatment to keep parasite infection down to a minimum.
Simon Harris, Endoparasite Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health, said: "As the first of the new generation of the Orange or 4-AD anthelmintic group, Zolvix has demonstrated effectiveness in killing worms, even those resistant to other products.
"Sheep farmers are being encouraged to use Zolvix as a quarantine treatment that can significantly reduce worm burdens on farm. I would stress that it is essential guidelines are followed in order to preserve Zolvix's ability to combat nematodes that have acquired resistance to other classes of wormers.
"This new pack size is aimed at farmers who are introducing new stock to their flocks, but will also be convenient for the smaller sheep farmer and smallholders who don't require such a large quantity of product."
Novartis says that because Zolvix is a short-acting anthelmintic, it does not encourage resistance to develop through a long duration of action. It has a high margin of safety so can be used to treat sheep and lambs including pregnant or lactating ewes and breeding rams. Its short meat withhold period of just seven days allows flexibility when marketing lambs.
To use the service, practices have to register for VetsDeliver via Easy Direct Debit (which handles payments), then configure the system for the number of consultation rooms needed and to add practice branding. The first consultation room costs £69 per month, with discounts for subsequent rooms.
Practices can promote the service to pet owners by sharing a link for appointments via social media, the practice website, or a mail out to clients.
Clients then follow the shared link, complete a form and book a consultation slot.
After the consultation, the practice can email a link to the pet owner so that they can pay for any medication.
Adrian Tantrum (that must have been quite a cross to bear at school), Head of the Companion Animal Business Unit at MSD Animal Health said: "As market leaders, with brands such as Bravecto, Nobivac and Caninsulin, we want to help practices adapt to the new normal.
"We have listened to feedback from practices around what they want from a telemedicine platform and worked with EDD to create a simple and easy to use service. This will allow practices to provide pet owners with the support they need, whether it be their parasiticide prescriptions or providing continuity of care for diabetic patients, and will of course bring much-needed cash flow into their practices.
"We've chosen Zoom for the video capabilities as it is one of the most popular video conference apps with millions of users worldwide, so we know it's familiar to most pet owners."
Adrian added: "As we all adjust to new ways of working we are putting in place a whole series of new services for practices that will help bring them closer to their clients and allow them to continue to provide pet owners with the expertise and support they need. Being able to see a vet 'face-to-face', if not in the flesh, will be reassuring for a lot of pet owners who will be worrying about both new and on-going conditions."
For more information, contact your MSD account manager.
The traditional approach is to use anatomical knowledge to inject pain relief in the area of the nerves to be blocked.
Liz is leading a move away from this approach to a more precise method which uses ultrasound guidance to visualise the nerves, allowing the local anaesthetic to be placed directly around the nerve itself.
For some nerve blocks, it is possible to block just the sensory branches of nerves, which means pets can walk better immediately after surgery while not feeling any pain.
Liz, a past president of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists, said: “Local analgesia is now at the forefront of our post-operative care and reliably improves the quality of a pet’s recovery and reduces the need for opioid pain relief, which can cause side effects.
“We’re using the latest techniques to deliver the nerve-blocking anaesthetics to exactly where they’re needed.
“For many of the nerve blocks, the use of ultrasound guidance allows more precise delivery and a complete blockade of the sensory nerves, which is why, here at Paragon, we’ve invested in state-of-the art ultrasound machine designed specifically for superficial and deep nerve blocks.
“This means we can provide more effective immediate post-operative analgesia for our patients and minimise the need for further pain killers.
“The nerves can be directly visualised and local anaesthetic directly placed around the nerve bundles.”
Liz is keen to highlight the advantages of the increased use of local anaesthesia in the treatment of animals. She added: “We’re hoping we’ll soon be able to publish some clinical research on the use of some of the blocking techniques used to demonstrate our clinical impression of their effectiveness in patient management.”
Since qualifying as an RVN in 1998, Georgina, aka George, has had a number of veterinary management roles, including Head Nurse, Business Support Manager and Regional Operations Manager.
She is currently Practice Director for Irby and Neston Vets in Cheshire.
George joined the VMG Board in 2016 and takes over as President from Richard Casey, who becomes Senior Vice President of the association.
Stuart Saunders, Practice Manager at Devon-based Selworthy Vets, becomes Junior Vice President.
All will serve a one-year term.
George said: “Becoming a manager or leader has an impact on the individual, but has an even stronger impact on the work and day-to-day experience of those around them.
"These roles therefore bring with them a great responsibility to do them well.
“We know from our members that the support, teaching, coaching and other resources that the VMG offers are making a positive difference and I’m particularly excited to take on the presidency following the recent launch of our Certificate of Veterinary Leadership & Management, an accredited taught qualification.
"I believe rigorous qualifications are the most effectively way to create the 21st century leaders and managers the veterinary sector needs.
“During my presidency, I will continue to focus on extending the range of support and help we offer to leaders and managers."
Research by the Kennel Club to promote Discover Dogs (Earl's Court, 14th & 15th November) has found dogs help one in twenty people find love, and one in three to make new friends.
More than four in five said the mere presence of a wagging tail has provided them with the courage or excuse to talk to a stranger - possibly because two-thirds agree that people with dogs seem more friendly and approachable.
The research was carried out in October amongst a representative sample of 530 dog owners. It found that nationally,:
33% have made a new friend when walking their dog
4% have met a partner when walking their dog
64% of dog owners feel people with dogs seem more friendly and approachable
16% say that their dog is the only one that they can trust
40% say that their dog is their best friend
19% spend more time on social networking sites than they do outside socialising
46% rarely meet people outside of their existing social group
Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the Kennel Club, said: "This research confirms that dogs enrich our lives in so many ways and, as well as helping us to make new relationships, they still retain the title of man's best friend. At Discover Dogs we can help people to find the right dog for them and to learn how to give them the best possible life, so that we can return the favour."