Hill's Pet Nutrition has launched KISS 4 Vets, a package of pet nutrition support to help practices as pet owners start coming back into practice. 

KISS (which stands for Knowledge, Information, Support and Sharing) will offer: In-Practice Training, The Hill’s Nutritional Ambassador Programme, On-Demand Education and Hill’s Webinars.

There will also be a variety of tailored training sessions designed to help give veterinary professionals the knowledge and tools to broach nutrition.

Michael Unsworth, Hill’s Vet Affairs Manager, UK & Republic of Ireland said: “Vet practices have gone above and beyond during the pandemic, supporting patients and owners alike during extremely challenging times Hill’s wants to extend a helping hand, with support, tips, and tools to stay a step ahead as pet parents return back into the clinic following months of looking out for their pet’s nutrition and wellbeing without the usual level of expert guidance and support from their veterinary team.

“Vets and their teams face multiple challenges on the pet nutrition front, whether it be the plethora of ‘self-appointed experts’ out there, trying to encourage loyalty from their clients, or the long-lasting effects of COVID, all of which are yet to play out over the long haul. The KISS initiative will provide clinics access to a dedicated team of passionate nutritional experts, ensuring vets have the right support and knowledge base - and one less thing to worry about as they strive to improve pets’ lives on a daily basis."

For more information, contact your Hill’s representative.

Hill's Pet Nutrition has announced an average price reduction of over 5 per cent across almost 80 per cent of its product range from 1^st March 2010.

The company says this is the first time in its history that such a big price reduction has been implemented, and it comes with a promise that superior nutritional quality won't be compromised.

The price cut comes following market research by Hill's which shows that after one of the deepest recessions in 50 years, more pet owners are becoming cost-conscious, and many are now buying their petfood in the grocery channel or mixing premium foods with economy products.

Another factor in decision-making for some pet owners is the cost per pack, particularly on the larger bag sizes. From April 2010, some Hill's Prescription Diet products will be resized to make them a more affordable purchase. Canine Prescription Diets c/d, d/d, i/d, k/d and j/d will be moved from a 14 Kg bag to a 12 Kg bag. Feline Prescription Diets c/d, k/d, r/d, i/d and s/d will be moved from a 2 Kg bag to a 1.5 kg bag. The price reduction will also be applied proportionately alongside the smaller bag size, so many clients should see a significant reduction at point of purchase. The smaller bags are also easier for practices to store and can increase frequency of client visits providing more opportunities to offer advice and support.

Blake Hawley, Hill's General Manager for UK and Ireland said, "We would like to thank vets, nurses and support staff for their continued support and dedication. Every pet needs and deserves a nutritional assessment and this price reduction will make it easier for vet teams to recommend the best Hill's product, confident those pets are getting high quality nutrition at new, lower prices. Having listened to what the profession had to say in 2009, this year we will demonstrate our commitment to the veterinary profession in very clear and visible ways."

For an up to date price list and support material to assist in communicating the change to clients, please contact your Hill's Territory Manager or call 0800 282438

Dechra Veterinary Products has launched a campaign supporting veterinary professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa at BSAVA World Congress.

The campaign includes a range of guidance, information and case studies from key opinion leaders.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage the identification of the organism causing infection through cytology, support the selection of the correct treatment and assist with educating clients on how to apply and use products correctly. The cytology guidance has been produced in association with veterinary dermatologists Peter Forsythe and Ariane Neuber, who is also a speaker at this year's Congress in Birmingham.

A new website www.dechra.com/timetochange is being launched to coincide with the campaign which provides online CPD focusing on skin and ear cytology.

Dechra Veterinary Products' Managing Director Bob Parmenter said: "We are delighted to launch It's Time to Change at the largest international veterinary event ever held in the UK. BSAVA World Congress has a reputation for promoting best practice, as does Dechra in its support of veterinary professionals.

"Amid a growing concern surrounding the issues of antimicrobial resistance, the new dermatology drive will aim to support vets through a holistic best practice approach to managing ear disease."

"Without the appropriate treatment combined with correct owner compliance, antimicrobial resistance could be a major issue for the companion animal veterinary profession. That's why we have launched this campaign and we're looking forward to speaking to delegates about why it's time to change."

Referral Dermatologist Sue Paterson MA, VetMB, DVD, DipECVD, MRCVS, RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology is available to speak with delegates at the Dechra Veterinary Products stand on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14.

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC, has been given the RVCS Impact Award for his work developing the pioneering VetCompass initiative which gathers epidemiological data from 1800 first opinion and referral practices around the UK.

The VetCompass database now holds millions of anonymised veterinary clinical records collected from primary practices and referral centres across the UK.

The records allow researchers to investigate a range and frequency of companion animal health problems and identify important risk factors for the most common disorders.

This research can then be used by veterinary professionals in clinical practice to help improve education and outcomes related to animal welfare.

Dan’s nomination included recognition for VetCompass operating under non-profit and open-access principles and embedding mandatory welfare pathways into all studies.

VetCompass was also recognised for having supported more than 140 research papers supporting broad welfare initiatives spanning breed-related health, extreme conformations, welfare scoring, specific disorders, oncology, disease surveillance, prescribing practices, and more.

Dan said: “I am truly humbled to receive this recognition from the RCVS.

"When I moved from clinical practice to the RVC 15 years ago to develop VetCompass as my PhD project, I could only dream of the untapped potential for practising veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to contribute to cutting edge science and welfare.

"And now the amazing VetCompass team at the RVC have made that aspiration to redefine the clinical evidence base on companion animal welfare a reality.

"I now need to reset even higher animal welfare dreams for the next 15 years.”

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/about/overview 

Cats Protection and Dogs Trust have launched an awards scheme inviting veterinary students to submit a series of three feline or canine case studies.

The Clinical Cases Study Awards 2010 encourage students to highlight the differential diagnoses and treatment regimes in a 1,500 word report. 

The selected cases should be related, and animals can be from the UK or overseas. Reports should include a brief introduction, common presenting signs, possible causes of the animal's condition or illness and a diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan for each animal, with photographs included as appropriate.

There will be separate prizes for the best feline report and the best canine report. Each winner will receive £500 and the chance to have their report summary published in a Cats Protection or Dogs Trust magazine, whilst runners-up in each category will receive £250.

Guidance notes to help students draft their report are available from either charity. Reports should be sent with a covering letter and a CV to veterinary@cats.org.uk  to arrive no later than 1 March 2010. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a judging day on 6 April at Dogs Trust's Rehoming Centre in Kenilworth. Selected finalists will have the opportunity to attend the BSAVA Congress in Birmingham, where the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 9 April.  

Maggie Roberts, Cats Protection's Director of Veterinary Services said: "As a charity that helps over 193,000 unwanted cats each year, Cats Protection works closely with the veterinary profession and recognises how important today's veterinary students are to the future of feline welfare. Cats are intriguing creatures and their diseases can be complex.  It will be interesting to see the range of cases the students present."

Chris Laurence, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust added: "This is the first time we have invited veterinary students to submit case studies for the awards and I hope that universities will support the scheme by encouraging their students to enter. We see the awards as an introduction point for students to engage with two of the leading welfare charities - something that will be a beneficial experience and potentially assist them with their future careers."

Further information can be obtained from either Gemma Lovegrove at Cats Protection on 01825 741991 or email veterinary@cats.org.uk or from Chris Laurence at Dogs Trust on 02078 337 662 or email chris.laurence@dogstrust.org.uk

CVS has announced that it is diversifying into pet grooming, opening grooming studios in its practices across the UK.

The company says the move is in response to the large number of clients that ask its staff to recommend a groomer in their area.

The new service has been branded MiGroomers and the first four studios have been opened at The Priory Veterinary Group and The Orchard Veterinary Centre in Nottingham, at Bridge House Vets in Mansfield, and at Haygate Veterinary Centre in Telford. Further studios are opening the Old Golf House Veterinary Group in Norfolk and in the Southwold-based Fromus Veterinary Group by the end of the month.

CVS says MiGroomers studios offer a full range of grooming services, all carried out by experienced groomers, Diploma-qualified to City and Guilds Level 2 or above.

Barry Brackner, Marketing and Commercial Director at CVS, said: "Given the frequency with which we are asked to recommend local groomers, moving into this growing sector where space in our practices allows it, seems a logical next step towards providing our clients with a one-stop-shop for all of their pet care requirements.

"It  also enables us to offer additional career opportunities for our staff - something which is a priority for us at CVS. All of the current MiGroomers studios are being run by existing staff with an interest and qualification in grooming so it's a win/win and initial feedback from clients has been very positive.  We will open further additional MiGroomers studios where we have the interest from staff and the potential to provide the appropriate facilities."

The BSAVA has announced the launch of Diagnostic Rounds: free, once-a-month evening case-based CPD sessions for members, starting in September. 

Each Diagnostic Rounds session will be live-streamed and interactive, with 90 minutes of interpretation of diagnostic images and test results. The BSAVA says the sessions will be packed with cases and images, enabling all vets no matter where they are in their career, to keep developing their interpretation skills.

Lucie Goodwin, Head of Education said: “We are really excited to be launching Diagnostic Rounds and have a great line up of speakers and topics for the next twelve months. Our members have told us that they want more diagnostic imaging and case-based CPD and we are delighted to be able to deliver this in a fun, interactive and accessible way. As interpretation skills are relevant to daily veterinary practice, Diagnostic Rounds will be relevant to all small animal vets with something for everyone, regardless of career stage.”

The Diagnostic Rounds will be delivered by specialist diagnostic imagers, medics, cardiologists, and clinical pathologists. Whilst there will be a strong focus on diagnostic imaging, there will also be sessions on ECG interpretation, endoscopy, and clinical pathology. Speakers will include Mike Martin on ‘Imaging cardiology cases’, Ed Hall on ‘Interpreting endoscopic findings of the GI tract’ and Helen Wilson on ‘Imaging respiratory emergencies’.

Research led by Eleanor Haskey, an Anaesthesia and Analgesia Nurse at the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals has identified multiple factors that can contribute to complications following the placement of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs). 

The multicentre observational study described 382 placements of catheters across 19 different institutions, recording the placement techniques and tracking resulting complications to determine the associated risk factors.

The majority of the data was collected by veterinary nurses across the country.

The risk factors identified included the number of insertion attempts, whether a second subsequent placement was required, the frequency that the catheter was flushed and if the flush solution was compound sodium lactate.

In addition to identifying the risk factors, the study also found that complications occurred in just over one-quarter of placements, with limb swelling and phlebitis being the most common (11.5%).

The second most common complication observed was PIVC dislodgement/patient interference (7.9%).

As a result of these findings, the researchers are calling for more vigilant monitoring of patients with a PIVC in situ, particularly if they have experienced any of the factors that increase their risk of complications.

Eleanor said: “PIVCs are placed every day in almost all veterinary practices, yet there is little evidence to inform how best to place and manage them.

"I am passionate about providing the best care for cats and dogs, and it was fantastic to work with like-minded nurses and vets who wanted to gather the evidence that we can use to improve the care of our patients.

"I look forward to continuing this area of research, and believe veterinary nurses are best placed to undertake this work as it is part our of daily working lives."

Dr Christopher Scudder, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College and senior author in the study, said: “The hope is that this study will stimulate more research about PIVCs, and that sufficient evidence will be developed to help reduce complications associated with these routinely placed devices.”

Reference

1. Haskey, E., Maund, V. et Al., ‘Placement, management and complications associated with peripheral intravenous catheter use in UK small animal practice’, Journal of Small Animal Practice, https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13782 

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched its complimentary blood testing service that allows practitioners to investigate one of the main infectious causes of early embryo loss in sheep flocks.

The annual subsidised Barren EweCheck diagnostic scheme is available from 1^st December 2009 until 31^st March 2010 for breeding ewe flocks. The service establishes whether Toxoplasma gondii is potentially implicated in any empty or aborting ewes.

ISPAH says that data from the 2009 scheme showed that 69% of flocks had been exposed to the toxoplasma parasite at some point before blood sampling. As a result, practitioners were able to give clients receiving a positive diagnosis timely advice on disease control and the benefits of a Toxovax vaccination regime.

Further information and the 2010 Barren EweCheck pads are available directly from the company's Veterinary Support Group by calling 01908 685685.

The PDSA has announced that it is offering free workshops to help veterinary professionals deliver new welfare checks called 'PetWise MOTs'.

The PetWise MOT checks focus on the five welfare needs, and the workshops count for seven hours CPD. The charity says that while the workshops are suitable for all members of the practice team, they should be of particular interest to nursing teams and those with a keen interest in engaging clients with the needs of their pets.

The aim of the MOT Checks is to improve pet wellbeing in the UK, following reports of a reduced level of awareness amongst the public of the five welfare needs defined by the Animal Welfare Acts.

Richard Casey, PDSA Pet Wellbeing Project Manager, said: "We know there is more to a pet’s wellbeing than just providing for their basic health needs. This unique consultation structure was developed in response to falling awareness among owners of their pets’ welfare needs, with millions of pets suffering unnecessarily. The PetWise MOTs use a simple traffic light system and personalised action plans to reverse this trend by helping to inform and engage owners about what their pets need to be healthy and happy."

The consultations were first trialled on the charity’s mobile PetCheck vehicles, then expanded to PDSA’s 51 pet hospitals. According to the charity, over 100,000 PetWise MOTs and follow up checks have now been completed in the last few years, with outcomes including:

• 45% reduction in the number of pets not having any of their welfare needs met (for example, 30% pets were assessed as ‘red’ for their health needs during their first PetWise MOT, but on the return checks this had reduced to 9%).
• 14% increase in the number of pets having all their needs fully met
• 40% increase in the uptake of preventive services within six months
• 28% of pets receiving a PetWise MOT went on to receive treatment for conditions that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.
• 86% of clients found their PetWise MOT extremely beneficial
• 100% of clients feel every UK vet practice should offer this service.

Alison Case, a Senior Vet at Bow PDSA Pet Hospital, said: "PetWise MOTs give a really practical approach to running clinics based on the pet’s welfare needs. We’ve seen a positive impact on patient care by looking at husbandry at home as well as the clinical concerns of the patient. The consultations help to strengthen the clinic-client bond through professional support and advice. We’ve had great feedback from our clients, who are now much more aware of the routine needs of their pets and often attend for further check-ups as well as regularly purchasing preventive treatments."

The workshops will focus on dogs, cats and rabbits, although the consultations are transferable to all species.

For more information or to book a place, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petwise or email petwise@pdsa.org.uk. 

The RCVS Council has decided that the final enrolments for the remaining RCVS Diplomas must be made by 1 November 2012.

According to the College, this is in line with the recommendation made by the Education Policy and Specialisation Committee to Council that the RCVS should speed up the process of phasing out all of the remaining RCVS Diplomas in favour of the increasingly popular European Diplomas.

There are now such small numbers of candidates sitting RCVS Diploma exams that benchmarking and determining a consistent examination standard becomes increasingly difficult, and the examination increasingly indefensible and unsustainable. For example, in each of the past three years, only two candidates have entered the Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics) exam, and there was only one candidate in 2008.  Similarly, it is now usual for only one or two candidates per year to sit Diploma exams in Zoo Medicine, Cattle Health and Production or Ophthalmology.

A number of RCVS Diplomas have already been phased out, and new enrolments are no longer being taken in subjects such as Small Animal Medicine, Dermatology, Anaesthesia and Diagnostic Imaging.

Examinations will continue to be held for enrolled candidates (including candidates who enrol ahead of the 1 November 2012 deadline). The last Diploma examinations held in each subject will depend upon when its final candidates complete the pre-examination requirements. For candidates enrolling this year, this means 2019 at the latest.

The phasing out of RCVS Diplomas has been an agreed strategy of Council for many years after the then Education Strategy Steering Group recommended greater convergence with European Colleges in a report to Council in 2002 entitled "A framework for veterinary education and training for 2010 and beyond". 

The position of each subject has been under review by the respective subject boards at their annual board meetings for the last few years, and some have already been closed to new entrants. 

Professor Mike Herrtage, Chairman of the RCVS Diplomas and Certificates Subcommittee said: "For some subjects, there had been a perception that the European route required the candidate to follow a residency in an academic institution, which could be a barrier to UK practitioners' chances of completing a Diploma.

"However, all the European Colleges allow an alternate training route for practitioners provided the programme is planned and specified at the time of enrolment and approved by the College before training starts." 

In some subjects, the European Diploma syllabus may not cover exactly the same ground as the RCVS equivalent - for example, small animal surgery encompasses both soft tissue surgery as well as orthopaedics - but the trend for residency positions in both universities and specialists practices has been to take candidates through the European style programmes, which produces more surgical specialists who thereafter can major in one aspect of another.   

Mike said: "Recent experience has shown that many diplomates take the European Diploma first, and this entitles them to apply to join the list of RCVS Recognised Specialists. If they then want to specialise in a narrower field they can do so, by providing supporting data and references to show that they are practising at a specialist level in the area concerned."

Veterinary surgeons will continue to have multiple routes to RCVS Recognised Specialist status - including via European Diplomas, which also offer a route for those not in a standard residency position, American Diplomas, the RCVS Fellowship, or other such high level qualifications.