Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, makers of Caninsulin, is launching Pet Diabetes Month, a call to arms for owners to check if their pets might be at risk of diabetes. To enable the testing, urine glucose test strips will be made available free of charge to vet practices to dispense during Pet Diabetes Month (1 - 30 November 2009).
ISPAH says that despite general awareness of the signs of diabetes in humans, many pet owners still have little understanding of the condition in their animals. The urine-sampling aspect of the campaign, entitled the Great Pet 'Pee' Test, intends to address this by making test strips freely available. It is hoped that many of the undiagnosed diabetics in the UK's pet population will be identified during the campaign and appropriate treatment plans undertaken.
Practices wishing to participate in Pet Diabetes Month and the Great Pet 'Pee' Test will benefit from practice leaflets containing the test strips, waiting room posters, the website http://www.petdiabetesmonth.co.uk/ and the opportunity to be included in a regional PR campaign.
Shoumik Das BVM&S MRCVS, Marketing Manager for Caninsulin, said; "The tremendous success of National Vaccination Month clearly demonstrates that pet owners are keen to take an active interest in the care of their pet, but often don't know where to start. By providing the test strips free to practices to distribute to pet owners we are once again giving them the tools to take control of their pets' health. If we can identify even a few of the missing thousands of pets potentially at risk from diabetes, that has to be good news for the pets and also vet practices."
Interested practices should contact their local Intervet/Schering-Plough Territory Manager or phone the company's Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
The Government has announced that it is extending existing dangerous dogs laws to apply to private property, closing a loophole in the current law which only applies to public land.
Jim Paice, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, said: "We've all heard the stories of snarling dogs not being properly kept under control or heard from health workers, postal workers or social workers who are at risk of serious injury from out of control dogs while just doing their job, attending to people in their homes.
"Today we are announcing a comprehensive package of measures that tackle the problem head on, which will better protect legitimate visitors to private property and will enable the police to take action before someone is hurt or killed."
The plans also put forward proposals to allow the police, when dealing with any dogs which are subject to proceedings under the Dangerous Dogs Act, to take a common sense decision as to whether the dog really needs to be kept away from their owners until the outcome of proceedings.
Mr Paice added: "Our plans must strike the right balance between protecting the public from dangerous dogs and ensuring that safe and properly looked after pets don't need to be wrenched from their home unnecessarily.
"We're giving the police more discretion to take common-sense decisions where dogs are clearly not a threat by ending the requirement that they be seized and kennelled, at great cost to the taxpayer and distress to the owner involved, while a decision is taken on whether to exempt the dog from being destroyed under the Dangerous Dogs Act."
Other measures announced today include:
However, the proposals do not go far enough for Dogs Trust, the dog welfare charity. Clarissa Baldwin, the charity's CEO said: "The Government has spent a great deal of time examining this legislation since it came to power and whilst we accept DEFRA has done their best to look at this issue, unfortunately, their best is no where near good enough. Not good enough to better protect the public or good enough to improve animal welfare.
"Government must tackle this problem head on with completely new legislation rather than just tinkering around the edges. We're extremely disillusioned that there is nothing in the consultation on measures that will actually help to prevent dog attacks, which is surely what the aim of these proposals should be. We seem to be waltzing along on this issue rather than the quick step we need to meaningful reform.
"We consider that the introduction of compulsory microchipping of all dogs, not just those born after a certain date, is the only way that we will see immediate welfare benefits and a reduction in the number of stray dogs in the UK.
"Microchipping will not prevent dog attacks but it will allow the owner of a dangerous dog or a dog that was dangerously out of control to be identified by enforcement agencies. The act of microchipping is also a key intervention, providing an opportunity to advise owners about responsible dog ownership and the law."
Oxyglobin, Dechra’s unique haemoglobin-based oxygen carrying fluid for the treatment of anaemia in dogs, is now readily available in the UK.
“Over the past year, demand for this leading product has outstripped our limited supply from the manufacturer Biopure®,” explains Carol Morgan, product manager at Dechra Veterinary Products. “Production and supply issues in the US have now been resolved which means we can assure the future supply of Oxyglobin via the wholesaler to practices.”
Dechra is the sole distributor of Oxyglobin in the UK. The product requires no typing or cross matching and ensures no transfusion reactions or disease transmissions. “Its effectiveness can be measured by a rapid improvement in clinical signs, increased plasma haemoglobin concentration and arterial oxygen content. Oxyglobin has certainly proved itself as a valuable product to have in any practice,” adds Carol Morgan.
Oxyglobin can be stored at room temperature and has a shelf life of three years. For further details, please contact your local territory manager or phone Dechra on 01743 441 632.
US company Midmark is running a UK prize draw to win a Cardell 9401 blood pressure monitor worth nearly £2000.
To enter the draw, click here.
The BSAVA is reminding everyone that the closing date for the BSAVA PetSavers' 40th Anniversary Awards is Friday 1st August .
To celebrate 40 years of funding veterinary projects, the charity has up to £5000 for each vet school to fund veterinary undergrad student projects, and also a £5000 award going to veterinary nursing projects, both RVNs and undergrad students.
Derek Attride, chairman of the grants awarding committee, said: "The PetSavers 40th anniversary grants reflects the charity's commitment to ensuring that first-class research into small companion diseases continue in the future. This grant is the first of its kind for PetSavers and is a great opportunity for veterinary students and veterinary nurses to work on a companion animal clinical research project."
The closing date for applications will be the 1st August 2014. Veterinary students should apply through their university and veterinary nurses can apply directly to the BSAVA. Each university will be able to submit five applications.
The awards will be announced in December 2014 and the projects will have to be completed and written up by December 2015.
Further information about the anniversary grants can be found at www.petsavers.org.uk
Dechra Veterinary Products has unveiled Understanding Exotics from A-Z a new online information resource designed to support veterinary practices treating exotic species.
The new resource includes a selection of leaflets to download or order, including frequently asked questions containing expert information to aid diagnosis and treatment, and pet care leaflets for owners.
There are also a number of questions and answers concerning real life cases posed by veterinary practices and answered by the exotics team at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh.
Understanding Exotics from A-Z covers small mammals such as rabbits and reptiles and the company says it will be frequently updated and reviewed.
Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: “There are more than 3 million small mammals kept as pets in the UK and 1,150,000 reptiles so there is an increasing demand for information on issues affecting exotic pets.
“The aim of Understanding Exotics from A to Z is to provide a single hub of information for veterinary professionals and owners that can complement the pharmaceutical expertise Dechra can offer.
“The new tools on the website cover a comprehensive range of animals and subjects that have been written by experts and contain recommendations for suitable treatments within our range, making it an easy way to research a particular topic and find a treatment."
For more information, visit www.dechra.co.uk/exotics.
The masterclass, which will be 50% lectures and 50% practical, will give veterinary surgeons with some experience in neurology with the opportunity to develop their skills under the guidance of neurosurgeons, Dr Andrew Craig, Dr Harry Scott and Dr Nadia Shihab.
The course aims to equip delegates with the confidence to perform a range of procedures, including routine hemilaminectomies, corpectomies and ventral slots. It will also offer a grounding in lumbosacral stabilisation, thoracolumbar fractures, disc associated wobblers syndrome and atlantoaxial subluxation.
Dr Alison Babington MRCVS (pictured right), Business Development Coordinator at Improve International, said: “Veterinary neurology is a rapidly developing discipline and this Masterclass course offers delegates and their practices a welcome opportunity to reduce referrals and generate additional revenue by providing the skills in-house to deal with the increasing number of neurological cases.”
The masterclass is limited to 18 delegates.
For more information, visit www.improveinternational.com or call 01793 759159.
Alstoe has launched Easeflex Plus Chews, a development of the original Easeflex Chews joint nutrient supplement for dogs.
According to the company, improvements include the addition of 500mg per chew of green lipped mussel, a source of Omega 3 PUFA's. In addition, the appearance and flavour of the chew has also been improved to enhance its appeal.
Niall McFerran from Alstoe said: "To help practices explain the need to maintain mobility we have devised a fun range of marketing materials featuring Fizz the Easeflex dog and his two friends, Buzz and Scamp."
Easeflex Plus is available from veterinary wholesalers priced at £47.00 + VAT for 120 Chews which is enough for an average dog for approximately four months.
Bimeda UK has announced that Endofluke 100mg Oral Suspension has been approved for use in dairy cows, with a milk withdrawal period of 45 days + 48 hours.
Endofluke is licensed for use in cattle and sheep and its active ingredient, triclabendazole (100mg/ml) kills all three stages of liver fluke.
Bimeda UK Sales Manager, Andrew Lane said: "This is great news for the UK's dairy farmers. Endofluke has long been favoured by British & Northern Irish farmers as a liver fluke treatment, due to its ability to offer complete chronic and acute fluke control in both sheep and cattle. It is proven to be highly effective against early-immature, immature and adult liver fluke, and to now be able to extend these benefits to dairy cows, is fantastic news for the UK's dairy farmers."
Endofluke is a POM-VPS product.
For more information, visit www.bimeda.co.uk or contact Bimeda UK Sales Manager Andrew Lane, on alane@bimeda.com or on 07917 208524.
The RCVS is reminding veterinary surgeons to complete their registration process by confirming they have met the requirement for continuing professional development (CPD) and declared any outstanding convictions.
The College says that although the deadline for completing the annual renewal was April 2014, there are still some vets who, despite having paid on time, have not yet fully completed the registration process. This includes declaring that they have met the minimum requirement of 105 hours of CPD over a three-year period.
Failing to confirm that the CPD requirement has been met means that the College may request the individual's records as part of its annual monitoring of CPD compliance.
As of this year, veterinary surgeons must also declare any convictions, cautions and adverse findings since 1 January 2006 - or lack thereof - to complete the registration process.
Convictions disclosure forms and a document explaining the new protocol are available to download. The College also has a convictions helpline on 07818 113 056 which is open Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm.
Those veterinary surgeons who have yet to complete their registration should contact the Registration Department as soon as possible on 020 7202 0707 or registration@rcvs.org.uk for assistance from a member of the team.
The RCVS has announced that more than 500 veterinary surgeons have successfully applied to join the first ever cohort of Advanced Practitioners – a status which recognises those who have advanced qualifications and experience in a designated area.
637 veterinary surgeons applied for the status – which forms a middle tier of accreditation between those holding the initial veterinary degree and RCVS Specialists – of whom 546 have, so far, been added to the List of Advanced Practitioners.
The College hopes that the List will provide a clear indication to both the public and profession of those veterinary surgeons who have demonstrated knowledge, experience and engagement with continuing professional development (CPD) above-and-beyond RCVS requirements in a particular field of clinical practice.
For those added to the List, ‘Advanced Practitioner’ will now appear after their names in the Check the Register search tool (www.rcvs.org.uk/checkregister). Advanced Practitioners also appear on the RCVS Find a Vet entry for those practices listed on the search tool and animal owners will be able to specifically search for those holding the status.
Dr Kit Sturgess is a member of RCVS Council who chaired the panel that assessed all the applications. He said: “We are very pleased to welcome this first cohort of Advanced Practitioners and it is fair to say that both the number of applicants and number of those who successfully made it on to the List exceeded all our expectations.
“The status brings together a wide variety of similar postgraduate qualifications under one heading and, in doing so, brings much needed clarity to both the profession and the public. For example, practices will now be able to more clearly indicate the levels of skills and experience possessed by staff to their clients.
“Being an Advanced Practitioner will also bring benefits to those holding the status by helping them focus their CPD in a particular area as well as forging a potential pathway towards Specialist status.”
Successful applicants will now have five years until they need to apply to be re-accredited for the status. During this time they will be expected to carry out at least 250 hours of CPD, with 125 hours in the area of their designated field. The first annual retention fee for the List (£80) is due on 1 July 2015.
A new application period for Advanced Practitioner status will be announced later this year. Those who were previously unsuccessful in their applications are able to re-apply.
For details of the eligibility criteria for Advanced Practitioner as well as the requirements for re-accreditation, visit www.rcvs.org.uk/advanced or contact the RCVS Education Department on education@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0791.
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
Delegates will have the opportunity to gain up to 16 hours of CPD, explore a bustling exhibition with 20+ industry-leading exhibitors, and connect and network with colleagues and renowned speakers.
The programme covers a range of topics including ECC, Cardiology, Imaging, Nutrition, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Dermatology and Professional Development all with discussion sessions to further explore how it all relates to real-world practice.
Programme highlights include:
Amelia Brunt, Events Manager for BSAVA said: “Our Scottish Committee has worked incredibly hard to make this event accessible to vets and nurses within the profession, and this year’s BSAVA Alba has more hours of CPD on offer than before.
Whether you’re local to Glasgow or are travelling to join us, this event promises to be a fantastic chance to gain some high-quality learning in a friendly and inclusive environment.”
Early bird tickets are available until 31st July, with prices starting at £108 for BSAVA Members and £126 for non-members.
www.bsavaalba.com/home/programme
Exotics referral practitioner, Mark Rowland MRCVS CertZooMed MRCVS has launched an iPhone app for GPs which puts all the information you need about the commonly presented exotic species at your fingertips.
Mark said: "Vets often have little training in exotic animal medicine, an area which is becoming increasingly important as more rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, tortoises, other reptiles and birds are presented in practice. Although data is available in books, it usually has to be sourced, which can be difficult if the practice does not have the relevant texts."
"For this reason, I've developed an iPhone app which provides species biological data, such as normal temperatures and gestation periods, a exotics formulary, a list of common conditions and a gallery of images and video footage of basic procedures."
Mark says he hopes it'll be an invaluable mobile resource for veterinary surgeons, students, nurses and technicians worldwide, and that he will be updating it regularly.
Veterinary Care of Exotic Pets is now available now from iTunes, priced at £7.99. Click here for more information: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/veterinary-care-exotic-pets/id511902278?mt=8
The Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) has teamed up with Agria Pet Insurance to provide insurance cover for cats in the UK, with each policy generating a donation to the work of FAB and its International Fund for Cat Welfare.
Ross Tiffin, FAB's Strategy and Business Adviser said: 'In Agria, we have found a respected company that shares our ethos - it believes in sharing information to makes cats' lives better. One of the leading pet insurers in the world, Agria has been insuring pets since 1890 and has shared information on longevity and disease patterns with university researchers for many years.'
Claire Bessant, Chief Executive of FAB said: 'FAB has always been an enthusiastic supporter of health insurance for cats - we want cats to receive the best treatment without owners having to worry about the cost. Our support has now taken on a practical form in the shape of a general pet insurance guide and, through working closely with Agria, by providing cat owners with an excellent insurance option.'
To view A fabcats guide to cat insurance go to www.fabcats.org/catinsurance. The guide gives generic advice on choosing insurance.
For more information on Fabcats Cat Insurance from Agria go to www.fabcats.org/catinsurance or call Agria on 0800 369 9441.
The Advertising Standards Authority has decided not to uphold complaints against the Morrisons Christmas TV advertisement.
The full adjudication can be read here.
Peter Jones, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "This ruling is disappointing but the ASA has set out its reasons for the decision and we accept those reasons. Thankfully, the advert only had a short shelf life and we hope that Morrisons is now very unlikely to make the same mistakes again. Overall, we hope the whole incident has served to educate Morrisons and the general public about the dangers of grapes and raisins to dogs."
RCVS Council member and Chief Veterinary Officer Professor Nigel Gibbens has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours list for 2016.
Professor Gibbens (pictured right), who was appointed by the Privy Council to RCVS Council in 2008, has been recognised for his services to the veterinary profession and animal welfare.
Over on the other side of the world, Professor Norman Williamson, Chair of the Veterinary Schools Accreditation Advisory Committee of the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC), has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, following an application supported by the RCVS.
Professor Williamson has been working with the College as part of the veterinary education accreditation process, taking part in university visitations both in the UK and abroad.
Bradley Viner, President of the RCVS, said: "Many congratulations to Professor Nigel Gibbens for his appointment as a CBE. As CVO, Nigel has made great strides in shaping and influencing animal health and welfare policy throughout the United Kingdom and strengthening the relationship between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the College and the profession at large.
"As an organisation we were also very happy to write in support of the application for Professor Williamson to become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and it is gladdening to see that his contribution to international cooperation in veterinary education has been recognised."
Photograph courtesy RCVS
'The essential ingredients of a good nutritional recommendation' is presented by Georgia Woods RVN CertCFVHNut VTS(Nutrition), one of the editors of the new BSAVA Guide. It covers the main points that need to be considered when offering a nutritional recommendation to a pet owner.
Georgia said: "Nutrition discussions with clients can be challenging, not least given the plethora of diets available for pets.
"This webinar aims to cover the main points to support an evidence-based decision-making process to help vets engage owners in a meaningful discussion about nutrition and provide guidance on the most suitable diet for their pet."
The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition is an independent guide comprising a series of factsheets for veterinary professionals on four different diet options; each of these is accompanied by a factsheet for owners that can be provided as part of the consultation. The factsheets cover:
The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition is available exclusively through the BSAVA Library (£25; £15 to BSAVA members). Georgia’s lecture on ‘The essential ingredients of a good nutritional recommendation’ can be accessed via the BSAVA Webinar Library.
The clinic will be led by Oscar Bautista MRCVS (pictured), a European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.
It will offer an individualised approach for patients with chronic pain (such as osteoarthritis, neck, back and facial pain) and those suffering nerve or muscular pathologies, cancer pain, neuropathic pain or pain associated with certain neurological conditions.
Treatments may include adjustments to medications, acupuncture, lifestyle modifications or referrals to other Specialists and therapists.
Oscar said: “Many cats and dogs will experience pain - especially as many animals are now living longer. And we are aware that some cases can be very challenging to diagnose and treat, when both the local vet and owner have attempted various different therapies and are getting desperate.
“These difficult cases need to be thoroughly investigated to ensure that the cause of pain is properly identified and the right treatment provided - as instigating early management can help to reduce and regulate pain.
“So we are very pleased to be able to open our new Pain Management Clinic. With our specialist facilities and equipment - along with our depth knowledge multidisciplinary approach - we hope that it will provide an essential service for cat and dog owners in the Northwest.”
https://www.mvsvets.co.uk
Tim, who is Managing Partner of Larkmead Vets and also a Director at the independent veterinary community XLVets, graduated from Liverpool Vet School in 1994 and joined Larkmead Vets in 1998.
He said: “I grew up in the South Yorkshire coalfields and worked in a city centre small animal practice in Wakefield before relocating to Oxfordshire to develop the small animal department of a mixed practice.
"First-opinion veterinary practice has been my life since starting cleaning kennels aged 12.
“I am passionate that whilst what we do is work with animals, how we do it is by working with people: our colleagues and the owners who entrust their animals to our care.
"As a first-opinion vet and practice owner I have had the privilege of growing and developing my practice (team and facilities) to meet the changing needs of our local community.
“At a time of great change for the veterinary profession, with the tantalising hope for a new Veterinary Surgeons Act set against the backdrop of the Competition and Markets Authority’s market investigation of the veterinary sector, it is an opportunity to bring this experience to the heart of our College.
“It was an unexpected honour to be elected to the position of JVP and I thank my colleagues on Council for entrusting the role to me.
"I also reflect on my initial university application which saw a clean sweep of rejections and hope that this can inspire others from the grass roots of our profession to get involved in shaping the future.”
Council also voted to confirm Professor Tim Parkin as RCVS President, Linda Belton as Senior Vice-President and reconfirmed Tshidi Gardiner as Treasurer (subject to her re-election), all effective from July.
Tim will take up his post at the College's AGM in July.
Petplan has opened nominations for its Petplan Insurance Advisor (PIA) of the Year award.
Available for staff at veterinary practices who are an Appointed Representative (AR) of Petplan, this award recognises PIA's who are dedicated to promoting the benefits of pet insurance in their practice.
Staff can nominate themselves or their colleagues via the website www.petplanvet.co.uk and are encouraged to provide examples of how the nominated PIA has improved practice performance.
The 2012 PIA of the Year will be crowned at the BVNA Congress on 6th October and the winner will receive an iPad. Submissions close on 20th September.
Simon Masding, Petplan Head of Sales and Partnerships said: "This award celebrates the fantastic job our PIAs do communicating the importance of pet insurance to their clients. We know first hand from the time we spend in practice, just how many fun, innovative ways they find to highlight how having insurance helps keep pets healthy."
The Veterinary Benevolent Fund has launched a new campaign to get a sticker displaying the organisation's helpline telephone number for veterinary professionals in every practice.
The charity has produced a video which explains why.
http://vimeo.com/80551830
Do you have a VBF sticker displayed in your practice? If not, you can order one today. Visit www.vetlife.org.uk
Norbrook has launched an Android version of its existing free iPhone app: ‘the Veterinary Excellence Tool’ (VET).
VET offers a range of functions to assist veterinary professionals and farmers including a product dosing calculator. The Android version has been developed to meet customer demand and has the same features as the Apple version which is available for both iPhones and iPads.
Norbrook highlights the following features of the app:
The app can be downloaded for free by searching for “Norbrook” in either app store.
For further information please contact Laura Holmes, E-Marketing Manager, laura.holmes@norbrook.co.uk or 01536 741147.