The study was a randomised controlled trial of client-owned dogs and cats presenting as emergencies and requiring intravenous catheterisation.
Patient signalment and mentation score were recorded.
Patients were randomly allocated to either a swab saturated with vapocoolant spray or a swab saturated with saline applied to the clipped area before intravenous catheterisation.
Indirect application of vapocoolant spray via a swab before catheterisation was not found to significantly reduce the reaction of dogs and cats, nor to improve placement success rates.
The study did demonstrate a significantly greater adverse response to vapocoolant spray application to the skin via a swab when compared with the saline control in canine patients; feline patients demonstrated adverse responses to both vapocoolant spray and saline swabs.
It is unclear if the technique of application used in this study provided sufficient cooling effect to provide the required cryoanaesthesia to influence patient reaction.
The authors say future studies should be used to determine optimal vapocoolant spray application technique in dogs and cats, as well as examine its application in other populations and procedures.
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP concluded: “Pragmatic, adequately-powered, randomised controlled trials like the one presented here are essential to evaluate whether an intervention is not only efficacious in a controlled environment, but also effective during clinical practice.”
Full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsap.13504
Reference
Trinder, R, Humm, K, Phillips, S, and Cole, L (2022) The efficacy of vapocoolant spray for the improved tolerance of catheter pain in emergency patients in dogs Journal of Small Animal Practice, Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsap.13504
Topics covered will include practical applications of enrichment for zoo species, options for reproductive control in pet ferrets, challenges of exotics out-of-hours care, veterinary care of invertebrates and decision-making in wildlife cases.
The Association says that this year, there will be a greater focus on masterclasses, practical sessions and roundtable discussions, and that there will be plenty of new research, case reports, case series and the most recent advancements in the field of zoo, wildlife and exotic animal medicine.
There will be dedicated streams covering zoo health, nursing, exotic pets and wildlife health, together with a stream for students and new graduates.
The social programme includes the student-mentor mixer, a wine and canapés evening, a gala dinner and silent disco.
Registration fees have been held at the same level as 2019: tickets for non-members range from £410 for one day, to £760 for all three; members get a discount.
www.bvzs.co.uk
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has launched two guides to help veterinary professionals and their clients negotiate the complexities of equine insurance.
BEVA highlights that with up to 40% of horses becoming ill or injured in any one year and 25% of insured horses having a claim in any one year, vet fees insurance is a sensible way for horse owners to budget for unexpected healthcare costs.
The Veterinary Surgeon's guide to riding and sport horse insurance provides general guidelines to help vets understand the requirements and issues relating to equine insurance. It explains the three main types of insurance cover available: veterinary fees, death and permanent loss of use, as well as insurance recommendations for pre-purchase and pre-insurance vetting. The final section contains a jargon-busting guide to commonly used insurance terminology.
Complementing the vet guide is The BEVA leisure and sports horse Insurance Guide for horse owners, a handout for clients about to embark on taking out insurance. It covers the frequently asked questions relating to vets fees and death, including when and how to insure, the importance of pre-purchase vetting, exclusions and permanent loss of use.
Andrew Harrison, Junior Vice President of BEVA, said: "Whether a vet or a horse owner, understanding equine insurance can be intimidating for the best of us. The new guides should make it easier for you and your clients to understand the finer points of policies, premiums and claim protocols."
The guides can be downloaded from the BEVA website via the following links:
For additional information visit www.beva.org.uk
The report says the greatest threat to farm animal welfare standards post-Brexit would come from UK farmers competing against cheap, imported food from countries that produce to lower standards than the UK. Therefore, the Government's wish for the UK to become a global leader in free trade is not necessarily compatible with its desire to maintain high animal welfare standards.
Noting the UK's overwhelming reliance on non-UK EU citizens to fill crucial official veterinary positions in the UK, the Committee called on the Government to ensure that the industry is able to retain or recruit qualified staff to fill these roles post-Brexit.
Responding to the report, BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "The report offers strong leadership and a clear message, emphasising the consumer and cross-sector consensus that current animal health and welfare standards must be at least maintained in Brexit negotiations. Prioritising these standards in trade negotiations could guarantee a unique selling point for the UK. As the report recommends, as consumers we must make sure we do not compromise quality for cost-savings in order to avoid a race to the bottom for welfare standards. We now need clarity from the Government on how underpinning processes and overarching principles, like Article 13 which ensures animal welfare requirements are fully considered in policy-setting, will be incorporated into domestic law.
"The report supports our view that animal welfare should be considered a public good and we reiterate our calls following the Secretary of State’s recent speech that a replacement CAP scheme should encompass animal welfare, animal health, disease surveillance, biodiversity and environmental stewardship to benefit not only UK producers, but consumers and wider society too.
"The EU Committee’s recognition of the vital role vets play in animal health, welfare and public health is extremely encouraging. Official Veterinarians (OVs) working in abattoirs protect and reassure UK consumers, certifying and supervising the import and export of animals and animal products to third countries. As I outlined in my evidence to the Committee, some estimates suggest 95% of OVs working in UK abattoirs graduated overseas, mostly in the EU. However, we are already hearing of fewer applicants for veterinary public health roles since the referendum.
"There are significant concerns about the potential impact of a post-Brexit veterinary workforce shortage on the UK's £100 billion agri-food sector, in terms of risking business and consumer confidence as well as the UK’s future export capability. A strong, sustainable veterinary workforce is absolutely vital to safeguarding animal health, welfare and public health post Brexit."
Petplan has launched what it says is the biggest advertising campaign in its 36-year history.
The company won't reveal what it's spending on the campaign, but its built around a TV advert (below) being shown on all the major channels throughout January, so certainly a bob or two. The ad features 45 different breeds of cats, dogs and rabbits - representing some of the breeds Petplan has insured over the years.
Simon Masding, head of sales and partnerships at Petplan said: "As the UK market leader, it is imperative pet owners recognise and understand who we are and what we stand for. We want to help our partners educate pet owners not only why pet insurance is so important, but explain why they should choose Petplan over any other provider. In 36 years, there's not an illness or accident that we haven't seen and our new advert dramatises in a charming way the depth and breadth of our breed and claims experience".
As part of the campaign, Petplan is running a 'Guess the Breed' game: correctly identify 10 of the breeds featured and be in with the chance to win a Petplan gilet. To enter, visit www.petplanvet.co.uk
The new resources include the Equine Veterinary Journal’s (EVJ) publication of BEVA’s Primary Clinical Care Guidelines on wound management in horses together with BEVA’s first ever digital CPD course: 'How to Heal Wounds – a masterclass for vets and vet nurses'.
The new guidelines cover three key areas: wound lavage and topical treatments; wound debridement and closure and therapeutics for wound healing.
Sarah Freeman, who led the project, said: "These guidelines are aimed at the vast majority of our membership who are primary care practitioners. Topics covered are voted for by BEVA’s panel of specialists and represent a benchmark in time against the strength and weakness of evidence that support it."
The wound management guidelines follow BEVA’s recommendations on the safe use of analgesia in horses, which were published earlier this year.
BEVA’s new online course: 'How to Heal Wounds' is aimed at mixed and equine practitioners and veterinary nurses who encounter wounds in horses.
Led by Dr Patrick Pollock BVMS, PhD, CertES(Soft Tissue), DipECVS, FHEA, FRCVS along with teaching from leading names including Professor Derek Knottenbelt OBE, BVM&S, DVM&S, DipECEIM, MRCVS, Dr Dylan Gorvy BSc, BVSc, PhD, CertES(Soft Tissue), DipECVS, and Ms Georgie Hollis BSc it will provide key concepts of wound physiology and introduce new treatment ideas and modalities designed to optimise wound healing.
Tim Mair Chair from BEVA’s Education Committee said: “This course is an absolute masterclass for vets and vet nurses. It contains 12 on-demand recorded lectures, together with the opportunity to attend up to three live discussions with the speakers. The final live discussion will provide the opportunity for the delegates to trouble shoot with our speakers after being able to go and practice the skills and knowledge learnt on the course.”
The course will be available from August 2020. It will cost £65 for BEVA members (£130 for non-members), which includes access to course resources for up to a year – meaning if they can’t attend a live discussion, they can watch it later.
Photo: Dr G Quinn.
The route covers a distance of approximately 400 miles.
Oscar said: “My goals for the event are to raise awareness about mental health within the veterinary profession and demonstrate how being in the countryside can boost wellbeing. Along the way, I’m keen to fundraise as much as possible for Vetlife.
“Vetlife has done so much for the veterinary profession with regards to making mental health support more accessible.
"Having that knowledge that they are there personally provides a lot of comfort in what can sometimes be quite a lonely and isolating profession.”
Fellow cyclist and Vetlife trustee Danny Chambers said: “I know how painful it is to cycle up Cheddar Gorge in North Somerset, so I am in awe that Oscar is cycling a 400-mile route around that terrain to visit every vet practice in Somerset in 2 days.
"I’m sure in his brief visits to each practice he’ll get a warm welcome and some sustenance to help him along to his next pit stop!
"Thank you to Oscar for his enthusiasm and support.”
Oscar is inviting others in the veterinary community to join sections of the journey along the way.
For more information on how to get involved with the cycle, visit the Somervet Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1930480070643515.
Donate to the fundraiser via the Somervet JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ride-somervet
Compassion Understood, a new company set up to provide veterinary staff with training in how to help clients deal with pet loss, and provide owners with a new information resource on the subject, launched at BSAVA this week.
The new service has been set up partly in response to a survey which showed a disparity between what veterinary professionals think clients need in relation to euthanasia and what they actually want.
The research1 showed that 60% of owners felt their vet handled the euthanasia of their pet very well, leaving 40% who had a clear desire for veterinary staff to understand more, to help prepare them better for their loss, and to signpost where they can access more support if required.
Compassion Understood Managing Director Douglas Muir said: "Our research showed that 70% of veterinary professionals felt that further training in supporting clients through pet loss would be beneficial, and only 35% of vets felt well-equipped to answer questions from pet owners about the right time to say goodbye.
"This, coupled with a very clear need for more support expressed by the owners in our surveys, led me to see that there was a double need: more training was needed in end-of-life for the practice team, on communication as well as clinical aspects of end-of-life; also some kind of resource was needed for pet owners, so they could access clear and helpful information.
"There are some very good support sites out there, but the information is quite fragmented and not easy to find. We wanted to pull everything together in one place and from there we could signpost them to where to get further help if needed. And so Compassion Understood was born, to help veterinary practices, and pet owners."
The new Compassion Understood Pet Loss Support Training programme has been put together with the help of end-of-life and hospice vet Dr Susan Gregersen. She said: "Speaking to colleagues in the many practices we collaborate with, I’ve learned just how many feel inadequately prepared. They’re unhappy that they’re short of time – and sometimes skills – to do a good job when an often-distraught client needs them most. But if a client is left with bad memories at the end of life, they may not return to the same practice with another pet; as we know, about 1 in 5 do not¹."
The programme includes modules covering the clinical aspects of assessing quality of life, decision-making around end-of-life, pre-euthanasia preparation, and palliative and animal hospice care. Other aspects covered are the emotional and psychological aspects of losing a pet, as well as how to protect the practice team from compassion fatigue or emotional depletion.
The training programme is fully online, and can be completed at the learner’s own pace. The learning approaches and delivery have been overseen by educational expert, Dr Jenny Moffett previously of the University of Surrey, herself a veterinarian with a keen interest in communication and pet loss support.
Susan said: "Vet school training on end of life and euthanasia is still sparse, as many vets will agree. I see the online course as being about learning to care rather than to cure, giving vets the confidence and skill to show real compassion while remaining professional."
Pet Loss Survey, 2015. Compassion Understood. Data on file.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says this is evidence that its strategy to tackle bovine TB, which costs taxpayers £100m a year, is delivering results.
Defra says that gaining OTF status for the low risk area, covering the north and east of England, would boost trade opportunities and mean some herds require less regular TB testing, reducing costs for farmers.
This would be the first time anywhere in England has enjoyed this status and the government says it is a key step in its 25-year plan for the whole of the UK to be TB-free by 2038.
Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: "Gaining global recognition that more than half of England is TB-free will be a significant milestone in our long-term plan to eradicate this devastating disease, and will open up new trading opportunities for farmers.
"We have much still to do in the worst affected parts of the country, but this shows that our strategy - combining practical biosecurity measures, a robust cattle movement and testing regime, and badger control in areas where the disease is rife - is right and is working."
Results published today confirm all ten licensed badger control operations achieved successful outcomes. A consultation opens today on next steps for badger control in areas that have completed the first four years of intensive culling.
Other measures announced today include:
Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said: "This year we have seen that badger control can be delivered successfully on a wider scale. Further expansion in the coming years, alongside our robust cattle movement and testing regime, will allow us to achieve and maintain long term reductions in the level of TB across the South West and Midlands where the disease is currently widespread."
The government says it is taking robust action to make the country TB-free by 2038, with a strategy including stronger cattle testing and movement controls, good biosecurity, badger control in areas where TB is rife and vaccination when possible.
Vaccinating healthy badgers is part of the government’s long-term plan and could play an important role in preventing bovine TB spreading to new areas of the country. Defra plans to resume the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme, which offers support for private badger vaccination projects in edge area counties, in 2018 when we expect vaccine supplies to be available once more following the current global shortage.
The government is also supporting farmers to take practical action to reduce the risk of infection onto their farm. This includes support for a new CHeCS TB cattle herd accreditation scheme, on-farm biosecurity demonstrations for farmers, and training for veterinary surgeons delivered by APHA jointly with the private sector. Farmers can also access practical guidance on the TB Hub, which brings advice from farming experts, vets and government together in one place.
The new publication is a guide to evidence-based medicine (EBM) in veterinary practice. It aims to secure a commitment to EBM from veterinary practices and help them implement an evidence-based approach.
The workshop will be held at The Bloomsbury Building, 10 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SL from 1:00pm till 3:30pm
Attendees will be asked for their opinion on the content, language and format of the new guide, and how clear they find it.
Your involvement will directly help RCVS Knowledge make the evidence-basis of veterinary techniques understandable for a larger number of people.
No advance preparation is required and it sounds like it will be a very informative, engaging session.
An honorarium of £50 is available to anyone who attends. A sandwich lunch is provided and travel expenses will be covered.
If you’d like to participate, contact: Maryam Tehami at maryam@senseaboutscience.org
Produced in association with Farmers Guardian, information in the guide includes the role of Multimin in increasing farm margins by reducing mastitis, improving fertility, assisting growth and increasing immunity.
The Multimin Focus Guide also includes case studies that demonstrate how livestock performance can be elevated with trace minerals, which is relevant to both the dairy and beef industries.
Sabrina Jordan, Product Manager at Virbac said: "Multimin is a unique injection that is designed to ‘top up’ trace mineral supplies at critical times of the production cycle.
"Strategic use of Multimin supports the transition cow and is increasingly used to increase fertility in maiden heifers, particularly at second lactation.
"Multimin is particularly useful for youngstock where it helps to boost immunity and growth; and supports during times of stress such as transportation and grouping.
"Most significantly, in areas where vets have identified deficiencies in grazing pasture, Multimin can ensure that animals are 'topped up' with the appropriate trace minerals to optimise performance.
"The aim of this online resource is to support vets in demonstrating the importance of trace minerals to improving herd efficiency and health."
www.farmersguardian.com/bringing-herd-health-virbac-multimin-focus
The RCVS is hosting a free webinar at which it will explain changes to the guidance on 24-hour emergency care at 8.30pm on Monday 28 July.
Veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and other practice staff are all welcome to attend.
The webinar - 24/7 Emergency Care - A New Emphasis - will be led by RCVS Registrar and Head of Legal Services Gordon Hockey and Clare Tapsfield-Wright, former RCVS Council member and Chair of the RCVS Standards Committee. They will be explaining changes to supporting guidance of the Code of Professional Conduct and their impact on the responsibilities of practices and practice staff, as well as the public.
The changes to the guidance resulted from an extensive evidence-gathering process with both the profession and animal owners in respect of their expectations on the provision of 24-hour emergency veterinary cover.
The new supporting guidance, which was developed by RCVS Standards Committee after a thorough review of the evidence and approved in principle by RCVS Council in June, now places a greater emphasis on owners' legal responsibilities for the welfare of their animals as well as an obligation on veterinary surgeons to provide more information to clients about their out-of-hours service.
Furthermore, the new guidance will assist and empower vets to decline to attend an animal away from the practice when unnecessary or unsafe. The new guidance will be published online shortly.
To register for the free webinar, hosted by the Webinar Vet, please visit www.thewebinarvet.com/rcvs. A recording of the webinar will be made available to listen to again.
The VET Festival has announced its speaker line-up for this year's event, taking place on the 3rd & 4th June at Loseley Park in Guildford, Surrey.
The 21 hand-picked speakers include respected opinion formers from across the USA, Canada and the UK who are veterinary specialists and experts in fields including clinical & surgical orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, medical & surgical oncology, neurology & neurosurgery, minimally invasive surgery & diagnostics, anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging, physiotherapy, sports medicine & rehabilitation, anaesthesia & critical care, nutrition, feline medicine & surgery and practice management & team building.
The organisers say this is a unique and unrivalled opportunity to hear, learn and network with some of the greatest minds in the veterinary world at a dynamic and engaging two-day outdoor conference designed for veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, veterinary rehab practitioners, practice support staff, managers and allied veterinary professionals working in companion animal practice.
Internationally-based speakers not available on the usual speaker circuit for primary care clinicians, include:
The 2016 conference will also welcome thought leaders currently practicing here in the UK, including:
There will be a focus on minimally invasive diagnostics and surgery lead by Phillip Mayhew from the University of Davis California and Elise Robertson will talk about minimally invasive endoscopy techniques in cats whilst Michael Kowaleski from Tufts University, Boston, and Noel Fitzpatrick will talk about arthroscopy of joints. There will also be a specific focus on diagnostic imaging with Russell Tucker from Washington State University sharing his nearly 40 years of experience with radiography, MRI and CT. Cancer is a huge area of increased interest in small animal practice currently and will be explored by a world-class team including Julius Liptak, Nick Bacon and Laurent Findji.
The growing importance of practice management and team-building prompted organisers to ask Brian Faulkner from the UK and Ernie Ward from the USA, both internationally recognised leaders in veterinary business training, to set up a mini-symposium in management and motivation. The objective is to keep the lectures practical and give delegates information that they can use every day, not just facts and figures.
Unlike conventional conferences, the VET Festival is staged outdoors in marquees alongside festival food and drinks and companies and organisations showcasing new technologies and products. Organisers say that this unique ‘fresh air’ festival environment creates a relaxed and fun atmosphere which is more conducive to learning and networking. There will be live music on both nights of the Festival with multiple bands contributing to the festival atmosphere, culminating in the ONE LIVE music concert on the final night.
For more information and to register for an early bird delegate discount visit www.vetfestival.co.uk
The first event, being held tomorrow (19th May) at 11:00pm, will be presented live from Calgary by small animal ECC specialist, Dr. Marie Holowaychuk.
Marie has spent more than 15 years speaking to audiences around the world, drawing on her personal experiences and evidence-based information to empower veterinary professionals to look after their personal and professional wellbeing.
Next week, at 8pm on Thursday 26th May, Andy Green MRCVS (pictured right), people director at Kent-based Pennard Vets, will host the second event titled ‘From Victim to Victor.’
His presentation will explore the challenges of clinical life and provide insight into how building healthy habits form the foundations for long-term success in the veterinary industry.
Andy is a certified neuro strategist who has spent the last 15 years exploring the world of personal development.
He's also a regular speaker at vet schools, conferences and events.
Lance Rice, creative director at ezyVet, said: “We’re already on target to have more than 1,000 vets and nurses from practices across the world attending these free webinars that are hosted by veterinary professionals for veterinary professionals.
“Because our hosts and audience are spread across the world, we know that some people won’t be able to watch them live, so we’ll make them available to view again afterwards through our website.
"Both promise to be invaluable events that will also count towards annual CPD requirements, so we’re encouraging vets and nurses to sign up now.”
You can register at: www.ezyvet.com/mindfulmay
Mr Seymour-Hamilton was originally struck off in 1994 after his Kent practice was found to be unhygienic and unsterile with poor record keeping.
However, he has always maintained that the reason his premises were unhygienic and unsterile was because they were closed.
As in previous applications, he said his reason for applying for restoration was to help him gain recognition for his alleged herbal and natural remedy discoveries and that he had no intention of going back into general practice.
As with previous applications, the Committee said that Mr Seymour-Hamilton has shown no real insight into the conduct underlying the original findings and nor has he shown insight into matters identified by previous restoration hearings.
The Committee also considered that Mr Seymour-Hamilton has been off the Register for some 31 years and would therefore need prolonged, intensive, formal retraining to ensure that he was now fit to practise, without which he might pose a risk to animal welfare.
Mr Seymour-Hamilton's case was not helped by the fact that he indicated that he had practised veterinary surgery while off the Register – including conducting two spay procedures in Calais, France, and treating two of his own dogs for cancer.
He also referred to having cultured faecal bacteria in a witness’ kitchen.
The Committee felt it was concerning that Mr Seymour-Hamilton thought these things were compatible with being on the Register and upholding the professional standards expected of a veterinary surgeon.
Paul Morris, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “Mr Seymour-Hamilton still lacks an understanding as to why he has not been restored in the past.
"Apart from additional CPD, he has not set about effectively addressing any of his shortcomings.
"He relies passionately on his research, yet he does not support that research with any peer-reviewed publications, indeed all his attempts to gain recognition have been rebuffed.”
He added: “The Committee is firmly of the view that after such a prolonged period of failing to be reinstated as a veterinary surgeon, Mr Seymour-Hamilton has to face the reality that his continued applications, taking up time, resources and expense (which is ultimately borne by all those veterinary surgeons who are on the Register), are vexatious and ultimately unlikely to succeed.
“Whilst the College cannot prevent him from continuing to apply to be restored to the Register, Mr Seymour-Hamilton should by now realise that this is not a good use of the College’s finite resources.
"He is now 86 years old and has not practised for over thirty years and in fact has now been off the Register for longer than he was on it.
"This is now the twelfth time he has been found to be not fit to be restored to the Register.
"The Committee hopes Mr Seymour-Hamilton will now take time seriously to reflect and take into account the impact to all concerned of his continued applications, before deciding to submit any more.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings
The British Veterinary Association has welcomed the British Veterinary Nursing Association and the Veterinary Practice Management Association as Affiliate members.
Affiliate and Associate are newly activated BVA membership categories, and the election of BVNA and the VPMA as Affiliates also encourages any of their suitably qualified members to apply for Associate membership of the BVA.
According to the BVA, Affiliate status in no way affects an organisation's own remit and responsibilities towards its members. What it does mean is that Affiliates can benefit from the BVA's knowledge and expertise in such areas as lobbying and marketing.
In welcoming BVNA and VPMA newly elected BVA President Nicky Paull said: "I am delighted that my Presidential year coincides with the BVA family embracing both veterinary nurses and veterinary practice managers. Both are integral members of the veterinary team and we believe that our new relationship will bring lasting benefits to all parties. BVA looks forward to supporting our new Affiliates in promoting the professionalism of both veterinary nursing and veterinary practice management not only within the profession but to the wider community.
These are exciting, if challenging times, for the veterinary community world-wide and I have no doubt that our new relationship will strengthen not only our individual associations but the profession as a whole."
The Royal Veterinary College has opened a new specialist ophthalmologist service at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (QMHA) in Hertfordshire.
According to the College, the service is equipped with the most up-to-date and state-of-the-art equipment available and will also benefit from the on-hand support of leading edge veterinary care at Europe's largest small animal hospital.
The RVC says all ophthalmology cases will be supported by dedicated anesthesiologists, whilst on an individual case basis the ophthalmologists will draw upon the expertise of specialists in imaging, oncology, neurology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, dermatology, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.
The following services will be available to all species on referral:
Rick F. Sanchez, who heads up the new service, holds a Diploma from the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DipECVO) and is currently the only Ophthalmology Diploma holder working in a UK university. In his new role Rick will be sharing his expertise gained from the 3 years intensive specialist training and 7 years in dedicated specialty practice with both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the college in a teaching role alongside his clinical and research responsibilities.
Rick said: "Returning to academia has been the realization of a long held professional dream and to do so by becoming part of the Royal Veterinary College has been a privilege and an honour. The superb team of specialists and dedicated nurses already established at the RVC creates a perfect environment to exercise clinical excellence and offer our animal patients the very best care we strive to provide as specialists.
"In addition, I see the creation of the new Ophthalmology Service as the final piece of the puzzle within the wide array of clinical expertise offered at QMHA. In my opinion it is this wide array of expertise that makes the QMHA at the RVC a leading centre for clinical, teaching and research excellence in veterinary medicine in the UK."
For more information please visit: http://www.rvc.ac.uk/QMH/Specialities/Ophthalmology.cfm
The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) has launched a new Profitability Survey to measure profitability levels across the nation’s veterinary practices and provide a benchmark for practices to assess their performance against.
Launched this month, the SPVS Profitability Survey is available to all practices, both members and non-members. It can be completed online using figures from the practice’s most recent set of accounts and the practice management system. All the data is kept completely confidential for practices to securely access their results online.
Once they have completed the survey, participating practices will be given an overall practice profitability score from excellent, good, average, below average and poor. Practices will also be able to benchmark against Key Performance Indicators such as: the cost of drugs and supplies; the cost of personnel; and cost of overheads.
Peter Brown, SPVS Treasurer and author of the survey said: "We’re particularly pleased to be launching this Profitability Survey. As the saying goes, turnover is vanity and profit is sanity. Profitability is key to any business yet we’re often told that veterinary practices fare badly when it comes to this fundamental point. Knowing how your business is performing and how it compares to others should be a priority for all practice principals and one that our new Profitability Survey will be able to answer.
"We are delighted to be working with John Sheridan on this subject. John has long been a passionate advocate of the need for practices to understand their profitability and he has helped SPVS to develop this simple survey to provide practices with the key statistics they need. Furthermore, the pooled, anonymised data will be used by SPVS to help us tailor CPD and expert advice for members on this critical aspect of their business. The more data we have the more accurate analysis we will be able to provide so we would urge all veterinary practices to complete the survey."
SPVS’ existing Fee and Salaries Surveys have also been enhanced with improvements to the way data is entered and results presented through a dedicated website developed with Veterinary Insights. Published earlier this year, the Salaries Survey revealed that there is a widening pay gap between newly qualified vets whose median salary actually fell by 3.7% and more experienced vets who attained increases of between 2.6% and 10.8%. However, while newly qualified vets compared favourably with their equivalents in the medical and dental profession, those more experienced lag some way behind.
To take part in the new SPVS Profitability Survey visit www.spvs.org.uk
The campaign was created to highlight individual perspectives on what animal health looks like, with contributions from veterinary surgeons, politicians, NOAH members, animal charities, industry experts, livestock stakeholders and pet owners.
Contributions have included images of ‘cleaner fish’ and their role as a safe, effective and sustainable form of biological control for salmon, medical detection dogs, assistance animals who improve the quality of life for their owners, and household pets and livestock that play a key role in our lives.
VetSurgeon.org's favourite so far is the photograph by BVA Vice President Gudrun Ravetz (shown right). She said: "It was a rare moment of peace in the house and showed why one health is important. The two of them are one inseparable unit of fun and trouble, but their health is interlinked. The parasite control that I use with Tess is informed by her contact with Leo and the environment she runs in and the lessons Leo learns about dog behaviour and animal welfare will inform and protect him. They exercise each and are good for each other’s mental health.”
Dawn Howard, NOAH chief executive, says:"We’re delighted to see that so many people are keen to show what animal health means to them. With such breadth of images, it’s fascinating to see so many different perspectives and we look forward to many more.
"Animal health means something very different to each and every one of us. The images showcased through the contributions highlight what a varied and inspiring industry we work in and the passion of the people involved in it.
"The campaign is all about keeping animal health at the forefront of everyone’s minds, not only to celebrate the work that we, as an industry, do to keep animals happy and healthy, but also to address challenges that have the potential to put our animals’ health at risk, and ensure that the UK continues to lead the way for good animal health and welfare."
Speakers at the free event will include feline expert Dr Andy Sparkes, BVetMed, PhD, DipECVIM, MANZCVS, MRCVS and the immunologist who led the Purina research behind Liveclear, Dr Ebenezer Satyaraj, PhD.
Andy will address the consequences of feline allergy. He says that in majority of cases, cat-allergic owners will choose to tolerate ongoing symptoms of allergy, rather than relinquish their cats, even when they have severe symptoms.
Ebenezer will talk about the research behind Pro Plan Liveclear and how it will allow veterinary surgeons and nurses to help support these clients.
Libby Sheridan, MVB MRCVS, Purina Veterinary Technical Affairs Manager, UK & Ireland said: "This innovation is safe for cats who continue to produce the major cat allergen, Fel d 1, which is found mainly in the cat's saliva and sebaceous glands.
"Our researchers found that the Fel d 1 protein could be neutralised through feeding a nutritious cat food coated with an innovative egg product ingredient containing anti-Fel d 1 antibodies1 which helps reduce the active allergen transferred to hair and dander during grooming, and ultimately helps reduce active Fel d 1 in the environment.2
"Now the science has resulted in a commercially available product that could have a big impact on the quality of life of the cat and their owner. We'll be sharing the research behind this at the symposium so that clinicians can evaluate the potential benefits."
Any member of the practice team can register for the event at www.veterinarywebinars.com/purina, and will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad. There will also be a number of goody bags available as additional prizes.
More information about the science is available at www.purinainstitute.com.
References
There had already been a gap in supply of the vaccine between June and August due to a batch being out of specification.
The company says it submitted an Out of Specification request to release the vaccine but was unsuccessful.
The next delivery of vaccine was expected at the end of August, however this has unfortunately been delayed until October, and there is no certainty of this delivery.
Ceva says it deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to sheep farmers this year.
Roy Geary, Vice President for Northern Europe (including the UK) at Ceva Animal Health, said: “The manufacturing of vaccines is a complex process that involves stringent quality control measures and adherence to regulatory guidelines.
"There have been unforeseen manufacturing issues at our production facilities, which have temporarily affected the ability to meet the demands of the UK sheep market within the main seasonal vaccination period for EAE.
"As a responsible provider, we are actively addressing these issues to minimise the impact on customers.”
“We are recommending that vets and farmers follow the advice published on 24th July 2024 from the Sheep Vet Society and Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group (SAGG).”
https://sheepvetsoc.org.uk/news/sheep-veterinary-society-svs-and-sheep-antibiotic-guardian-group-sagg-advice-for-when-an-enzootic-abortion-eae-vaccine-is-unavailable.
Virbac is launching a nationwide consumer campaign directing pet owners into practice with a special £1 off Indorex voucher promotion.
Indorex product manager Victoria Hudson said: "Participating practices also have the chance to win £250 worth of shopping vouchers for themselves. The practice returning the most client vouchers, plus two runners up, will each win Love2shop shopping vouchers which can be spent at thousands of high street stores, restaurants and attractions across the UK!"
Victoria added: "Indorex is such an easy product to use providing owners with 12 months protection against fleas in their home with just a single application. Even in the summer months, the product is UV stable so it can also be used in sunlit areas such as cars and conservatories."
Vouchers can be obtained from your local Virbac territory manager or downloaded at www.fleafreezones.co.uk/. Following customer redemption each £1money off voucher can be reclaimed by the practice with proof of purchase.
The British Veterinary Association has welcomed the European Parliament vote to improve the labelling of food, including new country of origin labelling and a requirement to label meat from animals slaughtered without stunning (according to certain religious traditions).
The BVA believes that all animals should be stunned before slaughter, for welfare reasons. However, as long as slaughter without stunning is permitted the BVA has argued for any meat from this source to be clearly labelled to enable all consumers to fully understand the choice they are making when buying such products.
Meat from slaughter without stunning currently enters the mainstream food chain without being labelled as such, leaving consumers unaware.
The European Parliament also voted to extend country of origin labelling to all meat, poultry, dairy products and other single-ingredient products as well as all meat, poultry and fish when used as an ingredient in processed food. Importantly, meat labels should indicate where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered.
The UK enjoys some of the highest animal welfare standards in the production of food and the improved country of origin labelling will allow consumers to make a more informed choice.
The BVA is calling for one clear EU welfare label that takes into account the welfare of animals use in food production from birth to slaughter, including the production system, transport and method of slaughter.
Professor Bill Reilly, President of the BVA, said: "This is a huge step forward in improving the welfare of animals at slaughter. The more consumers understand these issues, the more consumer power can make a difference.
"The BVA has argued for some time for meat from animals slaughtered without the more-humane method of stunning should be labelled as such and we are delighted that the European Parliament supports this view.
"However, there are many issues associated with the welfare of animals in food production and the BVA would like to see the development of a clear welfare label that consumers recognise as a mark of higher animal welfare.
"Currently there are too many different labels that mean different things, which can be confusing for shoppers. One higher welfare label would go a long way to improving consumer choice and animal welfare."
The Veterinary Marketing Association is running a free seminar on Thursday 24th November from 5-7pm for any delegates of the London Vet Show, or those in the vicinity, that feel they'd like to learn about the principles of marketing.
The VMA says that in today's competitive environment, the key to success for a veterinary business is often making oneself heard and standing out above the competition, but questions how many vets are taught any marketing at college or whether marketing is something that most vets just pick up over time?
The VMA's Principles of Marketing seminar will aim to address the basics in marketing, with an emphasis on the veterinary sector. It's taking place at the Hilton Hotel, London Olympia, a few minutes walk from the show.
The VMA has enlisted the services of Paul Fifield (Visiting Professor in Marketing Strategy at the Southampton University School of Management) to deliver the seminar.
This event is open to anyone and entry is free. As spaces are limited to a maximum of 60, registration is strongly advisable. For more information, or to register, please visit the VMA's website - http://www.vma.org.uk/.
The seminar will be followed by a free buffet and time for questions.
Virbac has launched Nutribound, a complementary feed to help stimulate eating and drinking in inappetent cats and dogs.
The company says the product has been designed to help animals recovering from surgery or illness and those that are just experiencing a general lack of interest in food or water.
Nutribound is given alongside the pet’s diet but can also be given by tube or syringe if needed.
Claire Lewis, Product Manager, said: "Pets that lose interest in their food can be challenging for owners to deal with - and a pet that is struggling to eat or drink what it needs, especially after illness or surgery is more likely to have a prolonged recovery.
"Nutribound's palatable formulation aims to 'jump-start' normal eating behaviour by stimulating the animal's appetite and increasing its interest in eating and drinking again.
"Nutribound is presented in a handy-sized, take-home bottle and is easy for pet owners to administer. It can be given for up to 14 days or until a return to normal eating and drinking behaviour is observed. We are delighted to add it to our nutritional support range, alongside Nutri-Plus gel, our high energy, nutritional supplement for cats and dogs."