Bayer Animal Health has obtained two new licensed indications for its antiparasiticide, Advocate.
The first is that the product is now licensed for the treatment of Crenosoma vulpis using a single dose. The second is that in addition to the existing treatment of Angiostrongylus vasorum claim, Advocate is now indicated for its prevention, using monthly spot-on applications.
This comes at a time when, according to Bayer, independent market research shows that vets are diagnosing Angiostrongylus vasorum at an increasing rate. Figures for 2010 place the incidence of vets who have confirmed cases at 37%, more than double the 16% confirmed in 2008, with a further 19% of vets reporting suspected cases.
Bayer is also stepping up its 'Be Lungworm Aware' consumer campaign, with the addition of a local and national radio campaign throughout October. The public information style advert will warn owners of the dangers associated with the parasite A.vasorum, and urging them to stay vigilant for signs their dog may be infected.
Veterinary staff can also direct clients who wish to learn more about lungworm to http://www.lungworm.co.uk/.
For more information on Advocate, please contact your sales representative or telephone Bayer on 01635 563000.
The RSPB has reported the results of two studies which revealed that a greater diversity of birds of prey, including some eagles, are killed eating carrion contaminated with diclofenac.
The RSPB says that these findings strengthen the case of banning the use of veterinary diclofenac in livestock across Europe, including Spain and Italy where the drug has already been approved.
In the first paper1, published in the journal Bird Conservation International, scientists present results of tests carried out on two steppe eagles found dead at a cattle carcass dump in Rajasthan, India. Both birds had diclofenac residue in their tissues and exhibited the same clinical signs of kidney failure as seen in Gyps vultures experimentally given diclofenac.
Steppe eagles are closely related to the golden eagles found in the UK, the vulnerable Spanish imperial eagle and other globally vulnerable or declining Eurasian eagles. Scientists now fear that all species in this genus, known as Aquila, are susceptible to diclofenac. With fourteen species of Aquila eagle distributed across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North America, this means that diclofenac poisoning should now be considered largely a global problem.
Dr Toby Galligan, RSPB conservation scientist and one of the authors of the paper, said: "We have known for some time that diclofenac is toxic to Gyps vultures, including the Eurasian griffon vulture, but we now know it is toxic to an Aquila eagle too. This suggests that the drug is fatal to a greater number of birds of prey in Asia, Europe and around the world. We had suspected as much from observed declines in non-Gyps vultures in Asia, but this study confirms our worst fears."
In another paper2, published in Bird Conservation International, Dr Galligan led an examination of recent population trends in Egyptian and red-headed vultures in India. That study shows population declines of similar timing and scale as the declines observed in Gyps vultures, providing indirect evidence that these species have been impacted by diclofenac as well.
After years of campaigning by conservationists, the governments of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan banned veterinary formulations of diclofenac between 2006 and 2010. Recently, experts have recorded a slowing of Gyps vulture declines as a result of the bans. However, formulations of diclofenac intended for use in humans are still widely available and illegally used to treat livestock, the carcasses of which are the main food source for vultures in South Asia. It was announced in March that veterinary diclofenac had been authorised for manufacture and use in Italy and Spain and had been distributed to other European countries. Since then, a coalition of organisations including the Vulture Conservation Foundation, the RSPB and BirdLife International have been campaigning for this decision to be reversed.
Dr Galligan continued: "In light of recent developments in Europe, our findings take on an even more worrying meaning. All of Europe's charismatic Aquila eagles, like the Spanish imperial eagle and, closer to home, the golden eagle, are opportunistic scavengers and therefore could be at risk of diclofenac poisoning. As we have seen in South Asia, wherever free-ranging livestock are treated with diclofenac, population declines in vultures and eagles can occur. The European Commission needs to recognise this problem and impose a continent-wide ban on veterinary diclofenac before it can impact on our birds."
Last week, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) announced measures against the drug.
In a statement the VMD said: "The UK's Veterinary Medicines Directorate is taking the issue of diclofenac's risks to vulture populations seriously. As a precautionary measure the VMD will not approve any requests from vets to import products containing diclofenac. Furthermore, the VMD has agreed not to issue any export certificates which name diclofenac-containing products in the list of products to be exported."
Sacha Cleminson, Head of International Biodiversity Policy at the RSPB, said: "The announcement from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is a welcome signal to Europe that the UK is taking the issue seriously. This new evidence underlines the need for a ban across Europe, and ultimately beyond."
References
Have population declines in Egyptian Vulture and Red-headed Vulture in India slowed since the 2006 ban on veterinary diclofenac? Toby H. Galligan et al. Bird Conservation International Online. 1st April 2014.
The new sections will sit alongside the Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) pages within the Practical and Clinical Skills section of the bank.
Dental subject areas include diagnosis, radiography and surgery. The new exotic subject areas include an overview, birds, small mammals and reptiles. Surgery subject areas include anaesthesia, peri-operative planning, abdominal surgery, ECC/trauma and post-surgical care.
New grad Ellie Morris MRCVS said: "There are some really good videos on emergency surgeries such as the A-Z of GDV, so when we’ve had quieter days I’ve had chance to look at some of these particularly excellent resources and I feel much more prepared for that situation.
"After watching the Anaesthesia of the Caesarean Section webinar, I discussed what I’d learned with my colleagues and how it compared to their approach. I’ve not done a caesarean yet, but I feel a lot more prepared for when the time does come."
BSAVA President Phil Lhermette said: "This fantastic resource is free to all our members with some sections open to non-members - especially employers, and is growing all the time providing great support for the whole profession at every stage of their career.
"The content is reviewed by committee who are currently helping to expand the Mentor & Employer pages, for practices supporting new graduates, which will be added to the site next."
For more information visit: www.bsava.com/pdp
The courses are:
MMI Manager Lisa Quigley commented: “I am really proud of this new tranche of training.
"Whereas our previous training has focused on the individual experience, for example, mental health awareness and resilience, these new courses recognise that individual instances of poor mental health and wellbeing can often be caused by systemic issues – whether that’s a poor workplace culture where bullying and incivility thrive, or discrimination on account of someone’s protected characteristics.
The full range of courses, including the dates and times and details on how to register, can be found at www.vetmindmatters.org/training
Feedback about any of the courses can be sent to info@vetmindmatters.org
In 2022, Winchester published the results of a study led by Professor Andrew Knight, which claimed the headline: "Vegan diets may be the healthiest to feed pet dogs, say researchers"1,2.
For the study, 2,639 dog owners were invited to report their own opinion of seven indicators of their dog's health.
The researchers also looked at the prevalence of 22 specific health disorders, reported as being based on 'predictions by vet assessments', finding 49% prevalence in traditional meat diets, 43% for raw meat diets and 36% for vegan diets.
However, it was not clear in the report what "predictions by vet assessments" actually means. Whose predictions? The vets'? Or the owners'?
Closer examination of the original study reveals it was "owners' predictions of vet assessments".
Owner-reported opinion, otherwise known as anecdote, is of course notoriously unreliable, and if there is one thing more unreliable than owner-reported opinion, it would surely be owner-reported opinion of their vet's opinion.
Furthermore, the original study was of an observational design, and therefore could only suggest correlation, not causation.
Lastly, the original analysis only looked at the relationship between diet and owner observations/opinion, without considering the impact of other factors assessed by the study, such as the age of the dog and whether the owner was a vegan.
For the new study3, therefore, researchers at the University of Liverpool led by Professor Alex German re-analysed the data used for the original study, in particular correcting the data for confounding variables.
When analysed in this way, significant illness in dogs correlated most strongly with the age of the dog, whether it was on medication, and the frequency of visit to the vet.
Compared to these, the association between owner opinions of health and feeding vegan dog food was minimal.
Co-author of the second study, Richard Barrett-Jolley, Professor of Neuropharmacology, said: “We know how seriously owners take their pet’s health.
"By revisiting and further interrogating these data, we have been able to draw more nuanced insights. “Crucially, we cannot draw a firm conclusion as to what diet type is actually best for dogs; this was never possible given the nature of the original dataset and study design.
"However, we can conclude that variables other than dog diet are more strongly associated with owner opinions about the health of their dog.”
The model for the forecast was developed by the College with the Institute of Employment Studies using data from the RCVS Registers, the 2019 and 2024 Surveys of the Professions, Office for National Statistics data for projected economic growth and the PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Reports.
However, the model does not take account of the impact of the increasing costs of veterinary care on pet ownership trends, the full effect of which may not yet have been felt.
The main predictions of the model are:
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, said: “In 2021, there were clear concerns about there being a workforce crisis within the veterinary professions, and while that certainly seemed to be the case, and is likely to continue to be so in the short-term, according to this model the future picture for the professions looks much better in most areas of veterinary practice.
“However, government service/public health looks to be an area where there is still a significant shortfall in supply, which is concerning considering the importance of government vets in food safety, disease prevention and international trade and we are willing to continue to work with government to find ways to remedy this shortfall.
“We are aware that there may be some concerns about the implications of the model, particularly concerning the potential oversupply of veterinary nurses.
"While we stand by the robustness of the data, demography is not destiny, and with the planned enhancement of the veterinary nurse role, and the likelihood of suppressed demand due to prior shortages, it is likely that the number of veterinary nursing roles will expand to encompass the number of veterinary nurses available to work in it.
“Finally, we are aware that there are also some limitations to the model in its current form, for example, in terms of regional data.
"This is a work in progress, and we will continue to update and improve the model as and when new data allows.”
The workforce modelling report is available to download from www.rcvs.org.uk/publications
As part of the scheme, Linnaeus offers one-to-one mentoring, professional and clinical skills development in primary care practices across the UK as part of the scheme.
The group, which now has more than 3,000 employees, delivers all clinical training in-house through its network of specialists, referral clinicians, certificate holders and primary care clinicians.
The 2021 programme applications will remain open until the end of May, unless all positions are filled sooner.
Chloe Roberts, clinical and educational development manager at Linnaeus, said: “This will be the fourth cohort to join our GDP and we’re looking forward to building on the successes we have enjoyed over the last three years.
“This has been a challenging year for obvious reasons, so it has been extremely heartening to see our new vets rise to that challenge and continue their professional journeys with our support.
“We’re excited to hear from the next intake of new vets and look forward to supporting them in their transition to clinical practice and recognise the additional challenges they faced joining the profession in the midst of a global pandemic.”
For more information, visit graduates.linnaeusgroup.co.uk or www.instagram.com/linnaeusgdp.
The updated indications reflect the recognition that Stelfonta may be used in any case where surgery may not be an option:
For the treatment of non-metastatic (WHO staging) mast cell tumours that are either non-resectable or those that are resectable but where surgery is not considered the best option, specifically: cutaneous mast cell tumours (located anywhere on the dog) and subcutaneous mast cell tumours located at or distal to the elbow or the hock.
Tumours must be less than or equal to 8 cm 3 in volume, and must be accessible to intratumoral injection.
Neil Mottram MRCVS, Technical Manager at Virbac said: “Stelfonta offers veterinary surgeons a medical option for the successful elimination of mast cell tumours.
"The extended labelled indication demonstrates the wide variety of cases that can benefit where medical treatment is preferred, such as; tumour factors (location and size) making surgical margins difficult, patient factors (concurrent disease and risk of anaesthesia), clinic factors and the simplification of this medical treatment and owner factors, where there is a preference to avoid surgery."
Stelfonta is administered by injection directly into the tumour mass and Virbac say that generally, dogs do not require sedation or local or general anaesthesia during treatment.
The active ingredient, Tigilanol tiglate, works largely through specific protein kinase c (PKC) activation, in which it locally stimulates the immune system, resulting in destruction of the tumour and the tumour’s blood supply, followed by rapid healing of the site with minimal scarring.
www.virbac.co.uk
The Soil Association is calling on the Government to issue guidelines that will limit the veterinary use of the most modern penicillin-type antibiotics, to prevent the spread of a serious new superbug.Recently released minutes of a Government committee reveal that Ministers have been briefed about the emergence on a British dairy farm of a mutant strain of antibiotic-resistant E. coli which causes life-threatening cases of food poisoning, including hemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
The bug, known as E. coli O26 is a vera-toxin producing E. coli (VTEC), similar to the infamous E. coli O157. According to the Soil Association, what makes the discovery of this variant so significant is that this is the first time in the UK, and only the third time in the world, that VTEC E. coli has been found with an enhanced type of antibiotic resistance known as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), which makes it resistant to almost all antibiotics. ESBL resistance has previously been found on 57 UK farms, but until now only in strains of E. coli that cause urinary tract infections and blood poisoning.Although antibiotics are not recommended for the treatment of VTEC E. coli, scientists warn that the emergence of resistance is undesirable because these resistant bacteria are encouraged every time certain antibiotics are used, resulting in increased spread and greater risk of contaminated food products. On non-organic dairy farms, cows are routinely given antibiotics at the end of their lactation to prevent mastitis. In addition, milk from cows given antibiotics for treatment, or prevention, is often fed to calves when it contains residues and cannot be sold. However, because ESBL E. coliO26 is resistant to all the antibiotics used in ‘dry cow therapy' and many of those used for treatment, the high use of antibiotics on dairy farms will promote the rapid spread of these dangerous bacteria.Soil Association Policy Adviser, Richard Young said: "This is one of the most worrying developments in the continuing rise of ESBL E. coli. Today is the first European Antibiotics Awareness Day, but there is a distinct lack of awareness that the continuing high use of antibiotics in farming is contributing to the increase in antibiotic-resistant infections in humans."The Government often calls on doctors to prescribe antibiotics less often. But similar advice needs to be given to veterinary surgeons and farmers. Half of all antibiotics are given to animals, and there is mounting evidence that antibiotic-resistant bacteria in farm animals pass to humans. If we want antibiotics to save lives in the future as they have done in the past then the Government must provide specific recommendations based on scientific advice, and vets need to pull together with doctors to limit the use of problematic drugs."
The research, carried out by the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) VetCompass programme, involved analysing data from 333,910 bitches who presented at veterinary practices participating in the programme between 2014 and 2017.
The study also indicated that the females of certain breeds are more prone to UI than others, with Hungarian Vizslas, Doberman, Weimaraners and Boxers most at risk.
UI affects around 3% of bitches in primary veterinary care in England.
The researchers say that a connection between neutering and UI in bitches has long been suspected but this study provides stronger evidence on the extent of the relationship.
The data also showed that age and bodyweight are major contributory factors to bitches developing UI as well as neutering and breed. Other key findings include:
Bitches over nine years old are 1.7 times more likely to develop UI compared to those younger than three years.
Bitches weighing over 10kg are 1.9 more likely to develop UI than those weighing less than 10kg, while bitches over 30kg are three times more likely.
Camilla Pegram, VetCompass epidemiologist and lead researcher on the study, said: "First opinion vets discuss and perform neuters on a daily basis but, until now, evidence on the link between neutering and urinary incontinence has been tenuous.
"This study provides stronger evidence of an important association between neutering and urinary incontinence. The decision to neuter a bitch is based on many factors, not just incontinence risk alone. However, these results suggest that the component of the decision driven by urinary incontinence could be emphasised for the high-risk breeds and bitches of larger bodyweight.”
It is hoped that the results will aid owners and vets in making evidence-based decisions when it comes to neutering female dogs.
Reference
The webinar, titled: ‘When the coughing won’t stop…. what to do when standard BRD treatment protocols aren’t getting to the bottom of it’, aims help vets manage complex outbreaks that happen despite best practice management and treatment protocols.
The full programme includes:
The event is being held live so you can submit questions to the speakers, but the session will be recorded, so it can be watched again later.
Attendees will receive a certificate for one hour of CPD and the link to the recorded webinar.
To register, email the event team by 27 November 2020 at brdwebinar-group@ceva.com. In the email, please give your name and the email address to which you would like the registration link sent.
The oral corticosteroid powder formulation was previously only available in 180g tubs.
Severe equine asthma, which was previously known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Heaves, can lead to airway neutrophil influx and excessive mucus production. Although it is generally managed by environmental measures to suppose triggering factors, it can be combined with corticosteroid therapy to control airway inflammation in more severe cases.
Alana McGlade BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS, Equine Business Manager, said: "Severe equine asthma is the most common cause of chronic coughing in mature horses. Attributed to a hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens and dust, clinical signs - such as inflammation of the airways - can be alleviated by Equisolon’s active ingredient prednisolone.
"Prednisolone has been shown to have positive effects on clinical signs, endoscopic evaluation, arterial blood gases and pulmonary function when used in conjunction with environmental changes to reduce a horse’s exposure to potential triggers.
"Previously, vets would have had to measure out the powder but the sachets make dosing more convenient. The sachets come in a box of 10, so each pack will treat one 300 kg horse for 10 days or one 600 kg horse for 5 days. As the sachets are pre-measured, horses get exactly the dose they need.”
Equisolon oral powder contains 33.3 mg/g of prednisolone and should be administered at 1 mg prednisolone per kg of body weight per day. Treatment can be repeated at 24 hour intervals during 10 consecutive days.
For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk
Norbrook Laboratories Ltd has launched a second generation Eprinomectin Pour On solution with zero milk withhold and a 10 day meat withdrawal period. Eprizero, for beef and dairy cattle, is indicated for the treatment and prevention of a range of economically damaging gutworm and lungworm infections and external parasites in a pour on application. It offers zero milk withhold and an improved meat withdrawal period of 10 days. Andrew Hillan MVB MRCVS, Director of Veterinary Science, Norbrook Laboratories Ltd., said: "Norbrook has launched Eprizero to offer vets and farmers a more versatile alternative in the treatment of economically damaging worms and external parasites. The active ingredient in Eprizero, Eprinomectin, is both potent and fast-acting and is supported by independent studies which show increased milk yield, improved fertility and increased dry matter intake following treatment. With a zero milk and 10 day meat withdrawal and waterproof properties, Eprizero offers real versatility to vets and farmers in terms of when and where they treat. It is this versatility that we believe will make Eprizero the gold standard in anthelmintic treatment for prolonged infestations of gut worm and lung worm in both dairy and beef cattle." Eprizero is available in four sizes - 250ml, 1L, 2.5L and 5L - with a free 75ml gun supplied with the two larger pack sizes. It is administered using a 75ml dispensing gun to enable accurate application. Eprizero is registered for use in the UK and Ireland and is available to order from your local Norbrook Sales Representative.
The RCVS has published Fitness to Practise - A Guide for UK Veterinary Schools and Veterinary Students, a guide for veterinary students which aims to introduce them to the concept of fitness to practise and help prepare them for professional life.
The guide was developed by an RCVS working party in conjunction with the UK's seven veterinary schools that currently offer an RCVS-approved veterinary degree. It has also received approval from the Veterinary Schools Council, a new body which represents the interests of the country's veterinary schools.
The guide is split into two parts: the first part provides guidance for veterinary schools on how to recognise and address fitness to practise concerns; the second part sets out the broad principles of fitness to practise that students should follow and which veterinary schools should uphold.
Laura McClintock, an Advisory Solicitor from the RCVS Professional Conduct Department, said: "While we don't regulate veterinary students themselves, we hope that this guidance will prepare future vets for the requirements and standards that we expect from members of a regulated profession and for adhering to our Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance.
"The guide also recognises that each university will have its own specific disciplinary guidelines and procedures, but we hope that this will help promote consistency in their fitness to practise regimes.
"Although we expect any adverse findings made in university fitness to practise proceedings to be declared to us upon application to register, we would take into account the fact that a student is not a fully-fledged professional and would therefore make some allowance for any mistakes and poor judgement when considering whether or not they should join the Register."
The guide can be downloaded for free from www.rcvs.org.uk/studentguide
The RCVS is also in the process of forming a working party to produce equivalent guidance for student veterinary nurses.
The RCVS has announced the names of the candidates standing in the Council elections this year and is, once again, inviting veterinary surgeons to put questions to them directly in this year’s 'Quiz the candidates'.
There are eight candidates (well, seven really, if you exclude the 'Donald Trump' candidate) contesting six places in the RCVS Council, including four existing Council members eligible for re-election and four new candidates. They are:
Ballot papers and candidates’ details are due to be posted to all veterinary surgeons eligible to vote during the week commencing 14 March, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016.
To submit a question to the candidates, email it (NB only one per person) to vetvote16@rcvs.org.uk, post it on the College’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thercvs) or on twitter using the hashtag #vetvote16, by midday on Monday, 29 February.
Each candidate will then be invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received, and produce a video recording of their answers. All recordings will be published on the RCVS website on Thursday 17 March.
RCVS Chief Executive Nick Stace said: "Last year, all election candidates produced videos for the first time and, with over 3,500 views in total, it seemed a popular way for voters to find out more about the individuals who were standing.
"Providing a way for all vets and vet nurses to put their own questions to the candidates is now an integral part of the elections, and one which we hope will continue to encourage people to get involved and have their say."
Global names in gastroenterology will be sharing the latest knowledge to help veterinary surgeons and nurses support the work of the BHS and Nottingham University’s REACT to colic campaign, which is designed to help vets and horse owners work together for colic patients.
On Friday 13th September there'll be a two-hour session chaired by Harry Carslake, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary internal medicine (ACVIM). The session will involve five experts speaking about aspects of colic, followed by discussion and the opportunity for questions from delegates.
Natasha Jocelyn, Internal Medicine Specialist, Sussex Equine Hospital, will speak about managing the acute colic in the field: what to do when flunixin doesn’t work.
Prof. Dr. Gunther Van Loon European Veterinary Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium, will discuss managing acute colic in the equine hospital.
Dr Nathan Slovis member of the American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine, Director of the McGee Medicine Department and a partner at Haygard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky will explain colic guidelines – can ‘algorithms’ help?
Prof. Dr Lutz Goehring European Veterinary Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, will explore the question ‘is there an evidence-based approach to managing enteritis?’
David Rendle European Veterinary Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine, Rainbow Equine Hospital, North Yorkshire, will look at parasitic disease as a cause of colic and methods of management.
All BEVA Congress delegates get a certificate of attendance worth seven hours of CPD.
If you're struggling for time or torn between several lectures you can use the BEVA Congress Encore Room to play back missed lectures at your convenience. BEVA Congress is also providing day crèche for children between the ages of 0-8 years. Find out more here.
Anyone who registers for Congress before 8 May 2019 will receive significantly reduced booking fees, and BEVA members save up to £379 on their Congress passes.
Flimabend is diluted into water and replaces the flock’s drinking water for a set period during the day.
The new 20g pack includes a post-prescription leaflet to help veterinary surgeons support clients in calculating the correct dose, based on the bodyweight of their flock. It also includes a measuring scoop to ensure accurate administration.
Flimabend is effective against the three key intestinal worms affecting chickens – Ascaridia (roundworm); Capillaria (hairworm) and Heterakis gallinarum, which can be a vector for Blackhead disease. No egg withdrawal period is required.
Charlotte Read, Krka's Key Account Manager – Farm said: “Poultry-rearing is on the increase in the UK, both at a commercial level and among the public. Recent figures suggest that more than one million UK households keep chickens, with the majority of domestic flocks comprising five laying hens and a cockerel1.
"A regular worming routine is, of course, essential for optimal flock health and ensuring ease of use in a worming product is the most effective way of ensuring compliance, especially among those keeping backyard chickens.
“As one of the first water-based worming products available for small flocks, Flimabend now offers an innovative presentation of Flubendazole which we believe offers a new level of convenience and flexibility.”
Krka is currently offering virtual ‘lunch and learns’ on the worming of backyard chickens. Contact your Krka Account Manager for more details.
The fellowship provides a grant of up to £35,000 for work in companion animal research to be spent over a maximum of two years.
Applications are open to veterinary surgeons who have completed a postgraduate qualification such as a PhD or Masters, and who are within the first four years after starting an academic post (Lecturer, Fellowship or above) and have received no more than £50,000 of funding in competitive external grants to date.
David Killick, Chair of the BSAVA PetSavers Grants Awarding Committee said: “BSAVA PetSavers is delighted to launch the PetSavers Research Fellowship.
"It is well recognised that the journey from completion of a PhD to becoming established as an independent researcher is one of the most challenging times of a researcher career.
“With this new grant BSAVA PetSavers will support exceptional veterinary professionals in the Early Career Researcher phase develop their research ideas by providing £35,000 towards research costs over a two-year period.
"Through this initiative BSAVA PetSavers aims to help these researchers reach their potential and in so doing expand the capacity for companion animal research in the UK.”.
Applications close on 28th February 2022, and a decision will be made by the end of May 2022.
To apply for the Research Fellowship, visit the BSAVA PetSavers website: https://www.petsavers.org.uk/Apply-for-funding/research-fellowship
The plenary speaker was Professor Rory O’Connor, Chair of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Health & Wellbeing whose talk: "When it is darkest: understanding suicide risk" opened the day with an outline of his 25 years of work looking into suicide prevention.
Rory discussed his recent investigation into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people’s mental health and wellbeing, and how to reduce the risk of suicidal ideation turning into suicidal action.
He said: “In the last 10 to 15 years there has been an increased focus in particular on psychological and psycho-social interventions for helping people who are suicidal.
"Although suicide is complex, interventions, even brief interventions, can be effective.”
Rory was followed by presentations from a number of teams, including those who'd been awarded the MMI’s Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant in 2019 and 2020:
The full report of the day’s talks can be found here https://www.vetmindmatters.org/resources/report-mind-matters-initiative-research-symposium-2021
The clinic offers Specialist care primarily for patients with osteoarthritis pain, but also those with chronic pain caused by other conditions, such as cancer, dental and ear diseases, spinal disease and feline hyperaesthesia syndrome.
BVS says cats and dogs coming to the clinic will get the highest level of care with a specialist assessment from Jo, who also also works closely with the orthopaedic and neurology services to offer a global and holistic approach.
The assessment will identify signs of chronic pain, gauge the severity, and also evaluate the impact of the condition on the animal’s quality of life.
Jo says it is important to identify these conditions as early as possible, as instigating pain management early helps to dampen down pain signals and reduce overall upregulation of the pain pathways.
To that end, Jo uses validated clinical metrology instruments (owner questionnaires) to measure the severity of pain, especially during initial appointments.
Should a condition be detected, Jo and her team will be able to offer pharmacotherapy, intra-articular and epidural injections and acupuncture.
Jo also works closely with physiotherapists and hydrotherapy services, which can be used as adjunctive therapy.
Jo said, said: “Many cats and dogs will experience chronic pain. These cases need to be thoroughly investigated to ensure that the cause of pain is properly identified and treatment quickly provided. We are very pleased to be able to open our new chronic pain clinic for cat and dog owners in the South West today to provide this essential service.”
https://www.bristolvetspecialists.co.uk
Founded in 2005 by Jane Howorth MBE, the British Hen Welfare Trust rehomes commercial laying hens that would usually be sent to slaughter, typically at 18 months.
The charity has rehomed hens in schools, community areas, prisons and back gardens around the country, where they have plenty of life left both as egg layers and companions.
The millionth hen, named Henrietta by His Majesty, was rehomed at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire, along with 30 others earlier this month.
Jane said: “We’re thrilled that one million hens have been adopted and extremely pleased that Henrietta and her 30 feathered friends are heading to Highgrove Gardens.
"Helping a lorry load of 4,000 was my original target and we’ve exceeded my expectations by some margin!
"To think that so many hens have had a happy retirement gives me a great deal of pleasure as I’m sure it has for all the kind-hearted British supporters who’ve taken these deserving little creatures into their homes and hearts.
"From the day I started this charity, it’s been a privilege to meet and work with people who want to help hens and to work alongside the egg industry to champion hen welfare and free range eggs.”
www.bhwt.org.uk/one-millionth-hen.
For the study, Tim Charlesworth, an RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery from Eastcott Referrals (pictured right), analysed 260 cases where dogs had undergone laparoscopic or open surgical ovariectomy between January 2013 and January 2018 by the same team of similarly experienced surgeons using standard practice anaesthetic, theatre and perioperative protocols. Complications were then compared between the two groups.
44% (46) of the dogs that underwent open ovariectomy developed a complication, compared to 20% (31) of those that underwent laparoscopic ovariectomy.
Whilst the authors acknowledge the limitations of a retrospective study and emphasise that confirmation requires a randomised trial, they say that when considered alongside previously demonstrated improved postoperative comfort and earlier return to normal function, laparoscopy could be considered preferable for ovariectomy in dogs.
The Boehringer Academy (www.boehringer-academy.co.uk) contains hundreds of hours of CPD material on equine, companion and production animals. It comprises a mixture of webinars, podcasts, short videos and downloadable documents, which can be viewed at any time. The site keeps a CPD log for each user and provides downloadable certificates.
Boehringer’s Small Animal Marketing Team Leader, Jemima Mead said: "We already have just over 15,000 vets and nurses in the UK and Ireland currently registered with the Academy.
"New and existing members are eligible to receive the Boehringer Academy colouring book. They simply have to visit www.boehringer-academy.co.uk and complete their profile. In addition, everyone completing their profile will be entered into a draw to win an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil."
Acepromazine-based Acecare is used alongside other opioids and reduces the amount of anaesthetic necessary to induce anaesthesia by approximately one third.
Animalcare Product Manager Eleanor Workman Wright said: "Practices are looking for greater cost-effectiveness in the products they use and are also keen to reduce waste.
"We are delighted to announce that Acecare, a trusted staple of anaesthetic protocols in use at many practices is now offering improved performance in both of these areas.”
For more information, contact your Animalcare Territory Manager or contact Animalcare’s head office on 01904 487687.
The course was developed with RCVS Leadership and Inclusion Manager, Gurpreet Gill (pictured), and aims to increase self-awareness of unconscious bias, explore strategies to reduce it, and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Gurpreet said: “Unconscious bias is an area that some within the professions may not be familiar with and so this course provides an overview of unconscious bias and its impact in the workplace.
“We also explore strategies that we can all apply to help reduce unconscious bias.
"This is important in helping to achieve fairer and more equitable working environments, and I’d encourage any veterinary professional, whatever your role, to undertake the course.”
The course is accessible free via the RCVS Academy, and takes about an hour and three quarters to complete,
Building on the unconscious bias course, the RCVSA academy has also launched a course for members of the Fellowship Credentials Panels, who are responsible for assessing applications to the Fellowship.
Dr Niall Connell FRCVS, Acting Chair of the Fellowship Board, the governing body for the learned society, said: “This course explores the complexities of assessing applications, ensuring that each candidate receives a fair and thorough evaluation.
"Participants will gain insights into best practices for reviewing applications, offering constructive feedback, and identifying and addressing potential biases that may influence decision-making.
"By completing this course, participants will gain a heightened proficiency in assessing applications and managing bias, enabling them to support the RCVS’ mission of fostering equity, diversity and inclusion within the Fellowship.”
https://academy.rcvs.org.uk