Membership of the Dechra Academy is free and gives access to content from key opinion leaders examining topics such as diagnosis and treatment, monitoring and best practice.
The Academy covers subjects like anaesthesia, analgesia, endocrinology, dermatology and fluid therapy relating to exotics, equines, companion animals and food-producing animals.
The Academy includes webinars, eLearning, eBooks and videos, all of which provide CPD credits with downloadable certificates.
Dechra is currently running a new series of webinars through the Academy about how to successfully manage cases with the constraints of the coronavirus outbreak as part of its enhanced support for veterinary professionals.
Roddy Webster, Country Manager for the UK and ROI, said: "The Dechra Academy offers a vast range of valuable training support materials developed and led by our technical veterinary advisors and industry key opinion leaders. The platform reinforces our commitment to supporting the veterinary profession in the development of veterinary skills and knowledge.
“The refreshed Academy is more intuitive and flexible to use with improved functionality and navigation that makes it easier to access training as and when it suits the user.
“A community of more than 30,000 veterinary professionals are already benefiting from the learning opportunities available through the Academy and we would encourage anyone looking for exceptional and free CPD support to sign up now.”
To register for free access to the Dechra Academy, visit: www.dechra.co.uk/academy.
An environmental photojournalist, Mr Gekoski has won various well-known wildlife photography awards and is regularly featured in the press, most recently for his book Animosity: Human - Animal Conflict in the 21st Century.
Aaron will join BVA President James Russell, Association of Veterinary Students (AVS) Senior Vice President Izzie Arthur and two other judges nominated by the competition sponsor iM3 Veterinary Dentistry. The BVA photography competition has already had over 200 entries for this year's award since it launched in January. Split into three categories, entrants are asked to focus on images that capture the human-animal bond in day-to-day veterinary work, as well as photos of pets or wildlife taken outside of the working environment.
Submissions for each category can be taken on a phone or a high-spec camera, and should take into account responsible animal interaction and positive animal health and welfare.
The three categories are:
Aaron said: “It's a huge honour to be a judge for the BVA Veterinary Photographer of the Year Award, the most prestigious photographic competition for the veterinary profession. The competition helps shine a light on the invaluable and relentless work carried out by vets around the world; work that may otherwise go unnoticed. I look forward to bringing my experience as an environmental photojournalist to the judging process."
The BVA Veterinary Photographer of the Year Award 2021 closes at 11.59 GMT on 8th March 2021. Winners will be announced in April. They will receive a £250 John Lewis voucher and their pictures exhibited by BVA.
Find out more and submit your entries at www.bva.co.uk/photo-comp
The company says the webinars will equip veterinary professionals with strategies to strengthen wellbeing both individually and for practice teams.
Lauren Hayes, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Royal Canin, said: “Working within clinical veterinary practice can be hugely rewarding and enriching, but it cannot be ignored that our industry also has its challenges.
"Veterinary surgeons have a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to the general population and mental health issues around work life balance and compassion fatigue are widespread.
"Through our webinar series, we hope to encourage conversations around mental health and help provide advice directly from leading experts.”
The one-hour webinars will take place at 7pm every Wednesday throughout September.
https://vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk/news/new-veterinary-professional-health-webinar-series/
The project, which is funded by the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative, is designed to find out about current attitudes, beliefs, and alcohol use behaviours of those working in clinical settings within the UK veterinary sector.
Researchers Dr Jennifer Seddon, Olivia Cormier MRCVS, and Dr Emma Davies, from Oxford Brookes University are inviting people aged 18 and over who are working in the UK veterinary sector, including vets, veterinary nurses, practice managers, veterinary care assistants, receptionists, and those undertaking other in-practice roles, who currently drink or have drunk alcohol in the past three months to take part in an online survey which takes no more than 15 minutes.
Olivia said: “Evidence from research conducted in 2009 showed that veterinary professionals may be more likely to drink at risky levels compared to people in the general population.
"There is a vital need for new research in this area, not only so we can better understand what the current situation looks like, but so that we can learn how best to provide tailored support to this group.”
The survey is anonymous and confidential, and no personal data will be gathered or shared with MMI or the RCVS.
After completing the survey, participants can choose to enter a prize draw to win one of three £100 Amazon vouchers.
https://brookeshls.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0pHn8qy4ZIVTTgy
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
Compliance with equine medicines legislation involves the challenges of food production, equine passport and essential medicines legislation as well as the prescribing Cascade, VMD guidance and the RCVS practice standards scheme.
With these in mind, the online guidance now includes:
The BEVA says the new medicines guidance resource has already been invaluable for members working towards the new Practice Standards Scheme, such as Josh Slater from the RVC, who said: "The PSS Awards define what a high-functioning equine practice looks like. The BEVA medicines guidance documents enabled us to fulfil the PSS Awards scheme requirements for demonstrating responsible use of medicines and compliance with requirements such as Cascade prescribing and emergency treatment of horses, helping us to achieve our Outstanding rating in the PSS Awards. The resource will be very useful for all equine practices preparing for PSS inspections and continues to be an invaluable day-to-day reference source for us."
The BEVA will also be holding two equine medicine courses in October 2017, providing evidence-based updates on a range of topical issues in equine medicine. The focus will be on recent research with practical relevance and the courses are aimed at clinicians who have attained or are working towards certificate level qualifications. The first will be held in Oulton, Leeds on 10 October and the second in Oxford on 31 October.
The materials available include a scour management guide for farmers and a more detailed version for vets. They encourage a focus on three main areas for improved, sustained disease control: maximising calf immunity; identifying any causal agents and how to effectively manage an outbreak of calf scour on farm.
MSD Animal Health veterinary adviser Dr Kat Baxter-Smith (pictured right) said: "Even with good disease prevention protocols in place, calf scour outbreaks can still occur. But when they do, remedial action should focus on these three key areas to resolve the outbreak as quickly as possible and reduce the chances of another costly event happening in the future.
The company highlights a 202 survey of more than 300 farms, which found that over 80% of UK calf rearing units had seen a case of scour in the previous 12 months; with 50% of farms admitting to experiencing calf deaths due to the disease1. Costs are estimated at £57.94 per case but this does not include the longer-term impacts of the disease on future calf productivity.2,3
References
Equine vets and farriers in South Wales who need horses x-rayed can now use a new mobile service offered by Equiray. Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Equiray's technicians travel to the site to take digital x-rays, using state-of-the-art imaging equipment.
At the heart of Equiray's service is the Uno Equine portable digital x-ray system; the only system in the world that has a capture screen built into the generator. All images taken can be viewed within minutes and decisions made there and then regarding further tests. The x-ray images are emailed to the veterinary surgeon immediately, or supplied to the practice on a CD or memory stick. They are also stored securely by Equiray for a 3 month period.
For farriers, the image can be displayed on screen so they can see the internal bone structures encapsulated within the hoof before they start remedial work, and then another x-ray taken after the work has been completed. Both images can be viewed together for comparison.
Equiray says its service means practices don't have to buy and maintain costly equipment, nor send a practice technician to attend with the vet, as all Equiray technicians are highly skilled in equine imaging.
Equiray currently operates mainly in South Wales but with requests coming from other areas of the country, the company says its technicians are travelling to x-ray several horses in a particular area, over a 2 day period. Remedial farriers requiring monthly x-rays of certain horses are also using the service and plans to extend the service nationally are in progress.
For more information, visit www.equiray.co.uk/
Nutraflex contains turmeric curcumin complex and boswellia extract, which Nutravet says work synergistically to support the natural systems that control inflammation.
The new product also contains glucosamine, a structural component of cartilage, and chondroitin sulphate to help maintain synovial fluid viscosity.
Nutravet claims the new product is fast acting, soothes stiff joints, aids long-term mobility, flexibility and joint structure, and supports the natural systems that control inflammation.
Chris Jones, Director at Nutravet said: “We’re delighted to be adding Nutraflex to our market-leading range of natural health products for pets.
"We’re always looking at ways of improving our products and Nutraflex provides our authorised stockists with a high strength veterinary exclusive joint support, supported by independent trial data, which works quickly to ultimately help pets that are suffering with joint stiffness.”
Nutraflex is available to order exclusively to authorised veterinary practices.
For more information, contact Nutravet on 0845 604 1688, email info@nutravet.co.uk or visit www.nutravet.com.
This adds to the company's existing lab network, which also includes Southfields Veterinary Specialists Diagnostic Laboratory and the Dick White Referrals Diagnostic Laboratory.
In addition to its lab services, the company also offers in-house diagnostics, imaging and technology solutions, telemedicine services and rapid diagnostics.
In the UK, the company will offer KeyScreen, a DNA-based GI parasite screening solution, AIS RapidRead, an imaging technology that enables diagnosis in under ten minutes, and coming soon, Nu.Q, a system that measures nucleosomes to screen and monitor for canine cancer.
Antech will be at the London Vet Show this year, where veterinary teams will have the chance to hear from the company's head of clinical pathology, Dr Butty Villiers and head of anatomic pathology, Dr Rachel Pittaway, about the latest innovations and diagnostics developments.
antechdiagnostics.com
Vygon Vet has launched a procedural custom pack service.
Vygon Vet's procedural custom packs contain all the single-use devices required for a specific procedure enclosed within a sterile wrap. Components available include draping material, theatre clothing, swabs, kidney dishes, forceps etc. Vygon Vet says the service has been developed to reduce infection risks, but also to help manage staff resources more effectively and identify total procedure costs for billing purposes.
The first custom pack is now being used by the team of clinicians at Charter Veterinary Hospital. Dave Tittle BVetMed MRCVS said "The pack contains everything we need, designed to our specification, and will save us theatre preparation time and added expense".
A number of customers have committed themselves to the new service and by the end of 2010 Vygon Vet aims to have many more practices on board. The custom pack service supports Vygon Vet's range of theatre draping packs already available.
For more information, visit www.vygonvet.co.uk
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has released the results of a survey carried out earlier this year which has found that there may be up to 5 times as many veterinary graduates wanting to work in equine practice as there are jobs available.
The survey was carried out amongst the 2,500 vets and vet students who are members of BEVA to help ascertain manpower requirements of equine practices in the UK.
Of the 819 new veterinary graduates in the UK in 2012, BEVA says it estimates conservatively that between 10-15% intend to work in equine practice. Meanwhile, the extrapolated results of the survey suggest that in 2012 there was less than 1% growth in full time equine vet positions and as few as 24 new permanent jobs available in the UK.
BEVA says that in line with the survey's suggestion of restricted opportunities, some of its members are also finding that internships, commonly the domain of new graduates to gain paid, supervised experience in practice, are now often taken by vets with some post-graduate experience. Furthermore, unpaid externships, which traditionally gave vet students valuable work experience, appear to be being filled by unemployed veterinary graduates wanting to gain experience in order to improve their chances of securing a job in equine practice.
Tim Mair, a partner at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Kent said: "Earlier this year we had more than 80 applications for just one internship. Several years ago we would expect 50 or so applications for an advertised intern post but now, without advertising at all, we are constantly receiving applications, not just from new graduates but also from those who have been qualified for a year or more."
Charlie Schreiber, a partner at Donnington Grove Veterinary Surgery in Berkshire, said: "We take on an average of two externs a month and over the past four years have had more than 350 applicants but their calibre is noticeably changing. We used to hear primarily from students but now it tends to be recent graduates or those who have already done a job in mixed practice and are keen to move into equine but can't find an internship."
Andrew Harrison, a partner at Three Counties Equine Hospital in Gloucestershire, said: "In addition to the numerous applications we received for our recently advertised internship position, we are inundated with unsolicited enquiries about job opportunities from recent veterinary graduates from across the globe. Our most recent advertisement for an equine veterinary nurse has attracted interest from a handful of recently qualified vets desperate to find work. This employment problem is not confined to internships; some of our recent interns have found it very difficult, if not impossible to find a job in horse practice, once they've completed their internship."
Amanda Piggot, a recent graduate, has first hand experience of the challenge of finding a suitable placement. She said: "I have always wanted to work in equine practice and my approach has been very strategic. It took me five months to find my current position at Kessock Equine Vets in Inverness, which necessitated moving 500 miles further north than I ideally wanted. For my next position I applied to Liphook twice and had no luck but I have now been accepted by Rossdales for a two year internship."
According to the British Veterinary Association (BVA) the problem isn't confined to equine practice. The Association's President Peter Jones said: "The findings of the BEVA survey make sober reading and reflect the growing concerns in the wider veterinary profession about opportunities for new graduates in all types of veterinary practice.
"The issue has recently been brought into sharp focus by the announcement of a new veterinary school opening at the University of Surrey in 2014, with many BVA and BEVA members worried about an oversupply of veterinary graduates into an already competitive market. We are expecting the results of the RCVS survey of recent graduates shortly and, alongside the findings of the BEVA survey, they will provide an evidence-base to build on as we continue to assess the UK veterinary manpower implications of potential new veterinary schools in the future."
BEVA is keen to help both potential employees and employers tackle the situation as constructively as possible. BEVA President Keith Chandler said: "BEVA is proud that equine practice is attractive to so many younger members of the profession and it can provide a rewarding and fulfilling career. However we urge all stakeholders to ensure that current and prospective veterinary students are fully aware of the very limited opportunities in equine practice. Most of all we urge the students themselves to consider carefully their career path and prospects before making their final decisions."
Next month the RCVS will be releasing details of a survey of vets who have graduated within the past five years and how easy they have found it to find a job that meets their needs.
The British Safety Council has launched a new qualification to help people who drive as part of their work stay safe on the roads.
According to the organisation, the Level 2 Award in Safe Driving at Work provides work drivers with key knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with driving and equips them with valuable guidance on the measures available for reducing these risks, such as vehicle inspection, behaviour and defensive driving.
According to estimates from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), up to a third of all road traffic accidents in Britain involve someone involved in work-related activity. In 2013, according to government figures, 1,713 people died on the road, with the total number of casualties standing at 183,670.
The Ofqual-regulated qualification, which is designed to be delivered by employers or training organisations, instructs learners on a range of topics including the particular risks associated with vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, the importance of regular vehicle safety checks and how to adapt driving style in response to changes in driving conditions or the actions of others.
Alex Botha, the British Safety Council's Chief Executive, said: "Driving can be a risky activity, a fact borne out by the high number of injuries and fatalities that occur annually on our roads.
"However, simple steps can be taken by employers and drivers to manage and reduce this risk. Our new Level 2 Award in Safe Driving at Work provides learners with all the essential knowledge to help them stay safe on the roads.
"Learners can expect to leave the qualification with a thorough knowledge of the main risks posed by driving - whether to themselves or other road users - and how to reduce them.
"Once registered with us, employers or training centres deliver the training using the high-quality teaching and student materials provided. Qualifications are assessed through a 45-minute multiple-choice examination that can be either taken online or on paper.
"This is a stand-alone qualification designed for delivery as a short course. It is also well-suited for integration into wider vocational programmes of study or, for example, as part of an induction programme. Students need no former knowledge or experience, so can come from a diverse range of educational and employment backgrounds.
"Safer driving habits should also feed through into workers' personal lives, providing employers with a valuable corporate social responsibility tool to help make our roads safer in and out of work."
21-year-old Amber recently graduated with a first class degree in Zoology from the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and was then offered one of 72 places at Harper and Keele Veterinary School.
However, because it is her second degree, she is not eligible for a student fee loan. Whilst she has been able to save enough for her first year at vet school, she doesn't have the £37,000 needed to fund the other four. The pandemic is also making it harder to earn more money to put towards her career, as she has had to shield with her grandmother.
To try and make up the shortfall, Amber set up a gofundme page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/amberintovetmed) and contacted KentOnline and VetSurgeon.org to try and get some publicity for her fundraising efforts, and to highlight the financial barrier for working class people like her who are trying to fulfill their dream to become a veterinary surgeon. She has already raised £933.
Amber has made a video about her story, which you can watch on her fundraising page, or on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTTpAiNvz8g
Meanwhile, she has deferred her entry to vet school until she can secure further funding.
Talking about her longer term ambition, Amber said: "Being within the BAME community myself, black in STEM, and coming from a working class background, I want to be an advocate and an affiliate for students who shall face the same challenges and wish to pursue this upon becoming a vet. I also want to contribute to wildlife and conservation and the one health initiative."
For more information, or to contact Amber, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-cordice-0121a41b0
The company says the product improves oral health in three ways: cleaning teeth, freshening breath, and helping to reduce the formation of new plaque and tartar.
The stick is spiral-shaped to maximise contact with the teeth.
As the dog chews, a soft centre is released, which targets the bacteria which causes bad breath and plaque.
Dental Care Sticks are available in three sizes.
Jayne Laycock, Vet in Residence at Yumove said: “Poor dental health affects around 80% of the dog population and is the most commonly reported problem in primary care vet practices.
"We know that less than 50% of dog owners use a dental product as regularly as they should.
"Yumove Dental care sticks can be easily incorporated into a dog’s existing routine and have been developed to clean teeth, tackle bad breath and through our ActivBarrier technology, support the balance of bacteria in a dog’s mouth - helping to maintain healthy gums and teeth.”
YuMOVE Dental Care Sticks start at £10.
www.yumove.co.uk
An online presentation by Danielle Gunn-Moore, Professor of Feline Medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, has been launched by Dechra Veterinary Products as part of its Dechra Academy training suite.
During the presentation, Professor Gunn-Moore uses a case study approach to discuss all aspects of the condition from diagnosis through to its treatment, management and on-going monitoring. She reminds viewers that an individual approach must be taken in treating affected cats as the clinical signs can be subtle and starting treatment with the lowest possible dose of anti-thyroid medication is likely to prove physiologically beneficial.
"The study I've recently been involved in showed that the treatment of hyperthyroid cats can result in iatrogenic hypothyroidism*. Hypothyroid cats are significantly more likely to develop azotaemia than euthyroid cats - and hypothyroid cats that developed azotaemia in the study had significantly shorter survival times*.
"The message for practitioners is that there is no 'standard recipe' in treating hyperthyroidism. The clinical signs aren't always obvious and it's important to check for concurrent heart and kidney disease. You then need to tailor treatment, starting with a low dose of medication and, if necessary, increasing it by the smallest increments possible."
To watch Professor Gunn-Moore's presentation, visit www.dechra.co.uk/hyperthyroidism.
Reference:* Williams, T. et al (2010) JVIM 24: 1086-1092
Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, has teamed up with leading cardiac rehabilitation experts at Harefield Hospital to help patients in their final phase of coronary recovery.
The recovery programme, Hounds Help Hearts, is, according to the charity, a UK first and encourages post coronary patients to walk dogs as part of their recovery.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation team at Harefield Hospital aims to improve the physical, social and psychological well being of people after a heart attack or similar cardiac event. Among the recommendations for an ongoing healthy lifestyle, patients are being introduced to Dogs Trust Harefield where they can help staff, canine residents and themselves by walking some of the 150 dogs in their care. The charity hopes that heart hospitals UK wide will follow suit.
Hounds Help Hearts is part of a wider initiative to promote The Dog Prescription - a research document that highlights the ways dogs can improve human health. Dogs Trust is urging GPs all over the UK to prescribe a daily dose of dog with The Dog Prescription after research highlights the health benefits of dog ownership for both children and adults.
Lynda Evans, senior nurse /modern matron at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for patients recovering from a cardiac event and what better way to do it than alongside a grateful canine companion. We have been running the 'Care For Your Heart' Rehabilitation Programme for more than 20 years and as a leading specialist heart and lung hospital we are always looking for new ways to help patients to enjoy the best possible quality of life when they return home. We are delighted to be working with Dogs Trust on this initiative and partnering patients with dogs to help them reach their full potential through interaction and physical exercise."
The Dog Prescription highlights the mental and physical benefits of dog ownership and interaction and names dog ownership as an aid to the recovery of post coronary patients
Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust CEO said: "We undertook this research as we were aware of the health benefits of dog ownership but wanted to fully evaluate its potential. Amongst its ten points (which are not exhaustive), the prescription details health benefits including the fact that dogs can aid the recovery of post coronary patients. We want to spread the word about the health benefits of dogs and we hope that GPs and hospitals will start to encourage patients to engage with dogs for a healthier and happier lifestyle"
You can read the full research here.
The Kennel Club has announced the results of some research which shows that children's pester power was behind the decision to buy a dog for one in four households1.
One in ten said their children chose the breed or crossbreed that they ended up buying. One in ten also said they buy dogs as presents, something which the Kennel Club highlights as a concern in the run up to Christmas.
The Kennel Club's Discover Dogs survey, which has been conducted to highlight the event of the same name which takes place at Earls Court on 9th and 10th November, has also revealed that too many people are buying a dog without realising that there are great differences between the care needs of the different breeds and crossbreeds. One in ten admitted that they did no research about their chosen breed but bought their puppy because of the way that it looked. A further 40% said that they chose their puppy because they liked the way that the breed looked overall.
According to Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations, 'wrong breed' and 'can't cope' account for 15% of the dogs that need to be rehomed, a situation that could be easily avoided with the right research2. Only 17% of people in the Kennel Club's Discover Dogs survey say that their choice of dog was influenced by whether it would suit their lifestyle.
To try and address this issue, the Kennel Club has launched a Discover Dogs homework pack for children, to help them to do vital research about dog ownership.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "Children have a major influence on their parents' decision to buy a dog in the first place, and then over which type of dog they buy. In the lead up to Christmas we want families to be thinking carefully about whether a dog is right for them, and if so which breed would suit their lifestyle, rather than buying on a whim, and this is what the Discover Dogs event is all about.
"We have released the Discover Dogs homework packs to help children get all of the information that they and their parents need to make the right choice about their lifelong companion. This ranges from the type of dog they buy, where they buy it from, and what that dog will need throughout its life."
Children under 12 years old go free to the Kennel Club's Discover Dogs event, where they will be entertained in the Young Kennel Club Kids' Zone with fun dog displays, face painting, treasure hunts and much more.
The Young Kennel Club is open to children aged 6-24 years old and it helps young dog lovers to learn new skills, understand more about dogs, to build confidence and to make new friends. The homework pack can be found at www.discoverdogs.org.uk/buyingadog.
Newmarket-based Test and Treat was one of three finalists, for its U-Treat test which enables vets to diagnose a UTI and get antibiotic sensitivity results in an hour.
Rachel Kirkby MRCVS, Business Development Director at Test and Treat, said: "It’s a great accolade to be recognised by such a prestigious award. The Vet Record Innovation Award celebrates new innovations that can bring about improvement and make a real difference to vets in practice – and that’s exactly what we’re aiming to do with U-Treat.”
The second finalist was the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid, developed by Public Health England (PHE), in collaboration with the University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine. Initially developed in zoos, rescue and research centres, there are plans now to develop it for use in small animal practice and in the farm sector.
The overall winner was PBD Biotech for Actiphage, its test for bTB and Johne's disease which gives very early detection, thereby allowing vets and farmers to prevent the spread of infection.
For more information, visit: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.267
Vetbromide is presented as a 600mg double divisible tablet for both large and small dogs, and for greater flexibility with dose titration. Tablets are blister packed for ease of storage and dispensing, with a four-year unopened shelf life.
Alongside the launch, TVM has prepared a range of product support materials, including: product guidelines, treatment and monitoring guidelines, seizure management ‘lunch and learn’ sessions, and pet owner information.
TVM has also created a free e-learning tool which takes veterinary staff through the process of diagnosing, treating and monitoring dogs with suspected epilepsy.
Will Peel, product manager at TVM said: "The addition of Vetbromide to our epilepsy range allows vets more flexibility when treating epileptic patients. To further assist vets, we are also offering a wide range of free literature and in-practice support to ensure that veterinary staff are up to speed on such a common, yet at times complicated, topic.’
For more information, visit www.tvm-uk.com/epilepsy, or contact your TVM UK Territory Manager.
The session will provide a practical guide to dealing with various emergencies that may present to vets and nurses across multiple disciplines.
The full schedule includes:
Arlene Connor, Interim Hospital Director at Hamilton Specialist Referrals, said: “Being presented with an emergency patient can be an intense and high-pressure situation, and it’s one that all vet professionals should do their best to prepare for so they are comfortable making decisions under pressure.
"We have a brilliant team here at Hamilton Specialist Referrals, all of whom are well equipped and very experienced when it comes to dealing with emergencies and this is an unrivalled opportunity to learn from them.”
Tickets cost £80+vat, including lunch and refreshments
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-emergency-patient-tickets-861637851007
www.hamiltonspecialists.vet
In the study, which was supported by MSD and led by Rosie Lyle of Bishopton Veterinary Group, 18 farmers placed temperature loggers in the fridge where they normally store vaccines. Temperatures were then monitored between February and April. Throughout this period, 89% of loggers recorded a temperature outside the 2–8°C range at least once, and 43% recorded temperatures outside this range more than 50% of the time.
The authors say that these findings raise potential concerns about vaccine efficacy.
Rosie found that 55% of the loggers recorded a temperature over 8°C, and 39% recorded a temperature below 2°C.
Across all the fridges monitored, the maximum temperature recorded was 12°C and the minimum was -11.5°C.
Rosie said: "This is a surprisingly wide range. Obviously, these findings are concerning for farmers as we know that both too high and too low temperatures can impair vaccine efficacy.
"Live vaccines tend to be particularly sensitive to elevated temperatures, whereas inactivated vaccines are more affected by freezing, especially when the adjuvant contains aluminium salts".
"It’s important for both farmers and vets to be aware of potential concerns about vaccine efficacy, given the possible impact on herd health and the potential for vaccine failure to reduce trust in vaccines and herd health recommendations".
In light of Rosie’s findings, other XLVets practices are now encouraging farmers to take action to improve medicine storage, including using max/min thermometers or temperature loggers to track fridge temperature, as well as taking steps to maximise the efficiency of each fridge.
Susan Goodfellow, Marketing Manager at XLVets, said: "We wouldn’t have known that this is an important issue to highlight to farmers without collecting the information, so Rosie’s study was very valuable.
"In the XLVets community, we support clinical leadership with these kind of projects – we actively collect data and make sure that farmers can benefit from the latest findings. As a group of independent practices working together, we can achieve much more than we could in isolation."
The association says the new Recognised Internships significantly enhance its existing programme which just listed available internships in equine practice.
Over the past year BEVA has worked with veterinary practices across the UK to develop a set of core skills that should be covered during an internship.
These standards sit alongside BEVA's existing Employment Toolkit which outlines what a new graduate should be considering when applying for a job (such as working hours, pay, CPD allowance).
Roger Smith, BEVA Junior Vice President said: “The new programme gives practices constructive guidance to provide a positive and inspirational introduction to a career as an equine vet, rather than the perhaps rushed and unintentionally unstructured, labour focused junior positions that have been experienced in times past.”
BEVA Chief Executive David Mountford said: “We are delighted that nearly 40 equine veterinary practices have already signed up to our Recognised Internships initiative.
"It is such a positive sign that as a profession we are all committed to ensuring we can offer the best start to those entering the profession.”
https://www.beva.org.uk/internships
Practices interested in joining the scheme should contact Fiona Cunnington - fiona@beva.org.uk
RVC researchers say that the VetCompass study is the largest ever carried out into dental disease in cats using veterinary clinical records.
The study investigated a sample of 18,249 cats randomly selected from a study population of 1,255,130 cats in the UK in 2019.
Periodontal disease was recorded in 15.2% of the sample making it the most common disorder.
The cat breeds with the highest annual levels of this diagnosis were Siamese (18.7%), Maine Coon (16.7%) and British Short Hair (15.5%) as well as crossbreeds (15.4%).
The average bodyweight of cats with periodontal disease (5.7kg) was higher than for cats without periodontal disease (5.5kg).
The risk of periodontal disease rose steeply as cats got older, with cats aged 9 to 12 years being 6.7 times more likely to have periodontal disease compared with cats aged under 3 years.
Cats with periodontal disease were much more likely to have a range of other health conditions compared to cats without periodontal disease (x 1.8 risk).
These conditions included cardiac dysrhythmia (x 2.3 risk), ear discharge (x 2.3 risk) and hairball/furball (x 2.3 risk).
The researchers say that these findings suggest that periodontal disease should be acknowledged as a leading health and welfare issue in cats, and highlight the need for greater dental care in cats as they age.
The study was supported by an award from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and Agria Pet Insurance.
The company says the Elekta Infinity linear accelerator is the only one of its kind for pets in England.
It features a multi-leaf collimator for very accurate shaping of the radiation beam and a six-degrees-of-freedom couch top designed so the patient can be positioned to reduce or eliminate radiation doses to critical organs.
CVS says the new machine will allow the centre to offer cutting edge treatments such as stereotactic radiation therapy, where high dose rates of focused beams are delivered with high precision over a shortened treatment course.
This, the company claims, will mean fewer, shorter sessions, fewer side effects and the best possible chance of improved outcomes for the animal.
Delphine Holopherne-Doran, Clinical Director at Bristol Vet Specialists, said: “Our new hospital will be at the forefront of cancer care in animals.
“The linear accelerator is state of the art, and allows us to offer advanced, image-guided radiation treatments - for example intensity-modulated or stereotactic radiation therapy.
"The advantage to these treatments is that they will allow a more “hard-hitting” treatment of the tumour, with greater safety for the patient’s healthy tissue.
"It will draw many tumours into the realm of treatability.”
Based at Central Park, Avonmouth, Bristol Vet Specialists referral hospital is due for completion this Autumn.
Sureflap, the microchip pet door company has teamed up with animal behaviourist Jon Bowen MRCVS to provide a free CPD-qualifying presentation about improving cats' quality of life with simple modifications to their environment.
In the 45-minute webinar Jon explains how the domestic environment impacts on the cat's territory and the stress this creates. He also offers practical advice on how owners can make the space feel safer for the pet.
To view the webinar go to www.sureflap.co.uk/vet/cpd/territory-stress. Complete the quiz at the end, and you'll be sent a CPD certificate.