The company says the sponsorship aims to expand the inclusion of under-represented groups in veterinary education.
Peter Holland, Associate Dean for Partnerships and Enterprise in UCLan’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “The University has a keen focus on improving access to, and inclusion of, under-represented communities in higher education, and the new School of Veterinary Medicine holds this ethos very much at its core.
"We took a different approach to selecting students for our BVMS course as we wanted to widen participation in veterinary education by addressing some of the demographic or circumstantial barriers that have denied people the chances of learning and becoming the next generation of vets.”
“As a ‘widening participation’ sponsor, Medivet is investing significantly in UCLan’s students to enable the school to realise many of its ambitions to broaden the entry pool into veterinary higher education, and is actively supporting their development across the five years for a successful future in the profession.”
Chris Cools, CEO of Medivet, said: “Our profession needs great clinical talent for a long term, healthy and sustainable future, and we are proud to support UCLan in its ambition to attract, teach and train a new generation of veterinary students from all backgrounds.”
The first cohort of 78 BVMS students enrolled in early September, with intake numbers rising to 120 per year after two years.
Kruuse has announced that it is to become the exclusive veterinary distributor in Europe for Kit4Cat, a globally patented hydrophobic sand for veterinary use.
Kit4Cat is a biodegradable sand with a natural non-toxic urine repelling coating which allows veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and cat owners to collect a urine sample for urinalysis without resorting to more invasive procedures. Kit4Cat is put in the cat's normal litter tray, whereupon it repels rather than absorbs the urine, allowing it to be collected with a pipette.
Andrew Groom, Managing Director, Kruuse UK Ltd., said: "This exciting agreement and product range further expands Kruuse's small animal product portfolio with its customers in Scandinavia, mainland Europe and the UK; increasing the already extensive range of feline products available to the veterinary practitioner."
Daniel Levitt, BA, MSM, CEO, Co-Founder & Board Member of Coastline Global, the makers of Kit4Cat, said: "This agreement will further expand our products presence within the veterinary industry, using Kruuse's strong relationships within veterinary practices, to promote less stressful ways of urine test collection prior to diagnosis and treatment of cats."
The newly-formed British Mobile Veterinary Association has announced that it will officially launch alongside the London Vet Show, at The Bird In Hand in Kensington at 7:00pm on the 19th November.
The launch will include an inaugural general meeting (AGM) followed by a networking dinner with special guest, mobile vet colleague, author, LVS speaker and IAAHPC President, Dr. Kathy Cooney, DVM (USA).
Co-Founder and owner of Vets2Home - Peaceful Pet Goodbyes Susan Gregersen said: "Having been a mobile vet for ten years, I am thrilled to see such a massive year-on-year increase in new mobile practices around the UK over the past 10 years and it seems a logical step to organise the growing number of colleagues operating this rather atypical and alternative practice model in an official Association.
Amy Bergs, owner of The Cat Doctor in Surrey and co-founder of the BMVA said: "It is our hope, through the BMVA and the online directory of mobile member practices, that we can help raise awareness among pet owners and vet colleagues alike about the valuable and high standard of services we offer to pets and their owners in their own home."
Susan added: "Offering veterinary health care to our patients in their own home, whenever possible, is a natural progression in a convenience-driven society and where companion animals are now regarded as fully fledged family members seeking only the very best in veterinary attention and health care. Demand for these services are clearly exploding as many owners now turn to dedicated, un-hurried and convenient services such as those offered by personal, flexible mobile vets and as comprehensive services are often offered in collaboration with local, forward-thinking full-service practices."
Amy, who is a cat-only mobile vet in her third year, added: "Providing quality at-home veterinary care is rewarding but not always easy, often requiring skills and techniques that can only be gained through experience. The ability to exchange and build professional knowledge in this developing, niche area is therefore invaluable and we hope all mobile vet colleagues in the UK will join us in this new initiative. By bringing together many like-minded individuals into an official association and online mobile vet directory, we aim to increase awareness of this alternative type of veterinary care – a goal which will benefit not only our members but also the patients and clients that appreciate our services."
For more information, membership enquiries or if you would like to attend the first AGM in London, contact Susan Gregersen on info@bmva.org.uk or call on 01273 842115. The BMVA and Online Directory can be found on www.bmva.org.uk (don't get the letters jumbled up) which will be launched shortly after the inauguration.
The draft code contains twenty recommendations to seek veterinary advice on the subject, compared to ten in the previous version, highlighting the crucial importance of veterinary surgeons' involvement in the welfare of meat chickens.
The new codes have been welcomed by the BVA, the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) and Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA), who jointly responded to the Government consultation on the updating of the codes.
BVA President John Fishwick said: "We welcome the Government’s recognition of the vital role the veterinary profession plays in poultry welfare, with further references throughout the updated draft code to the importance of seeking veterinary advice.
"We are particularly pleased to see the recommendation that welfare outcomes should be used to assess and monitor the ongoing welfare of the birds as part of the farm health and welfare plan, and with the signposting to the Humane Slaughter Association’s Poultry Catching and Handling Technical Note within the code.
"The British poultry industry already has some of the highest welfare standards in the world and the veterinary profession and poultry industry will continue to work with Defra on further enhancing animal welfare codes to reflect best industry practice."
The draft code was placed in Parliament on 9 January 2018. If there are no objections from Parliament, it will come into force in March 2018.
Photo: Flock of Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Roaming Freely in Front of Chicken Sheds on a Farm in the Rural Village of Chenson, Devon. Shutterstock / Peter Turner Photography
BCF Technology has launched a new series of CPD videos on VetSurgeon.org, this time showing how to conduct a basic cardiac ultrasound examination in small animals. The videos are followed by a short online quiz.
BCF in-house vet Kimberly Palgrave BS BVM&S GPCert(DI) MRCVS presents a series of free online instructional step-by-step videos demonstrating how to perform a basic cardiac ultrasound examination in the general practice setting.
These 3-5 minute videos, which were produced in collaboration with The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, also cover how to alter the controls on your ultrasound machine to get the most from your equipment.
The cardiac ultrasound videos follow the very popular series of videos created by BCF on scanning the small animal abdomen last year. The abdominal videos have had in total over 25,000 views on YouTube so far.
Kimberly Palgrave said: "Following some fantastic feedback on the abdominal ultrasound videos, we decided to produce this series of basic echocardiography videos. People were asking for help with cardiac examinations and we were happy to help. Please do let us know what you think and what you would like us to cover next."
Gavin Mitchell from BCF said: "We are committed to helping you learn more to ensure you and your team get the very best from your ultrasound equipment. These videos are just one way that BCF contribute to veterinary learning. We run and support training courses and we can also arrange for a member of our team to come into your practice and provide a day of training. At BCF we do so much more than just sell ultrasound and X-ray kit. We strive to help you learn how to use your diagnostic imaging equipment and support you with advice, technical back-up, service and repair."
To see the new cardiac ultrasound videos visit the BCF Technology Gallery here on VetSurgeon.org. Complete the short online quiz at the end, and you will also receive a CPD certificate.
For more information, or to arrange a demo for your veterinary practice, call +44 (0)1506 460 023.
The new law, which replaces the Data Protection Directive, come into effect from 25th May 2018. All businesses will be affected, including the veterinary profession, and failure to comply could result in heavy financial penalties. It is important, therefore, that all practices start to prepare for them and ensure that they will be compliant when the new legislation comes into play next year.
Renay Rickard, president of the VPMA said: "These new regulations concern how we will manage personal data, both that of our clients and our staff, and it’s imperative that we understand them and act on them. We arranged this webinar to inform our members, and were very lucky to have such a tailored presentation directly from the regulator – helped by the fact that Helen, the speaker, comes from a veterinary practice background. It was so useful, we felt that the wider veterinary community would benefit from listening to it, so we’re pleased to open it up to non-members."
The webinar content guides listeners through the key changes ahead and the steps that practices will need to take to ensure they are compliant with the new legal requirements. This includes the impact the changes will have on marketing strategies and practice positioning on sending client reminders (e.g. vaccination, appointment); sharing case histories; passing on data regarding 'bad-debtors', as well as how to approach 'tagging' clients records (for example, re debt) in compliance with the GDPR.
The webinar also provides useful information on where to turn if practices need help and advice, as well as what to do if a data breach is detected. Finally, a detailed questions and answers session covers the day-to-day scenarios in practice that involve handling or sharing client data.
The recording can be accessed on request by emailing the VPMA Secretariat, secretariat@vpma.co.uk.
Photo: GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation. data 25 may 2018. Map EU and flag. Shutterstock/a_Jarm
Latest figures from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) indicate that 22% of sheep and goats (3 million) are not stunned before slaughter1.
This is an increase from 2013 when it was estimated 15% (2 million) of sheep and goats were slaughtered without stunning.
At the same time, in a response to a parliamentary question2 from Kerry McCarthy MP (Bristol East), Defra has admitted that it does not hold data on how much of this non-stunned meat is exported.
The BVA says a recent trade deal with Saudi Arabia could greatly increase the exports of British lamb and other meat, some of which may be from non-stun slaughter. Information on the lamb market also indicates that exports in general (especially to non-EU countries) are on the increase, with total export volumes up 14% in 2017 and non-EU volumes growing to 5,400 tonnes – up two-thirds on the previous year3.
The BVA is calling for the timely provision of information on non-stun exports, firstly to ascertain the extent to which the UK is exporting meat from these sources and secondly to inform potential measures to ensure supply matches rather than exceeds domestic demand.
Other EU countries that allow non-stun slaughter have measures in place to limit the export of non-stun meat to help ensure that meat killed by this method is for the domestic market. For example, Germany requires that abattoirs apply for a licence by defining the number of animals to undergo non-stun slaughter to meet local demand only.
BVA President, John Fishwick, said: "Each year millions of animals in the UK are not stunned before slaughter and BVA will continue to push for an end to non-stun slaughter in the interests of animal welfare. The latest FSA figures suggest that a sizeable proportion of sheep and goats that are slaughtered in the UK are done so without stunning and that this seems to outstrip the requirements of the religious communities who consume meat that has been slaughtered in this way.
"It is difficult to unpick the possible factors that contribute to this mismatch but an essential step to understanding this better would be to provide data on how much, if any, non-stun meat is exported abroad. With Brexit on the horizon and in the light of announcements about export deals with non-EU countries, there is a pressing need for clarity on the quantities and destinations of exports of non-stun meat.
"While not illegal, if meat from non-stun religious slaughter is exported we consider this to be outside the spirit of the legislation which allows non-stun as a derogation from the law to meet the needs of religious communities."
References
The Royal Veterinary College has taken over administration James McCunn Memorial Fund.
The Charity Fund had been operated by the Central Veterinary Society Council since 1967 when it was set up by veterinary surgeons in memory of the late Professor Major James McCunn FRCS., LRCP, MRCVS. The Fund's aim is to reward top anatomy students at the RVC and help towards their student costs.
At the handover ceremony last week, the RVC unveiled a plaque to name the anatomy demonstration room in memory of Professor McCunn. Addressing the guests, Professor Stuart Reid, the Principal of the RVC, said: "Professor James McCunn was a rare individual, having obtained his degree in both medicine and veterinary medicine. One might feel he was ahead of his time as the RCVS and BMA look to the future of 'one medicine, one health' irrespective of species."
The Central Veterinary Society says it would like to thank the RVC for organising the event and for taking on the administration of the James McCunn Memorial Fund. Under its stewardship the Fund will continue to help the students at the college and promote a thorough appreciation of anatomy in tomorrow's veterinarians.
RCVS CEO Nick Stace has published a refreshingly candid acknowledgement of recent concerns voiced by the profession on his blog, www.nickstaceblogs.org.
In his post, he gives a firm commitment to listen to the profession, asking just that in return, MsRCVS get more involved in College matters, such as voting in the elections and getting involved in consultations (starting with this one).
Definitely worth reading the full post: http://nickstaceblogs.org/2014/05/06/receiving-you-loud-and-clear/
The campaign, taking place in February, will underline that responsible use of antibiotics starts with newborn calves, lambs and piglets receiving the right amount of colostrum within a couple of hours of birth – something all farmers have the potential to achieve.
A number of organisations will be releasing information and promoting best practice throughout the month, mainly based around getting the 3Qs (quality, quantity and quickness) of colostrum delivery right.
The FarmAntibiotics.org information website will be signposting to these resources, as well as highlighting hints and tips for more effective colostrum management.
RUMA chairman Gwyn Jones says that as a farmer, he recognises the pressures at lambing and calving, and just how easy it can be to take shortcuts with the all-important first feed.
"But it was a wake-up call when I found out calves receiving insufficient colostrum at birth are more than twice as likely to develop respiratory disease, and can have mortality rates as high as 13%," he said.
"Too often we see the animal start to suck or we give it a feed, and don’t think about the actual quantity of colostrum it consumes immediately after birth.
"All these factors have an enormous impact on the levels of antibodies in the bloodstream 24 hours later, and on the subsequent health of the animal and its need for antibiotic treatment during its whole life.
"Better colostrum management is an incredible opportunity – not just to ensure better health for the future, but to cut antibiotic use and produce a more valuable animal for onward rearing."
Research manager Dr Jenny Gibbons from AHDB says their recent 'Calf to Calving' campaign focusing on youngstock rearing has seen nearly 40% of attendees go on to buy equipment to test the quality of colostrum.
Jenny said: "With recent figures from the Royal Veterinary College indicating just 31% of dairy farmers have been testing the quality of the colostrum before feeding it, this uptake is good news.
"Another area to tackle is time of feeding. Only 5% are feeding within the ideal two hours after birth. Changing these practices would make a huge difference to calves for onward beef rearing as well as replacement heifers."
Specialist sheep vet Dr Fiona Lovatt says lambs receiving insufficient colostrum at birth is behind one of the sheep industry’s biggest antibiotic use 'hotspots', in what is otherwise a low-use sector.
She said: "It’s largely avoidable. The reality is that we simply don’t see Watery Mouth in lambs that have taken sufficient colostrum on board in that golden 24-hour window immediately after birth."
Fiona says a 5kg lamb at birth needs 1 litre of colostrum in its first 24 hours of life to give it essential levels of natural immunity, but importantly, the first feed should be within two hours of birth.
"Antibodies – essential in protecting against all disease including E coli infections – cannot cross through the placenta, so must be transferred through colostrum.
"While thin ewes or those that are not well fed in the run-up to lambing will produce too little colostrum of low quality, more often it’s simply not getting enough colostrum into the lamb quickly enough after birth."
Fiona says the sheep sector should not be relying on use of preventative antibiotics – because of image but also the very real problem of antibiotic resistance. "We know from government data that 50% of neonatal lamb E coli are already resistant to spectinomycin, the most commonly used dose. We need to protect these antibiotics, or we will lose them."
Veterinary lead at AHDB and pig specialist Dr Mandy Nevel says baby pigs need colostrum too, to maintain body temperature as well as protect them against disease.
Mandy said: "Baby pigs are born wet and with very little energy reserve. Ideally they need to get a feed in within the first 30 minutes to prevent hypothermia. This early feed will also provide essential immunity, giving them the best chance of survival in their first few weeks of life.
"Sow vaccination is the best way to boost antibody levels in the colostrum. That is why piglets who receive good levels of colostrum early will also be the healthiest at weaning. That extra care in the first hours of life will really make a difference."
Mandy includes post-weaning diarrhoea and respiratory disease as longer term threats for piglets receiving insufficient colostrum at birth. "Colostrum really is a golden opportunity to secure lower antibiotic use and a healthier animal for its whole life."
Veterinary surgeons and farmers looking for more information should search for the #ColostrumIsGold hashtag on Twitter, or go to the FarmAntibiotics.org website to be signposted to tools, resources and case studies from 1 February.
The webinar was hosted by RCVS Senior Vice-President Dr Melissa Donald, with Standards Committee Chair and Junior Vice-President Linda Belton, Registrar Eleanor Ferguson, and Head of Standards Gemma Kingswell.
The panel gave an overview of the main changes for the guidance, which comes into effect on 1st September, the considerations to take into account when prescribing POM-Vs remotely, the circumstances under which POM-Vs cannot be prescribed remotely, the prescription of antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, and antivirals, and how the guidance will be enforced.
The webinar also dealt with issues raised in a previous webinar, including a query about prescribing under the cascade and an update on the position when prescribing based on cultures and sensitivities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSTZKdbVD8g
For further information about the new guidance, including a range of practice-based scenarios and FAQs, visit: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/under-care-new-guidance/
Questions about the under care guidance can be sent to advice@rcvs.org.uk
The WikiQuiz project - a free online question and answer tool which enables vets, vet students and vet nurses to test their knowledge - is now online thanks to £4,770 of funding from the RCVS Trust.
WikiQuiz is a new resource to enable vets and students to structure and direct their learning, and links directly to information on WikiVet, the free research and academic collaboration resource put together by over 40 academics, veterinary surgeons and students from the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and Nottingham, and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). However, unlike its namesake Wikipedia, WikiVet is designed to be an accurate, peer-reviewed source of information for the veterinary profession and tailored to the undergraduate veterinary curriculum. Some of the material is also of interest to veterinary nurses, in particular those pursuing advanced professional qualifications.
Nick Short, Head of E-Media at the RVC said: "WikiQuiz is purpose-built for vets and students to structure and direct their learning. The questions and answers in WikiQuiz will help vets and veterinary students and work out what topics they might need to study, and link them directly to relevant information published on WikiVet.
"The Wikipedia concept is familiar and popular with students and vets; however, the information on the site can lack quality and relevance", he continued. "In creating WikiVet, we've used the look and feel of Wikipedia - but by making WikiVet available only to veterinary students, surgeons and nurses, introducing a peer-review system and appointing an editorial board to oversee the site, we can ensure the information published is relevant and accurate.
"We are hugely grateful to the RCVS Trust for supporting this project."
Cherry Bushell, RCVS Trust Director said: "Veterinary undergraduates and veterinary surgeons alike need to be able to assess where there are any gaps in their knowledge as part of planning their learning and development. The WikiQuiz resource helps them to do this.
"Using good quality online tools and information can save vets and students valuable time - which is one reason why we chose to support WikiQuiz. The WikiVet project also fits very well with the online Library services provided to vets, veterinary nurses and students by the Trust."
Veterinary surgeons, students and nurses can apply for a free log-in to WikiVet at http://www.wikivet.net/.
In the study, the Pirbright - Wageningen research team combined their expertise in both FMDV and mathematical modelling to evaluate the methods and effects of preclinical diagnosis during surveillance (as would be in place during an outbreak), in order to reduce the risk of transmission between herds of cattle on neighbouring farms.
Transmission experiments in cattle were used to collect samples taken from individual animals such as blood, saliva and nasal swabs, and at herd level such as air samples, on a daily basis during the course of infection. The sensitivity of each of these types of samples for the detection of infected cattle during different phases of infection was then quantified.
Dr. Simon Gubbins, Head of Transmission Biology at Pirbright said: "Our results were incorporated into a mathematical model for FMDV transmission in a cattle herd in order to evaluate the impact of early detection and removal of an infected herd on the reduction in the amount of infectious output which could enable transmission of the virus to cattle on a neighbouring farm.
"By using weekly surveillance, clinical inspection alone was found to be ineffective at blocking transmission. This was in contrast to the impact of weekly sampling using saliva swabs of at least ten animals per farm or daily air sampling (for housed cattle), both of which were shown to reduce the risk of transmission substantially."
Dr. José Gonzáles from Wageningen Bioveterinary Research added: "These findings provide a new approach to disease control which could be added to our emergency preparedness programmes. A potential benefit of applying this strategy is a reduction in the number of animals culled unnecessarily, which is likely to happen when traditional strategies such as pre-emptive culling are implemented."
Following these initial results, the Pirbright - Wageningen research team plan to take their approach from the controlled conditions of the laboratory and test it in field trials. If successful, they hope it will help to reduce the social and economic impact of one of the world’s most devastating livestock diseases.
The coils need to be cooled to -460 °F in order to get good quality images.
To achieve the same result without helium, Hallmarq’s new MRI uses a conduction-based cooling system in a strong vacuum, which eliminates the need for helium, a quench pipe, oxygen monitor, or any additional power.
This, Hallmarq says, makes the new system more environmentally friendly than its helium-based counterparts and reduces the upfront and ongoing costs of offering a veterinary MRI service to patients.
The new technology comes in response to growing concerns over helium supply.
Extraction and usage of helium is quickly outpacing its natural synthesis, as a result of which, Hallmarq says helium prices have soared from £12.75 per litre in December of 2017 to between £50 and £55 per litre in June 2022.
For veterinary hospitals already using high-field MRI machines, or for those considering them in the future, reliance on the 1,500-2,200 litres of helium required to keep a standard MRI functioning may not be sustainable.
Hallmarq’s Chief Technology Officer Dr. Steve Roberts said: “Hallmarq’s Zero-Helium Small Animal 1.5T MRI system increases access to diagnostic care for small animal patients, while lessening the financial, environmental and supply chain risks associated with traditional helium-based MRI systems."
www.hallmarq.net.
Administered between the dog’s cheek and gum at the dose of 125 mcg/m2, dexmedetomidine is absorbed across the oral mucosa, delivering a micro-dose at approximately 1/4 of the IM dose.
It is given as soon as the dog shows signs of anxiety or fear, or when typical triggers of fear are detected by the owner.
Re-dosing of up to four times is possible with at least two hours pause between doses.
There's a new dial-to-dose syringe designed to make Sileo easier to administer, and redesigned packaging with a QR code which links to an instructional video for owners.
Emma Hancox, Veterinary Advisor at TVM, said: "Up to 50% of dogs suffer from noise anxiety, which can be extremely distressing both for pets and their owners.
"While many people associate their pet’s anxiety with occasions such as bonfire night, noise-anxiety can apply to everyday noises such as vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers and by social events or parties, which could have a much greater impact on the dog’s everyday welfare.
For more information, email help@tvm-uk.com, call 0800 0385868 visit or contact your local Territory Manager.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Celox Veterinary, a product which stops arterial or venous haemorrhage within 3 minutes, described as 'revolutionary' by the company.
Celox Veterinary is available in both a granule formulation and in two sizes of gauze. The granules can be poured into a wound. Once pressure is applied, a clot forms and arterial and venous haemorrhage is stopped within three minutes, independent of the body's normal clotting processes. Celox Veterinary Gauze has the granules ready bonded onto its surface for ease of use.
Dechra says the product works by bonding with red blood cells and gelling with fluids to produce a robust clot which sticks to moist tissue to plug the bleeding site. It can be helpful in treating a wide range of veterinary cases including:
Celox Veterinary is made from chitosan, a natural polysaccharide and by-product of the shrimp industry. It generates no heat while in use and small amounts of residual material left in the body are naturally metabolised.
Dechra Product Manager Rachel Horton said: "Wound care is an area in which Dechra is known for its innovative product range. We are delighted to take this to the next level by offering this revolutionary treatment to vets and believe it will soon establish itself as an efficacious tool when they are faced with significant injuries and severe bleeding."
For further information on Celox Veterinary, please contact your Territory Manager or call Dechra direct on (01939) 211200.
The survey will assess vets’ experiences of the disease, biosecurity and the role of vaccination to help prevent strangles.
It includes questions on the number of strangles cases diagnosed in the last year, how the diagnosis was reached and in what instances they would recommend strangles vaccination.
The survey, which is approximately two minutes long, is at: https://forms.office.com/e/wH1UeVFmVW.
All participants will be entered into a prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher.
For further information on Strangles Awareness Week: https://www.redwings.org.uk/strangles/strangles-awareness-week.
Vets attending the first veterinary-led European Equine Transport Forum, held in Brussels last November, have agreed that the profession needs to take a leading role to help enforce the current regulation governing the long-distance transport of horses, in order for equine welfare standards to be improved.
In support, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Trust has announced the introduction of the BEVA Trust Equine Transport Enforcement Award of €1000, to be given annually to the individual or group doing the most to improve enforcement of the current transport regulation.
The Forum was initiated by BEVA President Madeleine Campbell in conjunction with the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and is sponsored by the BEVA Trust and World Horse Welfare. It attracted representatives from 38 nations; including a strong turnout from Eastern Europe where horses sourced for slaughter often start their journeys and Italy which is the end destination for the majority of these horses.
The plight of horses sourced for slaughter was the main focus for discussion and the key issues raised were:
Delegates also examined the long-term need to change the attitude of Italian consumers, raising awareness of the current welfare issues related to their preference for fresh meat, labelled as Italian produce. In addition they discussed the impact on equine welfare of increased profits in sourcing horses in Eastern Europe and then transporting them long distances for slaughter.
Dr Madeleine Campbell said: "The atmosphere throughout the day was one of collaboration and determination to succeed. Proper enforcement of the current regulation is the key to welfare improvements, as is the need for a system of best practice to drive a change in cultural attitudes about how horse meat is produced. A process of education is necessary so that consumers understand the welfare issues associated with long-distance transport and start demanding accurate information about where the meat which they are buying originally came from, and how far the horses travelled to slaughter. We are all in agreement that vets have a pivotal role to play in both education and enforcement, and that they want to play it."
Nominations for the annual BEVA Trust Equine Transport Enforcement Award are open and can be made via the FVE and the BEVA Trust. The award will be judged by the FVE Working Group on Transport, and will be awarded for the first time in November 2011. The programme, abstracts and presentations from the Forum can be found at: http://www.fve.org/events/index.html#conferences
The first MRCVS to be killed in the First World War has been honoured with a portrait at the College's offices in Belgravia House - 100 years after his death.
The portrait of Lieutenant Vincent Fox, who was from Dundalk, Co Louth, and was an alumnus of the then Royal Veterinary College in Dublin, was presented by his great grand-nephew, James Tierney, and received by RCVS Registrar Gordon Hockey.
Lieutenant Fox, a member of the former Army Veterinary Corps (AVC), was killed in action by a shell on August 26 1914 during the Battle of Le Cateau in northern France in which British and French forces fought to impede a German advance. He is now buried in the nearby Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery at Caudry.
Paul Watkins, a veterinary surgeon and military historian, conducted the research into Lieutenant Fox, his career and his deeds in the First World War, with the help of his family. He said: "The family story was that he had been found dead in a church with no mark or scars on him and, in fact, this turned out to be completely true.
"The church where he died was in the village of Audencourt in northern France where a dressing station had been set up for the wounded.
"The key issue was that, in the absence of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Lieutenant Fox was ordered to take charge of the medical treatment of the men using his skills as a veterinary surgeon. I'm sure he did his very best under such extreme circumstances but he would have been very ill-equipped."
Talking more generally about the role of the AVC during the First World War, Dr Watkins said: "The AVC made very significant contributions to the war effort because there were so many horses and mules deployed. They would have been responsible for a range of tasks from husbandry - and educating other soldiers on husbandry - to the treatment of injured animals."
In total, some 67 veterinary surgeons are believed to have been killed in the First World War - of whom 34 died from disease, 24 died as a result of wounds and nine were killed in action.
On presenting the portrait, which was drawn by artist Dave Gleeson based on a photograph of Lieutenant Fox, Mr Tierney, from Dublin, said: "I am very pleased that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has accepted this portrait as future generations of vets will be able to see it here and learn about my great grand-uncle's story.
"He has become my hero because he died while trying to save human lives and, for me, that's a huge source of pride.
"While his story is very interesting, however, it's not just about him. There are 66 other names on the RCVS First World War memorial and they all have a story to tell as well."
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, added: "We are very pleased to receive this portrait of Lieutenant Fox in recognition of the sacrifice he made during the First World War. The fact that he died while tending to his wounded fellow soldiers demonstrates the caring nature of the profession and the wider contribution to society made by veterinary surgeons.
"In this centenary year I would also like to commend the contribution made by members of the profession as a whole during the war."
Throughout the centenary the RCVS Knowledge Library blog - written by Clare Boulton, Head of Library and Information Services - will be updated with stories about the conduct of veterinary surgeons in the First World War. Visit rcvsknowledgelibraryblog.org to see the updates.
This year the event delivered more than 90 hours of CPD lectures, workshops and practicals across six separate streams, over three days. Over 100 veterinary industry leaders showcased their wares in the commercial exhibition hall and there were a number of social events for delegates.
Delegates awarded the scientific programme an average score of 4.7 out of 5 stars, and 94% of delegates said they will put what they learnt into practice and use it in their day-to-day role. 94% also said Congress was good value for money.
Swissvet, a company which makes power dentistry equipment, won the Veterinary Practice Best New Exhibitor Award. CEO Dr Ruedi Steiger said: We have distributors throughout Europe, but it is the first time Swissvet has exhibited at BEVA. It has been a fantastic experience and I am thrilled to have won this award. I definitely plan to come back next year."
Next year’s BEVA Congress will be held in Birmingham from 9-12 September 2020. For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.
Photo: David Boughey
The BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession research found the most cited welfare issue facing exotics was ‘irresponsible animal ownership’ (82%).
Vets who treat NTCAs reported that 58% of the NTCAs they see do not have their five animal welfare needs met and 26% have seen a rise in the number brought in for treatment in the past year.
BVA Senior Vice President and zoo veterinary surgeon Justine Shotton said: “The welfare of non-traditional companion animals has long been a concern of many vets and this is demonstrated in our recent research.
"It is worrying that a quarter of vets are seeing an increase in the number brought in for treatment and sad to hear that so many cite irresponsible ownership as the top cause behind welfare issues.
"We know people who keep these animals have the right intentions to give them best care they can but their needs are so complex it can be difficult to do so, particularly if they are a new pet and owners are not sure exactly what they need.
"It is so important that potential buyers give careful consideration to buying such an animal before bringing one home.
"We’d also urge any vets who are approached by potential keepers for advice to strongly encourage them to do their research to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to care for them properly before buying an exotic species.”
BVA's new policy position calls for more regulation of online sales and third-party advertising of NTCAs and an end to the import of wild-caught reptiles and amphibians for non-conservation reasons.
BVA also recommends a pre-purchase test, both demonstrating a potential owner’s knowledge on how to properly care for an NTCA, and helping to improve education around the needs of the species.
Past BVA President and Chair of the Working Group Sean Wensley said: “The new policy position makes recommendations which will help to protect the welfare of NTCAs, including calling for improved regulation of their keeping and sale.
"It highlights issues such as the welfare risks of certain breeding practices and stresses the need to move away from the wild-capture of animals for the pet trade.
"Taken together, the 32 recommendations present a clear veterinary view on the ethical sourcing and care of these species.”
www.bva.co.uk/exoticpets
John (pictured right) will compete against leading businessmen and women from across the country and a range of industries in the 'Entrepreneur for Good' category, designed to celebrate entrepreneurs that are pioneering ideas and business models to help drive social change.
John founded Burns Pet Nutrition in 1993, with the thinking that a healthy diet is key to managing many of the common health problems seen in pets. In fact, John reckons he's done more for pets with his line of pet food than he could have ever hoped to have achieved in general practice.
In 2008, John set up The Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation - a charity dedicated to improving the lives of people and pets across the UK. Today, the in-house charity is run by a team of six who specialise in everything from one-off donations to grassroots projects.
One such project, Burns by Your Side, helps schoolchildren to improve their literacy and communication skills with the aid of trained volunteers and their companion dogs. The scheme is currently active in over 40 educational settings across parts of Wales and Ireland.
More recently, Burns Pet Nutrition announced a £1M charity donation to mark its 25th year of trading.
John said "I have decided that the company should be a force for good. I want Burns Pet Nutrition to not only be known for our natural pet food, but also for establishing and maintaining a legacy of good causes in the community."
John is in the running to win the Entrepreneur for Good award along with six other Welsh entrepreneurs. The winners will be announced on Thursday 22nd November at a special gala final in Cardiff.
For further information on the awards, please visit, www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com.
Fluboral controls gastro-intestinal nematodes including Ascaridia galli (adult stages), Heterakis gallinarum (adult stages) and Capillaria spp. (adult stages) in chickens and Ascaris suum (adult and L4 intestinal stages) in pigs.
Dechra says Fluboral’s formula allows it to mix in drinking water quickly and easily with five seconds of stirring.
Fluboral has a guaranteed 24-hour stability without sedimentation of the suspension after dilution in drinking water and Dechra says there is no risk of inhomogeneous mixing.
Johnny Wells West, key account manager – pig and poultry at Dechra, said: “Fluboral is a welcome addition to our Solustab range of water-soluble products, providing effortless and efficient parasite control in drinking water to enable farmers and producers to start medication quickly and cost-effectively, as and when needed.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/products/livestock/prescription/fluboral#Fluboral.
Merial is highlighting the results of an independent study published in July's Journal of Dairy Science which showed that treating acutely lame cows with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) Ketofen (ketoprofen), alongside therapeutic trimming and the application of a block, resulted in a significantly better recovery rate compared to the other treatment protocols used.
In the study, Evaluation of treatments for claw horn lesions in dairy cows in a randomised controlled trial by Thomas et al1, 56% of the cows in the above treatment group were observed to be sound.
Sioned Timothy, Merial Technical Veterinary Manager (pictured right) said: "The lack of evidence to underpin a standardised approach to treating lameness in cattle has previously been highlighted2.
"This study demonstrates the value of using an NSAID as part of lameness treatment both for its welfare benefits, and also to reduce the impact of lameness on herd productivity through improved recovery rates. It also highlights the importance of implementing herd health protocols that focus on early intervention – identifying cows as soon as they become lame should be a priority for dairy farmers. With lameness cited as having a significant adverse effect on milk yield3 and cull rate in the herd, a proactive approach to lameness control is critical. Farmers should work with their vets and foot trimmers to ensure that when lame cows are identified they are treated in the most effective way.”
Sioned added: "The importance of routine mobility scoring cannot be underestimated. Clinical lameness has been shown to cause a decreased milk yield from up to four months before diagnosis 3, which can translate to a mean reduction of 357 litres per 305 day lactation. Furthermore, the impact on fertility and the long term impact on replacement is also acknowledged, with lame cows less likely to conceive and having an increased risk of conception failing."
The awards were:
Queen’s Medal - to Dr John (Iain) Glen MRCVS (pictured right) who, at AstraZeneca, was responsible for the discovery and development of the anaesthetic drug propofol, one of the world’s most common anaesthetics for medical and veterinary use.
Honorary Associateships - Two were awarded this year. The first went to Professor Stuart Carter, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Liverpool’s Institution of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences. The second was awarded to Anthony Martin, a philanthropist with a particular interest in supporting national and international charities working with the veterinary profession to improve animal welfare.
Impact Award - Two were awarded this year. The first went to Alison Lambert, the founder and owner of veterinary business consultancy Onswitch which helps veterinary businesses create customer-centred practice so that pets, horses and livestock receive the best care. The second was awarded to Dr Gwenllian Rees for her involvement in the Arwain Vet Cymru (AVC) project, a collaborative national antimicrobial stewardship program for farm vets in Wales.
Inspiration Awards - Daniella Dos Santos MRCVS was nominated for her leadership role at the BVA during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic. The second award went to Professor Mandy Peffers, a Wellcome Trust Clinical Intermediate Fellow in Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science at the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences at the University of Liverpool.
The International Award was posthumously awarded to Emeritus Professor Michael Day, the prolific researcher and writer.
A new award this year is the Compassion Award, which was given to David Martin MRCVS for his work helping practitioners identify the signs of non-accidental injury.
Another new award this year is the Student Community Award, given to Jack Church, who - on top of his studies - has been volunteering on a covid ward, and Lavinia Economu, for her work to inspire young people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and different socio-economic backgrounds into the veterinary professions..
Dr Mandisa Greene MRCVS, RCVS President, said: “I am so impressed by the breadth and depth of the awards nominations that we received this year which demonstrate the very best that the veterinary professions have to offer.
“From veterinary students to veterinary surgeons and nurses who have been practising for decades, all our award winners demonstrate that veterinary professionals and veterinary science has a profound and positive impact not only on animal health and welfare but also wider society. I am immensely happy and proud for them all and look forward to formally being able to present them with their awards later this year.”
A formal awards ceremony, hosted by Mandisa, will take place on Thursday, 23 September 2021. Further details on the event and how to attend will be published later this year.