XLVets, the cooperative of independent practices, is looking for female vets to share their thoughts on practice ownership and the wider aspects of leadership in a series of focus groups and interviews conducted using video conferencing.

The research is being carried out by XLChief Operating Officer Kerrie Hedley, building on work she carried out last year which she talks about in a podcast currently hosted on the Veterinary Women website.

Female vets who would like to take part in the research, whether or not they are business owners, are invited to email Kerrie at kerrie.hedley@xlvets.co.uk.

Kerrie says she wants to ensure she hears a wide variety of viewpoints: “If women are averse to leadership or doubtful about the benefits of leadership, they should be heard too. There’s a great deal of support and momentum behind this project within the XLVets community and it’s something we all think is hugely important for the future of the profession. We had a tremendous response to our last call for participants and I’m looking forward to gaining more insight into this important topic and helping to develop innovative solutions.”

The British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists has announced that its annual conference will be held online via The Webinar Vet this year, and you are all invited!

The theme for this year's event, which takes place on 7th November, is the cornea. Lectures will include 'Medical Cornea', 'Cross Linking' and 'Surgical Cornea'. There will be Q&A sessions after each one.

Amongst the speakers are Chris Dixon, CertOphthal MRCVS MRCVS from Veterinary Vision Ophthalmic referrals, Christine Heinrich, RCVS & European Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology from the Eye Clinic and Sara Thomasy, Professor of Comparative Ophthalmology at the University of California from UC Davis University.

As is customary, abstracts will be presented throughout the day. 

Tickets are £100 +VAT, or £60+Vat for students, interns and veterinary nurses: https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/bravo-virtual-winter-conference-2020-tickets/

The Dechra Academy has become the first veterinary education provider to be accredited by the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI).

To achieve the accreditation, Dechra’s Digital Learning team’s educational content, processes and services were reviewed and benchmarked against key opinion indicators by an LPI consultant.

Dechra Academy was first established in the UK in 2010 and has since launched in over 20 additional countries across the world. 

Last year, over 5,000 veterinary professionals in the UK completed over 9,000 courses and there is currently over 60 hours of free CPD content available across the company’s therapy areas including endocrinology, dermatology, analgesia and anaesthesia, nutrition, equine analgesia and anaesthesia and locomotion.

The company has just launched the first of two courses in its ‘Purffect Partner’ series, which focuses on identifying and treating unintended feline weight loss.

A further four case studies will be added in the coming months.

www.dechra.co.uk/academy.

Petplan has announced the finalists for the 2011 Petplan Veterinary Awards.

Now in its 12^th year, the Petplan Veterinary Awards received its biggest response yet with over 2,800 nominations submitted for exceptional veterinary staff all over the UK.

The finalists for each of the categories are as follows: 

Vet of the Year
Charles Bagnal, Orwell Veterinary Group - Ipswich
Alison Laurie, Crown Vets - Highlands
Daniel Parry, Village Vet Garden Suburb - London

Vet Nurse of the Year
Emma Clare, Copthorne Veterinary Clinic - Shropshire
Maria Corcoran, Orwell Veterinary Group - Ipswich
Ingrid Hunt, Cranbrook Veterinary Centre - Devon

Support Staff of the Year
Bev Millward, Milton Keynes Veterinary Group - Milton Keynes
Lauren Hunter, The Ferns Veterinary Practice - Dunkeld
Patty Fraser, Loch Leven Equine Practice - Kinross

Vet Practice of the Year
Ashfield House Veterinary Hospital Ltd - Nottinghamshire
Emersons Green Veterinary Surgery Ltd - Avon
Leonard Brothers Veterinary Centre Ltd - Shropshire

Alison Andrew, Petplan's Marketing Manager, said: "The nominations get bigger and better every year and we're absolutely delighted to announce the finalists for 2011. With 70% of veterinary practices within 3 miles of their patients, veterinary staff are an important part of the community and that's why we feel it important that they have a chance to receive the recognition they deserve. We're looking forward to revealing the winners on 31^st of March."

All finalists will be invited to an elegant awards ceremony that will take place on 31st March at the Birmingham Town Hall, where the winners will be announced.

For further information, visit http://www.petplanvet.co.uk/

The majority of posters, leaflets and other displays in veterinary practice waiting rooms are more effective at building ambience than increasing the turnover of the practice or selling a particular product or brand, according to a new survey carried out by veterinary marketing agency TMA.

The national survey of more than 100 veterinary practice managers found that:

• Whilst nearly 70% of respondents felt displays were very effective at improving ambience and 65% felt they were effective at conveying information, only 8% felt they were very effective at increasing turnover and 7% felt they had a significant impact in selling a product or brand.
• 41% of vets only change displays once every four to six months. A further 21% change displays only once a year or less.
• Only 35% of respondents say vets are actively involved in deciding which materials they use
• Less than 30% use interactive or digital displays. The rest rely on traditional posters and leaflets.

TMA says it believes practices are missing out on a major marketing opportunity by not changing their displays more often, not being more selective about what is displayed, and not making the most of interactive or digital display technology.

Helen Cawthra, Managing Director of TMA believes that product manufacturers are also missing out on a major opportunity. Significantly less than half of all display and point-of-sale material in vets' waiting rooms is provided by suppliers. On average, 64% is sourced by the veterinary surgeons themselves.

Helen said: "Two thirds of respondents claim that they hardly get any materials from suppliers. The same number claim they would be more likely to put up more if they were provided with it.

"It is all very well building ambience and providing loyalty but in today's market, it is important that vets take hold of every opportunity to generate revenue in every way possible. Vets and the manufacturers are both missing out."

A Belfast veterinary practice has transferred into an Employee Ownership Trust after reading about Kent-based Pennard Vets doing the same in 2021.

Cornerstone Veterinary Clinic, which was founded by Peter Herold in 2011, currently employs a 15-strong team, who are all now practice owners and shareholders in the business.

Peter got the inspiration from reading about how Pennard Vets had become the world’s largest employee-owned practice in order to protect both its independence and core values.

He then contacted the directors at Pennard Vets, who helped guide him through the process.

Peter said: “After starting Cornerstone 11 years ago, we have developed a longstanding, loyal and dedicated team who are all very popular with our established client base across Belfast and beyond.

"I genuinely love Cornerstone, and so do our team and clients, and although I’m not ready to retire yet, the end of my professional life will come in the next decade, so I wanted to start planning for it.

“The obvious option would be to sell the practice to a corporate chain, but I knew that would change how we worked.

"There would be much more emphasis on profit levels, and we’d be forced to make decisions that we were uncomfortable with.

"We have an amazing team who are full of ideas about how to make Cornerstone even better and to guarantee a successful future, the practice needs to continue growing in a way that works for its people, our clients and their pets.

“When I read about Pennard Vets becoming an EOT, it immediately resonated with me, and I hoped it could be an option for Cornerstone.

"I then attended a webinar with speakers from Pennard Vets, and I kept in touch with them afterwards.

"They explained the set-up and how it benefits their team, as well as putting us in touch with specialists in EOTs.

"Ultimately it was Pennard Vets’ knowledge and enthusiasm that convinced me it was the right route for us.”

Peter added: “Our senior team at Cornerstone are all very skilled and share common values in relation to customer service, veterinary care and client charges, and it’s this ethos that makes us popular with clients.

“Making the business an EOT will ensure this continues by safeguarding the future of the business, whilst giving each member of the team the benefit of being a business owner without them having to buy in.

"It also means I can continue to work as a vet, but share the management side of the practice with the entire team who can help to make the important decisions, which is an exciting prospect for everyone involved.”

Matthew Flann from Pennard Vets said: “We became an EOT to maintain our independence and give everyone in our team both autonomy and a voice, as well as preserving our core values around compassion, client focus and continually improving everything we do.

"This came at a time when it’s increasingly difficult for vets to buy into practices and the traditional partner progression model no longer works, which makes EOTs even more appealing and a positive step for the profession as a whole.

“It’s been genuinely transformational for Pennard Vets, and we now regularly hear from practice owners who are exploring becoming an EOT.

"There are now several other successful businesses currently on the journey and when Peter contacted us, we were happy to offer our help and guidance.

"Cornerstone is a successful practice, with a highly skilled and dedicated team, so its independence is worth protecting, and becoming an EOT will give it a bright future.”

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has postponed judgment on sanction for 12 months in the case of a Hampshire veterinary surgeon found guilty of serious professional misconduct for cumulative failures to provide adequate professional care, and insufficient regard for animal welfare whilst treating a dog.

At a hearing which concluded last Thursday, Peter Ardle MacMahon MRCVS faced a six-part charge after working as a locum for Vets Now at North End in Portsmouth where, on the night of 14/15 July 2009, he treated Wilfred, a Cocker Spaniel who had ingested broken glass along with raw mince. 

The Committee found that, having decided that surgery was an appropriate treatment, Mr MacMahon had not removed the glass identified on a radiograph. Nor had he even superficially searched the stomach contents he had evacuated to check that a large piece of glass he had previously identified on the radiograph had been removed. He had also not taken adequate steps to prevent contamination of Wilfred's abdominal cavity prior to the incision to the stomach.

Mr MacMahon admitted he knew there had been considerable spillage of stomach contents into Wilfred's abdomen. The Committee found that, with this knowledge, for Mr MacMahon to use only 250ml of fluid to lavage the abdomen was inadequate. This contributed to the Spaniel developing chemical peritonitis which might have developed into septic peritonitis but for a second operation the next morning, after the dog had been returned to the care of his usual veterinary practice. The Committee also expressed concern that Mr MacMahon had failed to effectively communicate the abdominal contamination to Wilfred's usual vets when he was handed back into their care. 

Taken as individual allegations, these would not, in the opinion of the Committee, constitute serious professional misconduct. However, the Committee was of the view that, taken cumulatively, the charges were proved, and therefore the treatment given to Wilfred, fell far short of the standard to be expected in the profession.

When considering mitigating and aggravating factors, the Committee accepted that Mr MacMahon and the veterinary nurse assisting him were unfamiliar with the premises in which they were working, resulting in a difficulty in locating important equipment, and there were also multiple urgent cases during the evening the operation took place. The Committee also noted that 17 months had passed since the operation, and no further complaints against Mr MacMahon had been received by the RCVS.

The Committee further took into account that Mr MacMahon had little recent experience, having returned to practising veterinary medicine in January 2009, following almost ten years spent outside the veterinary profession. During this hiatus he undertook no continuing professional development (CPD), and completed only a five-week period of supervised practice prior to re-entering the profession. 

Mrs Caroline Freedman, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee said: "The Respondent placed himself in this situation: he knew that he had been out of practice for ten years, had not done any formal CPD during that time and chose to accept an appointment to work as a locum in a sole-charge out-of-hours emergency clinic. A foremost aggravating factor is that animal welfare was adversely affected. A non-critical patient was placed at risk by the Respondent's failures."

The Committee reiterated that the purpose of sanctions was not to be punitive, but to protect animal welfare, to maintain public confidence in the profession and to maintain professional standards.  "A postponement of judgment, with suitable undertakings from the Respondent, is the correct course of action," said Mrs Freedman. Mr MacMahon has subsequently signed undertakings relating to CPD in both surgical and medical disciplines, and the Committee has postponed for 12 months its judgment as to any further sanction.

Mrs Muriel Taylor, who worked as a receptionist at Pennard Vets in Kent for a staggering 70 years, has been presented with the British Veterinary Receptionist Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at a celebration with more than 100 staff at the practice.

Muriel joined Pennard Vets as an office junior on 7th January 1950, when she was 15 years old

She earned a weekly wage of £1 10 shillings, equivalent to £1.50 in today’s money.

Andy Green, a Director at Pennard Vets, said: “Few people in this country have achieved what Muriel has.

"Pennard Vets has been around for over 125 years and Muriel’s journey with us has encompassed a staggering 70 years of that, making her one of only a handful of people in the UK who have completed 70 years with a single employer.

“Muriel is ever-present, reliable, caring, dependable and she makes the best biscuits around.

"She started work at our Sevenoaks practice as a 16-year-old in 1950, when it was just as likely a client would be bringing in a sheep, goat or horse as a dog or cat, and we used loose boxes outside for examinations, treatments isolation and even post-mortems.

“During the subsequent 70 years she was part of the growth in the practice from a single site to multiple sites.

"She was also fantastic at embracing the latest technology as the practice went from handwritten ledgers, double entry bookkeeping and dealing with the terribly difficult to decipher handwritten notes of the vets, to digitalisation, computers, online systems, email, mobile phones and a host of other technological advances.

“Throughout the years her role changed dramatically, and she learned new skills, adapted, and moved with the times, demonstrating our core values of continuous improvement, client focus, compassion and clarity every step of the way.

“When Muriel retired in 2020, sadly lockdown rules denied us the chance for a proper celebration, so we are very pleased to have been able to celebrate together with such a fabulous party.”

Muriel said: “When I started at Pennard Vets, the practice cared for large animals including horses, sheep and cattle on the local farms, but we also had some more unusual clients.

"A special highlight was fielding telephone calls from former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who lived at Chartwell country house, near Westerham, in Kent and employed the practice to look after the health of the black swans living on the estate’s lake.

“Two of the biggest changes I saw during my seven decades at the practice were the business giving up farm work to focus on small animal work as dogs and cats became a bigger part of our families, and the transition from my handwritten notes in ledgers to modern computer systems, but I have always embraced change and enjoyed learning new skills.

"I miss everyone at Pennard Vets but will keep in touch and keep baking for them!”

Defra has announced plans to form a new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England which will bring experts including farmers, veterinary surgeons, welfare experts and others from outside Government together with the Chief Veterinary Officer and civil servants to make direct policy recommendations on policy affecting the health and welfare of all kept animals such as farm animals, horses and pets.

According to Agriculture Minister Jim Paice, it is the first time that people affected by Government policy on animal health and welfare will make recommendations on those policies directly to Ministers.

Mr Paice said: "This is a completely new way of working.  It replaces the old ways, where the people most affected by decisions were kept at arm's length from policy making on those subjects.

"This is about the Big Society not just existing in our communities, but in the heart of Government - helping to put the decisions in the hands of those who are doing the work on the ground.

"We've already seen the success of a partnership between farmers and the Government with the work that's been done on bluetongue - which has seen the disease virtually eradicated in this country."

Final decisions on animal health and welfare policy will remain in the hands of Government Ministers. 

The Board will be made up of around 12 members, 5 senior Defra officials including the Chief Veterinary Officer, and 7-8 external members including the chair. The external members will have experience and knowledge of kept and farmed animals, animal and veterinary science, and animal welfare, and could be farmers, veterinarians, animal welfare experts. 

The Board and its members will have to represent the views of all stakeholders so will be expected to communicate with them regularly.

The Board's responsibilities will include:

• setting the strategic policy priorities;
• development of key policies and how they should be funded;
• assessing the risk of threats from animal disease and how to manage them;
• determining the surveillance and research priorities;
• reviewing and developing contingency plans for dealing with new disease outbreaks; and
• considering, what if any, charging mechanisms should be introduced.

The Board will not be set up as a non departmental public body or arms length body.  It will form part of the internal structure of Defra.

Commenting on the announcement, Harvey Locke, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "The BVA is delighted that both the Advisory Group and Ministers have taken note of the veterinary profession's views in drawing up these plans.

"We said from the outset that genuine responsibility sharing has to be achieved before cost sharing can be discussed and we warned against earlier plans to separate animal health policy from animal welfare policy, as the two are intrinsically linked.

"Animal health and welfare policy issues require expert, scientific input and it will be essential that the new Board includes veterinary representation. We believe that the Board will provide the right mechanism for ensuring decisions are based on sound science.

"The new Board will also have to work closely with the three devolved administrations to ensure that animal health and welfare policies across the UK are joined up and complementary."

Purina has published ‘New Perspectives on Pet Obesity, Moving to a Behavioural Science Model’, an e-book that explores new ways of tackling weight management with clients.

The book includes interviews with researchers and thought leaders, including Professor Jeff French, Hugues Ruault du Plessis and Professor Thomas Webb.

There's a chapter on ways to influence owner behaviour, an explanation of the ways in which we make decisions and a description of the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour), which Professor Webb argues can be applied to help manage pet obesity, the advantage being that it: “….recognises the importance of motivation, but suggests that people also need to be and feel capable of taking action and have the opportunity to do so.”

Also included are clinical research summaries and practical tips to help communication around these issues in practice.

Purina’s Scientific Affairs Manager for the UK and Ireland, Libby Sheridan, said: “Pet obesity is a challenge that veterinary teams face every day, with six in ten dogs and cats overweight or obese, making obesity one of the most common medical conditions in pets worldwide.1,2

"This e-book delivers a thought-provoking new take on pet obesity which I hope will inspire teams in veterinary practices to adopt innovative approaches to support their clients and achieve positive outcomes for their patients.”

The e-book is suitable for all members of the veterinary team who are involved in weight management clinics or have an interest in developing new strategies to better communicate with and support pet owners. 

Download book here.

References

1. Bomberg E, Birch L, Endenburg N, German AJ, Neilson J, Seligman H, Takashima G, Day MJ. The Financial Costs, Behaviour and Psychology of Obesity: A One Health Analysis. J Comp Pathol. 2017;156(4):310-325. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.03.007.
2. German AJ. Weight management in obese pets: the tailoring concept and how it can improve results. Acta Vet Scand. 2016;58(Suppl 1):57. doi:10.1186/s13028-016-0238-z

Following the Prime Minister’s decision to reintroduce national restrictions across England from 5 November until 2 December 2020, the RCVS has updated its guidance which explains the type of work that can be carried out by veterinary practices under varying government restrictions around the UK during the pandemic.

Generally, veterinary practices may remain open, but there are national variations in what services should be offered and how, including the conditions under which remote prescribing can be used to help support a case.

Wales currently has the tightest ‘firebreak’ restrictions, meaning practices can only provide essential and urgent work until midnight on 8 November 2020, thereafter, returning to usual operations in line with Wales’ standard measures around workplace safety.

England and Northern Ireland are under national restrictions (4 Nov – 2 Dec, and 16 Oct – 12 Nov, respectively), meaning practices can provide treatment essential for maintaining animal health and welfare, along with non-urgent work providing that social distancing measures and safe working can be maintained.

Veterinary surgeons practising in these three countries may also choose to support a case remotely at an earlier stage, for example, through the remote prescribing of POM-Vs without first having conducted a physical examination.

Scotland remains the only country under regional tiered restrictions, meaning practices can continue to provide treatment whilst maintaining social distancing; however, before remote prescribing is offered, veterinary surgeons should first consider whether the animal can be brought under their care.

The full guidance and corresponding flowcharts should be consulted together and are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/covidfaq2and www.rcvs.org.uk/covidfaq4.

CEVA Animal Health is giving away a digital thermometer with every purchase of three bottles of Rehydion gel Formula Plus

According to CEVA, dehydration can be a big problem for farmers, causing weakness, scouring and weight loss but Rehydion gel Formula Plus has transformed the management of this common condition. Historically treatments could not be added to milk as the bicarbonate, citrate and the high levels of glucose in the solutions inhibited milk clotting.  Rehydion gel Formula Plus, however, helps to maintain a low abomasal pH and guarantees milk clotting.

The company says calves with dehydration and diarrhoea still tend to crave milk, which not only provides vital fluid but is also the best possible source of energy for weight gain. Milk also has many other advantages such as helping with gut healing and providing natural antimicrobial actions. Rehydion gel Formula Plus's high palatability and efficient dilution in milk allows weight gain to continue, even in cases of severe scour.

CEVA also has a leaflet to help farmers minimise the problem of dehydration and diarrhoea in beef and dairy cattle. To order copies and for further information contact your CEVA representative or CEVA Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG, telephone 01494 781510 or visit the website at http://www.ceva.uk.com/

New research from the Animal Health Trust (AHT), published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, shows that equine obesity is an increasing but under-recognised welfare issue in the UK.

Data collected from 785 horses and ponies (31% of which were classified as obese), over a two-year period between 2009 and 2011, has been used to explore various elements that contribute to the risk of obesity in British horses and ponies.

The research, funded by World Horse Welfare, identified several factors which may increase the risk of being obese. Pony breeds, particularly UK native breeds and heavier horses such as draught and cobs types were all significantly more likely to be obese compared to Thoroughbred horses. Charlotte Robin, Research Assistant at the AHT and lead author of the paper, said: "Native breeds may be genetically better adapted to survive in harsh conditions, having a so-called thrifty genotype, increasing their risk of obesity when maintained in an environment where food is of better quality and more readily available."

Horses that were described by their owners as readily being able to gain weight or being "good doers" were more than three times more likely to be obese, compared to those that normally maintained weight.

The research also highlighted various links to human obesity. Charlotte said: "In humans, obesity is associated with poor health status and chronic health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease and arthritis. Similar associations between obesity and adverse health events have been described in equines."

Similarly in humans, exercise significantly improves insulin sensitivity, and it is thought the same "dose-response" effect is mirrored in horses. For example, the AHT's research highlighted that the risk of obesity is greater in pleasure or non-ridden horses, with pleasure horses being more than twice as likely to be obese and non-ridden horses being nearly three times more likely to be obese. Competition animals will receive increased exercise at a higher intensity and be fitter than non-competition animals, further reducing the risk of obesity. Charlotte added: "Competition horses are likely to be managed in different ways compared to non-competition or non-ridden animals and this may also contribute to the reduced risk of obesity within this sub-population."

World Horse Welfare's Deputy Head of UK Support, Sam Chubbock said: "Excess weight is one of the greatest challenges facing horse owners in the UK today, which is why we supported this vital research. Being overweight can be just as much, if not more, of a health concern as being underweight. In our experience it can take three times longer to get an overweight horse back to optimum condition than it can a thin horse. Moreover, a previously obese horse's weight will need to be managed for the rest of its life, even after the weight has come off, and they are likely to suffer long-term effects. Managing a horse prone to weight gain can be incredibly difficult and this is why our Right Weight project provides practical guidance for owners on how to assess and manage their own horse's weight."

The AHT says its obesity research has helped to highlight obesity as a significant equine welfare issue and provided valuable information for owners. People frequently misclassify their own weight or body shape, and this phenomenon also applies to perceptions about our pets' weight. Dog and horse owners have been demonstrated to underestimate their animals' weight, suggesting the prevalence of obesity in this study is likely to be an underestimation.

Charlotte said: "It is possible that in certain breeds, being overweight or obese has been normalised to a certain extent. Owners may find it easier to identify an overweight Thoroughbred, compared to an overweight cob or native pony.

"Helping owners identify when their horse is overweight or obese is an essential aspect of reducing the welfare impact of equine obesity."

Reference

1. Prevalence of and risk factors for equine obesity in Great Britain based on owner-reported body condition scores. C. A. Robin, J. L. Ireland, C. E. Wylie, S. N. Collins, K. L. P. Verheyen and J. R. Newton Equine Veterinary Journal. First published online: 22 May 2014