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VetSurgeon.org publishes a curated feed of veterinary news for practising veterinary surgeons, with a primary focus on the UK profession.
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Woodley Equipment has expanded its support team with the appointment of Greg Woloszczuk as the new Wet Chemistry Product Support Specialist.
Greg joins Woodley from the veterinary industry where he worked for 5 ½ years as a Service Manager. He will focus on all areas of customer service, pre and post sales, along with organising servicing, repairs and maintenance of the Woodley wet chemistry analysers.
Guernsey-based vet, VetSurgeon member David Chamberlain has officially launched a revolutionary cat flap which synchronises with a cat's microchip to control access to the house. The Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap is the first cat flap that works in conjunction with microchips and has already been winning awards.
Aside from allowing only the homeowner's cats into the house, the Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap has a number of other interesting features. ‘Vet Mode' allows recognised cats in, but does NOT allow them out, useful when a trip to the vet is on the calendar. ‘Night Mode' uses an automatic daylight sensor to lock the door as ambient light levels drop, keeping cats inside and safe. An audible beep (which can be turned off) provides an alert when a programmed cat enters though the flap.
The Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap recognises 15 digit UK/European FDX-B microchips. Owners of cats that have already beed chipped can check check compatibility with the Pet Porte's 'Chip Checker'.
The cat flap can recognise up to 32 microchipped cats, and programming it is very simple. When the unit is first installed, the owner holds down a green paw button for ten seconds and passes their cat under the porch for the microchip to be programmed into the system.
A review on Pet Porte's website caught my eye:"Just like to say how absolutely fabulous the cat flap is. I've slashed my cat food bill now I'm not feeding the entire street!" On top of that, as Pet Porte says, this system also encourages microchipping, an important part of responsible pet ownership.
The Pet Porte microchip cat flap is currently being marketed in the UK through veterinary practices and online from http://www.petporte.com/. For all sales enquiries call 01481 265 359, email sales@petporte.com or visit www.petporte.com.
Alternatively, 'Start a Conversation' directly with David by clicking the link on his VetSurgeon profile.
Petplan has announced the finalists for the 2009 Veterinary Awards.
The company says it was inundated with more than 2300 nominations this year and that the public response was 'astonishing', with tales ranging from midnight rescues to simple acts of kindness and this year was no exception.
The finalists for each of the categories are as follows:
Vet of the YearJamie Rushton, Village Vet Hampstead, LondonBen Jones, Ben Jones Veterinary Surgery, Chester, FlintshireMatthew Fry, Quarrington Veterinary Surgery, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Vet Nurse of the YearCharlotte Maude, Companion Care Veterinary Surgery Chesterfield, Markham, ChesterfieldKaren McQuaid, The Old Golfhouse Veterinary Group, Watton, NorfolkRachel Smith, 608 Veterinary Group, Solihull, West Midlands
Vet Receptionist of the YearYasmin Morowa, Melton Veterinary Surgery, Woodbridge, SuffolkJackie Crampton, Companion Care Veterinary Surgery Chesterfield, Markham, ChesterfieldSara Abbott, Pet Doctors, East Horsley, Surrey
Vet Practice of the YearAshfield House Veterinary Hospital Limited, Long Eaton, NottinghamshireCarrick Veterinary Group CVS (UK) Ltd, Newbold, ChesterfieldSt Clair Veterinary Group, Kirkcaldy, Fife
Simon Wheeler, Petplan's Head of Marketing said he was thrilled by the record number of nominations received:
"This year we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Veterinary Awards which were launched so pet owners could thank their practice for the tireless and wonderful work they carry out. We are delighted that the awards, which we often hear referred to as the 'Vet Oscars', are still going strong. This year we have received over 2300 nominations and the quality and standard really challenged the skills of our esteemed judging panel. We would like to wish those short listed every success on the night."
All finalists will be invited to a 'glittering' awards ceremony that will take place on 2nd April at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham where the winners will be announced.
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC has announced that it has acquired the entire issued share capital of Genitrix Limited ("Genitrix") from its owner managers for an initial cash consideration of £5.4 million, with a further £0.8 million being payable upon achievement of specific milestones.
Dechra says the acquisition of Genitrix is consistent with its strategy to grow its international veterinary pharmaceutical business. In the year ended 31 March 2010, Genitrix achieved revenues of £2.4 million.
Ian Page, Chief Executive of Dechra, said: "Genitrix range of equine and companion animal products enhances and complements our UK product portfolio. Furthermore the recently approved canine epilepsy product, Libromide, provides future growth opportunities through potential mutual recognition in Europe. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in the first full year following ownership."
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched its complimentary blood testing service that allows practitioners to investigate one of the main infectious causes of early embryo loss in sheep flocks.
The annual subsidised Barren EweCheck diagnostic scheme is available from 1st December 2010 until 31st March 2011 for breeding ewe flocks. The service establishes whether Toxoplasma gondii is potentially implicated in any empty or aborting ewes.
According to the company, data from the Barren EweCheck and FlockCheck 2010 schemes showed that 86% of flocks had been exposed to the toxoplasma parasite at some point before blood sampling. As a result, practitioners were able to give clients receiving a positive diagnosis timely advice on disease control and the benefits of a Toxovax vaccination regime.
The company anticipates full availability of Toxovax in 2011 and says its Barren EweCheck blood sample submission pads are available directly from the company's Veterinary Support Group by calling 01908 685685.
Hill's is holding the Top Dog Challenge: a race to see which vet school can mobilise the largest number of students to support the school's nomination as 'Top Dog' before May, for a prize of €10,000 to support student activities.
Voting is already open at www.hillstopdog.com. Once the preliminary round votes are counted the top five colleges will be selected to go through to the next round for final judging at the Southern European Veterinary Conference (SEVC) 2011 in Barcelona at the end of September. One nominated student from each of the participating vet schools will get the chance to enjoy an expenses paid trip to SEVC to act as a student ambassador and one lucky winner will collect the prize on behalf of their school.
Every vote makes a difference and students who want to remind their colleagues to vote can send them a SMS text message direct from the site. A really determined, committed and well organised student body can make all the difference and ensure their college has a place on the winner's podium.
Last year's winner the Hebrew University of Jerusalem won with in excess of 95 per cent of their students voting, so winning presents quite a challenge. But this is the first time UK vet schools have taken part and they could upset the apple cart.
Adrian Pratt, Veterinary Affairs Manager is looking forwards to seeing how students at UK vet schools rise to the challenge. He said: "We really have excellent vet schools in this country and it would be great to see the students demonstrating how UK students can perform on the European stage and the passion and loyalty they have for their own school!"
The inaugural Vet Charity Challenge, which took place on 15th September at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, has raised at least £20,000 for charity.
Twenty-six teams of four people took part, spending seven hours walking, running, cycling, kayaking, orienteering, along with a few mental physical challenges along the way.
The Challenge started in the morning with a sprint to collect puzzles for teams to solve. This determined time slots when teams could attempt six mental and physical puzzles during the morning session. The teams then headed off on a walk or run around the surrounding countryside. The aim was to visit as many points on the map as possible. Each team could choose its own route. After lunch, the teams headed off again for the cycling stages, visiting places on the map in order to gain more points. Then finally it was onto the water for the kayaking stage.
The winning team was the Complete Animal from Hyde Park Veterinary Centre in London. Team captain Leah Morley said: "The event was great fun, really well organised, and all the teams seemed to have got right behind it. You really had to work as a team, playing to different peoples strengths both physically and mentally. Everyone had a fair chance of winning. We would really like to thank others in the practice and our clients who were massively generous in their support and sponsorship. Their response was quite inspirational and certainly had an impact in driving us to perform well. I think every practice should take part and we look forward to returning next year to defend our title."
All the teams enjoyed the day and met the challenges head on and were enthusiastic for the Vet Charity Challenge to continue next year. Head Nurse Angella McNellan from Glenbrae Veterinary Clinic in Bearsden, Glasgow said: "The Vet Charity Challenge has been brilliant fun, beautiful scenery, great challenges. It has really helped get fitter through training as a team after work during the summer. We cannot wait to do it all again next year."
Roger Dixon MRCVS from Ashbrook Equine Hospital in Cheshire said: "The Challenge has been great fun, we really enjoyed the teambuilding element. Also it was worth the pain to beat the farm team!"
Nicolette Hayward from team The Far Canals said: "The Vet Charity Challenge has been superb, enormous fun. We did absolutely no training and came in fourth, so we are very happy with that result."
Jason Rogers from BCF team Witness the Fitness said: "We really enjoyed the day, found it exhausting though, the kayaking was the toughest part, and we had quite a run back in the morning to get back in time."
To add to the level of exhaustion competitors were flung around the dance floor for a Ceilidh following a barbeque in the evening. The band consisted of organisers from the event including caller Brian Wright from Vets Now and competitors Nicolette Haywood and Jim Hughes.
For more information, see more photos and to register interest for the challenge in 2013 visit www.vetcharitychallenge.co.uk. Also follow Vet Charity Challenge and on Twitter @vetchallenge.
Cave Veterinary Specialists, a referral centre based near Taunton, Somerset, has announced the launch of a significantly extended neurology and neurosurgery service.
The centre now has three new international specialists in the field: Salih Eminaga (DVM GPCert (SAS) DipECVN MRCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Neurology); Philip Strom (DVM, DACVR, MRCVS, American Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging) and Fernando Liste-Burillo (DVM, MSc, PhD) - Diagnostic Imager.
In addition, Cave has invested in a new 1.5 Tesla high field MRI system.
Tom Cave, the co-owner of Cave Veterinary Specialists said: "Demand for our neurology and neurosurgery service has continued to grow over the past 12 months but accepting emergency cases could be challenging with visiting MR imaging for brains and spines only available once or twice a week.
"Now that we have acquired our own on-site high field veterinary specific MR scanner we can expand to provide what we have wanted to do: a 24/7 neurology and neurosurgery service led by a European specialist in neurology and supported by recognised specialists in diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia, and our superb nursing team. All these components are required to successfully support patients particularly those that undergo brain and spinal surgery.
"Having a multidiscipline team that also covers orthopaedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, and oncology means we can also provide the highest level of care for patients with multiple problems such as trauma cases."
The extended neurology and neurosurgery service will be able to accept referrals or advise on cases including:
For more information, visit: http://www.cave-vet-specialists.co.uk
BSAVA Congress, which is open to the whole practice, from reception to the clinical team, will offer free practical drop-in sessions, day-in-the-life dramas, and a bigger wellbeing zone.
There'll be over 120 hours of CPD covering a range of topics such as oncology, veterinary leadership, the RVN’s role, and charity veterinary care.
Paul Higgs, Chair of the Congress Committee, said: “I cannot wait for BSAVA 2023!
"After the successful transformation of BSAVA in our move to Manchester we have been working our socks off to go one better!
"Filled with brilliant speakers, our now trade-mark combination of short, paired lectures with stimulating and inspiring panel discussions, is back in strength.”
Early-bird tickets for BSAVA Congress 2023 are on sale now and BSAVA has brought back one-day only tickets, so if you can’t attend all three days, you have the option to visit on a day that suits you.
https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2023/en/page/home
The book highlights some of the ways that action is being taken in the profession to retain and develop female talent, build women’s economic empowerment, support women into leadership, decision-making and business, and create infrastructure that meets the needs of women.
Profiles include Dr Katrin Jahn, who is paving the way for female veterinary professionals in the Middle East and Dr Jyotika Sangle, who works in regulatory affairs in India, where the veterinary profession is not considered to be a career choice for women, and its importance is not well understood.
Also profiled is Perdi Welsh, who is working to enhance career progression options for veterinary nurses, and Samantha Lympany-Tier, who is advocating for the role of veterinary care assistants and patient emotional welfare in clinical practice.
Veterinary Woman editor, Jenny Langridge, said: “When we’re feeling worn down by work pressures it can be difficult to envisage change for the better, but the veterinary professions are bursting with people driving innovation and development in many different ways.
"I hope that our ‘Champions for Change’ eBook will help vet professionals of all types to find inspiration from the stories of the amazing efforts taking place within the sector to drive new thinking and improvements to wellbeing, career prospects, equality and inclusivity.”
https://www.veterinarywoman.co.uk/2024/03/champions-for-change-e-book
VetSurgeon member Anthony Todd has started a petition amongst veterinary surgeons and nurses, calling for the installation and routine monitoring of CCTV in all pre-slaughter areas of licensed abattoirs in the UK.
The petition was triggered by a news report in the Daily Mail exposing shocking cruelty to pigs at an Essex slaughterhouse run by Cheale Meats. Staff were seen stubbing their cigarettes out on the pigs' faces, punching them and failing to stun the animals correctly, in undercover footage filmed by Animal Aid.
The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for breaches of welfare at abattoirs, has refused to submit the footage to Defra for prosecution, on the basis that it was filmed illegally.
Anthony said: "Prosecution will automatically follow with legal video evidence.
"The exposure of the Cheale incident was fortuitous and may well be the tip of the iceberg which must be eliminated."
To sign the petition, please visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/abbatoir-abuse/
MSD Animal Health has launched a new Chronogest CR pack for practices starting a dialogue with sheep producer clients about planned breeding for 2013 lamb sales, and is offering a free applicator with every four packs purchased.
The Chronogest CR intra-vaginal sponges, impregnated with 20mg of cronolone (flugestone acetate) synthetic hormone, are now available in foil wrapped packs of 25. The packs protect the sponges from light and moisture.
MSD is reminding practitioners that sponging programmes must be planned at least six weeks in advance of mating, with PMSG-Intervet injections essential at sponge removal.
The new packs of 25 will be available when existing 25, 50 and 100 pack sizes sell out.
Further information on planned breeding - including newsletter copy and sheep producer advisory materials - is available from the MSD Animal Health veterinary support group (VSG) on 01908 685685 or via emailing vet-support.uk@merck.com
The audit1 was led by Paragon Veterinary Referrals’ head of cardiology, Chris Linney (pictured), to review treatment for patent ductus arteriosus.
He set up the study whilst working at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, and the other centres collaborating on the study were Anicura Oslo Animal Hospital, Heart Vets; Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, University Hospital of Companion Animals, Copenhagen and Veterinary Cardiology Consultancy.
Other clinicians taking part included Brigite Pedro, Mike Martin and João Neves, formerly of Willows, along with Jo Harris and Dave Dickson, of HeartVets.
Chris, an RCVS and EBVS specialist in cardiology, said: “This published multicentre prospective clinical audit was a first of its kind in the cardiology world.
“This type of audit acts as a quality control to improve patient outcomes through systematic review of care, comparing to predefined criteria and then implementing change, and so the process repeats.
“Improving patient outcomes and benchmarking against existing standards is essential for elevating patient outcomes.
In the centres in this study, we are already delivering excellent patient outcomes but with room for improvements, however small, this audit will help future patients but also colleagues across the cardiology world.”
Reference
Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease variant (RVHD2) is a variation of the already recognised Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD1). Vaccines for the original strain of RVHD do not appear to offer long term protection against RVHD2, however vaccines for this new strain are now available in the UK and can be purchased through three UK wholesalers (NVS, Centaur and Henry Schein Animal Health) or direct from the suppliers in Europe. There have been supply issues with this vaccination, however these are hoping to be remedied soon.
RVHD2 is more variable in its rate of disease progression than RVHD1, with presentation ranging from sudden death (with or without bleeding from the orifices), to a longer disease course of three to nine days, increasing the risk of unwell rabbits being brought into practices and in turn increasing the risk of transmission to other pet rabbits. Until vaccination becomes more routine, biosecurity in practices is key to prevent the disease from spreading.
Sean Wensley, BVA President, said: "Although the risk of a rabbit contracting RVHD2 appears highest in situations where rabbits are kept in large groups with regular new additions, such as at breeders or rescue centres, we encourage all owners to speak to their vet about vaccinating their rabbits against RVHD2.
"Veterinary advice from The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) has stated that the spread of RVHD2 may be facilitated by its apparent slower disease progression compared to RVHD1, and research suggests that we can expect to see RVHD2 starting to predominate in the UK’s wild rabbits over RVHD1 in the next five years or so."
John Chitty, BSAVA Vice President, said: "BSAVA would encourage practices to talk to rabbit owning clients about RVHD2 vaccines, and where there is deemed sufficient risk recommend the vaccine along with the essential vaccination against Myxomatosis – and it should be noted that this must not be done within two weeks of vaccination against RVHD2."
BVZS President and veterinary pathologist Mark Stidworthy said: "It is clear from post mortem examinations and PCR testing over the last 18 months that RVHD2 is now geographically widespread in the UK and all rabbits should be considered at risk from this potentially devastating disease."
Due to recent media coverage of RVHD2, vets may be contacted by concerned owners seeking advice on how to prevent their rabbits contracting this disease - further to vaccinating, vets should recommend rabbits are kept separate from any other rabbits they do not usually interact with; are prevented from having contact with wild rabbits and do not attend any rabbit shows unless already vaccinated.
For a detailed Q&A on RVHD2 from Richard Saunders MRCVS, veterinary advisor to the RWAF, including information on sourcing effective vaccines, visit www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk and click RVHD2 - Filavac Vaccine – FAQs on the home page.
Photo: Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0.
RCVS Knowledge has announced the official launch of Veterinary Evidence – a new resource designed to unite practitioners interested in promoting and using the principles of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) within practice.
Veterinary Evidence – which is supported by the RCVS – represents RCVS Knowledge’s wider mission statement of providing the veterinary community with practice relevant, evidence-based information resources. Papers and publications are now available for use, completely open-access.
Veterinary Evidence aims to become the go-to portal for evidence-based veterinary information, promoting and publishing peer-reviewed papers alongside discussion of EBVM through opinion, clinical and methodological articles.
The site will host a wide range of material – from randomised controlled trials to case studies, Knowledge Summaries and interviews. The content is designed to educate readers in research techniques, responding to the desire amongst many veterinary professionals to become involved in effective practice-based research – including critical appraisal and clinical audit.
Jacqui Molyneux, Chair of the RCVS Knowledge Board of Trustees said: "As a practising veterinary surgeon I, along with many others, recognise the emerging importance of evidence-based veterinary medicine and I believe it will become more and more important as time goes on. We all wish to do the best for our patients but how do we find out what the current ‘best’ is? That’s where this portal will become so useful; collecting and publishing articles that directly help practising vets and nurses to answer that question."
Bradley Viner, the President of the RCVS and a Trustee of RCVS Knowledge, said: "The College was very happy to support our charity partners at RCVS Knowledge in launching this excellent new resource which will be relevant to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in clinical practice. Furthermore, clinical governance is now firmly established as an important principle in the Code of Professional Conducts for both professions and so, by encouraging practitioners to undergo a continuing process of reflection, analysis and improvement, Veterinary Evidence will also be helping them fulfil their professional responsibilities."
Access the full site at: www.veterinaryevidence.org
I'm delighted to welcome Celia Marr from Rossdales and Edd Knowles from Bell Equine, who have kindly agreed to be our contributing experts. They'll drop in from time to time to add anything helpful they can to the forum discussions.
As elsewhere on VetSurgeon.org, reading content in the new groups or participating in discussions can count towards a VetSurgeon.org CPD certificate. Just press 'Claim CPD' at the top of the page, then collect the record and certificate from your profile.
All members of the site with an interest in equine medicine are now invited to press the join button on the left hand side of the group home page (when viewed on tablet or bigger). You may also wish to select the option to receive a daily or weekly digest of new content by email, which you can cancel at any time.
Equine is the third special interest group launched on VetSurgeon.org. The other two are Small Animal Medicine and Small Animal Dentistry.
At the same time as paying the fee, all veterinary surgeons must annually confirm their Register and correspondence details, declare any convictions, cautions or adverse findings and confirm they are compliant with RCVS continuing professional development (CPD) policy.
The deadline for completing the annual renewal, 1 April 2019, has now passed and all veterinary surgeons who are yet to pay their fees must do so before the end of May 2019. As of 1 June 2019, any non-payers will be removed from the Register.
If paid by 30 April 2019, the annual fee is £340 for UK-practising veterinary surgeons, £170 for veterinary surgeons practising outside the UK, and £56 for non-practising veterinary surgeons. Following this date, the fee goes up by £35 across all these groups and veterinary surgeons will have until 31 May 2019 to pay.
If the renewal fee is not received in full by 31 May 2019, then non-paying veterinary surgeons will be removed from the Register. In order to restore their name to the Register, a restoration fee of £340 will need to be paid, in addition to the appropriate retention fee. During this time they will not be able to use the postnominals MRCVS and UK-practising vets will need to cease practising.
Annual renewals can be completed online on the RCVS website and all the information needed to complete the annual renewal is in the renewal notice that has been sent to veterinary surgeons. Those who need any help or have any questions about completing their renewal and paying fees should contact the RCVS Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or registration@rcvs.org.uk.
The Heart Health Panel - a group of expert veterinary surgeons, cardiologists and nutritionists set up by Boehringher Ingelheim Vetmedica - has launched a set of guidelines on the management of canine cardiac health through nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Entitled Supporting canine heart health through nutrition and lifestyle, Boehringher says the guidelines provide veterinary professionals with information on canine heart health, including the progression of heart disease through four main stages. These are: the green phase - no clinical signs and no pathology; the yellow phase - no clinical signs of heart failure but evidence of disease at clinical exam; the orange phase - occasional clinical signs when exercising and the red phase - clinical signs at rest.
The panel has developed a diagnostic checklist to determine whether a patient has heart disease and which phase they are in to help initiate a good diet and healthy lifestyle early enough to support heart health. While a dog's individual needs should be taken into account when advising on dietary management and lifestyle, the panel's recommendations include a balanced, complete diet, dietary supplements, such as omega-3, and an appropriate exercise regime.
The Heart Health Panel's guidelines are now available as a booklet and are supported with a leaflet for dog owners entitled Support your dog's heart. The leaflet features information on canine heart health including risk factors, dietary advice, clinical signs of disease, diagnosis and the creation of a heart health management plan. Both the owner leaflet and the panel guidelines are available from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, and copies can be ordered from your local territory manager or by emailing vetmedica.uk@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
To nominate someone for inclusion in the showcase, visit: https://www.beva.org.uk/60-Faces
BEVA President Lucy Grieve said: "We are proud of BEVA’s heritage and want to recognise our 60th birthday by celebrating some of those who have made a significant difference to the equine veterinary community. We want you to help us identify the 60 individuals who you believe have truly inspired, influenced and progressed the equine veterinary profession for the better.”
Each of the nominated 60 faces will be highlighted on the website and on BEVA’s social media channels. Profile details will include career paths, workplaces and personal contributions to the equine veterinary profession.
Lucy added: "We have already started the list with Colonel John Hickman, Sue Dyson and Peter Rossdale. But there are hundreds of exceptional, deserving individuals who have made a huge difference to the equine veterinary profession and are worthy of our 60 Faces roll call."
The deadline for nominations is Friday 16th April 2021. All nominations are anonymous.
The results of a new study1 highlighting the prevalence of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection as seen by UK veterinary surgeons, combined with the low awareness amongst dog owners of this parasite2 has led Bayer Animal Health to launch a nationwide 'Be Lungworm Aware' initiative.
Backed by a hard-hitting national advertising, PR and radio campaign which kicks off in April, the initiative aims to highlight the prevalence of this potentially, and often fatal infection, and to drive pet owners to their veterinary practices for further information.
The initiative also sees the launch of a new educational website for dog owners - http://www.lungworm.co.uk/. The site offers further information on the infection, including likely signs, how to obtain treatment and a video of the lifecycle of the parasite showing the threat posed by the lungworm's intermediate hosts - slugs and snails.
The study revealed that 16% of vets questioned had one or more confirmed cases of the disease. A further 10% had seen dogs that they suspected had the infection. However, only 6% of dog owners questioned in a UK wide survey had unprompted awareness of the parasite.
Bayer's Chris White said: "These results are no surprise following the reports last year of confirmed cases of Angiostrongylus vasorum as far north as Glasgow. The disease has seen a rapid rise in importance over the past few years highlighted by the number of vets and nurses that attended the Advocate CPD meetings held around the country at the end of last year.
"The 'Be Lungworm Aware' initiative aims to educate owners on the risks associated with infection, to encourage them to visit their vet for further information and discuss their dogs' parasite protection plan."
For further details, or to order the supporting practice materials, including a new educational waiting room display and practice PR pack to help raise awareness locally, please contact your Bayer representative or ring 01635 563682.
1Insight Track, 2008 2Insight Track, 2009
Vetoquinol has revamped its Epiphen complimentary voucher scheme for testing serum levels of phenobarbital, and is offering vet practices a chance to win £100 of high street vouchers.
New voucher pads will be posted to participating veterinary practices in August. The re-vamped scheme also includes freepost envelopes to make the free serum monitoring programme more user-friendly.
Practices are being asked to send back the old vouchers, which can be found in both the 30mg and 60mg Epiphen packs, to take part in a monthly prize draw to win £100 of high street vouchers. To enter, return the vouchers with the practice name on the back of each voucher. There will also be a quarterly prize draw for a "Touch Screen" client education tool.
The old vouchers should be sent to: Voucher Amnesty, Vetoquinol, Vetoquinol House, Great Slade, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham, MK18 1PA.
Virbac is running a special promotion through which UK-based practitioners who order from the company's reproductive product range can claim a free copy of the evidence-based book Clinical Canine and Feline Reproduction by Margaret V. Root Kustritz.
The book covers 100 separate questions across a range of reproductive issues, and currently retails for £47.99.
Virbac product manager Chris Geddes MRCVS said: "We offered this book as part of a promotion in 2010 and it proved extremely popular. As a result we thought we would give vets another chance to get a free copy."
As the Assistant Dean at the Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Margaret V. Root Kustritz is a leading figure in feline and canine reproduction and one of the world's most renowned experts in reproduction. Mr Geddes said: "The book is based on the questions veterinary surgeons have asked her over the years, and so is a valuable reference tool for any vet."
Numbers are limited, and the book is available on on a 'first come first served' basis. Anyone interested should either contact their territory manager or call Virbac on 01359 243243.
The session will be conducted in the style of the BBC Radio 4 Moral Maze discussion programme, with panelists and witnesses arguing for and against the viewpoint corporatisation is inevitable and will benefit vets and their clients.
Moderated by Madeleine Campbell, Keith Chandler and Karl Holliman will argue for corporatisation and Andrew Harrison and Tim Greet will be against. They will call upon a series of 'witnesses' for detailed questioning before the topic is more broadly debated.
CVS, the UK’s biggest veterinary group now owns more than 410 veterinary practices, of which over 30 are specifically equine or mixed practices.
The latest equine acquisitions include Bell Equine, a one-site Equine Referral Hospital in Kent, in January 2017 and Severn Edge Veterinary Group, a mixed practice with 12 sites in Shropshire, including a six-vet dedicated equine practice, in April 2017.
One line of argument says that the commercial and business advantages of a corporate, together with their scale and diversity, can give veterinary surgeons greater potential for a more flexible career path and advancement within the industry, and a more sustainable working career in equine practice.
On the flip side, there's the removal of any opportunity to buy into ownership, reduced decision-making ability because of adherence to corporate procedures, extra paperwork, longer approval processes and an increased emphasis on the bottom line.
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: "The auditorium is usually full to bursting for our Moral Maze sessions because they bring a broader and more engaging dimension to important topics. The statement Corporatisation of equine practices is inevitable and will benefit vets and their clients is bound to generate some stimulating and possibly heated debate."
This year's BEVA Congress will be held at Liverpool Arena Convention Centre, and anyone who registers before 3rd August will receive significantly reduced booking fees.
For more information, visit: www.beva.org.uk.
David says that whilst he was out there, he was told about attacks by Russian forces on stables in Bucha, Irpin and other equestrian premises north of Kyiv.
Ukraine vet Anatoly Levitsky who is working in Kyiv, said: “Not very big horse club was not far from Borodianka and owners were using their horses for hippotherapy of children with different pathologies.
"When war started, the lady who owned the stable and her child emigrated to Poland and her husband was conscripted into Ukrainian army.
"When Russian bandits in army uniform came to the village, they set fire to the stable and started shooting the horses that tried to escape.”
“Some horses ran away, others were wounded, and some were burned down.
"After the building was burned, Russian soldiers went away and horses that escaped were wandering around the village and trying to find the feed.
"Step by step, people living in the village collected the horses and keep one or two horses in their yards.”
David said: “It is hard to understand what could motivate anyone to perform these deliberate acts of cruelty.
"Random shootings, stabbings and burnings are widely reported and pictured on social media, we have no idea how many horses are dead and how many injured, but it has to be a significant number.
“Some of the lorry drivers I have met coming out have been shot at, shelled and beaten up, evacuating surviving horses.
"They are taking risks that we would consider totally unacceptable to move animals out and supplies in.
"I have nothing but admiration for the bravery of the Ukrainian people.”
“Ever conscious that there is an equal humanitarian need you feel very small and rather cowardly that you aren’t permitted to go into Ukraine to help the people and animals that require treatment.”
The British Equine Veterinary Association and American Association of Equine Practitioners are working together to support vets in Ukraine.
They say that they are not allowed to provide direct practical help, but they are doing what they can to get veterinary and humanitarian supplies to the vets they are in contact with.
They are also working to establish safe stables in the West of Ukraine to get horses and their owners away from likely areas of combat in the East.
Previously people have had no option but to turn horses into the woods prior to fleeing or they have stayed to look after their animals despite the risks to themselves.
BEVA, in association with the British Equestrians for Ukraine Fund, is calling for urgent support to help fund veterinary treatment, supplies and the safe relocation of Ukraine’s endangered horses.
To do this they need your urgent support. To make a donation visit https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/support-us/appeals/british-equestrians-for-ukraine-fund.
To find out more you can listen to a podcast from David Rendle here https://beva.podbean.com/e/bevapod-episode-13/
Photo: Stabling reportedly burned down by Russian soldiers