Veterinary CPD provider Improve International has extended its range of one-day courses in emerging areas of veterinary medicine.

The courses, which are are aimed at practitioners dealing with species other than companion animals, include:

Emergency Care of Alpacas (13 July, Sheffield)
This course covers the management of dystocia and other problems in the peri-parturient female and neonate, resuscitation, common congenital problems, the failure of passive immune transfer and septicaemia. First aid for orthopaedic emergencies and wound care is covered as is working up the colic patient and the neurological patient.

Diseases of Game Birds (20 June, Swindon; 5 September, Sheffield)
Aimed at ensuring that the veterinarian is able to deal with the demands of gamekeepers and game rearers, this course offers an overview of the industry and legislation, together with biosecurity and its application to wild birds. It includes review of common disease processes and control of antibiotic usage with some applied alternatives to traditional methods. 

First Aid for the Large Animal Vet (5 July, Swindon; 2 August, Sheffield)
This course is aimed at assisting large animal vets who may find themselves required to offer first aid to a colleague who has sustained injuries during a farm visit. It provides advice on assessing emergency situations, recognising and treating fractures, carrying out artificial ventilations and chest compressions, controlling severe bleeding and dealing with burns and scalds.

The Approach to the Sick Hen (18 July, Swindon; 13 September, Sheffield)
Avian anatomy and the husbandry of the backyard flock are covered in this course, together with worming and vaccination advice, the approach to the sick hen and appropriate medication options.

Veterinary Care of Sheep (11 July, Swindon; 6 July, Sheffield)  
Covering the basics of best practice and flock health planning, this course provides practical advice on maximising lamb numbers, sheep lameness, controlling internal and external parasites and flock vaccination programmes.

Veterinary Care of Goats (10 July, Swindon) 
This course covers the behavioural, nutritional and environmental needs of goats across all sectors, including pet, meat, pedigree and commercial dairy goats. It also covers infectious diseases affecting goats in the UK, including diagnosis, treatment and control, in addition to disbudding, foot care and common surgical procedures.

David Babington MRCVS, Managing Director of Improve, said: "We introduced a number of one-day short courses in niche or emerging areas of veterinary medicine last year and have built on the range for 2017 to cover new species including chickens and goats. Most of the courses are offered in venues in both the north and south of the UK. We look forward to welcoming vets to these new courses this year."

Further information is available at http://www.improveinternational.com/uk/#top

NVS has shared the results of a survey in which veterinary professionals shared their most common strategies for improving staff wellbeing. 

The survey of 76 vets and nurses, which was conducted by the company in September and October 2024, found that 43% believe that staff wellbeing could be improved within their practice.

It also found that 93% agreed it is important for staff wellbeing to be taken seriously (Ed's note: one wonders what the other 7% think). 

The most common strategies were:

• Regular breaks
• Maintaining a manageable workload
• Fostering a supportive environment and positive team culture
• Engaging in out of work team activities
• Personal self-care, such as fitness and hobbies
• Expressing gratitude and recognising others' hard work

NVS, which also sells a range of natural calming products for animals including NVS Select Calming Chews, also asked veterinary professionals how often they encounter nervous or stressed animals.

The answer from 92% of respondents was, perhaps a little unsurprisingly, daily.

82% said they use medications and supplements to support nervous animals.

https://www.nvsweb.co.uk/products/big-chill/ 

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The RVC’s canine epilepsy clinic has carried out the first ever systematic review and meta-analysis on the tolerability and safety of all AEDs in canine epilepsy, concluding that the effectiveness of testing anti-epileptic drugs’ (AEDs) safety and tolerability for canine epilepsy has been below the expected standard.

The aim of the study was to assess the adverse effect profile of each individual AED by analysing all available data that has been published for each specific AED and then evaluating how reliable the data was. The study was published in BMC Veterinary Research (DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0703-y).

To do this the researchers gathered, screened and assessed all the information published in peer-reviewed journals and publications. The individual studies were then evaluated based on the quality of evidence, study design, study group sizes, subject enrolment quality and overall risk of bias. The results, say researchers, now provide a new and more objective insight into the tolerability and safety of the AEDs.

Co-author of the study, Marios Charalambous, said: "We recruited systematic and statistical methods to combine, compare and summarize the results of independent studies and, therefore, create more objective and reliable conclusions based on the current evidence. It was a time-consuming, demanding and challenging process, but we are sure that we provide the clinicians now with essential information which they can use for daily practice."

By reviewing, assessing and untangling the vast amounts of data, the researchers found that much of the evidence for the medical treatment of canine epilepsy was based on subpar reporting of adverse effect and in studies that were below the expected standard. They say that only in recent years can the quality of studies carried out be considered adequate.

Professor Holger Volk, Clinical Director of the RVC Small Animal Referral Hospital and Professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery (pictured right), said: "Not only does this study offer a new perspective on the management of canine epilepsy, but also highlights the importance of the need for trials which provide high quality evidence in order to have more reliable and objective results about the safety and tolerability of the AEDs in veterinary medicine."

Dr. Dave Brodbelt, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Epidemiology, added: “This is a valuable addition to the body of literature on canine epilepsy, highlighting safety issues and adverse events related to its management and adding further depth to the evidence base relevant to practicing vets."

VetSurgeon.org has launched a survey to discover what veterinary professionals think of the food available for small furries, and how it is labelled.

The survey closes on 22nd September, when one completed survey entry will be drawn from the hat to win £50 worth of John Lewis shopping vouchers.

The survey consists of nine quick questions, which should only take a few moments to complete.

Click here to take part in the survey.

Paisley-based Laura Benson RVN has been suspended for nine months by the RCVS VN Disciplinary Committee for stealing from her veterinary practice and asking a colleague to input false clinical records about her pet.

Ms Benson faced six charges.

The first was that between January 2018 and November 2019 she took a number of bags of dog food and two horse wormer syringes from the practice without paying for them. 

Charge 2 alleged that between November 2018 and November 2019 she took a number of items of animal food and one or more boxes of horse wormer and paid less than the correct amount for them.

Charge 3 was that between October 2018 and November 2019 she arranged for or allowed a friend to receive a discount on items from the practice, without consent from the practice.

Charge 4 alleged that in December 2019 she asked a veterinary surgeon colleague to input details of treatment and/or medicine for her cat into the clinical records of another of her animals that was also registered to the practice.

Charge 5 was that in relation to charges 1, 2 and 3, her conduct was dishonest.

Charge 6 alleged that in relation to charge 4, her conduct was dishonest, potentially compromised the integrity of a professional colleague and was potentially detrimental to animal welfare.

At the outset of the hearing, Ms Benson admitted to charges 1,2,3,4 and 6 of the allegations and the Committee accepted these admissions. The Committee considered evidence from Ms Benson’s colleagues including witness statements, written testimonial and clinical records for her animals.

When asked about taking items from the practice, Ms Benson explained that she did not intend to take items without paying for them and that she had not realised how much she had taken. She also explained that she had paid back in full what she owed to the practice. The Committee considered that Ms Benson’s conduct had involved a degree of premeditation as she had repeatedly taken items over an extended period. They also considered that there had been a potential risk of injury to animals resulting from Ms Benson’s request to incorrectly write up her animal’s veterinary records.

The defence attested that no actual harm had come to any animal because of Ms Benson’s actions and that she previously had an unblemished career in veterinary nursing. She had also admitted most of the charges against her and paid for the items she had taken in full.

Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee considered that in the case of Ms Benson, there had been a potential risk to animals had her pet’s records been incorrectly completed, although no harm resulted. The request to alter the records had been a short, single event, but the taking of items had been repeated over a period.

"The Committee also considered that Ms Benson had abused the trust placed in her as a senior nurse with managerial responsibility. We took into account that there was some evidence of Ms Benson being overloaded by work, but there was no evidence of any health condition during the time of the misconduct which might explain her actions.”

The Committee therefore found Ms Benson guilty of serious professional misconduct and decided that a nine-month suspension from the Register was the most appropriate sanction.

Cerys Jones said: “The Committee accepted that Ms Benson had developing insight in making her admissions and we give her credit for her long unblemished career. She admitted to a large part of the allegation, expressed remorse for her actions and has repaid the practice. We have also heard a number of positive testimonials which spoke positively of Ms Benson’s recent conduct.

“However, dishonesty is a serious matter in relation to professional practice and taking no action in response to the serious nature of Ms Benson’s disgraceful conduct would not be proportionate or serve to protect animals and maintain public confidence in the profession.

“Having carefully considered matters, the Committee decided that the appropriate and proportionate sanction, was to suspend Ms Benson’s registration for nine months.”

Ms Benson has 28 days from being informed of the outcome of the hearing to appeal the Committee’s decision.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has launched a new 'Use Medicines Responsibly' campaign.

The main thrust of the campaign is an initiative by NOAH to encourage pharmaceutical companies to add: 'Use Medicines Responsibly' as a strapline to their own advertising campaigns, with a link to the NOAH information resource for prescribers and users of animal medicines: www.noah.co.uk/responsible.

Speaking at the NOAH annual members' conference in Northampton, NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH believes responsible promotion of animal medicines to be an important link in the chain towards responsible use. Companies' promotional material can educate prescribers and users of animal medicines to the benefit of their animals' health and welfare.

"We believe this new advice resource, with the reminder on advertisements, will help."

A new study from the Royal Veterinary College has identified the breeds of dog most at risk of cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture, along with other risk factors.

Led by the RVC’s VetCompass Programme, the study included 1,000 CCL rupture cases and a random selection of 500,000 other dogs without CCL injury.

The research found that the breeds at most risk of CCL rupture, compared with crossbreeds, were Rottweiler (x 3.66 times risk), Bichon Frise (x 2.09), West Highland White Terrier (x 1.80) and Golden Retriever (x 1.69).

Conversely, the breeds with the lowest risk were Cockapoo (x 0.26), Chihuahua (x 0.31), Shih-tzu (x 0.41) and German Shepherd Dog (x 0.43).

Additional findings included:

• The average age at first diagnosis of CCL rupture was 7.4 years, showing CCL rupture as mainly a disease of middle aged and older dogs.
• Dogs aged 6 to < 9 years had the greatest risk (x 3.24) of CCL rupture diagnosis compared with dogs < 3 years.
• Neutered females (x 1.46) and neutered males (x 1.42) were more likely to be diagnosed than entire females.
• Dogs weighing more than 30kg (x 2.19) and insured (x 2.79) were most likely to have surgery.
• Dogs over 12 years (x 0.26) and with a comorbidity (x 0.38) were least likely to have surgery.

The study also showed that insured dogs and dogs weighing over 20 kg were more likely to receive surgical management, while dogs older than 9 years and those with another major clinical problem at the time of diagnosis with CCL rupture were less likely to receive surgical management.

Camilla Pegram, VetCompass PhD student at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “This study has used the power of “big data” to robustly address the risk factors for cruciate ligament rupture diagnosis and management in dogs.

"The factors affecting the decision to surgically or non-surgically treat dogs with cruciate rupture are now clearer, with future work underway to address the clinical outcomes of this decision.”

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC and co-author of the paper, said: “After centuries of reshaping by mankind, dogs now come in over 800 distinct and recognisable breeds that each has its own unique pattern of health and disease.

"This new study helps owners of breeds such as Rottweiler, Bichon Frise and West Highland White Terrier to understand that sudden lameness in a hindleg could indicate a ruptured cruciate ligament that needs urgent veterinary care.”

Genitrix has launched a scheme to help vet practices generate revenue through increasing sales of its canine mobility product, C2Collaplex. The scheme offers a money-back guarantee if clients and practices don’t see clear benefits from using C2Collaplex on dogs with mobility problems within a month.

In order to validate the scheme, clients are asked to complete a simple mobility score sheet and return it to the practice one month from the date of their original consultation. If both vet and client agree that C2Collaplex has made no difference, the practice will refund the client and Genitrix will forward on a replacement pack of C2Collaplex.

C2Collaplex, designed to promote the continuation of normal joint function in ageing and less mobile dogs, contains a range of nutritional substances, including Glucosamine HCl, Chronodroitin Sulphate, Vitamin C and Manganese, which help to support the musculo-skeletal system.

In addition, it contains purified Type II collagen which is the major protein of the cartilage in the joints. C2Collaplex is the only veterinary product to provide this protein in a purified form. According to Genitrix, it works by helping to switch off adverse processes and keeps cartilage normal.

In a retrospective study of 100 dogs presenting to practice with mobility problems, C2Collaplex was given as the only supportive agent and over 80% of veterinary surgeons and owners perceived a benefit from its use.

Commenting on the launch of ‘C2Collaplex Money Back Guarantee Scheme,’ Rob Watkins, Marketing Director of Genitrix, said: “The C2Collaplex Money Back Guarantee Scheme offers a win/win. It gives pet owners a well-priced, next generation product, which will help their dog. For the practice, it helps to build a strong revenue stream, with the guarantee of a refund if it fails to help an individual patient.”

For further information on participating, practices should contact Genitrix on 01403 786345.

A new survey published by VetNurse Jobs has shown that above all else, the thing that veterinary nurses want from a job in practice is to feel ‘valued or appreciated, especially by veterinary surgeons, as part of a collaborative team.’

The survey, which was designed to give veterinary surgeons and employers a greater insight in order to be able to attract the highest calibre applicants, was completed by 206 veterinary nurses who described themselves as having recently looked for a job, or actively looking for a job, or could imagine looking for a job in the foreseeable future.

The second most important job attribute cited by veterinary nurses - out of 13 - was ‘pay’, with ‘work-life balance’ in third.

Interestingly, when asked a similar question, veterinary surgeons said ‘pay’ was only the 6th most important factor, perhaps a reflection of the fact that a reasonable salary is more of a given amongst veterinary surgeons than nurses. 

The survey also found that only slightly more veterinary nurses are prepared to do out-of-hours work than veterinary surgeons: 58% versus 52%.

Lastly, the survey showed that nurses may be more internet-savvy than veterinary surgeons, with an overwhelming majority (85%) said they were likely to spend most time browsing jobs online, as opposed to traditional magazines (compared to nearly 70% of veterinary surgeons that said the same).

VetSurgeon.org/VetNurse.co.uk Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "The survey was carried out primarily to help practices create recruitment adverts that better meet the hopes and aspirations of candidates, thereby improving response rates.

"I think it provides clear evidence of the need for advertisements to give examples of how you show you value your nurses, such as support for further education, a system which allows their voices to be heard and good ideas implemented, and team-building events.

"And if you pay well, don’t be shy about staying so."

The full survey results can be downloaded here.

VetSurgeon.org has undergone its biggest overhaul since the online community was first launched over a decade ago, specifically to offer a far better platform for clinical discussion than Facebook, and to give referral practitioners a major new incentive to help their general practitioner colleagues online.

Earlier in the year, we conducted a survey of veterinary surgeons to ask what you felt were the biggest problems with using Facebook as a way to share or discuss clinical information.

According to the survey, veterinary surgeons felt the greatest problem with Facebook is that you cannot see the professional qualifications of those contributing to a discussion, so unless you know them offline, you have no context for what they post. Even in closed groups, it can be hard, if not impossible to know whether you are talking to someone with many years' experience, or virtually none; an RCVS Specialist, or a general practitioner, or a veterinary nurse.

The father of the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee recognised transparency as one of the most significant problems with the Internet during the Dimbleby Lecture at the end of last year. He said:

“Another problem people are perhaps increasingly aware of, particularly more recently, has to do with the fact that much of the web has insufficient accountability. There is by design, no approval system people need to go to, to share their information online. They don’t have to come and ask me to post something. So as soon as someone posts something on the web it can be viewed by a huge number of people. This seemed to work when people posted as individuals with their own reputations at stake. But now we have systems which create fake accounts and there are millions of automated systems, bots we call them, for robots, on social media platforms spreading messages of hate and conflict

"Because of this, misinformation has been spreading rapidly. There are not enough systems holding these people and this information to account. They should be testing the truthfulness of the information organisations and individuals are putting online.”

Whilst it is perhaps unlikely that malign foreign governments have been infiltrating veterinary Facebook groups to spread discord or indeed that there are many individuals deliberately spreading misinformation in this small profession, Sir Tim's point is still highly relevant to the sharing of clinical information, advice, experience or opinion.

The problem is that Facebook gives equivalence to everyone's opinion, an equivalence they simply do not deserve. 

Sir Tim is right, you should indeed be questioning the truthfulness, or rather the accuracy of clinical information and opinions posted by colleagues online, and the starting point for that is knowing who posted it, and what qualifications they hold. 

Improved provenance for posts offers a higher standard of clinical discussion

The new VetSurgeon.org discussion forums make an important step forward with that, by displaying the year and place of qualification next to posts, together with veterinary postnominals, taken from members' full VetSurgeon Profiles. We're also going to make it compulsory for contributing referral practitioners to complete their profile before posting.

Better curation of information

The other biggest problems identified in the survey are how quality information gets drowned in a sea of 'me too' replies on Facebook, how it is difficult to refer back to old posts with useful information and how information is badly curated, making it hard to find what interests you.

On VetSurgeon.org content is now curated both by type, for example forum or news posts, and by areas of clinical interest, which each have their own group you can join and subscribe to. That makes it easier for referral practitioners or postgrad students to follow just their specific area of interest, or for anyone just trying to find information quickly.

We also asked what we could do to encourage you to visit VetSurgeon.org more often for clinical discussions. 62% of you said: 'improve the ease of use on smartphones' and 50.9% said: 'create a way for you to put a question to a group of expert clinicians'.

So that is what we've done (or are doing). 

Enhanced for mobile phone use

The new VetSurgeon discussion forums have been significantly enhanced for mobile phones. The new main navigation makes it far easier to find your way around the site. You can now reply to forum posts on the same page as the original post, which may sound like a small thing, but it makes a big difference. Elsewhere, we've optimised our use of the more limited space available.

Coming soon, new Expert Help Forums

Very soon, we'll be unveiling another feature designed to improve the quality of online clinical discussions, and to stop them drowning in a sea of me too replies. In our new Expert Help Forums, all members will be able to ask a clinical question, but only referral practitioners and selected expert general practitioner members will be able to reply (so long as they display their credentials, of course). When they do, they'll get proper recognition for their help, something which is again missing from Facebook.

With all this talk of better standards of clinical discussions on VetSurgeon.org, it is also worth reminding everyone that time spent in the forums counts towards your annual CPD requirement too. Just click the 'Claim CPD' button in the title.

Finally, as with any building project of this magnitude, there are inevitably some snags. Things that don't work or display as expected, especially on older or more obscure devices. If you come across something like that, please do email details (your browser, version and device type) to support@vetsurgeon.org and we'll endeavour to get it fixed, pronto. 

Photo: Arlo Guthrie, Editor www.vetsurgeon.org

The RCVS has moved into its funky-looking new HQ in Clerkenwell, London. 

The six-floor building, which the College bought for £22.3m in 2022, was originally a warehouse.

Over the years it has been home to a range of businesses from leather manufacturers and papers makers to lithographic plate makers and shoe upping manufacturers, before becoming an office space.

The building remained tenanted until 2024, when £5.8m worth of renovation work to convert the building into a space suitable for a royal college began. 

In addition to the working areas for RCVS and RCVS Knowledge staff, the building also has:

• Dedicated space and facilities for visiting MsRCVS and RVNs
• Adaptable meeting rooms to support Council and committee work
• Additional meeting rooms to suit in-person and hybrid working
• Video conferencing facilities
• Private booths for remote meetings and calls
• Breakout areas for informal meetings and collaborative working
• An event space with catering facilities
• The RCVS Knowledge Library & Information Service and heritage collection
• Multi-faith and wellbeing rooms for visitors and staff, and
• A small recording studio for webinars, podcasts and interviews.

RCVS CEO, Lizzie Lockett, said: “After a few years in a rented co-working office space, we’re delighted to have moved into our new home, designed not only to meet the needs of College staff, but to support the broader ambitions of the RCVS as a whole.

“Our new strategic plan has collaboration at its heart – the idea of being stronger through working together – and our new building will help us to achieve that.

“Whether attending events, exploring RCVS Knowledge’s archives, using the members' area and meeting rooms, or benefitting from the outputs that the new space enables, the building has been developed with members and associates as a central focus.”

RCVS President, Linda Belton, added: "It’s great to see what’s been achieved through this project and my thanks go to the team who have managed the refurbishment and move.

“The new premises are equipped to ensure that the voice of the veterinary professions remains integral in assuring animal health, welfare, and public health in the UK, allowing for those all-important stakeholder conversations essential to setting, upholding and advancing veterinary standards.

“We look forward to welcoming members, associates, students and stakeholders alike in the coming months and years.”

Genitrix has repackaged its palatable, fenbendazole-based treatment for internal parasites, with an easy dose syringe mechanism to allow its accurate administration to rabbits, ferrets, exotic birds and reptiles.  To make life simpler for pet owners, it has also provided detailed dosing instructions for worming all the species for which it is indicated.

First launched in 2008, Lapizole is a broad spectrum oral-antiparasiticide for use in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by internal parasites of rabbits, birds, reptiles and ferrets, including Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) in rabbits.

Genitrix' marketing director, Rob Watkins, said: "Lapizole proved itself as a highly effective treatment for E. cuniculi during its first year. Many of our customers have expressed the wish to use the treatment on a broader range of animals and in species groups for which highly accurate dosing and a syringe mechanism would be vital.  We've taken their feedback on board and are delighted to be making Lapizole available to them with its new dispenser.

"The combination of efficacy, easy dosage and palatability make it an ideal product for the control of internal parasites in these species."

For more information, visit http://www.genitrix.co.uk/