Researchers at the Animal Health Trust are appealing for information from veterinary surgeons who have seen recent Eosinophilic Keratitis (EK) conditions, an emerging issue in UK equine ophthalmology.
The AHT says that despite the increased awareness of EK worldwide, the aetiopathogenesis of the disease remains poorly understood and probably underdiagnosed. The charity is looking to define the pathogenesis and determine why some horses are particularly susceptible to this condition, in particular looking for epidemiological links, environmental factors and parasitic infestation.
Many of the clinical signs of EK are non-specific and similar to other corneal conditions such as blepharospasm, chemosis, conjunctival hyperaemia, epiphora or perilesional oedema. More specific signs include caseous mucoid discharge and white/yellow plaques often localised in the peripheral cornea. The degree of pain varies and concurrent ulceration is almost always present. Conjunctivitis may also occur in association with the keratitis or as a unique disease entity.
EK can have variable clinical presentations, from a thick caseous accumulation to a more superficial plaque of “ground-glass” appearance. They may present as chronic non-healing ulcers that respond quickly to the use of topical steroids and/or ciclosporin, or present with marked ocular discomfort and require superficial keratectomy to resolve the condition.
Two different corneal locations are classically (though not exclusively) involved in EK, the medial perilimbal cornea, often under the third eyelid, or the lateral perilimbal cornea, which may progress axially towards the central cornea.
The charity is also providing free cytology tests for corneal scrapes to help vets diagnose EK earlier, thereby avoiding secondary complications that can lead to permanent visionary impairment.
If you have seen cases that have either been diagnosed as or that you suspect to be Eosinophilic Keratitis this year, contact Sonia Gonzalez-Medina on 01638 751000 Ext: 1203 or sonia.gonzalez-medina@aht.org.uk.
For more information and to download a copy of the submission form to accompany samples, visit www.aht.org.uk/EKstudy.
Mike Gooding, chairman of organiser RAFT Solutions said: “High precision methods are critical to the future of UK livestock farms and their vets.
“The event offers an A-list of international speakers to explain the opportunities presented by precision management techniques that can be applied in practice to any livestock enterprise.”
One example is early detection of sub-optimal animal performance and timely intervention, which is included in the session: ‘Big Tech and what it offers Precision Livestock Farming’.
The session will explore the use of data to empower precision decisions with Prof Jasmeet Kaler from University of Nottingham.
There will also be an open debate about consumer perceptions, legislative governance, and impacts upon or opportunities for farmers and vets.
Mike added: "All conference-goers, whether attending in person or on-line, will be challenged to adapt their thinking and focus on post-conference changes for the better."
A choice of one- or two-day tickets is available at connectmyevent.com/raftsolutionsltd/plfip2021.
The webinar, ‘Dealing with Difficult Situations’ will take place on Tuesday 7th December at 7.15pm and will feature veterinary surgeons who themselves recently joined the Register giving examples of challenging situations they faced, how they dealt with them, what they learned and how it changed the way they practise.
Gemma Kingswell, RCVS Head of Legal Services (Standards), said: "We recognise that starting in your first job as a veterinary surgeon is very exciting, but that the first few months in practice can be daunting too as you encounter challenging situations for the first time.
“This webinar aims not only to provide some practical guidance on how to deal with difficult situations in a pragmatic way should they arise, but also provide some reassurance that you are not alone in facing them.
"The webinar will also explore how the speakers have reflected on the difficult circumstances they have encountered in order to build up the knowledge, confidence and resilience to deal with similar situations in the future.”
Among those sharing the situations they’ve encountered are: Izzy Hocking, Hannah Prestwood and Bolu Eso.
They will be covering topics including the provision of pragmatic care, how to have difficult conversations with clients and how to handle client confidentiality.
Gemma will then explore the scenarios further in relation to the Code of Professional Conduct and what it says about how best to handle such difficult situations.
To sign up to the webinar visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/events/difficult-situations.
Those who are interested in attending can also submit questions about the Code and supporting guidance in advance via the Eventbrite registration page.
There will also be opportunities to ask questions throughout the event.
For those who aren’t able to make it on the day, a recording of the webinar will be made available shortly afterwards via the RCVS website.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, has launched a new guide entitled ‘Your guide to Exotic Diseases', to educate horse owners on these potentially fatal, insect-borne diseases, some of which are zoonotic.
Joining the company's guides on respiratory disease and vaccination, the leaflet features information on West Nile Virus, African Horse Sickness, Equine Infectious Anaemia (Swamp Fever) and Equine Encephalitis including overviews of each of the diseases and their clinical signs.
Spread by a variety of insect-borne vectors including midges, mosquitoes and horseflies, climate change is increasing the risk of exotic diseases having a severe impact on the country's equine industry. What's more, African Horse Sickness is transmitted from animal to animal by infected biting Culicoides midges, the same midges that carry the Bluetongue virus which has threatened UK livestock this year.
"It's essential that horse owners are aware of the threat of exotic diseases coming in from overseas and the clinical signs to look out for, especially during the summer and autumn months when diseases transmitted by insects are more likely to appear." comments Tim Zoch, Marketing Manager at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. "Our new leaflet features easy-to-understand overviews of each of the diseases to help educate owners, and practices can expect strong demand from their clients"
For further information about Intervet/Schering-Plough's range of horse owner guides, including ‘Your guide to Exotic Diseases', please contact your Intervet/Schering-Plough Account Manager or call the Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has announced that nominations are now open for its new Veterinary Awards for veterinary surgeons, scientists and veterinary students that are carrying out innovative research that will help to improve dog health.
According to the charity, the Awards will identify and encourage visionary thinking, ambition and life-changing accomplishments and those who receive the awards will be passionate about making a difference for dogs. Each award provides a large funding programme to the recipient, which rewards them for their dedication and innovation in the field of canine health and welfare and invests in helping them to continue making a difference for dogs. The awards will be:
The awards will be judged by representatives from the veterinary profession and the world of scientific research, including experts in the nominees' selected fields. Dr. Alan Kelley, Dean Emeritus of The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, will chair the distinguished committee selecting the International Prize Winner.
Vernon Hill, Founder and President of Metro Bank and Shirley Hill, whose Foundation underwrites the Awards, said: "Metro Bank is a visionary, innovative bank, and we support the same spirit in these prestigious awards. Dogs Rule at Metro Bank, and we welcome them in with fresh water bowls, treats and Metro Scarves 361 days a year. We look forward to our gift making a difference and supporting the future leaders in veterinary science."
Rosemary Smart, Kennel Club Chief Executive, said: "We are extremely pleased to be working with Vernon and Shirley in this exciting Awards scheme, which will reward and support those people whose work is making a difference to dogs' lives."
To nominate somebody for these awards contact: cas.oakes@thekennelclub.org.uk or write to:
Cas OakesThe Kennel Club Charitable Trust1-5 Clarges StreetPiccadillyLondonW1J 8AB
Nominations for the Student Inspiration should come from the Deans/Faculty Directors of British Veterinary Schools.
For further information and to find out how to enter visit: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/charitabletrust
The University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences at Langford has opened a £2 million state-of-the-art dairy farm.
Wyndhurst Farm's dairy unit has undergone a major rebuild in order to provide a world-class practical teaching environment for around 600 veterinary students, as well as a facility that can be used to support research and the continual professional development of veterinary surgeons, farmers and others involved in the dairy industry locally, nationally and internationally. Professor Jo Price, Head of the School of Veterinary Sciences, said: "This is an exciting time for the Vet School. The new dairy unit will enable our undergraduate and postgraduate students to be taught in a world-class facility. It will provide the best standards of animal welfare for our dairy herd and will support our research on the prevention and treatment of diseases of farm animals."The farm, which is approximately 250 acres, includes numerous features to ensure high welfare standards. The dairy herd will be housed in deep sand bedded cubicles, with parts of the floors covered in soft rubber to protect the cows' feet and when housed cows will be fed a total mixed ration using grass, maize and whole crop wheat silages grown on the farm.Since the new facility has been built the farm's herd of Pedigree Holstein cows have increased in number from 110 to 180 cows and will soon reach 200, with each cow giving over 9,000 litres of milk per year. The farm also has a newly established breeding flock of 100 New Zealand Romney ewes. Since 2010 it has been managed by Velcourt Farm Management.
The event will include empowering talks by Vet Empowered founders Katie Ford and Claire Grigson MsRCVS.
Expert guests include Aoife Smith, an ex-RVN and psychotherapist, Chloé Hannigan from VetYogi and Jo Kelly, a registered veterinary nurse and accredited nutritional therapist.
There'll be hands-on workshops and immersive activities aimed at challenging comfort zones, fostering connections, and cultivating a mindset of growth and empowerment.
The organisers say Vet Empowered Live also offers the chance to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and build a supportive community of peers committed to personal and professional growth.
Katie said: "We're thrilled to bring Vet Empowered Live to life and provide veterinary professionals with a unique opportunity to invest in their personal development.
"Our mission is to empower individuals to unlock their full potential, overcome obstacles, and create fulfilling careers on their own terms.
"We are passionate about providing a safe and inspiring space to do this."
Tickets cost £150 and include six hours of CPD and food and drink throughout the day.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vet-empowered-live-confidence-beyond-manchester-2024-tickets-775605325407
https://www.vetempowered.com
The Standards Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training sets out the professional values, skills and behaviours required of approved educational institutions (AEIs), delivery sites and the training practices (TPs) responsible for providing the training and support for student veterinary nurses.
The College reviews the standards framework every five years to ensure that AEIs, delivery sites and TPs have the structures to best provide contemporary and innovative approaches to education for student veterinary nurses, while being accountable for the local delivery and management of accredited programmes.
The new draft framework includes updates relating to sustainability and academic integrity.
Julie Dugmore, RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing, said: “We are looking for veterinary nurses in all walks of life – as well as student nurses and veterinary surgeons – to provide constructive and specific feedback on our proposals.
“Your insights will help us ensure that the standards continue to enable veterinary nurse educators to deliver the best training and support possible for our students, prepare them for life in clinical practice, and ensure that animal health and welfare is a foremost consideration.
“In fact, animal health and welfare and public safety is central to our standards.
Students will be in contact with patients and their owners throughout their education and it is important that they learn in a safe and effective way.”
The consultation runs until 5pm on Wednesday 3 April 2024 and all members of the veterinary team – including RVNs, student veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons – can take part in order to provide detailed feedback on each of the six core standards and each of individual requirements within these standards.
A PDF version of the new draft Standards Framework is available to download from https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/our-consultations.
If you have any questions about the document or how to respond to the survey, contact the RCVS Veterinary Nursing Team on vetnursing@rcvs.org.uk
Royal Canin has launched a new urinary range for cats and dogs. There are four new products including the veterinary market's first canine pouch.
The launch also includes a 20 page booklet for owners which explains the urinary system, different types of problem and stone, and why and how diet can make a difference. Royal Canin says this should be a real boost to encouraging owners to adopt the new diet.
According to the company, the pouch format is highly palatable, convenient and easy for owners to use, which will ultimately lead to improved compliance once a prescription has been made.
Canine Urinary S/O comes in a 150g pouch, and dissolves struvite uroliths as well as diluting the urine to decrease oxalate concentration and ensure the bladder is regularly washed out. Feline Urinary S/O Moderate Calorie in a 100g pouch is for adult cats with difficulty maintaining ideal weight (neutered, overweight, low activity levels) and is indicated for the nutritional management of cats with feline idiopathic cystitis, struvite urolithiasis, and the management of recurrent struvite and calcium oxalate stones.
New dry food additions include Canine Urinary S/O Moderate Calorie with the same benefits in formulation to help limit weight gain, while Canine Urinary S/O Small Dog offers benefits for the smaller canine population; particularly important as 50% of all stones analysed in reference laboratories worldwide come from small breed dogs.
Royal Canin Director of Scientific Communications Pauline Devlin said: "Urinary problems are a common reason for veterinary consultation, and this new range brings together our existing products with four new ones, meaning that vets can be even more precise in prescribing the clinical diet which will best suit the owner and the nutritional management of the pet, meaning that compliance levels will improve."
Royal Canin says neutering and obesity are known predisposing factors for urolithiasis, and some patients are more prone than others - Persian and Burmese cats are predisposed to oxalate stones for example. Age and sex have also been recognized factors influencing the risk of both struvite and oxalate stones. In dogs, small breeds such as the Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzer, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier are at risk, while Dalmatians have a tendency to ammonium urate stones.
Royal Canin's urinary diets should be fed for a period of five to twelve weeks, and have been proven to dissolve uroliths in as little as 17 days. To avoid recurrence of clinical signs it is recommended their use is continued as required.
The Royal Canin Urinary range is available from all veterinary wholesalers. Find out more by contacting your Veterinary Business Manager, visiting http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/, or by calling 0845 717 800.
Ceva Animal Health has launched a National Pet Census to collect information about the UK's domestic dog and cat population.
The Pet Census includes a range of questions on pet ownership including: the number of dogs and cats in a household, where the animals came from and their names, colour and whether they have a passport. Pet owners will also have the opportunity to complete an online 'pet-ition' to campaign for pets to be included in the next Census, earmarked for 2021.
Rachel Levy, communications manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "The current Household Census states that everyone should be included - but it appears that they have forgotten to include pets, which are valued members of the family! While our National Pet Census is a bit of fun, there is a serious point to it as we will be able to gauge valuable information about pet ownership including where people get their pets from, popularity of breeds and how often a pet goes to the vet."
To fill out Ceva's National Pet Census, visit secrettohappypets.com or the 'That Purple Cat' page on Facebook by 30 April.
Following ongoing lobbying by the British Veterinary Association and others, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has dropped controversial plans for a new veterinary medicines category - POM EA (prescription-only medicine extended administration).
The proposed category has been discussed at the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) since 2009. The original purpose was to provide a new category under which a veterinary surgeon would make a clinical assessment and, if appropriate, issue a Veterinary Permission of Extended Administration (VPEA) allowing the animal holder to obtain the prescribed POM EA medicine (from a veterinarian, pharmacist or SQP) for up to 36 months from the date of authorisation.
The BVA, along with its specialist divisions, says it opposed POM EA from the outset and failed to see that there was any justification for a new category. Veterinary surgeons are already able to write prescriptions for extended use and, as most health plans are reviewed annually, anything beyond a yearly assessment would be unacceptable on health and welfare grounds. An additional category would have also taken the UK even further out of step with the rest of the EU.
The BVA submitted written comments and attended a stakeholder meeting with the VMD to discuss concerns. Despite the VMD suggesting revisions to the original proposal the BVA and other stakeholders maintained that the new category was unnecessary.
Following these consultations, the VPC decided, at a meeting in March, not to progress the proposal any further.
Harvey Locke, President of the BVA, said: "We are extremely pleased that the Veterinary Products Committee has listened to our concerns and decided to drop its plans for POM EA.
"The BVA felt strongly that the proposed new category was unnecessary at best and potentially harmful to animal health and welfare at worst.
"In all fields of practice veterinary surgeons would not feel comfortable prescribing for such long periods without regular contact with the animals they care for."
The RCVS Council has approved the new Strategic Plan designed to bring the College closer to its vision of enhancing society through improved animal health and welfare, over the next three years.
The Strategic Plan is founded on feedback from the profession and the public about what the College does well and where it could do better, and an analysis of how other leading regulators operate. It includes 35 actions, clustered under five themes, all centred on the purpose of setting, upholding and advancing veterinary standards.
For example, the College aims to introduce a service charter - for the public and the profession - of rights, expectations and responsibilities for each of its functions.
Nick Stace, RCVS CEO said: "This drive for excellent service lies at the heart of our focus on improvement.
"The concept of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, as well as the public, being our 'customers', was one that unsettled the profession when it was first mooted. But I believe that only by ensuring that we focus relentlessly on improving how we interact with our customers will we deliver a service for the profession, the public, and, ultimately, the UK's animals, which is worthy of the name first-rate regulator."
Amongst other things, the Plan also commits to:
The Strategic Plan can be downloaded from www.rcvs.org.uk/strategy.
Also at its November meeting, Council approved:
More information on all of these topics will be available in the November issue of RCVS News, online shortly at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications.
You can also hear direct from the CEO via his post-Council video update: www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos.
Gardner Llewlyn Veterinary Recruitment and VetSurgeon.org / VetNurse.co.uk have announced the winners of a competition in which people were invited to nominate nurses for a special thanks for the work they do.
67 entries from veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and pet owners made it onto the shortlist.
Jonathan Lewis from Gardner Llewlyn said: "I know it's a cliche, but it really was very hard to pick an outright winner. In the end, though, we just loved the sheer enthusiasm of Peter Howarth MRCVS's nomination for Louisa Bouchard RVN (pictured right) from the New Era Veterinary Hospital, and thought it takes a very special person to inspire the ringing endorsement of her work."
The team nomination was similarly difficult to pick. However, Stephanie Fursland MRCVS's nomination for the nursing team at The Oval Pet Centre stood out as an example of how a good nursing team can have a really profound effect on other members of the practice team.
A new iPad mini is on its way to Louisa, and a case of champagne is winging its way to The Oval Pet Centre. There was also a draw amongst all the nominators to win another iPad mini, the winner of which was Val Marsh, who nominated Kate Slack RVN from Blacks Veterinary Group.
Arlo Guthrie, Editor of VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk said: "We found a lot of the entries really rather moving and whether they came from members of the public or from colleagues in the profession, they all serve to demonstrate the importance - as if anyone needed reminding - of what a good nurse brings to the practice. The nominees should all be very proud.
"We decided that the nominations were too good to keep to ourselves, so we've published them on a publicly visible part of VetNurse (click here), with links back to the nominated practices' websites. Hopefully, it might be a nice thing for any of the nominees to add to their CV, and the links should in time result in these lovely endorsements appearing when people make a relevant search for the practice."
The meeting will be led by Dr Rosanne Jepson BVSc MVetMed PhD DipACVIM DipECVIM PGCertVetEd FHEA MRCVS, Associate Professor Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist at the RVC. It will consist of two talks.
The first, ‘Hypertension and concurrent diseases’, will cover how veterinary surgeons should manage and treat hypertension when it presents with other concurrent diseases such as CKD and hyperthyroidism.
The second, ‘Overview of diagnosis and stage specific management of feline CKD’, will review the recently updated IRIS guidelines and discuss the latest and most up-to-date methods in diagnosing and managing CKD in both the early and later stages.
The meeting will account for two hours CPD.
To register for the CPD meeting, contact your local Ceva account manager or email your name, practice name and telephone number to cevauk@ceva.com.
The BSAVA says it has produced the leaflet because of fears that so many of the puppies bought during lockdown will have missed out on this important part of their development, potentially leading to behavioural issues as they get older.
The Q&A explains the most important aspects of socialisation, both at home and outdoors. It can be downloaded here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/files/editorial/Puppy-Socialisation-QandA.pdf
The ‘top 10 tips’ are presented as an infographic designed to be shared on social media. It highlights the main points pet owners should consider when socialising their puppy. You can download the Q&A here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/files/editorial/Puppy-Socialisation-Top-Ten.jpg
Sheldon Middleton, BSAVA President said: “We have seen a surge in puppy ownership during the pandemic when opportunities to meet up were limited, which may have resulted in some puppies missing out on the key socialisation period. This accessible guide gives invaluable support to our members when discussing socialisation with clients.”
The BSAVA has also created a special collection on puppy socialisation, bringing together chapters, podcasts and leaflets covering the reasons behind the socialisation of puppies and how to do it successfully. The collection is free to access through the BSAVA Library during September: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/socialization.
For the project, the company has developed a Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) clinical assessment tool which can be used by a vet or nurse in practice to make a diagnosis.
The assessment is a holistic one which includes taking a history of the animal, a full physical examination, an exercise test and an examination of the dog’s nostrils.
The results of the assessment are then discussed with the owner to agree on a course of treatment.
During each consultation, vets and nurses also look to talk sensitively with clients about breeding, buying and owning brachycephalic dog breeds, offering welfare advice on how to manage their dog’s lifestyle, including issues such as keeping their weight low and looking after them in hot weather.
CVS says it hopes this will increase a general level of welfare awareness amongst brachycephalic dog owners.
CVS has also created a collection of resources for its teams, including new clinical frameworks and veterinary guidelines, webinars and a CPD day on the subject.
The company has also created materials to help vets and nurses have what can be challenging discussions with clients, including consultation room posters and practice reception TV videos which showing the physiology of the brachycephalic breed.
CVS says that since launch in July last year, the 25 participating practices have conducted nearly 900 brachycephalic assessments, and it aims to have at least 5% of Pugs, French Bulldogs and Bulldogs undergoing assessment across its small animal division by 2028.
Diverse Undertakings Ltd. has announced that it is extending its services to include support for veterinary practices in securing their RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) accreditation.
The company was originally formed to provide business advisory services to small and medium sized enterprises across a range of industry sectors. Its services range from general H.R. advice, health & safety guidance and facilities management to candidate sourcing and call-centre services.
However, with previous experience supporting a substantial veterinary practice in Kent for both employment challenges and PSS accreditation, Company Director Neal Palk decided to extend the company's capability to support other veterinary practices in securing their PSS accreditation.
He says that because the needs of each practice vary, Diverse can adapt its service to reflect both the individual circumstances relating to accreditation as well as the capability/capacity with the practice to undertake necessary tasks itself. By using a network of associates, he says Diverse can call upon other specialities (for example - competitively priced office/building equipment) to smooth the progress to accreditation.
Diverse says it offers a range of transparent pricing options to suit the client which, without the overheads of large consultancies, often result in PSS accreditation being achieved for less cost than a typical administrative temp for a month. Monthly retention fee alternatives for other services are available, beginning at £95+ VAT.
Neal said: "Several organisations offer professional services to the veterinary practice sector, but few can claim to have 'been there, done that' and really understand the climate and culture the sector operates within. Diverse Undertakings Ltd. values its experience in the sector and aims to work with other practices to achieve both accreditation and wider business success."
For more details please contact Neal on 07771 843719, e-mail: info@diverseundertakings.com, or visit: http://www/diverseundertakings.com
A new quarterly veterinary publication - Companion Animals - has been launched to provide veterinary surgeons with a structured summary of the best international literature published in the past three months.
The peer-reviewed publication is backed by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, which says it is part of the company's commitment to invest in education and continue to support vets in practice.
Companion Animals contains expert commentary and analysis on recent advances in veterinary medicine and has an international editorial and advisory board. The board comprises Virginia Luis Fuentes from the Royal Veterinary College, Daniel Holden from the County Veterinary Clinic, Jacques Penderis from the University of Glasgow, Scott Brown from the University of Georgia, Brice Reynolds from the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, Rob Rayward from Coast Veterinary Referrals, James Oliver from North Kent Referrals, Sarah Smith from Sarah Smith Cardiology, Mark Lowrie from Davies Veterinary Specialists, Marieke De Vries from the Animal Health Trust and Patricia Ibarrola from University College Dublin.
In addition, each issue contains an original review article. The leading article in Volume 1, Issue 1 is titled 'The recognition and management of acute and chronic pain in cats' and is authored by Louisa Slingsby from the University of Bristol.
To register an account and receive all content free of charge, courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, please contact your local Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or telephone 01344 746959.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched a case study competition to find out how veterinary professionals are using Celox, its new haemostatic agent designed to stop heavy bleeding.
According to the company, Celox Veterinary forms a gel-like clot within 30 seconds when mixed with blood.
Dechra says it would like examples of how it has been used, whether for planned procedures or in an emergency, and is asking veterinary surgeons and nurses to send in case histories and photos for the chance to win an iPad2.
Rachel Horton, Dechra's Brand Manager for Woundcare, said: "Celox Veterinary was launched to the market last year, with the human version of the product being used with great success on the battlefield by the British military for several years.
"Now we are asking veterinary professionals to share their experiences of using Celox Veterinary in practice, whether used in its gauze or granular form. It is ideal for fast-acting haemostasis, and provides a quick and efficient solution wherever and whenever bleeding needs to be stopped fast.
"Entrants providing case histories with accompanying photos can enter as many times as they like and have a chance to win an iPad2. Learning about how veterinary professionals are using products is important to Dechra Veterinary Products and assists in developing the high level of support we offer to vets and vet nurses."
Dechra says Celox Veterinary is being used not only for trauma injuries and emergency first aid but also for planned operations including castration, mass removal, nasal polyps, dental extractions and soft palate resections.
Case histories should be emailed to Rachel.Horton@dechra.com before the closing date of July 20th 2012 to be eligible for the draw. For further information about Celox Veterinary, please visit see www.dechra.com
The pack contains:
For more information, contact your local Dechra equine sales manager.
Merial has launched a 'Vaccination Back on Track' promotion via vet practices that administer Merial vaccines.
Under the scheme, owners of all horses over 12 months of age that have not yet been vaccinated against equine influenza or are overdue a booster obtain a primary vaccination course at an attractive discounted rate. A tetanus component is also available if required.
Dr Emma Batson from Merial said: "With continuing cases of equine flu recorded in the UK, and a global increase in the number of serious outbreaks, it has never been more important to ensure that horses are protected against this underestimated threat.
"It's often not fully understood that equine flu can be transferred indirectly via inanimate objects such as horse boxes, fencing or human clothing. With just 37% of horses in the UK estimated to be vaccinated, this leaves a significant naive and vulnerable population at risk".
Merial says there is no limit on the number of horses that can be vaccinated, making it a particularly attractive offer for those with more than one horse or yard(s).
Participating practices have the option to run the scheme in any month between now and December 2009. For information, contact your Merial Territory Manager.
Canterbury-based solicitor Cooper & Co, which specialises in dog law, has launched a series of CPD-qualifying webinars for veterinary professionals available at www.doglaw.tv.
The webinars, which are presented by Trevor Cooper, cover a wide variety of subjects, including:
In addition, the site hosts videos about dog behaviour by the well-known dog trainer and behaviourist Carolyn Menteith. The topics covered in her videos include:
Whilst the videos are CPD-qualifying for veterinary professionals, they are also aimed at anyone else that works with dogs, and dog owners themselves.
To view the videos visit www.doglaw.tv.
The new facilities use teaching aids and models to allow students to refine their practical skills and build confidence before being let loose on real patients.
As part of the official opening, Princess Anne toured the School of Veterinary Medicine, where she met with staff and students and saw a demonstration of a new equine gut model that offers an alternative to using live animals for research into the gut microbiota of horses and how they are affected by diet, disease and medication.
Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine, said: "We are honoured to welcome The Princess Royal to the Vet School today, and very grateful that Her Royal Highness has officially opened the Large Animal Clinical Skills Facilities. Preparing students for life as a vet is our number one priority; the hands-on experience they will get through the use of this facility is invaluable and enables them to give the best possible care to all animals.
"We are also very grateful to the Longhurst family, without whom these teaching resources would not have been possible – their generosity is helping us to teach the vets of the future."
Currently fewer than one in ten veterinary students opt to go into equine practice. BEVA says it hopes that the new scheme will provide a broader base of students with an insight into the world of equine veterinary medicine and open more eyes to what’s great about being an equine vet.
Katie Roberts the President of the Association of Veterinary Students said: "This is a very exciting opportunity for students. Anecdotally, we know that some students can feel very daunted by equine practice, especially if they don’t come from a traditionally horsey background. Being able to become involved with BEVA at no cost means that they can get a true taste of the equine veterinary world in addition to their experiences on EMS, and I’m sure this will pique the interest of our members."
As part of their free membership, students will also have access to:
The initiative has been made possible with sponsorship from Baker McVeigh, CVS Group, IVC, Newmarket Equine Hospital, Rossdales, VetPartners, and XLVets.
For further information about student membership of BEVA visit: https://www.beva.org.uk/Join-BEVA/vet-student