Companion Care Vets has announced it will work in partnership with VetAbroad, an e-learning company that has been established to help vets who qualified outside the UK to develop a successful career within it.
Companion Care is the first veterinary group in the UK to enter into partnership with VetAbroad, with the aim that all new non-UK employees will complete the course.
According to the company, almost 30% of vets registered in the UK are from overseas and statistics show that one in three will leave the register in less than 24 months and 20% in less than 12 months. Statistics also highlight the likelihood of a non-UK vet to be struck off or suspended is six times higher than for a UK vet.
Jane Balmain, Managing Director of Companion Care Vets said: "Whilst we as a company offer as much support as possible to our team members from overseas and support their continued learning , we are delighted to be working in partnership with VetAbroad to utilise their training solutions and further enhance what we offer to team members who come from overseas. All new employees will be required to take the course and we will also be encouraging our current overseas vets to complete it."
The e-course covers social and professional adaptation, compliance with current legislation, teamwork, productivity, client care and communication skills and VetAbroad states that those taking the course will substantially increase their chances of retaining and obtaining a job in the UK.
Vet and founder of VetAbroad Luis Sainz-Pardos said: "The primary aim of our course is to help vets who have qualified overseas to swiftly integrate into the UK system. Vets who have taken the course will be aware of UK legislation and should be able to interact with colleagues, clients and patients to a UK standard. As a result, the problems often associated with employing non-UK vets to work in UK practices are greatly reduced. I am thrilled to be working in partnership with Companion Care Vets, a company that I believe is thriving due to its investment in its most important asset - people."
For further information about VetAbroad please visit www.vetabroad.com
Sue, who is President of the European Society of Dermatology and an RCVS Specialist, says in a video interview that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is making otitis externa cases difficult to resolve and that vets can help overcome the problem by rethinking their first line prescription choices.
In the video, created in conjunction with Elanco Animal Health (maker of Osurnia), Sue said: "It’s a sad thing to say but if everybody did manage cases of otitis externa appropriately first time, I probably wouldn’t have a job at all."
"Many of the cases I see as a referral clinician are longstanding cases with very severe, multiply-resistant infections. If we get these cases right on the first occasion with appropriate prescription of drugs, and we don’t hurt dogs so we can give ongoing treatment, then we’d never ever see pseudomonas infection again."
Sue believes part of the problem is that veterinary surgeons are incorrectly saving some of their best first-line treatments for difficult cases. This is perpetuating the antimicrobial resistance problem as cases are being inadvertently mismanaged.
She said: "Florfenicol, which is the active antibiotic in Osurnia, has excellent gram positive activity which makes it an ideal first line choice. However, there’s a misconception that florfenicol is a fluoroquinolone - which it isn’t - so vets are incorrectly ‘saving it’ rather than using it on the first occasion."
Sue also highlights that poor compliance, resulting from the patient’s behavioural problems associated with ear phobia, also has a long-term impact:
"We’ve seen many 'well behaved' dogs that have bitten their owners as a result of fear aggression; we’ve had dogs that have pinned their owners against the wall. I would argue very strongly that if you use long-acting products in dogs on the first occasion then you avoid creating that problem and these dogs don’t become difficult to medicate on a long-term basis."
Sue summarised two factors that vets need to consider when deciding on the appropriate treatment: the right active ingredients to target common first-line pathogens; and the method of application. She urged vets to consider using a long-acting product applied within the practice, removing the need for home treatment to reduce stress for both owner and the dog, improve long-term compliance and maximise clinical outcomes.
To hear Sue’s tips on how to treat cases of otitis, watch the video here – www.osurnia.co.uk
The study was a randomised controlled trial of client-owned dogs and cats presenting as emergencies and requiring intravenous catheterisation.
Patient signalment and mentation score were recorded.
Patients were randomly allocated to either a swab saturated with vapocoolant spray or a swab saturated with saline applied to the clipped area before intravenous catheterisation.
Indirect application of vapocoolant spray via a swab before catheterisation was not found to significantly reduce the reaction of dogs and cats, nor to improve placement success rates.
The study did demonstrate a significantly greater adverse response to vapocoolant spray application to the skin via a swab when compared with the saline control in canine patients; feline patients demonstrated adverse responses to both vapocoolant spray and saline swabs.
It is unclear if the technique of application used in this study provided sufficient cooling effect to provide the required cryoanaesthesia to influence patient reaction.
The authors say future studies should be used to determine optimal vapocoolant spray application technique in dogs and cats, as well as examine its application in other populations and procedures.
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP concluded: “Pragmatic, adequately-powered, randomised controlled trials like the one presented here are essential to evaluate whether an intervention is not only efficacious in a controlled environment, but also effective during clinical practice.”
Full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsap.13504
Reference
Trinder, R, Humm, K, Phillips, S, and Cole, L (2022) The efficacy of vapocoolant spray for the improved tolerance of catheter pain in emergency patients in dogs Journal of Small Animal Practice, Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsap.13504
Grahame Gardner Ltd has announced the launch of a classically styled tunic, the M559, now stocked in bottle green for the first time.
The company says that although there have been numerous ladies tunics available in bottle green, this is the first time Grahame Gardner has stocked a male tunic in the characteristic veterinary colour.
The contemporary design of the M559 incorporates side fastening with the option of contrasting epaulettes, alongside practical pockets and side slits. According to the company, it's a tunic that looks great and performs exceptionally well in the veterinary practice. Stocked in sizes from 34" to 50" (chest), the M559 is one of several new styles introduced within Grahame Gardner's latest 124 page brochure.
To explore Grahame Gardner's collection please take a look at http://www.grahamegardner.co.uk/, or call 0116 255 6326 to order a copy of the new brochure.
A new veterinary charity is offering veterinary surgeons, nurses and others in the profession the chance to get fit and raise money for Hounds for Heroes, SPANA and the Pet Blood Bank later this year.
The Vet Charity Challenge (VCC) is looking for teams to take part in a one-day event, involving a series of physical tasks and puzzle-solving challenges along the way, so it requires a bit of brain as well as brawn. The course will feature walking / running, cycling and kayaking and anyone can take part at whatever fitness level.
As well as raising money for the charities, organisers say it will be a fun way to build up camaraderie among your colleagues outside of the work environment and also a local PR opportunity for your practice or business to enhance your community profile.
The event is expecting to raise in excess of £30,000 for charity, but organisers stress that it will need the support of and participation by the veterinary profession to ensure it is a success.
The challenge will take place on Saturday 15th September 2012 at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and all details may be found on http://www.vetcharitychallenge.co.uk/. Alternatively, ring 01727 859259 for further information. The VCC says an early commitment to take part is essential and the fine detail of training can be worked out later. The VCC will provide training guidelines and help you and your team prepare itself.
The Vet Charity Challenge is sponsored by BCF Technology, Kruuse UK Ltd and Vets 2 and is supported by the VPMA, Mojo Consultancy and JCA Media Group.
Burgess Pet Care has announced that it'll be running Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) from 9th - 17th May.
Last year, almost 3,000 veterinary practices signed up to participate in the initiative by offering free health checks for rabbits for the whole of May.
Burgess points to a study published at the end of last year: The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the English pet rabbit population, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol for the RSPCA. Dr. Jane Tyson, Rabbit Behaviour and Welfare Expert at the RSPCA, said: "The study showed that 59% of rabbits live in hutches and less than a quarter of rabbits have continual access to an exercise area*. Rabbits should have constant access to an appropriate exercise area to allow them to exhibit their natural behaviours and for their mental and physical wellbeing."
The report highlights the need to educate rabbit owners on the housing, exercise and foraging needs of rabbits, so the focus of RAW this year is on improving rabbits' environment.
Other organisations partnering with Burgess for the initiative include: MSD Animal Health - the producers of Panacur Rabbit, the RSPCA, the PSDA, the Blue Cross, Wood Green and the RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund).
Suzanne Moyes, Veterinary Manager at Burgess Pet Care, said: "It is fantastic that RAW keeps on growing and is going from strength to strength. We hope to increase the number of vet practices, rescue centres, schools and retailers signing up this year and attract new corporate partners to make it even bigger and better.
"The sole aim of RAW is to educate owners about responsible rabbit ownership and improve the wellbeing of one of Britain's most popular pets. It couldn't be easier for vets to sign up to offer free health checks and help us educate the nation on rabbit health and welfare."
Vets, rescue centres, schools and retailers can sign up to RAW 2015 by visiting, www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk. Supporters will receive free support kits which include posters and leaflets.
The sessions will allow members of the profession to find out about upcoming College projects and put questions to the RCVS Officer Team, RCVS Council members and senior staff, in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
The first event is taking place at the Hilton Glasgow on William Street at 6:30pm, where there'll be supper and drinks before the main event at 7:30pm, when RCVS President Melissa Donald, RCVS Treasurer Niall Connell, RCVS Senior Vice-President Kate Richards, Junior Vice-President Sue Paterson, VN Council Chair Matthew Rendle, RCVS Registrar Eleanor Ferguson and RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett will update everyone on College activities and take questions.
The College says that the topics for discussion will be up to the audience but are likely to include workforce issues, the review of RCVS guidance on under care, proposals for legislative reform, VetGDP and the future of extra-mural studies.
Melissa said: “In my opening speech as RCVS President I said that one of the key missions of my presidential year was to talk – and especially listen – to as many members of the professions as I possibly can.
“Relaunching our question time programme after a hiatus will give me the opportunity to do exactly this, as well as giving members of the professions that all-important opportunity to put their questions and concerns directly to us.
"We might not be able to address every problem, but these events give an excellent opportunity for vets and nurses to raise issues, forge connections with their peers and work together to find solutions.
“I hope that many of you will be able to come to our first in-person event in Glasgow but we will also be holding these question times virtually in the future for those people who may struggle to make it to these evening events.
"Rest assured – if you want to be heard, we will find a way to listen.”
The next in-person event is due to take place in Nottingham in January 2023 while the first virtual question time will take place in November 2022.
To register for the Glasgow event visit: tinyurl.com/22pem3d6
In the last four years, there has been an increase in the number of identified B. canis cases in the UK, which had previously been sporadic and isolated.
Data released by the Government shows that cases have risen from three reported before 2020 to 240 in the last three years.
Most dogs were either imported, had returned from holiday overseas, or been bred with an imported dog.
In 2022, the first UK case of dog-to-human transmission was reported, highlighting the risks to those handling and treating infected dogs and raising levels of concern within veterinary teams, although the BVA says the risk is relatively low.
The BVA, SPVS and BVNA joint policy calls on the Government to :
British Veterinary Association President Anna Judson said: “Vets are seriously concerned about the lack of adequate checks for potentially zoonotic diseases entering the country via imported dogs.
"Brucella canis is not currently considered to be widespread in the UK, so a proactive approach with an emphasis on reducing the risk of this and other worrying exotic diseases being brought into the UK is crucial.
“This is important both for the health of the UK’s dogs and the humans who care for them."
https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/brucella-canis
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has announced that it is re-introducing Equilis StrepE, the only strangles vaccine for horses in Europe. The vaccine was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in 2007 for stability reasons.
Equilis StrepE, which has already been relaunched in the Netherlands, is now scheduled to arrive in Italy in September and the United Kingdom in October this year. Further re-launches in European countries are scheduled later in 2010 and beyond.
According to Intervet/Schering-Plough, three years of additional research and development have resulted in several improvements to the vaccine, including a better manufacturing process to ensure that the product maintains its characteristics throughout its shelf-life. A more user-friendly applicator has been developed, which enables the needle to slot into place, thereby making it easier to administer the vaccine.
Equilis StrepE is administered through a submucosal injection in the upper lip of the horse and provides immunity for three months following two initial injections, four weeks apart. The vaccine significantly reduces clinical signs of strangles and occurrence of lymph node abscesses in horses that are at risk of infection.
Dr. Peter Daels, veterinarian at the Keros Insemination and Embryo Transfer Center in Beselare (Belgium) said: "In our recipient embryo transfer herd, we have used this strangles vaccine on over 500 mares. After a few applications, the vaccine was easy to administer and did not cause any serious side effects. Despite a steady flow of new horses, only eight cases of strangles were noted - all were mild and most were newly acquired horses that had apparently been exposed shortly before vaccination. I believe that the vaccine provided solid protection against the disease, reduced the severity of clinical cases and eliminated the risk of a widespread outbreak in our herd."
Dr. Roberto Ragni-Alunni, Global Technical Manager Equine at Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health said: "The re-launch of Equilis StrepE in Europe is an important milestone in our efforts to fully meet the needs of our customers in the equine industry. We continue to work in a very intense and comprehensive way to ensure adequate supply of our equine vaccine range".
The RCVS has removed 333 veterinary surgeons from the Register for non-payment of their annual renewal fees.
The final deadline for payment of the annual renewal fee passed on 31 May and the RCVS has written to those who have not paid to inform them of their removal from the Register. In 2013, 369 veterinary surgeons were removed from the Register for non-payment.
A list of the veterinary surgeons who have been removed - and who have not been subsequently restored to the Register - has today been published on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/vetremovals2014).
This list is published to alert those veterinary surgeons who have not responded to RCVS communications to check their registration status, and to remind employers to check the registration status of their employees. The registration status of any veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse can also be checked online at www.rcvs.org.uk/check-the-register.
Any veterinary surgeon whose name appears on the list who believes they have paid their fee should contact the RCVS Finance Department as soon as possible on 020 7202 0723.
Veterinary surgeons and employers are reminded that, under the Veterinary Surgeons Act, it is illegal to allow anyone who is not on the RCVS Register to practise veterinary surgery. They can also no longer use the postnominal 'MRCVS' and any professional indemnity insurance the veterinary surgeon may have is also rendered invalid.
Further information about restoration to the Register, and a restoration application form, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/registration or by contacting the Registration Department on membership@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0707.
In order to be restored to the Register, veterinary surgeons must pay a fee of at least £299, in addition to the outstanding annual renewal fee. The restoration fee increases each successive year a removed member remains off the Register.
Lucy Evans and Jamie Hollis, who work in the RCVS Professional Conduct Department, will join RCVS Trust Director Cherry Bushell to raise funds in the British 10K London Run on 12 July.
None of the three runners have run any kind of race since their school sports days - and are appealing for support as they aim to raise at least £300 each for the Trust.
To sponsor a runner, you can log onto http://www.justgiving.com/rcvstrust and, if you are a UK tax-payer, this also means the Trust gets your tax back. Or, if you prefer to send a cheque, sponsorship forms are available from info@rcvstrust.org.uk or 020 7202 0743.
Lucy said: "The RCVS Trust is a great charity which supports veterinary education and has specialist library and information services for vets and VNs to use. Small charities like the Trust can get overlooked in big fundraising events so I'm glad to be able to help out - even if the thought of running 10K is a bit daunting!"
The race will be broadcast through the British 10K London Run website: http://www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk/.
The first course will be overseen by Jodie Hughes, an RCVS and European specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia. The hospital’s inaugural resident will be Luisa Oliveira (pictured right), who earlier completed a rotating internship at North West Veterinary Specialists in Cheshire, and, more recently, an anaesthesia-specific one at NDSR.
Jodie said: “Luisa’s residency will comprise mainly the provision of anaesthesia to multiple animal species, ranging from the ‘simpler’ procedures to the most critical and complex, which we frequently encounter in our interventional cardiac procedures and emergency work.
“A significant component of the training will involve the management of pain, both in the acute setting (in the peri-operative period) and in the chronic setting, whilst dealing with our pain clinic patients.
“Luisa will also be trained in the management of emergency and critical care patients and will undergo rotations in other services to better grasp their requirements.
“As we work exclusively with dogs and cats, we will work in close collaboration with several other hospitals in the UK and continental Europe, to complement Luisa’s training with other species.
“As part of this, Luisa will be exposed to multiple advanced techniques, including ultrasound-guided regional nerve blocks and interventional procedures in our pain clinic.
Luisa said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to work alongside an incredibly experienced and skilled team at NDSR.
The training programme has been developed by Rui Pinelas, RCVS and European specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia at NDSR, who is optimistic there will be further training opportunities in the near future.
Rui said: “This was something NDSR has been keen to implement for some time and we had been having ongoing discussions to choose the perfect time.
“In terms of logistics, it took around three months for us to set up this anaesthesia residency, which was largely spent organising our partnerships with the other training facilities and undergoing an evaluation as to whether our facilities and case load would meet the specialist board’s strict requirements, which we are delighted they did.”
The British Veterinary Association's Council has agreed unanimously to reject Animal Health's proposal to base fees for Official Veterinarians (OVs) on the available budget instead of an hourly rate, which the BVA negotiating team has been pushing for for some time.
The BVA team argued consistently for a professional fee for professional work and based its demands on the independent ADAS report and SPVS fees surveys. Animal Health proposed a matrix for TB testing fees based on the number of animals tested and the distance travelled and said that there would be no further discussion on an appropriate professional fee due to budget constraints. The BVA Council felt strongly that it could not accept a proposal that was based on a finite budget and did not respect the need for a professional fee for veterinary work.
BVA President Bill Reilly said: "While we understand the budget squeeze on Animal Health, BVA Council has taken a principled stand that vets should be paid a professional fee for a professional service, not a fee based on the available budget.
"With the launch of the draft Animal Health Bill last Monday we call on the Government to consider the central role OVs play in this new disease control set up and to provide sufficient funding. Launching the draft Bill, Defra's Minister of State spoke of partnership. OVs are such a partner, professionals integral to the disease prevention and control mechanisms. The country has a major disease problem in TB which requires professionals to ensure control and protection of the public and animals alike.
"Let me clarify that Animal Health will not be negotiating with individual vets - they will simply be paying at the same rate in 2010/11 as in 2009/10 and no guarantee that the budget will not be reduced in the future. Each individual veterinary practice will need to decide whether or not they wish to continue TB testing or other OV work."
The BVA and BCVA are advising members that they will need to take a decision in their own practice on whether or not it is financially viable for them to continue OV work.
Nominees for the RCVS Council and its Veterinary Nurses Council have been announced, with 13 candidates for the former and four for the latter.
The nominations closed on 31 January, and the following are standing:
RCVS Council
* denotes current RCVS Council member
VN Council
* denotes current VN Council member
The British Veterinary Association has appointed David Calpin as its new Chief Executive. David joins the BVA from Defra, where he was a Deputy Director and has held a number of senior management roles. David's policy responsibilities have included climate change, GM crops, sustainable land management, and, most recently, bovine TB. For a period last year David was Acting Director for Animal Health and Welfare in Defra.
David has been in the senior civil service since 2005, and has substantial experience of both staff and financial management. He spent two years working in Brussels representing the UK Government in EU negotiations, and has lived and worked in France, South Africa and Brazil. Prior to joining the civil service, David worked for Barclays Bank.
BVA Chairman Derek Williams said: "David's appointment comes at a very exciting time for the BVA as we respond to the challenges set out by our members in our membership research 'Your BVA, Your Say'. David has a proven track record as a senior manager, extensive experience of managing stakeholder relationships, and an excellent understanding of the political climate in the UK and Europe; all of which will ensure BVA continues to thrive and to represent members effectively."
David Calpin said: "I'm delighted to be joining the BVA. I've worked closely with the BVA in my previous roles and have been hugely impressed. I also know that no organisation can afford to stand still, and that the BVA needs to keep pace with changes in the veterinary profession.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge of leading the BVA through a period of change to become an even more effective voice for the profession and providing services that members value. I have a lot to learn and I'm keen to get out and about to meet as many people as possible and to hear first-hand what the profession wants from the BVA."
Zoetis has launched a new training programme for veterinary practices which explores every aspect of the 'client journey' - from 'pre-owner' to 'Lost' - and explains how to deliver an outstanding client experience.
The Client Experience Development Programme is divided into nine training modules which vary in length from one to five and a half hours. The whole programme can be completed in two days under the guidance of a Zoetis business consultant.
The programme breaks down each element of the client journey, from attracting new pet owners into the practice and making the right impact on new customers, to keeping long-term customers loyal.
Nick Steele, national consulting manager at Zoetis, said: "We believe that calling a practice's pet owners clients or customers is a misnomer. They are consumers because they not only purchase a practice's products and services but they also experience them and the consumer's interpretation of their experience can really affect the brand. What's more, the reality of today's information-rich environment is that consumers can experience a practice without the practice even knowing about it.
"Google have coined the term 'Zero moment of truth', which alludes to all the different points of contact a consumer can have with a product or service before physically experiencing it. The average shopper uses 10.7 different sources of information before making a decision on what product or service to use.¹ This means they may have disregarded a practice before the practice knew the consumer even existed."
The concept of the client experience is introduced with some interesting statistics which emphasise its importance. For instance, a typical business hears from only 4% of its dissatisfied customers, 96% just go away and 91% will never come back². What's more, a dissatisfied customer will tell 9-15 people about it and approximately 13% will tell more than 20 people about their problem.³
Drawing on concepts like 'The Fred Factor', which focuses on four key principles of customer care, the training programme explains how every employee can make the difference from the moment clients arrive.
Nick added: "Consumers are all powerful to veterinary practices so it is essential that the client experience is an exceptional one. Our business consultants have been trained to deliver the Client Development Programme to all types of veterinary practice to ensure that they attract as many clients to the practice as possible and keep those clients happy once they are there."
For more information about Business Consulting from Zoetis telephone 0845 519 4977 or contact your account manager.
References
The BSAVA has announced the publication of its latest practical guide: The BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Abdominal Surgery.
The new manual covers everything from routine ovariohysterectomy to emergency drainage for acute peritonitis and features two new chapters on laparoscopic instrumentation/surgery and urinary incontinence.
The extensively revised and updated second edition equips veterinary surgeons with practical information, illustrations and images, along with step-by-step operative techniques that provide information on patient positioning and preparation, instrumentation and postoperative management for a variety of procedures.
International expertise includes editors John Williams and Jacqui Niles, as well as contributions from vets around the world.
The BSAVA says that hundreds of veterinary surgeons registered interest in advance after the first edition went out of print last year (2014) and a preview copy was made available at the BSAVA Congress in April.
John Williams said: "The BSAVA exists to promote excellence in small animal practice through education and science, and the BSAVA Manuals are instrumental in fulfilling this aim. As editors of this latest edition, Jacqui and I have had the privilege of being able to work with experts in their respective fields, to produce a practical guide packed full of the latest developments in abdominal surgical techniques that will be useful to the whole veterinary profession."
You can now buy a copy from the BSAVA website: www.bsava.com or by ringing: 01452 726700.
The study, Urinary incontinence in bitches under primary veterinary care in England: prevalence and risk factors, which will be published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, also found that other factors such as weight, neuter status and age also play key roles.
The authors hope that the study findings will provide an evidence base that allows veterinary surgeons to enhance their clinical recommendations for higher risk bitches.
The study was based on a population of 100,397 bitches attending 119 veterinary clinics across England. The main findings included:
The study also gave evidence on the welfare impact from urinary incontinence. Almost half of cases (45.6%) received medical therapy for the condition. In addition, of the bitches that died during the study period, urinary incontinence was recorded as either contributory or the main reason for death in 16.7 % of these deaths.
RVC veterinary epidemiologist and VetCompass researcher Dr Dan O’Neill said: "This urinary incontinence study has uncovered dramatic breed predispositions that have previously been hidden to vets and owners.
"Overall, about 3% of bitches were affected but this rose to over 30% in the Irish Setter and over 20% in the Dobermann with many other breeds also predisposed.
"Vets can now use these results to alert owners to typical clinical signs in order to ensure earlier treatment and better outcomes. The study also suggests increased risk in heavier and neutered bitches.
"Following on from this study, a VetCompass Masters project supported by BSAVA PetSavers is working to unravel these associations in order to identify potential preventive strategies, especially in those highly predisposed breeds."
The paper is available in Early View on Wiley Online Library ahead of publication in the JSAP at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.12731/full
Photo: ©Diane Peace Collection / The Kennel Club
Topics covered will include practical applications of enrichment for zoo species, options for reproductive control in pet ferrets, challenges of exotics out-of-hours care, veterinary care of invertebrates and decision-making in wildlife cases.
The Association says that this year, there will be a greater focus on masterclasses, practical sessions and roundtable discussions, and that there will be plenty of new research, case reports, case series and the most recent advancements in the field of zoo, wildlife and exotic animal medicine.
There will be dedicated streams covering zoo health, nursing, exotic pets and wildlife health, together with a stream for students and new graduates.
The social programme includes the student-mentor mixer, a wine and canapés evening, a gala dinner and silent disco.
Registration fees have been held at the same level as 2019: tickets for non-members range from £410 for one day, to £760 for all three; members get a discount.
www.bvzs.co.uk
Congratulations to VetSurgeon members Mike Martin, Malcolm Ness and Mark Patteson, who were amongst the winners of the 2010 BSAVA Annual Awards.
Mike Martin actually collected two awards this year: The Dunkin Award for the author of the most valuable article published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (Canine dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study of signalment, presentation and clinical findings in 369 cases), and the Blaine Award presented by Royal Canin for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal medicine or surgery.
Malcolm Ness won the Simon Award for outstanding contributions in the field of veterinary surgery.
Mark Patteson picked up the Melton Award, presented annually by Royal Canin for meritorious contributions by veterinary surgeons to small animal veterinary practice.
Other winners included Iona Mathieson (Frank Beattie Travel Scholarship), Anne Vaughan-Thomas (deceased) (Amoroso Award), David Church (Woodrow Award), Luke Gamble (J.A. Wright Memorial Award), Olaf Reinhard Schaaf (Petsavers Award) and Steve Withrow (Bourgelat Award).
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has launched a competition to find 12 dogs that have responded well to treatment with Vetmedin, to feature in the company's forthcoming 2012 Better Dogs calendar.
Boehringer is particularly interested in hearing about dogs with funny or quirky stories, or ones that have made a dramatic heart-warming recovery. If the submission makes it to the short list of 12 they will be featured in Vetmedin's 2012 Better Dogs Calendar which will be available to veterinary practices later in the year. In addition, the vet with the best story will win a £250 Red Letter Days' voucher with the 11 runners up winning the new BSAVA Manual of Thoracic Imaging.
In return for pet owners agreeing to their dog's story being submitted, Boehringer will send each veterinary practice a complimentary pack of either Vetmedin 1.25mg x 50 tablets or Vetmedin 5.0mg x 50 tablets, depending on the normal prescription, to give to their client.
Entries can be made either on the 2012 Better Dogs Calendar form which can be found in a recent Vetmedin mailing or via email to vetmedin.bra@boehringer-ingelheim.com. All entries should be accompanied by a photograph. Terms and conditions apply and the closing date for submissions is 30 September 2011.
For further information, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Territory Manager or call 01344 746959.
Alstoe, maker of a range of veterinary products including Easeflex, Vetergesic, Dolagis and Nelio, has announced that it has changed its name to Sogeval UK Ltd following its acquisition by Sogeval, the French veterinary drug company, earlier this year.
The company says customers will not notice any change to their dealings with the company, because Sogeval UK Ltd will trade from the same premises near York and with the same staff members.
Niall McFerran, Sogeval Country Manager, UK and ROI said: "The change of name to Sogeval UK Ltd aligns the business to one of the world's fastest growing Animal Health companies. Through Sogeval's research and development programmes, we look forward to exciting improvements in the future."
For any questions relating to the change, practices are invited to contact Niall McFerran on 01347 878606.
A new study1 lead by led by Dr Séverine Tasker at the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences and published in the journal Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (CVI), has shown that cats previously infected with the blood-borne bacteria M. haemofelis develop immunity from re-infection.
Haemoplasmas are a group of blood borne bacteria found in a wide range of mammals, including domestic and wild cats, and can cause severe anaemia. The findings of the new study have significantly advanced researchers' knowledge of immunity for these pathogens.
Information about the immune responses that occur in animals following haemoplasma infection is relatively unknown, largely due to the fact that researchers struggle to study these bacteria as they are unable to grow them in the laboratory. Antibiotics do not consistently clear infection and without correct treatment the anaemia can be fatal. Recently haemoplasma associated anaemia has been reported in a human too.
The aim of the study was to determine whether cats who had previously recovered from M. haemofelis infection were protected from re-infection. The researchers found that they were, representing a significant advancement in scientists' knowledge of immunity for haemoplasma infections.
The exact methods of protective immunity could not be clearly identified despite extensive investigations, but the study's results suggest that a vaccine, using a weakened form of the bacteria, may offer protection against haemoplasma infection.
Séverine said: "This is the first study to demonstrate protective immunity against M. haemofelis reinfection and it provides important information for a possible future haemoplasma vaccine.
"Our findings could help prevent the disease in cats and could also be of particular importance to farm animal species where haemoplasma infections can cause huge financial losses."
The study recommends future research should explore whether the bacterial animal infection could be transmitted to humans and how the immune system targets the pathogen.
Zoetis Business Consulting has announced the launch of Profitsolver, a software tool designed to boost practice profits.
The software has already been rolled out in the US, where Zoetis says that it has delivered an average of £103,000 extra profit to veterinary practices within a year.
Profitsolver uses the practice's actual data - not benchmarks or accepted norms - to enable the practice to manage costs, set prices and gain return on investments. By using an activity-based costing model and using a variety of data such as practice costs, which staff perform which part of the procedure, how long the procedure takes and what equipment and materials are used, Profitsolver calculates the correct pricing to both cover costs and deliver a predetermined profit margin.
Zoetis says that Profitsolver helps practices to understand how the overall practice profit is being generated. For instance, for price sensitive procedures such as vaccination, the practice can match their prices with the competition, but maintain their profit margin by increasing the price for other clinical services.
Nick Steele, national consulting manager at Zoetis said: "Veterinary practices have no standard method for pricing their services and they are often unable to determine which services make money and which don't. This hampers the practice's ability to accurately value the business and, as a result, profit levels tend to be low for many practices. Profitsolver can turn this situation around and already has a very successful track record in the US."
Zoetis piloted the UK version of Profitsolver with John Goulding at St Georges Veterinary Group. He said: "By and large the veterinary profession still relies on the mark-up of medicines where profits are concerned. Even practices that have made a concerted effort to move away from this type of pricing structure are still making their money from the sale of medicines rather than from vets' fees. For years I have wanted to know exactly how to price our services and this new Profitsolver software does just that.
"Most costs have an element of staff time, an element of fixed assets or equipment and an element of disposable items. Profitsolver takes all of these into account, adds the predetermined profit margin and produces an accurate pricing structure for each procedure undertaken within the practice.
"It's important to take the time at the start to put accurate data in from the practice's latest set of accounts and the Zoetis business consultant will guide practices through this to make the initial set up as easy as possible. For instance, for major pieces of equipment such as X-ray machines, you have to work out how many times a year you are likely to use them.
"By using Profitsolver, we worked out that if we do exactly the same amount of work as last year we can increase our bottom line by at least £200,000 for our 18 vet practice. Since last November, when we installed Profitsolver, we have completely changed our pricing structure moving away from focusing on medicines and the size of the animal to rethink how we charge our clinical care.
"An unexpected benefit is that Profitsolver has made me much more confident about the prices we charge to clients as it is all broken down, so we can see exactly how the invoice is made up. I would be at a loss without it now."
For more information about Profitsolver, contact your Zoetis account manager.
The Westpoint Group has announced the divestiture of its small animal and equine veterinary practices in order to focus on production animal health and welfare.
From now, the production animal business - which includes veterinary practices providing services to pig, poultry, dairy, beef, sheep, game bird producers and small holders - will be known under the umbrella brand of Origin.
The company says that excellence and innovation in client service will continue to be the focus throughout the organisation.
Matt Dobbs, Managing Director of Origin said: "Origin is committed to supporting livestock farmers to enhance production by improving health and welfare. We have a unique group of vets, researchers, lab techs and paraprofessionals passionate about the success of UK agriculture, with other businesses committed to supporting the industry, joining us through the autumn.
"By focusing on supporting farmers, we will become a unique source of animal insight in livestock agriculture."
For more information, visit: http://www.westpointveterinarygroup.com