Ben trained in medicine at Oxford and London before becoming a household name through his weekly Bad Science column published in the Guardian between 2003 and 2011.
Ben is the author of three books. His first, Bad Science, published in 2008, sold over half a million copies worldwide and is published in 31 languages. His second, Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients was published in 2012 and his third, a volume of collected journalism entitled I think you’ll find it’s more complicated than that, in 2014. He currently works as an academic in epidemiology.
In his lecture, Ben will be talking about how quacks and charlatans misuse evidence, and the placebo effect, to bamboozle the public. It's an issue of particular interest for the veterinary profession, given the growing focus on evidence-based medicine.
The lecture is open to all London Vet Show attendees and will take place in the BVA Congress Theatre at London’s ExCeL between 12.30 – 1.30 on Friday 17 November.
BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "We know that many people’s first point of call is the media or Dr Google when trying to decide what pet to purchase or how to treat their animal’s - or their own - health! So, I’m sure veterinary colleagues from all areas of the profession will find Dr Goldacre’s insight both engaging and inspiring in their day-to-day and working lives."
Other BVA Congress sessions at London Vet Show 2017 include Nudge, nudge – how can we change owner behaviour for better welfare?; Veterinary workforce crisis: what’s really going on? and Veterinary Surgeons Act: an open and shut case?. BVA Congress sessions as well as associated BVA Farm Animal, BVA/BEVA Equine, and BVA Career Development Streams count towards CPD.
BVA members can get access to the full BVA offering, as well as the usual London Vet Show programme, for 15% less than the lowest advertised price. To book, enter your BVA membership number and the code BVA 8 to claim your discount when you book online at www.londonvetshow.co.uk
Photo: John King 2012
The Investigating Committee and the Disciplinary Committee are responsible for conducting desk-top investigations and disciplinary hearings in response to complaints, disclosures and notifications that may amount to serious professional misconduct by Registered Farriers.
As the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons did in 2015, the FRC is splitting off its disciplinary functions from that of its Council, meaning it now needs to recruit new members to perform the role.
More information is available in VetSurgeon Jobs, here.
Some 150 practices currently use Vidivet, which was set up by Ben Sweeney MRCVS (pictured) in 2020.
He said: “I started VidiVet as I wanted people to be able to access high quality, impartial care for their pets that allows them to make more informed decisions around their treatment with expert information, rather than resorting to the internet.
"As a vet I also wanted to make life easier for those working within veterinary practices.
"VidiVet relieves part of the burden veterinary practices face by offering a trusted digital triage service for their clients.
"Our digital service can provide a helpful extension to a practice which dramatically reduces admin and saves time for the in-house team.
"Crucially, we offer peace of mind and reduce anxiety for pet owners, and with over 96% of VidiVet out of hours calls redirected to the pet owner’s registered vet, it can really enhance the practice bond by using digital care to augment physical care."
Before the Provet partnership, OOH case notes were sent to client practices which then had to enter them onto their systems manually.
Vidivet says the intregration with Provet means less admin and time savings for practices and a quicker follow up for pet owners.
https://vidivet.com
https://www.provet.cloud
Dr Mostert admitted to his conviction but denied that it rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.
He also admitted not disclosing his conviction to the RCVS but denied that it amounted to dishonesty or was misleading and that failing to do so amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee first considered whether Dr Mostert’s conviction affected the public interest, which included the need to maintain public confidence in the profession by upholding proper standards of conduct and behaviour for members of the profession.
The Committee noted that the conviction involved dishonesty relating to false statements about the value of goods sent to the USA.
The Committee felt that a conviction for a serious offence involving dishonesty would have a negative impact on public confidence in the profession, and that its reputation would be damaged if proper standards of conduct and behaviour were not upheld.
The Committee also noted that as the products that Dr Mostert imported into the USA were not labelled as coming from a foreign market and were not labelled as needing to be administered by a vet, his conviction also related to animal safety, as anyone who accessed the medications could believe that it was safe for them to be given to an animal.
The Committee then considered Dr Mostert’s failure to declare the conviction to the College on three separate occasions.
Dr Mostert testified that, at the time, he did not believe he had to disclose his conviction as it occurred in a country where he had not practised as a veterinary surgeon.
He also said he had not taken the time to read and interpret the application form accurately.
However, the Committee considered that the wording around convictions on the application and annual renewal forms is very clear and that, as a veterinary surgeon, Dr Mostert would be familiar with such documents.
The Committee considered that it was inconceivable that an experienced veterinary surgeon, making a declaration of this kind to his regulator, would not have understood that a serious conviction in the USA, dating from June 2017, was a conviction that he was obliged to disclose.
The Committee therefore found Dr Mostert’s failures to declare his conviction dishonest.
Judith Way, Chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, noted that in deciding upon the appropriate sanction, the case did not involve any actual harm to an animal or human and that Dr Mostert had had a long and otherwise unblemished career.
However, a key aggravating factor was that the action that led to the conviction resulted in financial gain through the creation of a business enterprise and that Dr Mostert falsely declared the value of goods.
The extent of any financial gain was not known to the Committee, but the business operated on the basis that false declarations were repeatedly made.
Judith said: “After careful consideration the Committee has concluded that in all the circumstances, a lengthy period of suspension would properly reflect the gravity of the case and satisfy the public interest. The Committee has decided that the appropriate length of suspension is one of 18 months.”
The Committee’s full findings can be viewed at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Fluboral controls gastro-intestinal nematodes including Ascaridia galli (adult stages), Heterakis gallinarum (adult stages) and Capillaria spp. (adult stages) in chickens and Ascaris suum (adult and L4 intestinal stages) in pigs.
Dechra says Fluboral’s formula allows it to mix in drinking water quickly and easily with five seconds of stirring.
Fluboral has a guaranteed 24-hour stability without sedimentation of the suspension after dilution in drinking water and Dechra says there is no risk of inhomogeneous mixing.
Johnny Wells West, key account manager – pig and poultry at Dechra, said: “Fluboral is a welcome addition to our Solustab range of water-soluble products, providing effortless and efficient parasite control in drinking water to enable farmers and producers to start medication quickly and cost-effectively, as and when needed.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/products/livestock/prescription/fluboral#Fluboral.
Equipalazone is most commonly used to treat lameness in equines and can be prescribed as a treatment for osteoarthritic conditions, acute and chronic laminitis, bursitis and carpitis as well as to reduce post-surgical soft tissue reaction.
The new apple-flavoured version, which contains no added sugar, is presented in 1.5g sachets which are added to feed. The existing unflavoured product is still available as Equipalazone Original.
Dechra Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: “The new apple flavoured Equipalazone is the same tried and trusted popular product that vets have been using for many years but the enhanced apple flavour should improve compliance amongst even the fussiest of feeders.
"Equipalazone has been a best-selling treatment delivering powerful pain relief since we brought it to the market as the first microencapsulated phenylbutazone more than 45 years ago. The new apple flavoured presentation will give vets even more choice when it comes to providing pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatment for equine conditions."
For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has directed that the name of a veterinary surgeon who had been practising in Essex be removed from the RCVS Register, having found him guilty of attempting to obtain medicines dishonestly.
James Alexander Lockyear, a graduate from Pretoria University in South Africa, was charged with two offences. The case was heard in his absence, although the Committee did not draw any adverse inference from this. One charge concerned his attempted purchase of steroids from a pharmacy in Colchester by dishonestly representing that the medicine was for legitimate veterinary use. The second charge related to several instances of what the Committee referred to as "inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour", including showing an offensive image to another staff member on a mobile phone, placing the testicle of a castrated dog in his mouth and the misuse of an endotracheal tube.
All of the incidents had taken place between April 2008 and September 2009, while Mr Lockyear was practising as a locum veterinary surgeon at St Runwald's Veterinary Surgery, Colchester, Essex.
The Disciplinary Committee heard evidence from a pharmacist, Mr Noble, to whom Mr Lockyear had presented an incomplete veterinary prescription for 12 ampoules of Sustanon, a prescription-only anabolic steroid for humans, and a further pharmacist, Mr Foskett MRPharmS, who outlined his suspicions that the steroids were in fact for Mr Lockyear's personal use (Sustanon is a substance which can potentially be misused in relation to body-building). Mr Lockyear had originally claimed the drugs were for general stock at the practice; he later returned with a second prescription, for double the amount of Sustanon, claiming it was for his own dog; later again, he said the prescription was for a friend's dog.
The Committee also heard evidence from the veterinary owner of the practice, a veterinary nurse and a student veterinary nurse working in the practice team, and from Dr Maddison MRCVS, an expert on small animal clinical pharmacology. Dr Maddison informed the Committee that there was a veterinary alternative to Sustanon, so it was not necessary for that drug to have been sought by Mr Lockyear. She was also of the view that Sustanon would not have been suitable to treat the ailments for which Mr Lockyear claimed it was to be used.
The Committee found Mr Lockyear guilty of the first charge - that is attempting to obtain medicines dishonestly. Chairing the Disciplinary Committee, Mrs Alison Bruce, said: "Whilst it was a one-off incident, it is conduct which falls far short of that which is expected of a member of the profession. It involves serious dishonesty; it represents an abuse of a veterinary surgeon's authority to prescribe drugs; it is conduct which tends to undermine public trust in the profession, and the honesty of its members; it is conduct which compromised other professionals, the pharmacists involved, and undermined the trust which ought to exist between pharmacists and veterinary surgeons generally, in the important area of drug prescription." The Committee therefore directed that Mr Lockyear's name be removed from the Register.
Regarding the second charge, the Committee was most concerned about the incident relating to the dog's testicles, which it felt offended against Mr Lockyear's duty to treat with respect all animals which were his patients. Taking the three incidents as a whole, the Committee felt that Mr Lockyear should be seriously criticised for behaviour that was "unprofessional... juvenile, inappropriate, disgusting and offensive". However, they felt that the conduct was not malicious, and did not occur in the presence of a member of the public, so concluded that this did not amount to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has restored Joseph Lennox Holmes to the Register of Veterinary Surgeons, two years after he was originally struck off.
Mr Holmes was removed from the Register in February 2012 after the Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of multiple charges of serious professional conduct. Mr Holmes lodged an appeal against the decision, which was heard and dismissed by the Privy Council.
The original charges related to two separate complaints; the first involved numerous charges in respect of Mr Holmes' treatment of a King Charles Spaniel between October 2007 and March 2008; the second, several charges in relation to his treatment of three cats in 2008.
The Committee found that the majority of the charges amounted to serious professional misconduct. In removing Mr Holmes from the Register, the Committee found that "aggravating factors in both... cases included actual injuries to the animals... and a serious breach of the trust which Mr Holmes' clients had placed in him to make the welfare of the animals his primary consideration according to the standards to be expected of the profession". In addition, the Committee cited 10 further aggravating factors including lack of reference to continuing professional development (CPD) in clinical policies and practices; lack of reference to accepted practice; lack of appreciation of the importance of adequate pain relief when performing painful surgical procedures; reluctance to consider referral as an option; and lack of understanding about what information is required by a client to enable fully informed consent to be given.
Following the dismissal of Mr Holmes' appeal by the Privy Council, his first application for restoration was heard by the Disciplinary Committee in February 2013. The Committee was not satisfied that he was fit to be restored to the Register, citing the fact that his application was "premature" and that he had failed to truly appreciate the seriousness of the findings against him. The Committee was also unimpressed with the efforts he had made to keep up-to-date with skills and developments in practice and with his CPD, noting in particular that he had made very limited attempts to observe the function and experience the culture of a modern first opinion practice.
However, in this week's two-day hearing, the Committee was satisfied that Mr Holmes was now fit to be restored to the Register. It heard that Mr Holmes had made a concerted effort to engage in CPD and bring his skills and knowledge up-to-date. During a period of observation at a veterinary practice, he had gained insight into modern practice and the need for veterinary general practitioners to be aware of the advantages in referring patients to specialists.
Professor Noreen Burrows, who chaired and spoke on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, said: "The Committee has concluded that, in the course of genuine efforts to do what was necessary to address the deficiencies identified during the original Inquiry and at the last restoration hearing, the Applicant has at last understood the seriousness of his previous misconduct and has learned new skills and, most importantly, to recognise his limitations from the extensive course of study, reflection, and other training that he has undertaken."
Furthermore, the Committee was satisfied that Mr Holmes had gained a proper understanding of the importance of securing the informed consent of his clients and building a relationship of trust with them and, in addition, recognising the importance of maintaining close relations with fellow professionals and engaging with CPD opportunities.
Additional factors considered when making the decision included: that he had been off the Register for two years; that, through self-improvement, he had equipped himself to treat animals appropriately; the impact that being removed from the Register had in both personal and financial terms; his conduct since being removed from the Register; and, a number of positive testimonials from previous clients and professional colleagues.
The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
The award, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) working in partnership with the Department of Health and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), is part of the cross-council 'Tackling antimicrobial resistance: behaviour within and beyond the healthcare setting’ call, part of the antimicrobial resistance cross-council initiative supported by the seven research councils in partnership with other UK funders including the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The research team will be led by social scientists at the University of Exeter and includes two veterinary surgeons from the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, together with colleagues at the Innogen Institute of the University of Edinburgh, the British Veterinary Association and leading farm animal veterinary surgeons across the UK.
The researchers say that better, smarter, more rapid and more accessible diagnoses - driving shifts in behaviour associated with diagnostic decision making - represent a critical step to delivering more effective uses of antibiotics in animal health. But improvements in diagnostic development and their relationship to prescription and treatment requires social, governance and technical innovations.
Professor Henry Buller, project lead from the University of Exeter’s School of Geography, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to provide a current assessment of diagnostic and treatment decision practices in the livestock sectors of the UK. Novel and innovative diagnostic tools are currently in development, and our research will generate better understanding of their development as well as the marketing and regulation of these new technologies."
Dr Kristen Reyher, Senior Lecturer in Farm Animal Science, who is the lead on the project at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, added: "Our research team – the AMR Force – has a track record of working closely with farmers, veterinarians, retailers and government bodies to encourage responsible use of antibiotics. We are excited to have this amazing opportunity to collaboratively generate, evaluate and analyse behaviours and strategies around animal disease diagnosis and to show how innovation in the development of diagnostic tools along with diagnostic regulation and governance can lead to more sensible use of antibiotics across farming systems.
"Working with our partners, we will identify pathways and possibilities for improved diagnostic practice and will trial new diagnostic tools on a series of farms. We are very excited to take our ideas beyond the UK as well, and will conduct pilot and capacity-building research in Tanzania and also partner with a project working in Bangladesh that is co-funded by ESRC and the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science."
Professor Buller added: "Employment of new diagnostics doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Our team will evaluate the implications these innovations will have for the organisation, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of veterinary practice, as well as for veterinary training. We will identify the changes in behaviour, practice and knowledge necessary to accompany the more widespread adoption of practices that are deemed effective and will assess the regulatory and governance support necessary to encourage use of beneficial practices."
The interdisciplinary team will work alongside diagnostic tool developers and regulators, veterinary practices and professional bodies, farmers and treatment decision makers, veterinary laboratories, the food industry and government regulatory authorities to develop durable and innovative strategies for facilitating and advancing smarter approaches to the use of antibiotics in agriculture.
The work will cover the major livestock species, and will involve seeking opinions from veterinary surgeons across the country, through collaboration with the BVA.
David Barrett, Professor of Bovine Medicine, Production and Reproduction at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to assess the adaptability and responsiveness of the different animal production sectors - poultry, pigs and cattle - along with a variety of veterinary structures to the trialled innovations in diagnosis and diagnostics, and will determine the likely benefits of these innovations for prescription practice, for animal health and for sustainable livestock production."
Photo: University of Bristol
The outreach programme began earlier this month at the Devon County Show (pictured right), where the College used the opportunity to spread the word about its petsneedvets campaign, handing out over 1000 promotional bags in the process.
Next on the itinerary is the Royal Welsh Show near Builth Wells from the 23rd to 26th July. From there, the College will be heading to the BBC Countryfile Live event, held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire from the 2nd to 5th August.
Ian Holloway, Director of Communications at the RCVS, said: "Following the success and popularity of our stand at Countryfile Live over the past two years we decided that this year we would broaden our horizons and attend some of the UK’s most prestigious and well-attended regional events.
"We have our ever-popular careers materials available, and it was wonderful to see dozens of young people at the Devon County Show asking us about how they can become veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, as they always have the past two years at Countryfile. This is a really encouraging level of interest in the professions and we’re very happy to provide information to help them fulfil their aspirations.
"Attending more and different public events is a trend we are very keen on continuing with and we will be looking at other events to attend in different parts of the UK for next year."
For more information about upcoming events involving the RCVS visit www.rcvs.org.uk/events
Photo: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Petplan has announced the 2010 finalists for the Petplan Veterinary Awards.
The company says it has been inundated with over 1,800 nominations this year and wasn't disappointed in its quest to discover veterinary staff that go far beyond the call of duty. Each year there is an astonishing public response, with tales ranging from midnight rescues to simple acts of kindness. This year was no exception.
The finalists for each of the categories are as follows:
Vet of the YearGirish Thakral, Blacks Veterinary Group, West Midlands Mike Hewitt, Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre, Buckinghamshire Stuart Jackson, Jackson Veterinary Clinic, Oxfordshire
Vet Nurse of the YearAmy Floyd, Fivelands Veterinary Centre, BirminghamLisa Strickland Viking Vets, BristolLouise Want, Feldon Veterinary Centre, Warwickshire
Vet Receptionist of the YearCarole Dawson, Kingsteignton Veterinary Group, Devon Linda Workman, Summerleaze Veterinary Hospital, Berkshire Sue Snodin, Towerwood Veterinary Group, Leeds
Vet Practice of the YearAshfield House Veterinary Hospital Ltd, Nottingham Mill House Veterinary Surgery and Hospital, Norfolk Priors Leaze Veterinary Centre, West Sussex
Alison Andrews, Petplan's Head of Marketing said she was thrilled by the number of nominations received and the quality of this year's finalists: "This year we are celebrating the eleventh anniversary of the Veterinary Awards which were launched so pet owners could thank their practice for the tireless and wonderful work they carry out. We are delighted that the awards, which we often hear referred to as the 'Vet Oscars', are still going strong. This year we have received a great number of nominations and the quality and standard really challenged the skills of our esteemed judging panel. We would like to wish those short listed every success on the night."
All finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony taking place on 8th April at the Birmingham Town Hall, where the winners will be announced!
Procapen contains a high dose of procaine benzyl penicillin, a narrow spectrum antibiotic which targets the most important pathogens in fresh cases of mastitis in cows and is the drug of choice against benzylpenicillin-susceptible streptococci and staphlococci.
Marcus Scott, Large Animal Business Manager at Forte said: "With the widespread shortage of intramammary tubes at the moment, Procapen provides a welcome solution for many mastitis cases."
For more information, contact your local Forte Territory Manager or email: enquiries@fortehealthcare.com.
Dechra Veterinary Products has introduced two additional new products to its Veterinary Essentials range: Alvegesic vet and Clavudale.
Alvegesic vet contains butorphanol, a well-known and widely used drug for sedation, anaesthesia and analgesia in both dogs and cats. In horses, Alvegesic vet is indicated for analgesia and sedation.
Alvegesic vet is available in 10ml multidose vials and is licensed for administration by intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous routes, depending on indication, in both cats and dogs.
The other new addition to the Veterinary Essentials range is Clavudale, which contains the broad spectrum antibiotic amoxicillin, potentiated with clavulanic acid. Clavudale is bactericidal, active against a wide variety of bacterial organisms, including gram-positives and gram-negatives.
Clavudale is effective in treating a wide range of bacterial diseases of cats and dogs. These include: skin disease; soft tissue infections; dental infections; urinary tract infections; respiratory disease and enteritis. Clavudale is supplied in boxes of 24 tablets, with 4 blister strips of six tablets.
Further information on Alvegesic vet and Clavudale is available by calling Liz Rawlings at Dechra on 01743 441 632 or visiting www.dechra.com
Norbrook has verified that the pH of certain batches has increased over time and is out of specification.
This issue impacts the following batches:
A spokesperson said: "There has been no increased risk to animal safety identified but we take quality extremely seriously so we initiated a voluntary recall. We have informed all of the competent authorities and we are working with our distributor to advise immediate quarantine of any remaining inventory."
If you have any questions concerning the recall, contact Ms. Anita Vanderlaan Tel: +44 (0)28 3026 4435, Email: anita.vanderlaan@norbrook.co.uk
The marketing pack includes a poster, leaflet and a counter top display which highlight the stress factors facing pets and provide pet owners with an overview of how Feliway and Adaptil help pets cope with challenging situations.
Ceva will also be running a competition for pet owners to win £150 of John Lewis vouchers in a prize draw. To enter, they need to email cevauk@ceva.com with the subject 'Stress Free Christmas' and their name and contact number. The competition closes on 24 December 2017 and the winner will be contacted by telephone in January 2018.
Claire Russell, brand manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Big family gatherings, noisy toys and being home alone more often are just some of the stressful situations that pets can find themselves in during the festive period. Our new marketing pack will help highlight these stress factors amongst pet owners and raise awareness of how Feliway and Adaptil can help support their pets."
To request a Christmas marketing pack, contact your Ceva Animal Health account manager, email cevauk@ceva.com or contact customer services on 01494 781510.
Docsinnovent Ltd has launched what it says is the first ever commercial range of veterinary-species-specific, supraglottic airway devices.
Nicki Glen, Marketing Manager at Docsinnovent said: "v-gel is a truly unique, supraglottic airway management device that represents the culmination of years of extensive research and development. It has exceptional provenance from the human equivalent "i gel" having been used in hospitals around the world for the past 5 years.
"Made from a medical grade elastomer material, the v-gel has been designed to create an anatomical high quality pressure seal around the laryngeal structures whilst avoiding compression trauma."
Initially for rabbits and cats, and subsequently for dogs and horses, each species will have six colour coded sizes supplied in a protective cradle that also helps manage the sterilisation process.
According to the company, the benefits of the v-gel system are:
For more information, visit stand 609 at BSAVA Congress or, from 12th April, www.docsinnovent.com.
In addition, there is a clinical research abstract being presented at BSAVA Congress:
Title: Use of a novel Supraglottic airway device to maintain gaseous anaesthesia in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Presented and researched by Kevin Eatwell BVSc (Hons) DZooMed (Reptilian) Dip ECZM (Herp) MRCVSVenue: In the Crompton Room, Austin Court under the EXOTICS streamTime: Thursday 12th April at 12:20pm
Christine said: "Tests conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a pet cat in England.
"This is a very rare event with infected animals detected to date only showing mild clinical signs and recovering within in a few days.
"There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change."
Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said: "This is the first case of a domestic cat testing positive for COVID-19 in the UK but should not be a cause for alarm.
"The investigation into this case suggest that the infection was spread from humans to animal, and not the other way round. At this time, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease to humans.
The pet cat was initially diagnosed by a vet with feline herpes virus, but the sample was also tested for SARS-CoV-2 as part of a research programme at the Centre for Virus Research at Glasgow University. Follow-up samples tested at the APHA laboratory in Weybridge confirmed the cat was also co-infected with SARS-CoV2 , the virus known to cause COVID-19 in humans.
BSAVA advice for practising vets about coronavirus is here and further information about testing is available here.
Stephen, who works for the PDSA, wowed the judges with his photograph of a pair of wild ponies, entered into the 'All creatures great and small' category. He said: "I had a great day out photographing these wild grey ponies on a similarly grey January dayon the Long Mynd, a heath and moorland plateau in the Shropshire hills. I was simply out on a photo walk to take in the scenery and wildlife, look for a good shot and get a breath of fresh air; I’m chuffed that the judges have selected it as a category winner!"
Peter, who graduated from Nottingham University this summer and works at a practice in Bicester, won in the ‘Human:animal bond’ category with his entry: 'Best part of a job', which shows a laid-back 10-week-old cocker spaniel puppy lounging contentedly on his lap. Peter said: "This photo was taken whilst on placement in Chipping Norton as a student. The puppy was in to have her second vaccinations and a general health check after she had been with her new family for a week, and she was on my lap so that I could calm her, examine her, and socialise her. Working in the veterinary world is by no means easy, which is why moments like this are so important. Everyone needs a puppy cuddle!"
This year, the judging panel included David Tipling, one of the world's most widely published wildlife photographers. He said: "Helping to judge this year’s competition was for me a fascinating insight into a vet’s working life. Photography, like any art form, is subjective, but I was looking for pictures that had been composed and thought about and most importantly would linger in the mind long after they had been viewed. Much debate and discussion led us to some clear favourites from which to choose two overall winners."
"The winning shot [by Stephen] is beautifully composed, has a symmetry and used the dark and light tones of the ponies to complement each other, resulting in a striking image that we were all drawn to. I was drawn to [Peter’s] image partly by its abstract nature; on first view it is not obvious the dog is on someone’s lap. It is a strong, engaging image and because of that slightly abstract feel means it stays long in the memory.”
Peter and Stephen each receive £250 worth of gift vouchers from John Lewis.
Companion Care has opened its 80th surgery, within the Ilford Pets at Home store.
Companion Care Vets managing director, Jane Balmain said: "The opening of our 80th surgery proves the success of our joint venture partner business model. At present the majority of our surgeries are located inside Pets at Home stores but we also have four very successful standalone surgeries. Our standalone surgery network is now being developed to create further exciting opportunities for future growth, with our first new standalone surgery opening in Scotland this December."
Joint venture partner and veterinary surgeon at Companion Care Vets Ilford Alberto Arciniega said: "Alongside the fantastic team we have on board, my partners Nick and Claire and I are extremely proud to be opening our second surgery here in Ilford. Having been partners at the Romford surgery since July 2009 we have seen the company grow consistently and successfully. We feel honoured to be opening the groups' 80th surgery and look forward to the challenge of managing both practices and to delivering outstanding veterinary care."
With 102 Joint Veterinary Partners, 83 of whom are veterinary surgeons, 12 veterinary nurses, 6 practice managers and 1 receptionist and a further 789 staff employed by the group Companion Care Vets is one of the largest veterinary employers in the UK. Dividend payments to joint venture partners in the 2010/2011 period totalled £2.181 million and the group says it plans to open a further 10 surgeries across the UK before the end of year.
Burgess Pet Care, which organises the event, is encouraging vets and nurses to watch the webinars to ensure they’re aware of the key information concerning this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week, Protect and Prevent campaign, taking place from the 1st to the 9th June.
The webinars are hosted by Dr Richard Saunders BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM(ZHM) MRCVS, veterinary adviser to the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF).
Richard said: "These webinars provide information across all of the key areas relating to preventative healthcare in rabbits. There is a large number of health issues facing rabbits but thankfully many of these can be prevented. Vets play an incredibly important role in ensuring rabbit owners have all the information they need to correctly care for their pets but unfortunately there is still a lack of awareness and understanding around many basic needs such as diet, husbandry and the importance of vaccinations to protect against dangerous diseases.
"The webinars have been designed to be accessible and engaging to all vets and nurses, regardless of their experience level. We’re urging vets and nurses to watch all three seminars so they’re able to provide the best possible advice to rabbit owners seeking advice on their pets in advance of Rabbit Awareness Week."
To watch the webinars and learn more about this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week campaign, visit: www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk, where you can also request a free vet pack to help promote any activity you're planning for RAW.
The Executors of the Will of the late Mary Brancker have notified the Veterinary Benevolent Fund that she left a share of her estate to the charity.
Mary Brancker was one of only a handful of women vets when she qualified in 1937. She went on to found the Society of Women Veterinary Surgeons; became one of the first women on BVA Council and was later awarded an OBE for her services as BVA President during the century's most serious outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and a CBE in 2000 for services to animal health and welfare.
Mary was a long-time member of the VBF - a charity that has been run by vets for the profession for over a hundred years.
The VBF currently provides the Vet Helpline, the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme and the Vetlife website. The charity says it plans to use Brancker's £40,000 bequest specifically for the redevelopment of the Vetlife website which is currently underway and for other essential support for veterinary colleagues in need. The new version of the website will be launched at the London Vet Show in November.
VBF's President Lydia Brown said: "Mary was a personal friend and her gift is so typical of her kindness and her appreciation of her career. I hope others will follow Mary's wonderful example and consider giving generously to VBF. A legacy is of enormous benefit to our charity and the veterinary profession as a whole. Although we are making every effort to adapt to the changing needs of the profession there is always more that can be done if we have sufficient funding."
Veterinary Benevolent Fund T: 020 7908 6385E: info@vetlife.org.uk
Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support ProgrammeT: 07946 634220E: VSHSP@vetlife.org.uk
Vet HelplineT: 07659 811118
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Faecal matter transplantation (FMT) has been used in people to treat Clostridium difficile infections and has also been trialled in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The researchers believe that FMT offers a potential new option for the treatment of chronic diarrhoea in dogs and the study will investigate whether it contributes to a more rapid resolution of clinical signs. The study is being conducted in association with eight other private practices or universities around the country.
Julien Bazelle, a European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Davies said: "The goal is to recruit, over a short period of time, canine patients with chronic small intestinal diarrhoea, for a randomised trial in which the cohort receives or not FMT at the time of the initial investigations and prior to any other treatment.”
Dogs aged 6 months to 10 years with a history of chronic small intestinal diarrhoea (+/- other GI signs) are needed to participate in the study. Half of the dogs will receive FMT and the other half will be managed without. FMT will be performed in eligible patients during the sedation for their routine abdominal ultrasound. Transplanted faecal matter will be administered via a retention enema.
To be eligible, dogs must not have received antibiotics, probiotics or steroids recently.
If you have a potentially suitable patient please contact: julien.bazelle@vetspecialists.co.uk or Fergus.Allerton@willows.uk.net
The BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession research found the most cited welfare issue facing exotics was ‘irresponsible animal ownership’ (82%).
Vets who treat NTCAs reported that 58% of the NTCAs they see do not have their five animal welfare needs met and 26% have seen a rise in the number brought in for treatment in the past year.
BVA Senior Vice President and zoo veterinary surgeon Justine Shotton said: “The welfare of non-traditional companion animals has long been a concern of many vets and this is demonstrated in our recent research.
"It is worrying that a quarter of vets are seeing an increase in the number brought in for treatment and sad to hear that so many cite irresponsible ownership as the top cause behind welfare issues.
"We know people who keep these animals have the right intentions to give them best care they can but their needs are so complex it can be difficult to do so, particularly if they are a new pet and owners are not sure exactly what they need.
"It is so important that potential buyers give careful consideration to buying such an animal before bringing one home.
"We’d also urge any vets who are approached by potential keepers for advice to strongly encourage them to do their research to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to care for them properly before buying an exotic species.”
BVA's new policy position calls for more regulation of online sales and third-party advertising of NTCAs and an end to the import of wild-caught reptiles and amphibians for non-conservation reasons.
BVA also recommends a pre-purchase test, both demonstrating a potential owner’s knowledge on how to properly care for an NTCA, and helping to improve education around the needs of the species.
Past BVA President and Chair of the Working Group Sean Wensley said: “The new policy position makes recommendations which will help to protect the welfare of NTCAs, including calling for improved regulation of their keeping and sale.
"It highlights issues such as the welfare risks of certain breeding practices and stresses the need to move away from the wild-capture of animals for the pet trade.
"Taken together, the 32 recommendations present a clear veterinary view on the ethical sourcing and care of these species.”
www.bva.co.uk/exoticpets
The company says it wanted to give vets a chance to kick back and relax with some first-rate comedy talent at the end of what has been an incredibly challenging year.
The Christmas Comedy Cracker is being hosted by stand-up comedian, Rhys James, who regularly appears on Mock the Week and Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central.
The line-up also includes the actress, comedian, ventriloquist and British Comedy Award winner, Nina Conti.
Nina will be joined by special guest comedian, Zoe Lyons, whose TV credits include Mock the Week, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, The Paul O’Grady Show and The Wright Stuff.
The final act is The Noise Next Door, a musical comedy troupe which has performed alongside the likes of Michael McIntyre, Al Murray and Harry Hill.
Jemima Mead, marketing lead at Boehringer Ingelheim said: "There’s no doubt that 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for the whole profession. We know that COVID-19 has also meant work Christmas celebrations have been cancelled. So, as part of our ongoing support for the profession we are bringing festive cheer direct to the homes of veterinary professionals to help round off the year with first-rate comedy talent and enable them to kick back, relax and hopefully laugh their festive socks off.”
To register for your free place at BI Animal Health’s Christmas Comedy Cracker online event, visit www.christmascomedycracker.co.uk.
Spread over two floors, the 3,300 sq ft flagship practice is unusually large for a London clinic, and has a dedicated dental suite and laboratory, as well as six spacious and bright consulting rooms.
Notably absent from the practice are a reception desk and continuously ringing telephones.
Instead, customers receive a warm welcome in the members’ area, with separate spaces for cats and dogs.
Shades of lilac on the walls have been carefully chosen to keep animals calm, while a pick and mix wall filled with toys and treats is designed to help pets develop positive associations with vet visits.
Co-founders Russell Welsh MRCVS and online estate agent entrepreneur Daniel Attia say that a large portion of Creature Comforts’ customers have signed up as ‘All Access’ members, paying £20 per month to get unlimited access to expert care from vets and nurses.
This includes as many consultations as they need, annual vaccinations and discounted routine treatments e.g. 50% off microchipping.
The remainder have opted to pay as they go for treatment.
Creature Comforts’ chief veterinary officer, Dr Simon Hayes, says: “One of the biggest problems with UK veterinary care is that, due to the expense of consultations, pet owners are understandably reluctant to book in to see a vet until their animals are really sick.
"With a subscription model that includes unlimited consultations, we’ve removed the cost barriers to accessing expertise easily and quickly, so pets are seen more frequently, and conditions can be identified and treated earlier in the disease process, meaning a vastly better outcome for pets and hopefully greater financial savings over their lifetime, too.”
Simon added: “Many people comment on the peace and quiet.
"The absence of phones ringing or receptionists permanently on calls is unusual.
"But because our customers book in, submit queries and request medications via our app, we don’t need these things.
"While our virtual care team can take calls, they’re not based in the practice.
"This frees up our people to welcome customers and make a fuss of their pets so we can turn what has long been a stressful appointment into a positive experience.
"People have told us their pets, who trembled and cried at their previous vet, are now pulling to come inside because they know they’re going to get a treat and lots of attention.
"We’re still doing all the things vets do, in terms of offering excellent care, expertise and advice, but the entire experience around it has been totally transformed.”
Creature Comforts’ third site, also in London, will open towards the end of this year, and the company is keen to hear from veterinary surgeons, nurses and others who may be interested in upcoming vacancies.