Jinx, a 9 month old black Labrador, has become the first patient at Peterborough's recently-opened NuVet practice to undergo pioneering 'single port' keyhole surgery for a retained testicle
The operation was performed by Marwan Tarazi, owner of the NuVet practice, using Biovision SurgAssist laproscopic equipment.
Marwan said: "When we opened the NuVet practice in May, we wanted to offer our clients the option for less invasive surgical techniques wherever possible. Jinx's condition made him a good candidate for keyhole surgery, and the 'single port' approach we use reduces the risk of post-operative infection and speeds up recovery time. His owner nursed another dog through serious complications following more traditional cryptorchid surgery twenty years ago, so she was very keen to try a less invasive approach. This time the procedure went without a hitch and Jinx was very quickly back to his old self, helped by plenty of love and attention from all our staff".
Jinx's owner is delighted with the results. She said: "I had heard that NuVet were doing procedures through keyhole surgery and so I took Jinx along to the practice in Bretton. All the staff were very welcoming and helpful, and the vet explained the procedure thoroughly beforehand, showing me both the theatre and the equipment he would use, which helped to reassure me. When I went to pick Jinx up after the surgery, he came out wagging his tail, and two days later he was back to his normal self - running around and jumping over impossibly high fences!
"20 years ago I had a German Shepherd with the same condition. Then the vet had to open him up with a large incision, and it was very stressful and uncomfortable for the dog. The recovery time for him was 10-14 days, compared to Jinx's of around 2 days. The difference was amazing."
Marwan is one of a very small number of vets in the UK to use the 'single port' technique. He has invested tens of thousands of pounds in training and equipment to allow the NuVet practice to offer this specialised service to the pets of Peterborough and beyond.
If you want to know more about this procedure and the equipment being used, click here to talk to Marwan!
See also: www.nuvet.co.uk
The Animal Health Trust is appealing to veterinary surgeons and nurses to encourage clients who keep their horses on premises that have been affected by Equine Grass Sickness to sign up to the second year of its nationwide EGS vaccine trial.
Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) occurs predominantly in Europe, with Britain experiencing the highest incidence worldwide. In 2014, 59 cases of EGS were reported through the EGS Surveillance Scheme, but it is likely that this represents only a fraction of cases occurring annually throughout Britain.
Almost all cases of EGS occur in horses with access to grazing. The AHT says there is growing scientific evidence to suggest that the disease may be caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum type C, commonly found within soil and capable of producing neurotoxins to which horses are particularly sensitive. EGS occurs when a combination of risk factors trigger the production of these toxins within the horse's intestinal tract, causing damage to the nervous system and paralysis of the gut.
As similar equine diseases such as tetanus and botulism can be prevented by vaccination, it is theoretically possible that a vaccine could prevent EGS. To this end the AHT, in collaboration with the Universities of Edinburgh, Liverpool and Surrey launched the EGS field vaccine trial in 2014 in order to establish whether a vaccine could indeed be effective in reducing the risk of the disease. The trial is funded by a number of sources including Neogen Corporation; Animal Welfare Foundation; Horserace Betting Levy Board; Racing Foundation; Moredun Foundation Equine Grass Sickness Fund; Hong Kong Jockey Club; The British Horse Society and the EB Moller Charitable Trust.
Now entering its second year, the EGS vaccine trial involves enrolled horses and ponies receiving either a course of the C. botulinum type C toxoid vaccine or an inactive placebo, as well as an annual booster. The incidence of EGS is monitored throughout the trial to determine the efficacy of the vaccine, and enrolled horses and ponies are closely monitored through regular follow-ups for the duration of the trial.
With 60% of EGS cases occurring during April - June, the highest risk season for EGS is fast approaching. The AHT is appealing to owners who keep their horses on premises that have had at least one case of EGS in the past three years to enrol their horse in the vaccine trial and provide an invaluable contribution to this pioneering research prior to these high risk months. Veterinary practices with clients who fit this description are asked to help the recruitment process by encouraging suitable cases to sign up to the trial.
Dr Jo Ireland, the AHT's Equine Grass Sickness Research Co-ordinator, said: "We have been delighted with the overwhelmingly positive response to the EGS vaccine trial and many owners have welcomed the chance to be a part of such important research. We don't want any eligible horse owners to miss out on the opportunity to contribute towards a potential breakthrough in the prevention of EGS, so we are encouraging more owners to enrol their horses on the trial this year."
To find out more about the vaccine trial or how clients can enrol horses and ponies, visit the AHT's dedicated EGS website www.equinegrasssickness.co.uk or email equinegrasssickness@aht.org.uk.
The survey has been sent to 984 veterinary surgeons who graduated from one of the UK’s eight vet schools in 2020 to measure how the pandemic may have affected graduates’ employment prospects, clinical & non-clinical skills, and resilience in the workplace.
The survey has a deadline date of Wednesday 16 December 2020 and all responses to it will remain anonymous while helping to inform future policy on graduate support.
Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS Director of Education, said: “We know that the coronavirus pandemic has had a disruptive impact on the final stages of education for the 2020 cohort, in terms of clinical placements for extra-mural studies as well as teaching. This survey aims to gauge whether this has, in turn, had a deleterious impact on their confidence with both clinical and non-clinical skills as well as their resilience, for example, in asking for help and support from colleagues, managing their time effectively, and managing complex and stressful situations.
“Employment is another area of concern and in any typical year almost all graduate vets would find work or go on to further study after their veterinary degree had finished. Some anecdotal reports have suggested a perceived or real change to employment prospects this year and so we are hoping to gather some further data to see if there has been a discernible impact on this cohort.
“We are mindful that the pandemic is having a significant impact on all students and we are keen to understand how best we can support them moving forward. I would strongly encourage those graduates who have received the survey, which should only take around 10 minutes to complete, to take part, because the results will help the RCVS and the VSC inform future policies on how we can better support veterinary graduates in 2021 and subsequent years.”
Any graduates who have not received the survey or require further information can contact the RCVS Education Department on education@rcvs.org.uk.
Together, they're producing an educational video to be distributed and used by registered career advisers across the Southwest of England, and subsequently across the rest of England.
Remi qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in London as a registered veterinary nurse in 2019 and then applied to start the graduate Veterinary Medicine programme at the same university.
She said: “I didn’t quite get the grades to study to be a vet straight away, but I always knew that I wanted to focus on a surgical career path and having gone through the university application twice, I want to help other students realise that they too can pursue a career as a vet or vet nurse.
“I met the managing director of JHP Recruitment, Justin Powlesland, at a networking event and explained how keen I was to help more people realise that there is more than one way to become a veterinary professional and to encourage school age children not to dismiss a veterinary career from an early age.
Justin said: “We have employed a production company and are now looking for a location to film it.
"Ideally, we need a teaching hospital to offer us some space for a day, as we want to set our interview with Remi in a clinical setting, where there is plenty of equipment to see.
"We are hoping to film this summer and are appealing for help to find a location.
“The video will tell Remi’s story about the hurdles she has faced and overcome to ultimately study to become a vet, it will also show students where the veterinary industry can take them and the different roles and routes to study that are available.
"As well as the video, a downloadable PDF version will be created, which are both great resources for career advisers that we will also share across social media.”
Remi added: “I really hope that what we are doing will encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to consider going to into higher education to start a career in veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing – that’s the ultimate goal.”
Any teaching hospital that can help with a filming location is being asked to contact Justin via email Justin@jhprecruitment.com or to call him on 07506 981 354.
The RCVS has launched a research project into the extent to which veterinary surgeons are able to meet its requirement that steps are taken to provide 24-hour emergency cover.
The College's 24-hour Emergency Cover Working Party (24-7 WP) has been considering the ongoing practicality of the current requirement in the Guide to Professional Conduct, and whether it should remain, be removed, or be amended in some way. The research aims to build a sound evidence base on which a decision can be made.
"Changes in practice profiles and owner demands, health and safety issues, the desire for an improved work-life balance, veterinary and animal density... all these factors affect the ability of veterinary practitioners to meet our 24-7 requirement. The Working Time Regulations - which prescribe maximum working hours and minimum rest periods - have also affected practices' ability to run out-of-hours services," according to RCVS President Jill Nute.
"However, we are frequently reminded by members that the profession is proud to offer a 24-hour emergency service to animals and their owners. There seems to be no single majority view in the profession, so we need to understand exactly how people are meeting the requirement before any changes are made," she says.
To ensure that the research is independent and representative, the RCVS has contracted a specialist market research agency, Cognition Market Intelligence.
The first step is to build a robust and unbiased questionnaire that takes account of all of the issues. To this end, in-depth interviews will be carried out over summer with a small number of veterinary surgeons from a range of different practice types, and across different gender/age/role categories.
The 24-7 WP will then meet in September to hear the findings and agree the questionnaire, which Cognition Marketing Intelligence will then use during autumn as part of a quantitative phone interview exercise with 440 veterinary surgeons, again covering a spread of individuals, practice types and geographies. The phone interview approach will ensure that the views of a range of different practitioners are heard, which is not always the case with a paper survey.
Should changes to the Guide to Professional Conduct be recommended by the Working Party on the basis of the findings, a consultation exercise may be undertaken.
The RCVS President has sent a letter to all home-practising members to explain the activities. She has urged veterinary surgeons to assist the research team, saying "your contribution will make a difference".
The Heart Health Panel - a group of expert veterinary surgeons, cardiologists and nutritionists set up by Boehringher Ingelheim Vetmedica - has launched a set of guidelines on the management of canine cardiac health through nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Entitled Supporting canine heart health through nutrition and lifestyle, Boehringher says the guidelines provide veterinary professionals with information on canine heart health, including the progression of heart disease through four main stages. These are: the green phase - no clinical signs and no pathology; the yellow phase - no clinical signs of heart failure but evidence of disease at clinical exam; the orange phase - occasional clinical signs when exercising and the red phase - clinical signs at rest.
The panel has developed a diagnostic checklist to determine whether a patient has heart disease and which phase they are in to help initiate a good diet and healthy lifestyle early enough to support heart health. While a dog's individual needs should be taken into account when advising on dietary management and lifestyle, the panel's recommendations include a balanced, complete diet, dietary supplements, such as omega-3, and an appropriate exercise regime.
The Heart Health Panel's guidelines are now available as a booklet and are supported with a leaflet for dog owners entitled Support your dog's heart. The leaflet features information on canine heart health including risk factors, dietary advice, clinical signs of disease, diagnosis and the creation of a heart health management plan. Both the owner leaflet and the panel guidelines are available from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, and copies can be ordered from your local territory manager or by emailing vetmedica.uk@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
Zoë Coker, a co-founder of VETbytes alongside Bronwen Eastwood, said: "This new feature will allow users to access real-time updates to the app so they can be assured they are following the most up-to-date clinical guidance."
The app, which was launched in partnership with the BSAVA earlier this year, covers more than 100 topics and includes other features such as drug (and CRI) calculators, a quick reference section and links to hundreds of source abstracts, as well as CPD accreditation for reflective learning.
It is available at a discount to BSAVA members and free to veterinary students.
BSAVA President Professor Ian Ramsey said: “The latest addition to the app advances our joint goal with VETbytes, to provide the latest practical, accessible, evidence-based resources for the small animal veterinary community.”
To view the ‘latest updates’ feed: https://vetbytes.co.uk/latest-updates.
For more information, visit: www.vetbytes.co.uk.
The Government has been forced to scrap plans for compulsory dog insurance less than a two weeks since they were revealed in leaked Defra documents.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has now ruled out the idea.
Apparently, the climbdown followed protests that compulsory insurance was no more than a 'dog tax' which would do nothing to curb the problem of dangerous dogs.
There's a certain irony in the way the story was reported in The Sun newspaper, with the headline: 'Labour forced to ditch pet plan'.
Indeed!
Veterinary nurse Beverley Burnett has launched North East CPD, a new CPD provider in the North East of England.
Beverley said: "It's not always time- or cost-effective to have to travel far and wide for courses, sometimes overnight, leaving surgeries short-staffed, and what with increasing travel costs, I decided to provide courses further North.
"Courses for both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses start in October. Our lecturers are all very experienced professionals, qualified to the highest standard within their chosen speciality, giving you the opportunity to receive only interesting and up-to-date courses.
"Our aim is to help you develop your knowledge and skills, whilst enjoying a relaxed and friendly environment, at an affordable rate."
To find out more about current and future courses, and how to book, visit http://www.ne-cpd.co.uk/ or email: info@ne-cpd.co.uk
North East CPD is curently offering a 10% discount on your first booking!
Improve International has launched 'Fast-Track' Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) Programmes, designed for veterinary surgeons who wish to take an immersive approach to study and complete the taught components in either its Small Animal Medicine or Small Animal Surgery programmes in three months.
The new programmes are set to begin in October 2015 with each able to accommodate a maximum of 12 delegates drawn from across Europe. In developing the content programme to suit a three month study period, Improve says it has added a range of features, including a dedicated mentor to support delegates.
The content for both the Small Animal Medicine and Small Animal Surgery Fast-Track PgC programmes is the same as the PgC programmes Improve runs over two years with the difference of the completion of the taught modules in three months. The programme then follows the normal PgC programme, with the completion of case reports, case studies and an examination, in order to gain a PgC. The Medicine PgC programme also includes additional practical sessions covering ophthalmology and diagnostic imaging, plus other core practical skills.
Practical training sessions for the Medicine Fast-Track programme will take place at Improve's Training Centre in Swindon while classroom-based sessions will be held at the Farmers' Club on the Embankment in Central London for ease of access. Delegates undertaking the Surgery programme will also be able to undertake practical sessions at Improve's facility at the John Krebs Field Station, Wytham, near Oxford. In addition to the tutored sessions, delegates on the Surgery programme will see practice with a subject expert for ten days, with the opportunity of scrubbing in to assist in soft tissue and orthopaedic surgical procedures.
To support delegates interested in the PgC Small Animal Medicine and Small Animal Surgery programmes, Improve has created a new website at www.vetpgc.co.uk.
David Babington MRCVS, Managing Director of Improve, said: "While vets generally take a PgC over a two year period in order to combine it with work commitments, there are circumstances in which it may be preferable to take some blocks of time out and complete the taught lectures in a shorter period of intensive study. Vets can be applying the new techniques in their practice after just three months and can gain a PgC in just one year.
"We wanted to offer this alternative study route to vets and have been working for some time to develop a consolidated three month version of both our Medicine and Surgery PgC training programmes. We're delighted to able to launch these exciting new programmes and look forward to welcoming our first cohort of delegates in October 2015."
For further information, visit www.vetpgc.co.uk or www.improveinternational.com or call 01793 759159.
VetSurgeon Jobs has published the results of two surveys designed to give veterinary employers and job applicants some insight into what they want from each other.
The first survey was completed by 139 vets who described themselves as having recently looked for a job, or actively looking for a job, or could imagine looking for a job in the foreseeable future.
Key findings included:
VetSurgeon.org Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "The survey was carried out primarily to help employers create recruitment adverts that better meet the hopes and aspirations of candidates, thereby improving response rates. Whilst some of the conclusions might seem obvious, the report should help you prioritise the things you need to communicate in an advert.
"Of course, employees' hopes and aspirations don't tend to change the moment they get the job (or they shouldn't). So I hope this report will be of interest to ALL veterinary employers, regardless of whether they are actively recruiting."
The candidate survey can be downloaded from VetSurgeon Jobs here ('Advice for Employers' under 'Recruitment Help' in the right hand margin). Come and discuss the findings here.
The second survey was completed by 121 veterinary employers.
By some margin, veterinary employers said that ‘previous experience’ is what makes a CV stand out positively. But there was some solace for the inexperienced. When it comes to the attributes employers are looking for in a candidate, being 'likeable and affable' was reported as being more important than being skilled and experienced.
Respondents were asked to share any tips they have for anyone looking to come and work for them, which are also shared in the full report.
The employer survey can also be downloaded from VetSurgeon Jobs ('Advice for Jobseekers').
Pet&Vet has the support of the RCVS, BSAVA, BVNA and BVRA and each has a column aimed at giving pet owners their insights along with general veterinary advice.
The quarterly title will also run seasonal features and have sections about products and services, conservation, pet and owner well-being, treatments, pet owner profiles and celebrity interviews.
In issue one, due to arrive in early March, Ricky Gervais talks about his love for animals, and there articles about spotting feline arthritis and how to look after older dogs at home.
The magazine will be distributed to veterinary practices free of charge, and the publishers hope you will put it in your reception area for pet owners to read while they wait.
Practices can order more copies, and the plan is to allow them to sell future issues and take a cut of each sale.
Pet owners can also subscribe to get their own copies.
Most of the content is written by veterinary professionals and the editor, Chris Ritchie, says he is keen to receive contributions for the print magazine and companion website, www.petandvetmag.com, which is due to launch alongside the magazine.
Editorial enquiries: editor@petandvetmag.comCommercial enquiries: davidk@petandvetmag.com.
Bimeda has launched Recocam, a 20mg/ml meloxicam preparation licensed for use as a single injection course in cattle, horses and pigs.
Bimeda's Head of Technical Services, Padraig Hyland MVB said: "Meloxicam's anti-inflammatory credentials and safety profile is well proven and it remains rightly popular with large animal vets. With our manufacturing expertise it makes sense to add this widely used product to our portfolio. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive range of both established standards and new innovative products for cattle and equine vets, and this is just another step in that process."
Bimeda says Recocam has a broad range of indications including acute respiratory infections, in combination with oral re-hydration in diarrhoea therapy and acute mastitis, for non-infectious locomotor disorders and lameness in pigs and alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders and pain relief associated with equine colic. In cattle Recocam can be given by single subcutaneous or intravenous injection.
Stephen has been an elected member of RCVS Council since 2012, having previously been an appointed member of Council representing the Royal Veterinary College between 2001 and 2009.
In 2016 he was re-elected to Council to serve a further four-year term and currently chairs the Legislation Working Party.
Stephen graduated from Cambridge in 1980 and subsequently spent time as a large animal practitioner. After undertaking further training in equine surgery and diagnostic imaging at the University of Liverpool, he studied for a PhD at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) before returning to Liverpool as a Lecturer in Equine Orthopaedics.
He went back to the RVC in 1993 to concentrate on equine clinical services and, in 1997, became Head of the Farm Animal and Equine Clinical Department. He was appointed the RVC’s Vice-Principal for Teaching from 2000 to 2013, Deputy Principal from 2013 to 2017 and currently holds the post of Senior Vice-Principal.
Addressing the need for a learning culture in his speech Stephen said: "Veterinary graduates have never had greater knowledge and technical skills than those graduating this year. But this can make their job so much harder when the certainty of scientific knowledge is confronted with the uncertainties of the sick animal, and the increasing number of possibilities for treatment have to be weighted alongside ethical and economic considerations.
"Of his age, but also prophetic of our age, the philosopher Bertrand Russell commented that 'habits of thought cannot change as quickly as techniques with the result that as skill increases, wisdom fails'.
"So it is important that our young professionals are well-prepared in terms of professional, non-technical skills to cope with the sheer variety of challenges that they encounter, and we, as a profession, within our professional model, provide a nurturing learning culture rather than the blame and cover-up culture that the current emphasis on external regulation fosters, so pervasively and distressingly."
Stephen added that his other priorities would be working with the British Veterinary Association and other stakeholders to uphold the College’s first Brexit principle that 'vital veterinary work continues to get done', a project on graduate outcomes, which flows from the Vet Futures project, and the Legislation Working Party.
The event offers over 80 hours of CPD across seven streams – with everything from hypotension and sepsis to breaking bad news to clients – as well as world-renowned speakers and networking opportunities.
Søren Boysen from the University of Calgary in Canada and Sophie Adamantos from Paragon Referrals in Wakefield, are among several high-profile speakers at this year’s Congress.
Chief Executive for GB Snowsport, Victoria Gosling OBE, will open Congress as keynote speaker where she’ll focus on perseverance, resilience and teamwork.
Also speaking are Prof. John Williams, Richard Casey, executive director at the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and VDS trainer Elly Russell.
Arlene Connor, an RVN and head of clinical operations at Vets Now and IVC Evidensia has planned the programme alongside national ECC lead Dan Lewis (pictured right).
She said: “We’re so excited to be returning to the Royal Armouries for our 19th Vets Now ECC Congress – around a theme which celebrates us all being together again.
"The past two years have been a challenge for all of us in the veterinary professions and we hope to mitigate that with a return to face-to-face learning and networking, as well as the chance to have some fun.
"Events like this can be hugely inspirational — for the organisers as well as the attendees — and we truly can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors like old times.”
Dan added: “There’s a brilliant line-up of live speakers, workshops, a packed exhibition hall and more opportunities than ever for delegates to meet old friends and make new ones, as well as to learn from some of the world’s leading veterinary experts discussing emergency and critical care.
“Our programme again this year has been carefully tailored to provide an inclusive learning experience for vets and vet nurses no matter what stage they’re at in their career, from students through to specialists.
Tickets range in price from £45 + VAT for exhibition-only tickets, up to £470 + VAT for a vet to attend for 2 days plus the Gala dinner.
To book your ticket, go to www.vets-now.com/congress2022
New statistics from the Voice of the Veterinary Profession Spring 2022 survey showed that while veterinary work is often seen as a vocation, 77% of vets list pay among their top five priorities when choosing a job.
Other deciding factors include geographical location (74%), area of practice (62%), low staff turnover (45%) and structured career progression (28%).
However only 42% of vets who responded to the survey considered their pay and benefits to be either ‘good’, ‘very good’, or ‘excellent’.
BVA President Malcolm Morley, said: “Fair, transparent and equal pay is one of the keystones of good veterinary workplaces.
"Whether you’re an employee, a manager or an employer, it’s vital that everyone feels confident that their workplace approaches pay in a clear and consistent way.
"This isn’t about paying everyone more; it’s about using objective criteria and transparent pay scales to ensure the whole team understands how decisions about reward and recognition are made and what they can do to access higher pay.”
The new resource, created for BVA members as part of its Good Veterinary Workplaces campaign, includes information for veterinary employers on the benefits a clear pay structure can bring for the whole team.
It demonstrates the positive impact transparency around reward and recognition can have on employee fulfilment and retention, and outlines the legal requirements of employers to ensure that pay is equitable.
It also offers tips for employees and managers for approaching conversations about pay and emphasises the importance of considering ‘total reward’ during these conversations.
Total reward is the entire sum of a job’s offering including, but not limited to, salary, commission structure, benefits package, CPD, work/life balance, promotion opportunities, travel expenses, accommodation, and so on.
Malcolm added: “We know that pay can be a fraught, and even somewhat taboo, subject but it is one that we all have a responsibility to tackle if we want to ensure that veterinary professionals are fairly rewarded for their work.
"We hope that this new guide will support all our members and equip them with the knowledge required to ensure they can confidently navigate conversations about pay.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/talking-pay
Registration will start at 9am, with the first lecture from 10am.
As usual, abstracts will be presented during the day, and there's an exhibition to visit during breaks and lunch.
Hot ophthalmology topics such as rhytidectomy and facial reconstruction will be discussed, with lectures presented by renowned veterinary and human ophthalmologists.
The day will end with a Q&A session where all lecturers will take part.
Veterinary surgeons need to be a member of BrAVO to come to the event, which costs £120.
There is a reduced price of £90 for vet students and nurses, who don't have to be a member to attend.
For more information, visit https://bravo.org.uk
Vets4Pets says research has shown that 28% of cats between 11 and 15 years show at least one clinical sign of cognitive dysfunction, with this figure increasing to 50 per cent in cats over 15 years of age1.
The prevalence in dogs is also reported to be significant, with some estimates indicating that 28% of 11- to 12-year-old dogs and 68% of 15- to 16-year-old dogs are showing clinical signs of the condition2.
A 2010 study, which used data from pet owner questionnaires, also estimated that the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction was 14.2% in dogs over the age of eight years, yet only 1.9% of older dogs were clinically diagnosed with the condition3.
The survey of 2,000 owners, which was conducted for Vets4Pets by market research company OnePoll, found that half would not be confident identifying the early indicators of cognitive dysfunction, namely: confusion, anxiety, restlessness, and a decreased desire to play.
62% said they would put any significant behavioural changes in their pet down to them getting old, and more than three in five admitted they can find it difficult to understand the signs of when they should be taking their pet to visit the vet.
Up to 33% delay taking their pet to the vet as they worry they might get bad news
However, 35% said they have or will increase the number of routine visits to the vets as their pet gets older.
Dr Huw Stacey, Director of Clinical Services at Vets4Pets said: “It is only natural that many pet owners can have apprehensions about bringing their pet along to the vets, which is just a testament to how much they care.
"But this is also why it’s incredibly important that we as an industry have the expertise and training needed to properly support pet owners with this diagnosis."
“Our ultimate goal is to help educate vets and nurses across the nation and empower them in their decision making when diagnosing elderly pets, as well as helping pet owners to care for their pets so they live a longer, healthier and happier life.”
As part of its campaign, Vets4Pets has sponsored a free CPD webinar in which Dr Sarah Heath, RCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine (pictured right), considers ways in which the veterinary profession can improve the detection of this condition, enabling them to offer practical advice and support for senior pets and their owners.
The recording consists of a 45-minute webinar and a 15-minute Q&A session which will be available for anyone to watch for a year.
To watch the webinar, visit: https://vimeo.com/684610594/3d9d258bcb.
References
During the webinar, panel contributors Fiona Lovatt (past president of Sheep Veterinary Society), Jenny Hull (Black Sheep Farm Health, Northumberland), Lesley Stubbings OBE (lead member of SCOPS and independent sheep consultant), and Phillippa Page, (independent sheep vet consultant) will discuss:
The first 250 delegates to sign up will receive a copy of the In Practice supplement as well as a Zolvix notebook and pen.
https://app.livestorm.co/elanco-animal-health/flock-health-in-practice-webinar
A Pet Obesity Task Force, the first of its kind in the country, has been launched at the European Pet Obesity Conference, hosted by Hill’s Pet Nutrition to help tackle the growing number of obese and overweight pets and put in place strategies to help overcome the condition.
The Task Force hopes to raise awareness of the growing health implications of obese and overweight pets, such as diabetes and osteoarthritis. The fact that pets are obese or overweight is often overlooked by owners and the group also aims to encourage them to identify weight problems and seek appropriate advice from vets.
Mark Evans, chief veterinary adviser at the RSPCA, who will be sitting on the board, comments: “We’ve been trying to treat and prevent pet obesity for 20 years, but the problem hasn’t gone away. In fact it seems to have got worse despite everyone’s efforts. It’s incredibly frustrating. So, is there any point in fighting on in the same old way if we’re not winning the battle?
“Let’s take a step back, review our knowledge, re-evaluate our approaches, think outside the box and innovate. What could we learn from social scientists, human psychologists and others engaged in trying to tackle the very same problem in people – especially children?”
Members of the Pet Obesity Task Force include:
Mark Evans, chief veterinary adviser, RSPCA BVetMed MRCVS Professor John Innes BVSc PhD CertVR DSAS(Orth) MRCVS Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore BSc BVM&S PhD MACVSc MRCVS Daniel Chan DVM DipACVECC DipACVN MRCVS Nicola Ackerman BSc(Hons) RVN Cert SAN MBVNA Rachel Casey BVMS Dip(AS)CABC MRCVS Dr Ian Campbell GP Mike Jessop BVetMed MRCVS Dr Jacques Debraekeleer DVM, DipECVCN Simon Wheeler Head of marketing at Petplan
The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition has announced new research - published in BMC Vet Research1 - which examined the progression of periodontal disease in miniature schnauzers and found that without effective and frequent oral care, dental disease developed rapidly and advanced even more quickly with age.
Over the course of 60 weeks, full mouth examinations were conducted on 52 miniature schnauzers ranging in age between 1.3 and 6.9 years. Prior to the study, each dog had a regular oral care routine that included tooth brushing. This was suspended a week before the initial dental assessment. Of the 2,155 teeth examined, all entered the study with some level of gingivitis, while only 23 teeth entered with periodontitis.
Every 6 weeks, levels of gingivitis and periodontitis were assessed around the whole surface of each individual tooth by measuring periodontal probing depth, gingival recession and furcation exposure. Teeth were assessed for the level of gingivitis (scored between 0 and 4) and periodontitis (PD1 - up to 25% attachment loss and PD2 - between 25 to 50% attachment loss). Teeth from only one dog in the study did not progress to periodontitis.
Researchers found that, without regular oral care, the majority of dogs developed the early stages of periodontal disease within six months and dogs above the age of four developed periodontal disease even faster. The degree to which periodontal disease progressed varied based on the type of tooth and location on the tooth.
Furthermore, the study showed that periodontitis developed regardless of the visible signs of gingivitis, which had previously been believed to reliably precede it. Therefore while a visual inspection may be sufficient to detect a disease like gingivitis, it is not useful in detecting the onset of periodontitis and may not reveal the areas at greatest risk for dental disease.
Dr Stephen Harris, leader of the oral care team at WALTHAM, part of Mars Petcare said: "We all want to do the very best for our pets' health, and the study showed us that there's more than meets the eye when it comes to small dogs' oral health.
"Some pet owners "lift-the-lip" and look at a dog's gums to get a sense of its oral health, but this research shows they could be missing important early signs of dental disease. The findings should encourage all dog owners to establish an oral care routine that consists of regular tooth brushing supplemented with dental chews and veterinary checks. It's important for all dogs, but we know that small dogs like miniature schnauzers are at an even higher risk of developing severe dental problems."
Reference:
The RCVS has announced the candidates standing in the RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurses Council elections this year and is inviting veterinary surgeons and nurses to put their questions to them directly for a video reply.
There are eleven candidates standing for election to RCVS Council in 2015. Overall there are six men and five women, which include two existing Council members eligible for re-election and nine new candidates. They are:
Three veterinary nurses are standing in this year's VN Council elections, including one existing VN Council member eligible for re-election. They are:
Ballot papers and candidates' details are due to be posted to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses eligible to vote during the week commencing 16th March, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday, 24 April 2015.
Once again the College is inviting members of both professions to 'Quiz the candidates' by putting their questions directly to all those standing for election. Each candidate will then be invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received, and produce a video or audio recording of their answers. All recordings will be published on the RCVS website on Thursday 19 March.
Vets and nurses should email their question (NB one per person) to vetvote15@rcvs.org.uk or VNvote15@rcvs.org.uk, or post it on twitter using the hashtags #vetvote15 or #VNvote15, respectively, by midday on Monday 9 March.
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar said: "It's important that members of the veterinary professions choose who they want to sit on their governing Councils, so we always try to make the elections as interesting and engaging as possible.
"This year, we hope the provision of short videos, to accompany the usual written information, will encourage people to find out a little more about all those standing for election, and then use their vote."
There are 15 candidates contesting six places in the RCVS Council; 16 if you include the perennial Dr Lonsdale. Three are existing Council members eligible for re-election and the remaining 13 candidates are not currently on Council:
Ballot papers and candidates’ details are due to be posted to all veterinary surgeons eligible to vote during the week commencing 13 March, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017.
Once again the College is inviting members of the profession to ‘Quiz the candidates’ by putting their questions directly to all those standing for election. Each candidate will then be invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received, and produce a video recording of their answers. Recordings will be published on the RCVS website on Thursday 16 March.
The biographies and statements for each candidate in the elections can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote17.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said: "This year we will be publishing the candidate biographies and statements online ahead of the start of the official voting period. This is to allow both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to be better informed about the candidates and their reasons for standing before they put their questions forward.
"We would strongly encourage all members of the professions to review the candidate profiles and pose questions for them to answer. We hope it will spark some interesting debates about how the profession is regulated."
You can email your question (NB only one per person) to vetvote17@rcvs.org.uk, post it on the College’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thercvs) or on Twitter using the hashtags #vetvote17, by midday on Monday 27 February.
The College says the increase is needed to fund a number of ambitious projects and make sure the it is fit for the future.
The approved fee rise will apply to the 2020-21 annual renewal fee, which is due to be paid by 31 March 2020.
Increases will also be applied for those registering on or after 1 April 2020, including the restoration fee for those applying to re-join the Register.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: "While we appreciate that asking people for more money is never going to be popular, I would like to reassure the profession that the fee rise is both a necessary piece of financial future-proofing and will also help fund current projects and future initiatives stemming from our new Strategic Plan.
"Many of our existing projects such as the RCVS Leadership programme, the ViVet innovation project, the Fellowship and the Mind Matters mental health initiative, have an increasing workload, often due to popular demand, which requires additional resources – including staffing – to meet those needs. There is also increasing demand on some of our core regulatory functions such as our concerns investigation and disciplinary processes, including the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS), and our Education Department which is responsible for ensuring standards in an increasing number of educational institutions both domestically and internationally.
"Furthermore, there is lots of additional work on the horizon, much of which relates to improving and enhancing aspects of the profession and stems from our newly approved Strategic Plan, which will be published soon. For example, RCVS Council has just agreed an ambitious overhaul of the Professional Development Phase to help graduates better transition to life in practice; we are carrying out an increasing amount of work on understanding the barriers to diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession: and, we are looking to relocate the College in order to be better able to accommodate the increasing number of staff and functions the work we do requires.
"In terms of future-proofing, we also need to make sure we have sufficient financial security for a potential decrease in the number of veterinary surgeons currently registered with us, as well as the number of veterinary surgeons joining the Register on an annual basis, that may arise when the UK fully leaves the EU at the end of the transition period in December 2020."
The current levels of RCVS fees are able to view at: www.rcvs.org.uk/how-we-work/fees/, which will be updated with the new fees shortly.
The course offers veterinary surgeons and students six hours of CPD covering the five stages of EBVM and an overview of its evolution.
Users can progress through the six modules in order, or dip in and out of individual sections to deepen their knowledge in particular areas. The course includes a number of practical examples and quizzes, and there's a certificate of completion at the end.
The course can also be used as a reference tool for specific aspects of EBVM, such as how to search the literature effectively.
RCVS Knowledge says the new release of EBVM Learning has been well received by veterinary surgeons and nurses who helped test the course. Lucie Goodwin MRCVS said, simply: “This course is excellent.” Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge (pictured right), said: “This fresh iteration of our EBVM Learning course is the culmination of a huge amount of committed work from an international network of leaders in EBVM, and we are proud to launch it on our new, accessible platform RCVS Knowledge Learn. The course constitutes an important way in which the charity supports all veterinary practitioners to advance the quality of care they provide through evidence-based veterinary medicine, regardless of their role, location or background.”
EBVM Learning can be accessed for free at http://learn.rcvsknowledge.org/ebvm-learning