The RCVS is calling on veterinary surgeons and students, and listed or registered veterinary nurses to complete its Survey of the Professions 2014.
The four-yearly, confidential survey provides the College with data that helps it develop policy, plan its activities and respond to questions from stakeholders such as government and the media.
The survey aims to find out more about individuals' employment type and experiences, working patterns and professional development. It also asks about aspirations for the short- and long-term and current views on the veterinary profession.
Questions are also asked about mental health and well-being, using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. The data will be used to track the mental well-being of the profession at a population level over successive years - a process that started with the 2010 survey - which will feed into other work being carried out across the profession.
Finally, the survey includes a set of questions about 24/7 emergency cover, the answers to which will feed into the RCVS Standards Committee's current evidence-gathering exercise.
This year the survey, which is being carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies, will only be available online. All those for whom the RCVS has a personal email address (ie not 'info@' or similar) have been sent a participation request. Others will be sent a letter, including the survey URL. Those who do not receive this letter by Monday 14 April should contact Lizzie Lockett, on l.lockett@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0725.
The deadline for completion of the survey is 30 April.
The program, which was set up in response to calls for more support and better teaching on the essential non-clinical skills veterinary graduates need for success in veterinary practice, begins in September and is open to any veterinary surgeons who are up to three years post graduation.
VetX features 12 months of intensive teaching, mentoring and peer support for up to fifty graduates and so far has vets from both the UK and USA signed up for places. The class of 2017 will be mentored directly by Program Director Dr. Dave Nicol, who bills himself as one of the most experienced vet coaches on the planet!
Dave said: "I've been running 'in practice' mentoring and training schemes for vets for almost a decade, VetX takes this experience and brings the content online so I can reach, support and help more graduates than ever before.
"Our young vets are crying out for better support and training in the non-clinical skills. They want to learn better communication skills. They want to know how to make dealing with clients and people easier and they want to know how to handle life as a vet so they enjoy it, not get burned out. VetX provides all of these things and more."
Dave says he has set up the scholarship as a way of giving something back to the profession, because he was lucky enough to have been given help from many amazing mentors who gave freely of their time and expertise: "Opening up two fully-funded places for vet graduates on the program is my way of saying thanks - of paying it forwards."
If you are a veterinary surgeon who has graduated in 2015 or later and are interested in applying for a fully funded scholarship in the VetX class of 2017, visit www.drdavenicol.com/vetxscholarship to learn more about the course and apply for a scholarship place. Demand is likely to be high so don’t delay.
Applications will close at midnight on September 7th 2017.
The RCVS welcomed 15 veterinary surgeons who passed the RCVS Statutory Examination for Membership with a registration ceremony held on Monday at Belgravia House.
The RCVS Statutory Examination for Membership is open to veterinary surgeons with a veterinary degree gained outside the UK that is not recognised by the RCVS, and who therefore cannot join the RCVS Register. Candidates for the exam must also score at least 7.0 in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, which is comparable to requirements for entry to UK veterinary degrees and those of other professional regulators.
RCVS President Jacqui Molyneux said: "Your success is remarkable - especially for those whose first language is not English. The veterinary profession in the UK is small and welcoming, and you will find valuable support offered by the different members of the veterinary team as well as from professional organisations."
Registering at the ceremony was Mr Vahidreza Ardani, who qualified from the Islamic Azad University in Iran, where he practised for ten years as a large animal vet. He said: "It took me nearly three years of study to prepare for the IELTS [English language] exam. I have also been seeing practice here for the past two and a half years, including at the small animal hospital at the University of Glasgow. I hope now to find work at a small animal practice."
Ms Olga Woolmer, who qualified from Perm State Agricultural Academy, Russia, also registered. Olga saw practice in several UK small animal and equine practices as preparation for the exam, whilst also working as an animal technician. She said: "I'm really grateful to all the practices that let me see practice. In particular, Burghley Veterinary Centre at Stamford helped me a lot in learning about what veterinary clients in the UK expect and how to sound confident when I give advice - which ultimately is best for the patient. It's great that I will soon be able again to do the work that I've trained so hard for."
Zoetis has announced the results of a YouGov survey it commissioned to look at pet owner compliance.
The survey, which formed part of the company's 'Respect Antibiotics' campaign, indicates that owners believe they are reasonably compliant. 55% of those surveyed had administered antibiotic tablets to their dog. 88% of those claimed not to have missed a dose, 87% claimed not to have any medication left at the end of the course and 89% administered medication at the same time each day.
Nevertheless, the majority of owners (52%) said they struggled to give their dog a pill and 19% believed they had insufficient information from their vet on the importance of accurate dosing and course completion. 47% said they would prefer to be offered a single treatment given by their vet and most (52%) were prepared to pay a premium for this option.
When it comes to osteoarthritis (OA) medication, the survey found that dog owners are slightly less diligent. Of the 41% surveyed that had given OA/pain medication at some point, 79% claimed not to miss a dose, 62% claimed to finish the course and 87% claimed to administer the medication at the same time each day. Once again, convenience was important, with 48% preferring a monthly treatment, rising to 57% for a long term condition and 52% being prepared to pay a premium for it. Only 17% opted for daily medication.
Andrew Page, product manager for Convenia and Trocoxil said: "We are aware that there may be a disconnect between what pet owners claim to do and what they actually do, especially as nearly half of those surveyed (49%) admitted to forgetting their own daily medication. However, the message that comes out loud and clear is that dog owners would like to be offered medication that can either be given less frequently or administered by their vet, especially as over half of those surveyed had struggled to give antibiotics to their dog and 45% had difficulties giving OA/pain medication."
From today, porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) is a notifiable disease in England; veterinary surgeons and pig-keepers are now legally required to inform the Animal and Plant Health Agency of any suspicion of the disease.
If a test for PED proves positive, the Government will inform AHDB Pork, so that tracing can be carried out and improved biosecurity measures put in place.
The new measure has been introduced following co-operation between Defra APHA, AHDB Pork, the NPA and other industry bodies. Although PED is now classified as notifiable, there will be no statutory movement controls, no compulsory slaughter and no blocks on exports.
Under the new legislation in England, APHA will be legally permitted to inform AHDB Pork - which is the agreed 'appropriate organisation' - in confidence of suspect and confirmed cases. AHDB Pork will then provide biosecurity guidance to the pig unit concerned. It will also carry out tracing and alert at-risk contacts as necessary.
The aim will be to prevent spread of PED and to eliminate the disease from the pig unit. There will be no requirement to slaughter affected animals.
PED has been made lightweight notifiable following an informal consultation process with the pig industry. NPA and others called for the measure so that any outbreak can be identified as quickly as possible, spread can be prevented, and the disease can then be eliminated from the unit concerned.
AHDB Pork Chairman Meryl Ward said: "This initiative is a significant step change in partnership working between industry, Defra and the APHA to build England’s resilience to disease.
"PED is a potentially serious disease and emerging threat to our English pig industry. A unique industry led collaboration with Government led to the development of the PEDv Contingency plan to ‘identify, contain and eliminate’.
"The regulatory change to notifiable status is a critical part of the plan and will assist in early identification of affected premises, allowing more time to take effective actions to minimise the impact on the industry and therefore increasing the opportunity to eliminate the disease.
"Working together to share resource, knowledge and build vital expertise, the partnership has also developed a series of standard operating procedures, bio- security guidance as well as raising awareness across industry of the potential threat.
PED remains a significant threat to British pig-keepers. According to AHDB, outbreaks of high-impact strains caused up to 100% mortality in young pigs in the United States, knocking out around 10% of pig production in 2013-2014. The disease has since spread to Ukraine. Even with milder European Union strains, piglet mortality as high as 70% has been reported.
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on making PED similarly lightweight notifiable in Scotland.
The BVA and the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) have welcomed the announcement. John Blackwell, Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "From today pig-keepers will be required to contact APHA if they have any suspicion of PED in their livestock - this is a step in the right direction and a result of joined up working between the industry, the veterinary profession and policy makers. PED is a devastating disease and we hope these measures will be sufficient to protect animals and pig-keepers in England from future outbreaks. We are encouraged by current proposals to make PED notifiable in Scotland and are keen to see similar measures in place across the rest of the UK."
Dr Mandy Nevel, President of the Pig Veterinary Society, said: "The Pig Veterinary Society was actively involved in the decision to make PED notifiable in England and we fully support the decision. Whilst we hope PED does not come into England, the legislation will facilitate rapid diagnosis, control and eradication in the event of a case occurring. We urge the rest of the UK to take similar action."
Photo: Ben Salter: Pig in a bucket
The University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences has announced the launch of an online map-based tool which forecasts the risk of a Nematodirus outbreak in lambs.
The Nematodirus risk map, which will be updated daily, is designed to help UK sheep farmers assess the risk of outbreaks of the parasite in their lambs and take action before it is too late. It includes treatment and management advice.
The online risk forecast was developed by SCOPS (Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep) and researchers at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences to predict when Nematodirus eggs will hatch and when outbreaks are likely to happen.
Researchers say that predicting when outbreaks might happen is becoming increasingly difficult due to variation in spring temperatures from year to year. Farmers can no longer rely on a standard timetable of treatments to avoid disease. As the damage is done by the larvae, faecal egg counts are of little use in detecting and controlling Nematodirus in young lambs.
The forecast takes advantage of the temperature-driven synchronised hatching of the Nematodirus larvae and uses weather data from 140 weather stations provided by the Met Office and Forecast.io. The interactive Google map allows farmers and advisers to select the nearest or most representative weather station and provides advice on how to relate the predicted risk to their particular farm and treatment options.
Cases of nematodirosis and eggs detected in routine faecal worm egg counts will also be mapped anonymously as they arise to improve the forecasts and SCOPS are asking farmers, advisors and diagnostic labs to contribute to these records by emailing researcher Dr Hannah Rose at the University of Bristol’s Vet School.
Dr Rose said: "In previous years 64 per cent of farmers and advisors surveyed changed the timing or extent of treatment – or advised treatment - after consulting the forecast, which has been running since 2013, and 93 per cent felt that their approach to control of this parasite had changed as a result of the forecast."
UK Government funding provided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council has enabled further development of the forecast and it is hoped that even more farmers will benefit in 2016.
Picture: A Romney sheep with its lambs, courtesy Dr Eric Morgan, University of Bristol
The first coxib for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs, PREVICOX® (Merial), has now been licensed for the relief of post-operative pain and inflammation following soft tissue surgery.
"PREVICOX is the first coxib specifically designed for dogs, and now vets have another reason to use it," said product manager Claire Parry-Baggott. "In addition to the osteoarthritis claim, it is now also proven for use following soft tissue surgery with no adverse effect on bleeding times, haematology or biochemistry.
She added: "With its rapid onset of action and once daily dosing vets can prescribe PREVICOX with confidence at a dose rate of 5mg/kg, two hours pre-surgery and for up to three days including the day of surgery".
To help practice staff explain the importance of the owner's role in after surgery care, and the benefits of using PREVICOX, Merial has produced a practice guide for dog owners following soft tissue surgery. The guide deals with all areas of surgery aftercare including dietary advice, post surgery exercise and wound care. For copies, please contact your local Merial Territory Manager, or call 0870 6000 123.
Bayer Animal Health has signed a deal to sponsor GMTV's pet clinic to promote its market-leading wormer, Drontal.
Running from Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February, the pet clinic will feature TV vet Emma Milne advising viewers on the health and welfare of their pets.
The pet clinic slots will run twice a day throughout the week on GMTV and Drontal will be featured in the end credits. The advertising will target the product's core target audience - housewives with children - with key messages on the importance of regular worming with Drontal. In addition, GMTV will also include details on Drontal on its website - www.gm.tv, where pet owners will be able to follow a link to www.drontal.com.
Dan White, Drontal's product manager said: "By sponsoring GMTV's pet clinic, Bayer is highlighting the benefits of worming and encouraging pet owners to regularly worm their pets. The advertising features the iconic schnauzer (the face of Drontal's "Worms? Absolutely Not!'' campaign) and will serve to drive clients into practices asking for Drontal. This will not only result in healthier dogs and cats but also ultimately reduce the environmental reservoir of eggs."
Two days left in which to enter Vetoquinol's competition to win up to £300 worth of CPD or a goody bag.
To enter, answer the 7 multi-choice questions here.
SMITHS Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, today announces it is to launch a portable detection system that will enable veterinarians to carry out on-site diagnosis of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth and avian flu.
This new technology means vets will be able to diagnose diseases in livestock and birds in the field in less than 90 minutes rather than having to send samples for laboratory analysis.
The new system will be launched to vets at the World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians conference in Australia in November 2007 and is expected to be in production in mid 2008.
Free veterinary careers materials are available from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for vets going back to school to give careers talks.
Freda Andrews, Head of Education said: "We know that, although veterinary surgeons are busy people, they often say yes when schools ask them to give careers talks. "Since September last year we've responded to around 500 requests for our 'Veterinary Science...for all Walks of Life' careers information. If you are giving a talk, these are well worth a look."
Comprising a printed booklet and a series of short videos available online, the careers materials were produced by the RCVS in collaboration with the vet schools and with government funding. They aim to show the variety both in veterinary work, and in vets themselves, to encourage teenagers from all backgrounds to consider aiming for a career in veterinary medicine. The videos can also be watched on the VetCareers channel on YouTube.
Each video features a vet working in a different field within veterinary medicine, and the brochure contains information about different types of veterinary careers, routes into the vet schools, and the entry requirements. Anyone who is in a position to advise aspiring vet students on the university entry requirements needs to be aware that there are now a variety of different routes into vet school, including options for students with vocational qualifications such as BTEC Diplomas, and pre-entry or foundation years aimed at increasing the diversity of the student population.
A new careers leaflet will also shortly be available from the RCVS to encourage would-be veterinary nurses, and will include the new RCVS Level 3 VN Diploma and the mixed-practice route to qualification newly introduced by the RCVS.
Freda said: "Veterinary surgeons can come from all walks of life - as our careers materials show. It's important that the profession reflects the population it serves and for teenagers to have good advice about veterinary careers and how to get into the profession. So, if you're going back to school to encourage the next generation, then get in touch!"
Free hard-copies of the brochure are available by contacting the RCVS Education Department (education@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0791). An interactive version of the booklet can be found at http://www.walksoflife.org.uk/, and individual videos viewed at http://www.youtube.com/vetcareers.
Ceva Animal Health has announced two additional dates and locations for its ‘Building Success Around the Fertility Routine Visit’ CPD days for young vets.
Part of Ceva’s reprodAction programme, the courses are intended for recent graduates, or those new to dairy practice.
The two upcoming meetings, listed on VetSurgeon.org's new RSVP-enabled CPD & Events Diary, are to be held at The Best Western Dryfesdale Hotel in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway on 22nd September and the West Lancashire Investment Centre in Skelmersdale, Lancashire on 23rd September.
The company says that the courses adopt a novel ‘physiology first’, practical approach to managing cattle reproduction, and have been set up to support vets in performing routine fertility visits. They cover various topics including: identifying clients’ goals, setting herd targets and increasing pregnancy rates.
Katherine Timms, Veterinary Advisor at Ceva, said: “We have had such positive feedback from the previous events, it has encouraged us to organise more, giving vets from other areas in the UK an opportunity to attend”.
“Routine fertility visits often intimidate recent graduates, as they are normally performed solo, with little or no support. This can make it hard for vets to build confidence, which this course addresses by not only providing knowledge but also by vets who are at the same stage in their careers to interact and share experiences.”
An attendee of the course held in April, Amy Cox from Nantwich Farm Vets, spoke about her highlights of the event, saying: “It really gave me the confidence in my own knowledge of cow reproduction and helped me build on what I’d already got.
“The lecturers were really engaging and the content was highly interactive which I feel helps you learn more. This is the second reprodAction CPD course that I’ve been on so I would recommend them”.
Paddy Gordon, Director of Shepton Veterinary Group, is one of the leaders of the event. He said: “Cattle reproduction CPD can be complex and is usually theory based; these events aim to cover the basics and most importantly, how to implement it all practically. This includes how to communicate concepts to farmers, through group discussion and role play and how to implement treatment protocols practically.”
Vets who are interested in attending either of the upcoming reprodAction Young Vet Initiative CPD courses can apply via Ceva Territory Managers, Bryan Hamilton on 07753 447226 or bryan.hamilton@ceva.com for the Lockerbie meeting and Kimberly Campbell on 07831 359128 or kimberly.campbell@ceva.com for the Skelmersdale meeting.
And if you're going, don't forget to use the RSVP facility on VetSurgeon.org to let other members know you'll be there.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica and the Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) have launched Spot The Signs, a campaign designed to help owners spot the signs of painful, age-related conditions in cats, such as arthritis.
According to the company, which makes Metacam, 46% of cats are now classed as 'mature and older', and 87% of vets have treated cats aged 22 or more. Yet a survey of 3000 cat owners found that 75% would not recognise the signs of chronic pain in their cat. And despite 50% of owners believing that cats suffer pain the same way as humans, 78% of cats had never been taken to the vet for an old age check up.
99% of 77 veterinary surgeons surveyed agreed that chronic pain often goes unnoticed and that signs of pain can be confused with cats simply getting old. When shown a list of common signs of long term pain in cats, 65% of owners recognised at least one of these signs in their own cat.
Claire Bessant, leading feline author and CEO of FAB, said: "In a recent study, 65% of cats aged 12 and above showed evidence of arthritis when X-rayed. The survey also showed that a large proportion of cats do show signs that may be caused by chronic pain, including becoming withdrawn, reduced grooming and reduced activity, but these were not attributed to pain by the owners. Arthritis has only just been recognised by the veterinary profession as a major problem in cats and so it is not surprising that 80% of cat owners do not realise that their cats can develop this painful condition."
Most owners understand that arthritis can cause significant pain and discomfort, and 93% said they would feel guilty if their cat was in pain and they hadn't realised. 65% of Brits see their cat as member of the family, with 20% saying their cat is like a child to them.
The Spot the Signs campaign is being 'fronted' by Jess the Cat, Postman Pat's sidekick, with expert support from a panel of cat medicine and behaviour specialists including leading feline author Claire Bessant and VetSurgeon.org / VetNurse.co.uk blogger, Pete Wedderburn MRCVS. The campaign includes support materials for veterinary practices and a facebook page.
Claire Fowler, Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "Despite a steady increase in the number of cases of arthritis and chronic pain in cats being diagnosed, our research shows awareness amongst cat owners of how to look for pain in their cats remains surprisingly low, despite 86% saying they would want their vet to let them know if their cat might be in pain. For many owners, spotting the signs of pain in their cat can be difficult, so we have set out to educate cat owners about what to look for and to encourage them to consult their vet or vet nurse if they are concerned."
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has written to Public Health England to ask if they would be prepared to review their risk assessment for front line staff in veterinary practices (i.e. veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and receptionists) regarding pre-exposure rabies vaccination.
The letter points out that the changes to the Pet Travel Regulations, brought in on 1st January 2012, make it possible for dogs, cats and ferrets to enter the UK from an EU country only 21 days after vaccination, with no requirement for blood testing and a 6-month wait.
The risk assessment undertaken by Defra at that time acknowledged that this would lead to an increase in the risk of introducing rabies to the UK, but this risk was still considered to be very low.
However, this risk assessment made a number of assumptions, including that there would be full compliance with the regulations. Since that time it has become apparent that not only have these changes led to a significant increase in the number of animals entering the UK, but that a number of these animals do not fully comply with the regulations.
According to BSAVA, current evidence suggests that increasing numbers of puppies enter the UK from abroad, particularly Eastern Europe, and that these are often presented with illness at veterinary practices by their new, and often unsuspecting, owners. While it has been assumed that animals entering under the Pet Travel Scheme pose a low risk of carrying rabies, the recent case of two puppies imported into The Netherlands from Bulgaria which tested positive for rabies indicates that the disease may occur even in puppies that were vaccinated and travelling legitimately.
While a great deal has been achieved in the control of rabies in the EU, there is increasing expansion in member states to include countries such as Bulgaria and Romania in which rabies remains endemic. Moreover, sporadic cases continue to occur in countries within this region (i.e. Italy and Greece). Animals imported into the UK from these regions could potentially introduce rabies into the United Kingdom.
While importation of affected animals remains a remote possibility, the likelihood is that an affected animal would present for veterinary treatment and that frontline veterinary staff may be at greatest risk of exposure. Some veterinary practices that deal routinely with imported pets adopted from the street or animal shelters in other countries, have staff that may be at even greater risk.
BSAVA President Professory Michael Day, who signed the letter on behalf of the Association and its members, said: "As a result of the current conditions in which veterinary professionals find themselves, BSAVA, in our letter sent on 12 November, has urged Public Health England to consider adding veterinary staff who may come into contact with imported animals to the list of those entitled to receive pre-exposure rabies vaccination."
Burgess Pet Care is investing a six figure sum in its first ever television advertising campaign to promote Supadog and Excel.
Running in tranches across targeted satellite and terrestrial channels up until August 2010, the adverts aim to drive trial and purchase of the products by offering samples through SMS or www.supatasty.co.uk and www.fibrevores.co.uk websites.
Justin Heaton, Head of Marketing, Burgess Pet Care, said: "Burgess Supadog and Excel have seen huge growth this year despite the economic climate for consumers. Pet owners still want to feed their animals quality food but without the expensive price tag. Aligned with our 'Forever Promise', Burgess is committed to making great food that's good for pet's health, is deliciously tasty but at an affordable price. The TV adverts have been a fantastic way to deliver this message and we are extremely pleased with the results they are generating."
The advertising activity is supported by PR, in store POS and a £5,000 golden ticket prize promotion during July and August.
For further information on Supadog and The Excel Feeding Plan visit www.burgesspetcare.co.uk
The candidates for this year's RCVS Council election have been announced, many of whom will be coming to the VetSurgeon.org forums to lay out their stalls and explain why you should vote for them.
A record number of veterinary surgeons - 14 - are contesting six seats in the RCVS Council election. Veterinary surgeons may each vote for up to six candidates to fill these seats, which fall vacant as elected Council member's terms of office expire at the RCVS Annual General Meeting (6 July). In 2012, five existing Council members are seeking re-election, and nine new candidates are standing.
Of the 42 RCVS Council members, four are appointed by the Privy Council, 14 by the veterinary schools and 24 by direct election; each member serves a four year term. This year's candidates are:
Voting opens from Friday 9 March and all veterinary surgeons eligible to vote should receive their ballot papers shortly. Votes must be received by 5pm on 27 April 2012 and, as in previous years, can be cast online, by post, or by text message
Bayer Animal Health has launched its annual tick awareness campaign, this year titled 'No Bite is Right', with results of a survey which found that 44% of pet owners don't use regular preventative tick treatment.
The OnePoll survey of 4000 pet owners, which was conducted on behalf of the company in January, also found that 60% of pet owners are worried about ticks spreading disease to their pet, and 28% have found one.
As part of the 'No Bite is Right' campaign, owners are being encouraged to speak to their veterinary surgeon about using preventative tick products to help reduce the risk of their pet becoming infected by tick-borne diseases.
Jenny Helm, University of Glasgow Veterinary Clinician, said: "In recent years I have noticed and been made aware from owners and other vets, of a steady rise in tick numbers across the country. With this there is an increased risk of potentially fatal tick-borne diseases being transmitted to pets. However, if a tick can be killed before it bites, this avoids the risk and provides vital protection to the pet."
Richard Wall, Professor of Zoology at Bristol University, said: "Research has shown that in recent years, tick abundance has increased and the period of seasonal activity has extended in many areas. Climate change, particularly warmer, wet winters have had direct effects on tick feeding as well as impacting indirectly on vegetation cover and creating a more suitable habitat. The increase in deer numbers, habitat modification by conservation and changes in farming practices have also all contributed to the growth in numbers."
Stella Huyshe-Shires, from charity Lyme Disease Action, says: "Lyme Borreliosis is a rapidly emerging disease in the UK and a number of experienced healthcare professionals believe the increase in reported cases reflects a genuine rise over the last 20 years, and not just increased awareness leading to more diagnosis. There appears to have been an increase in ticks and, in turn, an increase in the prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in ticks."
'No Bite Is Right' is part of Bayer Animal Health’s wider 'It’s a Jungle Out There' parasite protection initiative. A series of campaign roadshows for pet owners will be taking place this year at the Ayr, Devon and New Forest County Shows. You can find out more about how your practice can get involved with the campaign by following the conversation on www.facebook.com/jungleforpets and downloading campaign materials at www.vetcentre.bayer.co.uk.
Schering-Plough has launched a new business development support package to help farm animal vets increase the proportion of beef and dairy producers vaccinating their cattle against bovine leptospirosis.
According to results from the Bovine Leptospirosis Information and Screening Service (BLiSS), leptospirosis is all but endemic in UK beef and dairy herds. Latest data continue to show that more than 70% of unvaccinated herds have been exposed to infection, yet only around one herd in three experiences the positive benefits and return on investment from vaccination.
Integral to the new Leptavoid-H business development package is updated information on the true cost of infertility in UK cattle herds. “Vets have been telling us they need up-to-date financial information to highlight the sub-fertility leptospirosis can cause. Now we’ve researched and produced the new costing data they need,” explained Paul Williams MRCVS, livestock veterinary adviser, Schering-Plough UK.
The new package helps practitioners identify vaccination growth opportunities by segmenting their client base and is also strong on marketing guidance. For each identified segment there are a series of practical actions - many supported by Schering-Plough materials and human resources - as well as hints, tips and sales tools to help vets convert opportunities into new business.
The RCVS assessor’s report said: "The premises are genuinely state of the art, with all the space and equipment needed to provide a full multi-discipline referral service.
"The outstanding feature of this visit was the level of inpatient care, which is impressive with dedicated team leaders and thorough handovers for continuity of care, and the depth of knowledge of the clinical and nursing teams.
"Special mention must be made of infection control and inpatient modules in which all the award points available were obtained."
The assessor's report added: "You have all produced a centre to be proud of, and the feeling of pride and commitment of the team, came across very clearly. I wish you every success as your reputation grows."
Rebecca Lunn, operations co-ordinator at Paragon, said: "Pets always come first at Paragon so to receive four “outstanding” awards from the RCVS is a great compliment and achievement.
"Naturally we are delighted. It’s a real tribute to our entire team and our determination to deliver quality care, excellent service and a compassionate approach to ensure the best possible treatment for our animals.
"To achieve this, we have invested heavily, not only in the best, highly-experienced diplomates but also the most advanced specialist equipment within veterinary science.
"That level of commitment will continue on all fronts as we strive to be the very best we can be."
Esme grew up in Birmingham and spent much time in her teenage years working at the Domestic Fowl Trust caring for a range of rare breed poultry.
She said: "I didn’t grow up on a farm, but worked with chickens as a teenager and I love them to bits.
"They are amazing animals and I’ve wanted to work with them ever since.”
After graduating at the University of Liverpool, she spent two years with Howells Veterinary Services where she worked with clients to foster improved performance under an increasing drive for sustainability.
Now with St David’s Poultry Team in Yorkshire, she helps broiler clients in reducing viral challenge on farm to increase immunocompetence and so decrease susceptibility to other challenges.
She has also just become the youngest vet ever to achieve a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Poultry), which she gained at the University of Liverpool.
The Young Farm Vet of the Year Awards is sponsored by Zoetis.
Virbac has taken over the distribution of the prescription-only topical ectoparasiticide range, Activyl.
Activyl is available in three spot-on preparations: Activyl for Dogs and Activyl for Cats (flea control) and Activyl Tick Plus for tick and flea control in dogs. Based on the active ingredient indoxacarb, they are effective against developing flea life stages in the immediate environment of the pet.
Virbac Product Manager Kate Woolley MRCVS said: "Virbac is a global leader in parasitology and is using its knowledge and expertise to develop a portfolio of award-winning products. We are delighted to add Activyl to our range of parasiticides."
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
'Get Well Friends', a new retail opportunity for veterinary practices, has now officially launched with a new website: www.getwellfriends.com
Described by their inventor, childrens' author Kes Gray, as "the ouch factor mixed with the aah factor", Get Well friends are a new and unique range of soft toy poorly animal characters for veterinary surgeries to sell. Each character is as cute as it is accident prone, and comes complete with a prescription from mouse Nurse Nibbles.
"For all kinds af reasons a young child may have to leave their pet with a vet. Under such circumstances, they can now depart from the surgery with a soft toy animal character that they themselves can nurse back to good health."
The Get Well Friends.com website has been set up to try and lower the blood pressure of long suffering veterinary waiting room staff, with online games for children to play and activity sheets for surgeries to print off.
First shown at the London Vet Show, the current gift range comprises 5 soft toy characters and a 'childrens picture book entitled 'Who's Poorly Too?' The recommended retail price for each 8" soft toy characters is £11.99. (Trade price £5.50 per unit not inclusive of Vat.) The 'Who's Poorly Too' paper back picture book has an RRP of £5.99 and a trade price of £3.60 per unit.
Kes Gray's wife and co-founder of Get Well Friends said: "The spinner is our recommended display method. It has a strong and colourful retail presence. It holds fifteen toys and fifteen picture books, and can be bought for a special intoductory offer price of just £157.50. If a surgery waiting room is pushed for space, we can offer our striking 10 unit counter display boxes, or if preferred we can supply any combination of characters loose."
Click here to download the brochure and trade price list.
If you would like to place an order or make an enquiry contact Kes & Claire direct at info@getwellfriends.com.
The response from Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing MSP, which was also sent on behalf of Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP, said that:
"The First Minister is seeking guarantees from the UK Government that the residency status and other existing rights of the 173,000 EU citizens living in their respective countries will remain unchanged now and in the future."
This point was echoed in a response from Wales’ Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM, who said:
"The First Minister has also made it clear there are many sectors of business, which depend on EU citizens to fill vital posts and damage to public services and the wider economy would be immense if EU citizens were required to leave the country. I appreciate this could cause difficulties in relation to the veterinary profession and delivery of our Animal Health and Welfare programmes and policies in Wales."
Similarly, the Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Michelle McIlveen MLA, acknowledged the vital contributions EU citizens make to animal health and welfare, saying:
"I will also endeavour, given the importance of animal and veterinary public health to the local economy, to ensure that this concern [you raise] is represented in the composite Northern Ireland input into the final United Kingdom negotiating position and strategy."
The new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Andrea Leadsom MP, has offered to meet with BVA President Sean Wensley to discuss these and other priority issues for the veterinary profession.
BVA is establishing a Brexit working group to prioritise and develop policies on the key issues that should be raised in forthcoming discussions and negotiations.