The follow up service ‘can be provided personally by the veterinary surgeon or practice, or by written agreement with a veterinary services provider which is local to the client (as with the current situation for [out-of-hours] care provision)’.
The new rule comes into force on the 1st November, to allow practices to make any necessary arrangements.
The RCVS Council also decided that the temporary derogation from the usual requirement to conduct a physical examination before an animal is regarded as ‘under care’ be reviewed as a standing item at each subsequent Standards Committee meeting, until the normal guidance provisions are fully restored.
Animalcare has announced the launch of Identichip Ultra, a new slimline microchip with enhanced read range for smaller species
The new microchip is 1.4mm wide and is inserted with a 15 gauge needle which is 50% slimmer than the needle used with standard microchips. The length of the mini microchip has been increased to 10.3mm to accommodate a longer ferrite rod which boosts the signal to the microchip scanner.
Animalcare says Identichip Ultra has been designed to offer a slimline microchipping solution for small species and breeds with a reduced compromise on read range.
Beverley Campbell, Identichip and Anibase Product Manager said: “We recognised the increasing trend for slimmer microchips and the benefit this offers for small species and breeds. We also know that mini microchips have a reduced read range which could ultimately lead to a microchip not being detected so we wanted to challenge this and bring a solution to the market.
"Identichip Ultra is as slim as the other mini microchips currently being offered but the increased length gives us a read range up to 24% further1. We firmly believe that there is a place for mini microchips in the market and while we have enhanced the read range versus other mini brands we still believe that standard size microchips should be used in larger animals. We would encourage implanters to always choose a microchip size suitable for that particular animal in relation to its size now and when fully grown.”
With compulsory microchipping of dogs due to be introduced in England, Scotland and Wales from April 2016 awareness of microchipping is increasing. However, Animalcare says it still feels there is a lot of education needed to ensure dog owners are prepared for the legislation. For this reason, it has produced a range of promotional materials including leaflets, posters, letter templates and digital stickers.
Identichip Ultra is available in a sterile packed syringe style implanter with a detachable needle for sharps disposal.
For further information speak to your Animalcare Representative.
1Based on a laboratory trial comparing mini microchips (1.4mm x 8.5mm), standard microchips (2.1mm x 12.5mm) and idENTICHIP Ultra (1.4mm x 10.3mm) using three different microchips scanners (RT100-V5, Halo Scanner and idENTICHIP Pocket Reader)
Britain's dairy industry is doomed unless it takes more effective steps to control the spread of endemic diseases like tuberculosis and bovine virus diarrhoea, according to a leading cattle vet.
At a conference on infectious disease at the Royal Veterinary College last week, Devon practitioner Dick Sibley warned that the management and economic trends in the UK dairy industry are increasing the risk of disease transmission - and its potential impact once it does enter a herd.
Figures he obtained from the British Cattle Movements Service show that about four million cattle, or half the total UK cattle herd, are moved from one premises to another each year. Those being sent for slaughter were unlikely to spread infections but moving cattle of unknown disease status to new premises greatly increased the risk of bringing in new diseases. "If you set out to design a system that guarantees that we will continue to have problems with endemic disease then I could not think of a better one than this," he said.
Cattle numbers are increasing in those areas like Devon and Cheshire which already have among the highest population densities for dairy animals in the world - and are also the main hot spots in the current bovine TB epidemic. Farmers feel compelled to buy in heifers from as far afield as Germany and Holland to replace animals culled as TB reactors, as they will lose bonus payments from customers who demand that they maintain constant levels of production.
Several other factors also increase the likely impact of disease in a previously healthy herd - the concentration of cattle numbers into fewer but larger units, the growing emphasis on cattle kept indoors all year round and breeding for high yielding animals that are more vulnerable to disease. Meanwhile, a shortage of skilled manpower means that half the available stockmen are shared between farms and can therefore be responsible for bringing in disease.
But farmers have little or no control over some of the more important risk factors - particularly movements of badgers and the presence of diseased herds on neighbouring premises. "So these farmers with big herds in high density areas and neighbours that have the disease are done for unless we can do something serious to manage the risks."
Dairy farmers can work with their veterinary advisers to reduce risk using the four main pillars of disease control - improved biosecurity, better surveillance, appropriate vaccination and containment of disease transmission within the herd. But diseases also had to be tackled on a national level and if DEFRA is unwilling to take on the task, he proposed the creation of an independent livestock disease agency with sufficient staff and resources to carry out its remit. The costs of running such a body should be shared among all those stakeholders with an interest in preserving an economically viable dairy industry, including, for example the cereal producers who provide the dairy industry with much of its food materials, he suggested.
Eight vet students have been recognised for their exceptional work with the Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health Connect Bursary Awards, designed to provide financial assistance for students for elective research during their college years. Three main awards were made for projects focussing on laterality in dogs, stallion semen preservation, and developing a better understanding of wobbler syndrome in horses.
Charlotte Cockburn from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Hayley Harwood from the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies (Edinburgh) were the joint winners of the main Bursary Award, while the RVC's Holly Claridge was presented with the inaugural Equine Award.
Charlotte's research investigated tests for laterality in dogs to determine if domestic dogs show a significant paw preference and to identify a test that can be used for this purpose by veterinary practices. The results showed a lateralisation bias in the dog population towards the left with no significant correlations between paw preference and the sex, age or breed of dog. In addition, the initiation of gait test used in the study was the only test that gained a response from 100% of the dogs.
Hayley set out to investigate the motility of stallion spermatozoa thawed at various rates and maintained for up to 24 hours with the aim of designing a protocol for the thawing of semen that would allow cooled transported frozen-thawed semen to be used effectively. The study showed that for total motility, thawing the straws at 72°C resulted in significantly higher motility than when compared with other treatments.
Holly's research aimed to describe the 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joints in relation to the spinal cord and whether artificial distension of these joints, mimicking effusion, would cause the pouches of the joints to compress the spinal cord in the horse. The study concluded that in the absence of any other soft tissue or bony changes effusion of these joints is unlikely to cause spinal cord compression. However, given that these joints and the spinal cord are in close approximation, in the presence of other changes, an effusion may have the potential to cause compression.
While Charlotte, Hayley and Holly were the overall winners, five other students also received a Connect Bursary from Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health to fund their research. The Bursaries were awarded to Rebecca Johnson and Sharon Brown (Glasgow), Gabrielle Laing (Liverpool), Alex Torrance (Cambridge) and Amy Gordan (Bristol). Students were required to present their work to a judging panel from Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health, representatives from the veterinary schools and industry key opinion leaders. Two further Bursaries were also awarded to students from Nottingham.
David Hallas, General Manager at Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health said: "Being part of the Connect Bursary is intended to give veterinary students both the freedom to explore new ground as well as providing a taste of working in industry. The fact that we awarded a record number of Bursaries this year, elected joint winners and launched the new Equine Award is testament to the refreshingly high standard of work being undertaken by veterinary undergraduates."
Some big names from the art and entertainment worlds, including Cheryl Cole, Tracey Emin, Twiggy and Jamie Oliver are donating their own paintings and drawings of hares to raise money for two new operating theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
One of these A4 canvases would be a great addition to a veterinary practice waiting room. It would be sure to create an interesting talking point, particularly if you specialise in leporids.
If you're interested in buying one, they go under the auctioneer's hammer both online and at the 'Hare Ball' at the Dorchester Hotel in London on May 26th 2011.
The Hare Styling Celebrity Canvases Appeal is the brainchild of hairdresser Michael Van Clarke whose daughter Angelica was given a lifesaving operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital when she was just two days old. Now 15 years old, Angelica has drawn a hare to help raise funds for the hospital that saved her life. The hare has been reproduced on A4 canvases which have been sent to well-known names in the public eye inviting them to create an original artwork.
Other celebrities who have already donated include Stella McCartney, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Terry Venables and HRH Princess Beatrice The Duchess of York. Many more are expected ahead of the March deadline. All of the canvases will be displayed at a central London gallery exhibition and most will be included in a hard bound book printed to raise further money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
Michael Van Clarke said: “The pioneering work carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital provides hope to extremely sick children and their families. My family knows first-hand the incredible difference the hospital can make and I am always looking for ways to show my gratitude. When we first came up with this Hare styling idea, we weren’t sure how it would be received, but we have been overwhelmed by the response from the recipients of the canvases.
"The fundraising potential of these canvases is huge and we are so grateful for the time and effort people have put in to creating them. We are also looking forward to handing over a big cheque to the charity once all the canvases have been sold.”
For further information or to see a selection of the canvases, please visit http://www.harestyling.com/.
The Veterinary Development Council (VDC) is conducting a survey to investigate the role of paraprofessionals and technicians in veterinary practice, and is asking vets in large animal, equine, and mixed practices to complete a short survey.
The VDC says that information from the survey will help inform discussions on the regulation of technicians.
The survey will take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete and can be found on the BVA website at www.bva.co.uk/vdc. The BVA has also emailed the survey directly to practices.
The survey has been devised by the VDC working group looking at the role of the veterinary-led team, chaired by BVA Past President Professor Bill Reilly. This is one of three working groups that will report to the VDC:
Professor Reilly said: "The relationship between veterinary surgeons and technicians is vital but it varies from practice to practice.
"The working group on the role of the veterinary-led team aims to take a snapshot of how services, such as artificial insemination and foot trimming, are currently delivered, and gauge how veterinary surgeons feel about other services being delivered by non-veterinarians in the future.
"I hope veterinary surgeons in large, mixed and equine practice will take 10 minutes to complete our survey to help us map the current use of technicians in veterinary practice and help shape our future discussions."
The survey of 2067 past or present adult dog owners, of which 1,170 had experienced the loss of a dog, also found that about half had experienced barriers to opening up about their feelings following the death of their pet.
Some of the reasons given for not opening up included believing others wouldn’t understand their feelings (22%), fear of being judged for being upset (15%), feeling embarrassed about their levels of distress (12%) and not being able to find the right words to describe their feelings (13%).
74% felt they could turn to close family to share feelings of grief over the loss of the dog, but only 13% felt they could discuss it with employers and colleagues.
Samantha Davis, Legacy and In-Memory Manager at Dogs Trust, says: “The loss of a pet dog can be as devastating as losing a family member.
"Dogs hold a special place in our hearts, offering unconditional love and companionship, and when they pass away, the grief can be profound and, sadly for some, isolating.
“It's really important that owners who experience the loss of their canine companions can open up and share their feelings with friends and family.
"Many will find solace in knowing they are not alone."
To support people who have lost a dog, Dogs Trust is holding a 3.5km walk to bring people together to share their memories of their beloved animal.
Walk for Our Old Friends (WOOF) will take place in Salcey Forest, Northampton, on Sunday 6th October 2024 between 4pm-7pm.
As walkers make their way through the forest, there will be opportunities for moments of remembrance and celebration.
The charity will also provide support resources for those participating with a team onsite as well as online information to help people cope with their loss.
Dogs Trust is also providing online resources for people to organise their own walk in memory of their much missed four legged friends.
https://events.dogstrust.org.uk/event/walk-for-our-old-friends
COMMENT
Was this survey desperately flawed, or has our relationship with our dogs become unhealthily anthropomorphic?
It's hard to think of any other explanation for why such large proportion of people equate the death of a dog with the death of a brother, sister, parent or child.
Surely the death of a close family member is in an altogether different league than the death of even the most beloved dog.
If people are developing unhealthily close relationships with their animals, the question is why?
Are they being pushed by commercial interests which encourage people to think of themselves as 'pet parents' in order that they feel compelled to spend more on their 'child'.
Or is there some other factor in play?
Does it matter anyway?
Perhaps not.
But more and more we hear stories of people saddling themselves with crippling levels of debt on treatment because they cannot face the inevitable.
Perhaps it is time to return to a more healthy, more matter-of-fact relationship with our pets.
No less loving, just tempered by the acceptance of the fact that it is not human. It's a dog.
Given that vapocoolant is effective immediately, compared to EMLA cream which is recommended to be applied 60 minutes beforehand, the study suggests that in dogs at least, vapocoolant may be the better option in practice.
For the study, researchers from the Royal Veterinary College assessed 83 dogs and 18 cats requiring intravenous catheterisation for either blood donation collection or as oncology patients.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either EMLA cream or a swab saturated with vapocoolant spray (Ethycalm / Invicta Animal Health) applied before catheterisation, and their reactions were assessed during initial restraint, limb handling, swab application and skin puncture.
Overall, there was no significant difference between vapocoolant spray and EMLA cream, and neither method appeared better at improving patient tolerance of intravenous catheter placement.
Vapocoolant spray was less effective than EMLA cream in reducing adverse reactions to skin puncture during catheterisation in cats, suggesting that EMLA may be preferable for feline patients.
Dogs that received vapocoolant spray showed a greater adverse response during swab application compared to those receiving EMLA, possibly due to the coldness of the swab.
Success of intravenous catheter placement was identical for both anaesthetics.
Dr Richie Trinder, lead author of the study, said: “The study is the first of its kind comparing vapocoolant spray and EMLA, and suggests in this context that the use of vapocoolant spray provides a similar degree of relief as EMLA, but with the added advantage of being instantaneous, instead of needing to wait the recommended 60 minutes for EMLA.”
Reference
The 2009 edition of the NOAH Compendium Data Sheets for Animal Medicines is now being dispatched, free of charge, to each practice premises.
Meanwhile, the online version of the compendium (www.noahcompendium.co.uk), launched 3 years ago to provide a free and convenient source of information about animal medicines for both prescribers and consumers, has just had its 9 millionth page view. The site gets about 3000 visits a day.
Whilst it is possible to order additional print copies of the compendium, NOAH points out that the online version has the beauty of being updated every week with new products, indications and other data. Plus the site is searchable by active ingredient, species, therapeutic indication or text search.
NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: "We try to make the online Compendium as useful and as quick and easy to use as it can be, and while we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback we are always interested to hear how you think it could work better for you, so we can keep this in mind for any future improvements".
BCF has announced the launch of the Medison Sonovet R3 portable ultrasound scanner.
BCF says the R3 is the next evolution of the Pico from Medison which is ideal for both equine and small animal vets. It is now more compact with a robust design with enhanced image quality and improved frame rate, and even at a lower price.
Graham Howe, Partner at Stow Veterinary Surgeons in Gloucestershire has one of the new machines. He said: "We chose the Medison R3 for several reasons. The R3 is an excellent quality machine at the right price and provides excellent value for money. We wanted Doppler and the R3 provides this without breaking the bank.
"The scanner has increased our diagnostic capabilities and enabled us to diagnose increasingly subtle lesions in small animal anatomy.
"We also knew from previous experience with previous with an ultrasound scanner and digital X-ray machine that we could rely on BCF for support."
For more information visit http://www.bcftechnology.com/, or call +44 (0)1506 460023 to arrange a demonstration.
Over the next few weeks, experts from the fields of veterinary science, academia and government will be offering sector-specific insight into key achievements, latest research and future action needed to tackle AMR through a number of blog posts published on www.bva.co.uk/BVA-blog.
Bloggers will include BVA President John Fishwick, presidents of several BVA specialist divisions, leading academics, and heads of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) and the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), among others.
AMR poses a global threat to human and animal health and requires concerted efforts across the medical and veterinary professions to steward responsible use and prescription, as recognised in the UK Government-commission global Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, chaired by Lord O’Neill (May 2016).
The veterinary profession in the UK has been committed to the responsible use of antimicrobials, with the Chief Medical Officer publicly recognising the concerted efforts to reduce antibiotic usage in agriculture. BVA is a member of RUMA and has been working closely with stakeholders in government and industry to develop appropriate and evidence based targets across the livestock sector, which will be announced tomorrow (27 October) at a conference in London.
British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Gudrun Ravetz said: "AMR is a serious global One Health issue that the veterinary profession is deeply concerned about, as it threatens our ability to treat animals and protect human health, and it is an issue BVA is addressing through joined-up working with UK governments, industry and other health sectors. Increased collaboration between the health sectors, underpinned by a commitment from each of us within the veterinary profession to maintain the highest standards of stewardship in using antimicrobials, most especially Critically Important Antibiotics, is the only way we can preserve these essential medicines for future generations.
"The blog series highlights various aspects of AMR by experts in their field, and we hope that throwing a spotlight on various sectors’ achievements so far and suggested steps for the future will help keep this important issue on all of our agendas, where it should be."
AMR discussions will continue at BVA Congress at the London Vet Show (16-17 November) with a Friday afternoon session on ‘The psychology of antimicrobial resistance: what can social science tell us?’, featuring David Brodbelt, Professor of Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine at Royal Veterinary College; Ian Donald,Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Director, Mulberry Research & Consulting Ltd, and Kristen Reyher, Senior Lecturer in Farm Animal Science at the University of Bristol.
To read Nigel Gibbens’s blog and other blogs from the series, see https://www.bva.co.uk/news-campaigns-and-policy/bva-community/bva-blog/safeguarding-the-future-of-antibiotics-is-our-moral-responsibility-as-vets/ and follow the ‘#AMRinfocus’ hashtag on social media.
The symposium, which will be held on Tuesday 24 September 2019, at Church House in London, will bring together researchers interested in all aspects of veterinary professionals’ wellbeing and mental health. It will feature plenary speakers from mental health research, including:
Professor Neil Greenberg: Sustaining resilience at work – what does the evidence tell us works?, Professor of Defence Mental Health, Consultant Academic Psychiatrist at King’s College London, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ (RCP) Special Interest Group in Occupational Psychiatry.
Professor Alexandra Pitman: The impact of veterinarian suicide on colleagues, Associate Professor in Psychiatry in the UCL Division of Psychiatry and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust.
Professor Stuart Reid: The Mind Matters Initiative – what we’ve achieved so far, Principal, Royal Veterinary College, Chair of the Mind Matters Initiative.
Presentations should be in the format of a 15-minute oral presentation or an A1 poster.
Those wishing to apply should submit an abstract clearly marked ‘poster’ or ‘oral presentation’. The title should be 15 words or fewer. The abstract should include author(s) first name(s), followed by surname(s), institution of affiliation and country. The body of the text should be no longer than 250 words and include: background; clear and explicit aims and objectives, hypotheses or research questions; methods; results; discussion; and conclusion.
All abstracts should be submitted as Word documents to Rosie Allister on rosie.allister@gmail.com no later than 23:59 (GMT) on Friday 19 April 2019.
Applicants will be notified if they have been successful within 14 days of this date. Speakers whose applications are successful will receive complimentary registration for the symposium, not including travel and accommodations costs.
A small number of travel bursaries are available for students, people with lived experience of mental health problems, and people who are unwaged, who would not otherwise be able to attend. For further details, please contact Lisa Quigley, Mind Matters Initiative Manager, on l.quigley@rcvs.org.uk.
The FAQs cover everything within the College’s guidance on veterinary medicines, including questions around controlled drugs, their storage, destruction and prescription, supplying medicines under the cascade, and prescriptions in general including topics such as what written information to provide, broach dates, and repeat prescriptions.
Lisa Price, RCVS Head of Standards, said: “Queries about veterinary medicines are some of the most frequent questions that our Standards & Advice Team deal with and we recognise that this is quite a complex and potentially confusing area of practice, with information being contained in a variety of places including the RCVS Codes of Professional Conduct, the Veterinary Medicines Regulations and the Practice Standards Guidance.
“We felt it would be helpful to try and draw much of this information into one place and provide answers to questions applicable to common scenarios that veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses encounter within everyday practice.
“The 17 questions and answers have all been approved by the RCVS Standards Committee and we hope members of the professions find them useful.
"We are also open to feedback and suggestions for further questions to be added to the FAQs and you can contact us on advice@rcvs.org.uk if you have any.”
The full FAQs can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/medicines-faqs
The RCVS Code of Professional Conduct’s chapter of supporting guidance on veterinary medicines can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/medicines
A new study has found that the UK domestic cat and dog population is larger than previously reported by industry figures. Cats and dogs are amongst the most popular pets in the UK but it has been over 20 years since domestic cat and dog population estimates in the UK have been published in scientific peer-reviewed journals.
The paper published in the Veterinary Record by Dr Jane Murray in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at Bristol University and colleagues, aimed to estimate the number of UK domestic cats and dogs and identify the characteristics of their owners. The figures are also useful to the animal health and welfare professions, including rescue charities, which can use these and future estimates to assess population changes.
In 2007, a telephone survey of households randomly selected from the electoral roll revealed that cats and dogs were owned by 26 per cent and 31 per cent of households, respectively. The number of owned cats and dogs were predicted by two variables: the number of people in the household and the geographical location (London/rest of UK) of the household. UK census information and mid-year population estimates of the number of households and the average household size in 2006 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were used to estimate that UK households owned approximately 10.3 million cats and 10.5 million dogs in 2006.
Dr Murray said: "Our 95% confidence intervals were 9.4-11.3 million cats and 9.6-11.4 million dogs".
This compares with PFMA estimates of 7.2 million cats and 7.3 million dogs in 2007, and 8 million cats and 8 million dogs in 2009.
Characteristics associated with cat and dog ownership were also identified. Cats were more likely to be owned by; households with gardens, semi-urban/rural households, households with someone qualified to degree level, respondents who were female and respondents who were aged less than 65 years. Cats were less likely to be owned by households with one or more dogs.
The likelihood of dog ownership increased as the household size increased. Dogs were more likely to be owned by households with gardens, rural households and less likely to be owned by households with someone educated to degree level and households with cats or children aged less than 11 years.
Female respondents and those aged less than 55 years were more likely to report dog ownership than other respondents. Dogs were less likely to be owned by households with one or more cats.
Dr. Murray added: "The study has shown many common factors relating to cat and dog ownership, such as a garden and rural location, but it has also identified some notable differences.
"In particular, the difference in the level of education achieved by a household owning cats and dogs. The reason for this association is unclear. It is unlikely to be related to household income as this variable was not shown to be significant but it could be related to household members with longer working hours having less time available to care for a dog.
"Past reports have suggested that the number of pet cats exceeds the number of pet dogs in the UK. However, results from our study suggest that there are similar numbers of pet cats and dogs."
The researchers recommend the study is repeated in 2011, (the year of the next scheduled UK census), as any increase or decrease in population numbers will enable pet ownership trends to be monitored.
The new service is available to any practice, regardless of which practice management system you use, or which healthcare provider you are with. You can specify your product catalogue and are not tied to particular products or manufacturers. You can also decide how you want to manage client delivery charges and how to treat health care plan clients.
OurVet.Shop can also be used to take payment for services, such as telephone or video consultations, and because it allows for one-off ordering, clients aren’t forced to sign up to a 12-month subscription with an unknown third party.
Lastly, the service is tailored to your practice’s brand and personalised to every client and their pets. The company has also produced marketing materials for use in social media, on websites and in client communications.
Jamie Crittall, co-founder of Virtual Recall, said: "As a veterinary practice owner myself, these last few months have been tough – I mean really tough.
"Nine years ago, Charlie Barton and I created Virtual Recall from a desire to communicate with our clients in a personal & timely manner. Not being able to find a solution, we built one and iRecall was born. Since then it has helped over 1,500 practices communicate with over 5 million clients & their pets worldwide.
"Now, here we were again - desperate to ensure that my patients got the healthcare they needed, but no home delivery service that I wanted to put my practice’s name to, I turned to my team at Virtual Recall to create a solution - that was not just right for my practice but every practice.
"So, we did what we do best – we put ourselves in practices’ shoes and created a smart solution that would help them safeguard animals’ health, enhance their relationship with their clients, and provide them with a life-line to help get through this crisis and build a stronger future. It couldn’t come with any compromises."
For more information, visit: www.ourvet.shop
Hill's Pet Nutrition is running an interesting prize draw to highlight a recent study which shows that by using Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare, sterile struvite uroliths can be dissolved in as little as 14 days.1
Send a canine or feline urolith for analysis at the Minnesota Urolith Center by the end of June, and you'll be entered into the draw to win a sparkling diamond worth £2000 (or €2000 in the Republic of Ireland. And no, Hill's hasn't explained why it's a cheaper rock up for grabs in Ireland).
You can download a form at www.hillspet.co.uk/urolith or www.hillspet.ie/urolith to send along with the uroliths.
Almost 80 percent of veterinarians polled on-line recently, used dietary means, either all or some of the time to treat FLUTD.2 It has been suggested that stones account for just 10 percent of non-obstructive and 15 percent of cases of obstructive FLUTD.3
Hill's says that along with its ability to dissolve sterile struvite stones in as little as 14 days, Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare dry pet food also has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that help to break the cycle of inflammation and reduce discomfort in cats with FIC, making it an appropriate choice in most cases of FLUTD.
References
The company says it is launching the new slCT after achieving success imaging horses in collaboration with its UK-based clinical trial sites.
The new standing CT scanner has a unique low, flat platform for quick and easy entry and exit of the standing sedated horse.
The system uses a dual-concentric ring design which enables the detector plate to remain very close to the region of interest, thereby improving image quality.
Hallmarq says slCT is a good fit for equine practices wanting to step up to 3D imaging in the evaluation of their lameness cases.
Bell Equine in Kent, Sussex Equine in Ashington, and Berkshire- based Donnington Grove Equine were involved in early trials of novel system.
Dr Elisabetta Giorio from Donnington Grove says slCT complements their sMRI which highlights soft tissue and metabolic changes: “The combination of MRI and CT was a useful tool to have and helped with surgical planning and decision making".
For more information, visit: https://hallmarq.net/
RCVS Knowledge launched the Canine Cruciate Registry on the Amplitude pro registry platform last year.
The automated registry, the first of its kind in veterinary medicine, allows the profession to evaluate the success of surgical techniques, and practitioners to benchmark their performance.
In June, RCVS Knowledge had a poster detailing the purpose, impact and aspirations of the registry accepted at the PROMs research conference, which before now typically only accepted submissions from the field of human medicine.
This, says Amplitude, marks the first step in sharing information about running registries designed to identify best practice in the care and treatment of both animals and people.
Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, said: "RCVS Knowledge is proud to be leading the development of clinical audit and registries to support the veterinary professions on their journey to continually improve the care they deliver.
"Registries are key in supporting the professions in understanding first-hand information about our patients with certain conditions, both individually and as a group, contextualizing with information from their owners, and over time, to increase our understanding of that condition.”
The company is encouraging owners to post a simple 'thank you' on Facebook with the hashtag #thankuvets.
Boehringer has also produced a thank you video, depicting a day in the life of an equine vet during these tough times.
Warren Ball, Equine Brand Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, said: “This year has been a year like no other, but equine vets throughout the country have carried on regardless of the challenges they face and are deserving of a huge thanks from all who need them.”
"Our ‘Thank You Vets’ initiative will show how appreciated each and every vet is by bringing together owners, trainers and others in the equine community."
To watch the video and see the thank you messages from owners, visit: https://www.facebook.com/equitopmyoplast/posts/2188633904615007
What a lovely initiative. Makes a change from the usual griping on Facebook.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has announced that it will be launching Bovela, a new viral diarrhoea (BVD) vaccine, to farmers during April 2015.
Allan Henderson from Boehringer said: "BVD remains the most common viral disease affecting cattle throughout Europe, despite vaccines being available for over 15 years. We asked farmers why this was the case and, without exception, they remarked that current vaccine protocols are unwieldy, requiring precise timings making them hard to follow.
"Bovela is a unique one-shot vaccine that can be used in cattle from three months of age and also whether pregnant or not. Other, currently available vaccines require a two-dose primary course with boosters annually or even every six months thereafter."
BVD is spread within herds and to new herds through the presence of persistently infected (PI) animals. PIs can look relatively healthy and show no outward signs of infection but, as they were exposed to the virus as a foetus, have become virus carriers. If they are born alive, they will shed virus consistently throughout their lives so perpetuating the cycle of infection.
Alan said: "The foetal control delivered by Bovela gives absolute confidence that cows will not produce PIs. This, alongside the drastically improved convenience will undoubtedly make Bovela the natural choice for many farmers, both on beef and dairy farms."
According to Boehringer, around 60% of cattle in the EU test positive for exposure to the BVD virus and, although BVD type 1 is currently the most common form, outbreaks of BVD type 2, were confirmed in 2013 and 2014 in Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. BVD type 2 is generally a more serious disease, with high levels of mortality and while the virus has been identified in UK, it has not yet been identified as the cause of serious outbreaks of disease in cattle.
Alan said: "Bovela is the first and only vaccine in UK which has been proven to protect cattle from BVD type 1 and 2. It has been in development for 17 years and, gained a marketing authorisation following assessment of an unprecedented quantity of data generated in both beef and dairy herds.
"Work has looked at the efficacy of Bovela in preventing the production of PI calves and against type 1 and 2 BVD as well as confirming its efficacy in young calves as young as three months of age as their natural maternal protection wears off. Trials also confirmed vaccine safety generally and during various stages of pregnancy. We do not believe that any other BVD vaccine has been tested as rigorously."
The campaign came after the company surveyed livestock farmers in January, February and March this year, and found that cattle producers are struggling to implement changes.
The survey, which received 190 responses, investigated the extent to which beef and dairy producers are aware of methods to sustainably control parasites, how many are following best practice techniques, and what advice and support they need to make a change.
Sioned Timothy, Ruminant Technical Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health said: “Reassuringly, 70% of respondents who are the main decision maker indicated that they were either very concerned or a little concerned about wormer resistance on farm. This level of awareness is positive since wormer resistance is on the rise, and the livestock industry must make changes to parasite control if we are to safeguard the effectiveness of wormers."
However, the survey indicated that farmers are not asking professionals such as their vet or SQP for advice on parasite control as much as they could. Only 55% of main decision maker respondents asked their vet for advice on parasite control planning as part of overall herd health planning, and that dropped to 21% for specific parasite control advice.
In addition, only 65% of main decision makers sought advice from an SQP when purchasing worming or fluke products, despite SQPs being qualified to provide parasite control advice at the point of prescription and supply.
Positively, over 60% of main decision maker respondents had already implemented some methods of sustainable parasite control, including quarantining and treating bought-in animals, managing pasture use, and calibrating and testing dosing guns.
However, more than half of the same respondents were aware of but had not implemented several other methods, including weighing or tracking growth rates of youngstock, testing individuals or groups of animals for parasites, and using preventative methods such as vaccinating for lungworm.
Sioned pointed out that nearly 25% of main decision makers had not implemented the calibration or testing of their wormer dosing guns, and a further 12% were not even aware of the practice. She said: “These producers are missing a simple opportunity to ensure that their cattle are dosed correctly. Under-dosing is one of the factors that drives resistance to anthelmintics on farm, and over-dosing increases costs unnecessarily.”
When respondents were asked why they haven’t implemented changes to their parasite control methods, 22% said they did not believe they needed to make changes, 20% don't have the necessary equipment or buildings, 37% said the cost of installing new/better equipment was a barrier, and 32% cited the cost of additional diagnostic tests or treatments.
The survey did highlight some positives. Victoria Hudson, Senior Brand Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, said: “Respondents indicated a good appetite for change provided they could access the appropriate advice and support, including implementing weighing and tracking growth rates of youngstock (53%), testing for parasite burdens in individual animals (52%) and testing for parasite burdens in groups of animals (43%).
“Just over a third of respondents felt they might be able to quarantine and treat bought-in cattle, manage pasture, and use vaccination or other preventative measures. However, only 31% of main decision maker respondents felt they could make the easiest and simplest change: calibrating and testing dosing guns before use.”
One method of sustainable parasite control, targeted selective treatment, where the best performing animals in a group are left untreated, was not well understood or implemented by respondents (30% had implemented, 36% were aware of it but had not implemented, and 33% were not aware of it), and just under 35% felt that even with advice and support they would not be able to implement this method within the next three years.
Victoria said: “Unsurprisingly, over half of main decision maker respondents cited they needed funding to support new equipment/infrastructure to help them make changes to their parasite control practices, but there is a desire for more advice and support.
“Nearly 49% want help in understanding the parasite challenges on their farm, 54% want advice on which changes will most benefit their cattle, and just over 33% want more information on the different types of wormer products.
“However, survey results were conflicting on how farmers would get this advice and support since only 13% wanted more visits from their vet, and 11% from their SQP, despite these professionals being best placed to provide advice at an individual farm level.
“It shows that there is more work to do to help beef and dairy producers make the most effective and sustainable changes to parasite control. This is why we have launched Change One Thing, a campaign to support farmers in understanding and implementing the options available to improve the sustainable control of parasites.”
The campaign is also calling on farm vets to Change One Thing, relating to the information, support and advice that they give livestock farmers.
Victoria said: “It can be difficult for vets to have conversations with farmers about making changes to their parasite control practices, so we urge them to think about changing their approach to discussing the topic, especially if their client/customer has so far resisted making any changes.
“Being inquisitive, and asking questions, can be more effective than ‘telling’, and it’s important that farmers believe in the need to make the change, and that they can practically do it. Even small changes can make a big difference, and testing and trailing strategies tailored to an individual farm will help the farmer to see the benefits for themselves.”
Boehringer says that changes that farmers could make to improve their parasite control in a sustainable way, include:
Resources for farmers, vets and SQPs to Change One Thing are available on the Beat the Parasites website: www.beattheparasites.com/change-one-thing.
The five-year strategy outlines actions required from the group and its members until 2025, as well as focusing on changing wider public attitudes to extreme conformations in brachycephalic dogs.
It identifies three core challenges:
Some of the actions committed to include working to prevent the inappropriate use of imagery of brachycephalic dogs in advertising, promoting relevant health testing schemes and sharing research with breeders and would-be owners, alongside developing and promoting a Brachycephalic Health Assessment veterinary consultation framework.
Dr Dan O’Neill, chair of BWG said: “BWG understands that the serious health problems associated with the flat-faced body shape can cause many dogs to suffer and considers that the health and welfare problems linked to breeding for a flat face are one of the UK’s leading canine welfare priorities.
"This new strategy lays out a plan to redress many of these issues and we call on everybody to ‘Stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog’.”
www.ukbwg.org.uk/?page_id=801
Andy, who was previously the Junior Vice Chair of the association, has been a member of BVOA for over 25 years, during which time he's been instrumental in organising scientific meetings and starting the popular BVOA discussion forum.
He is an RCVS and ECVS Specialist and in 2017 was made a Fellow of the RCVS for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.
He has taught numerous surgical residents and is widely published in many areas of orthopaedic surgery.
In 2023 he opened the Moores Orthopaedic Clinic, a dedicated orthopaedic-only referral clinic near Basingstoke in Hampshire.
Andy said: “It’s a great honour to take on the role of chairman for an organisation that I am so fond of.
“I am passionate about education and have taught, lectured and published widely.
"In my role at the Moores Orthopaedic Clinic I am always happy to discuss cases and assist colleagues as much as possible.
"I truly believe sharing knowledge is essential to successful patient outcomes, and BVOA allows this in numerous ways.
"My thanks go out to the rest of the BVOA committee for continuing to ensure we have a strong and vibrant Association, especially to Mark Bush my predecessor and to Sarah Girling who has left the committee this year after serving as Senior Vice Chair.”
All veterinary professionals with an interest in orthopaedics are welcomed and encouraged to join BVOA.
https://bvoa.co.uk/
Vetark has launched Aqua-Sed, a fish anaesthetic which has obtained the first permit for use as a fish euthanasia product.
Vetark says the new product enables the humane euthanasia of seriously ill or severely injured fish, as well as being a sedative to facilitate fish handling.
The new product incorporates a dosing pump to ensure accurate dosing, a critical aspect of fish anaesthetics.
The 250ml bottle and pump will be on sale at £13.13+VAT and is available under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme from Vetark.
Further information on fish anaesthesia visit the Vetark website on www.vetark.co.uk
The course is comprised of a 14-module programme of lectures, case discussions and practical sessions, during which Improve says delegates will learn how to approach the dog, cat and exotic patient presenting with manifestations of oral pathology in a logical and scientific manner.
Lecturers for the programme, which starts in January 2020, include Bob Partridge and Rachel Perry (pictured right), both European and RCVS Specialists in Veterinary Dentistry, and Owen Davies, an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Oncology.
Each module will be supported with an online learning management platform offering additional learning resources, together with a subscription to Harper Adam’s online e-library which gives access to scientific articles and abstracts for those progressing to a PgC. All delegates have a dedicated Programme Tutor.
Juliet Pope, Operations Manager at Improve International, said: "The diagnosis and management of dental and oral disease is a significant – and growing - component of small animal practice.
"The programme we have developed offers a thorough case-based approach and includes the opportunity to practice oral surgery in a wet-lab environment.
"It will support general practitioners in taking a more well-informed clinical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of these cases and give them confidence to manage some cases that they might otherwise have felt they should refer."