Dechra Veterinary Products Brand Manager Craig Sankey said: "Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disorder that affects thyroid production in older cats. It’s a lifelong condition that requires careful understanding and management by both vets and owners.
"The video presentation aims to illustrate how, with flexibility and precision, you can take control of hyperthyroidism and restore the natural poise of your hyperthyroid patients."
To watch the film and enter the competition, visit: www.dechra.co.uk/3greatreasons.
Competition closes February 28th 2017.
The course helps veterinary practices manage their dispensaries with up-to-date information on medicines regulations. It covers the main aspects of dispensing including an overview and update on legislation, using the cascade and the storing and disposal of medicines. There will also be sessions covering controlled drugs, dispensing mishaps and what to expect from an inspection.
Tutors Pam Mosedale, Donal Murphy, Michael Stanford, Mike Jessop and John Millward will deliver lectures via webinars throughout the day, which ends with a live streamed interactive Q+A session.
The course is suitable for vets, vet nurses and other staff who deal with the dispensing of medicines and the pharmacy.
Attendees will have access to supporting resources for approximately two weeks after the course, including electronic course notes and lectures from the day and an active discussion forum.
The Association says course meets the RCVS practice standards veterinary hospital dispensing course requirements and is ideal for the new PSS Medicines Award CPD requirement.
It is also AMTRA accredited and carries 43 AMTRA CPD points.
Attendance for the day is compulsory and an attendance register will be taken for the Live Q&A session.
Course organiser Pam Mosedale said: “We are very excited to be able to deliver the BSAVA Dispensing Course online and still allow for interaction between speakers and delegates in the live session. With Practice Standards and VMD visits restarting, it is fantastic that we are still able to support practices in these difficult times by ensuring they are complying with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.”
The course costs £150.00 (incl. VAT) for BSAVA members and £225.00 (incl. VAT) for non-members. To book visit https://www.bsava.com/Education/CPD/Event-Detail/dateId/2099
Nominations will remain open till 5pm on Tuesday 31 January 2023 and the elections will take place in March and April 2023.
RCVS President Dr Melissa Donald, a member of RCVS Council since 2016, said: “I am a general practitioner by background, and so having the opportunity to serve on Council and be at the heart of decision-making that has a real and consequential impact on how we as vets work and conduct ourselves, has been a real privilege.
“In my six years on Council I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in fascinating debates and discussions, to represent the RCVS and its activities at country fairs and congresses, and to talk to and get the views of peers and colleagues from across the UK.
"Serving your profession in the RCVS is a fantastic opportunity and I would recommend anyone who wants to have a real say and impact on the future of the profession to stand for next year’s Council elections.”
The full eligibility criteria, info and FAQs for vets who want to stand can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil23.
Prospective candidates for RCVS Council can also contact Melissa Donald for an informal conversation about what it means to be an RCVS Council member: president@rcvs.org.uk.
There is also an opportunity for prospective candidates to attend a meeting of the RCVS Council on Thursday 19th January 2023 at the University of Nottingham Veterinary School, as an observer.
Contact Dawn Wiggins, RCVS Council Secretary, on d.wiggins@rcvs.org.uk if you'd like to go.
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
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has announced the replacement of its Bovilis® IBR with Bovilis® IBR Marker Live vaccine, a move that brings the UK into line with the rest of Europe where marker vaccines are favoured.
Many EU member states, including Scandinavia and Austria are now declared IBR-free, and others (Germany and Hungary) operate national eradication programmes. Using a marker vaccine will help farmers wishing to export animals, or semen, or those working towards an eradication programme in their herds.
Recent bulk milk and blood screening via Intervet/Schering-Plough's complimentary BeefCheck and DairyCheck has revealed that 72% of herds tested were positive for IBR exposure. Given the latent nature of infection, and the rumbling losses associated with subclinical disease, it should come as no surprise that farmers are increasingly interested in controlling IBR. Studies have shown that IBR infection can result in a milk yield reduction of 173 litres per infected animal, or over £400 a year, for a 100-cow herd.
According to Intervet/Schering-Plough, Bovilis IBR Marker Live is Europe's leading IBR vaccine. It can be given intra-muscularly or intra-nasally to calves as young as two weeks old, as well as pregnant dams. It is also licensed to be given together with the pneumonia vaccine Bovilis® Bovipast RSP. The primary course involves one dose in cattle over three months of age, with immunity in just four days from the intra-nasal method, and 14 days from injection. Stock need re-vaccination every six months.
The vaccine reduces the amount of virus excreted into the environment, so minimising the risk to stressed cattle which may have been brought into the herd, and be latently infected. It also makes it an excellent choice for producers with breeding bulls, which should not be vaccinated. Bulls have to be kept naïve, however, the marker vaccine can be used on females in the herd to minimise virus circulation. This way the threat is minimised, and bulls can be kept infection free.
The PDSA has announced the launch of a new graduate programme to help train the veterinary surgeons of the future.
Applications for PDSA's Veterinary Surgeon Graduate Programme open today, and the programme is open to all veterinary surgeon graduates - including the current 2013 graduating student cohort.
According to the PDSA, its Veterinary Surgeon Graduate Programme is one of the first comprehensive - UK wide - graduate schemes in the veterinary profession to combine clinical experience, development of surgical skills, promotion of preventive services and pet wellbeing education. It is delivered via a structured programme with dedicated support including mentoring, training and continuing professional development opportunities - within a busy small animal charity practice environment.
Following the framework of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Professional Development Phase (PDP), the duration of the programme is one year. Successful applicants will be based at one of five PDSA PetAid hospitals - Glasgow East, Bradford, Liverpool Kirkdale, Stoke-on-Trent or Bow - and will also work at several other PDSA PetAid hospitals within the geographic location, building up experience in different hospitals and working with different teams. There will also be dedicated time off the veterinary rota to be able to train and coach the new graduates to develop their clinical skills.
The charity says that the programme will provide the necessary experience for new graduates to complete their compulsory PDP. It is hoped that those successfully completing the graduate programme will continue their careers with PDSA taking on available permanent opportunities in the charity.
Richard Hooker, PDSA Director of Veterinary Services (pictured above left), said: "At PDSA, we have great talent within our veterinary teams and we are looking to add to that even further with the launch of our Veterinary Surgeon Graduate Programme; five outstanding graduates will join us in September 2013 to be part of PDSA's future and to develop their skills and experience as veterinary surgeons.
"On average, our PetAid hospitals see around 5,695 pets each working day - including consultations, emergency treatment, surgical procedures, through to preventative measures and education on pet wellbeing. The Veterinary Surgeon Graduate Programme will give our cohort the opportunity to gain invaluable small animal practice with the UK's leading veterinary charity, home to some of the most experienced and long-serving vets in our profession."
Applications are open until 29 March 2013. For further information and to apply, visit http://www.pdsa.org.uk/careers/graduate-programme/veterinary-graduates/apply-now or contact PDSA at hr.adminstration@pdsa.org.uk
Firstly, pets that haven’t received primary vaccinations due to the coronavirus outbreak and develop an issue that would have been prevented by a vaccination they were unable to access, will now have that condition covered under their Agria policy.
Secondly, the company has now made it possible for owners of cats and dogs under the age of five to set up a 'Four Weeks Free' policy - which would ordinarily be set up in practice - themselves.
Simon Wheeler, Managing Director of Agria Pet Insurance (pictured right), said: "We have introduced these additional products during the pandemic to ensure that pets remain covered despite new and significant challenges faced by vets and owners. We hope that they alleviate a little of the pressure faced by veterinary staff and worry felt by owners."
Robin Hargreaves, who is Agria's Vet Lead and helped develop the solutions said: "Times are pretty tough in practice right now, and operating on a restricted basis isn’t ideal for us or the pets registered with us. One thing that would make life even harder would be if the percentage of uninsured pets was to rise.
"With Agria making it possible for owners to activate their own 4 Weeks Free policies at this time, even owners that can’t see vets as usual can still protect their pets with insurance.
“Relaxing restrictions around cover for unvaccinated pets will come as a huge relief in some cases, enabling any pets that have missed primary vaccinations or gone past their booster date due to current restrictions to still be insured."
For more information, visit: agriapet.co.uk/guide
Containing 3% m/v Chlorhexidine, Pyoderm is designed to support the natural microbial balance of the skin whilst delivering gentle yet effective cleansing.
Along with the rest of Virbac's range of dermatological and everyday care shampoos, Pyoderm is presented in 250ml eco-friendly bottles which are made from 100% recycled plastic and recyclable packaging.
The shampoos themselves are also biodegradable.
https://uk.virbac.com/
CEVA Animal Health has introduced Carprodyl® F, a new flavoured version of Carprodyl®.
The company says that the original version of Carprodyl®, the carprofen-based painkiller, has proved very popular with vets, partly thanks to its cost-effective pricing and special offers which help to maximise practice profitability. Carprodyl® F is still priced to boost practice profits, but is now packed with additional improvements.
Palatability is known to be an important factor when it comes to owner compliance. Carprodyl® F contains new pork and yeast flavouring, which has been shown to be extremely appetising for dogs. In CEVA's palatability studies, 100% of dogs took the flavoured tablets voluntarily from the hand or in food. In addition Carprodyl® F is now available in a new 100mg tablet size, which makes dosing easier and more cost-effective for the owners of large dogs.
For further product information and details on how Carprodyl® F can benefit your clients and improve practice profits, please contact your local CEVA representative or call the veterinary support team on 01494 781510, CEVA Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has suspended a veterinary surgeon for a period of three months for practising veterinary surgery while not registered with the College.
At a hearing which concluded on 9 September, Silke Birgitt Lindridge, of the Consett Veterinary Centre, Medomsley Road, Consett, County Durham, was found guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect for practising when she ought to have known that her name had been removed from the RCVS Register for non-payment of fees.
The Committee heard that Mrs Lindridge, who qualified as a veterinary surgeon at the University of Berlin in 1997, had returned to Germany whilst on maternity leave in September 2006 but had continued to be the sole principal of two practices, the Consett Veterinary Centre, and the Winlaton Veterinary Centre in Tyne and Wear. She had continued to run the practices whilst in Germany, and had returned to the UK on several occasions during 2007, when she practised veterinary surgery on small animals and horses. She had not been registered with the College for the period between 5 June 2006 and 2 April 2008.
To practise veterinary surgery when unregistered is a criminal offence. However, after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, a decision was taken that it was not in the public interest to prosecute Mrs Lindridge and that the matter should be left with the RCVS Disciplinary Committee.
Mrs Lindridge claimed not to be aware that she was unregistered, stating that a fee notice and reminder, as well as a telephone call and correspondence from the College about her registration status, had not been brought to her attention by her practice administrators. The Committee accepted that she had not known, but decided that, as registration was a professional obligation, Mrs Lindridge should have known that her name had been removed from the Register, a charge that Mrs Lindridge accepted. The Committee felt that: "The failure of Mrs Lindridge to put in place proper systems for the administration of her practice, including the payment of her annual retention fee... was lamentable." The way in which the practice had paid its bills during her absence demonstrated an "utterly careless attitude to the administration of the practice".
Taking account of the fact that Mrs Lindridge had not knowingly practised while unregistered, and the positive support of her clients, the Committee decided that a three-month period of suspension from the Register was appropriate.
Beverley Cottrell, chairing the Committee, commented: "The Committee would like to make it clear that it is the personal responsibility of every practising veterinary surgeon to ensure that the annual retention fee is paid and that their names are on the Register. It is in the public interest that clients should be assured that the practitioner is a regulated person, who is capable of providing valid certificates."
She continued: "The record of Mrs Lindridge's practice during 2007 discloses that she was providing certificates for horses and small animals whilst she was unregistered. Those certificates are invalid. She was also prescribing prescription-only drugs when she was not entitled to do so. The Committee considers that a short period of suspension is proportionate to the nature and the extent of the charge, the public interest and the interests of Mrs Lindridge."
Bayer Animal Health, makers of Profender, has launched a campaign to reignite the age-long debate, 'Cats vs Dogs', to highlight the importance of protecting cats against intestinal worms.
Aiming to spark discussion between pet owners and vets, the campaign emphasises key differences between cats and dogs, including the challenges they present when it comes to worming control, such as cats' independent nature.
Previous research by Bayer Animal Health found that 42% of cat owners worry their pet does not swallow worming tablets, 38% are concerned that it will spit it out and 21 per cent say their cat runs away. This leaves potentially more than 750,000 cats unprotected from the parasite.
Launching in September, the campaign microsite http://www.catsvdogs.co.uk/, invites the public to vote for who they think rules, while uniting and educating owners over their common foe: intestinal worms. Voting closes at the end of November, with a tribute video to the winning species as voted for by the nation.
Alongside the microsite, a nationwide survey of pet owners is being conducted in partnership with Your Cat and Your Dog magazine to uncover pet owner perceptions of cats vs dogs, including parasite protection attitudes.
Campaign materials will also be supplied to veterinary practices, including an educational poster about worming control and applying spot-ons. For further information and campaign materials please get in touch with your local Bayer Animal Health Territory Manager.
For further information about Profender, or parasite control in companion animals, visit: http://www.itsajungle.co.uk/.
World Horse Welfare and Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations (FEEVA) have announced the publication of a new set of practical guidelines on assessing the fitness for transport of equidae (horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids).
The publication was produced by a collaboration of agri-food, transport, veterinary organisations and animal welfare groups supported by the European Commission.
The guidelines are designed to set out clear and simple methods of assessing the fitness of equidae for transport to support a number of objectives including: helping maintain good health among animals and humans, reducing the risk of disease transmission and preventing animal suffering. The guidelines also support transporters in avoiding penalties, financial losses, and withdrawal of the transporter’s authorisation or driver’s certificate of competence.
The guidelines also offer a health and transport checklist and a quick reference guide to assess vital signs and health concerns.
Whilst the guidelines have been produced to protect animal welfare, they also aim to help protect the health and safety of anyone involved in the transport of equidae, supporting transport professionals in the enforcement and understanding of EU Regulation 1/2005 which states that 'No animal shall be transported unless it is fit for the intended journey'.
Andrea Gavinelli, Head of Unit for Official Controls and Eradication of Diseases in Animals, said: "These guidelines will be an essential resource for anyone involved in the transportation of horses, donkeys, mules or their hybrids and I am pleased that the Commission has been able to support their production and dissemination."
The guidelines also received recognition from Dr Bernard Vallat Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for 15 years before recently leaving the position. He said: "It is my pleasure to commend this visual guide to health conditions that may impact on the fitness of animals to travel. This clear and simple guide will help all those involved in animal transport to quickly and easily assess the situation and understand what course of action to take."
The guidelines are available by registering via FVE (Federation of Veterinarians of Europe) www.fve.org
Hosted by Chris Dixon, veterinary ophthalmologist and director at Veterinary Vision Ophthalmic Referrals, the Back to Basics series highlights key aspects to consider when examining a patient with an ocular disorder.
Each 15 minute video covers different aspects of the ocular examination, including practical tips for performing an external and internal ocular exam, optimal use of the ophthalmoscope, and how to approach and manage two common ocular conditions in dogs: corneal ulceration and keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
In the first video of the series, Chris discusses how to perform an external ocular examination, and demonstrates some key ocular reflex and response tests, including the menace response, dazzle reflex, and pupillary light reflex.
Chris said: "This series of videos aims to help vets learn how to perform the fundamental techniques of ophthalmic examination, hopefully enabling them to spot potentially degenerative conditions earlier. The videos have been created in partnership with Bayer as part of their ongoing commitment to training, and aim to help ensure that chronic conditions, such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or dry eye, are diagnosed and treated early."
Hannah Watts, Group Product Manager at Bayer said: "Ocular conditions are commonly encountered in practice, and early diagnosis of conditions such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is so important; with this in mind, the aim of these videos is to assist vets in their approach to the canine ocular examination, in order to allow them to feel confident in diagnosing and managing common ocular conditions."
The first video is available below. Don't forget that you can use the 'Claim CPD' button above this story to claim time spent watching it towards your annual CPD requirement.
The videos have been launched as part of the RemendTM Vision Matters campaign.
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Su Page MRCVS, Amodip Product Manager at CEVA, said: “If left untreated, hypertension can result in target organ damage (TOD), with ocular problems developing in at least 80% of hypertensive cases1.
"Other major body systems that are commonly affected include the brain, heart and kidneys.
"Despite the potential for catastrophic sequelae such as retinopathy and blindness, owners may see very little in the way of warning signs.
"That means these patients are completely reliant on a veterinary recommendation for blood pressure monitoring.”
Ceva says that ideally, all cats over nine should be screened regularly. But given the pressure the profession is currently working under, the priority is to address the needs of the most at risk cats, ie those with predisposing conditions such as kidney disease and hyperthyroidism.
Su said: “There is a real danger that many of those cats will be close to crisis point right now and the sooner we can identify those that need help, the better a chance we have of extending their quality and quantity of life.”
Vets looking to update their knowledge on feline hypertension, including the importance of regular screening, blood pressure monitoring techniques, and appropriate treatment options, can complete Ceva's free Feline Hypertension Ambassador CPD course at: https://veterinarywebinars.com/community/ceva/.
Reference
The programme offers a route to achieve a General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert).
In 14 modules (six online and eight face-to-face) delivered over 11 months, the programme covers the fundamental principles of the different imaging modalities, giving an overview of their application and benefits.
Each online module consists of four sessions spread over one month, with video lessons and case-based studies for learners to work through at their own pace.
There'll also be a monthly live webinar for case discussion and film reading sessions with the specialist tutor.
The face-to-face sessions are conducted over two consecutive days and are designed to support learners in consolidating their knowledge and developing skills in ultrasound.
As well as the GPCert, the course also offers a route to a Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) through the company’s partnership with Harper Adams University.
Programme registration includes a subscription to the RCVS Knowledge Library, which includes access to many electronic resources, including the latest journals and clinical research.
Head of Business Development for Improve International in the UK, Dr Charlotte French (pictured right), said: “The successful completion of this programme will increase learners’ skills, knowledge and confidence in dealing with more imaging cases, which will, in turn, enable them to grow their small animal caseload and revenue stream.
"With imaging so often a key element of a successful diagnosis, we are seeing increased interest from veterinary surgeons in upskilling in this fast-moving area and are delighted to offer them the opportunity to do this with our new programme.”
CVS Group has announced record half-year pre-tax profits of £1.9m, indicating the robustness of the veterinary sector in harsh economic conditions.
Like-for-like sales were up 2.3% in the first half. However, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the company has said revenue from sales of inessentials like preventative flea control may yet fall.
Every UK-based veterinary surgeon that registers as a member of www.vetsurgeon.org by 1st November 2010 will be entered into a draw to win an Apple iPad 32GB Wi-Fi worth £500.
All existing veterinary surgeon members will also be entered into the draw automatically, so there's no need to re-register. Still, you might like to spread the word about the draw amongst colleagues.
Full terms and conditions are available by clicking here.
Vetoquinol has announced that the vouchers it provides as part of the Epiphen practice support package for monitoring and management of serum levels of phenobarbital will now be provided directly from the veterinary wholesaler and sent with each order.
One or two vouchers are provided with the 30ml and 60ml packs respectively. The vouchers come complete with a pre-paid envelope in which to send samples directly to the laboratory. Each test is valued at £19.80
For further information, contact your local Vetoquinol Territory Manager.
Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease variant (RVHD2) is a variation of the already recognised Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD1). Vaccines for the original strain of RVHD do not appear to offer long term protection against RVHD2, however vaccines for this new strain are now available in the UK and can be purchased through three UK wholesalers (NVS, Centaur and Henry Schein Animal Health) or direct from the suppliers in Europe. There have been supply issues with this vaccination, however these are hoping to be remedied soon.
RVHD2 is more variable in its rate of disease progression than RVHD1, with presentation ranging from sudden death (with or without bleeding from the orifices), to a longer disease course of three to nine days, increasing the risk of unwell rabbits being brought into practices and in turn increasing the risk of transmission to other pet rabbits. Until vaccination becomes more routine, biosecurity in practices is key to prevent the disease from spreading.
Sean Wensley, BVA President, said: "Although the risk of a rabbit contracting RVHD2 appears highest in situations where rabbits are kept in large groups with regular new additions, such as at breeders or rescue centres, we encourage all owners to speak to their vet about vaccinating their rabbits against RVHD2.
"Veterinary advice from The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) has stated that the spread of RVHD2 may be facilitated by its apparent slower disease progression compared to RVHD1, and research suggests that we can expect to see RVHD2 starting to predominate in the UK’s wild rabbits over RVHD1 in the next five years or so."
John Chitty, BSAVA Vice President, said: "BSAVA would encourage practices to talk to rabbit owning clients about RVHD2 vaccines, and where there is deemed sufficient risk recommend the vaccine along with the essential vaccination against Myxomatosis – and it should be noted that this must not be done within two weeks of vaccination against RVHD2."
BVZS President and veterinary pathologist Mark Stidworthy said: "It is clear from post mortem examinations and PCR testing over the last 18 months that RVHD2 is now geographically widespread in the UK and all rabbits should be considered at risk from this potentially devastating disease."
Due to recent media coverage of RVHD2, vets may be contacted by concerned owners seeking advice on how to prevent their rabbits contracting this disease - further to vaccinating, vets should recommend rabbits are kept separate from any other rabbits they do not usually interact with; are prevented from having contact with wild rabbits and do not attend any rabbit shows unless already vaccinated.
For a detailed Q&A on RVHD2 from Richard Saunders MRCVS, veterinary advisor to the RWAF, including information on sourcing effective vaccines, visit www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk and click RVHD2 - Filavac Vaccine – FAQs on the home page.
Photo: Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0.
The speakers are:
Dr Lappin said: “There are a number of significant changes in the management of SARS-CoV-2 that impact companion animal medicine and our staff members since our first webinar. I believe the information to be presented will be extremely valuable in helping your veterinary team continue to successfully navigate this pandemic.”
David Sutton, Global Technical Director at webinar sponsors MSD Animal Health, said “COVID-19 has presented an extraordinary challenge to the global community. MSD Animal Health is proud to support WSAVA in providing quality education to veterinary professionals who continue to go above and beyond in the care of companion animals during the pandemic.”
To register for the webinar, visit: http://bit.ly/wsavawebinar-covd19-registration
The award, introduced in 2020 and supported by animal health company Krka UK, recognises an exceptional farm vet who has been working in the dairy industry for three to five years and who has contributed significantly to the health and wellbeing of herds under their care.
The winner of the first award, in 2021, was Rob Hall from LLM Farm Vets in Shropshire. He said: "The sustainability of the dairy industry will remain in the spotlight for decades to come with young vets in a great position to work with dairy farmers of the future to improve the efficiency of their herds. This can be achieved, for instance, by improving nutrition, genetics and housing; by helping farmers to reduce antibiotics or wormers; and by reducing the detrimental effects of disease.”
He added: “As vets start their post-university careers, they face a steep learning curve. Dairy vets, in particular, have a huge arsenal of practical skills to hone, as well as trying to forge relationships with farmers and colleagues. It can be tricky to strike the right balance, while finding time to pursue their own interests to keep work interesting. I’ve been lucky at LLM to have had the opportunity to work with a great team and engaged farmers. This has enabled me to pick up the basics, as well as being able to delve deeper into the aspects of farming which interest me most. I’m extremely grateful to The Cream Awards for recognising this and to KRKA for its support of the Young Dairy Vet Award.”
Charlotte Read (pictured right), Krka Key Account Manager – Farm, added: “Krka is proud to support the recognition of rising stars within the dairy veterinary profession and hope that their achievements will inspire many of the next generation of veterinary surgeons to embrace the rewarding life of the farm vet.”
Full details of all of the CREAM Awards and the nomination process is available at: https://creamawards.uk
Royal Canin has launched 'Calm', described as the UK's first complete nutritional support for cats and dogs during stress.
Royal Canin says Calm contains a combination of two nutrients known to help support stress management. Alpha-casozepine is a patented milk peptide developed after observations of the post-prandial calming properties of milk in newborns, while L-tryptophan is an amino acid precursor of serotonin, involved in mood control. According to the company, Calm also helps support the skin and digestion, promote the elimination of hairballs in cats, and help delay the formation of tartar in dogs. Calm also contains Royal Canin's S/O Index to help maintain urinary health.
Because palatability becomes even more important when animals are stressed, Calm has been designed to be highly palatable - preferred by 68 per cent of cats in trials compared to a control food.
Royal Canin veterinary support manager Gudi Stuttard said: "We all know how stressful life can be, especially in a busy vet practice, and we recognise that dogs and cats can also be affected by stress. Calm is a unique way to help support them during stressful periods, as part of your multi-modal approach, in the form of complete, high quality nutrition to help keep pets in the best of health."
Royal Canin recommends that Calm is fed at least 10 days before any anticipated period of stress, and should then be maintained for two to three months. It can also be fed on a long-term basis if required. Calm is available in 2kg and 4kg bags - for more information, please contact your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager or call 0845 717 800.
Pfizer Animal Health is offering the chance to win £500 worth of CPD vouchers to UK veterinary surgeons who participate in the company's 5 minute online survey about Equine Herpes Virus (EHV).
Pfizer says the intention of the survey is to find out more about veterinary perceptions and understanding of this endemic disease and its effects on the UK's valuable equine industry. There are five multi-choice questions and the survey is available online from now until 31st May 2012. Vets who show their prowess in the skills-based section of the survey will be entered to win £500 of British Equine Veterinary Association CPD vouchers.
The survey is part of Pfizer's EHV awareness campaign to help vets encourage horse owners, yard managers, trainers and breeders to keep their horses protected from the effects of this common but often under-prioritised disease. The campaign includes the provision of information leaflets and the coordination of talks to help people, who manage horses, understand the severity of EHV and the best ways to prevent it.
According to Pfizer, the prevalence of EHV can be as high as 87.5% in the UK and latent infections in horses are frequently re-activated.1,2 The consequences can be serious, with abortion outbreaks proving to be a significant economic burden to owners, trainers and breeders.3,4 However, subclinical infections, although usually regarded as less serious, can remain unrecognised and can cause suboptimal performance in horses.
Sporadic, mild respiratory disease caused by EHV can lead to interrupted training and movement restrictions.4 Even after clinical recovery from EHV-1 or upper respiratory tract infections caused by EHV-4, some horse may develop 'poor performance syndrome'.5 These can all have serious financial repercussions on the equine industry.
To take part in the survey, visit http://www.ehvaware.com/. For further information on Pfizer's EHV campaign, to obtain literature for your practice or to book a talk for your clients please contact your Pfizer Account Manager.
1. Eddington et al. Equine Vet. J. 1994; 26 (2): 140-142. 2. Allen GP. 2002. Respiratory Infections by Equine Herpesvirus Types 1 and 4. In: P. Lekeux ed. 2002. Equine Respiratory Diseases. New York: International Veterinary Information Service. 3. Garré B et al. Vet Microbiol. 2007; 122(1-2): 43-51. 4. Lunn DP et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2009; 23(3): 450-61. 5. Slater, J. 2007. Equine Herpesvirus. In: Sellon, D. and Long, M. Equine Infectious Diseases. St Louis: Saunders. 144.
The University of Surrey has appointed Devereux Architects to create a masterplan for its new School of Veterinary Medicine.
As one of the University's largest and most prestigious future development sites, the new school, which sits within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, will comprise three complimentary and inter-related buildings totalling approximately 9000m2 - an Academic Building, a Veterinary Clinical Skills Centre and a Veterinary Pathology Facility.
The new building will be positioned at the corner of the new campus green at Manor Park. It will feature naturally ventilated office and teaching spaces along one side of the atrium and research spaces and lecture halls along the other. The roof of the atrium is shaped to guide rising, warmed air into the plant room where the heat can be extracted and reused.
The new academic building will provide world-class teaching and research laboratories, lecture theatres, and flexible break out spaces organised around a common shared atrium.
Professor Lisa Roberts, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, said: "We were very impressed with the design concept for the new School of Veterinary Medicine that Devereux Architects presented at the tendering stage. We are looking forward to working with the professional team at Devereux Architects to deliver this major project for the University of Surrey."