he leaflet has been produced following changes in legislation concerning maternity, paternity and adoption, and covers issues such as:

• When employees need to tell their employer that they're pregnant, when maternity pay starts, all about paternity rights, and what to do when they're ready to return to work
• For employers, a timeline of when to do what, what to do when a locum tells them they're pregnant, and all about paternity and adoption rights
• Where locums stand on maternity, paternity and adoption

The leaflet includes timelines for quick reference together with health and safety advice, including a template risk assessment form.

Professor Bill Reilly, BVA past president, chaired the members services sub group which developed the document. He said: "This Guidance tells everyone in the practice team what they need to know about pregnancy in the workplace.

"Developed with the help of human resources and legal experts this Guidance answers common questions, gives a great overview of what should happen when, as well as who has which rights and responsibilities.

"It is specifically tailored to the veterinary environment so vets, vet nurses and practice managers should all find the clear advice useful."

BVA members can download the guide from www.bva.co.uk/guides.

The RCVS has held the first meeting of its Brexit Presidential Taskforce.

The taskforce was established following the EU referendum result on 24 June, with the central purpose of putting the profession in charge of its future by maximising the opportunities and minimising the risks of Brexit.

Almost half of veterinary surgeons registering in the UK qualified from veterinary schools elsewhere in the EU. While the Government issued a statement in mid-July clarifying that as yet there has been no change to the rights and status of EU nationals in the UK or UK nationals in the EU, it is not clear whether this situation will continue once the UK has left the EU.

The Brexit Presidential Taskforce will consider, and proactively engage with, the many possible changes that could shape the future of the UK veterinary profession due to Brexit.

The members of the Taskforce are: the President of the College, Chris Tufnell; the CEO, Nick Stace; the Treasurer, Amanda Boag; Operations Director, Corrie McCann; Junior Vice-President, Stephen May; Acting Registrar, Eleanor Ferguson; Chair of Education, Susan Dawson; Head of Education, Chris Warman; Council member Stuart Reid; Chair of VN Council, Liz Cox; and Director of Strategic Communications, Lizzie Lockett. 

The terms of reference include: considering how EU regulations currently impact the regulation of veterinary professionals in the UK, and making recommendations as to which should be maintained; looking at the issue of mutual recognition of veterinary graduates in Europe; considering workforce requirements and the implications of a new system of immigration; understanding the implications for the current RCVS agenda; considering whether a proactive RCVS agenda can influence any new UK legislation; reconsidering the College’s existing international strategy; and studying the financial impact on the College.

It was also agreed that the College should maintain communications with the British Veterinary Association and coordinate approaches where appropriate. 

Dr Chris Tufnell, President of the RCVS, said: "Brexit has profound implications for our professions. The Presidential Taskforce is exploring all implications and will develop proposals that will seek to mitigate the risks and maximise the benefits that can flow to the veterinary professions and to animal welfare.

"We are working closely with representative bodies and others so that the veterinary professions have a coordinated and well executed plan in place. We are in discussions with all relevant Government departments, working collaboratively and constructively, ensuring that our voice is heard and our influence is felt."

The next meeting will be held on 15 September, with the third one scheduled for 9 November.

The Kennel Club has confirmed that the BBC has pulled out of broadcasting Crufts next year. 

According to the Kennel Club, the decision was reached following what it described as 'unreasonable demands' from the BBC, including the exclusion of certain breeds of dog from the group competition at the show.

The Kennel Club says the BBC's demands took no account of the measures it has in place to improve the health of pedigree dogs, or of the fact that judges will be trained to help ensure that all dogs being awarded prizes at Crufts will be healthy representatives of their breed.

Ronnie Irving, Kennel Club Chairman, said "I am very sorry that BBC audiences around the world will not be able to join us in celebrating all dogs in 2009 and to see the remarkable diversity of dogs and activities on show at Crufts; ranging from the show classes to agility displays, the Friends for Life competition and the unsung heroes who take part in breed rescue.

"However, we have been forced to reject the insupportable conditions imposed by the BBC, who have told us they will only televise the show in 2009 if certain breeds are excluded from participating.We are unable to agree to these demands, as it would compromise both contractual obligations and our general responsibility to dog exhibitors and our audience and we believe it would be inappropriate and counterproductive to exclude any recognised breed from Crufts.

"We are obviously disappointed and confused with this outcome as we hoped the broadcast would have supported our focus on health and welfare issues, given advice about caring for and training dogs and showcased the charitable work that we support. This TV exposure would have benefited all dogs and given viewers a well-rounded picture of what the new Crufts in 2009 is all about."

In October 2008 the Kennel Club announced a strategy to show how it is focusing its activities on the health and welfare of all dogs. It announced mandatory compliance with a strict code of ethics for all breed clubs registered with the Kennel Club.

Earlier this month, it completed a review for each of the 209 pedigree dog breeds in the UK and announced revised standards that it says will have far-reaching benefits for the health and welfare of dogs. These new breed standards and health plans will benefit from research that has been funded by the Kennel Club in conjunction with veterinary research centres over a number of years. The overall aim is that all pedigree dogs should be fit for function and that breeders and judges should not reward dogs with obvious conditions or exaggerations, which would be detrimental in any way to their health.

Hill's has made the Dietary Key, it's detailed guide to the ingredients, nutritional analysis and feeding recommendations for every Hill's product, available online at www.hillsproducts.com.

Hill's says the UK is the first country to be able to access the Dietary Key on-line. The new site is free with open access to all, giving vets and nurses up to the minute information about Science Plan, Nature's Best and Prescription Diet ranges.

Adrian Pratt, Veterinary Affairs Manager said: "It's taken a long time to develop the site to contain the depth of information we feel vets and nurses need to make judgements on how to feed individual patients. There are no hidden passwords and no registration is required. We wanted to be completely open about our ingredients and the nutritional analysis of our product ranges. It should make life much easier for practices to have this level of detail, transparency and open access."

Researchers from the School of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Bristol have had a study into domestic dogs' fear responses to noise published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

According to the University, the study provides an important insight into dogs' fear of noises, and could improve our understanding of behavioural signs of fear or anxiety.

In the study two approaches were taken to investigate the occurrence of, and risk factors for, behaviours caused by a fear of noise: a postal survey of dog owners to investigate general demographic factors and a structured interview of a sub-set of owners to gather more detailed information.

• Nearly 50% of owners reported that their dog showed at least one behavioural sign typical of fear when exposed to noises such as fireworks, thunder and gunshots
• Only 25% of the above reported their dog as 'fearful' of noises

It seems that while owners are often aware of their pet's behavioural response when exposed to a loud noise, they do not necessarily recognise it as being indicative of fear or anxiety. This has relevance both for awareness of compromised welfare, and the methodology for surveying such behaviour.

• The most commonly reported behavioural signs were vocalising, trembling/shaking, hiding, vocalising and seeking people, but researchers think trembling and shaking are more often reported than other behaviours because they are similar to fearful behaviours in humans

According to the researchers, other behavioural signs, such as decreased activity or salivation, may not be as easily recognised by owners as signs of fear, and may be under-reported. Also, signs of urination, salivation and destruction may make owners disappointed or angry, and this may influence their interpretation that such behaviours are associated with fearfulness.

• Responses to fireworks were the most common, but fear responses to loud noises such as fireworks, gunshots and thunder appear to commonly co-occur, suggesting generalisation between salient stimuli

The risk factors for owner-reported fear of noises included:

• Breed, although 12 breeds or breed types were less likely to show fear responses to noises than cross-breeds, including popular gundog breeds such as the Labrador, Cocker Spaniel and Springer Spaniel
• Age, where risk increased with age
• Origin, where dogs living with the owner who bred them had a reduced risk compared to dogs purchased from the breeder by a second owner, supporting the view that an early environment that is very similar to the environment experienced in adulthood  is advantageous

The researchers suggest a dog's early life experience is an important factor in the development of fear responses to specific loud noises.

Dr Rachel Casey, European Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine and Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Bristol University, said: "Our results suggest that the characteristics of dogs, their early environment, and exposure to specific loud noises are involved in the development of fear responses to noises. Interestingly, less than a third of owners sought professional advice about treatment for their pet's response to noises."

Disappointingly, less than a third of owners currently seek professional advice about treatment for their pet's fear. The researchers recommend there is a need for veterinary surgeons to increase awareness among the general dog owning public that treatment is both available and effective in dealing with fears of loud noises, and to direct them towards appropriate sources of help.

Information for vets and dog owners on finding an expert to help treat behaviour problems including fear of noises can be found at www.rspca.org.uk/findabehaviourist

Paper: Fear responses to noises in domestic dogs: Prevalence, risk factors and co-occurrence with other fear related behaviour, Emily J. Blackwell, John W.S. Bradshaw, Rachel A. Casey, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, published online 22 January 2013.

BCF Technology has announced the launch of its new BUG ultrasound goggles. The company says that by using cutting-edge OLED display technology, BUGs deliver significant improvements in viewing images from fertility and pregnancy scanning of cattle, sheep, deer and goats.

BCF also says that BUGs are rugged and reliable, combining unprecedented display performance with excellent peripheral vision, and set a new standard in viewing ultrasound images. Optimised for grey scale imaging, the binocular style viewing features a full resolution display on which every ultrasound pixel is displayed. They are headband mounted for comfort and tough enough to suit any environment.

Gavin Mitchell, BCF’s Sales Director, said: “We spent over a year researching the needs of vets and developing the optimum technology for BUGs. We understand the problems that vets have experienced with monocular and binocular goggles, and we have successfully developed the ultimate solution for ultrasound scanning.”

Andrew Bronson, Cattle Vet, Alberta, Canada, said; "These durable goggles give me great peripheral vision when scanning cattle, which means that scanning is a lot safer. With the larger field of view and improved image quality over monocular goggles, I’ve finally found a permanent solution for portable ultrasound."

Charles Marwood, BVM & S, MRCVS, Clyde Veterinary Group, Scotland, said: "These goggles give a crisp, superior image and a fantastic resolution. They are very comfortable to wear with no safety issues."

BUGs are designed specifically for use with the BCF Easi-Scan ultrasound scanner. For more information, visit: http://www.bcftechnology.com/

Royal Canin has launched Breed Health Nutrition (BHN) foods for adult Dalmatians and French Bulldogs, bringing the company's portfolio of BHN foods up to a total of 19 dog breeds and four cat breeds.

Royal Canin vet marketing manager Ali Daff said: "Different breeds have different nutritional needs, varying from the sensitive digestion of the German Shepherd Dog to the ultra-long coat of the Persian cat.  All our research and development is based on putting the animal first - what its real needs are in terms of nutrition to suit its characteristics and lifestyle. 

"Veterinary practices are ideally placed to promote this idea to their clients, because they are talking to concerned and committed owners who want the best for their pets.  In terms of nutrition, a tailormade diet offers the pet the best chance of maintaining a long and healthy life - and a good opportunity for practices to build client loyalty."

Royal Canin says the Dalmatian is the only canine breed which can be predisposed to excrete significant amounts of uric acid in the urine, a characteristic shared with man and the great apes.  This uric acid, which is produced as a result of the metabolism of purines, can cause the formation of urinary calculi in some individuals.  The simple reduction of the amount of purines in the diet means that the body produces less uric acid, reducing the risk of urate stones developing - hence the development of Dalmatian 22 Adult for dogs over 15 months.  The diet is also specially developed to help support sensitive skin and intensify colour markings, as well as help maintain cardiac tone, support natural immunity, and support safe growth.

According to the company, the French Bulldog is renowned for its' sensitive digestion, so the use of very high quality, ultra-digestible proteins in French Bulldog 26 Adult help the diet deliver maximum nutritional value while helping reduce gastric fermentation (and odours as a result - a benefit many owners welcome!).  Carefully balanced fibres and maximum palatability ensure the meal is eaten with gusto, while a specially developed kibble is easy for the dog to pick up and crunch, with associated dental benefits.  High energy levels help maintain muscle mass, chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine provide joint support.

Ali Daff added: "These latest introductions are a very specific response to the needs of two special breeds, and will give veterinary practices another tool to help build and retain client loyalty."

Available from October 2009, Breed Health Nutrition foods are available from your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager, all good veterinary wholesalers, by calling 0800 717 800, or by visiting http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/.

Alternative remedies which could be dangerous to pets are being targeted by the Government in a major drive to improve animal health and welfare.
 
Some herbal and homeopathic products are claiming medicinal benefits without scientific proof, meaning they may not properly treat or prevent serious diseases, leaving pets at risk.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s (VMD) Director of Operations, John FitzGerald, said: "Some of these products are claiming to be effective and safe when no scientific evidence has been presented to us to show they are.

"Animal owners have a right to know if a product does what it claims. The products claim to treat diseases which can cause serious welfare problems and in some circumstances kill animals if not properly treated. So in some cases owners are giving remedies to their pets which don’t treat the problem."

A number of unauthorised products are being targeted, including:

• Homeopathic ‘nosodes’ - which are derived from diseased animal tissues, in the belief they act as a vaccination to prevent infection.
• Animal food supplements - known as neutraceuticals, which claim to treat diseases or bring extra health benefits such as improved mental ability in pet animals.
• Herbal liquids, powders and pellets - sold as herbal wormers - claiming to irritate and repel parasitic worms from the guts of horses, livestock, and pets.

From now on, the VMD will be contacting manufacturers to ensure that they demonstrate the products are safe and provide the benefits which they claim to. If this is not the case the manufacturers will be required to re-brand the products to make it clear they are not medicinal.

Supporting the action, British Veterinary Association President Harvey Locke said: "As veterinary surgeons we rely on the use of safe, effective and quality medicines for the health and welfare of animals under our care – and there must always be sound scientific evidence to back up medicinal claims made by the manufacturer of any product.

"Some of these unauthorised products may at the least be ineffective and at worst could cause harm because serious life-threatening diseases may go undiagnosed. We would urge animal owners always to check with their veterinary surgeon before giving any remedy or supplement to their pet."

The BVA has announced that from 2013, its annual Congress will take place at the London Vet Show.

The association says that the move is being done to bring together political debate and clinical CPD on a large scale and to ensure that the BVA can reach an even wider audience with its representative and educational services.

The BVA and the Vet Show teamed up last year at London Vet Show 2011 to announce the launch of the BVA Careers Fair, which will be hosted at this year's London Vet Show on 15-16 November, and the start of a partnership that would ensure discounted Vet Show rates for BVA members.

2013 will also see two new clinical streams added to the London Vet Show programme creating a comprehensive CPD event for vets in small and mixed practice. Cattle and equine streams for mixed practitioners will be delivered by the BVA to run alongside the popular companion animal stream provided by the Royal Veterinary College.

The partnership will also see substantial discounts being offered to BVA members.

BVA President Carl Padgett said: "BVA's number one value is that our members are at the heart of everything we do. We know that members require good value, high quality and relevant CPD and we believe that our new partnership with the London Vet Show offers the best opportunity for us to provide members with exactly what they want.

"It's a significant move for BVA but one that makes complete sense. From 2013 we will be bringing together the contentious issue streams that are the bedrock of BVA Congress, with a high quality clinical CPD programme covering large and small animals, and one of the biggest and best veterinary exhibitions.

"We know we haven't attracted the delegate numbers we would like to have done in recent years and by partnering with the London Vet Show we have the opportunity to reach a much greater audience. It's a very exciting step forward for BVA."

Rob Chapman, Event Director for the London Vet Show, said: "We are all delighted to be developing our relationship with the BVA. To be able to host such an established and prestigious event as the BVA Congress at the London Vet Show is an honour for the Vet Show.

"Combining the long-standing history of the BVA with the rapidly developing reputation of the Vet Show gives us a great symbiotic relationship. The new clinical content that we will be working on together will help the event and that relationship even further offering great value for both Vet Show delegates and BVA members."

The RCVS is hosting a free one-hour webinar about self-compassion, presented by Mind Matters research grant recipient Dr Katherine Wakelin, Clinical Psychologist, and Sarah Corthorne, trainee Clinical Psychologist, at 7:00pm on Tuesday 3rd September 2024.

The webinar will discuss the importance of self-compassion and provide an overview of Katherine and Sarah’s research into the effectiveness of an online compassion focused therapy (CFT) intervention in improving the mental wellbeing of veterinary professionals.

Katherine and Sarah will also go into more detail about how to get the most out of a CFT course they have created, which will be made freely available for veterinary professionals on the Mind Matters website and on the RCVS YouTube channel .

Katherine said: “Our recent randomised control trial has shown the course to significantly improve resilience and self-compassion and reduce rumination and self-criticism amongst veterinarians.

"Therefore, Sarah and I are delighted to now be disseminating the CFT course freely to the veterinary professions, so that as many people are able to benefit from the evidence-based resource as possible.

“Even though our research was conducted on veterinary surgeons, we hope that the course will be useful to all those working in the veterinary team as the content can be applied in a number of contexts.

“Our webinar will explain more about our research, as well as some of the science behind the effectiveness of the course in a veterinary context.

"So, if you are interested in learning more about how CFT may be able to help you and your team, both in a personal and professional capacity, please do come along.”

Katherine and Sarah’s compassion focused therapy course will be made available on the Mind Matters website in due course. In order to access the online compassion course, individuals are invited to complete a short questionnaire before and after watching one 10-15 minute video each day for 14 days, with the aim of the video intervention being to develop self-compassion skills and reduce self-criticism.

https://vetmindmatters.org/events/ 

The BVA has announced that Young Vet Network (YVN) members can now benefit from discounted access to Vetstream, the online peer reviewed service that provides clinical information about the veterinary care of dogs, cats, horses and rabbits.

YVN members, 3-8 years graduated, will now be able to benefit from large discounts (up to 63%) on Vetstream’s services, while graduates up to two years qualified already have free access to Vetstream via Vetstart.

Further information about the new package can be found on the BVA website at http://www.bva.co.uk/youngvetnetwork/vetstream_for_yvn_members.asp

Other YVN news includes the appointment of John Remnant as the new junior graduate BVA Council representative, while senior graduate rep Louisa Rance has given an interview to VETS.TV - the new web TV service currently being piloted by BVA - in which she talks about the work of the YVN and how it is helping newly qualified vets with the challenges faced after leaving vet school.

Merial has launched a 'Vaccination Back on Track' promotion via vet practices that administer Merial vaccines.

Under the scheme, owners of all horses over 12 months of age that have not yet been vaccinated against equine influenza or are overdue a booster obtain a primary vaccination course at an attractive discounted rate. A tetanus component is also available if required.

Dr Emma Batson from Merial said: "With continuing cases of equine flu recorded in the UK, and a global increase in the number of serious outbreaks, it has never been more important to ensure that horses are protected against this underestimated threat.

"It's often not fully understood that equine flu can be transferred indirectly via inanimate objects such as horse boxes, fencing or human clothing. With just 37% of horses in the UK estimated to be vaccinated, this leaves a significant naive and vulnerable population at risk".

Merial says there is no limit on the number of horses that can be vaccinated, making it a particularly attractive offer for those with more than one horse or yard(s).

Participating practices have the option to run the scheme in any month between now and December 2009. For information, contact your Merial Territory Manager.

The RCVS has written to the MPs drawn in today's private members' Bill ballot to call upon them to introduce legislation to protect the title 'veterinary nurse' and introduce an effective regulatory system that would ensure that those veterinary nurses found guilty of serious professional misconduct are prevented from carrying out medical treatment to or surgery on animals.

Currently the title 'veterinary nurse' is not protected, so anyone can legally refer to themselves as a veterinary nurse, regardless of their level of training.

Furthermore, veterinary nurses (VNs) are not subject to statutory regulation; the RCVS uses powers under its Royal Charter to award certificates to VNs who have undergone approved training. Qualified VNs (whose names appear in a List of certificate-holders published by the RCVS) are allowed to give medical treatment to, or carry out minor surgery on, animals under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA).

In 2007, the RCVS introduced a non-statutory Register of Veterinary Nurses. Registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) commit to follow a code of professional conduct, keep their skills and knowledge up to date and submit to a disciplinary system.

RVNs found guilty of serious professional misconduct can be suspended or removed from the Register at the direction of the RVN Disciplinary Committee (DC), but the RCVS has no power to remove them from the List. This means they can still legally give medical treatment or carry out minor surgery and perform other nursing duties specified under VSA (although they will then be formally listed as 'DC removal - Listed').

The RCVS has been working for some time to develop a framework for the regulation of veterinary nurses and has sent the ballot MPs a pre-prepared Bill, drafted by leading Counsel.

The statutory regulation of VNs is widely supported by the veterinary nursing profession and the public. This is evidenced by a 2012 HM Government e-petition, calling for the statutory regulation of veterinary nurses, which received over 2,500 signatures. Furthermore, the regulation of veterinary nurses by statute is supported by the British Veterinary Nursing Association and the British Veterinary Association, the representative bodies for veterinary nurses and surgeons in the UK.

RCVS Chief Executive Nick Stace said:"I urge MPs selected in today's Ballot to take forward legislation for the statutory regulation of veterinary nurses and the protection of the title veterinary nurse. The nation's animals and owners deserve better than the current situation.

"There is widespread support amongst the public and profession for such legislation, so the RCVS has had a Bill drafted by leading Counsel and is prepared to offer significant support to any MP willing to pick up this worthy cause."