Vetsonic has taken over the marketing of Cavalesse, the oral nutritional supplement for horses that are prone to skin allergies, such as sweet itch.
Cavalesse contains a formulation of water-soluble vitamins and minerals, administered daily via a special pipette, either by sprinkling over a small handful of feed or adding to a treat. Vetsonic claims the supplement helps horses maintain a healthy skin and promotes normal immune function.
Ray Rochester, Managing Director of Vetsonic said: "It's an exciting phase in the development of Vetsonic which will see us rapidly expanding in the increasingly competitive small animal and equine market. Cavalesse is a welcome addition to our portfolio."
For further information, contact Vetsonic customer services on 01653 695333.
The group says it has led to 6,086 more clinical metrology questionnaires being conducted at participating practices with their patients, a 1,014% increase.
Developed by John Innes at the University of Liverpool, the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire is a 13-item clinical metrology instrument (CMI) used to assess canine articular disorders like osteoarthritis.
It includes questions on the pets’ medical background, lifestyle and mobility.
Individual question scores are summed to provide an overall “LOAD score” suggestive of the animal’s disease presence and severity.
The questionnaire should be conducted every time the pet is presented to the veterinary clinic, with results tracked over time.
Treatment options - including the benefits and risks of all available modalities – can then be considered and discussed with owners to determine the best course of action, including weight management, diet, supplements, exercise and environmental modification, in addition to medication.
As part of the project, CVS provided a range of supporting resources for its practices, together with training.
Training focussed on diagnosing and managing conditions causing lameness in dogs and cats, using the clinical metrology questionnaire to engage clients in their pets’ treatment plan, offering best practice treatment options and running nurse mobility clinics.
It comprised of a vet CPD day run with Zoetis and the VOA on approach to and management of lame patients, two nurse CPD days on mobility clinics, a feline and canine orthopaedic examination video, First Opinion Clinical Club webinars on canine and feline osteoarthritis and an approach to radiographic interpretation course.
Resources included: new clinical guidelines, IMV resources (radiographic positioning, optimising the image and optimal chemical restraint) and a Mobility Clinic Booklet for clients.
Each site was then provided with its own data, so that they could monitor what they were doing individually.
One year after its nation-wide launch, results reveal that the number of clinical metrology questionnaires being conducted in the 35 participating practices has increased from 6 to 6,092 over a 12 month time period.
CVS says there was also evidence of an increasing incidence of the osteoarthritis drugs Librela and Solensia being prescribed.
Kathryn Patel, Hub Clinical Lead at CVS (pictured), who was responsible for the lameness clinical improvement project, said: “This project uses owner questionnaires to screen for and monitor the impact of lameness on patient quality of life and emphasises the importance of the whole clinical team in patient management.
"Vets and nurses will be supported to improve their ability to reach a diagnosis in every lame case, improve engagement with and compliance of owners with lame pets, and improve the quality of care of lame patients through appropriate medication, surgical intervention, and nurse and physiotherapy support.”
The College says that design thinking is a problem-solving process that anyone can use in all areas of veterinary practice. It is a method by which teams can create solutions to problems or challenges using empathy, creative thinking and experimentation.
The 75-minute session will give an overview of the principles behind design thinking, its various practical stages, and how it can be used to tackle challenges and problems within everyday practice.
Sophie Rogers, RCVS ViVet Manager, said: “While design thinking may sound quite theoretical and conceptual, it is actually a very practical problem-solving process that suits busy veterinary professionals and their teams. For example, the webinar will also be applying design thinking to the current backdrop of the challenges posed by Covid-19 and will be using examples that are relevant to the veterinary world to explore how it can help overcome some of these key challenges.
“The webinar will also be interactive, with delegates being sorted into small groups to carry out tasks that bring ideas to life and demonstrate how it supports innovation and working collaboratively.”
The webinar will be hosted by Gill Stevens, the Founding Director of Level Seven, a consultancy that specialises in merging coaching with design thinking methodology as a way to support innovation and team productivity, and Rick Harris, Founder of Customer Faithful, a research-led consultancy, specialising in customer research, proposition design and employee engagement.
You can sign up to the webinar, which will count towards the continuing professional development (CPD) requirement for both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, via the ViVet website at: www.vivet.org.uk/design-thinking-webinar-a-practical-approach-to-problem-solving-in-veterinary-practice.
Suicide postvention is the response and provision of support after a suicide.
It aims to support recovery, and to prevent further adverse outcomes in the aftermath including the prevention of further deaths by suicide.
The new guidance is intended for people who have been affected by the suicide of a veterinary professional, people who support those who have been affected, and for managers and leaders in veterinary workplaces who are working to prevent suicide.
The guidance examines veterinary workplace considerations after a suicide, including immediate aftermath and longer term.
It also covers communication, including talking both with colleagues and clients, and publicly on social media and elsewhere.
It finishes with a checklist of actions for veterinary workplaces affected by suicide considering immediate, short term, and ongoing actions for support and postvention.
As well as providing this guidance, Vetlife can provide individualised support to practices and individuals who have experienced a suicide through its Postvention Service.
If you are a UK veterinary professional who has been affected by suicide or wants support for a veterinary workplace, contact 0303 040 2551.
You can download the guidance here.
The study, which examined cattle farmers’ and veterinary surgeons' opinions of pain-induced distress associated with disbudding, analgesia and attitudes and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), suggests that in particular, vets need to refine their understanding of farmers’ priorities, and how they guide clients on methods to improve calf welfare.
There have been a number of studies into the pain-induced distress resulting from the disbudding procedure. All methods of disbudding (apart from chemical cauterisation) in the UK require the use of a corneal nerve local anaesthetic blockade but there are currently no legislative requirements for the use of NSAIDs for disbudding – it is at the discretion of the farmer or veterinary surgeon carrying out the procedure. NSAIDs are routinely used in companion animals and equine practice, but less so in farm animals.
This new study, conducted by researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in Hertfordshire and Aran Vet Clinic in Gwynedd, looked at the attitudes of farmers and vets on pain perception and pain management methods for disbudding. A total of 118 vets and 140 farmers contributed to the study. Of the respondents:
The study concluded that veterinary surgeons underestimate the influences of welfare and analgesic duration and effectiveness on farmers' decisions, and overrated cost impact. This perception could have a negative effect on veterinary recommendation.
The authors of the study therefore advise that steps should be taken to address the current inadequacies in the communications between vets and clients in conveying the practicalities and potential benefits of using NSAIDs.
Dr Troy Gibson, PhD, PGDipSci, BSc, Lecturer in Animal Welfare Science at the Royal Veterinary College said: "Despite the large amount of evidence of the benefits of NSAIDs for disbudding, it is disappointing that their use is still not widespread. This may partly be due to the only recent licencing of one NSAID for cattle. However, from our work it is clear that one of the key barriers to wider uptake is the breakdown in communication between veterinarians and their clients in conveying the cost, practicalities and potential benefits of NSAID use for disbudding. The wider use of NSAIDs in combination with local anaesthetics during disbudding would significantly improve calf welfare."
Reference
The half day meeting will take place on Tuesday 25th May from midday to 4pm BST.
Speakers at the event, which accounts for four hours’ CPD, include: Dr Andy Sparkes, feline medicine specialist; Professor Patrick Pageat, president of IRSEA Group; Dr Nathalie Dowgray, head of ISFM and cat behaviourist, Susanne Hellman Holmström.
The programme is as follows:
There will also be a round table discussion on how to raise the focus on cats, when delegates will have the chance to interact with the speakers.
Abigail King, senior behaviour product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: “The Ceva Cat Expertise 2021 event is designed for the whole veterinary team and will provide online delegates with comprehensive and up-to-date information on feline hypertension and behaviour, including hands on tips which can be incorporated into day-to-day work in practice, as well as an overview of feline opportunities and trends for the future.”
All delegates will receive a diploma of participation and the meeting will be available on demand after the live event to all registered participants until 1 September 2021.
To register for Ceva Cat Expertise 2021 online event visit https://ceva-cat-expertise-2021.confetti.events/, contact your local Ceva Animal Health account manager or email cevauk@ceva.com.
Virbac has launched the BackHome Mini Chip, a microchip which is 8mm long compared to the existing standard which is 12mm.
The new Mini Chips are made of a pharmaceutical grade glass with an anti-migration coating. Because of their smaller size, they can be implanted with a needle that is 34% smaller than the standard needle. Virbac says this can minimise stress and discomfort during implantation.
Virbac has also announced a partnership with VetEnvoy, a service which works with practice management software to enable pet and owner registration details for BackHome Mini Chips to be uploaded to the Petlog database at the press of a button, saving support staff time completing online or paper application forms and reducing the number of errors.
Sarah Walker MRCVS, Product Manager, said: "Microchipping is the most effective way for owners to protect their pets and will soon become compulsory for dogs in England and Wales. Some owners are deterred from undertaking this important and simple procedure because they are concerned that it may be painful. Because our new BackHome Mini Chips are smaller and are implanted with a smaller needle, we hope that practices will be able to reassure their clients that microchipping will not cause their pet discomfort - and that the protection it offers will last a lifetime.
“Our relationship with VetEnvoy will also spare enabled practices some of the administration time spent processing microchip details, and reduce the number of mistakes in registration and any resulting complaints.
"Client information on BackHome Mini Chips is stored on Petlog, the UK's largest pet database, giving owners the best possible chance of being reunited with their pet, as long as they keep their registration details up to date."
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has dismissed an application to be restored to the Register of Veterinary Surgeons from former Wirral-based vet Ian Beveridge.
In May 2013 the Committee had asked the Registrar to remove Mr Beveridge from the Register following a four-day hearing in which he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct after finding that he had treated clients badly, kept inadequate clinical records, was dishonest in his dealings with the RCVS and that animals in his care were placed at risk.
In June 2013 Mr Beveridge, who was not present or represented at the original hearing, then appealed the decision. The appeal was withdrawn in May 2014 which was when Mr Beveridge was formally removed from the Register.
Then, in April 2015, Mr Beveridge applied to be restored to the Register. The Disciplinary Committee met to consider his application in June 2015, however, this hearing was adjourned after new evidence was served to the Committee concerning allegations that Mr Beveridge had ordered prescription-only veterinary medicines when he was not authorised to do so. He was subsequently interviewed by police who took no further action.
In deciding whether Mr Beveridge was fit to be restored to the Register, the Committee heard evidence in regards to the circumstances in which the prescription-only drugs were ordered using his account and delivered to his former practice address which had been taken over by Medivet after he sold the premises to the company.
During the course of the hearing, Mr Beveridge admitted that his account had been used to buy the drugs, but that a part-time member of his staff, who was neither a veterinary surgeon nor a veterinary nurse, had done so without his prior knowledge or approval.
In relation to this evidence Ian Green, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee, said: "The Committee takes the view that the unauthorised use of a veterinary surgeon’s drugs account for which he carries the ultimate responsibility is a very serious matter and, of itself, demonstrates that the applicant has at best a cavalier attitude to his work which of itself means that he remains unfit to be on the Register.
"This attitude is further demonstrated by the fact that, even after the first orders were placed in late April and early May 2014, the applicant did not seek clarification from the College of his status following the withdrawal of his appeal against the original Committee’s findings."
In addition to this, the Committee also considered the seriousness of his original failings, the fact that Mr Beveridge’s acceptance of these failings was ‘qualified’, that he had been off the Register for 20 months and the fact that his efforts in terms of continuing professional development had been inadequate and not focused on those areas in need of improvement, among other factors. In mitigation it did consider that Mr Beveridge had demonstrated genuine remorse about previous actions and noted a petition and a large number of letters in support of him from former clients of his practice.
However, the Committee felt that this did not detract from the seriousness of the original failings and, in conjunction with the subsequent unauthorised ordering of veterinary drugs, that the application for restoration must be dismissed.
John graduated from the RVC in 1973, after which his first job was at a mixed, mainly farm animal practice in Gloucestershire.
From there he moved to a mixed equine/small animal practice in Maidstone before joining Pierson Stewart and Partners, of which he later became a partner and then sole owner. He sold the business in 2018.
John has lectured widely in veterinary dentistry, practice management and cardiology.
He continues to see cardiac cases and carry out breed heart certification.
John invented the word autobiology as it seemed befitting of a life in which animals and plants have been so intricately tied to his work as a veterinary surgeon and his hobbies of gardening and lawn tennis.
He said: "I hope anyone in the profession who is interested in the history of veterinary medicine will enjoy reading how much things have changed in the last 50 years.
"It also has something for anyone interested in practice management, business and finance, not to mention sport.
"I hope it might also help everyone think about their work life balance and mental well being.
"Or you might just enjoy the funny and sometimes tear-jerking anecdotes."
Autobiology of a Vet is priced at £15.99 (hardback) / £8.99 (paperback) / £6.99 (ebook).
For more information, visit: https://www.gbpublishing.co.uk/autobiology-of-a-vet
Noelle Lowry, a marathon-running vet from Lichfield has raised almost £2,500 for the RCVS Trust in the London Marathon.
Noelle beat her fundraising target of £1,500, to raise money for the Trust to use in its work to support veterinary education and research, and in providing library and information services.
She finished 4,594 out of the 11,037 women runners in the London Marathon, taking 4 hours and 36 minutes to run the 26.2 mile long course - and beating her time last year in the New York marathon.
Noelle said: "A lot of people chipped in at the last minute - my mum has been organising people back home in Ballymena and my friends and colleagues have all put their hands in their pockets - so a huge thank you to all of them.
"I'm a great fan of the RCVS Trust. It's not one of the big charity brands but the grant funding for veterinary research can really make a difference to animals - and we can all use the library and online resources - so I wanted to give it some help."
Click here for more about the work of the RCVS Trust
Hosted by industry veteran, Anthony Chadwick MRCVS, there will be five episodes, covering pet life expectancy, sustainability in the vet industry, recruitment, and euthanasia.
The first episode of The Pet Profession Podcast is available now with guest Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Epidemiology and co-lead of the VetCompass Research Programme at the RVC, discussing pet life expectancy.
The Pet Profession Podcast is available from Spotify, Acast, Apple Podcasts and all main podcast directories.
agriapet.co.uk/vets
Veterinary practices are being encouraged to enter the annual Veterinary Marketing Association's (VMA) awards, which now include a practice-only category.
The annual VMA awards are intended to recognise excellence in all aspects of veterinary and animal health marketing. The Practice Marketing Award, sponsored by Pfizer, is awarded to the companion or production animal practice that demonstrates the most initiative and innovation in the marketing of its products and/or services to end users. This can involve the use of any form of activity, including advertising, websites, direct mail and media relations.
Last year's winner of this award was Kessock Equine Vets from Aberdeen, who travelled down to London to receive their award at a presentation lunch. The 2009 awards presentation ceremony takes place on Friday, 19th March at the Old Brewery in Chiswell Street, London. The meeting also presents a very good opportunity for vets to meet representatives from all the major animal health companies.
Tickets for the event cost £115+VAT for VMA/VMPA members (£150+VAT for non-members). The price includes a three-course meal (prepared by a two-star Michelin chef) with wine, a champagne reception and entertainment by a top comedian.
Further information on the awards is available on the Veterinary Marketing Association's website - http://www.vma.org.uk/. Closing date for entries is 5th February 2010.
The new app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, gives access to the BSAVA small animal formulary, BSAVA Guide to Procedures in Small Animal Practice, the BSAVA Medicines Guide, the BSAVA Library and the Poisons Database. It also allows the user to view BSAVA CPD, podcasts and upcoming courses.
Larsson Kabukoba, BSAVA’s App Developer said: "The app content has been devised by vets, for vets and we have already received some enthusiastic feedback about how useful it is. We will continue to develop and expand the app in response to feedback from our members to make sure it changes and evolves with the times and becomes an indispensable tool for every member’s pocket."
Titled ‘The Five Steps of Seizure Management’, the sessions will update veterinary surgeons and nurses on:
Will Peel, Product Manager at TVM UK said: "The Lunch and Learn sessions have proved very popular with veterinary practices. Our aim is to update vets and nurses on diagnosis and management of epilepsy in general practice whilst educating them about products and services which can help them better support their patients."
TVM says it will also provided supporting literature, including guidelines and owner educational tools, designed to help veterinary staff in diagnosing and treating pets with epilepsy.
To book a Lunch and Learn, contact your local TVM UK territory manager or email help@tvm-uk.com.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has launched new, more palatable Metacam Chewable Tablets.
According to the company, the tablets are proven to be taken by 90% of dogs voluntarily1 and 80% will even take them from the floor1 which aids compliance. Available in pop-through blister strips of seven for easy dispensing and administration, the 1mg and 2.5mg Metacam Chewable Tablets are packed in boxes of 84 and priced the same per tablet as the current tablet range.
Claire Fowler, companion animal marketing manager at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "The existing Metacam Chewable Tablets are readily accepted by most dogs. However, to appeal to as many dogs as possible, we have launched an even more appetising 'beefed up' meaty flavour."
For further information on the new flavoured Metacam tablets, including special offers, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim territory manager or call 01344 746959.
The project was 'highly commended' at the RCVS Knowledge 2024 awards.
The CVS clinical improvement project found that a major barrier to conducting ultrasound scans was a lack of confidence - both in using equipment and interpreting images.
A recent Canadian industry study has also reviewed barriers, citing a lack of equipment, training and skills as root causes1.
The ultrasound project aimed to review practice equipment, improve clinician case identification, increase clinical skills and confidence, and recommend ultrasound in all appropriate cases.
The company put together resources for vets and nurses designed to help improve ultrasound scan rates, including clinical guidelines, webinars for how to approach cases, and machine guides.
CVS then held training sessions which for vets focussed on case identification and improving diagnostic skills, and for vet nurses looked at how to use ultrasound equipment and conduct scans.
An audit of each participating practices’ ultrasound scan rates was conducted at the start of the project. Results were then shared with each practice every month.
Twelve months after launch, data shows that the number of ultrasound scans has increased by 3,675.
Anecdotal evidence has also shown that colleague confidence and practice team culture has improved as a result of the project.
Dr Victoria Woods, Regional Clinical Lead at CVS responsible for the ultrasound clinical improvement project, said: “It’s fantastic to see the benefits increased ultrasonography is already bringing to our practices on this project – especially as a result of upskilling our nurses.
"I am certain that this will help contribute towards them providing some of the best clinical diagnosis and care in our profession.”
Following the success of the project in its first year, the project is now being developed to focus on echocardiograph and is being undertaken in 52 CVS primary care practices in year two.
Novartis Animal Health has launched a 0.5L pack of the anthelmintic Zolvix to make the product more readily available for quarantine dosing, and for the smaller sheep farmer.
Novartis says that because Zolvix is a broad spectrum anthelmintic that has the ability to kill all common sheep gastro-intestinal nematodes, including those resistant to existing treatments, it has a key role to play in quarantine treatment to keep parasite infection down to a minimum.
Simon Harris, Endoparasite Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health, said: "As the first of the new generation of the Orange or 4-AD anthelmintic group, Zolvix has demonstrated effectiveness in killing worms, even those resistant to other products.
"Sheep farmers are being encouraged to use Zolvix as a quarantine treatment that can significantly reduce worm burdens on farm. I would stress that it is essential guidelines are followed in order to preserve Zolvix's ability to combat nematodes that have acquired resistance to other classes of wormers.
"This new pack size is aimed at farmers who are introducing new stock to their flocks, but will also be convenient for the smaller sheep farmer and smallholders who don't require such a large quantity of product."
Novartis says that because Zolvix is a short-acting anthelmintic, it does not encourage resistance to develop through a long duration of action. It has a high margin of safety so can be used to treat sheep and lambs including pregnant or lactating ewes and breeding rams. Its short meat withhold period of just seven days allows flexibility when marketing lambs.
Ceva Animal Health has announced its biggest ever TV advertising campaign, designed to highlight the benefits of using Adaptil and Feliway, will begin on Christmas Day.
The TV advertisement for Adaptil focuses on Meg and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Dude, who is anxious when Meg is away from home. With the strapline ‘Best behaviour starts here’ the advertisement will help educate pet owners on the action they should take to keep their dogs happy when they are left at home alone and Dude’s experience taking Adaptil.
Feliway’s TV advertisement features the strapline ‘Experience the difference in your home’ and focuses on the real life story of Clare and her rescue cat, Mewsli, who was often scared and anxious, so much so that she would hide under the bed and scratch the side of the chair.
The TV advertising campaign, which is aimed at ABC1 women, runs from Christmas Day until 10 January 2016 and the advertisements will air throughout the family films over the festive period with Adaptil featured during ad breaks for Paul O’Grady’s For the Love of Dogs Christmas Special on Boxing Day.
The aim of the ‘Advocates of Knowledge’ CPD lungworm modules is to help vets assess the lungworm risk in their area, recommend prevention and treatment regimes and also to communicate effectively with clients as the UK emerges from lockdown.
In the first module, Dr Jenny Helm, European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Senior Veterinary Clinician at the University of Glasgow, tackles questions about lungworm post lockdown, including whether or not pets are at greater risk as a result of changes in their owners' behaviour caused by the pandemic.
The second module, from Dr Simon Tappin, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, and Head of Medicine at Dick White Referrals (pictured right), will take the form of an interactive case-based discussion on lungworm. He will use clinical cases to talk through presenting signs, and how to approach investigation of these cases, as well as looking at treatment and prevention strategies.
Vicky McAlister, Senior Brand Manager for Advocate, said: “During lockdown, dog owners have modified their behaviour (including spending more time outdoors with their dogs), and this may have affected the risk of dogs becoming infected with lungworm. So we’re very pleased that, together with our experts, we’re launching informative, engaging and relevant CPD lungworm modules for vets, to help provide them with the information needed, and importantly to encourage communication with dog owners regarding this important subject matter”.
You can sign up for the CPD modules here - https://advocatesofknowledge.vettimes.co.uk.
The strategy, which is available to read at: www.rcvs.org.uk/diversity, lists six areas where the College and other DIG member organisations can work to improve diversity and inclusion within the veterinary professions at all stages – from school-age children who may be considering a career in the veterinary professions, to engendering positive culture change for those already in the professions.
The six areas are:
The RCVS Diversity & Inclusion Group includes representation from the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS), British Veterinary Association (BVA), the British Veterinary Ethnicity & Diversity Society (BVEDS), the British Veterinary LGBT+ Society, the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), the Major Employers Group, the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and the Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) and will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating progress within each of the above areas.
Dr Niall Connell, Senior Vice-President of the RCVS and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Group, said: "I’ve always been of the opinion that making the veterinary professions more diverse and reflective of British society at large, as well as protecting fellow professionals from discrimination, isn’t just a moral issue, but one that actually improves the quality of the profession and the outcomes we are delivering for our clients and patients.
"If we are losing colleagues to discrimination or just not attracting people from diverse backgrounds in the first place because they think it’s ‘not for people like them’, then we are losing out as a profession, and if we aren’t drawing on a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and attitudes in our work, then we are also potentially doing a disservice to our patients and clients. This is why this Strategy is not just a case of being seen to be doing something, but is actually crucial for the ongoing vitality and credibility of the veterinary team.
"It’s important to emphasise that this Strategy is a start, and not an end in and of itself. There will be lots of hard work to be done and challenging conversations to be had, and results may not be quick or immediately obvious, but I am proud that we are taking a proactive approach and not just saying ‘things will change with time’.
Dr Mandisa Greene, RCVS President and a member of the DIG, added: “Fulfilling this Strategy will involve a lot of hard work over the coming months and years but I am glad to say that many of the activities it outlines are already underway both at the RCVS and our partner organisations, building on the pioneering work that organisations such as the British Veterinary Association, British Veterinary Ethnicity & Diversity Society, the British Veterinary LGBT+ Society, Animal Aspirations and others have been undertaking.
“For example, we have already held a joint RCVS and Veterinary Schools Council Roundtable with BAME students in which we heard about their experiences, issues that they have encountered and how they felt they could be better supported. These discussions led to the formation of a new RCVS/VSC Working Group that will take forward actions as a priority.
"Our Mind Matters Initiative has also funded a vital piece of research being undertaken by BVEDS and the Royal Veterinary College on the impact of racism on the mental health of BAME veterinary professionals which will no doubt highlight some critical actions to take to better protect members of the professions from discrimination and improve how discrimination is reported and dealt with.
“On a personal level, I have also been undertaking a number of school talks and providing one-to-one mentoring to school students about veterinary careers because I think it is important that children from a wide variety of backgrounds can see me, as a Black British woman of Caribbean heritage, as a role-model for diversity within the veterinary profession and know that the professions can and should be welcoming to all.”
Veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons, students and other veterinary professionals are all invited to take part in the anonymous survey and share incidents where they have witnessed discrimination or felt discriminated against.
The survey covers the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act: age, gender reassignment, marital or partnership status, being pregnant, disability, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation. It also includes other forms of discrimination which might not fit under these characteristics, such as body weight and socio-economic background.
BVA Junior Vice President Daniella Dos Santos said: "The veterinary professions should be open, welcoming and supportive of everyone; however, it is clear from the reports we’re hearing that discrimination is still an issue. Worse still, we’re aware that some colleagues have faced a backlash when talking about their experiences of discrimination. This is completely unacceptable.
"If we hope to prompt meaningful change we need to fully understand the scale of the problems our colleagues are facing. To do that it’s important that we provide a safe, anonymous space for everyone to share their experiences. We hope this questionnaire will give people that opportunity and we would like to sincerely thank our colleagues for their willingness to share their personal experiences with us."
The survey was developed with the support of the British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society (BVEDS) and British Veterinary LGBT+.
BVA says it intends to gather further quantitative data on discrimination via its Spring Voice of the Veterinary Profession Survey 2019.
The questionnaire is open from 2 February until 2 March and should take around 10 minutes to complete. A link to the questionnaire is available here.
The winners and runners up will be honoured at a ceremony taking place on the eve of BSAVA Congress on 1st April 2020.
The television presenter Matt Baker will be hosting the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards for the third consecutive year, alongside head judge Chris Laurence MBE FRCVS, who puts his name to the Vet of the Year Award.
The award categories include:
Chris Laurence Vet of the Year – sponsored by Vet Record
Vet Nurse of the Year – sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance
Charity Team of the Year – sponsored by PDSA
Charitable Contribution of the Year – sponsored by Blue Cross
International Cat Care Welfare of the Year – sponsored by International Cat Care
Farmer of the Year – sponsored by R.A.B.I. and Farmers Guardian
Farm Educator of the Year – sponsored by NADIS and Farmers Guardian
Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare – sponsored by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines
To nominate someone, visit wwww.cevawelfare.com. They can come from all walks of life and will be assessed on the evidence provided in the original nomination.
Entries must be in by Tuesday 31 December 2019.
However, the report also indicates an opportunity for further uptake of teat sealant use as part of selective dry cow therapy.
The report is based on data collected from 940 dairy farmers and 156 vet practices.
Report author Christina Ford said: “The overall message from the report is exceedingly positive.
"79% of herds met the Ruma 2020 target by March 2021, and the decline in use of critically important antimicrobials was outstanding, a drop from 1.1 mg/kg PCU in 2018 to 0.02 mg/kg PCU in 2021.”
There was a large variation between individual herd results, which ranged from 0.28 to 87.51mg/kg PCU in 2021.
Christina said: “We found that it’s not always the same herds in the highest 25% antimicrobial usage year-on-year, nor is it necessarily the same farms consistently using the lowest quantities.
“There’s also no correlation at all when looking at different herd characteristics such as yield, herd size, breed.
"This demonstrates that it’s possible to make strides in reducing antimicrobials use in any farming system."
Senior clinical director at Kingshay, Tim Potter MRCVS says the report shows an opportunity for increased uptake of teat sealants to protect cows from infection without antibiotics.
“The teat sealant usage in 2021 was at 0.39 courses/cow, which was below the Ruma target of 0.7 courses per cow.
“Last year, 37% of herds were not using teat sealants at all, so there’s definitely room for improvement.
"Vets, farmers and wider industry need to work together to address the challenges around teat sealant use.
“Appropriate training around use of teat sealants is essential, as improper use and poor hygiene protocols can result in bacteria being trapped inside the udder, having the opposite effect on cow health and productivity.”
Tim says that vets are seeing increased demand from farmers for training in this area.
“As a result, VetPartners has invested in the training of our vets, and specific training aids to enable us to do this effectively, to ensure we’re able to support our farmers as best we can.”
The first annual Dairy Antimicrobial Focus Report can be downloaded from: https://www.kingshay.com/dairy-costings/dairy-antimicrobial-focus-report/
Vets4Ukraine2022 is the brainchild of a group of twenty veterinary Specialists who are raising money by offering their knowledge and expertise in the form of free CPD delivered online, via Facebook and Linkedin.
So far, they've raised £2,236 for the British Red Cross.
For details of this group's activities and the free CPD it is offering colleagues, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1491854917875566/permalink/1497308427330215/
Meanwhile the FECAVA and The Webinar Vet are running the Vets for Ukraine Online Conference, a CPD event online on the 9th April from 10:00am to 10:00pm.
More details of that initiative, which is raising money for the Disasters Emergency Committee and Four Paws can be found here: https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/ukraine-veterinary-aid-conference/
Last but not least, British Veterinary Professionals for Ukraine is working to get essential medical supplies - both for animals and humans - delivered to Ukraine.
BVP4U is asking for supplies to be sent to BVP4UA c/o Hoermann Equine,Wrights Lodge East, Oakham Road, Whissendine, Rutland, LE15 7HA.
A list of specific requirements is available on the BVP4UA facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishvetsforukraine.
Alternatively, veterinary practices can buy supplies through their regular wholesalers (MWI/Covetrus/NVS) and have them delivered direct to BVP4UA by emailing their wholesaler with details of what they want to donate.
Other companies who do not operate through wholesalers may also be prepared to deliver direct.
Cash donations can be made via gofundme> to allow direct purchasing of the most needed veterinary supplies https://gofund.me/f7f25366.
Those veterinary surgeons being audited are being asked to share their records for 2013 to 2015 by either allowing the College to access their online Professional Development Record or by sending the RCVS a copy of their CPD record cards. The deadline for sharing records is Friday 14 October 2016.
The audit is focused on six groups:
If any of the veterinary surgeons who have been audited are found to be non-compliant (ie. less than 105 hours of CPD over a rolling three-year period), they will be asked to explain why and send a plan stating how they will make up the hours in order to become compliant.
The College says it is also keen to remind veterinary surgeons that CPD encompasses a wide range of recorded activities, which can be clinical or non-clinical, including private reading/study, webinars, mentoring, clinical audit and discussion groups as well as attending seminars and workshops.
More information about what counts as CPD can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd
Those with any questions about the auditing process or what constitutes CPD can contact Jenny Soreskog-Turp, Education Officer at the College, on cpd@rcvs.org.uk
Ed's note: Don't forget to claim your VetSurgeon.org CPD certificate detailing time you've recorded reading content and taking part in qualifying discussions on the site. Click 'My Account' and then the 'CPD' tab to view your records and create your certificate.