The proposed framework has grown out of the VN Futures research project, run jointly with the BVNA, which identified developing a structured and rewarding career path for veterinary nurses as one of the key demands of the profession.
It has been developed by the VN Futures Post-Registration Development Group in conjunction with the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Education Committee and Veterinary Nurses Council.
The College says the proposed framework is designed to provide accessible, flexible and professionally relevant post-registration awards for veterinary nurses in order to provide an enhanced level of veterinary nursing practice, while also providing specific modules that veterinary nurses at all career levels can study independently for their continuing professional development (CPD).
Julie Dugmore, Director of Veterinary Nursing at the RCVS, said: "One of the strongest messages that came out of the research we conducted with the British Veterinary Nursing Association prior to the publication of the VN Futures Report was that there was a need for a more structured and rewarding career path for veterinary nurses.
"Throughout the VN Futures roadshow events nurses felt they were often entering a career cul-de-sac after a certain amount of time in practice and so the need for further post-registration qualifications which promote excellence and recognise advanced knowledge, skills, competency and experience in designated areas were strongly expressed.
"We have taken this feedback and developed it into a comprehensive framework for two defined post-registration qualifications and are very interested in hearing what both veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons have to say about all aspects of what we are proposing.
"Once we have collated the responses, we will incorporate the feedback into the framework for further consideration by the relevant committees and VN Council. The eventual aim is that these qualifications will, once sufficiently bedded in, lead to the development of an Advanced Veterinary Nurse status so that members of the VN profession with the sufficient skills and experience will get the recognition they truly deserve."
The two new qualifications included in the framework are a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing and a Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing. Details of the courses’ structure, candidate assessment criteria, accreditation standards, student support, candidate eligibility rules, the RCVS enrolment process and the procedures for certification will be set out in a framework document as part of the consultation process.
The document also includes a prospective list of designations for the two courses covering areas of advanced veterinary nursing knowledge such as wellness and preventative health; rehabilitation and physiotherapy; anaesthesia and analgesia; triage, critical care and emergency nursing; pharmacology; animal welfare; education and teaching; management and leadership; research; and, dentistry.
The consultation will be launched in early July with an email sent to all veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons containing a link to the survey and asking for their views on the proposals. Details of the consultation, once launched, may also be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/consultations
The VN Futures Report is available to download from www.vetfutures.org.uk/vnfutures
Accredited by the European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ESVPS) and due to be validated by Harper Adams University, Improve says the new Cert will be delivered over 14 modules in three blocks of training by globally recognised experts in practical training centres in Sheffield, UK; Cremona, Italy and Madrid, Spain.
The modules will be supported by an online learning platform providing notes, additional learning resources and the ability for delegates to discuss clinical cases in a closed forum.
David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve International, said: "Our GPAdvCert in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery is a natural progression for veterinary surgeons who want to develop their soft tissue surgery skills.
"The programme focuses on problem-solving to increase confidence in diagnosing and stabilising animals with complex pathologies and delegates will have plenty of opportunity to practise new surgical techniques and advanced procedures under close supervision in a wet-lab environment."
He added: "In common with our other GPAdvCerts in Orthopaedics and Small Animal Medicine, achieving this qualification will help vets in practice to reduce the number of patients they have to refer, enabling them to retain a higher level of income for their practice. The programme will also provide them with skills which they can pass onto their team."
The GPAdvCert in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery is aimed at veterinary surgeons who have already completed a General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Surgery (GPCertSAS) or a Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) in Small Animal Surgery.
Improve says the successful achievement of a GPAdvCert enables delegates to progress from a Postgraduate Certificate (or equivalent) to the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Practice Sciences in the UK, which is awarded by Harper Adams University. This can, in turn, be used towards the award of a Master’s Degree (MSc) in Advanced Veterinary Practice Sciences.
Developed by Italian tech company, Otech Industry srl, the Onemytis 2 uniquely uses gas ionisation to vaporise tissue at lower temperatures and, claims Excel, with greater precision than is possible with conventional electrosurgery.
The knife works by a strong electromagnetic field through air. This releases plasma which vaporises tissue at a maximum operating temperature of 50°C (compared to more than 118°C in conventional electrosurgery).
During surgery, the electrode does not touch the patient. Plasma is formed when it is between 1 and 2 mm away from the patient, depending on the power setting. This means the surgeon does not apply any pressure when creating an incision, allowing greater precision.
The Onemytis range starts from £4500 +VAT.
West Sussex first opinion vet, Julian Hoad, Head of Crossways Veterinary Group, started using Onemytis last year for a range or procedures including laparoscopic surgery and the removal of masses, often without the need for a general anaesthetic.
Julian said: "I’ve used electrosurgery for 20 years and this is an order of magnitude better. It is more precise, more reliable and results in a much better healing surface."
"I recently removed an enlarged lymph node. The mass was around the mesenteric root. Because Onemytis is so precise I was able to dissect around the blood vessels, removing tissue that was attached to them with no blood loss. Onemytis is also excellent for removing epulides. It cuts though gingival tissue with very limited burning and produces very good, pain-free healing."
"I now routinely use it for performing nostril widening surgery in brachycephalic dogs; it reduces surgery time dramatically and completely abolishes bleeding in most cases."
"I have also used it to remove a large mass from a dog’s spleen and, by using a combination of Onemytis and Ligasure, managed to do so with a total blood loss of less than 2 ml."
Steve Hayden, Director at Excel Lasers, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Onemytis 2 to the UK. An important part of our role is to identify the technological innovations we think are most likely to help vets and their patients and Onemytis really stands out. The feedback we have had from our clients has been extremely positive and we think it has a fantastic future in veterinary surgery.”
To find out more about Onemytis 2 and watch videos of it in action, visit: https://www.excellasers.com/airplasma/
Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml contains the short acting alpha-2 agonist xylazine and is licensed for I/V administration.
It is also licensed for I/M administration in cattle; it has zero milk withdrawal and short one day meat withdrawal and sedation occurs in cattle within two minutes I/V and five to 10 minutes I/M.
Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml joins Dechra’s Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml solution in the company’s anaesthesia and sedation range. Nerfasin vet also contains xylazine and is licensed for I/V administration for sedation and premedication prior to general anaesthesia in horses and cattle.
Alana McGlade, national sales manager at Dechra, said: “Dechra offers a comprehensive range of anaesthesia and sedation products allowing vets to customise protocols to the individual animal.
"Sedaxylan 20mg/ml and Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml solution provide vets with flexible and convenient dosing options.”
Both Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml and Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml are available in 25ml vials.
For more information, talk to your Dechra territory sales manager.
www.dechra.co.uk.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched Posatex (1% Orbifloxacin, 0.1% Mometasone Furoate Monohydrate and 0.1% Posaconazole, Otic Suspension), a new once-a-day treatment for otitis externa in dogs.
Posatex combines an antibacterial, an anti-inflammatory and an antifungal medication in one, seven-day treatment which the company describes as the 'next generation' treatment for severe otitis externa in dogs, designed to make compliance easier and bring fast relief to dogs suffering from this painful condition.
Allan Weingarten, Director, Pharmaceutical Research, and Posatex R&D Project Leader, said: "As every dog owner knows, this is a 'nightmare' disease. As experts in otic products, we feel a special responsibility to keep improving medications and continuing to make the course of treatment more effective, quicker and easier for both dogs and their caregivers. The novel triazole antifungal posaconazole, new to animal health, is the latest example of innovation in this product area."
Posatex Otic Suspension, available in 7.5, 15 and 30g plastic bottles, is indicated for the treatment of otitis externa associated with susceptible strains of yeast (Malassezia pachydermatis) and bacteria (coagulase positive staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis).
According to the company, posaconazole, the newest element in the three-in-one combination, has been shown to be particularly effective against Malassezia pachydermatis and more potent than other veterinary antifungals. Mometasone furoate monohydrate is a potent and safe anti-inflammatory and Orbifloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with proven efficacy against bacteria.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched an online CPD programme to help the veterinary profession diagnose, manage and treat dogs suffering from Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's syndrome).
The new Canine Hyperadrenocorticism CPD module has been designed to help vets by providing them with a comprehensive overview of the condition, which they can study in their own time and at their own pace. According to Dechra, it aims to take the guesswork out of managing this complex condition and to support vets in improving the quality of life of Cushing's syndrome patients.
It is the latest online CPD course to be offered through The Dechra Academy, a resource which offers a range of learning and support content and client materials. Accounting for six hours' CPD, the Cushing's syndrome online module complements a CPD road show on the disease recently completed by Dechra around the UK. Over 350 vets attended the sessions and further meetings are scheduled for later in 2011.
Greg Williams, Veterinary Technical Services Manager, said: "Cushing's syndrome remains a challenge to the profession because the clinical signs can easily be confused with those of other disorders and tests results are not always clear cut. We know from the strong attendance at our road show earlier this year that there is a real hunger in the profession to build stronger understanding of the disease.
"Through The Dechra Academy, we bring together the latest thinking on a range of clinical conditions and provide practical, up to the minute training, tips, tools and case studies to help vets spread best practice across their clinical and nursing staff. We also offer CPD in a range of formats - face to face, online and video - to ensure we can accommodate the needs of even the busiest practice.
"We're delighted to launch this new module on Cushing's syndrome and know that it will prove to be a useful tool for vets in practice."
For further information on The Dechra Academy or Cushing's syndrome CPD, please contact your Territory Manager, ring Dechra on 01939 211200 or visit www.dechra.co.uk/academy.
Dechra Veterinary Products Ltd is part of Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC ('Dechra') and offers a range of pharmaceutical products and instruments to veterinary practices in the UK. The company specialises in the development and marketing of licensed branded pharmaceuticals and specialist premium pet foods for companion animals in the global veterinary market. Dechra is committed to developing new products and services that support the work of veterinary professionals and enhance the lives of their patients and also to investing in products and added-value services that deliver its promise to support veterinary professionals and pet owners.
Pockit Central is a benchtop analyser which completes tests in 85 minutes.
The new PCR tests include: Lyme disease, Dirofilaria immitis, Neospora caninum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mec A gene for MRSA, IBR and C. difficile. The system has tests tailored to small animal, equine and farm practice, with specialist assays also available for poultry and aquaculture.
The new additions extend the capabilities of the Pockit to more than 190 assays, testing up to 8 pathogens in one run. Horiba says the Pockit is so easy to set up that a laboratory can be up and running within 30 minutes with staff training provided.
Horiba has also published its recent veterinary CPD webinar in which the value of in-house PCR analysis for pathogen screening is discussed with the Head of ESCCAP (European Scientific Council for Companion Animal Parasites) UK & Ireland, in conjunction with the importance of screening imported dogs: The webinar is available to watch on-demand at: https://www.horiba.com/en_en/veterinary/support/webinars/
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Sporimune (ciclosporin), licensed for the treatment of chronic manifestations of atopic dermatitis in dogs.
Roger Brown, Senior Brand Manager at Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "Around 20% of all small animal consultations involve skin conditions and canine atopic dermatitis can be challenging to diagnose and manage effectively.
"Although incurable, atopic dermatitis can be managed using a multimodal approach which is likely to include treatments to decrease pruritus as well as allergen identification, avoidance where possible and improving skin and coat hygiene."
Sporimune is a 50 mg/ml oral solution administered by syringe, which is graduated to show both bodyweight and ml. Dechra says it is being introduced to veterinary professionals within the company's Partners in Practice programme which aims to support vets and vet nurses as they diagnose, control and maintain complex dermatological conditions.
Mr Brown added: "It is critical that owners are fully involved and educated about their pet's condition for dogs to be treated effectively. So we have also developed support materials around the use of Sporimune for practices, including client information leaflets and a video on how to use the dosing syringe."
Sporimune is now available from veterinary wholesalers. For further information visit www.dechra.co.uk/sporimune.
The company is now inviting practices to sign up for the free Beta trial and shape the development of the new platform and how video consultations can be integrated into traditional ways of working.
The platform, which can be branded with the practice logo, uses an app which clients download onto their mobile devices and use to book appointments. The system has its own appointment booking system, but also integrates with Vetstoria. When an appointment is booked via video, practitioners see it in their PMS. They then visit their online account, select the relevant appointment and click ‘start video call’. Payment can be collected from the owner prior to the consultation.
Susie Samuel, Managing Director of VetHelpDirect said: "While developing this product, we have been mindful that the use of telemedicine in our industry has been hugely controversial. We believe that inviting local vets to trial and refine this technology, using their team to work with their own clients removes many of the risks and dangers otherwise inherent in the proposition."
I agree wholeheartedly. The controversy over telemedicine has been about the idea of allowing the prescription of drugs to animals that have not been seen in person. Using a service like this (or the one launched by the Virtual Vet Group last year) to offer video consultations to patients that are already under your care strikes me as an altogether different kettle of fish. I think it will help improve engagement with existing clients, by reducing unnecessary trips to the practice for follow-up or post-operative consultations, saving time, money and the planet.
Susie added: "In our fast-moving world pet owners are increasingly reliant on technology and expect to be able to access services easily. The results of our recent VetHelpDirect research of 419 owners showed 38% of survey respondents said they would like to have the option of a video consultation if it was offered by their own vet. If we are to keep up with this demand, we need to embrace new ways of working."
VetHelpDirect says that whilst it believes that the growth in the use of this technology will change the way veterinary medicine is practiced, video consultations will always work alongside in-person consultations, as just one tool in an overall strategy of care, and certainly will not replace face to face diagnosis.
Let's hope so.
Susie added: "What is clear from our research is that whilst clients would like to be able to have video consultations with a vet their strong preference is for this to be with their own vet; whilst 38% of people would use video consultations with their own vet this falls to only 7% if it is provided by a vet not known to them.
"Of course, telemedicine is by no means the answer in every case, what the new service does offer is flexibility for practitioners and the ability to work in new ways that will benefit the animals and owners. For example, giving free telephone advice has become common place in many practices but is very hard to monetise. Video consultations provide a commercial solution to this problem.”
For more information, or to join the trial, contact Susie Samuel susie@vethelpdirect.com
Over 25% of the 1001 veterinary professionals who responded felt that the use of technology for triage and or consultations had either improved efficiency or the service offered to clients.
More than 10% said the pandemic had led to practices taking actions which streamlined client processes such as taking payments and booking appointments online or by phone.
The survey results are included in a presentation at the BSAVA Virtual Congress: "Lessons from Lockdown:Telemedicine is here to stay", which forms part of the current topics stream on Saturday 27th March. Brian Faulkner will take a look at maintaining relationships and changing dynamics with remote consults, communication challenges and opportunities. Matt Flann will follow with: "A practical perspective – how we have used it, what have we learned?"
BSAVA President Professor Ian Ramsey said: “The survey results have given us an important insight on how technology is being deployed to help the profession continue to help pets and their owners safely and to the best of their ability in these difficult circumstances.
"Vets have embraced innovations in practice such as telephone triage, remote consultations and digital communications. These have shown us that, as within the human healthcare sector, we can continue to deliver our vital services, possibly to an even more efficient and effective standard, despite the restrictions.
"Our Congress session on lockdown learnings promises to make for compelling listening with important ramifications for veterinary practice even after the pandemic has receded to a bitter memory. As we return to degrees of normality these innovations should not be discarded, but equally must not be allowed to generate the inequalities that go hand in hand with them if some practices and owners are inadvertently left behind.”
To register for BSAVA Congress, visit https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2021/en/page/home
Reference
Zoetis says that the problem appears not to be an endemic wellbeing issue for which the answer might be to develop greater individual resilience, but rather it is a symptom of the working environment itself, fuelled by structural, cultural and economic factors.
This, the company argues, means that concentrating on individual resilience may be misguided, and a new approach is needed, one that addresses the environmental factors at play.
The white paper identifies three areas for change:
Firstly, a complete reimagining of the veterinary workplace with more flexible and sustainable working models.
This includes considering more flexible work rotas, using technology to ease workloads, and enhancing the supporting role of veterinary nurses.
Indeed the most important factor in improving workplace wellbeing and professional satisfaction, cited by 27% of vets, was to better train veterinary nurses to take on more responsibility.
Secondly, finding ways to adapt to meet growing and varied client needs.
The white paper recommends enhancing communication training, adopting technology for better client management, and offering more support for vets when managing emotionally challenging conversations with clients.
Finally, the paper calls for a rethink over how vets are selected for in the first place.
Currently, the profession draws from a pool of 96% white, 29% fee-paying, largely female people who are not representative of the market they serve.
Greater diversity in the profession, Zoetis says, delivers social benefits, strategic advantages and workplaces with broader perspectives and greater psychological safety.
Stephanie Armstrong, Regional President at Zoetis, said: “Addressing retention in the veterinary field requires looking beyond individual well-being to systemic factors.
"By fostering better work environments and providing support, we can help ensure that veterinarians continue to provide vital services to our communities.”
Zoetis is urging stakeholders across the veterinary and animal health sector to review the white paper’s insights and join a collective effort to implement solutions.
https://www2.zoetis.co.uk/about-zoetis/news-media/knowledge-hub/transforming-veterinary-practice-for-the-21st-century
The British Equine Veterinary Association has published the results of a survey it commissioned which found that horse vets in the UK are probably at greater risk of injury than any other civilian profession, including the prison service.
For the study, which was conducted by the Institute of Health and Wellbeing and the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow, 620 equine vets completed a work-related injuries questionnaire. The results of the study indicated that an equine vet could expect to sustain between seven and eight work-related injuries that impeded them from practicing, during a 30-year working life.
If the 620 respondents were representative of the rest of the profession, the injuries they reported would equate to 26,452 per 100,000 equine vets in employment per year. That compares with 10,760 for people working in the prison service, 8,700 for policemen below the rank of sergeant, 6,980 for welders, metal formers and related trades, and 4,760 for construction workers.
Participants were asked to describe their worst-ever injury. Most were described as bruising, fracture and laceration, with the most common site of injury being the leg (29%), followed by the head (23%). The main cause of injury was a kick with a hind limb (49%), followed by strike with a fore limb (11%), followed by crush injury (5%). Nearly a quarter of these reported injuries required hospital admission and notably, 7% resulted in loss of consciousness. The most common reason for the examination during which the injury occurred was foot lameness, followed by dental and female reproductive.
BEVA Past-President Keith Chandler said: “We were shocked to discover the extent of the injuries sustained. Of greatest concern is the number of vets who suffered head injuries and unconsciousness. These injuries appeared to be more common when certain procedures were being performed, such as endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract, when vets are often only partly sighted while using examination equipment, or during wound management and bandage-changes, where vets are often crouched-down for long periods, next to the patient.”
38% of the ‘worst’ injuries occurred when the vet was working with a ‘pleasure’ horse and most frequently (48% of all responses) the horse handler was the owner or the client at the time of the injury. Whilst the number of laypersons or handlers injured at the same time was low, Tim Parkin, vet and lead researcher, pointed out: “This work should act as a wake up call to all involved in the training, employment and engagement of equine vets. The risks associated with handling and working with horses should be the primary consideration for equine vets and horses owners alike, every time a horse is examined or treated. In addition, the experience of the horse handler should be considered when undertaking riskier procedures.”
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: “The results are very concerning and justify a careful prospective scientific quantification of the risks. In the short term, knowledge of these risks allows us to better inform all vets who work with horses. In turn vets will be able to inform horse owners, horse-keepers and trainers of the risks, and this may provide justification for having trained assistance on-hand or the more extensive use of sedative drugs in practice, potentially reducing the risk of injury.
"The British Equine Veterinary Association will now look to work with the Health and Safety Executive, Veterinary Schools, large employers of vets in the UK and our members to help develop policies to mitigate the risk of serious injury for vets working with horses.”
Photograph courtesy Towcester Veterinary Centre
Research commissioned by Bayer Animal Health has revealed that dogs really do look like their owners.
The research, which is being used to promote Drontal Bone, the company's new bone-shaped wormer, was conducted amongst 3,000 British dog-lovers. It found that the overwhelming majority of owners share at least one common physical attribute with their pet, whilst one in ten owners could be described as the spitting image of their dog, sharing six or more physical attributes:
As part of the campaign, Bayer has launched the Give Your Dog a Bone competition, a nationwide search to find the UK's "Top Dog". The competition is split into four video and photographic categories, with one open exclusively to dogs that have formed a special bond with their owner. Top dogs can enter via the competition website - www.giveyourdogabone.co.uk - where owners can upload photos, videos, and explain in under 100 words why they think their pet should win a Drontal 'Bonies' award.
Give Your Dog a Bone Judge Emma Milne MRCVS, said: "When dogs seem to have the same characteristics as their owners, it could be because people subconsciously choose a pet that resembles themselves. It is often found that more energetic breeds, such as s Red Setter have an owner who is sporty and most happy when taking their pet on long country walks, while a glamorous owner who enjoys grooming themselves might choose a dog which also requires lots preening, such as a Maltese Terrier. The Give Your Dog a Bone awards give us the chance to recognise the unique traits and talents that make dogs such an important part of our lives. With four very different categories, this competition will be wide open to dogs of all shapes, sizes and personalities!"
The company says Bovela is the only BVD vaccine available proven to provide 12 months’ protection, against both types of BVD, and after only one shot.
Cattle business manager, Robert Bakewell said: "Provided Bovela is used as recommended on the product label, we are happy to guarantee that it will prevent the birth of PI (persistently infected) calves caused by transplacental infection by the BVD virus.
"We are also encouraging farmers to seek advice and input from their vet about BVD control by offering a £50 voucher towards testing for Bovela users. All herd owners need to do is speak to their veterinary surgeon or email bvdzero.uk@boehringer.com."
Students of the five-year degree will spend two years at Aberystwyth University followed by three years’ study at the RVC’s Hawkshead Campus in Hertfordshire. The first cohort will start in 2021.
Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC said: "We are delighted to be partnering with our colleagues Aberystwyth in providing an offering that will benefit students at both institutions. The RVC’s commitment to the profession in all its manifestations and particularly the rural environment will be bolstered by this important collaboration."
Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University said: "Today marks an important and exciting new chapter in the history of Aberystwyth University and Wales. Agriculture and its related industries play such an important part in the Welsh economy and it is incumbent on us as universities to provide the people and the skills that will contribute to ensuring they thrive for years to come. The new School of Veterinary Science adds a vitally important new piece to the jigsaw, one that will build resilience in the rural economy through education and research at a time of great potential change and challenges.
"Our students will enjoy the best of two worlds at universities that offer academic excellence and an enviable reputation for student experience, and I thank everyone who has contributed to finally realising the vision of a school of veterinary science for Wales."
Photo: Left to right, Professor Stuart Reid, Professor Christianne Glossop, Professor Elizabeth Treasure and Professor Tim Woods.
CVS says that in the USA, the veterinary profession is the fifth highest profession for non-fatal injuries, with equine veterinarians sustaining an average of eight serious injuries during their career.
‘The context, consequence and prevention of veterinary workplace injuries: a qualitative and quantitative study in the UK’ will be undertaken at the University of Liverpool in collaboration with CVS colleagues as part of its Clinical Research Awards.
The study will run for three years, supported by £74,400 of CVS funding.
The research will investigate what veterinary injuries are, what context they occur in and what their consequences are.
It will look to highlight areas of the profession where injury prevention training and strategies can be developed and adopted to improve the safety of working in veterinary practice.
For the first phase, University of Liverpool researchers have rolled out the largest ever survey to explore veterinary workplace injuries with over 5,000 CVS staff UK-wide.
The survey investigates how veterinary professionals define injuries, their specific causal mechanisms, and why individuals do or do not report injuries or seek medical treatment.
The survey will be followed by an independent audit of CVS’ accident reporting system.
The results of these two activities will lead to the development of a suite of industry leading ‘open access’ educational tools aimed at promoting injury awareness and prevention to help drive behaviour change and support injury avoidance.\
The research project is being led by Dr. John Tulloch, a Research Fellow and European Specialist in Veterinary Public Health, at the University of Liverpool.
Collaborators include CVS Head of Health and Safety Rebecca Jackson and Director of Learning, Education and Development Dr Martin Whiting.
John said: “Injuries that occur within veterinary practice can tragically at times be life-changing and are often avoidable.
"Currently we do not know some critical details that would help to improve safety within the veterinary workplace.
"If we can better understand these details, we will be able to develop and strengthen prevention measures through policy, education, and training.
"We anticipate that this project will result in safer workplaces within the wider veterinary community and, indirectly, in improved animal treatment through a fitter, healthier and safer profession.”
Petplan is giving away a VIP trip for two people to this year's 'Petplan Veterinary Awards' in Birmingham on 31st March.
The prize includes two admission tickets to the awards ceremony, as well as accommodation at a top hotel in Birmingham.
Veterinary staff can be in with a chance at winning this exclusive opportunity by nominating their practice or a member of staff for the following awards:
Alison Andrew, Petplan's Marketing Manager, said, "Veterinary professionals up and down the country show great commitment and dedication to our pets everyday and the awards are an opportunity to recognise all their hard work. By nominating a colleague you can not only show them your appreciation but you can also going into the draw to win a fantastic night out"
By making a nomination at www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards you'll automatically be entered into the draw to win the VIP tickets to the evening.
Nominations for the awards close on the 4th February and the winner of the VIP tickets will be announced in late February.
The RCVS is seeking feedback on a new draft Code of Professional Conduct.
The new Code, which would replace the existing RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, has been produced by a Working Party set up by the RCVS Advisory Committee to review the Guides for both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.
According to the College, the purpose of the review, which last took place over a decade ago, is to ensure guidance to the profession and the public is clear. For example, using consistent language to distinguish between what must be done and what is advised.
The RCVS says the new Code is a short, principles-based document using the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe's Code of Conduct as the starting point. It will be supported by additional advice on specific areas of veterinary practice or issues, for example, clinical governance. It also includes:
Clare Tapsfield-Wright, Chairman of the Guides Review Working Party said: "Over the decade or so since it was last reviewed, not only has the Guide become unwieldy in places, but the way that regulators in general publish professional conduct rules has changed. Our draft new Code aims to clarify matters and bring us into line with best practice elsewhere.
"Animal owners are increasingly keen to understand the basis of what the veterinary profession considers to be good professional conduct. The new simplified Code should assist with this understanding."
The new Code, together with the consultation paper, can be downloaded at http://www.rcvs.org.uk/codeconsultation
Comments, which are welcomed from the profession and the public, should be sent by email to Christopher Murdoch, Secretary to the Guides Review Working Party, at c.murdoch@rcvs.org.uk by Friday, 24 June 2011.
A separate document is under development for veterinary nurses, which will share broadly similar underlying principles and will be the subject of its own consultation.
Divided into four modules, the course explores vaccines and the immune system; current and emerging strains of Leptospirosis; a practical insight into infectious disease and vaccination and the importance of getting early socialisation right.
Professor Sarah Gilbert from the Jenner Institute in Oxford presents the first CPD module. She is followed by Dr Paul Burr from Biobest Laboratories, Alan Radford from the University of Liverpool and Jon Bowen of the RVC.
John Toole, Zoetis Product Manager said: "We were extremely privileged to be able to work with such an eminent group of key opinion leaders for this CPD course. We hope participants find the interview video style of this course dynamic and insightful. Users can also find an additional module on our dog vaccine Versican Plus and how it helps meet today’s infectious disease challenges as discussed by our industry experts."
To take part in this new CPD, vets simply need to register at www.vetsupportplus.co.uk where they will be able to access all the free Zoetis learning content and receive a certificate once the CPD course is completed.
Sporimune is the first ciclosporin oral solution to be licensed for use in both cats and dogs.
In cats with allergic dermatitis, ciclosporin has proved to be an effective alternative to prednisolone1 Dechra says it has a long-term safety record for chronic treatment of canine atopic dermatitis and remains one of the most important tools within a multi-modal strategy.
Sporimune is available with two dosing syringes per bottle – one for cats and one for dogs – that are graduated in body weight and ml.
There are three bottle sizes to allow for flexibility in dispensing and broached bottles last six months.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "We are delighted to be able to introduce this popular and effective treatment for cats.
"Allergic skin disease can be challenging to diagnose and manage effectively for both owners and vets, with around 20 per cent of all small animal consultations involving skin conditions.
"Sporimune is a key component of a multi-modal approach involving guidance on allergen and flare factor avoidance and improving skin and coat hygiene to minimise clinical signs and the effects on quality of life for both animal and owner."
York-based Alstoe Animal Health, maker of Gleptosil and Vetergesic, has been acquired by French company Sogeval, a leading supplier of companion and livestock animal products.
Established in 1994, Alstoe was privatelv owned by the two original partners, John Nellis and lan Ryder.
For the last five years the company has been working with Sogeval to develop flavoured tablet pharmaceutical brands from Sogeval whilst the two companies have collaborated to make Vetergesic successful in France.
The business will continue to trade from the current premises for the foreseeable future and says it will maintain its high standard of customer service and product supply.
John Nellis said: "lt will be business as usual. We look forward to continued sales growth for our existing brands and the introduction of exciting new products in the future".
Dr. lan Ryder said: "Our companies have worked very well together in the past. The acquisition will bring fresh impetus to the business and ensure continued growth"
The current Alstoe team remains in place to assist with any enquiries. For further information contact info@alstoe.co.uk or telephone: 01347 878605
The company says that the packs have been redesigned to make it easier for pet owners to identify the variety of products available.
The new packaging has stronger imagery, simplified and larger product names to improve readability, and kibble shapes displayed actual size to reassure owners of smaller breeds that it will be suitable for their pet. Flavour profiles and breed sizes are displayed on all packs.
Hill's says the new range is also presented in optimised bag sizes for more convenient feeding. Small and Miniature and Mini dog foods have been combined into a new Small & Mini product, designed to cover the needs of all small dogs under 10kg.
For more information, visit: https://www.hillspet.co.uk/science-plan/new-look.
The charity says that it had already been suffering a period of 'dire financial constraints' and the economic effects of coronavirus are now having a direct effect on funding.
The charity's Trustees and Executive Committee is still trying to find emergency funding to try and save the organisation, failing which it will close on the 31st March.
A survey carried out by Rachel Crowe BSc PhD in association with Virbac Animal Health and VetSurgeon.org has revealed what veterinary surgeons in the UK expect from pharmaceutical companies and other suppliers.
The survey considers a number of different aspects of the relationship between vets and pharmaceutical companies, from the importance of quality products through to the question of what vets expect from company representatives.
Chris Liggett, Marketing Director at Virbac UK said: "The findings of this survey offer a fascinating insight into the relationship between veterinary practices and their suppliers. In some ways they confirm what we should all already know - that the quality of a company's product range is paramount and that representatives play a key role as ambassadors for our businesses - but the growing importance to vet practices of working with drug companies that provide a complete package of products and services is worthy of note."
The full report is available to download here.
The allied professionals that the BVA says should be led by veterinary surgeons include: Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs), Official Auxiliaries/ Meat Hygiene Inspectors, embryo transfer technicians, equine dental technicians, foot trimmers, farriers, hydrotherapists, animal behaviourists and veterinary physiotherapists.
To clarify where the responsibility for a patient sits and how it is shared between veterinary surgeons and allied professionals, the new policy statement also calls for:
The regulation of allied professionals to include mandatory veterinary diagnosis and oversight and appropriate access to veterinary records as pre-requisites before treatment;
Clarity on the delegation of duties for RVNs under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and protection of the ‘veterinary nurse’ title in legislation;
Consultation with the veterinary profession on any regulatory changes that may arise as a result of technological or other innovation.
British Veterinary Association President Simon Doherty (pictured right) said: "Against an evolving landscape, it’s essential that the veterinary profession keeps pace with change and addresses the challenges and opportunities it presents.
"Vets across sectors have always worked closely with allied professionals. The hub and spoke model acknowledges and clarifies this working relationship with clear lines of accountability and responsibility for the animals under our care. It also emphasises that vets’ right to diagnose, prescribe, and undertake surgical procedures and medical treatments must not be undermined.
"An effective and efficient vet-led team can help deliver better animal health and welfare, improved client care, and more effective use of skills within the veterinary professions. Given the ongoing workforce shortages, a strengthened veterinary workforce also has the potential to ease recruitment and retention concerns for both vets and RVNs and offer improved wellbeing.
"BVA will continue working with professional bodies and organisations to formalise the hub and spoke model, promote the value of regulation, and drive up professional standards."