The meeting, which is sponsored by Swann Morton, is the first in a series called ‘Let’s Talk About …’, where the idea is to get a small, representative group of eight general practitioners from around the country to come and put questions about a variety of different subjects to experts in their field, with the answers then being shared on YouTube for the benefit of colleagues not just in this country but around the world.
To apply to be one of the eight ‘questioners’ in ‘Let’s Talk About Small Animal Surgery', please email editor@vetsurgeon.org with your name, county and a question.
If you'd like to just watch the event, you can register here now.
Note that there may (or may not) be an opportunity for spectators to ask questions on the night. So if you want a VIP seat at the table, email your question as soon as possible.
For more information about Swann Morton, and its diverse range of Sheffield-made products incorporating the latest sharps safety solutions to protect the welfare of your in-house team, visit: www.swann-morton.com
UPDATE: THE RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS NOW FREELY AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE TO WATCH HERE, AND COUNTS TOWARDS YOUR CPD REQUIREMENT.
Last year, over 1,400 veterinary practices collected more than 6,000 ticks from dogs for the Big Tick Project, contributing to the largest-ever study of tick-borne illnesses in dogs in Britain, if not worldwide.
Now MSD is calling on practices to do the same for cats. The company says that data collected from the contributions will be used in a scientific paper which will help vets make more specific recommendations to cat owners, and help keep their pets safe.
Amanda Melvin, Senior Product Manager for Bravecto said: "We were delighted and rather overwhelmed by the response, support and level of interest in the BTP for dogs from the veterinary profession. We were expecting 100s of ticks to be submitted but they arrived in their 1000s!
"It made us realise that, with the low levels of awareness of the risks of tick-borne disease to both people and animals, there was an even wider issue to be addressed. The risks to cats could not be ignored.
"We have therefore created the BTP for cats and are asking the vets, once again, to show their support by collecting and sending in ticks from their practices. The more samples we receive the better. This way we can help the profession better understand the risks associated with ticks and how best to help cat owners treat their pets."
Those practices that participated in the BTP last year will automatically be registered and will be sent an email with details of this phase of the project. Any practices that did not participate last year and would like to should send their details to vet-support.uk@merck.com.
To support vets in promoting the BTP for cats to their clients MSD Animal Health has designed a range of materials for display in practice and as takeaways for clients. They include a practice waiting room poster and a cat certificate.
The recognition, management and treatment of pain in calves was identified by the BVA and the BCVA as a priority animal welfare problem following the launch of the BVA’s Animal welfare strategy last year, with the two organisations working closely together to progress an evidence-based best practice position and set of recommendations for the profession.
The new position statement specifically recommends the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in addition to local anaesthesia when conducting disbudding and castration in calves, as these are procedures that have been shown to cause acute pain at the time of the procedure and chronic pain afterwards. Analgesics have been shown to reduce the signs of pain in this post-operative period in a wide range of research studies.
The position also recommends the 'Three Rs' approach to castration and disbudding of calves, advocating that, where possible, these procedures are: Replaced by, for example, selecting polled sires to replace disbudding; Reduced by, for example, appropriate use of sexed semen to reduce the number of male calves requiring castration; or Refined, with the use of analgesics.
BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "BVA and BCVA’s joint position further reinforces the profession’s focus as animal welfare advocates, and conveys the need for adequate pain management that is reflective of current scientific understanding of pain recognition and treatment in cattle.
"Existing legislation requires a level of anaesthesia and we would encourage veterinary colleagues and stock-keepers to also discuss appropriate analgesic regimes used so that vets prescribe appropriately licensed NSAIDs and other analgesic medicines as required, as part of ensuring a good life for the animals we farm for food."
The recommendations support the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science’s study, published yesterday in the Veterinary Record, which has found that calf husbandry procedures were significantly less likely to include the use of analgesics in addition to the local anaesthetic (that is routinely used) for other similarly painful procedures. While local anaesthesia can reduce or eliminate much of the acute pain, chronic pain may still remain once the relatively short duration of local anaesthetic action wanes.
John Remnant, a member of BCVA Board and Clinical Assistant Professor in Farm Animal Health and Production at the Nottingham Vet School, said: "It appears that veterinarians’ awareness of pain in cattle and willingness to use analgesics in general has increased over the last decade. However, whilst this should be commended, the apparent lack of use of appropriate analgesia specifically in calves undergoing routine husbandry procedures such as castration and disbudding requires urgent action. I am delighted that the findings of Nottingham University’s study support BVA/BCVA’s statement."
BVA and BCVA’s joint position paper on Analgesia in calves can be found at: https://www.bva.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Content/News,_campaigns_and_policies/Policies/Ethics_and_welfare/Analgesia%20in%20calves%20BVA%20branded.pdf
Photo: A calf in England, New Forest national park. Jim Champion. Wikipedia.
The scheme, which is part of the company's Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy campaign, includes a pack - endorsed by BEVA and World Horse Welfare - to help yard owners and vets educate owners why they should vaccinate and the benefits of preventative healthcare.
The Yard Excellence Scheme pack includes information on vaccination, weight management, worming and biosecurity. It also helps yard owners implement a range of preventative protocols covering things like worming, vaccination and managing new arrivals, and also put infectious disease outbreak protocols in place.
There are also various things to promote the scheme within the yard, such as yard posters, a horse owner checklist, horse records and responsible horse owner booklets.
All the yards that develop and implement appropriate protocols, in collaboration with their vet, will achieve the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy Yard Excellence Scheme Standard and will be promoted on the scheme's Facebook page (@keepinghorseshealthy).
Yards can also promote their achievement via social media and on their website.
Fieke Bennett, equine business manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Our KBHH Yard Excellence Scheme is aimed at encouraging yards and vets to collaborate more closely towards excellent preventative healthcare practices.
"By encouraging vaccination and other preventative healthcare practices, livery yards will have a healthier population of horses; achieving an environment with happy horses, happy owners, and excellent yard reputation.
"This collaboration supports a strong relationship between the vet and the yard, a healthy yard means owners can enjoy their love of horses without restriction."
For further information talk to your MSD Animal Health Equine Account Manager, ring 01908 685685 or refer to KBHH social media feeds on Facebook page and Twitter (@keepinghorseshealthy).
The trial, which was conducted by a UK-French team of researchers from PBD Biotech and Biosellal, is being presented at the European Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (EAVLD) Congress in Brussels today.
Current tests only allow the reliable detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) from 18-24 month calves and are unable to distinguish between active and passive infection.
For the 16-month trial, calves from three different herds and born from MAP-positive and MAP-negative cows were tested monthly using PBD Biotech’s Actiphage Rapid kit and Biosellal’s Bio-T kit MAP PCR on blood samples, and the same PCR on faeces.
Researchers say the trial proves that early detection of live MAP infection is possible, and paves the way for improved Johne’s disease monitoring and control measures on farms.
Co-Author Dr Ben Swift, Research Fellow in Antimicrobial Resistance at the Royal Veterinary College and R&D Director at PBD Biotech, said: "Young animals are highly susceptible to infection and being able to identify Johne’s disease at this early stage is key to controlling disease spread.
The trial showed that the sensitivity and specificity of Actiphage enables detection of lower levels of MAP than the current culture methods, and provides results in 6 hours rather than weeks."
The Actiphage Rapid technology used in the trial identified live MAP infection at least 4 weeks’ earlier than the faecal PCR in 75% of cases: in one case, the new diagnostic detected MAP in the blood of a one-day old calf born from a MAP-positive cow.
Claire Pelletier, Directrice Générale of BioDev, consultant to Biosellal, will be presenting findings from the trial, which also showed the transient nature of the infection. She said: "The study showed that two calves, identified as MAP-positive by Actiphage-PCR on blood during the first monthly sampling didn’t shed MAP into their faeces until 10 and 11 months. This emphasises that early detection provides a short window of time that allow for control of the disease."
Other international trials using Actiphage are underway to investigate the presence of MAP in milk.
Presented by Louisa Graham PGcertVPS CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS (pictured right), the webinars offer two hours of CPD credits and can be accessed at: https://www.vitaanimalhealth.com/youtube-activation/
Louisa, who has a passion for internal medicine, mentoring and supporting other vets, has built an online following with whom she shares tips and advice.
Vita has also produced two webinars for cat owners which include advice on how to spot signs of OA in cats, when to seek veterinary care and practical tips on how to reduce feline stress.
Vets are encouraged to share these webinars with their clients as a learning tool and source of information.
Plimsoll has published the results of a study into the profitability of UK veterinary practices which has revealed a widening gap between firms making outstanding profits and those losing money.
The Plimsoll Analysis found average profit margins have fallen to 6.4% of sales and 151 of the UK's top 500 practices are now running at a loss. However, the same study has revealed 61 businesses are making record profits.
Of the 61 'rich' companies:
Of the 151 'poor' companies:
David Pattison, senior analyst at Plimsoll, said: "Sometimes the public perception of profit is wrong. It's seen as companies taking advantage of their position or exploiting their commercial advantages unfairly. But these successful companies should be proud of their achievements. In an industry not known for its successes, these businesses should act as benchmarks to the rest of the industry showing what can be achieved."
Mr. Pattison added: "The latest Plimsoll Analysis highlights that the industry is being split into two types of company and the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger and bigger.
"For the companies that are falling behind, they need to re-evaluate their strategy and retain profit in order to improve their financial strength."
The Plimsoll Analysis provides an individual profile of each of the UK's top practices. It offers an overall financial rating, a valuation and an acquisition attractiveness assessment on each company. VetSurgeon.org members can have a £50 discount off this report by calling 01642 626419 and quoting reference PR/AA54.
For more information, contact Chris Glancey on 01642 626 419, or email c.glancey@plimsoll.co.uk
Eurovet Animal Health Ltd has entered the UK veterinary pharmaceuticals market with a portfolio of products including a levothyroxine tablet for the treatment of canine hypothyroidism, injectables for cattle and pigs, a xylazine injection for use in cattle, horses, dogs & cats and a corticosteroid for use in horses, cattle, pigs, cats and dogs.
Eurovet Animal Health is a subsidiary of Dutch company, AUV, which was established in 1969 as a cooperative by 100 veterinary surgeons, and is now jointly owned by 2000 vets. The company says this gives it a unique perspective on the products that veterinary surgeons really need and want. And whilst Eurovet Animal Health is still relatively small in the UK, the parent company Eurovet Animal Health BV owns state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and provides access to international expertise, support and resources.
Eurovet Animal Health Ltd will be offering Eurovet products previously distributed by partner companies in the UK, so vets can expect to see brands they know and trust, as well as new brands. Existing products will be available from veterinary wholesalers and include:
Further information about Eurovet's range of products is available from Eurovet Animal Health, Compass House, Chivers Way, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9AD Tel: 01223 257933 E-mail office@eurovet-ah.co.uk http://www.eurovet-ah.co.uk/
The service uses an Xstrahl 100 superficial radiotherapy system, a £150,000 piece of equipment installed by Paragon after it was used successfully in the USA by the hospital's medical and radiation oncology specialist, Dr Rodney Ayl.
Rodney (pictured right) says the new equipment will transform the way Paragon can treat skin cancers, dermatological disorders and some other common superficial conditions.
He said: “This is a very exciting development for us and our clients because Xstrahl systems have been used so successfully in human medicine for many years.
“This prompted us to explore adapting the SRT system for veterinary use in the UK and we hope to collaborate with Colorado State University, which has a similar unit, to develop protocols for pets.
“We believe this will be a significant advance in the treatment and care of animals and we’re delighted to be at the forefront of introducing this new service.
“It is the only one of its kind for pets in the UK and there are very few units like this anywhere in the veterinary industry, so it really is an important move forward.”
Xstrahl radiotherapy systems were originally designed for the treatment of skin cancer, dermatological disorders, certain types of benign disease and some palliative care in humans.
Rodney says that having adapted the SRT system for animals will transform their treatment and the logistics and cost of getting radiation therapy for superficial skin conditions.
He added: “Superficial radiotherapy is particularly useful for treating some types of skin cancer where it may be preferable to surgery as it can deliver excellent non-invasive outcomes with curative or palliative intent.
“The treatment is less stressful from the outset and, thanks to its mechanism of action, it is also pain-free.
“Its use of different size cones, directly over the lesion, minimises effects on healthy skin and the fast treatment means a large reduction in time and impact on the patient’s day-to-day life, while providing a highly-effective treatment.
“The machine’s flexibility also makes it particularly suited for treating multiple lesions that are difficult to access, such as the head and neck, without changing patient positioning.
“The Xstrahl 100 system will help us to respond to the growing demand for radiation treatment and we can treat these patients on an outpatient basis, helping us to reduce surgical and hospitalisation costs.
“The technology is a real winner. It is easy to use and helps us to deliver safe and effective radiotherapy to our animal patients.
“It provides a quicker, easier, cheaper and non-invasive alternative for superficial tumours, especially in geriatric patients where surgery is not always an option. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive results here at Paragon.”
For more information, visit www.paragonreferrals.co.uk.
Game players have to 'catch' falling symbols marked with a '+' or the Credelio Plus ingredients, milbemycin oxime and lotilaner to win points, and avoid ones with fleas, ticks and worms, which lose points.
In addition to the £50 vouchers, there are goody packs for four runners up each month.
William Hawker, Parasiticides Marketing Manager at Elanco Animal Health said: "We are excited to showcase our novel new game at BVA Live with this exciting drop and offer all attendees the first chance to play Plus Plummet and win some great prizes by topping the leaderboard every month."
To play the game, visit: https://www.myelanco.co.uk/brand/plus-plummet
Incidentally, if you're at BVA Live, you're invited to join Elanco at the Exhibitor Showcase Theatre tomorrow from 09:00-09:50 for ‘Parasitology: Testing Times? Navigating the current challenges in practice’.
Cat Henstridge (BVSc MRCVS, small animal vet) will be interviewing Ian Wright (head of ESCCAP) and answering questions on everything from when to test, when to treat and how to communicate with pet owners about choice and the parasiticide treatment options available.
Photo: Elanco launches Plus Plummet at BVA Live
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has restored a veterinary surgeon who had previously been convicted of fraud to the Register, after finding him fit to resume practising.
Matthew Morgan had pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud in July 2013 having fraudulently claimed over £200,000 in pet insurance claims between November 2009 and December 2012. In August 2013 he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, for which he served 12 months and was then released on licence.
Following his conviction and sentence, his case was brought to the RCVS Disciplinary Committee in February 2014 where it was decided to strike him off the Register. When his licence period expired on 18 August 2015, Mr Morgan applied for restoration to the Register.
During the course of the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee heard evidence from Mr Morgan, who accepted the findings of the Committee, describing the evidence as ‘fair’ and acknowledging the seriousness of his actions.
The Committee felt that Mr Morgan’s criminal conduct was very grave, as reflected in his custodial sentence and the fact that, as an Australian citizen, he had been issued with a deportation notice by the Home Office. It also felt that his crime had struck at the heart of public confidence in a profession for which honesty and integrity is expected.
However, the Committee considered that Mr Morgan, if restored, would pose few risks in respect of protection of the public, having no concerns about his competence as a veterinary surgeon, and accepted that there was little future risk to animal welfare if he were to be restored.
The Committee also considered that, since his release from prison, Mr Morgan has taken extensive steps to rehabilitate himself, has undertaken continuing professional development and has been working as a veterinary care assistant at two veterinary practices to keep up-to-date with current practice.
Furthermore, the Committee was satisfied that there was public support for Mr Morgan continuing as a veterinary surgeon given the references and testimonials submitted on his behalf.
In coming to its conclusion the Disciplinary Committee reiterated the seriousness of Mr Morgan’s criminal offending, saying that it had caused it “the greatest concern”. However, it also felt that issues of rehabilitation needed to be considered.
Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee cannot emphasise enough the fact that veterinary surgeons who commit acts of fraud in the exercise of their practice can expect severe consequences, both in the criminal courts and within their own College and there can be no doubt that the decision to remove the applicant from the Register was a proper reflection of the seriousness of his offending.
“Given all of the matters referred to above, however, the Committee considers that the applicant has demonstrated sufficiently that he has learned the lessons required and is now fit to be restored to the Register.”
The Osurnia Ear Health Hub includes information about the treatment of canine otitis externa from dermatologists Sue Paterson and Natalie Barnard, advice about responsible antibiotic use, expert tips for vets to use in the consulting room and dog owner educational materials that veterinary staff can use in practice and online. It will also include a podcast interview with Sue.
The hub also provides information, videos and research about Osurnia.
Elanco Animal Health UK Marketing Manager, Rebecca Bryant said: "We know all too well the challenges vets face when treating canine OE and the significant impact the condition has on the quality of life of both the dog and the owner.
"The Osurnia Ear Health Hub is a new disease resource hub on MyElanco, which provides helpful resources for veterinary professionals looking for answers or to enhance their understanding of the disease. We hope that with more easily accessible information, this will help vets to treat OE cases and communicate with their clients."
Visit the canine ear health hub at: www.myelanco.co.uk
Whilst on the subject of information resources, this one has come to my attention. It's a list of other veterinary blogs and resources: https://blog.feedspot.com/veterinary_blogs.
Eight dogs being treated at three veterinary clinics in Norway took part in the study1.
Previous research2 has found a complication rate of 55% when fibreglass casts are used, 20% of them severe. In this study using the Upets Splinting System, only 12.5% of dogs (n=1) had complications that required treatment, and the complications were minor.
Dassiet says the results suggest that the new product has the potential to make veterinary casting safer, more sustainable, and can help control costs associated with cast replacement and treatment of complications.
86% of the veterinary surgeons participating in the study rated the Upets Splinting System as easy to use and said they would use the product on their own dog.
An earlier poll3 questioned vets on their most common concerns about casting and identified that the most significant were fear of complications (57%), the time-consuming nature of casting (54%) and inconvenience (51 %).
Dr. Martin Kaufmann, OrthoPets founder and Dassiet VET COO, said: “Complications often result from a cast that does not fit as well as it should.
"The results of this study suggest that Upets might be the ground-breaking tool that veterinarians have been waiting for as it provides them with the means to achieve a cast shape that is more precise."
For the white paper detailing the trial, visit: www.upets.vet/research.
References
Kruuse has launched two products for the treatment of digital dermatitis in cattle: the Bovivet hoof bandage and Kruuse Hoof Gel.
According to the company, an estimated that 70% of dairy herds suffer with digital dermatitis (DD), and it is a growing problem. If not treated, it can persist for months, causing pain and lameness to infected cows. As well as worrying animal welfare concerns, numerous studies have shown that the disease can have a direct impact on milk production and reproduction with financial implications for the dairy farmer.
Traditionally, treatment has involved thoroughly washing the infected hoof, applying an antibiotic/drying agent such as salicylic acid powder and then applying a dressing that must typically remain in place for three days. This method comes with its own problems, including the difficulty dosing salicyclic acid powder correctly, the risk to the user's health when mixing, and the difficulty ensuring that the dressing is correctly applied at the right pressure and that it stays in place.
To help overcome these problems, Kruuse has introduced two products. The first is the ready-to-apply Bovivet complete Hoof Bandage. It is made from a water-repelling material that keeps out unwanted liquids. Its shape and elasticity are designed to keep the bandage in place. Inside the bandage is a treatment pad that makes for easy dosing. The outer stocking design allows for checking on the progress of treatment and for re-application if necessary. The bandage is available in two sizes, large which fits most cattle breeds, and small for calves and small breeds.
The second product, to be used in conjunction with the Bovivet Hoof Bandage, is Kruuse Hoof Gel 38%, containing 38% salicyclic acid. Kruuse says that dosing with this gel product is easier and more accurate than with the powder, making it more economical per treatment. It also reduces potential health risks to the user from inhalation of the powder when mixing.
Kruuse has produced the following instructional video to demonstrate the new products' ease of use and versatility:
A former pet industry nutritionist has created a stir in the national newspapers with the launch of whichdogfood.co.uk, a website which dismisses veterinary diets as no different to the "awful" standard pet foods sold in pet stores and supermarkets.
According to reports in the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Daily Express, David Jackson says the objective of his website is to change the way people buy pet food because "pet food manufacturers have been able to get away with producing frankly awful foods for our pets."
Explaining why veterinary surgeon sell prescription diets, Mr Jackson trots out some well known arguments which will be familiar to anyone who has followed the propaganda put out by the raw meaty bones (RMB) lobby: that veterinary surgeons are not taught enough about nutrition; that those training modules that exist are largely sponsored by manufacturers, and that veterinary practices benefit from 'massive cash incentives' from the manufacturers and distributors of veterinary diets.
Mr Jackson does say that there are exceptions to the rule, notably those veterinary diets developed to help pets with intolerance, allergies or uroliths.
The National Equine Health Survey is a snapshot survey, conducted by the Blue Cross in conjunction with the British Equine Veterinary Association during the month of May each year, sponsored by Dodson & Horrell and Zoetis. Last year 5,235 people took part and returned records for 15,433 horses.
The 2017 survey found that 39% of those who carry out faecal worm egg counts do so at four-monthly intervals, 22% do so at 8-12 week intervals and 2% do so at six-weekly intervals.
Dr Wendy Talbot, equine vet at Zoetis said: "The NEHS results show that there’s still a lack of understanding about the purpose and benefits of FWECs during the grazing season. For the most effective results FWECs should be conducted every 8 to 12 weeks between March and October. They will indicate which horses are passing the most worm eggs in their droppings and mean that horses are only treated when necessary.2 Remember though that FWECs don’t remove the need to treat horses at specific times of year for encysted small redworm, tapeworm and bots, none of which will show up in FWECs.3"
References:
Woodley Equipment Company has launched RapidVet-H IC a testing kit for identifying blood types in cats and dogs.
RapidVet-H IC uses immuno-chromatographic technology to identify the feline blood groups: Type A, Type B and Type AB, and the canine blood groups: DEA 1.1 Negative and DEA 1.1 Positive
According to Woodley, this is the first such system to present a positive result as a red line on a white background, thus making it very easy to read.
RapidVet-H IC consists of a hand-held device containing three membranes and uses a diluent specific for these tests. It uses whole blood, or packed red blood cells. It is a cell capture assay, so patients exhibiting auto-agglutination or low PCV can be typed. The system displays results in 5-10 minutes.
For more information about RapidVet-H IC, email: sales@woodleyequipment.com, or call Woodley on +44 (0) 1204 669033 Option 1.
Mr Seymour-Hamilton was originally removed from the Register in June 1994 for failing to maintain his practice’s equipment and facilities in working order and for a total disregard of basic hygiene and care for animals, thereby bringing the profession into disrepute.
The restoration hearing on 20th May was Mr Seymour-Hamilton’s seventh application for restoration. Previous applications had been heard but refused in July 1995, June 2010, February 2015, March 2016, May 2017 and April 2018. However, as the Committee makes its decision on the merits of the case before it, those previous applications were not considered as relevant to its current decision.
The Committee heard oral evidence from Mr Seymour-Hamilton and were shown clear bottles with liquid, a container with tablets and petri dishes with grown cultures as detailed documentary evidence. In respect of any concerns regarding keeping his veterinary practice up-to-date, Mr Seymour-Hamilton said that “you never lose that skill” and explained that he kept up-to-date through extensive reading and conversations with veterinary surgeons in Europe.
However, the Committee had significant concerns as to his fitness to practise safely as a veterinary surgeon for a number of reasons, including that nearly 25 years had passed since he was last in practice and that there was little, if any, evidence of him keeping up-to-date with the knowledge and skills required to practise as a veterinary surgeon.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The applicant worryingly did not accept that he was in any way deskilled by the passage of time. The evidence that the applicant has provided showed limited interaction with other veterinary surgeons and there is no documented evidence of the discussions or structure of the meetings he had with veterinary surgeons in Europe.
"There is no evidence of a prolonged and intense period of re-training by way of relevant study to demonstrate that a sufficient level of competence to return to practise has been achieved. In the absence of such evidence the Committee was of the view that there would be a serious risk to the welfare of animals if the applicant was restored to the Register.
"Further, it was a grave concern to this Committee that the applicant demonstrated worrying attitudinal issues towards individuals of a different religion and his attitude to employing a minor when he knew it to be against the law. Such attitudes are incompatible with professional standards the public would expect of a veterinary surgeon."
Finally, with no evidence of public support for the applicant, the Committee concluded that the application for restoration should be refused.
Vets for Ukrainian Pets will cover the treatment costs of up to five dogs, cats, horses or other pet animals, up to 250 Euros per animal, for acute care and medication, rabies and other vaccinations as well as microchipping and medical examination required for safe passage through the EU.
The initiative is being funded by HSI, with support from Mars.
It is being run collaboration with Federation of Veterinarians in Europe and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations.
Reimbursements for participating veterinary surgeons will be available wherever the FECAVA has members, including in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Romania and Poland, as well as Ukraine.
Ruud Tombrock, executive director of HSI/Europe, said: “In Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since WWII, millions of Ukrainians have had to take the decision to leave their country and flee the war.
"Along with a few possessions, many are also taking their pet animals, who they cherish as family members.
"The trauma of war as well as the stress of the evacuation journey, can make animals vulnerable to a variety of illnesses and so HSI’s Vets for Ukrainian Pets program aims to eliminate barriers to accessing veterinary care for the pets of refugees.
"It will provide a much-needed safety net for those families fleeing with their beloved pets so that at no point they feel compelled to leave their pets behind due to concerns about being able to care for them.”
Vets for Ukrainian Pets will run until 21st May 2022 and is open for all licensed veterinary clinics to apply throughout Europe, whether owned privately or as part of a corporate group.
Veterinary surgeons who want to join the program should visit apply.vetsforukraine.com.
They include the successful completion of its governance review, the launch of the Graduate Outcomes consultation (the biggest in 20 years) and the Edward Jenner Leadership Programme (a massive open online course to develop leadership skills at all levels of the profession).
The College also highlights the continuation of its Mind Matters Initiative and how the initiative's aim - to encourage a compassionate and empathetic profession - is becoming a central part of the College's core strategy.
The report also covers the work done by the College to explore an outcomes-based approach to continuing professional development (CPD), review Schedule 3 and the Veterinary Surgeons Act, plan for the UK’s exit from the European Union and promote (jointly with the BVA) the benefit of registering with a vet to the public via a social media campaign.
The report includes the College’s independently-audited finances with details of income and expenditure. Whilst the College is not a charity, the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice – a framework for charity accounting and reporting, which allows easier comparison with the finances of similar bodies.
The report will be presented for adoption by members of the College at this year’s RCVS Day on Friday 12 July 2019 at the Royal Institute of British Architects.
The report can be downloaded from the RCVS publications webpage, or contact publications@rcvs.org.uk to request a hard copy.
The RCVS is looking to recruit two veterinary surgeons as part-time Postgraduate Deans, to help oversee new veterinary graduates during their Professional Development Phase (PDP).
Freda Andrews, RCVS Head of Education said: "The PDP is an online recording system to guide new graduates as they work towards achieving the "year one competences" - the competences expected of a new graduate who's had about a year's experience in practice. Postgraduate Deans monitor PDP participants' progress and respond to their queries, and ultimately sign-off the graduates once their PDP is complete."
The roles have become available as two of the current post-holders, Stephen Ware and Professor David Noakes, wish to hand over to new colleagues. Both Stephen and David have served as Postgraduate Deans since 2007, when the PDP first became a requirement for all new veterinary graduates.
Stephen said: "Being a Postgraduate Dean gives you the opportunity to assist new graduates in the early stages of their career. It is also a way to encourage employers to take a responsible attitude towards new vets, particularly during their first job or two."
Postgraduate Deans are expected to spend up to 20 days a year working mainly online from home, and attend occasional meetings at the RCVS in London. They need experience of general practice, and to be used to dealing with and advising students, or employing and supporting new graduates. A sympathetic understanding of the challenges faced by newly qualified veterinary graduates is also required.
Further information about the role can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/jobs, and information about the PDP, including a preview, at www.rcvs.org.uk/pdp.
Applicants should send a brief CV, and a covering letter setting out their relevant experience, to education@rcvs.org.uk by 7 March 2011.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has added a cardiology CPD section to its Vetmedin website. The section also includes a number of owner education resources to be used in practice.
The site, which is billed as a one-stop-shop on canine heart disease, includes an interactive radiology viewer, the Vetmedin atlas of cardiac radiology, radiology interpretation and diagnosis, an interactive MVD seminar and online downloadable Vetmedin dosage calculator to assist veterinary surgeons in prescribing the optimum dose.
Owner education materials include an animation explaining how to monitor a dog's resting respiratory rate, a video about heart failure and downloadable charts to help owners monitor their dog's condition.
For further information, visit www.vetmedin.co.uk, contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.
John Innes, CVS Referrals Director based at Chester Gates Veterinary Specialists (BVSc PhD CertVR DSAS (orth) FRCVS), said: "The main challenges around managing and treating osteoarthritis for vets is that it is a chronic, insidious problem.
"It’s also often lower down the priority list and owners don’t recognise the signs; they often ascribe it to ageing. Actually, osteoarthritis is such a common problem that it should be way up our priority list because something like 10-15% of adult dogs have OA."
The roundtable discussion also focused on the need for greater understanding of the condition among pet owners.
Duncan Lascelles, Professor of Small Animal Surgery and Pain Management at NC State Veterinary Medicine (BSc, BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, CertVA, DSAS(ST), DECVS, DACVS) said: "The vet profession needs to take a much more active role in the education of owners, and osteoarthritis is a perfect example of this. Many owners consider osteoarthritis to be age related and an inevitable part of the ageing process – unfortunately both of those concepts are erroneous.
"Osteoarthritis can be a young dog disease, it is present in many young dogs because it is caused by developmental diseases, but we only recognise the obvious signs later on when the disability is severe. Also, we should not consider OA-related pain as an inevitable part of the ageing process, it is something that we can prevent by early intervention, early treatment and modification of lifestyle."
Meanwhile, a survey of 236 UK practising vets carried out by Elanco last June, revealed that 76% of veterinary surgeons believe owners fundamentally misunderstand OA and consider it just a symptom of old age, which results in a barrier to effective treatment of the disease.
The survey also found that although the illness is commonplace (49% of veterinary surgeons see OA cases every day), vets are often unable to give their preferred treatment for OA for a range of reasons, from owner misconception of the disease through to perceived side effects and compliance.
The issue of better education of owners was also discussed at the roundtable, in particular the role of CMIs (Clinical Metrology Instruments); owner-facing questionnaires designed to help veterinary surgeons evaluate the extent and seriousness of OA-related pain in dogs.
Duncan said: "The great thing about CMIs is that they have been constructed using language that owners understand, therefore are an easy way to ask owners the right questions in the way that they will understand.
"CMIs allow us to have what can be very difficult conversations with owners. Difficult because we have to think of all the different ways that osteoarthritis might be affecting pets. Because the CMIs include pre-constructed questions, it means that conversations with owners are much easier and, importantly, they’re consistent. Consistency is key to ensure you’re asking the same set of questions each time, every time, so you can follow the evolution of clinical signs over time and assess the beneficial impact of our therapeutics."
John added: "We often quiz the owner informally in a consultation, but CMIs gives us the tools needed to formalise this questioning of clients and allow us to put that in context of our knowledge of other patients."
Both John and Duncan said the need for more patient analysis highlighted the need for better use of existing tools, such as the LOAD (‘Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs’) questionnaire, a 13-item clinical metrology instrument (CMI) designed to help veterinary surgeons determine the severity of OA in all dogs, monitor disease progression and assess the patient’s response to treatment.
For more information contact your Elanco representative or call +44 (0)1256 353131.
BCF Technology has launched a series of free canine X-ray positioning guides which are now available to download from www.bcftechnology.com.
The company says the guides are designed to provide a quick, easy-to-use reference to help you get the best radiographic views possible, every time.
BCF in-house radiographer Kat Evans said: "At BCF, we understand that capturing a great X-ray isn't just about having the best equipment; good positioning is crucial, these easy-to-use guides will help vets and vet nurses to create the very best radiograph."
BCF in-house vet Ben Sullivan added: "At BCF we are committed to improving the standards of radiography in the veterinary profession. We aim to help our customers make the very most of their equipment. This is why we are committed to supporting ongoing education and training. You will find a huge range of learning materials on our website aimed at helping you to develop further your veterinary ultrasonography and radiography abilities.
Full small animal and equine positional guides are in-built into the software of all CR X-ray systems available from BCF.
For more information, visit www.bcftechnology.com or call +44(0)1506 460 023.
Her Majesty The Queen has today opened the University of Surrey's new £45m School of Veterinary Medicine, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness toured the Large Animal Clinical Skills Building, where they met students taking equine examinations and working with livestock. The Royal Party also viewed a demonstration in the Biomechanics Laboratory, meeting Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and dogs that have benefitted from prosthetic limb surgery. They also watched teaching sessions in the Clinical Skills Laboratory, meeting staff and students.
After the tour, The Queen, The Duke and assembled guests attended a short ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new teaching facilities, during which Her Majesty unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.
As The Royal Party left, they were bid farewell by Joey, the star of the theatre production War Horse.
Professor Michael Kearney, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, said: “We are hugely honoured to welcome Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to the University of Surrey. This is a very special occasion that tops off an exceptional start to the academic year for the University, after the launch of our 5G Innovation Centre and achieving The Times and Sunday Times ‘University of the Year’ accolade.
“The School of Veterinary Medicine further cements our position as a world-class institution that is delivering cutting-edge teaching and research from state-of-the-art facilities. It will not only provide the next generation of sought-after veterinary graduates, but it will offer significant opportunities for collaboration between human and animal medical science professionals and public sector organisations.”
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, one of the founding partners of the School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “I had a vision where we would deliver a degree structure which was truly focussed on what you dream about when you are sixteen years old, when you are desperate to become a vet. I fully intend to be part of a team that will kindle that fire throughout professional life to shine a light onto the world that badly needs ambassadors of purpose and integrity to be the caretakers of health on Earth, both now and for long after I’m gone and these new buildings will still be standing. This is our legacy, and we are intensely proud to be part of this evolution in health education.”