Midlands-based veterinary surgeon Richard Hillman, who will become the new President of Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons on May 25th, has outlined the issues he'll be championing during his term of office:

• On practice standards: “We need to influence the RCVS so that as the Practice Standards scheme evolves it produces genuine improvements in both clinical and non-clinical standards and is not just a bureaucratic box ticking exercise adding to the stress, workload and overheads of practices.”
• On clinical governance and audit: “The SPVS needs to ensure that the establishment of protocols does not impinge on clinical freedom while establishing ‘best practice’ and that they are used as a yardstick to encourage practitioners to engage with CPD and improve, not as an excuse for unnecessary procedures and profiteering.”
• On the Veterinary Surgeons Act: “We need to influence the RCVS in developing the Veterinary Surgeons Act review so that we bring about the best results for all of the stakeholders. We need to recognise that there are shortcomings in the present Act, particularly with regard to the disciplinary process, but we need to be sure of what we want from a review, as well as being confident we will get it, or else we may be opening up Pandora’s Box with our eyes half-closed and end up in a worse position than the current one. We must ensure that any disciplinary process punishes members who do not measure up to our standards in an appropriate way, while not putting an onerous burden on vets who are well-meaning, hard-working and doing a good job.”
• On 24 hour provision: “There is much debate on whether practitioners should lobby for 24-hour provision to become voluntary, especially in view of Working Time Regulations. We need to be careful on how we develop policy on this issue. There has to be a compromise somewhere between the needs and wants of practitioners to earn a reasonable living and have a reasonable work-life balance, and clients to have reasonable access to veterinary services when they need them (though not necessarily when they want them) while ensuring good welfare for our patients.”
• On Prescription charging: “Regulations forcing us to provide free prescriptions end in October and we enter a 12-month period of monitoring to see if we can be trusted not to operate a complex monopoly or over-charge for prescriptions. We need to be careful in how we handle this next 18 months. SPVS will work hard to ensure that vets can charge fairly for the work they are doing but not exploit our privilege to prescribe in the short term and give those who look for a reason to take that privilege off us an excuse to do so.”
• On support: During his year in office Richard also wants to support vets suffering from depression or mental health problems because of the “huge stress” of veterinary practice.

The owner of Hillman Vets, a five-clinic practice based in Walsall, Lichfield, Brownhills and Darlaston, Richard is a successful businessman with numerous achievements under his belt. During the 1990s, he developed the Hillman Vets practice as well as helping to launch the first out-of-hours animal clinic in the country, Northside Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Great Barr, Birmingham, and the Birmingham-based chain of Value Vets clinics, for pet owners wanting basic services.

Passionately committed to the veterinary profession, Richard wanted to be a vet even as a child, and has described his job as “a privilege, and the enduring cornerstone of my life”.

In recent years, Richard has become an activist on issues he feels strongly about, such as the rights of animals. He has called on shoppers to buy British organic or farm assured meat because of poor welfare standards in other countries. He has also backed plans to introduce “ASBOs for dogs” in a bid to reduce the growing number of attacks by dangerous dogs on children in their homes and on members of the public.

During his year as SPVS president, Richard intends to encourage UK veterinary practitioners to play a greater campaigning role on welfare issues. “We are the best placed, most motivated, and appropriately qualified people to ensure animal welfare, the responsible use of pharmaceuticals, and food safety,” he will tell fellow vets.

Richard is excited about his presidential year and says: “This year gives me the opportunity to drive the agenda from the front to make a difference, and to work tirelessly to promote, support and represent our profession.”

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, has launched a new guide entitled ‘Your guide to Exotic Diseases', to educate horse owners on these potentially fatal, insect-borne diseases, some of which are zoonotic.

Joining the company's guides on respiratory disease and vaccination, the leaflet features information on West Nile Virus, African Horse Sickness, Equine Infectious Anaemia (Swamp Fever) and Equine Encephalitis including overviews of each of the diseases and their clinical signs. 

Spread by a variety of insect-borne vectors including midges, mosquitoes and horseflies, climate change is increasing the risk of exotic diseases having a severe impact on the country's equine industry.  What's more, African Horse Sickness is transmitted from animal to animal by infected biting Culicoides midges, the same midges that carry the Bluetongue virus which has threatened UK livestock this year.

"It's essential that horse owners are aware of the threat of exotic diseases coming in from overseas and the clinical signs to look out for, especially during the summer and autumn months when diseases transmitted by insects are more likely to appear." comments Tim Zoch, Marketing Manager at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.  "Our new leaflet features easy-to-understand overviews of each of the diseases to help educate owners, and practices can expect strong demand from their clients"

For further information about Intervet/Schering-Plough's range of horse owner guides, including ‘Your guide to Exotic Diseases', please contact your Intervet/Schering-Plough Account Manager or call the Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.

Novartis has made a last call for entries to its competition in which you can win an iPad whilst getting the latest update on the correct use of NSAIDs from an acknowledged expert in the field. 

To enter the competition, watch the first in a series of webcasts by Dr Jo Murrell, Senior Lecturer at Bristol Vet School, then answer three questions about what you've seen.

Competition closes at the end of May. More information here.

Twycross Zoo has released a video on YouTube in which Sarah Chapman, Head of Veterinary Sciences, describes the challenges of being a zoo vet, explains why she loves the job and introduces the zoo’s partnership with the vet school at University of Nottingham.

The video is part of a six-part series of behind-the-scenes videos in which viewers can see some of the 500 animals in its care and the people that keep the zoo running from day to day. In addition to explaining the role of the veterinary team, the videos also explore the role of the zoo’s keepers and the research, conservation, education and animal training that takes place.

Virbac has launched Veterinary HPM Digestive Support wet diets, two clinical diets for the nutritional management of digestive issues and convalescence in cats and dogs.

Virbac says this is the only wet product to provide separate species-specific dog and cat convalescence diets tailored to the unique nutritional needs of both species.

In an internal study conduct by Virbac, 86% of dogs with digestive issues improved within a week of using the diet¹ 

The new diets are high in protein and low in carbohydrate and they can be used alone or in combination with the company's dry diets (suggested 50/50 split).

Andrew Connolly, Marketing Director – UK & Ireland at Virbac said: “We’re thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive feedback we've received on our new Veterinary HPM Digestive Support wet diets.

“Practices and pet owners alike are commenting on the extraordinary palatability of the diets and their effectiveness, particularly with convalescing and inappetent pets”. 

References

1. O’Neill DG et al. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17(69): 1-14. (2) Internal study on 42 dogs with at least 3 abnormal digestive parameters, fed exclusively with 50% VETERINARY HPM G1 Dry & 50% VETERINARY HPM G Wet, 2024. (3) Internal study on 86 healthy dogs sequentially fed with 3 different wet foods for digestive disorders, including VETERINARY HPM Gastro Wet, 2024.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has announced the results of the RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurse Council elections.

A record number of candidates stood in the RCVS Council election this year, and the results were much closer than usual.

Two candidates entirely new to the Council have been elected, one of whom - Amanda Boag - received the highest number of votes. The other - Chris Barker - also did well, coming in third place overall.

Three existing RCVS Council Members have been re-elected for a further four years, and Stephen May, who was formerly an appointed Council Member from the Royal Veterinary College, was also voted onto Council for the first time.

Of the three candidates standing for election to VN Council, one existing Member - Kathy Kissick - has been returned, and one new member - Elizabeth Figg - has been elected.

All successful candidates will take up or resume their seats at RCVS Day on 6 July 2012.

Turnouts for both elections remained low, with just 3,625 veterinary surgeons (15.1%) and 743 veterinary nurses (7.5%) choosing to exercise their right to vote.

By comparison, in 2011 voting figures were 3,887 (15.9%) and 723 (7.6%), respectively.

Veterinary surgeons' and veterinary nurses' use of online and text voting, rather than postal voting, increased again this year from 25% to 30.6%, and 12.9% to 20%, respectively.

Petlog has released the results of research to discover what dog owners know about microchipping and the upcoming change in legislation which will make chipping compulsory from 2016.

The survey was conducted amongst 1000 people in May. 46% of those that own dogs were unaware that microchipping is to become compulsory. Of the 54% that did know about the new legislation, only about 20% knew that it comes into force in 2016.

The survey revealed a surprising lack of understanding about how microchips work. 14.85% of dog owners - which would amount to more than 1M people in the UK - thought a microchip acted as a GPS device.

Half of all pet owners did not know whether the contact details on their pet's microchip record are up to date.

Petlog conducted the survey as part of National Microchipping Month which takes place this June. The awareness campaign has been running for 10 years now, to raise the profile of pet microchipping and its benefits and also to educate pet owners about how it works, the need to keep contact details up to date and how to make the most from a database.

Celia Walsom, Petlog Executive said: "Raising awareness about microchipping was our first priority when we began National Microchipping Month in 2004, but now we want to ensure pet owners fully understand exactly how the microchip works, that they need to keep their contact details up to date and of course are aware of what is happening in regards to legislation.

"Microchipping is the most popular form of permanent identification, and has reunited hundreds of thousands of pets and owners in the UK since it was introduced here over twenty years ago, and yet pet owners do not seem to fully understand how the microchip works and why it is so important to keep their contact details up to date.

"Worryingly the research found that around 12% of pet owners wrongly believe that the microchip acts as some sort of GPS device, or can stop a pet from wandering a certain distance. It is important that people understand how a microchip works so that they know how to make the most of it.

"We also need pet owners to understand that they need to keep their contact details up to date as it becomes a lot harder and slower, if possible at all, to reunite pets when contact details become outdated."

Talking about Petlog's annual campaign, Animal Welfare Minister, Lord de Mauley said: "I fully support National Microchipping Month. Campaigns like this are important in showing dog owners that microchipping is a safe, easy and quick procedure that can save owners a lot of potential heartbreak if their dogs stray. With Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and Blue Cross all offering free microchipping, there is no excuse for dog owners not to chip their dogs before the April 2016 deadline."

To find out more about National Microchipping Month and events that are taking place in your area, visit www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk.

The London Vet Show, which takes place on Thursday 19th November and Friday 20th November at the Olympia Grand, has announced the business programme for 2015.

The programme will include:

• ‘Preparing to double your veterinary practice profits and the value of your business in just 12 months, starting today’, by John Sheridan BVetMed CVPM DMS MRCVS (pictured right), business consultant at Veterinary Business Briefing. 
• ‘Making the most of the nursing team in your practice’, by Kirstie Faulkner, RVN Cert. VBM, business development director at Onswitch.
• 'Counting on the people - measuring what your teams and customers think to fuel your business growth’, by Jane Fletcher BA Hons (Business), director at Think Smart Unlimited and Tim Puddle BA Hons (Business), managing director at Think Smart Unlimited. 
• ‘Our digital journey – embracing digital marketing’, by Justin Phillips, marketing manager at White Cross Vets, who will be speaking on

Rob Chapman, group event director of the London Vet Show and France Vet said: "The business programme at the London Vet Show has gone from strength to strength with a plethora of informative lectures from top class industry leaders. The informative content includes hints and tips that veterinary professionals can utilise in practice to help enhance their veterinary teams, increase profits and develop their business.”

For further information on the business programme at the London Vet Show or to register for the show visit londonvetshow.co.uk/business.

Staysure Group has launched Petsure, a new insurance product which covers cats and dogs regardless of their pre-existing medical conditions. 

The company says most other providers have restrictions for older pets, commonly for dogs over the age of 8 and cats over 10. As a result, the customer often feels trapped to stay with their current insurer.

Petsure offers cover for a range of veterinary fee levels, from £1,000 to £15,000 regardless of pre-existing medical conditions. Each policy can cover a combination of up to eight cats or dogs on a single policy and gives the option of tailoring the level of cover for each pet, including the option of sharing the bill. There is also a choice of 4 add-on covers including travel and holiday cover.

There are no exclusion periods when switching from an existing insurer with like for like cover.

The company also offers 24 hour video consultations via FirstVet. 

Scott Miller MRCVS said: "Every day I see pets come into my clinics with worried owners. Worrying for the wellbeing of your pet is expected but worrying about the cost of treatment should not be a concern. That's why I'm so thrilled that a product has launched to ensure our furry friends with most pre-existing conditions can be treated and pet-prejudice is no longer an issue."

For more information, visit www.petsure.com or call 03301281862.

Following an outdoor advertising campaign that ran earlier this year, Drontal has launched a new national campaign, which will see the iconic Schnauzer featured on over 6,000 outdoor sites across England, Scotland and Wales.

Drontal product manager, Dan White said: "The last Drontal outdoor advertising campaign was a huge success in driving pet-owning clients into practices and we're hoping to build on this with our new advertising push.  

"Approximately, 20% of the new advertising sites will be located within a 500 metre radius of veterinary practices serving to drive pet owners to visit local practices to purchase Drontal.  We're not only highlighting the benefits of regular worming which results in healthier cats and dogs, but we're also improving the health of practice business."  

For further information on Drontal, please contact your Bayer territory manager.

Ceva Animal Health has launched Adaptil Stress Relief Now, a non-pheromone tablet to help dogs cope with predictable but unavoidable short-term stressful situations such as vet visits and car journeys.

The new product contains GABA, which, according to Ceva, plays a central role in relaxation by limiting the nerve cell activity in the areas of the brain associated with anxiety.¹ It also contains L-tryptophan to increase serotonin synthesis¹ and reduce stress-related behaviours in dogs.² It also contains T-theanine, which Ceva says increases the release of GABA and inhibits the binding of the excitatory neurotransmitter L-glutamic acid to its receptors,^1,3 with the effect of reducing anxiety and improving learning abilities.⁴ Finally, the product also contains B Vitamins (B1,B3, B6, B8 and B12), which the company says helps the body cope with the effects of stress.⁵

Ceva says that by administering the tablets to dogs two hours before any predictable stressful event and boosting levels of these naturally occurring substances, Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets have been shown to help 80% of dogs remain relaxed in stressful situations, with the effect lasting up to four hours after administration.⁶ 

Sarah Endersby, Senior Veterinary Advisor at Ceva said: "Pet owners often want advice from their vets to help their dog's cope with a potentially stressful event that is approaching. Many want a reliable and quick-acting solution, especially if the event is infrequent or of a short duration. An oral anxiolytic can be really useful in this situation, and can be used alongside targeted behavioural training to help the dog cope."

According to the company, study trials have proven a high safety margin, with no recognised side effects and no impact on clinical parameters.⁶ In palatability trials, 90% of dogs chose to eat them with no prompting.⁶

Ceva recommends the new product is used alone or in combination with other products in the existing Adaptil range for common stressful situations for dogs, including: house parties / visitors, fireworks, thunderstorms, noise phobias, travel, veterinary visits and visits to groomers.

For more information about Adaptil Stress Relief Now tablets, including client literature, please speak to your local Ceva representative.

References

1. Alramadhan, E., M. S. Hanna, M. S. Hanna, T. A. Goldstein, S. M. Avila, and B. S. Weeks, 2012, Dietary and botanical anxiolytics, Medical Science Monitor, v. 18, no. 4, p. RA40-RA48.
2. DeNapoli, J. S., N. H. Dodman, L. Shuster, W. M. Rand, and K. L. Gross, 2000, Effect of dietary protein content and tryptophan supplementation on dominance aggression, territorial aggression, and hyperactivity in dogs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, v. 217, no. 4, p. 504-508.
3. Kakuda, T., A. Nozawa, A. Sugimoto, and H. Niino, 2002, Inhibition by theanine of binding of [3H]AMPA, [3H]kainate, and [3H]MDL 105,519 to glutamate receptors, Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry, v. 66, no. 12, p. 2683-2686.
4. Ritsner, M. S., C. Miodownik, Y. Ratner, T. Shleifer, M. Mar, L. Pintov, and V. Lerner, 2011, L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center study, Journal of clinical psychiatry, v. 72, no. 1, p. 34-42.
5. Thompson, J., 2005a, Vitamins, minerals and supplements: part three, Community practitioner, v. 78, no. 11, p. 407-408.
6. Study Report, Evaluation of the voluntary acceptance, consumption and tolerance of Adaptil oral tablets in dogs, ST 2013-02 Vetpharma/De Morgenstond.