Zoetis has launched CircoMax Myco, billed as the first and only vaccine that includes two porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) genotypes (a & b), providing broader coverage against PCV2 and the longest-lasting combined protection against two of the main pathogens in the global pig industry, PCV2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. 

Zoetis says the new product is designed to stimulate both cell-mediated and antibody-based immunity, providing a broad immune response that mimics a natural infection.

The company says CircoMax Myco has demonstrated robust performance in field conditions, delivering improvements in average daily gain (ADG) and close-out weights versus negative controls, helping producers get more kilograms of pork to market.

CircoMax Myco comes in a ready to use single-dose combination with a duration of immunity (DOI) of 23 weeks against both PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae.

Alvaro Aldaz, Director, Global Commercial Development, Swine, Zoetis, said: “The swine industry needs to adapt to evolving challenges and our research has consistently demonstrated that with its unique technology CircoMax Myco offers robust protection against PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae.

"It also shows that this new product offers the best chance at protection against continuously evolving PCV2 genotypes – providing a broader umbrella for pig health and productivity.

"Analysis of new European PCV2 strains isolated in multiple countries confirm that CircoMax Myco offers broader coverage than competitor vaccines based on PCV2a only.”

King Charles has adopted the millionth hen to be rehomed by the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT).

Founded in 2005 by Jane Howorth MBE, the British Hen Welfare Trust rehomes commercial laying hens that would usually be sent to slaughter, typically at 18 months. 

The charity has rehomed hens in schools, community areas, prisons and back gardens around the country, where they have plenty of life left both as egg layers and companions.

The millionth hen, named Henrietta by His Majesty, was rehomed at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire, along with 30 others earlier this month.  

Jane said: “We’re thrilled that one million hens have been adopted and extremely pleased that Henrietta and her 30 feathered friends are heading to Highgrove Gardens.

"Helping a lorry load of 4,000 was my original target and we’ve exceeded my expectations by some margin!

"To think that so many hens have had a happy retirement gives me a great deal of pleasure as I’m sure it has for all the kind-hearted British supporters who’ve taken these deserving little creatures into their homes and hearts. 

"From the day I started this charity, it’s been a privilege to meet and work with people who want to help hens and to work alongside the egg industry to champion hen welfare and free range eggs.” 

www.bhwt.org.uk/one-millionth-hen. 

A new study of UK snail behaviour using LED and UV light tracking has found that the nocturnal creatures can explore the length of an average British garden in just one night, reaching a top speed of 1mph (metre per hour).

The 'Slime Watch' report was commissioned by Bayer Animal Health, makers of Advocate, as part of its 'Be Lungworm Aware' campaign and led by Dr Dave Hodgson, Associate Professor of Ecology at the University of Exeter, who studied the habits of 450 garden snails, recording their movements using LED lights and UV paint. This is the first time snails have been studied in this way.

The study found that snails will travel distances of up to 25 metres in a 24-hour period, and seek out areas of shelter, such as long grass, trees or objects, including dogs' toys, left in the garden overnight. The four researchers from Exeter University also discovered that snails move in convoys, piggy-backing on the slime of other snails to conserve energy. It is thought that a snail could use up to 30 per cent of its energy in slime production alone.

Dr Hodgson said: "Until now no one has fully understood the habits of these fascinating creatures that we encounter in our gardens every day. In this research we wanted to solve the mystery surrounding gastropod activity and provide a resource for gardeners and pet owners wanting to better safeguard the health of their plants and pets. By learning more about the behaviour of snails, we hope dog owners can better understand they ways in which dogs can encounter snails on a day-to-day basis and the lungworm risk they present, taking the appropriate precautions."

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has postponed judgement on Hertfordshire-based veterinary surgeon Amir Kashiv, who was charged with the inadequate care of a dog, for a period of two years.

At the outset of the hearing, Mr Kashiv, from Vets & Pets, Broxbourne, denied all aspects of the charges against him. During the course of the inquiry, some heads of charge were not pursued and some he admitted, leaving the remaining heads of charge to be determined. 

The charges concerned the treatment of a Scottish Terrier, called Tanzy, whose owner, Mrs Greenhill, brought her in to see Mr Kashiv on 5 March 2015. Mrs Greenhill was concerned about blood in Tanzy’s urine and swellings in her mammary glands. After carrying out a cytopathology test, Mr Kashiv advised Mrs Greenhill that Tanzy would require surgery to remove the mammary glands. There were no further tests conducted, and no alternatives to surgery suggested.

On 13 March another veterinary surgeon at Vets & Pets therefore undertook a right-side mammary strip on Tanzy, discharging her the following day. On 17 March Mrs Greenhill brought Tanzy back in for a post-operative check and was seen by a locum veterinary surgeon, who found her to be in good condition.

On 20 March Mrs Greenhill then became concerned about Tanzy’s deteriorating condition and returned her to see Mr Kashiv. He admitted Tanzy for observation over the weekend but did not conduct any further tests at that stage, apart from radiography on 22 March. The hospitalisation records were of poor quality and substantially incomplete.

On 23 March Mr Kashiv then informed Mrs Greenhill that Tanzy could be discharged, although he recommended an MRI scan to assist in the diagnosis; this was declined on cost grounds. He did not however explain clearly to Mrs Greenhill that Tanzy’s prognosis was bleak, and did not give adequate home care instructions.

Tanzy continued to deteriorate, and on 24 March Mrs Greenhill took Tanzy to the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital where a veterinary surgeon conducted tests which showed that Tanzy was in renal failure. The veterinary surgeon then called Mrs Greenhill and recommended that Tanzy was put to sleep, which was then performed in Mrs Greenhill’s presence.

The Committee found that Mr Kashiv had failed to conduct the necessary investigations when Tanzy was admitted from 20 to 23 March 2015, being satisfied that, by the time Tanzy had been hospitalised for a period of three days, it was mandatory for a blood test to have been performed, given her marked deterioration.

The Committee also found while Mr Kashiv did express his opinion that Tanzy’s prognosis was poor, he did not give the full explanation required in the circumstances of this case to enable Mrs Greenhill to understand fully the prognosis. The Committee also considered that Tanzy was not in a fit state to be discharged on 23 March 2015, and that he had failed to keep sufficiently clear and/or detailed and/or accurate records.

After full consideration, the Committee found that Mr Kashiv’s actions amounted to serious professional misconduct, and was satisfied that his actions fell far short of the conduct to be expected of a reasonably competent veterinary surgeon in respect of heads of charge 1, 2 and 3 but not 4.

Although it was concerned "about the culture of care in the practice, in particular not having in place proper protocols and procedures and without necessary support from properly trained staff", in deciding on appropriate sanction, the Committee was satisfied that there were "a number of serious misjudgements by Mr Kashiv in this case".

The Committee decided to postpone judgement for a period of two years, whilst recommending that Mr Kashiv agree to undertake a structured programme to benefit his clinical practice including a Personal Development Plan, mentoring, practice visits, additional CPD and regular reports to the Disciplinary Committee.

Non-compliance with these undertakings may result in the hearing being resumed at a date earlier than the two-year period.

Stuart Drummond, Chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee considers that Mr Kashiv is a dedicated veterinary surgeon, as evidenced by the large number of testimonials, and that he provides a valuable service to the community, particularly with rescue animals.

"Nevertheless, the Committee considers that there were a number of fundamental failings in Mr Kashiv’s clinical competence which are required to be addressed during the period of postponement. For the reasons set out above the Committee considers that Mr Kashiv’s clinical practice will benefit from a structured programme over the period of postponement, whilst protecting the welfare of animals, maintaining public confidence in the profession and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct."

For the full charges, findings and decisions, see: http://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/ 

The UK dog-owning public is being duped into buying dogs from puppy farms says Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, inadvertently fuelling the cruel trade and potentially landing themselves with huge vet bills.

In a recent survey the charity asked dog owners if they would consider buying a dog from a puppy farm. Although almost 95% said no, when asked where they had got their dog from 15.1% - potentially 900,000 dog owners - admitted they had got them from an advert in the newspaper, the internet, a pet shop or a pet superstore, all outlets often supplied by puppy farms.

In the past six months Dogs Trust has seen a marked increase in calls from concerned members of the public on the subject of puppy farming, many from dog owners whose pets have suffered illness and in some cases died as a result of having been bred at puppy farms.

Dogs Trust is calling for immediate measures to help to stop the puppy farming trade:

1. General public
Dogs Trust is introducing the term 'battery farming of dogs' to associate the practice in the minds of the public with that of battery farming of chickens, and wants to educate the public as to where they can safely go to buy a 'cruelty free dog'. 

Dogs Trust's message to the public is:

• Be wary of buying a dog from the internet, from a newspaper, from a pet shop or garden centre
• Always ask to see the puppy interacting with its mother and be concerned if excuses are made as to why you can't
• Check paperwork and be suspicious if previous owner details have been removed or disguised
• If you suspect a puppy has come from a farm don't buy it. You may be saving a dog but you'll be fuelling the battery farm trade

2. Government & Local Authorities
Dogs Trust is calling for the review of existing breeding licensing legislation.

Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust, said: "Battery farming of dogs is an appalling practice, abhorrent to all decent members of society. Breeding bitches are kept in unthinkably cruel conditions and bred from continuously until they are too old, then discarded. Puppies often suffer from medical problems and behavioural issues as a result of being inadequately socialised. While most people would never consider buying a dog from such a place, it seems that a large number are inadvertently doing so.

"Most reputable breeders would never sell their dogs through newspaper adverts, pet shops or superstores, garden centres or internet websites. Anyone who sees an animal for sale in any of these places should be suspicious. Newspaper adverts and online websites are of particular concern since unscrupulous breeders or middle men (dealers) are difficult to identify, often posing as members of the public selling 'puppies from unplanned litters'."

What's wrong with battery farms?
Breeding bitches at battery farms:

• are kept in small pens without natural daylight or contact with other dogs
• suffer the mental cruelty of having little contact with people and having no space to exercise or opportunity to play
• are bred from continuously in these conditions until they are too old, then discarded

A battery farmed puppy could have genetic or other health problems relating to its poor breeding conditions. It could also have behavioural problems as a result of being taken from its mother at too young an age.

Common problems for a puppy farmed dog are:

• Parvovirus - can be fatal but cost up to £1,000
• Worms - can be fatal but if it causes bad diarrhoea requiring a drip it could cost £500
• Hip dysplasia - two total hip replacements would cost £7,000
• Patella luxation (dislocating knee-caps) - surgery on both knees would cost £1,500
• Congenital heart problems - if surgery required would cost £5,000-6,000

Dogs Trust has published a guide for anyone looking to buy a puppy. It can be downloaded from http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/b/buyingadog/default.aspx

Carl Gorman has taken over as President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, continuing the fine tradition that BSAVA has of appointing all-round good eggs to the role.

One of Carl's main presidential tasks will be implementing the BSAVA’s new strategy for 2024, which comes from a current project looking into the wider veterinary profession and how BSAVA can support the community.

Carl is the clinical director of a busy small animal and exotics practice in Newbury, which is also a partner practice for Surrey University, helping to train final year vet students.

He has been a member of BSAVA for 40 years and started volunteering for the Southern Regional Committee in 2013.

Carl said: “BSAVA has always been important to me in my professional life.

"Since becoming a volunteer, I have admired even more the dedication of the staff and volunteers who make up the association.

“I see my time on BSAVA Board as a service to the association and to the small animal veterinary world.

"Becoming President is a huge honour but is part of an ongoing commitment to doing what I can to help BSAVA thrive.”

TVM UK has announced it is to hold Pet Eye Health Awareness Week starting on 21st September 2020. 

The aim of the week is to help pet owners identify common symptoms of eye disease and to seek prompt veterinary attention where appropriate.

To support the initiative, TVM UK is supplying veterinary practices with a kit to create their own waiting room display to inform owners about the common symptoms of eye disease. Pet owners can obtain further, more in-depth information by scanning a QR code on their smartphone camera which takes them directly to the webpage www.tvm-uk.com/eyehealth.

There is also a ‘Who’s Got Their Eye on You’ mini quiz to help engage clients to see if they can spot one of their pets in the animal line up.

Will Peel, Product Manager at TVM UK said: "Eye problems in pets can sometimes be hard for pet owners to pick up so we have launched Pet Eye Health Awareness Week to raise awareness of common symptoms of poor eye heath so problems can be identified early and pet owners can seek veterinary advice quickly."

For more information, contact your local territory manager, email help@tvm-uk.com or call 0800 0385868. You can find additional eye-health related social media content at: www.tvm-uk.com.

The Equine Veterinary Journal has published a free online collection of equine dentistry research articles.

Co-edited by Paddy Dixon and Vicki Nicholls, the collection comprises ten studies on physiology, disease, diagnosis and treatment techniques in equine dentistry. The editors say it gives veterinary surgeons free access to some of the most important current research in the UK.

The studies include:

• A comparative analyses of tooth wear in free-ranging and captive wild equids which indicates that captive animals experience less abrasion-dominated tooth wear and suggests that factors leading to focal overgrowth (‘hook’) formation, in particular feeding height, should receive special attention.
• A long-term study of equine paranasal sinus disease, which concludes that ancillary diagnostic techniques, such as nasal endoscopy, sinoscopy and skull radiography, enables identification of the specific sinus compartments that are most commonly affected.
• A study which suggests that the thermal effects on teeth of three different motorised dental instruments mean that they have the potential to seriously damage equine pulp if used inappropriately. Higher speed motorised dental instruments should be used for less time and teeth should be water-cooled during or immediately after instrument use to reduce the risk.
• Local anaesthesia is often needed for invasive procedures while the equine dental patient is under standing sedation. A study suggests that an intra-oral approach can be used effectively to desensitise the inferior alveolar nerve with minimal complications.
• Two studies which explore the relevance of Computed Tomography (CT) for accurate diagnosis of apical (tooth root) infection in maxillary and mandibular cheek teeth. They conclude that CT is useful for identifying deposition and defects of mineralised material but of less use for identifying inflammation and tissue destruction, but overall is helpful in diagnosing apical infections.
• A study which advocates that the functional orthodontic correction of overjet or overbite in foals is effective. It was noted that often more than one implant is required and that the treatment should be started as early as possible.
• A long-term study on the clinical effects of the mechanical widening of cheek teeth diastemata for the treatment of periodontitis concludes that it is an effective treatment for severely affected horses but it is potentially invasive and may require repeated treatments.
• A study which explains why a recently described disease of the nasal conchal bullae could be a cause of chronic unilateral nasal discharge. Clearance of empyema within these bullae is unlikely to occur through lavage of the paranasal sinuses alone. Where necessary, fenestration of the bulla allows physical removal of infected material. This study also clarifies the commonly used term ‘ventral conchal bullae’ which is anatomically incorrect - the correct name is the maxillary septal bulla (MSB).
• Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis is an infrequent and under-diagnosed form of severe dental disease of older equids. A study suggests that all teeth, particularly the incisors, should be examined for signs of gingivitis and hypercementosis. Subsequently they should be radiographed for early diagnosis and management.

Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the Equine Veterinary Journal said: "Care of the horse’s teeth is fundamental to good health. To this end a strong working knowledge of equine dentistry should be seen as an essential cornerstone for every equine practitioner.  This diverse collection has the convenience of being easily accessible, online and in one place to help keep vets fully abreast of the excellent research currently being conducted in the UK."

Vicki Nicholls, incoming president of BEVA, continued: "Advances in equine dentistry continue to gather pace and it has been a pleasure and privilege to work with Paddy Dixon collating the most current dental research that will be relevant to all equine practitioners with any level of expertise."

The equine dentistry collection is available free online at: http://bit.ly/2bBDuMW.

Vet Dynamics, the business consultancy for independent practices set up by Alan and Vicky Robinson, has raised a staggering £40,712 for Vetlife at its annual conference.

The money, which was raised from the annual raffle and auction was nearly 50% more than last year's total, which was an already impressive £27,800.

When the total was announced, former Vetlife President and auctioneer for the evening, Graham Dick was visibly moved and rendered temporarily speechless.

Once he's had a chance to recompose himself, he said “Your continued selection of Vetlife as the nominated charity for your now legendary fundraising at your annual conference not only raises much needed funds to enable it to continue to fulfil its mission, but also provides an excellent opportunity to re-enforce its contribution to the wellbeing of so many fellow veterinary professionals.” \

“This amazing sum raised could not have been possible without the provision by so many of such a wide range of raffle prizes and high value lots for auction and the generosity of those who bid unstintingly for them.

"On behalf of those in our veterinary community  for whom such generosity may have made a substantial difference Vetlife is extremely grateful.”

Vet Dynamics Director Vicky Robinson said: “Both Graham and I were virtually speechless to see the amazing generosity from our delegates and exhibitors and, of course, the kindness of the donors.

"It's such a pleasure to be able to contribute to a charity who work tirelessly to help our wonderful profession.”

Photo: Vicky Robinson and Graham Dick

Sarah Tomlinson MRCVS, from Westpoint Farm Vets in Derbyshire, has been named Dairy Vet of the Year at the Cream Awards.  

The Dairy Vet of the Year award, which is organised by the British Dairying Magazine and sponsored by Krka UK Ltd, recognises a veterinary surgeon for going the extra mile in helping to create a more positive, forward-thinking dairy industry.

In addition to her work as a farm vet, Sarah is also Technical Director at the TB Advisory Service (TBAS), which involves her overseeing and delivering training for new advisors, chairing technical board meetings and delivering farmer meetings across the country. She also provides bespoke advice to farmers in High Risk and Edge Areas of England, and is known for her compassion and understanding for those suffering a TB breakdown.

She is also a member of the TB Eradication and Advisory Group (TBEAG) for England, which advises government policy makers on all aspects of TB control in England.

Lindsay Heasman, Project Manager at TBAS, said: “Sarah is an authority on TB and understands the responsibility that comes with this role. She uses her position for good at all times and is prepared to make statements that are not always universally popular. By standing by her beliefs and dispelling misconceptions, she has won the respect of farmers across the country. Her dedication has, at times, come at personal cost, but her passion for eradicating bTB and support for farmers in achieving this goal never wavers.”

Sarah said: “I am just a farm vet doing the same job every farm vet does daily across the country. Through necessity, seeing my clients being devastated by TB breakdowns every day, I felt passionate about doing something about it. TBAS, my colleagues I am lucky to work with, and TBEAG have given me the platform to do this. I am very humbled that the judges though me worthy of the Award amongst the other hard-working vets."

Photo: Giles Brandreth, Charlotte Read, Sarah Tomlinson and Sean Sparling

Vets Now has announced the programme for its ECC Bitesize Live series of online CPD lectures for veterinary surgeons and nurses.

The specialist-led lectures will start on 5th May and run until October 2021, with a session every couple of weeks, alternating between vets and nurses.

RCVS-recognised specialist in ECC, Tobias Grave, and Racheal Marshall RVN, head of clinical nursing at Vets Now, are among the speakers who will be covering topics such as damage control resuscitation, traumatic brain injury and neurotoxins. You can view the full programme here.

Dan Lewis, ECC specialist at Vets Now, who devised this year’s veterinary CPD programme, said: “Because emergencies don’t only happen out of hours we’re committed to working with general practitioners to deliver the best possible care to pets at the time they need it most. With that in mind, we are also committed to bringing relevant and pioneering CPD and training to veterinary clinicians and vet nurses.

“As emergency and critical care experts, we appreciate the value of flexibility and are always looking to adapt our services. In 2021, with social distancing still expected to be the norm, we’re offering two CPD streams, available live and on-demand.

“We delivered a successful interactive learning experience for virtual delegates through our ECC Congress at the end of last year, so we have a strong foundation from which to build on innovative and expert virtual CPD, and we’ll aim to leave delegates feeling well-informed and assured.

“We will obviously miss seeing everyone in person but gathering together online like this is beneficial as we can reach more vets and vet nurses with valuable CPD. Importantly, the format can fit around busy schedules, with all content available as videos after the events have taken place.”

Dan added: “Delegates from our ECC Congress commented on some added benefits of the virtual format including things like less environmental impact and waste through less travelling, and more flexibility due to being able to look back on the content after the event. Delegates also felt it was easier to ask questions of the speakers without feeling intimidated.” 

The event series is priced at £72 for the vet stream (working out at £12 per session) and £60 for the vet nurse stream (£10 per session). You can also attend both for £110 (working out at £9.16 per session).

You can book your place at www.vets-now.com/bitesize. 

CVS has announced its acquisition of the West End Veterinary Partnership, an Edinburgh-based veterinary practice, bringing the number of practice groups owned by the company to 100, operating out of 267 sites across the UK.

West End Vets employs around 12 staff. Its main site is in Bread Street and it has two branches elsewhere in the city. Owners David Rimer and Maurice Hunter are joining CVS as joint Clinical Directors.

Simon Innes, CVS Chief Executive, said:  "We are rapidly broadening the range of practices within CVS, both in terms of the type of practice and in terms of geographic spread. West End Vets is a successful and popular practice in Edinburgh and we are delighted that it has now joined our family."

Founded in 1999 and run principally by vets, CVS employs more than 3,000 staff at its practices and surgeries across the UK and in its related veterinary businesses, including an online pharmacy, three pet crematoriums and five veterinary laboratories.

The Society for Practising Veterinary Surgeons and the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative are encouraging practices to use the Vet Wellbeing Awards entry process as an opportunity to audit the wellbeing of their teams.

The Vet Wellbeing Awards, which are now in their fourth year, are designed to highlight positivity within the profession by sharing stories and initiatives from veterinary workplaces that demonstrate commitment to improving staff wellbeing.

The Awards also aim to support all practices to take a structured approach towards evaluating their own wellbeing support systems. 

This year, for the first time, feedback will be given to practices that enter about the areas where they are doing well and those where they can improve. The organisers hope that this change to the Awards process will encourage practices to think of wellbeing support as an area of continuous development. 

However, they also hope that practices will use the entry process as an opportunity to audit wellbeing even if they don't plan to enter. 

Liz Barton, SPVS Board Member, said: "Going through the entry form and evaluation process is valuable for every vet practice, even if they don’t feel they’re ready to enter the Awards just yet. Sitting down as a practice team for a few hours and working through the questionnaire is a highly useful exercise for facilitating celebrating areas where your practice is doing well for wellbeing, and also highlighting some areas for improvement for years to come."

"We recommend all practices get into the habit of going through the process annually and choosing areas to focus and improve on, to build towards better wellbeing across all areas for all staff."

There are three award categories that practices can enter depending on the number of employees:  small practice (15 or fewer full time equivalent team members (FTE)), medium practice (16 to 50 FTEs) or large practice (51 or FTEs).

The Award application form covers six aspects of work that, if well-managed, can promote wellbeing and reduce the risk of work-related stress, and the Award judges will be looking for evidence of commitment to enhancing wellbeing for each of these.

They are:

• Promoting physical and psychological health at work

• Relationships at work

• Communication at work

• Career development

• Workload and work scheduling

• Work demands

More examples of the type of evidence and initiatives that the Awards are looking for, together with the entry form, are available on the Vet Wellbeing Awards website: https://vetwellbeingawards.org.uk.

Winning and Highly Commended practices will receive a dedicated logo and certificate for display. The winners in each category will also receive two registrations and banquet tickets for SPVS/VMG Congress 2020.

In addition to the Wellbeing Awards, the RCVS and SPVS are also running the Practice Star nominations, which are open to all veterinary practices. 

These nominations aim to support practices to thank someone in their team who has gone the extra mile to make the practice a happy place to work, whether this be through introducing an initiative that makes everyone’s work life better, going out of their way to support a colleague going through a tough time, or just making everyone smile. 

To enter, practices need to send in their nominee’s name, job title and contact details, and a short paragraph explaining why they have been chosen. They will then receive a certificate congratulating them for being nominated as the practice’s very own ‘Practice Wellbeing Star’.

The closing date for both the Wellbeing Award entries and Practice Star nominations is Friday 22 November 2019.