DairyCo has announced the launch of a new programme designed to tackle the challenge of lameness on dairy farms.
The Healthy Feet Programme has been developed to provide a structured approach to assist vets and foot trimmers to work more closely with their farmer clients, to reduce the incidence of lameness on a permanent basis.
DairyCo product manager, Kate Cross said: "We've developed the programme to build on the DairyCo Mobility Score by introducing a programme that dairy farmers can undertake working with their vet who is a trained 'mobility mentor', to identify problems, risk factors and suitable intervention strategies on the farm. An action plan is then agreed to prioritise management practices that have a permanent impact on incidence of lameness."
The programme draws on the findings from the Bristol Healthy Feet Project, the New Zealand Healthy Hooves programme, First Steps and Claw Signals. As well as the valuable experience gained from the DairyCo mastitis plan. It has been designed to combine the best features of all these programmes and aims to build on the successful DairyCo Mobility Score.
Vets are invited to enrol for a two day CPD course, which will enable them to introduce the Healthy Feet Programme to their farmer clients and provide on-going support, assisted by a range of resources provided by DairyCo.
The first course is scheduled for June 2011
For further details please contact Kate Cross on 02476 478686 or email healthyfeet@dairyco.ahdb.org.uk
Free places on Vétoquinol's webinar: 'Chronic Pain in the Geriatric Dog: Decision Making and Risk Management' are going fast, according to the company, and those wishing to attend are being advised to register as soon as possible.
Vétoquinol says that at one point, 200 vets registered in just 3 hours, demonstrating the extent to which vets are finding this to be a challenging topic when it comes to managing their day to day case load.
The webinar takes place at 8.30pm on Wednesday 15th June 2011 and the talk is being delivered by Dr. Jo Murrell, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anaesthesia at Bristol Vet School and holder of The European Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. She said: "Decision making can be a complex business when so many factors have to be taken into account. We all see geriatric dogs with painful conditions reasonably frequently and concurrent diseases are common. I will be aiming to describe a way to balance out the risks and benefits, to take into account client's concerns and develop a more logical, rational approach to treatment."
To register for the free webinar go to www.thewebinarvet.com/vetoquinol. Enter the code veto11 to obtain the webinar free of charge.
Europe's largest private specialist veterinary practice, Davies Veterinary Specialists, has opened a new centre at the premises of the Hyde Park Veterinary Centre in Connaught St., London W2.
Davies Veterinary Specialists employs 40 veterinary surgeons, 23 of them RCVS Recognised Specialists and more than 50 nurses. The main hospital, based in Bedfordshire, has sophisticated diagnostic, surgical and treatment facilities and offers integrated multi-disciplinary care.
Clive Elwood, Managing Director of DVS, said: "We believe that pet owners should have easy access to the top veterinary specialists in the country. We are now bringing a team of specialists offering consultations in medicine, cardiology, ultrasonography, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery to Davies London. This will make it much easier for London vets to offer their clients a convenient referral service, with full access to state-of-the-art facilities."
The Hyde Park Veterinary Centre is a long-established central London veterinary clinic. Recently expanded and refurbished, the clinic has invested heavily in the latest diagnostic and treatment facilities for the clinical care and treatment of London's pets. Head vet Andrew Prentis said: "We are all very excited about the collaboration with Davies: this new local access to top level specialists is really going to help London's vets offer their clients the very best in veterinary care at all times."
For more information, call 0207 535 0444 or visit www.vetspecialists.co.uk/london
Vetoquinol has published a waiting room poster which highlights canine pain, to support Cimalgex.
Robert Simpson, Product Manager for Cimalgex said: "This poster aims to highlight that pain may not be obvious to pet owners and that signs which the owner may believe to be age related, for example stiffness, may actually be behavioural signs of pain. The most common sign of pain is a change in behaviour and so this is an area which we believe needs to be highlighted to the pet owner1.
"This new poster uses a strong image to catch the pet owner's attention which, when combined with its simple message, will prompt the pet owner to ask for further information from the veterinary practice regarding pain to ensure the overall wellbeing of their pet. This poster complements our client leaflet in helping the veterinary practice to assist the pet owner to spot signs of pain which may not be very obvious."
To find out more or to request a waiting room poster for your practice please contact your Vetoquinol Territory Manager or call 01280 825424.
Reference
1. Hellyer P. et al. AAHA/AAFP Pain Management guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J. AM Anim Hosp Assoc 2007; 43: 235-248.
The British Veterinary Association has appointed David Calpin as its new Chief Executive. David joins the BVA from Defra, where he was a Deputy Director and has held a number of senior management roles. David's policy responsibilities have included climate change, GM crops, sustainable land management, and, most recently, bovine TB. For a period last year David was Acting Director for Animal Health and Welfare in Defra.
David has been in the senior civil service since 2005, and has substantial experience of both staff and financial management. He spent two years working in Brussels representing the UK Government in EU negotiations, and has lived and worked in France, South Africa and Brazil. Prior to joining the civil service, David worked for Barclays Bank.
BVA Chairman Derek Williams said: "David's appointment comes at a very exciting time for the BVA as we respond to the challenges set out by our members in our membership research 'Your BVA, Your Say'. David has a proven track record as a senior manager, extensive experience of managing stakeholder relationships, and an excellent understanding of the political climate in the UK and Europe; all of which will ensure BVA continues to thrive and to represent members effectively."
David Calpin said: "I'm delighted to be joining the BVA. I've worked closely with the BVA in my previous roles and have been hugely impressed. I also know that no organisation can afford to stand still, and that the BVA needs to keep pace with changes in the veterinary profession.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge of leading the BVA through a period of change to become an even more effective voice for the profession and providing services that members value. I have a lot to learn and I'm keen to get out and about to meet as many people as possible and to hear first-hand what the profession wants from the BVA."
The journal provides free access to critical summaries of the best available evidence, called Knowledge Summaries, to help practitioners make informed evidence-based decisions in practice.
The new website has several new features, such as author and reviewer hubs, which contain information to guide contributors through the process of writing or reviewing papers for the journal.
A new ‘answer me’ button allows potential authors to pick a clinical query they are interested in answering and email it straight to the Editor, streamlining the process.
The new site also includes a new submission system, Editorial Manager, which streamlines the editorial process, communications with authors and reviewers, and the management of articles.
Kit Sturgess, Editor-in-Chief of Veterinary Evidence, says: “I am really excited by the new website; its look and functionality will significantly improve rapid access to information and further boost the engagement of the veterinary team with EBVM.
"After an impressive year for Veterinary Evidence, we have also moved to a new submission system, Editorial Manager, aimed at making the experience of submitting and reviewing papers easier and more efficient.
"Through the new website and publishing platform, the journal can get better metrics of how well we are supporting our readers, authors, and reviewers so we can use evidence to drive Quality Improvement.”
veterinaryevidence.org
Mr Bowles faced four charges, but did not respond to the College's notification about the hearing, so the Committee decided to proceed in his absence.
The first charge was that in 2020, while attending a farm in Lincolnshire in his capacity as an Official Veterinarian (OV), Mr Bowles carried out Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin (ICT) tests on a herd of cattle but failed to measure the skin thickness of all the cattle using callipers and failed to take and record measurements for the cattle.
The Committee was provided with evidence that Mr Bowles had, in earlier correspondence with the College, admitted that he had failed to follow Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) standard operating procedures for ICT testing at the farm and so the charge was found proven.
The second charge was that he then certified the results of the inaccurate ICT test he'd performed earlier.
The Committee found this charge proven on the basis that, without using callipers to measure skin thickness, he was not entitled to certify the test.
The third charge was that his conduct in relation to the first two charges was dishonest, misleading and risked undermining government testing procedures designed to promote public health and animal welfare.
The Committee found all elements of the charges proven.
The final charge was that Mr Bowles's conduct took place despite warnings, advice and re-training being given by the APHA.
These included: a letter sent to Mr Bowles’s by APHA in 2014 about the suspension of his OV status after he failed to comply with APHA rules; a letter sent by the APHA to Mr Bowles’s employer in October 2016 regarding issues of non-compliance it had found during a September 2016 audit; and the suspension of Mr Bowles’s OV duties by his employer, pending further training, following issues of non-compliance.
Given Mr Bowles’s history of non-compliance with APHA standard operating procedures and standards, the Committee found the charge proven.
The Committee found that charges 1 to 3 amounted to serious professional misconduct but that charge 4, while making the conduct in the other charges more serious, did not in and of itself constitute serious professional misconduct.
In determining the most appropriate sanction for Mr Bowles, the Committee found that he had paid ‘scant regard’ to the testing procedures set out by APHA and breached the RCVS certification requirements set out in the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons in ‘numerous and serious’ ways.
Hilary Lloyd, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee’s view is that the respondent’s conduct in refusing to follow the OV Instructions when testing cattle in May 2020 constituted conduct of an egregious kind.
"In addition, there are several aggravating elements which can be applied to his misconduct, including a risk to animal or human health; his lack of probity and integrity in certifying test results which he knew were non-compliant and unreliable; recklessness in reaching a conscious decision to ignore the OV Instructions; his failure to comply with the requirements of the position of trust and responsibility which attached to his APHA authorisation; and against a backdrop of sustained pattern of behaviour that displayed blatant disregard of the system that regulated TB testing by OVs.
"It follows that the respondent manifested no insight into the seriousness of his misconduct when acting as an OV.”
The Committee considered whether there were any mitigating factors regarding Mr Bowles’ conduct.
It took into account that Mr Bowles had not secured any financial advantage, that there was no actual harm to animals, and that he had a long career as a veterinary surgeon, although with a history of non-compliance.
It noted that there had been some late admissions of misconduct by Mr Bowles when he tendered an apology, but found this mitigation was undermined by the fact his explanations lacked consistency and that he had also initially asserted that he had used callipers during the testing.
Due to the seriousness of the non-compliance, the dishonesty and the potential risk to public health, the Committee considered that removing Mr Bowles from the Register was the only proportionate and appropriate response to the scale of misconduct.
Hilary added: “Given the amount of advice received and re-training which the respondent was required to undertake, he has already had ample opportunity to remediate his practice but has not done so.
"The Committee is therefore concerned that there is a very real risk of further repetition of this conduct in the future were he to be permitted to remain on the Register.
“The Committee’s concern in this regard stems from the fact that the dishonesty of which the respondent has been found guilty, was not dishonesty committed on the spur of the moment.
"The respondent had ample opportunities for reflection before resolving to act as he did.
"This places his acts of dishonesty in the most serious category.
“The public is entitled to expect that it can have confidence in the certifications of a veterinary surgeon who is carrying out a public duty on behalf of that public body.
"Indeed, that is the whole purpose behind the requirement that OVs undertake additional and specialised training before being permitted to undertake OV duties.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Ridgeway Research Ltd has a surplus supply of short-dated Target IgG kits on special offer.
The kits are to test for passive transfer to foals via colostrum. Each kit contains 20 tests and normally costs £74. They have been reduced to £20 to clear. The use by date is end February 2010.
If you are interested, please email jo@ridgewayresearch.co.uk, or ring 01594 530809 for further information.
Zoetis has launched a new training programme for veterinary practices which explores every aspect of the 'client journey' - from 'pre-owner' to 'Lost' - and explains how to deliver an outstanding client experience.
The Client Experience Development Programme is divided into nine training modules which vary in length from one to five and a half hours. The whole programme can be completed in two days under the guidance of a Zoetis business consultant.
The programme breaks down each element of the client journey, from attracting new pet owners into the practice and making the right impact on new customers, to keeping long-term customers loyal.
Nick Steele, national consulting manager at Zoetis, said: "We believe that calling a practice's pet owners clients or customers is a misnomer. They are consumers because they not only purchase a practice's products and services but they also experience them and the consumer's interpretation of their experience can really affect the brand. What's more, the reality of today's information-rich environment is that consumers can experience a practice without the practice even knowing about it.
"Google have coined the term 'Zero moment of truth', which alludes to all the different points of contact a consumer can have with a product or service before physically experiencing it. The average shopper uses 10.7 different sources of information before making a decision on what product or service to use.¹ This means they may have disregarded a practice before the practice knew the consumer even existed."
The concept of the client experience is introduced with some interesting statistics which emphasise its importance. For instance, a typical business hears from only 4% of its dissatisfied customers, 96% just go away and 91% will never come back². What's more, a dissatisfied customer will tell 9-15 people about it and approximately 13% will tell more than 20 people about their problem.³
Drawing on concepts like 'The Fred Factor', which focuses on four key principles of customer care, the training programme explains how every employee can make the difference from the moment clients arrive.
Nick added: "Consumers are all powerful to veterinary practices so it is essential that the client experience is an exceptional one. Our business consultants have been trained to deliver the Client Development Programme to all types of veterinary practice to ensure that they attract as many clients to the practice as possible and keep those clients happy once they are there."
For more information about Business Consulting from Zoetis telephone 0845 519 4977 or contact your account manager.
References
For the randomised controlled trial, 528 dairy heifers were monitored for 34 months to investigate the effects of routine treatment with a NSAID at calving and during treatment for lameness, on the future probability of lameness and culling.
The cows were exposed to normal farm conditions and were split into four groups:
During the study, the probability of lameness was assessed by a lameness outcome score collected every 14 days.
Data on culling was also extracted from farm records.
438 animals were included in the final analysis which revealed that treating a cohort of cows following the group three protocol led to an absolute reduction in lameness of approximately 10% and severe lameness of 3%, compared with animals treated in accordance with conventional best practice (group one).
James Wilson BSc(Hons) PhD, foot health consultant and lead researcher on the trial, said: “It appears that through giving heifers a NSAID at critical time points, we have imparted a substantial, long-lasting benefit to them.
"When freshly calved heifers enter the herd for the first time, we understand that they are (typically) naïve to lameness and have good hoof health.
"By utilising NSAIDs strategically, we believe that we have preserved the functionality of the foot, thereby reducing the risk of lameness.
"This is a highly efficacious, cost-effective means of managing lameness on farm.”
Herd Health Consultancy says that in dairy cows, it is advisable to consider using a zero milk-withhold NSAID which is fully licensed to treat lameness in cattle to avoid any need to discard milk, however no NSAID is currently licensed in the UK to treat the pain associated with calving, so careful advice should be given to farmers based on the farm type and production methods.
https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21329
BCF has announced upgrades to the Easi-Scan bovine ultrasound scanner which include improved image quality and additions to the BCF Universal Googles (BUGs) range.
The BUGs range now includes a new LCD model and a monocular version. According to the company, the LCD version provides a softer, more familiar image and considerably lower price, while the monocular version is ideal for the small percentage of people that struggle to see a single image in a binocular style goggle.
John Dawson from Willows Veterinary Group, Cheshire said: "The LCD BUG has a softer image which I prefer. They give more differentiation of echogenic grading allowing more detail to be seen. When I first used them I thought they were going to be more expensive, but to get a better image at a lower price I was astonished."
Gavin Mitchell from BCF said: "These new product developments for Easi-Scan and BUGs are a great illustration of how we are committed to responding to our customers' feedback, opinions and recommendations. At BCF, we design, develop and manufacture our own equipment. It is so important to continually work closely with our customers, to continue to create world-leading ultrasound equipment."
For more information visit www.bcftechnology.com
Located in Wolverhampton, the new practice uses different lighting in different parts of the building: 'cool' for public areas such as the waiting room, 'comfortable warm' for the dog, cat and exotic wards and daylight for clinical areas. The LED system uses 60% less energy than conventional lighting and requires half the number of fittings. In addition, following research in the USA at Banfield, consulting rooms are fitted with dimmable lights to ease stress for patients and clients during euthanasia.
Other highlights include a specialist cat ward that White Cross says exceeds the iCatCare Cat Friendly Clinic requirements. The ward includes raised cat kennels that are carefully positioned so that cats can’t see each other, to further minimise stress-levels. There are also separate, sound-proofed wards for dogs and exotic pets.
To reduce anxiety in dogs and cats pre- and post-surgery, the practice uses pheromone diffusers and specially composed music played in the wards.
Managing Director, Tim Harrison said: "We’re delighted to launch our latest practice in Wolverhampton, which is our most environmentally-friendly yet. We’ve incorporated the most successful attributes from all of our 15 other UK practices into its design, and it’s immediately proving popular with clients and most importantly their pets."
Clinic Director James Millington says: "The facilities and attention to detail in this practice are the best I’ve ever seen. There’s no doubt this will translate into the quality of care that our clients receive and their pets deserve."
The service will be headed by José C. Almansa Ruiz DVM (Hons) MSc (Vet) MRCVS.
José qualified from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 2008, before completing an honours degree in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery while working in an after-hours veterinary emergency hospital in Madrid.
In 2009, he relocated to South Africa where he undertook an internship in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery at the academic hospital of the faculty of veterinary science of the University of Pretoria. In 2011, he relocated to the UK and, in 2012, began the European Veterinary Dental College diploma.
In 2015, he returned to South Africa, working in referral hospitals, before being appointed as an extraordinary lecturer in veterinary dentistry and maxillofacial surgery at the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria in January 2018.
This summer, José will sit the exams to become a European Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry.
Tim Richardson, managing director of both Southfields and Davies, said: “We look forward to welcoming José to the teams at both Southfields and Davies. He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge in his field and is a highly-respected clinician.
"The launch of dentistry and maxillofacial services at our multi-disciplinary referral centres is another exciting addition and we’re looking forward to accepting referrals from colleagues across the profession as we continue to lead the industry in the breadth of treatments that we can now offer.”
José said: “I’m delighted to be joining the teams at Southfields and Davies, and my plan is to establish and really grow a dentistry and maxillofacial surgery service over the coming 12 months.
“I would like to start offering reconstruction techniques for those patients undergoing mandibulectomies, while I have been hoping for some time now to begin using 3D printing as part of the planning for big surgeries.
“We will be offering a very complete and advanced veterinary dentistry service. From the maxillofacial surgery point of view, fracture repair procedures will see the introduction of non-invasive techniques for repair of maxillomandibular fractures.
“Craniofacial trauma cases will be worked up more in-depth together with anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology, critical care and neurology, which will offer a truly multidisciplinary approach.”
For more information, visit www.southfields.co.uk or vetspecialists.co.uk.
The company says the workshop will provide vets with an opportunity to extend their knowledge of Q Fever, a zoonotic disease that not only affects reproductive performance and productivity in cattle but also presents a health threat to farmers, farming families and related professions such as vets, veterinary technicians and abattoir workers.
The workshop will be presented by Raphaël Guatteo (pictured right), Professor in Bovine Medicine and Health Management at the Veterinary College of Nantes (Oniris) in France.
Raphaël will share his wealth of knowledge on Q Fever including his extensive research into the disease.
He'll answer any questions that delegates may have about Q Fever and will discuss case studies, diagnostic challenges and the importance of quick diagnosis, treatment options and prevention through vaccination.
The Q Fever workshop will take place between 4.00pm and 5.30pm on Thursday 20 October in the Shorthorn Room at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham.
The workshop is free of charge, but spaces are limited.
The Registry’s dataset now contains the details of 1,319 canine cruciate surgical procedures, compared with 735 reported in 2023.
The report contains 3 years of data provided by 138 UK-based vets and their clients, and reports on cruciate surgery outcomes on dogs from all stages of life – from 3 months to 18 years.
The report provides a breakdown of the clinical outcomes of different surgical techniques, patient demographics, use of antibiotics, and more.
Some of the main findings in this year’s annual report were:
Mark Morton, Clinical Lead for the Registry, said: “It has been fantastic to see the CCR go from strength to strength this year with contributions from owners and vets across the country.
"Evaluating what we do and sharing this information with owners is really important.
"There is now sufficient data in the registry that vets can use the reporting functionality to see how they compare to anonymous data from the registry as whole.
"This allows everyone to look at where we can improve what we do to enhance outcomes for our patients.”
Steve Butterworth, veterinary surgeon at Weighbridge Referral Service, Swansea, and CCR contributor, said: “To better understand the long-term outcomes for different breeds of dog using differing surgical techniques we need the power of numbers and this will only be achieved by pooling our resources.
"The CCR offers the veterinary profession an opportunity to do this.
Any veterinary surgeon performing cruciate surgery in the UK can get involved in the CCR by signing up and logging surgical cases.
All data submitted by summer 2025 will be anonymised and become part of the next report in late 2025.
ccr.rcvsknowledge.org/annualreport
The first course will be overseen by Jodie Hughes, an RCVS and European specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia. The hospital’s inaugural resident will be Luisa Oliveira (pictured right), who earlier completed a rotating internship at North West Veterinary Specialists in Cheshire, and, more recently, an anaesthesia-specific one at NDSR.
Jodie said: “Luisa’s residency will comprise mainly the provision of anaesthesia to multiple animal species, ranging from the ‘simpler’ procedures to the most critical and complex, which we frequently encounter in our interventional cardiac procedures and emergency work.
“A significant component of the training will involve the management of pain, both in the acute setting (in the peri-operative period) and in the chronic setting, whilst dealing with our pain clinic patients.
“Luisa will also be trained in the management of emergency and critical care patients and will undergo rotations in other services to better grasp their requirements.
“As we work exclusively with dogs and cats, we will work in close collaboration with several other hospitals in the UK and continental Europe, to complement Luisa’s training with other species.
“As part of this, Luisa will be exposed to multiple advanced techniques, including ultrasound-guided regional nerve blocks and interventional procedures in our pain clinic.
Luisa said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to work alongside an incredibly experienced and skilled team at NDSR.
The training programme has been developed by Rui Pinelas, RCVS and European specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia at NDSR, who is optimistic there will be further training opportunities in the near future.
Rui said: “This was something NDSR has been keen to implement for some time and we had been having ongoing discussions to choose the perfect time.
“In terms of logistics, it took around three months for us to set up this anaesthesia residency, which was largely spent organising our partnerships with the other training facilities and undergoing an evaluation as to whether our facilities and case load would meet the specialist board’s strict requirements, which we are delighted they did.”
The new pass offers both physical and virtual tickets so that the practice rota doesn't have to stop any member of the team from attending.
BEVA says the new tickets also offer a saving of up to £113 per vet.
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: “We know that not every vet at a practice can attend congress every year because someone is always going to have to stay behind and work.
"So, by offering a mix of physical and virtual tickets in the pass it means those staying at home to look after the practice can still benefit from the live stream as well as the six-month access to all the lectures afterwards.
"Congress always contains plenty of relevant and dedicated content for nurses, so the pass obviously includes nurse tickets too.”
Practice Passes are available for BEVA members in three packages: small (£599), medium (£1,333) and large (£2,666).
Individual early bird BEVA member prices are £499 for vets and £187 for vet nurses for all three days (with concessions available for those in their first three years’ post-graduation or on a lower salary).
Practice Passes and early bird tickets are available to purchase until Monday 1 August 2022.
Day tickets are also available.
Virtual tickets are £199 for vets and £40 for nurses.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit http://www.bevacongress.org
Zoetis Business Consulting has announced the launch of Profitsolver, a software tool designed to boost practice profits.
The software has already been rolled out in the US, where Zoetis says that it has delivered an average of £103,000 extra profit to veterinary practices within a year.
Profitsolver uses the practice's actual data - not benchmarks or accepted norms - to enable the practice to manage costs, set prices and gain return on investments. By using an activity-based costing model and using a variety of data such as practice costs, which staff perform which part of the procedure, how long the procedure takes and what equipment and materials are used, Profitsolver calculates the correct pricing to both cover costs and deliver a predetermined profit margin.
Zoetis says that Profitsolver helps practices to understand how the overall practice profit is being generated. For instance, for price sensitive procedures such as vaccination, the practice can match their prices with the competition, but maintain their profit margin by increasing the price for other clinical services.
Nick Steele, national consulting manager at Zoetis said: "Veterinary practices have no standard method for pricing their services and they are often unable to determine which services make money and which don't. This hampers the practice's ability to accurately value the business and, as a result, profit levels tend to be low for many practices. Profitsolver can turn this situation around and already has a very successful track record in the US."
Zoetis piloted the UK version of Profitsolver with John Goulding at St Georges Veterinary Group. He said: "By and large the veterinary profession still relies on the mark-up of medicines where profits are concerned. Even practices that have made a concerted effort to move away from this type of pricing structure are still making their money from the sale of medicines rather than from vets' fees. For years I have wanted to know exactly how to price our services and this new Profitsolver software does just that.
"Most costs have an element of staff time, an element of fixed assets or equipment and an element of disposable items. Profitsolver takes all of these into account, adds the predetermined profit margin and produces an accurate pricing structure for each procedure undertaken within the practice.
"It's important to take the time at the start to put accurate data in from the practice's latest set of accounts and the Zoetis business consultant will guide practices through this to make the initial set up as easy as possible. For instance, for major pieces of equipment such as X-ray machines, you have to work out how many times a year you are likely to use them.
"By using Profitsolver, we worked out that if we do exactly the same amount of work as last year we can increase our bottom line by at least £200,000 for our 18 vet practice. Since last November, when we installed Profitsolver, we have completely changed our pricing structure moving away from focusing on medicines and the size of the animal to rethink how we charge our clinical care.
"An unexpected benefit is that Profitsolver has made me much more confident about the prices we charge to clients as it is all broken down, so we can see exactly how the invoice is made up. I would be at a loss without it now."
For more information about Profitsolver, contact your Zoetis account manager.
It was the only organisation from the veterinary profession to be shortlisted.
The Antibiotic Guardian Awards were introduced this year by Public Health England (PHE) and aim to champion UK organisations and individuals who have demonstrated achievement in tackling antimicrobial resistance at a local, regional or national level.
BEVA first launched its Protect ME antimicrobial campaign in 2012 to coincide with European Antimicrobial Awareness day. The Association has launched additional resources each year to facilitate compliance and educate the public about the importance of antimicrobial awareness.
Mark Bowen, President of BEVA and co-author of the Protect ME toolkit, said: "It is a great achievement for a veterinary organisation to be recognised alongside the human health sector which invariably has significantly more resources to support antimicrobial stewardship. Protect ME has had a fantastic uptake from the equine profession and are proud of the impact that it is having. BEVA is grateful to all who have contributed to its success, especially Wendy Furness and Jacky Paton of the Scarsdale veterinary group, Derby who trialled it prior to launch and adopted it fully within the practice."
The BEVA Protect ME toolkit is free to BEVA members and can be downloaded at www.beva.org.uk.
The event is held every four years and hosted alternately by BEVA and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).
It offers the opportunity for equine vets to absorb and digest the latest knowledge, clinical practice and scientific advances in the treatment and prevention of colic, from the world’s leading international equine gastroenterology experts.
Held over 2.5 days, the symposium comprises numerous 12-minute oral presentations on a range of topics including surgical techniques, treatment, parasitology, gastric ulceration, endotoxemia, pharmacology of intestinal motility, colic complications, epidemiology, physiology of digestion, the intestinal microbiome and metabolomics.
Each session will be followed by three minutes for questions and discussion.
Poster sessions on the first two days will cover ground beyond the oral presentations and delegates will be able to review and discuss the work with presenters.
There will also be opportunities to network with other equine vets, researchers and professionals.
Clinicians and scientists have until 1 February 2024 to submit abstracts of recent work that they wish to present at this meeting.
The scientific committee will consider abstracts on all aspects of equine gastroenterology, including basic science research and reports of clinical cases or novel approaches to treatment.
The abstract submission form is here: https://form.jotform.com/230473925626359
Tickets cost £475 (with a concessionary rate of £235 for post graduate students and interns) and includes a drinks reception on both 10th & 11th, an evening buffet and Ceilidh on 11th and lunch on 11th & 12th.
Further information and booking details can be found here: https://www.beva.org.uk/Education/CPD/Event-Details/eventDateId/1740
The new packaging uses fewer plastic components and a new cardboard box.
Sabrina Jordan, Virbac’s Equine Product Manager said: "The new cardboard component is a substantial step forward making the new packaging more environmentally friendly."
She added: "This new Equimax packaging has a fresh new look and is now available at wholesalers."
The step-by-step guide offers guidelines to help farmers improve their herd's mobility.
It highlights the importance of implementing a robust and ongoing treatment plan to improve cow comfort and reduce lameness in the short-term, which will lead to increased production and herd welfare in the longer-term.
The guide includes advice on reviewing a whole herd by an independent RoMS (Register of Mobility Scorers) accredited mobility scorer, seeking veterinary advice or contacting a mobility mentor (someone who has been trained to deliver the ADHB Healthy Feet Programme) if lesions are identified, treating within 48 hours of identification with a combination of trim, block, topical antimicrobial spray and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), as appropriate, and the importance of ongoing treatment, prevention and monitoring every fortnight.
The guide also includes tips for the successful use of NSAIDs, which include the importance of using a NSAID with a zero milk withhold.
There are four lameness management videos which were produced in collaboration with James Wilson BSc (Hons) PhD, a foot health consultant from Herd Health Consultancy and include contributions from Alex Burrows, professional foot trimmer and Chair of the National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers (NACFT), Dave Bacon, a dairy farmer from Gleadthorpe Farm in Nottinghamshire, Shannon Trinder, assistant herdsperson at Gleadthorpe Farm and Harry Walby BVetMed MRCVS, veterinary surgeon and ruminant technical advisor at Ceva Animal Health.
They cover the benefits of regular mobility scoring, prioritising mobility and lameness prevention in heifers and maintaining lameness management success with practical and effective lameness treatment and prevention programmes.
www.wavegoodbyetopain.co.uk/pdf/step-by-step-guide.pdf.www.wavegoodbyetopain.co.uk/training-videos.html.
The International Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis has published new, evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing, grading and treating Canine Atopic Dermatitis (AD).
Recently published in Veterinary Dermatology, the series of guidelines for general practitioners covers all aspects of the disease, including the recent rise in food allergy-related cases, and offers practical guidance for vets in diagnosing and grading the severity of AD.
The report also reviews the most appropriate treatment options for acute and chronic forms of the disease, and has awarded Cortavance (hydrocortisone aceponate) the best strength of evidence mark of any current treatment available.
Virbac technical director Chris Taylor MRCVS says the paper shows that Cortavance is now the benchmark for Atopic Dermatitis: "Not only do the guidelines confirm evidence of treatment success with Cortavance, but they also highlight that the skin-specific steroid spray has been shown to have no systemic effects, even when applied to one-third of the dog on a daily basis."
Chris also highlights the cost-effectiveness of Cortavance: "Some AD treatments can cost clients more than £2 per day, but with Cortavance owners are usually looking at costs of just pence per day.
"This report shows that not only is Cortavance the most effective treatment with a high safety margin, it is also surprisingly inexpensive too. And of course this should also help with compliance, particularly in uninsured animals."
The guidelines can be viewed or downloaded online free at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365.3164.2010.00889.x/pdf
Companion Care Vets has announced it will work in partnership with VetAbroad, an e-learning company that has been established to help vets who qualified outside the UK to develop a successful career within it.
Companion Care is the first veterinary group in the UK to enter into partnership with VetAbroad, with the aim that all new non-UK employees will complete the course.
According to the company, almost 30% of vets registered in the UK are from overseas and statistics show that one in three will leave the register in less than 24 months and 20% in less than 12 months. Statistics also highlight the likelihood of a non-UK vet to be struck off or suspended is six times higher than for a UK vet.
Jane Balmain, Managing Director of Companion Care Vets said: "Whilst we as a company offer as much support as possible to our team members from overseas and support their continued learning , we are delighted to be working in partnership with VetAbroad to utilise their training solutions and further enhance what we offer to team members who come from overseas. All new employees will be required to take the course and we will also be encouraging our current overseas vets to complete it."
The e-course covers social and professional adaptation, compliance with current legislation, teamwork, productivity, client care and communication skills and VetAbroad states that those taking the course will substantially increase their chances of retaining and obtaining a job in the UK.
Vet and founder of VetAbroad Luis Sainz-Pardos said: "The primary aim of our course is to help vets who have qualified overseas to swiftly integrate into the UK system. Vets who have taken the course will be aware of UK legislation and should be able to interact with colleagues, clients and patients to a UK standard. As a result, the problems often associated with employing non-UK vets to work in UK practices are greatly reduced. I am thrilled to be working in partnership with Companion Care Vets, a company that I believe is thriving due to its investment in its most important asset - people."
For further information about VetAbroad please visit www.vetabroad.com
The RCVS has announced that the nomination period for the 2015 RCVS and VN Council elections has opened until 5:00pm on Saturday 31 January 2015.
Each year six RCVS Council seats are contested while two seats are available for VN Council. Successful candidates serve four-year terms.
Existing RCVS Council members Niall Connell, Professor Sheila Crispin, Mark Elliott, Lynne Hill, Dr Bob Moore and Professor the Lord Trees of the Ross are due to retire from Council next year but are all eligible for re-election. Elizabeth Branscombe and Elizabeth Cox are due to retire from VN Council but will also be eligible to stand again in 2015.
In order to stand, candidates for either RCVS or VN Council will need to complete a nomination form, submit a short biography, write a short personal statement and supply a high resolution digital photo.
Each candidate will also need to provide two nominations - for RCVS Council candidates this should be two veterinary surgeons on the RCVS Register who are not current RCVS Council members; for VN Council candidates nominators must be registered or listed VNs who are not current VN Council members.
The election period commences in early March 2015 and runs until Friday 24 April. Successful candidates for either Council will take up their seats at RCVS Day - the College's Annual General Meeting and Awards Day - on Friday 10 July 2015.
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, said: "After a record 19 candidates - of which over half were women - for last year's RCVS Council elections, and a good showing for VN Council as well, we hope to build on that momentum this year by attracting candidates of all ages and backgrounds.
"Through their participation in the Councils and their committees members can have a big impact on the future of their respective professions by developing policy and making decisions in areas of key importance such as education and professional standards."
Nomination forms, guidance notes and frequently asked questions for RCVS Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil15. The equivalent documents for VN Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil15.
Last year the RCVS produced two short videos outlining what is involved in being a Council member, the benefits it can bring and the amount of time it requires. These can be found at www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos
Prospective candidates are also invited to attend a 'Meet the RCVS Day' at Belgravia House on Tuesday 25 November where they will have the opportunity to find out more about the role of the College and RCVS and VN Council members as well as having a tour of the building and the opportunity to talk to staff.
Those who are interested in attending should contact Fiona Harcourt, Events Officer, on f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0773.