For the research, Miele commissioned independent market research firm Sapio to interview 1000 pet owners and 100 UK-based vet practices.
Veterinary practices have good reason to worry about complaints: the research showed that 89% of veterinary clients would be quick to tell others if they were dissatisfied with any aspect of the practice or care received. 63% said they would air their grievances on an online review site and 60% said they'd share their views on social media.
Those figures appear to be borne out by the fact that only 10% of vets said they had not seen any negative comments online about their practice.
Interviews with pet owners also found that the top five factors to affect a practice's reputation were: standard of care, a clean and hygienic environment, good customer service, the cost of treatment and waiting times, in that order.
64% of vets agreed that practice hygiene has become increasingly important with cleanliness of staff uniforms and waiting rooms among the first things that customers notice.
The suitably spruce Sam Bailey (pictured right), Sales & Marketing Director for the Professional division of Miele said: "Vet practices are increasingly coming under the same online scrutiny as hotels and restaurants and are being judged on everything from customer service through to staff appearance and waiting times.
"As our research results show, vets are already concerned about their reputations and it’s not just customer service and care outcomes that matter to pet owners, they also have high expectations when it comes to the practice environment too and are looking at cleanliness, hygiene and staff appearance.
"Through our network of approved partners we are working with more and more vet practices throughout the UK to ensure their on premise laundries not only meet WRAS regulations but also support their standards on hygiene, infection control and cleanliness."
Zoetis, maker of Zylexis, is highlighting a new review published in Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, which has concluded that immune-modulators may provide a valuable contribution to the reduction of some equine respiratory diseases
The study reviewed the immune-modulators Parapoxvirus ovis and Propionbacterium acnes for the prevention of respiratory disease and other infections in the horse.
Parapoxvirus ovis (iPPVO) and Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) are currently used in equine medicine as immune-modulators for prophylactic treatment or adjunct to conventional therapy in order to improve immune defences, to prevent or treat infectious diseases. Their mode of action relies on a non-antigen-specific interaction with the innate and/or adaptive immune responses. iPPVO stimulates and regulates cytokine secretion by a number of leucocytes, while P. acnes acts primarily through activation of macrophages.
The review, conducted by Romain Paillot of the Animal Health Trust, Centre for Preventive Medicine, Newmarket, examined current scientific literature and reports on the use of immune-modulators in horses, particularly for the prevention or treatment of equine respiratory disease.
Stress factors such as weaning, transport and co-mingling predispose horses to infection and increase susceptibility to respiratory pathogens such as Streptococcus zoopidemicus and EHV-1/4. In the past 15 years iPPVO has been tested against several equine infectious respiratory diseases.
The review examined the results of studies on the beneficial use of iPPVO to limit the severity of respiratory infectious diseases in young horses, one of which evaluated the use of iPPVO for protection in yearlings exposed by contact challenge to EHV-1 or EHV-42,3,4. Yearlings treated with iPPVO were co-mingled with horses experimentally infected with EHV-1 and the trial was repeated with horses infected with EHV-4. Horses treated with iPPVO showed a 40% reduction in disease severity in the EHV-1 study and a 61% reduction in the EHV-4 study.
Further studies showed significantly increased frequency of recovery in horses with clinical signs of respiratory disease that had been treated with P. acnes. The decrease in disease severity was also significantly improved in the treated groups5,6.
Romain Palliot concluded: "Non-specific immune-modulators such as iPPVO or P. acnes may not provide protection against direct infection or transmission of respiratory pathogens but they seem to contribute to the reduction of the disease severity, subsequently reducing the frequency of complications and improving the rate of recovery."
References
Ubroseal is licenced for the prevention of new intramammary infections throughout the dry period. In cows considered likely to be free of sub-clinical mastitis, the product can be used on its own in dry cow management and mastitis control.
Boehringer's veterinary adviser, Kath Aplin said: "Ubroseal features a flexi-cap to reduce the risk of teat canal damage and its unique longer plunger makes application more ergonomic and significantly easier for the farmer."
The launch coincides with the publication of a statement by an expert group convened by Boehringer1 which recommends the administration of an internal teat sealant at drying off to all cows on all farms.
For more information, contact: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
Reference
Abbott Animal Health has announced the launch PropoFlo Plus, a 28-day preserved version of propofol intravenous anaesthetic for use in dogs and cats.
PropoFlo Plus contains benzyl alcohol, an antimicrobial preservative that provides it with a shelf life of 28 days, once opened. PropoFlo Plus is indicated for therapeutic use as a short-acting, intravenous general anaesthetic with a short recovery period. PropoFlo Plus can be used for procedures of a short duration, lasting up to approximately five minutes, and for induction of general anaesthesia where maintenance is provided by inhalation anaesthetic agents. Abbott says the extended shelf life of PropoFlo Plus provides an option for practices that may not routinely use an entire bottle of unpreserved propofol.
Jeff Schaffnit, Senior Director of Global Sales, Marketing and Business Development, Abbott Animal Health said: "Many veterinary surgeons are rightfully concerned about ways to save on costs and reduce waste in their practices, including anaesthetic waste. PropoFlo Plus is designed to minimise waste while providing veterinary surgeons with the confidence of using a familiar, trusted anaesthetic."
Abbott says that in addition to an extended shelf life, PropoFlo Plus provides the same established performance of PropoFlo, including:
The company also claims that studies show administering PropoFlo Plus results in no pain on injection.
PropoFlo Plus is available now through veterinary wholesalers. Abbott says it will be providing expert product support for PropoFlo Plus through local representatives, anaesthesia consultants and training tools for staff.
The scheme will allow regular referrers to gift free treatment worth up to £5000 to clients in need of financial assistance
Hospital Director Nicola Bromley said: “We recognise the challenge it is for families who may need specialist care for their animal friend but are unable to find the necessary funds.
"We highly value the relationship we have with our referring vets in providing options to their clients, and we hope this scheme will empower them to give hope to those who need it most.
"We are committed to supporting our referring primary care vets through collaboration, to make the whole sector as good as it can be for every animal.”
The new scheme will be activated immediately and apply to referrals made from January 2024, meaning practices and primary care vets who already refer to Fitzpatrick Referrals can refer pro bono cases immediately.
https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk
DISCUSSION
VetSurgeon.org welcomed its 4000th member to the online community last night, and recorded it's 1 millionth page view since the site was first launched late in 2007.
Use of the site didn't really start to take off until after the installation of a state-of-the-art social networking software platform late in 2008, and the site is now well on target to reach it's 2 millionth page view well inside the next year.
There was another significant milestone last night when VetSurgeon.org was contacted by a solicitor and asked politely to remove a part of a forum post on the site. Unlike Private Eye, I don't have the resources to argue in court, so I removed the offending paragraph.
Whatever else, it's flattering that someone thinks the VetSurgeon community is now important enough to wheel out a solicitor. Still, I hope it doesn't become a regular occurance. It's something of a heart-stopping moment when the person at the other end of the telephone introduces themselves 'as the solicitor acting for ...'
Alphazium TT contains alphalactalbumin and magnesium, which, according to the company, targets the three main neurological pathways involved in the regulation of mood and emotional balance.
TVM says Alphazium TT is highly palatable, so it can be administered as a treat, making the process stress free for veterinary staff, pets and pet owners.
TVM UK’s product manager Will Peel said: "Behavioural problems are becoming increasingly common in cats and dogs and are these problems are likely to get worse with pet owners going back to work as lockdown measures lift, which could cause further stress and anxiety in pets.
"Alphazium TT can help owners address these problems whilst being highly palatable – therefore also reducing the stress of tablet administration all-round."
For more information and support materials, visit: https://www.tvm-uk.com/alphaziumtt/2520/ or contact your TVM UK Territory Manager.
Virbac has launched of Bovigen Scour, an emulsion for injection into cattle which reduces the severity of diarrhoea caused by bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and enteropathogenic E.coli F5 (K99).
Bovigen Scour works by actively immunising pregnant cows and heifers and providing passive immunity to their calves via colostrum. According to the company, the vaccine also helps to reduce the shedding of virus by calves infected with bovine rotavirus and coronavirus.
Virbac says a key benefit of Bovigen Scour is the vaccination protocol which offers a large window for injection, making it easier for vaccination planning. The primary course is administered in two shots, with first dose between 12 and 5 weeks before calving and the booster 3 weeks later. The annual booster is then due between 12 and 3 weeks before calving is expected. The vaccine is presented in two sizes: 15ml (5 doses) and 90ml (30 doses). The dosage per cow is 3 ml and the withdrawal time is nil in milk.
Virbac Large Animal Product Manager Brigitte Goasduf MRCVS said: "Bovigen Scour offers farmers flexibility and ease of use. The flexibility it gives in terms of scheduling the primary course and booster is particularly important and is highly relevant for beef cattle farmers as it can be difficult to know exactly when a cow is likely to calve and it is vital not to miss the vaccination window.
"Bovigen Scour is also convenient to give because of the small volume of emulsion and because the injection is given intramuscularly. Its launch extends our large animal vaccine range, which includes Gudair, for the active immunisation of sheep and goats against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map)."
The new maternity policy will offer enhancement at 100% of full pay for 10 weeks, and 50% of full pay for a further 10 weeks, without any clawback provision should mothers decide not to return to CVS after their leave.
As part of the Time To Change Pledge, CVS will submit a plan for introducing evidence-based interventions and policy to help its employees work in ways that promote positive mental wellbeing.
CVS's plan includes the appointment of 250 Wellbeing Champions who will be trained in first aid for mental health. The company also plans to roll out further training on managing stress and mental health issues for line managers in 2020.
Richard, pictured right, said: "We are proud to be the first major veterinary employer to sign the Time to Change Pledge. The CVS wellbeing working party have made much progress in the last 12 months delivering our plan which has been formalised through participating in the Time to Change pledge.
"We recognise that the pressures in our industry are significant and unique, and that there’s more work to do. We remain committed as a company and wellbeing working party to changing the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace for the better."
This latest incarnation of the FECPAKG2 is now a battery-powered and wi-fi enabled. This means it can pair with smartphones, tablets and laptops, allowing samples to be uploaded, analysed and results received, virtually anywhere.
Tabitha Allen from Techion said: "The technology allows internet connected and image-based FEC testing to be carried out literally on the job.
"While the current system is able to return results rapidly, samples need to be uploaded via a computer. The upgrade will therefore give users more flexibility, allowing samples to be processed away from the office."
"Samples are then analysed by trained online technicians so we can confidently provide accurate results, which can then help farmers make informed decisions when it comes to worming.
"The new upgrade now includes a digital microscope that enhances image quality further, making it quicker and easier than ever before to provide these accurate results.
For more information, visit: www.techiongroup.com or ring: 01970 821 918
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has suspended a London-based veterinary surgeon from the Register for six months, having found that her falsification of clinical records amounted to serious professional misconduct.
At the two-day hearing, Dr Nicola Ersilova was charged with, and admitted to, three separate incidences of false and dishonest clinical record keeping following her treatment of a collapsed cat, whilst working at Vets Now in Thamesmead, London.
The Committee heard how Dr Ersilova had suspected that Lafite the cat, belonging to Mr Yingzhan Xiao, had been poisoned, so administered fluids and treated her with Lidocaine. A lay colleague, who was assisting with the treatment, subsequently observed Dr Ersilova standing staring at the cat, which had stopped breathing, then leaving the room to go and speak to Mr Xiao. The lay colleague's evidence confirmed to the Committee that Lafite's heart was still beating at this point, and that Dr Ersilova was then heard telling Mr Xiao that Lafite had died while being treated. The lay colleague later discovered that Dr Ersilova had listed calcium gluconate on Mr Xiao's bill and not Lidocaine and, when she questioned the entry, Dr Ersilova told her she was worried about getting into trouble if she had listed Lidocaine.
Whilst reporting these irregularities to the senior veterinary surgeon at Vets Now, the lay colleague noticed that Dr Ersilova had also written "CPR unsuccessful" in the notes, although she was certain CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) had not been attempted.
During a subsequent Vets Now investigation, Dr Ersilova admitted adding this false information concerning Lidocaine, calcium gluconate and CPR, saying during interview that she was aware it was serious professional misconduct and that she was prepared to take the consequences. Vets Now reported the matter to the RCVS.
The Committee considered that all evidence before it fully supported the charges against Dr Ersilova, that her conduct was clearly dishonest, and that her actions were inexcusable, especially for someone as experienced as she was. It stated that a veterinary surgeon's duty to make only truthful and accurate records was so manifest and well known to veterinary surgeons that there could be no real excuse to make such false, misleading and dishonest entries.
The Committee highlighted the comment by Dr Ersilova that she knew she had done something wrong but did not expect her colleague to report her, as providing no explanation, or excuse, for doing something which she knew to be wrong.
A number of submissions were made to the Committee in mitigation, including that Dr Ersilova had admitted her dishonesty to both her employers and the Committee; had an otherwise unblemished record over 22 years of practice; had received no immediate financial gain by her actions; and, did not cause any animal suffering.
Accepting these submissions, the Committee nevertheless felt it needed to balance them against other factors. Dr Ersilova's decision to falsify the records was premeditated and had not been taken without an opportunity for full reflection. There were numerous entries in the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct that highlighted the importance of professional integrity and accuracy, and, given the importance which the Code attached to the duty of veterinary surgeons to be truthful and honest in all their dealings with their clients, the Committee found Dr Ersilova's conduct to be "most reprehensible".
Speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, its Vice-Chairman, Professor Sheila Crispin, said: "It is of great importance that the public should be able to retain confidence in the honesty and integrity of members of the profession. Both the public and other members of the profession must be entitled to rely on the truthfulness of what a veterinary surgeon has written in the clinical records of any animal [they have] treated.
"It is [our] decision that the sanction of suspension adequately reflects the seriousness of the [Dr Ersilova's] conduct. The sanction imposed is ... the most appropriate to inform the profession how seriously such dishonest conduct will be taken, because such conduct clearly brings the profession into disrepute and ... cannot and will not be tolerated."
The Committee then concluded that the least period of suspension that could be justified was one of six months.
Suvaxyn PRRS MLV offers the earliest piglet vaccination from the first day of age, securing immunity before the risk period which lasts until the end of the fattening. Pig protection is established 28 days after vaccination, and lasts for 26 weeks after vaccination in fattening pigs, and 16 weeks after vaccination in gilts and sows. Zoetis says the vaccine reduces viremia and nasal shedding of the virus.
Monica Balasch, Associate Director, Global Biologicals Development at Zoetis said: "In Europe, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is known for severe impacts on reproduction including lowering birth rates, increasing abortion, stillbirth, mummified, as well as weak live-born piglets, and death.
"In clinical studies conducted with Suvaxyn PRRS MLV, we found excellent results vaccinating pigs from the first day of age. It is safe to be used as the earliest protection in piglets, and to protect the whole herd against PRRS, as it is also safe for use in gilts and sows.
"The new vaccine represents a flexible alternative to allow for new customized PRRS control programs developed by veterinarians for producers."
Alvaro Aldaz, Director, Commercial Development and Innovation, Swine, at Zoetis said: "We are excited to bring this innovative vaccine to Europe. Suvaxyn PRRS MLV has been developed using a very innovative vaccine technology which brings swine veterinarians a new advanced PRRS control tool.
"As well reducing viremia, nasal shedding and lung lesions in fattening pigs, the vaccine has been proven to overcome maternal immunity, which increases the efficacy of the vaccine when given to piglets during the first days of life. Additionally, it allows veterinarians for use PRRS mass vaccination within the claim; mass vaccination has become more and more popular in several European countries."
Suvaxyn PRRS MLV is a veterinary vaccine that contains a European PRRS virus strain (Genotype 1) that has been grown and attenuated in a uniquely modified cell line developed by Zoetis.
Jay Calvert, Research Director, VMRD Global Biologicals Research at Zoetis said: "Suvaxyn PRRS MLV is safe based on true loss of virulence, and not based on a temporary reduction in ability to replicate in macrophage cells in the lung of the pig."
Zoetis says the efficacy of Suvaxyn PRRS MLV is supported by a comprehensive program of clinical studies reviewed by the European Medicines Agency and included in the regulatory procedure approved by the European Commission in August 2017.
The European public assessment report is available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Summary_for_the_public/veterinary/004276/WC500235212.pdf
The company says the most common side effects with Suvaxyn PRRS MLV (which may affect more than one in 10 pigs) are a short-lived increase in body temperature (0.5°C on average and up to 1.4°C individually) within four days of vaccination, and in sows local reactions in the form of swellings which resolve without treatment within five to 32 days.
The individual, referred to as Mrs D throughout the hearing and who was granted anonymity by the Committee on grounds relating to her health, faced three charges against her.
The first charge was that she posted the tweets from her Twitter/X account.
The second charge was that in a number of tweets (Schedule 1 below), she falsely stated or implied that she was a veterinary surgeon, and that, in some tweets, while falsely holding herself out to be a veterinary surgeon, she used language that was offensive and/or unprofessional.
The third charge was that in a number of tweets (Schedule 2 below) she made statements that were offensive, discriminatory and brought the veterinary professions into disrepute.
At the outset of the hearing Mrs D admitted all the facts of the charges against her, and also admitted that her conduct amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional capacity.
The Committee considered that there were a number of aggravating factors in Mrs D’s behaviour, including a lack of probity and integrity, as well as dishonesty, in holding herself out as a veterinary surgeon.
Her conduct was also premeditated and took place over a lengthy period of time, involved abuse of her position, and demonstrated discriminatory behaviour, as a large number of her tweets were highly offensive towards various minority groups.
In mitigation, the Committee heard from the respondent that she had a number of difficulties in her personal life which led to inappropriate use of social media, though she did not suggest these factors excused her behaviour.
The Committee also considered that Mrs D had a long and previously unblemished career of 15 or so years, had made early admissions (albeit she had initially denied being responsible for the tweets) and shown considerable remorse.
However, in terms of the sanction, the Committee considered that removal from the Register was the most proportionate sanction it could impose.
Paul Morris, who chaired the Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: “For a registered veterinary nurse to pretend to be a veterinary surgeon on a public platform is itself an extremely serious matter.
"When that presentation is associated with the highly offensive language of the tweets in this case, extending over a period of years, the conduct is in the view of the Committee fundamentally incompatible with continued registration.
“The Committee has concluded that removal from the register is the only sanction which is sufficient to satisfy the public interest in maintaining proper standards of behaviour for registered veterinary practitioners and public confidence in the profession and its regulation.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The Tweets
Schedule 1
Schedule 2
Finding and settling into that first job is a particularly challenging time for a veterinary surgeon. Not only do you need to adapt to the practice environment and fit in with colleagues, but also gain a fast understanding of what's expected clinically, professionally, ethically and academically.
Recently retired after a 40-year career in practice, Clare is very well placed to give new grads useful advice. She's had six year's experience in mixed practice and 34 in small animal practice, both as an employee and an employer. She co-owned a small animal practice in Yorkshire which she developed with her veterinary partner from one surgery to a small animal hospital with four surrounding branch practices employing many vets and nurses over the years. She also spent 8 years on RCVS Council, giving her a deeper insight to the complexities of the wider profession.
What is perhaps a tad more unusual is that she writes from the perspective of someone who feels she has nothing to lose by being completely open and candid about her experiences.
Clare said: "I've really enjoyed my career and been fortunate enough to be able to balance it with family life, practice ownership and time on Council. But it hasn't always been easy. There are things I think I could have done better, and like everyone I've made some mistakes. I hope that by being open about these things, I might prevent others falling into the same traps.
The New Vet's Handbook covers employment options, interviews, mentoring, working with clients, patients and colleagues, consulting advice, dealing with euthanasia, record-keeping, veterinary standards, training and CPD, career options, professional skills and avoiding common pitfalls.
Clare added: "Although the purpose of the book is to help new grads settle in, especially those in smaller practices where a mentor may not always be readily available, I hope people will find it a funny, enjoyable read too."
The New Vet’s Handbook is available from 5m, priced at £24.95: http://www.5mbooks.com/the-new-vet-s-handbook-information-and-advice-for-veterinary-graduates.html
Eurovet Animal Health has launched Vomend, a new veterinary licensed metoclopramide that can be used to treat vomiting and reduced gastro-intestinal motility in both dogs and cats.
Eurovet says that for years, vets have often had little choice but to use metoclopramide preparations designed for human use - therefore effectively off-licence. This new preparation will allow vets to use a medication they know is of great benefit in treating dogs and cats, without taking all the additional precautions required for off-licence use, such as having clients sign consent forms.
The product can also be used in puppies and kittens. Severe vomiting in young puppies particularly can quickly lead to dehydration and depression, so it is vital to control the clinical signs and prevent fluid loss. Vomend will, according to the company, be particularly useful in this regard. As well as being an anti-emetic Vomend is also a pro-kinetic upper GI tract stimulant, so it is indicated for use in chronic nephritis, pyloric spasm and drug induced digestive intolerance.
Vomend will be available in 20 ml and 10 ml vials, providing greater flexibility over usage and stock control.
For further information on Vomend contact Eurovet on 01223 257933 or order direct from your wholesaler from early February.
Ed's note: The name. Is it just me? Wouldn't 'Tummyeaze' or something (anything) have been better?
Lynne was instrumental in creating the Linnaeus business in January 2015, and then growing it to the point where it now has 145 veterinary practices across the UK.
Lynne will be staying on as a consultant for Mars Petcare, which acquired Linnaeus in June 2018. She said: "As much as I would love to be part of the continuing journey and success of Linnaeus, I feel it is right for me to step back from the total time commitment required to be a CEO."
Paul Coxon, Linnaeus Chief Financial Officer, said: "The Linnaeus Group’s achievements under Lynne’s leadership cannot be underestimated. Since 2015, there have been numerous development milestones and significant growth as we have welcomed a number of highly-regarded referral centres and exceptional first opinion brands to the Linnaeus family. Lynne leaves us with a great legacy and a very bright future."
Linnaeus is due to make an announcement on Mrs Hill’s successor shortly.
Based at UCLan’s Preston Campus, the new school will deliver foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas such as veterinary medicine, bioveterinary science, veterinary clinical practice, veterinary physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and clinical animal behaviour and training.
Professor Graham Baldwin, UCLan Vice-Chancellor, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be creating an innovative and dynamic veterinary school. UK veterinary schools are highly prestigious, so we are thrilled to be launching only the second school in the north of England and one of only 11 in the UK.
“We have taken massive strides in developing all areas of human health provision in recent years, and animal health will now join our ever-expanding portfolio of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences and optometry.”
Professor Cathy Jackson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, said: “Our new veterinary school will be focussed on producing much needed industry ready graduates for our region, particularly as recent figures have highlighted a national shortage of vets and a sector heavily reliant on vets educated in the European Union.
"As with our medical and dental schools, we have demonstrated we want to break down barriers and make education accessible to all. It’s no different with our veterinary school and we want to open the doors and offer a pathway for any student, no matter of their background, into this rewarding profession, while maintaining the very highest of education and professional standards.”
The Batchelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) course at UCLan is a five-year programme with ‘hands-on’ modules from Year 1, rather than in the later years as delivered in more traditional programmes.
UCLan says it is collaborating with Myerscough College for some of its programmes to give students access to state-of-the-art, sector-leading facilities, which have recently benefited from a £35m investment.
In addition, UCLan will become one of the first universities in the world to make use of a digital, virtual dissection platform for teaching animal anatomy using veterinary Anatomage technology.
UCLan is planning to welcome the first intake of UK and international students to veterinary sciences BSc and foundation courses in September 2022 while BVMS students will be welcomed from 2023.
For more information, visit www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/veterinary-medicine.
For its research, the company surveyed 700 veterinary veterinary professionals.
The subsequent report, "Digital Adoption in Veterinary Medicine", provides up-to-date data on the levels of digital adoption by vets in the UK.
It also explores their attitudes to technology and digital communications tools, and the barriers to adoption. At the Zoom meeting, Scott Goodsir-Smyth, Provet Cloud’s VP of Growth for the UK & US will share and discuss some of the main findings of the report. He will also be answering questions about how practices can go digital, what the pitfalls are, how you can get the most value out of practice management software, and whether you should switch to the cloud. With the RCVS currently in the process of changing the rules regarding telemedicine, and only 23% of veterinary practices currently using telemedicine, this meeting could not be more timely. VetSurgeon.org and Provet are now inviting questions from vets about adopting digital technology, including online booking, integrated payments, pet owner apps, telemedicine, referral portals and digital whiteboards. The people who submit the best ten questions will be able to ask them before anyone else on the night and the best of the lot will get a bottle of champagne in time for Christmas.
To download the report, visit: https://www.provet.cloud/provet-cloud-digital-adoption-report To submit your question, email it to editor@vetsurgeon.org by Wednesday 9th November at 11:00am.
To register to join the Zoom meeting, visit: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsdOugpzMoGd0mrFcC_cyz1kNrGcwpMULV
The study1, which was conducted in collaboration with Plymouth University, sought to find out what influences owners to buy a flat-faced breed, and once this decision has been made, how they go about acquiring a puppy. The study surveyed owners of the top 10 most popular Kennel Club registered breeds in the UK, to compare how influences upon breed choice and purchasing processes differed between owners of flat-faced breeds and popular longer-faced breeds.
Appearance was found to be the number one reason owners purchase flat-faced breeds, attracted by their large, round, wide-set eyes, and flat rounded faces. However, such characteristics are linked with lifelong respiratory, eye and skin problems, and a reduced lifespan compared with longer-faced breeds.
Key influencing factors associated with the choice of a brachycephalic breed included:
When it came to buying a flat-faced dog, owners were:
Dr Rowena Packer, lead author of the study and Research Fellow at RVC, said: "With their small size and baby-like features, some people cannot resist the looks of a brachycephalic dog. With growing evidence that these breeds are faced with a range of chronic and severe health conditions directly linked with their appearance, it is of huge concern that many people drawn to these breeds prioritise a dog’s looks over their long-term health and wellbeing.
"Potential puppy buyers attracted to the appearance of these breeds should seriously consider whether they are emotionally and financially prepared to take on a breed with high risks of health complications, and consider whether alternative, lower-risk breeds would better fit their lifestyle."
Co-author of the study and Associate Professor of Animal Welfare at Plymouth University, Dr Mark Farnworth, said: "Owners must be aware that as puppy-buyers, they are consumers, and their choices affect not only the health of the puppy they purchase, but also the health of the breed more widely. If owners do not follow recommended processes when purchasing a puppy, for example those set out in BVA AWF & RSPCA ‘Puppy Contract’, unscrupulous breeders will be kept in business, and continue to profit from the breeding and sale of unhealthy dogs. Without consumer awareness, breed health improvements are not possible and the overall health of these breeds will likely decline."
Paula Boyden, Dogs Trust Veterinary Director said: "The increased popularity of breeds such as Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs is a huge welfare concern, particularly as this research indicates that the health of the breed was not a major consideration for potential puppy buyers. Many people mistakenly believe that the breathing sounds these breeds often make are endearing traits, rather than an indication of respiratory problems associated with their conformation. Dogs Trust urges anyone thinking of getting a puppy to look beyond the appearance of a breed, understand the impact on health, research the seller and buy responsibly."
Researchers say that the French Bulldog is set to become the most registered dog in 2017, overtaking the Labrador Retrievers’ 27-year reign at the top. The study therefore makes a number of recommendations, including:
Photo: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 Credit: Cristorresfer
MWI Animal Health, a part of AmerisourceBergen, has announced the acquisition of St. Francis Group, the UK’s largest animal health buying group.
The acquisition of St. Francis Group highlights AmerisourceBergen and MWI’s continued global expansion in the animal health sector, while also positioning MWI to better support the viability of independent veterinary practices internationally.
St. Francis Group, which represents more than 460 member practices throughout the UK and Northern Ireland, has steadily grown its member base and service offerings. The company aims to save its members time and money on veterinary products by providing information, technology and support that simplifies their processes, maximises purchasing benefits and reduces administration so members can focus on clinical care.
James F. Cleary, Jr., Executive Vice President and President, MWI Animal Health said: "At MWI, we’re focused on providing independent veterinary practices with the tools and resources they need to thrive in a competitive animal health marketplace. St. Francis Group is dedicated to this same mission and we believe that adding the resources of AmerisourceBergen to their existing expertise and tools will further strengthen the impact they’re able to create for their members."
Alan White, Managing Director, St. Francis Group, said: "We’re proud of the work we’ve done to encourage the health and viability of our member practices. We look forward to working with MWI and AmerisourceBergen to further expand our capabilities with the goal of providing even greater value to current and future members of St. Francis Group."
AmerisourceBergen completed its acquisition of MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. in February of 2015. MWI completed the acquisition of Vetswest Limited, a leading veterinary support services provider in the UK in August of 2015.
MWI says that through the acquisition, St. Francis Group will continue to negotiate with manufacturers based their ability to best meet member needs and purchase products from preferred wholesaler partners.
For more information about MWI Animal Health, visit www.mwianimalhealth.com.
The figures highlight the burden placed on veterinary surgeons every day when they're asked to euthanise perfectly healthy animals.
Problem behaviours include persistent barking and howling, destructive chewing and inappropriate toileting. Aggressive behaviour, towards both people and other pets, is also a problem, with the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report revealing that a third of pet owners have been attacked or bitten by a dog. Such behaviours can cause a breakdown of the human-animal bond, leading to pets being excluded from family life to the detriment of their welfare, relinquished to rehoming centres or euthanised.
The BVA says these figures overwhelmingly show the importance of adequate socialisation of animals at an early age – young animals should safely encounter a variety of people, animals and everyday household sights and sounds in their first few weeks and months of age, beginning at the place where they are born.
Other reasons that owners give their veterinary surgeon for wanting to euthanise a healthy pet included: poor health of the owner (48%), owners moving to accommodation that is unsuitable for their pet (39%), and legal enforcement reasons (32%).
British Veterinary Association President Sean Wensley said: "These figures are stark and are likely to come as a shock to members of the public. But this is the sad reality of a failure to socialise animals from the earliest possible age – a specific time in a puppy’s development which has a significant impact on their future temperament and behaviour. With dogs, this process starts from before a puppy is even seen by a potential owner. In recent months there has been a litany of news stories about the illegal importation, breeding and trading of puppies through puppy farms. This is no way for a family pet to start life and we urge potential owners to thoroughly research where a puppy has been born and reared, using the AWF/RSPCA Puppy contract to help. Then, in the first year of ownership, and especially in the first few weeks, work with your local veterinary practice to ensure your puppy is introduced to everyday sights and sounds, including other people and animals, in a safe and structured way."
Mr Wensley also commented on the impact on vets: "Nobody enters the veterinary profession wanting to euthanise healthy pets, but this is the stressful situation that many vets are facing because of undesirable behaviours in pet animals. Vets will do all they can in these situations to avoid euthanasia, including offering evidence-based behavioural advice, referring to accredited pet behaviourists or assisting with rehoming through reputable rehoming organisations, but sometimes these options are not appropriate, particularly where the behavioural issues make it extremely difficult to rehome the animal. Vets are not required to euthanise healthy animals at an owner’s request, but sometimes, having carefully considered all options and given the circumstances the pet finds themselves in, it may be in an animal’s best interests to do so. Euthanising an animal who could have been a loving pet is the hidden, tragic cost of poor socialisation."
Veterinary surgeons have named their top new veterinary products of 2012 in a survey carried out by CM Research.
As part of the research, 343 vets working in UK practice were asked what they considered to be the best new product of 2012. Their answers were unprompted, and they were only allowed to mention one product or service. For this reason, some vets voted for products that were launched earlier than 2012. The full results were as follows:
Hill's y/dAn iodine restrictive hyperthyroid management food launched by Hill's Pet Nutrition in May 2012 won with an overwhelming 31% of the votes. www.hillspet.co.uk
Cardalis (CEVA Animal Health)Launched towards the end of 2012, CEVA's combined ACE inhibitor / spirolactone for heart failure in dogs scored a creditable 9.6% of mentions. www.ceva.co.uk
Seresto (Bayer Animal Health)Bayer's 8-month flea and tick collar came third with 6% of the votes. www.seresto.com.
Caninsulin Vetpen from MSDLaunched in July 2012, this new insulin delivery pen for Caninsulin is designed to improving dosing accuracy, consistency and ease of use. The user-friendly pen design is said to improve initial pet owner acceptance and on-going compliance.
Atopica Cat (Novartis Animal Health)Novartis launched Atopica Cat, an oral version of its treatment for chronic allergic dermatitis, at the start of 2012. www.itchfreepet.co.uk
Comfortis (Elanco)Launched in 2011, Comfortis is a novel oral flea adulticide for dogs which kills adult fleas rapidly for a month. www.comfortis.com
Nobivac Myxo RHD (MSD)The first vaccine to combine 12 months protection against both myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease within a single inoculation. It is a non-adjuvanted vaccine which, according to MSD, delivers greater simplicity of protocol and enhanced disease protection.
Cimalgex (Vétoquinol)Launched towards the end of 2011, Vetoquinol's 2nd generation Cox-2 inhibitor is said by the company to be very well tolerated, have an excellent efficacy profile and be very easy to use, meaning that Cimalgex allows veterinary patients to benefit from pain relief in situations where clinicians would have been worried about the risks versus the benefits of prescribing a NSAID for pain management.
Activyl (MSD)MSD's novel flea spot-on is the first to work by bioactivation, only becoming an insecticide after being ingested by the flea, thus minimising owner's exposure to insecticides. Said to be effective against the other stages of the flea life cycle, too. www.activyl.co.uk
RevitaCAM (Abbott)RevitaCAM is the first and only veterinary NSAID (meloxicam) with oromucousal delivery. www.revitacam.co.uk.
Metacam for cats (Boehringer Ingelheim)Boehringer extended its Metacam 0.5 mg/ml Oral Suspension for Cats range with the launch of a 30ml bottle size in July. www.metacam.co.uk.
Zuprevo (MSD)MSD's antibiotic to combat bovine respiratory disease (BRD) was launched in the third quarter of 2011. www.zuprevo.com
V-Gel (Docsinnovent)V-gel was the first ever species-specific supraglottic airway device (pictured top right), currently available for cats and rabbits. Billed as the latest ground breaking technology for a safer anaesthesia, easier breathing and avoiding damage to the throat and trachea; a safer alternative to ET tubes. www.docsinnovent.com
Onsior (Novartis Animal Health)The tissue-selective oral and injectable Cox-2 inhibiting NSAID from Novartis was actually launched back in 2009.
Certifect (Merial)Merial's flea and tick spot-on for dogs was launched by Ray Mears in the UK in February 2012. www.certifect.co.uk
Calmex (VetPlus)Somewhat controversial when it made its first appearance in 2011, Calmex is a feed to help dogs and cats that may experience behavioural problems as a result of their environment or situations that may cause anxiety or fear. More info.
Comfortan (Dechra)The first licensed methadone for dogs was launched by Eurovet towards the end of 2011, before it was acquired by Dechra in May 2012. www.dechra.co.uk
Hill's Vet EssentialsHill's vet-exclusive petfood range is designed to meet essential dietary needs at every life stage. More info.
Trocoxil (Pfizer)Trocoxil, Pfizer's NSAID for canine osteoarthritis was remarkable for its once monthly dosage regime, when launched back in 2009.
VerafloxBayer launched its next generation fluoroquinolone antimicrobial for bacterial infections in cats and dogs at the end of 2011
YumoveYumove is a joint support supplement from Lintbells, containing glucosamine and chondroitin. More information.
CVS says there has been a steady increase in the number of clinicians offering peripatetic services on the premises of host practices in almost every area of clinical work, including surgery, cardiology, diagnostic imaging and dermatology. It's a model for improving patient access to more advanced levels of clinical care.
The company has appointed Ben Walton BVSc DSAS(Orth) MRCVS (pictured right), an RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics) at Chestergates Veterinary Specialists, to head up the new network (called the Advanced Clinical Services Network, or ASCN). In a previous life, he offered a peripatetic surgery service in the North West of England and North Wales for several years.
Ben said: "I believe that the new network will deliver huge advantages to a number of stakeholders. The peripatetic model is an attractive proposition from a number of perspectives.
"For the host practices, is allows cases to be managed to a greater depth in-house, improving their service offering, and increasing opportunities for development of the practice team. It also allows the retention of revenue from these cases, which in turn justifies investment in facilities.
"For the client and patient, it improves the level of care that they receive at their home practice. Visiting clinicians bring expertise into practices through their own knowledge and experience, but also through development of the practice team, thus improving standards across the board."
Ben believes the model also offers better clinical career progression for experienced vets: "I believe that clinically-satisfying roles can be hard to come by at the moment.
"As a profession, we tend to be good at looking after our recent graduates. CVS, other large groups and independent practices have worked really hard on this over the last few years. There are also plenty of opportunities to develop your career on a management track, especially in the large groups.
"What there is a real lack of, though, are jobs that allow genuine clinical development. Many vets are well-supported to gain certificates and Advanced Practitioner status, but often there isn’t a satisfying caseload at the end of it.
"Within the new network, experienced vets will have a caseload that is predominantly or exclusively within their preferred discipline, and as they will be performing higher-value work than they would in a GP position, better remuneration packages will be justifiable. Ultimately, we want to be able reward experienced vets well, for doing a job that is clinically satisfying, and provides a valuable service to host practices and their clients."
CVS says it intends to develop the Advanced Clinical Services Network in multiple disciplines nationwide over the next few years.
Ben added: "Primarily, the ACSN is being established to service CVS practices, but we envisage that many of the services will also be available to non-CVS practices."
For more information, visit careerswithcvs.co.uk
Royal Veterinary College research, published in the journal PLOS ONE, has revealed that 1 in 4 cases of Diabetes Mellitus in domestic cats are caused by excess secretion of pituitary growth hormone.
According to the researchers, this is much more common than previously thought. Furthermore, they say that cats with this condition are easily misdiagnosed as having primary (type 2) diabetes mellitus but do not respond to the standard treatment to that condition, resulting in increased morbidity and ultimately leading to euthanasia on welfare grounds.
Researchers collected data between 2003 and 2011 on cats treated at vet practices across the UK, to estimate the prevalence of hypersomatotropism or acromegaly in the largest cohort of diabetic cats to date and look how easy this is to recognise.
Findings revealed that the presence of Diabetes Mellitus in 1 in 4 domestic cats can be explained by hypersomatotropism, which is caused by a pituitary benign tumour and can be effectively treated by one operation in specialist centres.
However only 24% of clinicians who submitted samples suspected that this was the case, as most hypersomatotropism cats did not display typical signs, instead displaying symptoms indistinguishable from cats with primary (type 2) Diabetes Mellitus. This suggests that hypersomatotropism screening should be considered when treating diabetic cats.
Lead researcher, Dr Stijn Niessen from the Royal Veterinary College, said: "It has been common practice to automatically suspect a cat with Diabetes Mellitus to be suffering from a form of diabetes akin to human type 2. The current study suggests that this is an oversimplification. Approximately one in four of assessed diabetic cats were actually found to be suffering from hypersomatotropism-induced Diabetes Mellitus, which requires specific treatment and manifests itself very differently as it develops.
"Interestingly, only a small proportion of clinicians reported they strongly suspected acromegaly to be present on the basis of the clinical picture. These data therefore highlight the need for veterinarians working with the spontaneously diabetic cat to consider routinely screening for the presence of hypersomatotropism-induced Diabetes Mellitus, given the significant clinical consequences of its presence.
"Should the hypersomatotropism be diagnosed and treated with one operation, most cats will enter a state of diabetic remission. If it remains undiagnosed, diabetic cats tend to be difficult to regulate glycaemically which often results in euthanasia, or in the long-term, they will suffer from other growth hormone-induced negative conditions such as heart disease, as well as central nervous system problems."
Evaluation of serum fructosamine was offered free of charge for all diabetic cats attending any veterinary practice in the UK from October 2003 till April 2011. Veterinary surgeons were asked to record clinical data about the patient, including age, breed, gender, current body weight, current administered insulin dose and whether they clinically suspected acromegaly/ hypersomatotropism. Diabetic cats were screened using serum total insulin-like growth factor-1, followed by further evaluation through pituitary imaging and/ or histopathology.
In total, 1221 diabetic cats were screened; 319 (26.1%) had a blood IGF-1 suggestive of hypersomatotropism. Of these cats a subset of 63 (20%) underwent pituitary imaging and 56/63 (89%) had a pituitary tumour on computed tomography; an additional three on magnetic resonance imaging and one on necropsy. These data suggest a positive predictive value of serum IGF-1 for hypersomatotropism of 95%, suggesting the overall hypersomatotropism prevalence among UK diabetic cats to be 24.8%.
The paper also suggests that although great opportunities exist for comparative research between primary (type 2) diabetes in cats and humans, researchers should exercise caution in light of these new findings.
Stijn added: "The similarities between feline and human type 2 diabetes emphasise great opportunities for valuable comparative research benefiting all species into this major disease, which is fast becoming a global epidemic. However our latest research proves that there is a need for more regular hypersomatotropism screening, to identify the root cause of diabetes in domestic cats before samples are used, so as not to corrupt results."
Unlike a normal 2D X-ray system, Adaptix's system fires very low-flux X-rays from many different positions in a sequence.
This allows the system to reconstruct a stack of slices through the patient which can be reviewed like the coronal slices from a CT scan, with only marginally more of a dose than a single 2D X-ray.
Adaptix says this means each side of the jaw can then be seen separately and clearly, in a much easier workflow than taking multiple intraoral 2D X-ray images.
Dr Conrad Dirckx, Director of Product Management at Adaptix said: "The system is both lightweight and simple to install in an existing radiology or treatment room, and it is also very useful for orthopaedic imaging.
"It reduces the workflow time for dental imaging from about 12-20 minutes to less than three.
"On top of that, it offers veterinary surgeons access to advanced 3D imaging for most complex orthopaedic cases without having to buy a CT scanner and sacrifice a treatment room, or refer the patient away."
The system is also being offered with an innovative pay-per-study pricing model, through which Adaptix installs the system with no capital outlay, and charges on a 'per-study' basis which also covers maintenance.
The system is available from Clark Dental Veterinary: www.clarkdentalveterinary.co.uk.
For more information, visit: adaptix.com