The British Veterinary Association has announced the results of the Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, which found that 84% of veterinary surgeons give up time to work with animal charities and shelters.
72% have a formal arrangement with charities to provide their time and veterinary expertise at a reduced rate, while more than 43% work completely unpaid for animal charities and shelters; treating thousands of abandoned, mistreated or injured animals each year.
The charitable work undertaken by practitioners varied from practice to practice, but included:
On top of all that, veterinary surgeons also provide emergency treatment for stray and wild animals brought in by the public. Although they will sometimes receive a charitable donation towards the cost of treatment through schemes like the RSPCA Initial Emergency Treatment (IET) Scheme, that is by no means always the case.
RSPCA Chief Veterinary Officer James Yeates said: "Vets’ work in this area can go unrecognised but it is appreciated by the RSPCA that they are part of the team trying to help animals. The RSPCA is dedicated to helping animals most in need and relies on vets’ welfare work to help bring a stop to the suffering of all animals."
BVA President Sean Wensley, said: "Behind these statistics are countless stories of veterinary teams – who already often work long, demanding hours – giving their time for free to support animal rescue staff and charities to care for abandoned, injured and neglected animals, as well as help owners to keep and care for much loved animals in times of hardship and crisis. The UK’s network of animal charities and rehoming centres do a fantastic job protecting wild and domestic animals each year. Animal welfare legislation is clear that animal keepers and owners are responsible for meeting their animals’ needs, and prospective animal owners must be aware of the cost and time commitment involved in animal ownership, but we appreciate people’s circumstances can change."
Photo: Javier Brosch/Shutterstock
Vets4Ukraine2022 is the brainchild of a group of twenty veterinary Specialists who are raising money by offering their knowledge and expertise in the form of free CPD delivered online, via Facebook and Linkedin.
So far, they've raised £2,236 for the British Red Cross.
For details of this group's activities and the free CPD it is offering colleagues, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1491854917875566/permalink/1497308427330215/
Meanwhile the FECAVA and The Webinar Vet are running the Vets for Ukraine Online Conference, a CPD event online on the 9th April from 10:00am to 10:00pm.
More details of that initiative, which is raising money for the Disasters Emergency Committee and Four Paws can be found here: https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/ukraine-veterinary-aid-conference/
Last but not least, British Veterinary Professionals for Ukraine is working to get essential medical supplies - both for animals and humans - delivered to Ukraine.
BVP4U is asking for supplies to be sent to BVP4UA c/o Hoermann Equine,Wrights Lodge East, Oakham Road, Whissendine, Rutland, LE15 7HA.
A list of specific requirements is available on the BVP4UA facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishvetsforukraine.
Alternatively, veterinary practices can buy supplies through their regular wholesalers (MWI/Covetrus/NVS) and have them delivered direct to BVP4UA by emailing their wholesaler with details of what they want to donate.
Other companies who do not operate through wholesalers may also be prepared to deliver direct.
Cash donations can be made via gofundme> to allow direct purchasing of the most needed veterinary supplies https://gofund.me/f7f25366.
The current inventory of Equip Artervac has an expiry date of March 29, 2023 and the company is not expecting a new batch to be available until the end of September 2023.
Zoetis says it has been working with relevant organisations to implement a plan to mitigate the impact on breeders.
The Thoroughbred Breeders Association has published advice for a blood sampling scheme at: https://www.rossdales.com/news-events/tba-members-equine-vaccine-advice-regarding-disruption-to-supply-of-equip-artervac, but Zoetis highlights that the advice requires action two weeks after the most recent EVA vaccination.
For more information contact your Zoetis Account Manager or the Zoetis Technical Team on customersupportUK@zoetis.com or 0345 300 8034
Designed to be used as a tertiary cohesive layer, the Rapz Eazy Tear Natural World bandages, which are available in 5cm, 7.5cm and 10cm widths, can be torn without the need for scissors.
They are suitable for both large and small animals and Millpledge says they offer optimal protection and support for tendons and ligaments.
As part of the launch, Millpledge has pledged a total donation of £12,000 to Wildlife Vets International (WVI), a British charity that provides veterinary support to international wildlife and conservation projects.
Meryl Lang, Sales Manager at Millpledge, said: “Supporting conservation is an integral part of our vision for Rapz Easy Tear Natural World.
"With increasing threats faced by many species, from habitat loss and human conflicts to poaching and plastic pollution, more animals than ever are being classified as critically endangered.
"It’s fantastic to be able to contribute to such an important cause.”
For ore infornation, email enquiries@millpledge.com
Dechra has launched a two hour online CPD session on skin and ear cytology for veterinary surgeons and nurses.
The module was created in conjunction with Peter Forsythe BVM&S DVD MRCVS RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology.
Senior Brand Manager at Dechra Veterinary Products, Larry King, said: "Cytology is a key to diagnosing otitis externa, a common condition seen by vets and nurses but one which can be challenging to manage.
"Carrying out cytology will assist them in deciding on the appropriate approach to control the infection. Our online CPD module, presented through a series of videos, will explain cytology step by step from initial presentation to organism identification."
Peter Forsythe added: "It is difficult to practice good dermatology without doing cytology, which is inexpensive, quite quick to do and is a great aid in the diagnosis of skin disease. These videos cover the investigation of pyoderma, Malassezia and otitis externa, but actually this is just the tip of the iceberg and the same techniques can be used for investigation of a range of other inflammatory skin diseases."
The free of charge CPD, available at www.dechra.co.uk/academy, includes downloadable resources and a short quiz to support the module, with a certificate upon completion.
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) have joined forces to set recognised standards for equine dental treatment.
The two organisations are working in association with the RCVS, BVA, BVDA, WWAED and LANTRA to develop National Occupational Standards that will pave the way to allowing equine dental technicians the freedom to work within the Law under an Exemption Order. This should make it safer and easier for owners to source the most suitable dental treatment for their horses.
Currently all equine dental care falls within the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA) and should only be carried out by veterinary surgeons. Equine vets from BEVA and equine dental technicians from the BAEDT have been trying to address this anomaly with government for many years. In 2004 the organisations drew up a list (revised in 2009) of procedures that could be safely carried out by suitably qualified equine dental technicians and a list of those which should only be carried out by qualified veterinary surgeons because they involve sensitive tissues.
The envisaged Exemption Order will also provide better protection for horses and their owners by reinforcing the fact that only suitably qualified individuals are allowed to carry out equine dental care and treatments. While unqualified individuals should become easier to identify under the proposed new scheme, those qualified will also be held to account if their performance is not up to scratch.
The first step towards the Exemption Order is the drawing up of National Occupational Standards for Equine Dental Technicians. It is hoped that these will be formalised by LANTRA in early 2013.
Keith Chandler, BEVA President said: "After many years of working closely with the BAEDT on the continuing education and qualification of its members, we are thrilled that progress is finally being made towards an Exemption Order."
BAEDT Chair, Gemma Lilly, said: "BAEDT and its membership is very happy to be a key part of the team that hopes to put the Exemption Order in place - it will be good news for equine dental technicians, horse owners, and their animals."
Equine Dental Technician and member of the Worldwide Association of Equine Dentists, Martin Brookes, also supports the initiative. He said: "This will be a really important step forward for responsible Equine Dental Technicians. It will further improve the working relationships between EDTs and vets and help to protect the welfare of the horse."
Rachel Wells, an RVN and Pet Health Counsellor (PHC) from Pype Hayes Veterinary Centre in Birmingham, has won Royal Canin's annual 'Pet Health Counsellor of the Year' Awards 2013.
The ceremony, which took place earlier this month at the Forest of Arden Marriot Hotel in Birmingham, saw Rachel beat 25 other finalists to claim the Gold Award. Royal Canin presented Rachel with £1,500 worth of high-street vouchers at the annual ceremony, which celebrates veterinary professionals for promoting preventative health care and running pet health clinics in practice.
The Erdington-based PHC, was chosen by animal behaviour expert Sarah Heath for her work in weekly puppy parties, general 'nutrition mission' clinics and firework and weight clinics. She was also recognised for her one-off work in running an 'Embarrassing Pet Bodies' workshop in the summer, similar to the 'Embarrassing Bodies' Channel 4 TV documentary.
Royal Canin's Veterinary Sales and Marketing Director, Andrew Doyle, said: "It's a privilege to be able to present Rachel with the award. She has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to Pype Hayes Veterinary Centre, by running a variety of specialist sessions for owners which have proven very popular and beneficial. The Royal Canin Pet Health Counsellor scheme was set up to encourage Veterinary Nurses to advance their professional development, so it was great to see such a high level of entries this year detailing the PHCs who have set up effective clinics and services in their practice."
Rachel said: "It is an honour to receive Royal Canin's Pet Health Counsellor of the Year award. It's a fantastic opportunity and the scheme they run has given me the chance and confidence to develop specialist clinics at Pype Hayes Veterinary Centre. We have set up many sessions including weight and nutrition clinics to give our clients the specific advice and training for their pets' needs."
Ceva Animal Health has launched Libeo, a new four-way break, palatable furosemide for the management of heart failure in dogs.
According to the company, furosemide - a diuretic - is the most frequently used treatment for the management of heart failure because it helps reduce pulmonary oedema and its quick onset of action is associated with a noticeable reduction in clinical signs.
However, Ceva highlights the fact that long-term under or over-dosing can have profound health implications for the patient, and says that current recommendations are to reduce the dose to the minimum effective dose as soon as the animal is stable and only increase it if required due to deterioration in heart function.
Ceva says that unlike other furosemides, Libeo has been designed solely for the veterinary market - specifically to facilitate easy and accurate dosing.
The four-way break tablet is available in a traditional 40mg tablet size as well as a unique 10mg size for small patients. The clover-shaped tablet is chicken-flavoured, designed to make it easier for owners to dose their pets and help improve long-term owner compliance. Each box of Libeo contains 120 blister-packed tablets, removing the need for someone to have to count out tablets.
Rob McLintock MRCVS, Companion Animal Business Unit Manager at Ceva Animal Health said: “87% of vets in the UK believe that the dose of furosemide given to pets by their owners is adversely affected by how difficult it is to split the tablets1. This is especially likely to affect pets whose owners are less dextrous or have difficulties using their hands. Libeo is both easy to administer and effective, thereby improving owner compliance and the long term health and welfare of their pets.”
Reference
It seems that a series of one day conferences, organised by the Animal Health agency for vets and animal health inspectors involved in fighting bovine TB, haven't gone down as well as hoped.
According to a report in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, many in the audience were angered when they were asked to spend up to an hour playing a game involving bongo drums.
Incredibly, a spokesman for Animal Health apparently told the Daily Telegraph that: "It was meant to emphasise how people working together can build up a rhythm."
Neurology Specialists Mark Lowrie and Laurent Garosi from Davies Veterinary Specialists and Robert Harvey from the UCL School of Pharmacy have discovered a new syndrome which causes noise-triggered seizures in old cats, dubbed FARS (feline audiogenic reflex seizures).
The discovery came about after the charity International Cat Care contacted Davies Veterinary Specialists for help with several enquiries it had received regarding cats having seizures, seemingly in response to certain high-pitched sounds. The problem was not documented and little, if anything, was known about it.
Mark, Laurent and Robert decided to investigate, and compiled a questionnaire for owners to complete. The research generated worldwide media interest (dubbed 'Tom and Jerry syndrome' after the cartoon character Tom who has a strong startle reflex and often reacts with involuntary jerks to sound stimuli), and they received hundreds of replies from across the globe from people who had noticed the same problem in their cats in response to certain types of sound. These owners had also found that their local vets had no information at all about it, and often did not believe that a sound had triggered the seizure.
The research has resulted in a paper, Audiogenic reflex seizures in cats, which is published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
The paper pulls together information from 96 of reported cases, looking at the type and duration of seizure and the triggering sound. The authors say it reveals that some cats do indeed suffer from audiogenic reflex seizures - those which are consistently caused by sounds (this is also recognised in people). Certain sounds induced 'absences' (non-convulsive seizures), myoclonic seizures (brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles), or generalised tonic-clonic seizures. This last category is what most people think of as a 'seizure', with the cat losing consciousness and its body stiffening and jerking, often for several minutes. The new syndrome has been termed feline audiogenic reflex seizures (FARS).
The investigation found that FARS occurred in pedigree and non-pedigree cats, but that among the pedigrees, the Birman breed was over-represented. This is also a problem of older cats - the average age of seizure onset was 15 years, with cats ranging in age from 10 to 19 years.
The most commonly reported triggers for FARS were:
Other, less common triggers were the sound of breaking the tin foil from packaging, mobile phone texting and ringing, digital alarms, Velcro, stove igniting ticks, running water, a dog jangling its collar as it scratched, computer printer, firewood splitting, wooden blocks being knocked together, walking across a wooden floor with bare feet or squeaky shoes and, in one case, the short, sharp scream of a young child.
Avoiding the sounds could reduce the seizures, although owners reported that it was sometimes difficult to avoid certain sounds, and the loudness of the sound also seemed to increase the severity of seizures.
The geriatric nature of this condition is such that it may be overlooked in older cats, which may potentially suffer from other concurrent conditions. The hope is that publication of the paper will raise awareness among vets in practice about this syndrome. Meanwhile, work is ongoing to identify the genetic basis of this disorder and the team is now also working on a paper about treatment of these cases.
Lead author, Mark Lowrie, said: 'We have been overwhelmed by the response to our work. A second study is soon to be published suggesting that levetiracetam is an excellent choice of medication in managing this condition. Our experience is that it can completely rid a cat of these sound-induced seizures, including the myoclonic twitches - one owner reported that levetiracetam had 'truly been a miracle drug for my cat''.
Claire Bessant, Chief Executive of International Cat Care, summed up: 'How wonderful to be able to go back to those worried owners who came to us for help with a problem previously unrecognised by the veterinary profession with not only an explanation for their cats' behaviours, but a way to help them as well.'
The study can be read for free here: http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/04/27/1098612X15582080.full.pdf+html
Owners are being asked to provide a photo or video and a brief description that capture what it is like to live with and care for an older dog.
Dr Carri Westgarth, a senior lecturer in human-animal interaction at the University of Liverpool, has been awarded a citizen science grant from PetSavers to run the project. She plans to use the information gathered to help develop a ‘Canine Ageing and Wellbeing’ tool for use in veterinary practice.
Carri said: “Dogs are living up to twice as long as they did 40 years ago and there are implications for senior dogs’ healthcare and wellbeing.
"As life expectancy increases, so does the amount of time the dog may spend in poor health. It may be difficult for us to distinguish between the signs of serious age-related diseases and normal age-related changes in our dogs."
PetSavers says the data will contribute to our investigations of owner expectations, experiences and attitudes to ageing in dogs, including preventative care and general understanding of normal and abnormal changes during ageing.
Carri added: "Improving discussions between owners and veterinary professionals about senior dog care will help to increase owner understanding and involvement in care decisions for their pet. The resulting early detection of health problems should bring significant improvement to the quality of life of senior pets and the dog-owner relationship.
"Any adult UK residents who (currently or recently) live with an aged dog/s of any breed/s or health status are encouraged to participate by choosing an image or short video and telling us about it."
The research team will then analyse the submitted text and media for common themes. They may also use anonymised selected quotes to illustrate important findings in research publications such as scientific papers or conference presentations.
If you know any owners who might like to participate, do share this link with them: https://bit.ly/PetSaversOAPsPhoto
For more information, visit: https://www.petsavers.org.uk/our-research/oldagepets
Data collection will close on Friday 10th July 2020.
The service will be run by European and RCVS recognised specialist in Soft Tissue Surgery, Jane Ladlow, and will begin taking referrals from October 28th.
Jane has nearly 20 years’ experience as a specialist clinician, researcher, teacher and lecturer.
Her main focus for the last 10 years has been upper airway disease in dogs. As the clinical lead of the Cambridge Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) Research Group, she has been instrumental in the introduction of objective, non-invasive assessments of airway function, identifying risk factors for BOAS, clinical diagnosis, breeding guidelines and the development of new surgical techniques (laser turbinectomy and laryngeal surgeries).
She has extensive experience of general surgery, and particularly enjoys oncology surgery, with an emphasis on treatments that are kind to owners and animals. Jane was the 2019 recipient of the BSAVA Simon Award for outstanding contributions in the field of veterinary surgery.
Jane said, “The team at HSR demonstrate a drive for excellence, both clinically and in providing the best experience for clients and their pets. I’m excited to start working as part of the innovative and collaborative team of surgeons, nurses and support staff.”
Director and orthopaedic surgery specialist, Michael Hamilton, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Jane to the team here. Her work has revolutionised the way we diagnose and manage BOAS. Continual learning and innovation are core to our practice, and we know Jane will be a strong driving force helping us continue providing the best outcomes for clients and their pets.”
For more information, visit: www.hamiltonspecialists.vet
Under the direction of Hilary Jackson and Rosanna Marsella, the manual has been revised and updated to provide a resource focused on the clinically relevant aspects of dermatological diseases. It also includes several new chapters and various sections have been expanded.
This new edition keeps the same format as the third edition. The initial chapters review the basic structure and function of the skin, discuss a logical approach to history-taking and outline the core investigative tests that can be performed. A separate chapter on skin cytology has been added to this edition, providing information on common skin diseases which the association says should be useful to all practitioners.
The introductory section is followed by chapters taking a problem-oriented approach to common dermatological conditions, including papules and pustules, scaling, and erosions and ulcerations. The chapters on pyoderma, ear disease and atopic dermatitis have been expanded and there are two new chapters dedicated to feline dermatological conditions.
A chapter covering the indications for allergy testing and the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy is also new to this edition. The main purpose of an allergy test is to confirm the clinical diagnosis of atopic disease and to identify the relevant allergens, which can then be selected for allergen-specific immunotherapy.
The final section of the manual focuses on the major skin diseases encountered in dogs and cats, and includes a chapter on topical treatments, which have an increasingly important role in the management of small animal dermatology patients, either as a sole therapy or as part of a multimodal treatment regime.
The BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dermatology is available as a print edition (£90; £60 to BSAVA members), which can be bought at the BSAVA online shop, and a digital edition (£90; £60 to BSAVA members), accessible via the BSAVA Library.
Seven graduands from The University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Medicine and Science have become the first from the new school to become members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Nottingham is the first new veterinary school in the UK for over 50 years, and the process to recognise its degree for the purposes of RCVS membership is currently in its final stages. Following a visitation and audit process, RCVS Council unanimously recommended the degree's approval to the Privy Council, where the final decision lies.
Generally, veterinary graduates become RCVS members - which they need to be in order to practise in the UK - at a ceremony on the day of their graduation. However, sometimes they wish to start work before graduation and can therefore apply to register as graduands, as in this case.
Although formal Privy Council approval of the Nottingham degree is still awaited, RCVS external examiners have overseen the School's final exams during the last year of the course to ensure that they meet the required standards.
The Nottingham graduation ceremony will take place on 22 July, when a further 77 students will graduate, and those wishing to practise in the UK will become members of the College.
The RCVS 2010 Survey of the Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing Professions indicated that, on average, new graduates took one month to find work on graduating, with 63% going straight into clinical practice.
BCF Technology has launched a competition in which the person who submits the best photograph with the theme of: All in a day's work - animal imaging, will win an iPad 2.
To enter the competition, you need to post your photographs, (and tell BCF a little about the story behind the images) at www.facebook.com/bcftechnology or email them to: info@bcftechnology.com
Jason Rogers, Marketing Manager at BCF said: "We wanted to create a fun way to show just how interesting and different each days work is when imaging animals. We have made the competition open to all that work with animal imaging including our staff, dealers and vets, vet nurses, animal contractors, etc from all over the world.
"It is great to see the BCF office in the States and our international dealers also promoting the competition in their own countries, making the competition truly international. Response to the competition has been fantastic - see our facebook page to some entries for yourself."
The closing date for the competition is 30th September 2011.
For more information, visit: www.bcftechnology.com
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has launched new, more palatable Metacam Chewable Tablets.
According to the company, the tablets are proven to be taken by 90% of dogs voluntarily1 and 80% will even take them from the floor1 which aids compliance. Available in pop-through blister strips of seven for easy dispensing and administration, the 1mg and 2.5mg Metacam Chewable Tablets are packed in boxes of 84 and priced the same per tablet as the current tablet range.
Claire Fowler, companion animal marketing manager at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "The existing Metacam Chewable Tablets are readily accepted by most dogs. However, to appeal to as many dogs as possible, we have launched an even more appetising 'beefed up' meaty flavour."
For further information on the new flavoured Metacam tablets, including special offers, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim territory manager or call 01344 746959.
BEVA has announced that tickets are now on sale for BEVA Congress and members who register before 4th August 2016 can benefit from big discounts.
This year, BEVA Congress is being held at the ICC in central Birmingham.
In addition to the clinical programme, tactics to achieve the elusive work life balance and the applicability of evidence based medicine are recurring themes over the three days of the event.
Five separate programmes will run concurrently in five adjacent halls, deploying a mix of traditional lectures, panel discussions and interactive forums to suit equine vets and mixed practitioners at any stage in their career. Vet nurses, farriers, equine physiotherapists and equine dental technicians can also attend specific sessions focused on their areas of expertise.
There will be daily practical sessions in the exhibition hall: Jonathan Anderson, Will Barker, Tim Barnett, Ollie Crowe, Richard Reardon, Neil Townsend and Thomas Witte will be demonstrating sinoscopy and gastroscopy techniques and delegates will have the chance to roll up their sleeves and get hands on with dead heads and digital models.
Programme highlights include a day of advanced orthopaedics in combination with the European Society of Veterinary Orthopaedics and Traumatology (ESVOT). The sessions will draw on canine and human experience, with speakers including Ian Wright from the Newmarket Equine Hospital, Peter Clegg from the University of Liverpool, Wayne McIlwraith from Colorado State University and Martin Waselau from Equine Hospital Aschheim, Germany.
There will also be career and practice development sessions exploring what you can do with your veterinary degree, how to look after your staff and how to take advantage of smartphone technology in practice. Evidence in surgery and critical appraisal tools will be explored in a series of presentations on two separate days across a wide range of conditions. Speakers will include Will Barker, Bruce McGorum, and Etienne O'Brien.
Kathy Clarke, Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia at the Royal Veterinary College, will be giving the plenary lecture on from the difficult horse to the demanding surgeon; how effective sedation has revolutionised what is achievable in equine clinical practice. There will be a debate on the Friday with Victoria Harris chairing the promisingly divisive This house believes that lab tests are overused and abused.
There will also be comprehensive sessions on parasitology, laminitis, skin disease, anaesthesia and analgesia, colic, respiratory disease, sports injuries, standing surgery, ophthalmology, diagnostics, wounds, neurology and differentiating lameness from neurological disease, mare and foal, reproduction, dentistry, gastro intestinal disease and nutrition, cardiology and medicine.
Saturday’s vet nurse sessions will cover surgical management, emergency patients, the use of antimicrobials and adjunctive therapies. In addition, daily clinical research presentations will provide exclusive opportunities to hear about novel and exciting research projects.
There's a free BEVA Congress App with the full scientific programme and to help you manage your day. And if you are struggling for time or torn between several lectures you can use the BEVA Congress Encore Room which gives you the chance to play back missed lectures at your convenience.
For more information, visit www.beva.org.uk.
Fearne, who has been presenting live TV since she was 15 years old, has published eight books including the top 10 bestseller 'Happy', in which she talks about her own experiences of happiness and advocates raising awareness around the many ways people can build their own resilience and maintain good mental wellbeing.
Fearne has recently been appointed as a Princes Trust Goodwill Ambassador where she will be focussing on young peoples’ wellbeing and mental health.
She is also an ambassador for the charity Mind and has spoken about her wish to help stop the subject of depression being such a taboo.
Noel Fitzpatrick said: "We are absolutely thrilled that Fearne is joining us for the VETFest Conversation this year, continuing on what has become an integral and enlightening fulcrum of the wellness program of our event schedule.
"It means a great deal to myself and the organisers that all delegates who attend VET Festival have a very special and personally enriching experience - but they also feel part of a wider community of compassion too - within the industry among their peers but in a broader societal sense as well.
"With Fearne, we will explore many themes about health and well-being relevant to all of us. We hope to make you think, laugh and have a great time, and impart some wellness to take home into day to day life as well."
The VETFest Conversation is open to all delegates at VET Festival and takes place after the clinical programme on Friday 8th June at 6.00pm – 6.45pm.
You can book tickets for the event here: https://www.vetfestival.co.uk/delegate-info/ticket-information
Alex is applying the data science he uses in his day job to help local vets at the Olive Ridley Project care for the ancient reptiles.
Six of the seven species of sea turtles are endangered due to human behaviour, many of them killed by poachers for their shells, eggs and meat.
They're also affected by the increasing volume of plastic waste in the sea.
Alex, who normally spends his time leading a team of business intelligence engineers and analysts who provide insights in finance, HR and clinical event reporting, is setting the charity up with practice management software to help it capture clinical records and track the sea turtles.
Alex said: "We’ll be setting up the software, making sure the vets can operate it and then adding all their existing data to it. We’re giving them a powerful tool to capture clinical records and manage turtles over a long period of time.”
“These valuable creatures are hugely important to marine ecosystems and have travelled our seas for the last 100 million years, so I’m delighted to be able to play a part in their conservation.”
For more information on the Olive Ridley Project, visit https://oliveridleyproject.org.
The new guide, developed in association with Vets Digital, is the latest addition to BVA’s ‘Respect your vet team – end abuse’ campaign, which aims to support vets and veterinary workplaces who experience abuse from animal owners either in person or online.
It will be added to the Respect Your Vet Team toolkit, which offers a range of resources designed to help protect staff and limit the frequency and impact of abuse from clients.
The resources include practical tips on how to protect staff from online abuse, downloadable posters encouraging respectful behaviour from clients and a series of blogs exploring the issues.
BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “The vast majority of clients are hugely appreciative of the care they receive from their vet teams, resulting in thousands of positive reviews every year.
"While we recognise not every client will have a positive experience and may wish to provide critical feedback, a small number are posting deliberately abusive or unfair reviews.
"This is unacceptable and can have a hugely negative impact on individual veterinary professionals and the wider team.
"Protecting the wellbeing of veterinary teams remains a top priority for BVA and this new resource will help vet teams to take practical steps to limit the impact of this type of abuse.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/resources-support/misc-resources/how-to-manage-unfair-and-abusive-reviews-online
"Advances in Imaging of the Equine Distal Limb 2017–2022" comprises a total of 20 papers which have been selected by Mathieu Spriet, Ann Carstens and Tim Mair.
It also includes an editorial from the EVJ summarising the major historical technological developments in imaging of the foot and fetlock.
The publication looks at the evolution of computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), which has opened a whole new field of possibilities for bone and soft tissue imaging in racehorses and sport horses, MRI and how it has been improved by optimising scanning techniques, ultrasound radiography and scintigraphy.
Mathieu Spriet said: “The content of this virtual issue represents an amazing amount of new knowledge that with no doubt will contribute to improve equine welfare and safety.
“With the increase availability and versatility of all the imaging modalities, the knowledge base appears to increase exponentially.
"We are very excited to see what the next five years will bring. We hope the readers will enjoy consulting this collection as much as we enjoyed putting it together.”
The virtual issue is free for 12 weeks and can be found at https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306.equine-distal-limb
Photo: 18F-NaF PET, CT and MRI images from a horse with navicular and middle phalanx lesions. Adapted from EVJ 2018;50: 125-132
BCF Technology has announced that it now has the 9020HF ultralight and the 10040HF ultra orange x-ray generators available in blue.
Jason Rogers of BCF said: "Our range of generators aims to meet the needs of any size of veterinary practice. The new blue generators will compliment our existing range. The bright blue colour means they will be eye-catching in the field, meaning you wont leave them behind!"
What next? The BCF Spring Collection - a range of ultrasound scanners in pale, neutral shades guaranteed not to clash with your overalls?
To find out more about BCF Technology's range of x-ray equipment and generators visit http://www.bcftechnology.com/
Norbrook Laboratories Ltd has announced the launch of Pestigon, a fipronil spot-on solution for cats and dogs.
Rebekah Dudek, Norbrook Veterinary Advisor said: "Pestigon offers a fast-acting and long-lasting treatment for cats and dogs suffering from flea and tick irritations. The new product will have an immediate effect against flea infestations and will kill ticks within the first 24 - 48 hours of application. Fipronil is a tried and tested ingredient with proven efficacy against fleas and ticks. Pestigon provides a fast-acting treatment whose effectiveness will continue against new infestations of fleas for up to 58 days on dogs and 37 days in cats and against ticks for up to 30 days in dogs and 21 days in cats."
To coincide with the launch of Pestigon, Norbrook has rebranded its Permaguard household spray which is now available with 12 month protection.
Rebekah said: "The total life cycle of a flea can last from a couple of weeks to several months. Only adult fleas live on cats or dogs while the eggs, larvae and pupae can be found around the house in carpet, furniture, bedding etc for up to a year or more. It is therefore crucial that pet owners treat the household to break the life cycle and ensure effective and lasting flea control. Pestigon and Permaguard together will give pet owners a complete treatment."
Pestigon range offers 5 alternatives for cats and dogs depending on size and comes with colour co-ordinated pipettes available in packs of 3, 6 and 24 to allow for single or multiple pipette dispensing.
Norbrook's Small Animal Brand Manager, Michelle Jones said: "Pestigon is licensed as a POM-V product and will be sold exclusively through veterinary practices. We have produced a range of marketing materials for veterinary practices to help them offer support on flea and tick control in the home to their customers."
Orders for Pestigon and Permaguard can be placed through your Norbrook representative now.
The 2020 OV Conference will offer up to 25 hours of CPD with lectures, workshops and Q&A sessions from world-class speakers in streams covering small animals, farm animals and equines. There will also be exclusive offers from industry sponsors and online networking opportunities.
The OV Conference provides an opportunity for OVs to discuss current topics of interest and recent developments in their work. Themes this year will include notifiable diseases, biosecurity and disease control, and export certification.
In addition to the live lectures, delegates will be able to view recordings of all the sessions on-demand for three months following the conference. The CPD on offer counts towards OV revalidation qualifications with the event open to all vets, as well as animal health paraprofessionals, nurses and practice managers.
David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve International, said: "Moving the OV Conference online has given us an opportunity to harness the technology we use regularly in all of our veterinary training to bring OVs an exceptional but affordable CPD experience.
"Our excellent speakers are looking forward to sharing the latest updates in all aspects of OV work with our delegates and to discussing the challenges ahead, particularly in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the UK moving inexorably towards leaving the EU at the end of the year.
"We’re looking forward to meeting our delegates old and new online at the OV Conference in September.”
The full programme and tickets are now available from https://officialvet.com
The first 150 tickets will get an ‘Early Bird’ 25% discount from £160 to £120+ VAT using the code UK.OV.EARLYBIRD.