RCVS Knowledge has announced two new categories for its annual awards, which are now open for applications.

The awards, which which celebrate initiatives that advance the quality of veterinary care and demonstrate a commitment to using an evidence-based approach, will be open for applications until 13th January 2023.

The two new award categories are Antimicrobial Stewardship and Canine Cruciate Outcomes.  

The Canine Cruciate Outcome Awards are to recognise and celebrate individuals and teams who are using Quality Improvement initiatives alongside RCVS Knowledge’s Canine Cruciate Registry (CCR) to monitor and improve their canine cruciate surgery outcomes.

Applications are invited by surgeons and teams who are using the CCR.

The Antimicrobial Stewardship Awards, which are divided into farm animal, equine, and companion animal categories, aim to showcase practical examples where individuals and teams are improving responsible antimicrobial prescribing.

In addition, the charity is looking for entries for its existing awards for students and those who have implemented Quality Improvement (QI) techniques.

The Veterinary Evidence Student Awards enables students from around the world to enhance their academic and research skills by writing a Knowledge Summary and submitting it for publication to Veterinary Evidence, RCVS Knowledge's open access, peer-reviewed journal.

The Quality Improvement Awards showcase the implementation of Quality Improvement techniques which drive improvement within the professions.

www.rcvsknowledge.org/awards

Scientists from the Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, UK Met Office and the Jersey State Veterinary Service and Jersey Meteorological Department, are working together on an early-warning system to help defend cattle against the spread of 'bluetongue' disease, according to a study published today in Weather.

The team is fusing meteorological data with ecological information to anticipate when disease carrying midges are likely to be carried on the wind from the continent to the UK and Channel Islands.

Lead author Dr Christopher J. Sanders from the Institute for Animal Health said: "The bluetongue virus, BTV, represents a major and unprecedented epidemic which has spread across Western Europe since 2006. While accurate estimates of costs incurred are not yet available, it is estimated that these could be in the order of many tens of millions of pounds."

BTV is carried by small biting midges, Culicoides, one of the smallest species of biting flies found on livestock. One bite from a midge fully infected with BTV can be enough to lead to infection in cattle and sheep, which can be fatal.

Since 1998 the range of the African species of biting midge has expanded from the Mediterranean basin resulting in an overlap with the range of European species. This enabled European species of midge to pick up virus from infected animals for the first time and go on to transmit it in Southern Europe. However, the arrival of BTV in northern Europe in 2006 was independent of this northwards movement of BTV, jumping north rather than from a gradual spread, and was reliant on transmission only by European midges common and widespread in the area.

In 2006 the disease was found in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany; 700 km north of previous European outbreaks. In June 2007 the disease was once again reported in Germany and by October 2008 24,000 cases were reported in France alone. In September 2007, the first cases of BTV were discovered in the UK, where fortunately the outbreak was small.

The danger that the disease may again spread to the UK from across the channel is of special concern to the Channel Island of Jersey, which maintains a world renowned cattle industry, but is at heightened risk of infection if the disease becomes established along the Cherbourg peninsula or the Normandy and Brittany coastline.

The risk comes from the possibility that the tiny midges can be carried on the wind from the French coast to the Island. To monitor this threat the team set up midge light traps in farms across the island to monitor midge activity and to identify the presence of any potential vector species.

The results were then collated and analysed alongside data from the Jersey Meteorological Department, which allowed the team to pinpoint when livestock were at risk from a number of locations on the mainland. This information was fed into the UK Met Office early-warning website which has also been used on the mainland to help predict and defend against the disease.

"Environmental conditions, especially temperature, wind speed and direction have a significant impact on the biting midge in terms of activity and abundance," concluded Sanders. "Monitoring the midge population in Jersey will provide the farming community on the mainland with knowledge of when the midge season commences in the diseased areas of the near continent."

Vétoquinol, the makers of Zylkène, is offering the chance for a veterinary professional to receive a bursary towards the Centre of Applied Ethnology (COAPE) Behaviour Diploma, worth £5000. 

The company says behavioural training offers a wealth of benefits to veterinary practices and staff, including safer pet handling, improved client loyalty and a more comfortable environment for animals, as well as the opportunity to help increase the clinic's income.

The COAPE Behaviour Diploma is designed to help professionals further their knowledge of behavioural issues and gives them the skills to deal with situations that may arise during the course of their work. It is broken down into 3 one-year-long courses, each costing £5000. 

Jodie Foster of Haygate Vets in Telford was the recipient of last year's bursary and has since been voted the VN Times Welfare Nurse of the Year. She said: "I'd been interested in doing this course for some time, so it was amazing to hear that I'd been selected. I have found it challenging at times, but it's also been very rewarding and has really helped to improve my confidence when dealing with behavioural situations at work.

"The course tutors were fantastic and really fuelled my desire to further develop my knowledge of animal behaviour. The course definitely contributed to being awarded the prize from VN Times so I would strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in pet behaviour applies for the bursary."

To apply, complete the application form at www.zylkenepet.co.uk/COAPE  by 10 August 2014, explaining why you want to further your knowledge of animal behaviour and what you hope to achieve on completing the course.

The National Office of Animal Health Code of Practice Committee has found MSD Animal Health in breach of the NOAH Code on promotion for its advertisment for Equilis Prequenza.

The advert appeared in three separate issues of Veterinary Times (15, 22 and 29 September 2014), on the rear back cover of the 2014 BEVA Congress proceedings, and on the inside back cover of the 2014 Congress Planner.  It contained the phrase “Neuraminidase antibodies provided a degree of protection in the case of HA strain/vaccine mismatch”, when viewed against the context of the advertisement headed ‘Why have part when you can have it all?”.

The Committee’s view was that the item in the context of the advertisement was intended to mean, and did convey, the meaning that the inclusion of NA antigens in an equine vaccine gave that vaccine a clinical advantage over vaccines which did not. This claim was not substantiated. Accordingly, the Committee found the phrase in breach of Code of Practice Clauses 4.1(iii) misleading, 4.1(vi) contained an exaggerated claim, 4.1(vii) implied it had a special merit which was not substantiated, 4.2(i) was not accurate and 4.2(ii) was not based upon an up-to-date evaluation of all the evidence.

Full details of the Committee’s rulings can be found on the NOAH website at www.noah.co.uk/code. The full report of this particular case will be available shortly.

Edinburgh-based Braid Vets has signed up its 1000th client to the practice's VIP (Very Important Pet) Pet Health Plan.  

To mark the event, staff at the practice and Kenneth Agnew from Practice Plan For Vets Ltd, presented 1000th member Douglas Roberts and his dog Rudy with a bottle of champagne and a Kong toy.

In common with other schemes, the Braid Vets Pet Health Plan spreads the costs of vaccinations and flea control over the year with a fixed monthly direct debit. In addition, Braid Vets gives its Health Plan members further discounts on selected services provided by the practice, including food purchases.  

Mike Hall MRCVS of Braid Vets, said: "We think the Health Plan has been one of the things that has helped us withstand the worst effects of the recession.  In our experience, Health Plan clients attend the clinic more regularly for health checks, vaccinations and treatments throughout the year."

He added: "We're delighted to have reached our 1000th member of the scheme, but we're not going to stop there. We think there's considerable scope for further growth. The reason is that it's such a no-brainer. Under our plan, vets have complete clinical freedom and always recommend the products best suited to the individual pet. So the pet wins, the client wins and the practice wins."

Anita Bates from Practice Plan for Vets, which manages this scheme and many others on behalf of veterinary practices in the UK, said: "Our health plans focus on preventative services and products. They provide the practice with a regular monthly income and bonded clients as well as improving owner compliance, frequency of visits to the practice and average transactions values for wellness and illness."

For more information about Practice Plan For Vets, visit: www.practiceplanforvets.co.uk

Royal Canin is launching a new packaging format for its range of feline wet diets.

The company says the launch comes in response to research showing that more than three-quarters of pet owners (76%¹) feed their cats wet food and almost half of wet cat products sold are in a canned format (48%²).

The current alutray packaging will be replaced by 195g cans, which Royal Canin says are easier to use and store, and which clients believe to be better value for money than other packaging formats.

The new cans will contain the same recipes as before, with the same balance of nutrients in each wet diet. They will consist of a loaf or mousse, providing a complementary texture to the chunks in gravy found in the equivalent pouched diets.

Royal Canin is also highlighting the benefits for veterinary practices: The cans are designed to provide greater clarity of display and on-shelf presence. They are also easier to stack for storage, and they meet an established demand.

Ian Williams, one of Royal Canin's small animal vets, said: "We believe the new packaging is an improvement on our established and popular range of wet Veterinary Diets for cats. The range is extensive which allows owners to follow a vet's nutritional recommendations without changing their pets' feeding habits, an excellent way to increase compliance."

The new canned format will be phased in as stocks are replenished, with the following cans being added to the Royal Canin range of wet feline foods: a new Renal and Urinary S/O can, joining the existing Recovery can within the range of Veterinary Diets; and a new Paediatric Weaning can within the Veterinary Care Nutrition range.

For more information about Royal Canin and the diets, visit www.royalcanin.co.uk.

References

1. Feeding diaries study - MARS PETCARE 2010
2. Study report about therapeutic wet food - BIO'SAT 2012

The RCVS has announced a total of £1 million funding to address mental health and wellbeing within the veterinary profession over the next five years.

The RCVS Operational Board has agreed £100K of funding for the first year of the Mind Matters initiative, with a view to a similar amount per year for the subsequent four years.

Additionally, the College says it intends to contribute approximately £500K over the next five years to the Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme (VSHSP). This is a continuation of previous funding, effectively doubling the College's contribution. The VSHSP, independently run by the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, offers a confidential service that aims to combat problems with alcohol, drugs, eating disorders and other addictive and mental health issues.
 
Neil Smith, Mind Matters' Chair said: "I am delighted that we have £500K of new funding over the next five years to dedicate to improving the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary team, together with the increase to our support for the VSHSP. It shows the College's commitment in this vital area, and is a substantial amount that will really help change lives."

The funding will be reviewed annually as part of the RCVS budgeting process.

Mind Matters activities will fall into five streams:

• Learning and understanding best practice - research within the veterinary profession, for example, into occupational stress factors; and among other related professions and private and public sector organisations that have successfully tackled similar issues.
• Changing the culture - a programme of communications activities to help generate a positive environment for discussion, reduce stigma, increase awareness and the ability to identify risks, and encourage help-seeking behaviour.
• Intervention: personal level - financial and other support for existing services, such as Vet Helpline and Veterinary Surgeons Health Support Programme, together with an investigation into what more may be required to support those in need.
• Intervention: supporting the supporters - training and guidance for those who may be working or living with someone who needs assistance, in order to help supporters spot and understand signs of stress and mental illness, and help the person seek expert help.
• Making changes - working closely with the joint RCVS/British Veterinary Association Vet Futures project (www.vetfutures.org.uk) to help identify aspects of how the profession is structured and run (from student to retirement) that exacerbate stress and mental health problems - and consider how they may be addressed.

Mind Matters is supported by a taskforce comprising the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the British Veterinary Association, the British Veterinary Nursing Association, the Veterinary Practice Management Association, the Veterinary Schools Council, the Veterinary Defence Society, the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons and the Association of Veterinary Students.

Ceva Animal Health has launched Feliway Help!, a new product formulated to help cats during temporary stressful situations, such as a visit to the vet, having guests to stay or holding a party. 

Feliway Help! comes as a starter pack with a pheromone cartridge which lasts seven days and covers 50m2.

The cartridge is inserted into a diffuser which is plugged into an electrical socket, two days before the stressful event. 

Ceva says that 83% of cat owners saw an improvement in their cat’s signs of stress after using Feliway Help!¹. 

The company adds that the Feliway Help! is particularly useful for clients of those practices which Feliway on the premises, with Feliway helping keep the cat calm at the practice, and Feliway Help! taking over when they return home. 

Sarah Heath BVSc PgCertVE DipECAWBM(BM) CCAB FRCVS, an RCVS and EBVS European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine and Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist, said: “Cats can find the veterinary visit challenging and when they go home they can sometimes find it hard to settle.

"Feliway Help! can be very beneficial in easing the transition between home and the practice. 

"This can be particularly helpful when cats have had a stay in hospital.”

For more information, visit www.feliway.com/uk, call the Ceva Animal Health head office on 01494 781510 or email cevauk@ceva.com.

Reference

1. Data on file – 300 cats after seven days of use

Willows Veterinary Centre is now offering transeptal puncture (TSP), a minimally invasive procedure previously only used in human healthcare, to treat dogs with heart failure. 

The procedure involves introducing a catheter through the jugular, then using fluoroscopy and transoesophageal echocardiography to guide it from the right atrium through to the left side of the heart to relieve abnormal high pressures in the left atrium.

Willows says it is one of only a few centres across Europe equipped to carry out the procedure and that typically, patients who undergo TSP can be discharged from hospital the day after surgery.

Fabio Sarcinella (pictured right), an RCVS and European specialist in small animal cardiology at Willows, said: “Early clinical evaluation of the TSP procedure in humans over the last few years has shown improved quality of life and reduced clinical signs in patients with heart failure.

“The procedure has also been associated with low-risk and a meaningful drop in left atrial pressure of the affected patients.”

Fabio added: “As well as being minimally invasive, the improvement in heart chamber pressures via TSP often allows for a reduction in the dose of water tablets which are used to control the heart failure signs in the lungs.

"Lowering the dose reduces the risk of side effects related to these drugs such as kidney failure.”

Willows says TSP is most commonly used for left atrial decompression in dogs with heart failure and concurrent renal disease or that have advanced heart failure but continue to have symptoms despite optimal medical treatment.

www.willows.uk.net

The RCVS and the Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) have published recommendations on how support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) veterinary students can be improved.

The report is the culmination of the work of a joint RCVS and VSC BAME Student Support Working Group, set up to explore key issues in supporting BAME veterinary students during their studies.

The Working Group made a total of 14 recommendations, which included:

• developing formal support and guidance documents for students going on placement and developing formal discrimination reporting mechanisms for students
• ensuring all staff and students are aware of the new RCVS Accreditation Standards in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in teaching and placement settings;
• providing guidance and training to university staff on handling discrimination complaints;
• providing EDI training to university staff, students and placement providers to improve awareness of equality legislation – including rights and responsibilities – as well as other key concepts in EDI, such as micro-aggressions;
• resource, support and collaborate with BAME student groups and societies to better understand experiences;
• improve the visibility of BAME role models to create a more inclusive and positive educational experience for BAME students;
• provide access to support and advice for BAME students through internal and external mentoring initiatives;
• review and adapt the guidance on religious clothing and belief for use within local settings.

Stephanie-Rae Flicker is a recent Royal Veterinary College (RVC) graduate who co-chaired the Working Group alongside Professor Rob Pettitt from the University of Liverpool. 

She said: “I hope this encourages and supports our veterinary institutions to actively implement change regarding discrimination faced during studies and placements, nurturing role models and helping affected students develop sense of belonging and community during their studies and beyond.

"Many thanks to all that have contributed to the completion of this Report – we hope the recommendations have a lasting impact, and benefit those both already present and yet to enter our profession."

RCVS/VSC BAME Student Support Working Group Report.

Virbac is hosting a webinar at 5pm on Wednesday 17th April, where members of the WSAVA Reproduction Control Committee will present its new reproduction guidelines.

The 1st Reproduction Control Guidelines of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) have just been accepted for publication and are expected to recommend a move away from a blanket neutering policy.

Dr Neil Mottram BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS Technical Manager at Virbac said: "This webinar will help clinicians understand and navigate the latest evidence-based medicine in regards to neutering.

"The panel of world-leading experts on reproduction will present their guidance on medical and surgical neutering and offer delegates the opportunity to interact with a live Q&A section at the end of the event.

https://app.livestorm.co/virbac-france/1st-reproduction-control-guidelines?type=detailed

Dog owners who allow their dog to attack people or assistance dogs will face tougher prison sentences from today.

Changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act will also mean dog owners can now face prosecution if their dog attacks a person in their home or on any private property, except if they attack a trespasser.

The maximum sentences for allowing a dog to attack someone in England or Wales have also been increased as follows:

• Up to 14 years, from two years, for a fatal dog attack.
• Up to five years, from two years, for injury.
• Up to three years if an assistance dog is attacked.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord de Mauley said: "Dog attacks can have horrific consequences for victims and families and it is only right those responsible should face tough punishments.

"Irresponsible dog owners will not only face longer prison sentences, but will also be liable for prosecution regardless of where an attack takes place, even in their own home. This will give protection to those who provide vital services in the community - postal workers, nurses, utility workers - as well as people visiting family and friends."

For the first time, the Dangerous Dogs Act also includes a specific offence to protect assistance dogs from attacks.

Guide Dogs Chief Executive Richard Leaman said: "An attack on a guide dog can be devastating. It can rob someone with sight loss of their independence and freedom, leaving them virtually housebound. We're delighted that irresponsible owners can now be given tougher sentences if their dog attacks an assistance dog.

"With an average of 10 guide dogs being attacked every month, we're looking to the police to fully use their new powers to protect vulnerable people from these sometimes life-changing attacks."

The changes will also see new preventative powers for the police and local authorities so they can act early to stop dog attacks before they occur. These measures include steps the dog owner can take to address their own or their dog's behaviour, for example:

Attending dog training classes.
Repairing fencing to their property to prevent the dog escaping.
Requiring their dog to be muzzled in public.

Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker said: "The coalition government is already making real progress in defending the public from out of control dogs and their irresponsible owners. Today's measures will protect individuals and also assistance dogs, which bring security, confidence and independence to their handlers.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: "The Kennel Club sees these amendments as being extremely positive overall for the welfare of millions of dogs in this country, as well as helping to protect the public and the UK's responsible dog owners. For too long, irresponsible owners who consistently allow, or even encourage, their dogs to act aggressively or behave dangerously have essentially been protected by regulations which tend to penalise the dogs rather than their irresponsible owners. This updated legislation makes it absolutely clear that this is not acceptable and owners must take responsibility for adequately training their dogs.

"We have been very careful during our work with Government to ensure that there are adequate defences for those otherwise responsible dog owners who find themselves in unforeseen circumstances. This includes scenarios such as dogs protecting their homes from intruders or responding to provocation.

"Disappointingly however, the issue of breed specific legislation still remains unaddressed, with the government failing to use the opportunity whilst amending the Dangerous Dogs Act to repeal this ineffective element of the law.

"The Kennel Club believes in the principle of 'deed not breed' and that genetics plays only a small part in the temperament of a dog, with breeding, socialisation and environment having a far greater effect. The majority of dog bite incidents are a result of the irresponsible actions of owners who have either not taken the time and trouble to train their dog correctly, or have in fact trained them to behave aggressively. Consequently any legislation based on genetics that ignores the influence of the dog's keeper on its behaviour is highly likely to be ineffective, as has been proven with the Dangerous Dogs Act."

Researchers at the RVC are calling on veterinary organisations which fund or co-fund research to take part in a study which seeks to inform future funding strategies.

The first phase of research is being conducted this January and February 2023 and will analyse the amount and distribution of UK canine health research funding over the past decade.

Veterinary associations, societies and charities which support canine health research tend to identify funding priorities aligned with their own strategy and scope, taking account of independent peer review from experts in the field of research.

However, the RVC says that as there are many research funders working independently, some important research topics may be overlooked and separately funded projects can inadvertently overlap in their work.  

This study endeavours to investigate these issues and consider how resources are prioritised across different areas of canine research.

Participating stakeholders will be asked their opinions on future research funding and this information will contribute to developing a long-term strategy for not-for-profit UK canine health research.

Thereafter, the aim is to create a pilot consultation process for developing a central prioritisation platform for future collaborative canine research.

The RVC’s says it has already got data and support from several major funders but is keen to maximise the scope of this research, so it is now looking for participation from specialist veterinary societies that fund research, and non-university organisations, such as charities, corporates or independent referral practices which conduct their own in-house canine research. 

Dr Alison Skipper, Postdoctoral Researcher into Canine Research Funding within VetCompass at the RVC said: “We are really keen to hear from as many non-profit organisations involved with canine health research funding as possible. The breadth and depth of this data is vital to ensure that our findings accurately reflect this sector."

For more information about how to get involved, please visit https://rvc.uk.com/canine-research-funding-analysis.