The RCVS has launched an independent service to provide emotional support to veterinary surgeons and nurses who are under investigation by the College after a complaint about their professional conduct.

The ProfCon Investigation Support (PCIS) service is a free, confidential listening and support service funded by the RCVS and its Mind Matters Initiative mental health project but delivered independently by VetSupport.me, an organisation that already offers general support services to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

The service is provided by a group of trained and experienced volunteers who will also be able to offer support to any veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse who is acting as witness.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: “At the RCVS we recognise that being investigated in respect of alleged professional misconduct is a very stressful and trying experience that can knock confidence and, in some cases, lead to distress amongst practitioners.

“While part of the social contract of being members of regulated and protected professions is that, when accusations around professional misconduct are made, they have to be fully investigated by a regulator to determine if there is a case to answer. As a compassionate regulator we want to make sure that individuals going through this process can access the help and support they need.

“This service is staffed by a team of brilliant volunteers who already have experience in  providing help and support on matters of mental health and wellbeing and have received additional training to augment their ability to provide emotional support to vets and nurses who may be under investigation.

“In our Strategic Plan for 2020-24, one of our key ambitions is to strengthen our credentials as a compassionate regulator that acts with empathy and understanding. The ProfCon Investigation Support Service is an important step in fulfilling this ambition, and I hope that it can deliver help to the people that need it.”

David McKeown, from VetSupport, added: “Whether via a phone call, an email conversation, or a meet-up over Zoom, our team of trained volunteers, all of whom are registered vets or vet nurses themselves, will support service users through the duration of an RCVS investigation.

“Through their support we will aim to help individuals going through this process maintain good mental health and wellbeing and strive to prevent more serious issues arising. The service is completely confidential and no conversations that individuals have with our volunteers will ever be shared with anyone else, including the RCVS. Nothing will be fed back to the College nor be used as part of the investigation process. It is also completely within the individual’s control as to how much information is shared with the VetSupport volunteer. There is no obligation to disclose any information other than perhaps a first name.

“We look forward to working with the RCVS to provide this very important service. Please don’t hesitate to contact us on info@vetsupport.me or visit www.vetsupport.me to find out more about the service and meet our team of supporters.”

A new study has found that the UK domestic cat and dog population is larger than previously reported by industry figures. Cats and dogs are amongst the most popular pets in the UK but it has been over 20 years since domestic cat and dog population estimates in the UK have been published in scientific peer-reviewed journals.

The paper published in the Veterinary Record by Dr Jane Murray in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at Bristol University and colleagues, aimed to estimate the number of UK domestic cats and dogs and identify the characteristics of their owners. The figures are also useful to the animal health and welfare professions, including rescue charities, which can use these and future estimates to assess population changes.

In 2007, a telephone survey of households randomly selected from the electoral roll revealed that cats and dogs were owned by 26 per cent and 31 per cent of households, respectively. The number of owned cats and dogs were predicted by two variables: the number of people in the household and the geographical location (London/rest of UK) of the household. UK census information and mid-year population estimates of the number of households and the average household size in 2006 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were used to estimate that UK households owned approximately 10.3 million cats and 10.5 million dogs in 2006.

Dr Murray said: "Our 95% confidence intervals were 9.4-11.3 million cats and 9.6-11.4 million dogs".

This compares with PFMA estimates of 7.2 million cats and 7.3 million dogs in 2007, and 8 million cats and 8 million dogs in 2009.

Characteristics associated with cat and dog ownership were also identified. Cats were more likely to be owned by; households with gardens, semi-urban/rural households, households with someone qualified to degree level, respondents who were female and respondents who were aged less than 65 years. Cats were less likely to be owned by households with one or more dogs.

The likelihood of dog ownership increased as the household size increased. Dogs were more likely to be owned by households with gardens, rural households and less likely to be owned by households with someone educated to degree level and households with cats or children aged less than 11 years.

Female respondents and those aged less than 55 years were more likely to report dog ownership than other respondents. Dogs were less likely to be owned by households with one or more cats.    

Dr. Murray added: "The study has shown many common factors relating to cat and dog ownership, such as a garden and rural location, but it has also identified some notable differences.  

"In particular, the difference in the level of education achieved by a household owning cats and dogs. The reason for this association is unclear.  It is unlikely to be related to household income as this variable was not shown to be significant but it could be related to household members with longer working hours having less time available to care for a dog.

"Past reports have suggested that the number of pet cats exceeds the number of pet dogs in the UK. However, results from our study suggest that there are similar numbers of pet cats and dogs."

The researchers recommend the study is repeated in 2011, (the year of the next scheduled UK census), as any increase or decrease in population numbers will enable pet ownership trends to be monitored.

Kruuse has launched a range of seven specialized sterile surgical disposable drapes and gowns developed for the surgery team working in equine clinics or hospitals.

The company says its new surgical sets have been designed so they include a comprehensive set of sterile drapes, towels, instrument covers and adhesive tapes needed to perform particular procedures:

• EQUIVET Laparoscopy Set
• EQUIVET Laparotomy Set
• EQUIVET Arthroscopy Set
• EQUIVET Extremity Set
• EQUIVET Bilateral Extremity Set
• KRUUSE Camera Drape
• EQUIVET Colic Gowns compliments the new series. Available in 4 sizes (M, L, XL, and XXL)

Andrew Groom, Managing Director, Kruuse UK Ltd. said: "This exciting new range of products increase the Kruuse's equine product portfolio and develop further our commitment to provide specialist species available products to support the veterinary practitioner."

The VET Festival has announced it will be back next year at Loseley Park, near Guildford on the 20th and 21st May. 

The 2022 programme will include 17 education streams, covering the veterinary and nursing care of companion animals, together with a stream covering veterinary wellness, leadership and management-related topics.

Speakers include veterinary experts and leaders from around the world, and the expected 2,000+ delegates will be able to collect 14 hours of CPD over the two days.

The VET Festival will also offer a Wellness Hub offering things like yoga, movement and mindfulness sessions alongside the lectures. 

There'll be a diverse commercial exhibition, with more than 60 leading veterinary suppliers, and all delegates will also have free admission to the VETFest Live Party Night. 

Noel Fitzpatrick, Clinical Chair at Fitzpatrick Referrals, who launched VET Festival in 2015, said: “The last 18 months have been tough for everyone but particularly difficult for veterinary professionals, many of whom were already suffering with challenges to their well-being and mental health because of the pressures of their work.

"VET Festival is an oasis of time during which they can relax and rejuvenate themselves; experiencing continuing professional development that is uplifting and inclusive and enjoying social activities and companionship that will replenish their souls.”

Tickets for VET Festival can be bought here: https://www.vetfestival.co.uk/delegate-info/ticket-information 

Zoetis has announced that Vetscan Imagyst, its multi-purpose diagnostic tool, is getting 'AI Masses', a new capability which uses AI to analyse potentially neoplastic cells in lymph node and subcutaneous lesions.

The company says AI Masses will allow veterinary professionals to analyse lesions suggestive of cancer in-clinic and with a fast turnaround.

The AI technology, which has been trained by human clinical pathologists, should enable individualised treatment outcomes earlier for more cases.

Zoetis says AI Masses only needs a single round of sample preparation and the results can, at additional cost, be supplemented with an expert review from a network of specialists through Zoetis’ Virtual Laboratory.

Dr. Richard Goldstein, DVM, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, Global Chief Medical Officer at Zoetis said: “Waiting for results can be stressful for pet owners – even more so when it involves a cancer screening.

"Our research shows that up to 75% of pet owners find abnormal results highly stressful.¹

"AI Masses is yet another point-of-care capability to deliver results in-clinic, further exemplifies Zoetis’ purpose to advance care for animals, shortening anxious wait times to allow for faster care decisions that help provide the best possible outcome.”

Pre-orders will be announced for US customers in Q2 2025.

VetSurgeon.org understands AI Masses will be coming to the UK some time in 2025.

https://www.zoetisdiagnostics.com 

Reference

1. StayWell Health Screening Report prepared for Zoetis, 2022

A survey of veterinary professionals conducted by the Veterinary Management Group and the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons has concluded that veterinary leaders, chiefly vets and practice managers, lack the man management skills needed to improve staff motivation and retention. 

330 people who took part in the survey were presented with a list of management and leadership skills. Those of the respondents who are leaders were asked to rate their confidence in applying the skills, whilst those in non-management positions were asked to rate their line manager's skills. Both sets of respondents were also asked to place the skills in priority order.

The management skills were: Setting clear tasks and objectives. Providing clear roles and responsibilities. Communicating clearly and effectively. Monitoring and evaluating. Planning and organising. Effectively managing difficult situations.

The leadership skills were: Providing rationale and explaining why. Regularly providing and seeking feedback. Building trust. Providing guidance and training. Creating development plans and opportunities.

Interestingly, the survey found a close correlation between how the leaders and the employees prioritise these things, with management skills being perceived as more important overall than leadership skills. 

Communicating clearly and effectively was deemed the most important skill of all (ranked 9 out of 10 by both groups). Meanwhile, creating development plans and opportunities for others was prioritised the least (ranked 3.7/10).

But hang on a moment. If both the managers and the employees agree that creating development plans and opportunities is the least important thing, then surely it is? In other words, if employees say that creating development plans is unimportant, then surely it is unimportant, and if leaders think the same, they would appear to be right.

Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps employees don't know what's good for them, and leaders don't know what employees don't know what is good for them. If you take my point. 

Veterinary leaders were then asked to rate their confidence in applying the listed leadership and management skills. The skills which elicited the largest number of 'not confident' responses were: monitoring and evaluating performance, regularly providing and seeking feedback, and creating development plans and opportunities for others.

The skills with which leaders were most confident were: communicating clearly and effectively, building trust, and providing rationale and explaining why. 

Again, there was a close correlation between prioritisation of these skills and confidence levels. 

VMG Vice President Richard Casey said: “The survey has helped us to identify priorities for learning and development both at our 2020 Congress and during our joint CPD programme next year.  It is striking that the very skills required to motivate colleagues to remain in veterinary medicine and to support them in doing so are the ones which so many veterinary leaders admit that they lack confidence. Given the challenges the profession faces, it is also concerning that they appear to be undervalued both by veterinary leaders and the team members who report to them.

"Delegates to SPVS-VMG Congress and our other 2020 CPD events will benefit from a wealth of evidence-based lectures from experts on all aspects of veterinary leadership and management, enabling them to improve their own performance and contribute to an overall raising of standards of leadership and management across the veterinary sector." 

Peter Brown, Senior Vice-President of SPVS, said: "We know that veterinary students receive an excellent clinical training and, in recent years, universities have started to include more non-clinical skills on the curriculum. However, these results suggest that when professionals move into more senior roles, be it leading a team or running their own practice, they find they still need to acquire new skills. SPVS’ role has always been to equip veterinary professionals to be effective leaders and SPVS-VMG congress is an excellent opportunity to both hear inspiring speakers and meet and learn from fellow leaders within the profession."

The VMG-SPVS 2020 joint Congress takes place from 23-25 January at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, and will feature dedicated streams on effective leadership, management mastery, practice profitability, preparing for a digital future and sustainability in practice.

Details on the VMG-SPVS 2020 CPD Programme can be found here: https://spvs-vmg-events.co.uk/cpd-events/ 

The Veterinary Surgery in Lowestoft is launching a radioactive iodine therapy service for veterinary practices in the East of England to refer hyperthyroid cats from 5th June.

The service will be run by Dr Eloise Quince BVetMed CertAVP(SAM-F) PgCertVPS MANZCVS MRCVS and Dr Kate Allgood BVetMed CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS.

The practice says radioactive iodine therapy is the treatment of choice for hyperthyroid cats as it provides a permanent cure in up to 95% of cases.

It is administered by an iodine injection under the skin in a specialised unit by a trained vet and nurse. 

The practice says a benefit of RI is that it treats ‘ectopic tissue’ that may be present outside of the thyroid gland, for example in the chest, which is not treated by surgical methods of thyroid removal.

Normal thyroid tissue is also spared, so that there is normal thyroid function post-treatment.

Though some blood tests need to be taken post-treatment, there is no need for ongoing blood samples and the monitoring of the thyroid function once successful treatment has occurred.

Elissa Norman, Clinical Director, who initially developed the idea for the iodine unit said: “The iodine unit first started as a scribble on a piece of paper and a dream of our team back in 2017 and it has taken a huge amount of dedication and effort from a large team of people to get to the point of opening in 2023.

"Radioactive iodine offers a lifetime cure for our hyperthyroid cats and we are delighted to be able to bring this service to the cats of East Anglia.”

To refer a cat patient, vets should email iodine@veterinary-hospital.co.uk.

The RSPCA has published the results of a survey which found that teachers in the UK are strongly in support of teaching animal welfare in the classroom, with 93% of respondents stating they would teach animal welfare in the classroom if they had the time.

95% also said that they believe that teaching children about animal welfare would help make them more compassionate and socially aware.

According to the survey of almost 800 teachers across England and Wales, 83% felt animal welfare should be part of the national curriculum. However, some had concerns about how it would be integrated into existing frameworks, and whether it would mean more demands on already overworked teachers.

RSPCA formal education manager Claire Morris said: "We felt it is easy to sit on the sidelines and state that animal welfare should be part of the curriculum, but it is far more practical and helpful to show that it can be done."

To address these concerns, the RSPCA says it created over 90 free lesson plans for teachers, which are linked to the English and Welsh Curricula. Many of the RSPCA's lesson plans overlap in subject areas including Science, Citizenship, Literacy and Numeracy, as well as provide springboards for assemblies and student councils.

Claire added: "We urge the government to consider integrating animal welfare into our children's education as a matter of urgency - as skills such as empathy, compassion and social consciousness have value as a child goes through the education system as well as when they enter adulthood and the world of work."

The RSPCA says this is particularly important because only 70% of respondents knew what the five animal welfare needs - which are central to the Animal Welfare Act - are. 

As well as looking at the ethical side of animal welfare, 92% of teachers also expressed a strong preference for lessons specifically on animals' role in food and clothing production. It was felt that with young people better connected than ever before, they have an increasing awareness of social issues and expect higher ethical standards from companies.

The University of Nottingham is preparing to welcome vet students back for face-to-face teaching in July.

The university says it has implemented a range of health and safety measures to meet Government guidelines and allow for the controlled return of 150 first-year undergraduate students to its Sutton Bonington campus. 

Since the latest cohort joined the university at the height of the UK lockdown, the school has delivered a programme of technology-assisted Fresher’s Week and teaching activities.

However, the return of the April cohort will enable face-to-face teaching that cannot be delivered remotely, specifically essential animal handling and health and safety skills required before students can embark on the work experience element of their course.

The practical sessions will form part of a blended approach to learning, with other lectures and tutorial support continuing to be delivered remotely to reduce the number of students in teaching buildings at any one time.

Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science Professor Gary England said: “We have missed being on campus with our students tremendously during the coronavirus lockdown and we are excited to be welcoming this cohort to Sutton Bonington in July.

“The health and safety of our students and staff has remained our top priority and has been at the heart of our planning process. Colleagues from across the university have been working intensively on the intricate detail required to ensure that adequate social distancing and hygiene measures are in place to allow this first step in a return to campus.”

Among the measures which have been introduced are:

• A new one-way system and increased signage in the teaching buildings to control the flow of pedestrians and ensure adequate social distancing.
• Availability of hand sanitiser at building entrances and enhanced cleaning in both teaching buildings and accommodation to ensure a rigorous standard of hygiene.
• Safety screens at till points in the shop and coffee shop.
• Offering a two-hour arrival slot for students, online registration and asking them to arrive with only one other person to assist with moving in to reduce the numbers of people on campus.
• Accommodating the students on campus in cluster flats treated as a household and keeping students in ‘bubbles’ for their teaching sessions to avoid exposure to larger groups of people.

The university says the return of its vet school cohort and the re-starting of face-to face-education at University of Nottingham Ningbo China at the end of April, where 5,000 students are now back on campus, will form the blueprint for the return of the majority of students to its UK campuses when the new academic term begins on 21 September.

Norfolk commercial poultry and gamebird vet Henry Lamb has been named the BVA Young Vet of the Year 2023.

Henry won the title in recognition of his work tackling bird flu, as the outbreak of this devastating disease spread across the country this summer.

A total of 140 nominations were received for this year’s Zoetis-sponsored award, which celebrates vets who have made a significant impact in the first stages of their professional career.

The judging panel comprised BVA President Anna Judson, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) President Sue Paterson, National Veterinary Lead Ruminant and Equine at Zoetis UK Ally Ward, and last year’s award winner vet Hannah Hunt.

In addition to his work tackling bird flu, the judges also acknowledged Henry’s role in encouraging other young vets to join the poultry industry.

After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2018, he began working at Crowshall Veterinary Services, Norfolk, providing dedicated consultancy and Official Veterinarian (OV) provision to the poultry/gamebird industry across Great Britain and internationally.

This has seen him working through the recent bird flu outbreaks, holding multiple OV panels, and preparing for export changes associated with Brexit.

Henry is also a mental health first aider and trustee of regional rural mental health charity You Are Not Alone (YANA), deputy rotation lead for the new RVC poultry rotation, which takes its first students in 2024, and is also co-lead of his practice green group through which he has steered his practice to the top Green accreditation for sustainability with Investors in the Environment.

In his role as external lecturer for the RVC, Henry provides opportunities to engage with avian population medicine for new members of the profession.

Henry said: “To be named BVA Young Vet of the Year is a huge honour and it means all the more having heard about the outstanding work, dedication and skills of the other two finalists.

I’m delighted that after a challenging few years the poultry sector has been highlighted tonight, as all those involved have worked tirelessly to overcome the largest animal health outbreak the UK has experienced in recent times - I hope that winning this award will encourage more young vets to consider joining us in the poultry sector.

"It’s extremely rewarding work.”

Henry was shortlisted alongside vet Rebecca Hampson, who co-founded animal welfare charity Veterinary Education Malawi, and equine vet Camilla Church, who set up her own practice, Perth Equine Vets.

BVA President Anna Judson said: “The standard of nominations this year was outstanding. It sounds cliché, but we really did have our work cut out when choosing the finalists.”

Photo: Young Vet of the Year Henry Lamb with finalists Rebecca Hampson, BVA President Anna Judson and Camilla Church.jpg

The Government has announced plans to ban the use of electric shock training collars in England.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: "We are a nation of animal lovers, and the use of these punitive devices can cause harm and suffering, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to our pets.

"Organisations and MPs have campaigned against the use of shock collars passionately and we are listening to their concerns.

"We are now proposing to ban the use of electric shock collars to improve the welfare of animals."

Defra has launched a consultation on the proposals, which you can take part in here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/ban-on-electronic-training-collars-cats-and-dogs/ 

BVA President John Fishwick said: "We welcome the Government’s launch of a consultation on banning the use of shock collars in England and would like to see it result in an effective ban soon.

"Electronic training devices such as shock collars have been proven to cause pain and unnecessary suffering, and we know from leading veterinary behaviourists that using fear as a training tool is less effective than positive training methods, such as encouragement or rewards, and can take a toll on an animal’s overall welfare.

"We were in Westminster last week along with several animal welfare charities to highlight the issue and call upon Members of Parliament to back a ban on the use of shock collars. We were pleased to see several MPs pledge their support."

BVA will continue to push for an outright ban on the sale and import of shock collars across the UK. 

Photo: Electric shock collar / Petrovskii Ian / Shuterstock

Vetlab Supplies Ltd has launched Fastest IgG Equine, a new field test kit for Failure of Passive Transfer (FTP) in neonatal foals.

The kit uses an indirect semi-quantitative IgG antibody assay which provides an easy-to-read colour change which clearly distinguishes normal IgG levels (>8mg/ml; colourless), partial FPT (4-8mg/ml; pink) and levels generally considered diagnostic of complete FPT (<4mg/ml; purple).

Vetlabs says the kit has a proven sensitivity and specificity of 97.4% and 93.6% respectively, and responds equally well with anticoagulant whole blood, serum or plasma. And with no additional equipment or refrigerated storage required, it is a true field test. 

Mike Fleming, CEO of Vetlab Supplies Ltd said: "It’s not often you get to launch an equine diagnostic that’s genuinely life saving. With Fastest IgG Equine, vets can now give a clear-cut Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) diagnosis at farms, stables or equestrian centres – and all in just 10 minutes."

According to the company, as many as 1 in 5 new-born foals can suffer some degree of IgG FPT. Foals with no antibody protection, due to complete FTP, have an estimated 75% chance of contracting debilitating or life-threatening infection. Even foals with some protection following partial FPT have only a 50% chance of resisting invaders such as Anaplasma, Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

The new-born foal’s absorption of maternal antibodies is most efficient in the first 6 to 8 hours of life, effectively ceasing after 24 to 36 hours. Veterinary surgeons and managers of equestrian facilities have only this narrow window to recognise FPT and act to save a valuable new-born from life threatening infection.

Mike added: "With Fastest Equine as part of their field kit, equine vets are equipped to diagnose and treat antibody deficient foals with life-saving colostrum, colsotrum formula substitute, or administer oral or intravenous IgG, within that critical first 24 hours."

Following concerns about the supply of raw materials used to make the local anaesthetic, procaine hydrochloride, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate has confirmed that Pronestesic is currently available from suppliers, with normal UK availability of other procaine hydrochloride products expected in May 2019.

Till then, veterinary surgeons are advised to make due diligent attempts to source a UK-authorised product before considering importing an alternative medicine.

Procaine hydrochloride is used in farm animal medicine in particular, to provide local and regional anaesthesia for a range of procedures including calving, lambing, caesarean operations, castration and dehorning of cattle, with demand particularly high in the spring.

Simon Doherty, BVA President, said: "We’re pleased that VMD has issued some clarification to answer our concerns over procaine hydrochloride shortages. BVA had heard from some veterinary practices that they were only able to get hold of a fraction of what they needed, which would have resulted in a very acute impact on farm animal welfare. Although we had moved to get assurances sooner, we appreciate that there are formal routes for reporting and that the announcement of any shortage must be handled sensitively to avoid exacerbating the problem.

"VMD’s clarification is especially timely as this is a period of peak seasonal demand for these products. We will keep our members closely informed of any further developments."