Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food, Farming and Animal Health has announced seven new members to the Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC).

The VRC’s role is to advise the Chief Executives of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on the formulation of the residues surveillance programmes and on the significance of the results in terms of consumer safety.

The seven new members who have been appointed to serve on the VRC from January 2009 until December 2012 are:

• Jon Averns (Local Authority) is currently employed as Port Health Services Director by the City of London Corporation in its role as the London Port Health Authority.
• Tim Brigstocke (Agriculture Industry) runs a livestock consultancy business. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF).
• Gill Clare (Food Chemical Safety/Risk Assessment) is a genetic toxicologist, speciality cytogenetics, with a PhD gained in a hospital radiotherapy department.
• Andrew Grant (Fish Farming) is a veterinary graduate (Cambridge 1980). He worked in mixed, mainly agricultural practice for eight years.
• Declan O’Rourke (Pharmaceutical Industry), is a veterinary surgeon and works as an independent consultant in pharmacovigilance and livestock medicine.
• David Ralph (Feed Industry) comes from an agricultural background and has experience of a range of livestock production systems.
• Michael Roberts (Food Industry) has extensive experience in senior science management in the Research Councils and Defra dealing with a range of issues relating to the food chain and environmental objectives.

The appointments were undertaken in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Idexx Laboratories has announced the addition of pradofloxacin (Veraflox, Bayer Animal Health) to the list of antibiotics that it tests samples sent for culture and sensitivity testing against.

The company says that in the past, only a small percentage of the 350-400 samples it processes every day included a specific request from veterinary surgeons to include sensitivity testing to pradofloxacin. The now-routine testing for pradofloxacin is a positive move toward better clinical outcomes in difficult cases, including specific indications such as wound infections, superficial and deep pyoderma, and in cases with infections resistant to other antibiotics.

Idexx says that as the only next generation fluoroquinolone, pradofloxacin has been shown to be the least likely veterinary fluoroquinolone to select for resistance¹, giving vets a lower risk option, when they decide to use an antibiotic from this class.

Matt Jones, Microbiology Manager at Idexx Laboratories said: 'Removing the need to specifically request samples to be tested for sensitivity to pradofloxacin has streamlined the culture and sensitivity testing process for vets and will make it easier for them to adhere to good practice in antibiotic prescription.

"This is important, as antimicrobial resistance is an area of deep international concern. Idexx are pleased to be helping vets identify those cases for which pradofloxacin may be effective and believe that, where indicated, it will lead to improved compliance and excellent clinical outcomes with the added benefit of reducing the likelihood of selecting for resistance, when compared to older generation fluoroquinolones."

The company says this move is in line with BSAVA's PROTECT initiative, which stresses the importance of culture and sensitivity, especially when prescribing antibiotics of the fluoroquinlone class.

Reference   

1. Wetzstein, HG. Comparative mutant prevention concentrations of pradofloxacin and other veterinary fluoroquinolones indicate differing potentials in preventing selection of resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005; 49(10): 4166-4173

Elanco, the maker of Advocate, has published a set of free online CPD modules to help veterinary surgeons communicate important information (including treatment and prevention strategies) about lungworm.

The aim of the ‘Advocates of Knowledge’ CPD lungworm modules is to help vets assess the lungworm risk in their area, recommend prevention and treatment regimes and also to communicate effectively with clients as the UK emerges from lockdown.

In the first module, Dr Jenny Helm, European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Senior Veterinary Clinician at the University of Glasgow, tackles questions about lungworm post lockdown, including whether or not pets are at greater risk as a result of changes in their owners' behaviour caused by the pandemic.

The second module, from Dr Simon Tappin, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, and Head of Medicine at Dick White Referrals (pictured right), will take the form of an interactive case-based discussion on lungworm. He will use clinical cases to talk through presenting signs, and how to approach investigation of these cases, as well as looking at treatment and prevention strategies.

Vicky McAlister, Senior Brand Manager for Advocate, said: “During lockdown, dog owners have modified their behaviour (including spending more time outdoors with their dogs), and this may have affected the risk of dogs becoming infected with lungworm. So we’re very pleased that, together with our experts, we’re launching informative, engaging and relevant CPD lungworm modules for vets, to help provide them with the information needed, and importantly to encourage communication with dog owners regarding this important subject matter”.

You can sign up for the CPD modules here - https://advocatesofknowledge.vettimes.co.uk.

Dr Ranjit 'Ranj' Singh has been confirmed as a keynote speaker for BSAVA Virtual Congress, 25-27 March 2021.  

The NHS doctor, television presenter, author and columnist will be sharing his insights on the mental health challenges of working within a caring profession under the constraints of the pandemic.

Dr Ranj is the second keynote speaker to be confirmed, the first being Jenny Campbell and the third to be revealed next month. They will be joining a line-up of more than 100 UK and International contributors during the three days of the event.

Dr Ranj is familiar with the intense pressure that many veterinary professionals are facing when juggling working in a sometimes emotionally stressful environment with that of home life. When the pandemic started Dr Ranj took a step back from media work to focus on supporting the NHS in his role as a paediatric emergency medicine specialist. He said: "Maintaining wellbeing is all about doing the basics right.

“We are in a pandemic and people are under intense pressure - from work, from home life, from a health perspective and so much more. So, despite everything going on around you, make sure you have a routine every day.

"Get out and about safely.  Build some physical activity into your schedule. Nourish your body with everything it needs, and make sure you allow yourself some treats too! Take a moment for yourself every day to do something that makes you feel good.

"Take time to connect with others safely and check in on the vulnerable too. Celebrate the little victories and achievements that you have. And at the end of the day, make sure you look after your sleep because that's when your brain and body recover from the stresses of everyday. Everything else we do is a bonus on top of those basics. And if you are struggling, make sure you reach out for help and speak to someone."

BSAVA President Ian Ramsey said: "We are delighted to welcome Dr Ranj as one of our three keynote speakers this year. One of the many advantages of Congress evolving into a virtual event for 2021 is that we can be more flexible and creative with our sessions and how we fulfil the needs and expectations of every member of the practice, from clinical, interactive, wellbeing and social perspectives. Our three keynote presentations are eagerly anticipated.”

Prices for BSAVA Virtual Congress start at £99 +VAT for members. To register visit https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2021/en/page/home

Liz Leece, a European and RCVS Specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia at Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Yorkshire, is championing a new approach to post-operative pain management.

The traditional approach is to use anatomical knowledge to inject pain relief in the area of the nerves to be blocked.

Liz is leading a move away from this approach to a more precise method which uses ultrasound guidance to visualise the nerves, allowing the local anaesthetic to be placed directly around the nerve itself.

For some nerve blocks, it is possible to block just the sensory branches of nerves, which means pets can walk better immediately after surgery while not feeling any pain.

Liz, a past president of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists, said: “Local analgesia is now at the forefront of our post-operative care and reliably improves the quality of a pet’s recovery and reduces the need for opioid pain relief, which can cause side effects.

“We’re using the latest techniques to deliver the nerve-blocking anaesthetics to exactly where they’re needed.

“For many of the nerve blocks, the use of ultrasound guidance allows more precise delivery and a complete blockade of the sensory nerves, which is why, here at Paragon, we’ve invested in state-of-the art ultrasound machine designed specifically for superficial and deep nerve blocks.

“This means we can provide more effective immediate post-operative analgesia for our patients and minimise the need for further pain killers.

“The nerves can be directly visualised and local anaesthetic directly placed around the nerve bundles.”

Liz is keen to highlight the advantages of the increased use of local anaesthesia in the treatment of animals. She added: “We’re hoping we’ll soon be able to publish some clinical research on the use of some of the blocking techniques used to demonstrate our clinical impression of their effectiveness in patient management.”

The RCVS ViVet innovation project is hosting a series of Zoom meetings which vets are being encouraged to come and join, to reflect on the changes that have taken place in the delivery of veterinary services in the past few years and think about the improvements and innovation that have taken place.

The first meeting takes place on Thursday 27th May from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. It will look at how veterinary practices have had to work differently and adapt to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Chris Tufnell, RCVS Council Member and Innovation Lead (pictured right), will be chairing the session. He said: “In the past 15 months we have been in innovation overdrive, adapting at a unprecedented pace to transform how we work, serve our clients and patients, and continue to function as veterinary businesses in less-than-ideal circumstances.

"This event is an opportunity to take a step back, look at what has happened, how we have changed and consider what aspects of these changes we might carry over when we return to near normal working conditions.

"For those who join us, we would like to know what kind of innovation solutions you and your colleagues have developed, and share your stories and ideas to help and inspire others.”

Joining Chris on the panel will be a selection of veterinary professionals who will share their own experience of how they have had to adapt the way they work during the pandemic. Participants include Anita Patel, an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology, who runs her own dermatology referral service, and Richard Artingstall, Clinical Director of Vale Referrals in Gloucestershire.

The event, which will feature short presentations followed by a reflective discussion, is free to attend and can be signed up to via its Eventbrite page at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/152857028487

More meetings are planned for later in the year: 

• Tuesday 20 July: Implementing new technology
• Wednesday 8 September: Innovative technology and learning new skills

If you have any questions about the sessions or would like to take part as a speaker, email the ViVet Manager, Sophie Rogers on s.rogers@rcvs.org.uk or info@vivet.org.uk

Orthopaedic surgeon Andy Moores has been certified to perform third-generation TATE elbow replacement procedures.

Andy Moores said: "Elbow replacement surgery, despite advancements in both the implant and technique, remains a complex procedure with a demanding rehabilitation process.

"However, for the right candidates, elbow replacement offers the potential for significant improvement in joint function and pain relief, transforming the lives of dogs that would otherwise suffer from permanent discomfort."

The third generation TATE elbow has had a complete redesign to overcome some of the issues associated with the first and second generation models, and the Iowa State system which preceded them.

There are around 15 surgeons qualified to perform the procedure in the world, three in the UK, and Andy is the only one in the South East.

Andy added: "The advancements in the TATE Elbow system represent a significant leap forward in veterinary orthopaedic surgery.

"End-stage elbow osteoarthritis is a horrible condition which can leave dogs in chronic pain and with no good treatment options.

"Being certified to perform third-generation TATE elbow replacements allows us to offer our patients the most advanced treatment options available, giving them the best chance for a pain-free, functional life."

www.mooresortho.com
info@mooresortho.com

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall made her first visit to the RVC's Camden campus today, in her role as patron of the College's charity, the Animal Care Trust.

The Duchess became Patron of the Animal Care Trust in 2005, and was visiting to see how funds raised by the charity help to provide cutting edge equipment for the College's hospitals, provide assistance to the College's research teams and support the commitment to excellence in veterinary education.

During the tour of the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital (BSAH), the Duchess saw how donations from the ACT have helped to purchase laparascopic surgical equipment enabling the hospital to provide key-hole surgery for routine neutering procedures, bringing welfare benefits to the animals and allowing students to develop their first-day skills needed in veterinary practice.

The Duchess also met the specialist exotics team that forms part of a newly launched Small Animals Referral Service based at the BSAH and which receives funding from the ACT. 

Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC, said: "The generous donations to the ACT are invaluable in helping us to deliver the best possible care to our patients and world-leading veterinary education to our students. We were delighted to welcome The Duchess of Cornwall to our teaching hospital in Camden so that she could see just how much of an impact these donations have on the work that we do."

As well as spending time in the hospital the tour also took in the RVC's anatomy museum where the Head of Anatomy Service at the College, Andrew Crook MBE, demonstrated how an investment from the ACT in plastination facilities is helping the College to preserve valuable anatomical samples in a form that can be handled by students without fear of decomposition.

The visit finished with a reception, where supporters and donors of the Trust, as well as some of the College's students had the chance to meet the Duchess.

ezyVet, a maker of veterinary practice management solutions, says it will donate £1 to Vetlife for every person that visits its stand (D70) at the London Vet Show, on the 17th and 18th November 2022.

Whilst you're there, the company will doubtless use the opportunity to bend your ear about how its technology can save time, drive revenue, and strengthen patient care.

Still, all in a good cause, and the company says it expects to be making a significant donation towards supporting members of the veterinary community who are experiencing financial and mental health challenges.

ezyVet Chief Growth Officer Pete Brown said: ““As innovators in the veterinary software space, we’re passionate about bettering the lives of veterinary professionals and we recognise the critical work Vetlife is doing to support the hard-working veterinary community.

"We’re going to be donating £1 to Vetlife for every person that visits the ezyVet booth at the London Vet Show, so we encourage everyone to come down and help us support this very worthwhile cause.”

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 30^th September 2011.

For more information, visit: www.bcftechnology.com

With the veterinary sector gearing up to face the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, Improve International has announced that this year's Official Veterinarian Conference will lead on 'Safeguarding international trade through disease control and surveillance', with workshops on exports being a key feature of the event.

The theme of Congress has been chosen to reflect the increasing importance of OVs in safeguarding the UK’s international trade and in protecting human health through disease surveillance and control.

Keynote speakers at this year’s event, which is organised association with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), include Professor Nigel Gibbens CBE, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer; Dr Ryan Waters from The Pirbright Institute in Surrey and Dr Ian Wright, Head of ESCCAP UK & Guideline Director for ESCCAP Europe. It takes place at Alexandra House in Swindon on 21-22 September 2017.  

Professor Gibbens said: "UK vets play a range of critical roles, protecting our country from endemic and exotic diseases, leading the frontline response to global challenges, such as antibiotic resistance, and safeguarding our animals to ensure our welfare standards remain the best in the world.

"I look forward to joining our OVs to celebrate this essential work and to explore the themes of this year’s conference - disease control and surveillance - which recognise the importance of vets to international trade and their contribution to our thriving food and farming industry."

David Babington MRCVS, Managing Director of Improve International, added: "This year’s OV Conference will, as usual, feature dedicated lecture streams aimed at large animal, small animal and equine practitioners. We hope the new workshops on the more specialist Official Controls Qualifications (Veterinarian), including those relating to the export of poultry (OCQ(V) AX); the export of food and animal by-products (OCQ(V) PX) and the export of germinal products (OCQ(V) GX), will prove a useful addition to our delegates."

For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has reprimanded Anglesey-based Louise Marie Henry MRCVS for writing a letter on behalf of a client that dishonestly certified incorrect details surrounding the death of a ewe.

Dr Henry faced one charge, that in January 2020 she wrote and/or signed an undated letter confirming that a ewe had died in transit to the surgery due to dystocia and peri-parturient stress, when in fact she had euthanised the animal at the veterinary practice the day before. The letter, which was addressed 'To whom it may concern’, was on practice letterheaded paper and signed "Louise Henry MRCVS". 

The second part of the charge outlined that her conduct concerning the letter was dishonest.

The Committee heard that the ewe was lambing and brought to the practice by a client. Dr Henry was on-call at the time and advised a Caesarean section. The client agreed and Dr Henry delivered two live lambs and one dead lamb.

Dr Henry was concerned about the welfare of the ewe post-surgery because of the risk of peritonitis and advised that the ewe should be euthanised.

The client agreed to the ewe being euthanised and then asked Dr Henry to write a letter in which it was stated that the ewe had died in transit on route to the practice. Dr Henry agreed to write the letter in which she falsely certified that the ewe had died in transit. 

The letter came to light when the practice director found it in an insurance file. The practice arranged an investigatory meeting with Dr Henry where she admitted that writing the letter was an error of judgement. When asked about her conduct, Dr Henry explained that the client had subsequently been dissatisfied with the letter she had written and asked her to change it. She refused to amend the letter and told him that it was wrong of her to have written it in the first place and that she regretted having done so.

Dr Henry told the Committee that she valued integrity very highly and that she was deeply ashamed that she had been prepared to write the dishonest letter.

The Committee heard several testimonials from people who had worked with or studied alongside Dr Henry, who all attested to her skill as a veterinary surgeon and that they had no concerns about her integrity and honesty. She self-reported her actions from January to the RCVS and from the outset admitted the facts of the charge. During the hearing, Dr Henry submitted that her action of dishonest false certification amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.

Dr Martin Whiting, chairing the Committee, and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee considered that, in this case, the aggravating features were limited and the mitigating factors extensive. There was no premeditated dishonesty or financial gain involved, there was no actual harm or risk of harm to an animal or human and this was a single incident in an otherwise unblemished 13-year career. The Committee found that the shame and remorse expressed by Dr Henry were entirely genuine. Her conduct on this occasion was entirely untypical of her practise.

“After careful consideration, the Committee concluded that the substantial mitigating features permitted it to take the somewhat unusual course of issuing a reprimand in a case involving dishonesty. In taking this course, the Committee attached significant weight not only to the isolated nature of the event but also to the genuine insight shown by Dr Henry and the lasting impact this event has had upon her. In the Committee’s assessment, a reasonable and fully informed member of the public would, in this particular case, regard a reprimand as a sanction which protected the public interest in the profession and upheld its standards.”

The full documentation for the hearing can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary

Purina is hosting two free one-hour webinars on feline renal care for veterinary surgeons on the 7th and 28th June at 7pm (British Summer Time)

The webinars will provide practical information to help manage renal cases, focusing on the importance of early diagnosis.

Led by feline medicine experts, Dr Tommaso Furlanello PhD ECVCP Dip and Dr Sarah Caney BVSc PhD DSAM(Feline) MRCVS, the webinars will provide practical information to help manage renal cases.

On 7th June, Tommaso's talk will address early diagnosis of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) and recognition and management of its complications.

On the 28th, Sarah's talk will focus on supporting and communicating with cat owners around early diagnosis and achieving optimal long-term management. 

The webinars will be available to watch live or as a recording after the event.

To register for the event, visit: https://purinaproplan-webinarseries.vfairs.com/ 

If you attend the live event, you'll have the chance to put questions to Sarah and Tommaso, but if you can't make it on the night, there'll be a recording afterwards.