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VetSurgeon.org publishes a curated feed of veterinary news for practising veterinary surgeons, with a primary focus on the UK profession.
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We report across all areas of practice, including companion animal, farm, equine and exotic species.
Our editorial approach is deliberately selective and concise. We prioritise clarity and relevance over volume, aiming to make each story worth your time.
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The WSAVA is calling on veterinary surgeons around the world and anyone with an interest in veterinary – and human – medicine to sign the petition to ensure access to ketamine in the face of lobbying by some countries, principally China, to have it put under international scheduling.
According to the WSAVA, proposals for international control stem from the misconception that ketamine is merely a 'recreational drug.' The WSAVA says this is inaccurate and devalues its huge contribution to human and animal medicine.
Dr Walt Ingwersen, WSAVA President Elect and Member of the WSAVA’s Global Pain Council, said: "In 2015, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) stated that the abuse of ketamine does not cause a global public health threat and that control would limit access for those using it as an anaesthetic. This view was confirmed at a meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2016, helped by strong support view from the global medical and veterinary communities. However, China has repeated its view that ketamine should fall under international scheduling and we have no doubt that it will raise the issue again. This mean the risk to ketamine remains."
He added: "Ketamine is a safe anaesthetic which can be used without oxygen, ventilators, electricity and the support systems required for other products, making it the only anaesthetic suitable for both medical and veterinary use in lower and middle income countries. If developing countries were denied access to it, which would be the effect of international scheduling, the effects on veterinary medicine, human health and animal welfare would be devastating."
Dr Ganga de Silva, President of the Society of Companion Animal Practitioners of Sri Lanka, said: "Sri Lanka is a poor country with an underdeveloped veterinary profession. If ketamine was not available, in my opinion, all surgeries would have to cease as almost all of the veterinarians in the country rely on it for anaesthesia. The result would be suffering for animals and it would also seriously impact our ability to control rabies as we would not be able to carry out spay and neuter programs on stray dogs."
Dr Nancy Shaffran CVT, VTS(ECC), President of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, said: “In addition to its use as an anaesthetic agent, ketamine is a critical medication used in the pain management in animals. The mechanism of action of ketamine (NMDA receptor antagonism) delivered as a Constant Rate Infusion has been well established to be effective in the prevention and correction of severe neuropathic pain and spinal cord wind-up. The loss of ketamine in veterinary practice would result in the needless suffering of many patients and we strongly oppose this action. We are very grateful for WSAVA’s efforts to keep ketamine available for our patients."
Dr Walt Ingwersen added: "Ketamine is also used in human medicine as it has a particular value for use 'in the field' - for instance, in treating trauma patients, those with traffic and sporting injuries or affected by natural disasters and conflict. Taking these factors together, it is clear that ketamine is an essential medicine and we are determined to ensure that it remains freely available. We are continuing to harness our global veterinary community to highlight the importance of ketamine because this is a battle our patients can’t afford us to lose. We ask all those agreeing with to sign our petition and help our collective voice grow."
The petition is here: http://chn.ge/1RFSou6.
The WSAVA’s Global Pain Council has produced a range of tools and resources, including an infographic, to support its ketamine campaign. They can be accessed here: http://www.wsava.org/educational/global-pain-council
Research conducted by the PDSA in 2017 found that 75% of dogs had received a primary vaccination course when young, which dropped to 72% in 2019. According to the BSAVA, it's the first time that vaccination rates have seen a sustained drop over a three year period since vaccinations were first introduced to the UK in the '60s.
The project, titled 'A mixed methods approach to quantifying and characterising vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy in UK companion animals' will combine quantitative analysis of existing data from electronic health records with qualitative approaches. It will include interviews and focus-group discussions with vets and owners to gain an in-depth understanding of patterns of uptake of vaccination in UK.
Experiences, perceptions and behaviours around uptake of vaccination and the rise of vaccine hesitancy in UK pet owners will also be investigated.
Dr Gina Pinchbeck, project leader at the University of Liverpool said: “Vaccination is a vital component of preventive healthcare and it is well acknowledged that sub-optimal vaccination uptake may be associated with re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases in populations.
“It is essential that we understand the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the pet population so that we can use the best methods to promote vaccine acceptance and uptake and this will be the primary focus of the study.”
The study will include the development of a knowledge and dissemination strategy, in association with PetSavers and BSAVA. This will include a project website, publication of scientific research and other articles for both practicing veterinary surgeons and for pet-owners, press releases, conference presentations and public-engagement presentations.
BSAVA President Professor Ian Ramsey added: “This project will be of great value to the veterinary profession and continues the co-operation between BSAVA and the University of Liverpool to build on the successes of the original SAVSNET partnership.”
For information on how to apply for the PhD, contact Dr Gina Pinchbeck (ginap@liverpool.ac.uk).
Reference
The company points to research which found that 89% of the veterinary profession wants to play a more active role in the sustainability agenda1.
For that reason, Boehringer says it put sustainability at the heart of Aservo EquiHaler, which uses no propellant gasses and the container for which is made from up to 50% recycled materials.
Now Boehringer has launched the first recycling programme for a prescription medicine in the UK to support the responsible disposal of the Aservo EquiHaler.
To join the programme, you need to visit: https://equihaler.uk/recycling, set up a TerraCycle account and register your practice. Boehringer says it only takes 10 minutes.
Once signed-up, a Boehringer Ingelheim Territory Manager will arrange for a collection box to be delivered, along with supporting practice display posters. When the box is full, there is a free pick-up service.
Practices that sign-up for the programme before 31st July 2021 will be entered into a prize draw, with the chance to win a year’s supply of ethically-sourced chocolate for their practice.
Reference:
The company has been gathering information on the health, wellbeing and life expectancy of hundreds of thousands of dogs since 2014.
Sean McCormack (pictured right), Head Vet at tails.com, said: “As a vet in practice, you gain an understanding of general animal issues and trends. But what this data can do is look over hundreds of thousands of dogs, unpick all of the nutritional, breed and age-related data we’ve collected over time, and then provide an insight-rich window into the best possible way to care for our dogs.
“We’re really just scratching the surface in terms of what we have at our disposal. There’s real potential for Data Labs to fundamentally change the way that we view dog nutrition and dog health going forwards.”
According to the company, the database has already revealed that:
Lorna Brightmore, Lead Data Scientist at tails.com, said: "Even at this early stage, we are finding strong associations between a number of health factors and longevity and our conclusions will only become stronger over time.”
The first major milestone of Data Labs will be the publication of tails.com’s first peer-reviewed scientific paper.
The paper will detail the effects of body weight, body condition, gender and neutering on the longevity and health of dogs, with further scientific papers planned for publication in the coming months and years.
For more information, visit www.tails.com/gb/data-labs/.
Virbac is launching a nationwide consumer campaign directing pet owners into practice with a special £1 off Indorex voucher promotion.
Indorex product manager Victoria Hudson said: "Participating practices also have the chance to win £250 worth of shopping vouchers for themselves. The practice returning the most client vouchers, plus two runners up, will each win Love2shop shopping vouchers which can be spent at thousands of high street stores, restaurants and attractions across the UK!"
Victoria added: "Indorex is such an easy product to use providing owners with 12 months protection against fleas in their home with just a single application. Even in the summer months, the product is UV stable so it can also be used in sunlit areas such as cars and conservatories."
Vouchers can be obtained from your local Virbac territory manager or downloaded at www.fleafreezones.co.uk/. Following customer redemption each £1money off voucher can be reclaimed by the practice with proof of purchase.
A review of past research papers on the treatment of feline diabetes carried out by Dr Stijn Niessen at the RVC has found that much of the research into the condition was based on low-level evidence, lacked a cooperative approach and, therefore, yielded questionable results.
According to Dr Niessen, current recommendations are often based on previous research studies which used small sample sizes; some included as little as 8 cats. The biggest sample sizes found contained from 50 to 60 cats, but Dr Neissen says that even this isn't a big enough sample size to yield effective results. He says that so-called power calculations, a statistical test performed as part of this new publication, indicate that at least 80-90 animals are needed to accurately compare the effectiveness of different insulin types and other treatments.
Stijn said: "The only way to improve the quality of research and its results is to design and implement well-structured clinical trials, similar to those used by pharmaceutical companies in human medicine.
"This sort of trial can have a powerful impact on a treatment and how it is used. They can more accurately gauge the pros and cons of specific diabetic treatments for cats, helping us pinpoint troublesome side effects as well as identifying the benefits.
"Current research into the condition is sporadic, lacking a long-term vision and not collaborative. A pet owner can, in theory, go to two different vets and get two very different treatments for the same condition. The owner could then go online and find a third way. These treatments aren't necessarily wrong, it is just one vet may have been trained in one methodology and another in a different way. This is why a collaborative approach is so important, so we can end these inconsistencies and can get closer to the actual truth about which way best to treat our feline friends."
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/RVC.Diabetic.Remission.Clinic
The RCVS has announced that the Registrar, Gordon Hockey, has decided to leave the College after 16 years' service.
Gordon served first as Assistant Registrar / Head of Professional Conduct, and, since 2012, as Registrar / Director of Legal Services.
Dr Bradley Viner, RCVS President, said: "We wish to thank Gordon for all his hard work and wish him every success in the future.
"He has been a key figure at the RCVS for many years, and has brought about much positive change in the organisation, particularly with respect to reform of our disciplinary processes and the introduction of our new Charter, in February 2015."
The founders of ioLight, Andrew Monk and Richard Williams, will be in attendance on the Bayer stand to answer questions about the new product.
James Crawford, Head of Marketing at Bayer, said: "Bayer is delighted to present the ioLight microscope on our stand at the London Vet Show 2016. The microscope provides fantastically clear images and is simple to use, showing off Bayer's products for all our customers to see."
Professor Mike Taylor, a Diplomate of the European Veterinary Parasitology College, is in the process of evaluating the ioLight microscope as a tool for the diagnosis of parasitic infections of farm animals.
Normally he uses a laboratory microscope for this work but they are not routinely used on a farm. He has also tried a portable digital microscope, but finds it does not give the resolution required for identification of protozoan parasite species or for counting nematode eggs. Mike said: "The ioLight’s portability, image quality and connectivity to the Apple iPad offer great potential for the development of rapid methods for identifying parasites, or determining parasite burdens. I can envisage its use by both veterinarians and suitably trained livestock farmers, in the practice laboratory or directly on the farm."
Andrew Monk said: "Since our launch earlier this year we have seen a massive interest from the veterinary sector. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate our microscope to such a large audience, and are looking forward to working with Bayer."
For more information visit iolight.co.uk or email Andrew Monk at andrew.monk@iolight.co.uk.
The proceedings will begin at 10am with the formal adoption by RCVS Council of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2020, which will be published prior to the event.
The College will then answer any written questions that have been submitted about the Annual Report by veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.
If you have any questions about the Annual Report, you'll need to submit them to RCVS Events Manager Deborah Rowlanes on d.rowlanes@rcvs.org.uk no later than Friday 2 July 2021.
RCVS President Mandisa Greene will then formally welcome the newly-elected RCVS Council members – Louise Allum, Danny Chambers, Tshidi Gardiner and Colin Whiting – onto Council for their four-year terms, and newly-elected VN Council members Susan Howarth and Donna Lewis for their three-year terms, as well as saying farewell to retiring members of both Councils.
After a short break, the AGM will reconvene at 11am to approve Kate Richards (pictured right) as President for 2021-22, Melissa Donald as Junior Vice-President, Mandisa as Senior Vice-President, and Niall Connell as Treasurer.
There will then be addresses from Matthew Rendle as Chair of Veterinary Nurses Council, and from Mandisa as the outgoing RCVS President for 2020-21, followed by the formal investiture of the new RCVS Officer Team.
There will then be closing remarks from Kate Richards as the newly invested RCVS President.
If you'd like to attend the AGM, you'll need to register here: www.rcvs.org.uk/agm21-registration.
The new Mars Equestrian Veterinary Research Scholar Programme offers the opportunity to conduct research alongside some internationally-renowned experts in equine health and veterinary welfare while pursuing two advanced credentials: the Graduate Certificate in Animal Welfare and Behavior at Penn Vet during year one, followed by the Master of Research (MRes) program at the RVC in year two.
The RVC says the new format offers an exclusive opportunity for the candidate to refine their critical research skills and expand animal welfare knowledge while learning on location at both the RVC in England and Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States.
The RVC’s MRes programme gives students the chance to develop into scientists who can work well across interdisciplinary teams, tackling problems of practical relevance to veterinary and medical science. Many of the courses’ graduates go on to work in some of the world’s leading scientific research institutes, as well as within industry and government.
Professor Richard Bomphrey, Interim Vice Principal for Research at the RVC said: “I am delighted that the RVC is able to support this new transatlantic initiative for veterinary graduates following a generous donation from Mars Equestrian. It strengthens the ties between the RVC, the University of Pennsylvania and Mars Equestrian while providing an outstanding training and research opportunity. We look forward to welcoming the successful scholar and helping them to make an impact in equine research."
The Veterinary Research Scholar program is open to interested UK, US and international candidates holding a veterinary degree (DVM/VMD/BVSc or equivalent). The chosen candidate will receive an annual stipend and tuition as well as travel expenses.
The programme will commence in September 2021 in the United States before moving to the UK in October 2022 until its conclusion in September 2023.
The deadline to submit applications for consideration is 30th June 2021 or until an acceptable candidate is identified.
Applications should be sent to the Penn Vet’s Dr. Kyla Ortved atkortved@vet.upenn.edu.
Rubén Del Pozo Sacristán (pictured right), technical manager for pigs at MSD Animal Health UK, will be delivering the seminars.
He said: “At MSD Animal Health UK, we’re committed to helping further the knowledge and expertise of vets, so we have put together a series of seminars which will focus on common and demanding production challenges and diseases facing pig producers.”
The monthly seminars will be suitable for all vets, but especially those who are new to pig medicine.
Each seminar will be worth two to three hours of CPD time, with certificates available for all participants.
Rube added: “Of the 12 seminars we have planned, we’re hoping to hold four of these in a face-to-face capacity, with dinner included for those who attend, to allow for networking and further discussion.
The programme is as follows:
For more information on the academy, or to register your interest, speak to your MSD Animal Health account manager.
The British Veterinary Association and British Cattle Veterinary Association have welcomed the launch of the Defra consultation on tackling bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in England, which includes recommendations for badger control in areas where bTB persists at high levels, despite attempts at control using other measures.
The two associations have long argued that bTB cannot be controlled without measures to control the disease in both cattle and wildlife.
In particular the BVA and BCVA have welcomed:
The Associations have noted the expectation that the farming industry will pick up the costs of vaccinating and culling badgers and will consider in detail the Government's proposals for licensing criteria and culling methods.
The BVA and BCVA will be providing a detailed response to the consultation following discussion with members of both Associations.
Professor Bill Reilly, President of the BVA, said: "We are extremely pleased that the Coalition Government has made tackling bovine TB such a priority. Both the BVA and BCVA have made the case that this devastating disease will not be eradicated without measures that tackle TB both in cattle and in wildlife.
"We will be looking in detail to ensure that the proposals are as effective and, importantly, as humane as possible.
"Our initial reaction is that the proposals announced by Defra are based on scientific evidence and expert veterinary advice and we strongly support the direction the Government is taking."
Keith Cutler, President of BCVA, added: "It is important that the Government has recognised that there is no single solution to tackling bovine TB.
"Controlling the disease in badgers through vaccination and culling has a role to play, but will only be effective if properly targeted and used alongside all other available control measures.
"The BVA and BCVA are therefore very pleased to see proposals that deliver a package of measures."
Common ‘Pet Dangers’ include:
The poster also reinforces the importance of S.P.E.E.D when dealing with poisoned pets:
To get your free poster, visit https://www.tvm-uk.com/pet-dangers-order-free-display-materials-for-your-practice/ or email help@tvm-uk.com.
Niall, who stepped up from Vice Chair to acting interim Chair of the Fellowship Board after the resignation of the previous Chair, has been formally elected as Chair of the Board.
In his role as Chair, Niall will continue to lead the Board, which is responsible for setting the criteria for joining the Fellowship across all three of its routes to entry, as well as the process by which applications are assessed.
An election for the position of Vice Chair of the Fellowship Board will take place in the autumn.
Niall said: “I am honoured beyond words to be elected Chair of the RCVS Fellowship and I'm very grateful for the support received to achieve this.
“I know I have very big shoes to fill, thanks to the great efforts that have gone on before and I will put all my available energy into continuing to work with our Fellows and the College to progress the goals of RCVS Fellowship as a resource of independent knowledge for our professions, to upskill and always innovate, while looking to enrich public awareness and discussion.”
Nicky Paull MRCVS, who has held the position of Chair of the Credentials Panel for the Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice pathway for the past three years, was successfully re-elected.
Nicky will continue to be responsible for making assessments of applicants aiming to gain Fellowship through the Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice pathway.
She will co-ordinate and oversee a review of the applications by her fellow panel members, as well as chairing any required appropriate panel meetings.
On her appointment, Nicky said: “I look forward to the challenge of continuing to grow the diversity of the Fellowship and celebrate those who, by their contribution to the advancement of the profession by clinical or educational scholarship and leadership, have had a significant impact on clinical practice within the veterinary profession.”
Niall and Nicky will be formally instated into their roles at Fellowship Day, which is due to take place on Thursday 28 November at One Great George Street, London.
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/fellowship/
Animal Health has today launched a free news alert service to help people keep in touch with the latest developments on notifiable animal disease.
The service is targeted mainly at the farming community, although it is available to everyone. By registering, subscribers will receive alerts on up to five notifiable animal diseases – foot and mouth disease, bluetongue, avian influenza, Newcastle disease and classical swine fever. Subscribers can choose to receive alerts via a voicemail on a landline telephone or mobile telephone, via text, fax or email.
To sign up online to the Animal Health Subscription Service visit the Animal Health website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth.
To sign up by telephone dial 0844 884 9888 and follow the press button instructions.
The RCVS has announced the members that will comprise its new Audit and Risk Committee, which was set up following recommendations in the RCVS Overspend Review Group's report (otherwise known as the McKelvey Report).
The Audit and Risk Committee will support RCVS Council in meeting its oversight responsibilities, including:
Its members are:
Non-Council membersElizabeth Butler (Chairman) is a practising Chartered Accountant who has held a wide variety of non-executive appointments, bringing both professional expertise and a depth of understanding of risk and governance. Among other roles, she has chaired the audit committees of the Royal College of Nursing and Hyde Housing Association, and currently chairs the audit committees of the Electoral Commission and the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, she is also chairman of Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust.
David Hughes is a chartered accountant and a former senior partner who has extensive expertise in financial reporting, accounting, auditing, risk management and governance issues. He is currently a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee for the Highways Agency and a member of the Department for Transport Audit Committee.
Judith Rutherford has five years' experience as a Non-Executive Director and as a member of the Audit Committee in a community Healthcare and Primary Care Trust within the regulated environment of the NHS. She is currently Director of an organisation that provides interim management and consultancy to the private and public sectors.
RCVS Council membersRichard Davis is a Privy Council-appointed member of RCVS Council. He farms 104 hectares in North Bedfordshire and has been a director of First Milk Ltd for seven years. He has also been a director of Westbury Dairies Ltd, where he was Chairman of the Audit Committee. Richard has served on the audit committee of Assured Food Standards (Red Tractor) for the last six years and served as the Chairman of Assured Dairy Farms for six years (the scheme sets, audits and monitors production, welfare and environmental standards for most UK processors, and over 12,000 dairy farms).
Lynne Hill MRCVS is Chief Executive of Langford Veterinary Services Ltd, University of Bristol, and was previously Head of the Clinical Services Department at the Royal Veterinary College. Prior to that, Lynne was European Marketing Manager for Hill's Pet Nutrition. She is an elected member of RCVS Council and was President in 2005-6.
The non-Council members of the Committee were appointed by a panel chaired by Sir David Barnes, Chairman of the Governance Review Group.
The new Committee, which is accountable to Council and will report at least annually, will meet for the first time in early autumn.
Jacqui Molyneux, RCVS President said: "I am pleased that the new Audit and Risk Committee is now in place. It should offer reassurance to both members and the public that the framework via which Council's activities are scrutinised is robust."
The courses, which are are aimed at practitioners dealing with species other than companion animals, include:
Emergency Care of Alpacas (13 July, Sheffield)This course covers the management of dystocia and other problems in the peri-parturient female and neonate, resuscitation, common congenital problems, the failure of passive immune transfer and septicaemia. First aid for orthopaedic emergencies and wound care is covered as is working up the colic patient and the neurological patient.
Diseases of Game Birds (20 June, Swindon; 5 September, Sheffield)Aimed at ensuring that the veterinarian is able to deal with the demands of gamekeepers and game rearers, this course offers an overview of the industry and legislation, together with biosecurity and its application to wild birds. It includes review of common disease processes and control of antibiotic usage with some applied alternatives to traditional methods.
First Aid for the Large Animal Vet (5 July, Swindon; 2 August, Sheffield)This course is aimed at assisting large animal vets who may find themselves required to offer first aid to a colleague who has sustained injuries during a farm visit. It provides advice on assessing emergency situations, recognising and treating fractures, carrying out artificial ventilations and chest compressions, controlling severe bleeding and dealing with burns and scalds.
The Approach to the Sick Hen (18 July, Swindon; 13 September, Sheffield)Avian anatomy and the husbandry of the backyard flock are covered in this course, together with worming and vaccination advice, the approach to the sick hen and appropriate medication options.
Veterinary Care of Sheep (11 July, Swindon; 6 July, Sheffield) Covering the basics of best practice and flock health planning, this course provides practical advice on maximising lamb numbers, sheep lameness, controlling internal and external parasites and flock vaccination programmes.
Veterinary Care of Goats (10 July, Swindon) This course covers the behavioural, nutritional and environmental needs of goats across all sectors, including pet, meat, pedigree and commercial dairy goats. It also covers infectious diseases affecting goats in the UK, including diagnosis, treatment and control, in addition to disbudding, foot care and common surgical procedures.
David Babington MRCVS, Managing Director of Improve, said: "We introduced a number of one-day short courses in niche or emerging areas of veterinary medicine last year and have built on the range for 2017 to cover new species including chickens and goats. Most of the courses are offered in venues in both the north and south of the UK. We look forward to welcoming vets to these new courses this year."
Further information is available at http://www.improveinternational.com/uk/#top
The term ‘evidence synthesis’ describes a range of methodological approaches used to systematically review, appraise, and summarise evidence on a specific area.
The approaches differ from conventional literature reviews or narrative reviews, which are not required to have a specified search strategy or methodology for appraising evidence, and usually present a personal perspective or opinion.
There are three main types of evidence syntheses: rapid reviews, systematic reviews, and scoping reviews.
All have key principles in common, which includes the formulation of a structured question, a systematic search of the available literature, a defined process of reviewing and selecting suitable publications, and a methodology for analysing the final included evidence.
Evidence synthesis is still not widely used in the equine veterinary world, despite its recognised value in human evidence-based medicine.
In the new virtual collection, the EVJ discusses the what and the why of this important evaluation method, as well as providing free access to all the equine veterinary evidence reviews published to date, including:
“Evidence synthesis makes an important contribution towards generating the evidence base which underpins equine clinical practice,” said Professor Sarah Freeman. “The challenge compared to human medicine is that equine veterinary data sets are much smaller, and study approaches and methodologies often vary significantly which means that it may not be possible to combine or collate data sets.
“Given this shortfall, scoping reviews can be helpful to identify what information is out there, find areas where a systematic review could be performed, and provide a useful summary for all the studies in a particular area.”
Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the EVJ said: “As increasing numbers of evidence syntheses are published, they will expand our understanding of the current bodies of evidence in veterinary medicine.
“The existing studies are already informing us on how we use evidence in our practices and policies, and it is encouraging to anticipate how they will shape our development of future research, to generate the best evidence as the norm, in every case.”
The virtual issue can be found at https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306.evidence-synthesis-collection
The company has updated its waiting room board kit for veterinary staff to create a visual reminder of the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of dental disease and a tailored dental home care regime.
There is also a Pet Dental Health Month social media pack which includes imagery, videos and copy to use on your practice social media channels and client-facing waiting room screens.
Dental charts are also available to help explain dental aftercare in post-op appointments.
Will Peel, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: "We know that veterinary staff recognise the importance of oral health, so we’ve created this range of materials specifically to support veterinary practices and to help people better understand how they can maintain good dental health in their pets.’
www.animalcare.co.uk/dentalhealthmonth
The charity says it is facing serious financial pressures, with the cost of caring for rescued animals having increased by £17M over the last 5 years.
Meanwhile, claims for emergency treatments payments have dropped by 87% in the last two years because of a greater awareness by vets of their responsibilities under the RCVS Code in providing treatment to injured wildlife and stray animals.
Rebecca Ashman, the RSPCA’s Head Vet for Operations, Partnerships and Prevention, said: "Thanks to this, and better understanding of the role and remit of the RSPCA, we have been able to focus our charity resources on managing cases of cruelty and neglect."
She added: “The RSPCA has always worked closely with the veterinary professions and we are very grateful for the ongoing support of practices with our work.
"Colleagues will be aware that we have increasingly needed to focus on our core work of rescuing and rehabilitating neglected and cruelly treated animals, in the face of growing demand.
“We have seen the number of animals in our care grow; we are now caring for double the number of cats and dogs since the pandemic, many of whom need longer, more complex rehabilitation due to the nature of why they came into our care.
“Despite work to put the RSPCA on a more sustainable footing, between 2020 and 2024, the annual cost of rescuing and caring for animals has gone up by £17m, due to rising energy prices, veterinary costs, the increased need to pay for private boarding and the increase in the number of animals in our care.
"Alongside this, unforeseen costs such as the hike in national insurance, high inflation, rising fuel and increase in the cost of living, means it is a challenging climate for all charities, putting us under pressure at a time when donations are slowing across the sector.”
The RSPCA says it will continue to allocate log numbers for IET until the end of 2025 and vets have until the end of January 2026 to make any requests for payment in the usual way.
A Dogs Trust Glasgow resident who made the news last January for being so obese he could not even walk has lost almost half his body weight.
Patch, a six year old Beagle Cross, weighed the same as an average six year old child - 4.5 stones (28.45kg) - when he was brought to the Rehoming Centre last year.
Staff desperately hoped 2009 would see him find a new home and see him shed almost half his bodyweight to reach his goal of 2.4 stone (15kg). After finding a new home with the MacLean family in Motherwell, exactly one year after hitting the headlines Patch is within sniffing distance of his target by weighing in at 2.9 stone (18kg).
Vets had warned that a rapid weight loss would put strain on Patch's organs and could actually harm him, so it has been a slow, careful process. He follows a strict diet and his exercise levels have been built up gradually, with careful monitoring by veterinary staff.
Claire Kelman, Dogs Trust Glasgow Assistant Centre Manager, said: "When Patch first came to us he was so obese he couldn't even walk and needed a sling to be moved from one place to another. Now he's lost the weight he can run around and properly enjoy his walks like any other dog.
It just goes to show a good diet and careful exercise can make a real impact, so maybe he can be a shining example for everyone feeling a bit bloated after the Christmas break!"
Images courtesy Centre Press Agency
A poll carried out by The Children's Mutual has found that becoming a veterinary surgeon is one of the most popular career ambitions for 5-7 year olds, second only to becoming a teacher.
The Children's Mutual questioned over a thousand parents about what their children said they wanted to be when they grew up and found that the majority of today's children are looking for a career which requires further training and education. The top careers of doctor, teacher and vet have featured in the 'What I Want To Be' poll for the last three years, demonstrating that children consistently aspire to careers that will need higher education.
However, if you want your children to follow in your footsteps as a vet, you might like to start setting something aside now. According to The Children's mutual, it currently costs £74,700 to train to become a doctor and £75,100 to become a vet but these are set to increase by around £41,000 based on current projection levels over the next 18 years.
The top 10 career ambitions in 2010 (2009 in brackets) were:
Tony Anderson, Marketing Director of The Children's Mutual, said: "The children questioned for our research are lucky enough to have a Child Trust Fund account and with half of accounts opened with us receiving additional savings on a monthly basis, we hope these children face brighter financial futures. The question going forward is how parents will fill the savings black hole for children born from January 2011 if the Child Trust Fund is scrapped."
With dysentery apparently at its highest level for many years, Pfizer Animal Health has launched a new campaign to help increase awareness of the benefits of selecting the best prevention and treatment options.
Nigel Lodge MRCVS, Pfizer technical manager said: "The increase in dysentery can be attributed to a combination of factors including more frequent movement of weaners and a reduction in the level of feed medication resulting from the increasing use of more vaccines against other disease.
"With the early onset of winter, we know that dysentery will survive outside the pig for up to seven weeks in cold moist conditions and other pathogens for considerably longer."
The campaign is headed by a new guide, 'Enteric Disease Management', which looks at prevention and treatment of the problem, one of the most costly to the producer. Dysentery alone is estimated to cost more than £10 / pig finished considering higher mortality, increased feed costs and non-marketable animals.
The guide says that according to the housing system some of the pathogens have extremely long survival times - three months for E coli, nine months for salmonella and one year for coronavirus (transmissible gastroenteritis). It provides advice on limiting infection and reducing stress on the pigs.
Mr Lodge says that the incidence of dysentery fluctuates in different areas of the country with varying antibiotic sensitivity. Hence, a sensitivity test is essential when deciding on a particular medication.
With enteric diseases in general, there are a wide range of causes - including bacteria, viruses, parasites, management or nutrition. Mr Lodge said: "The causal agent can sometimes be diagnosed from clinical signs, such as dysentery, but generally post mortem and laboratory diagnosis is required.
"There are various antibiotic products which can be used but all should only be used after management issues such as bio security, pen management and rodent control have been addressed.
"Some products are specific in their activity, such as Lincocin Premix and swine dysentery. Others have a broad spectrum of activity and should be used where mixed infections are diagnosed. Linco-Spectin Premix, for instance, is active against E coli, Salmonella, ileitis, swine dysentery and other enteric bacteria."
Copies of the new publication - including a competition to win two prizes of one tonne of pig feed - are available from Pfizer Animal Health via Scott Wheway Tel: 01737 330941 or scott.a.wheway@pfizer.com
The company points to research which showed that in the US, and despite the importance of annual health checks, 45.7% of cats did not visit a veterinary surgeon in the year the study was conducted. Of those, 41% cited the reason as their “cats did not get sick or injured.” Only 16% said they did not have the money to pay for a veterinary visit.1,2
Apparently, a more recent poll by International Cat Care (ICC) also found that 50% of cat owners struggle to get their cat into a carrier, which is obviously a barrier to taking their pet to the veterinary clinic.
To help more cats get to the vet, International Cat Care has developed educational materials and a range of training aids including free online training videos, podcasts, emails and giveaways. They're available at: https://icatcare.org/international-cat-day.
Dr. Michael McFarland, Chief Medical Officer at Zoetis, said: "Many cat owners find it incredibly difficult and stressful getting cats into a carrier. As a result, many are reluctant to take their cat to their veterinarian unless they have a major health issue.
“Cats are intelligent animals and we want owners to know that they respond well to training. The ICC survey found that owners who use positive training and rewards find it much easier to get their cats into a carrier, so we are delighted to support the #BeCatCurious campaign this year.
“Visits to the veterinarian and giving medicines when needed are essential if we want to keep our pets healthy and protected, for example against parasites. So, encouraging owners to be more curious and to learn something new with their cat can not only strengthen the bond between them but also make life easier and healthier for cats and their owners.
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