The VET Festival has announced a world-class line up of speakers for the two-day conference taking place at The University of Surrey in Guildford on the 5^th and 6^th September. 

The organisers say that the presentations have been designed to be practical in nature and to provide delegates with useful, take-away information they can apply immediately in practice and that isn’t readily available in textbooks.

Forty-eight presentations will be staged over the two-days across four themed lecture strands: three for vets and a dedicated strand for Veterinary Nurses, although delegates are free to attend any lecture they choose.

The core themes for vets include Orthopaedics, Neurology and Oncology and Soft Tissue Surgery. The Veterinary Nursing strand will cover topics such as Anaesthesia, Arthritis, Cancer, Trauma, Spinal Nursing, Pain Management, Rehabilitation and Nutritional Advice.  

Presentations include:

• “A practical approach to problem recognition and management during anaesthesia – how to prevent a crisis” – By Colin Dunlop, Director Advanced Anaesthesia Specialists, Gladesville, NSW, Australia
• “A practical approach to perioperative pain management in everyday clinical practice” – by Duncan Lascelles, Prof of Surgery & Pain Management, North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine, USA
• “A practical approach to challenging wounds for the oncologic surgeon” – by Jolle Kirpensteijn Chief Professional Relation Officer, Hill’s Pet Nutrition
• “Treatment of canine cruciate disease – what works & what doesn’t – what would you do if it was your dog?” - by Ian G Holsworth, Director Vetsburg Small Animal Hospital, Ventura, California, USA
• “My approach to understanding neck and lower back pain – all you ever wanted to know” – by Nick Jeffrey, Professor Neurology and Neurosurgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, USA

An overarching theme for the festival is ‘One Medicine’, the emerging global concept of combined human and animal medical advancement for the good of all species; Noel Fitzpatrick will give a keynote speech on Saturday 5^th September on this subject.

On Sunday 6^th September, the closing keynote speech will be delivered by Dr Jane Goodall DBE who will talk about her work as a British Ethologist, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace and the importance of preserving habitats, species and biodiversity to the continuance of mankind.

A full speaker agenda is available at www.vetfestival.co.uk and attendance at the Festival can be added to delegates’ CPD records.

On Saturday evening, the Festival will host ONE LIVE, a music festival open to delegates, their families and the general public in aid of The Humanimal Trust, a charity inspiring advancement of healthcare initiatives in animals at the same time as humans. Headlining the concert will be Mike and The Mechanics with support from The Hoosiers and Hunter and The Bear.

Tickets for VET Festival cost from £99. There are discounted rates available for Veterinary Nurses and Students and groups of five or more vets or vet nurses can receive a group discount.  For more information and to book tickets visit www.vetfestival.co.uk 

VetSurgeon.org has 4 free tickets for the full 2 day festival to give away, and a further 12 tickets to the evening concert. We'll be dishing them out randomly amongst those VetSurgeon members who indicate their interest in attending the event by clicking the RSVP button on the entry in the VetSurgeon CPD & Events Diary, here: http://www.vetsurgeon.org/c/veterinary-cpd/events/5.aspx 

The Horse Trust is funding a three-year project to develop a genetic diagnostic test for Fell Pony Syndrome (FPS) and thus enable control and possible elimination of the disease.

The work will be undertaken at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, and the University of Liverpool Veterinary School.

The Fell pony, an ancient British pony breed categorised as "at risk" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, has over the past decade or so been subject to a severe immune deficiency known as Fell Pony Syndrome (FPS), which results in the death of some of the newborn foals.

Foals affected with FPS appear normal at birth but within a few weeks begin to lose condition and suffer diarrhoea, coughing and weight loss. Severe anaemia and immune dysfunction follows, leading to wasting and finally death. The disease is always fatal.

As a large percentage of these ponies live and breed on the fell, the prevalence of FPS is unclear. Despite an improvement in foal registration numbers in recent years, Fell Pony Syndrome remains of concern to breeders.

Studbook analysis and knowledge of affected foals strongly suggests that this is an inherited disease caused by an autosomal recessive genetic mutation. A DNA based test for this mutation would enable carriers of FPS to be identified and the conception of affected foals prevented.

As well as identifying carriers in the Fell pony population, the project will be used to identify any carriers in other breeds which have been involved in the extensive outbreeding of Fell ponies over the years.

"The success of this project will prevent the suffering of newborn Fell pony foals affected with FPS," says project leader Dr June Swinburne, senior post- doctoral equine molecular geneticist at the Animal Health Trust Centre for Preventive Medicine. "Foals affected by the condition inherit an incurable genetic defect which results in severe wasting and a profound anaemia together with multiple infections. Veterinary intervention is in vain and once the condition is diagnosed foals are often euthanased. The gradual but relentless decline in these foals leaves both veterinary surgeons and breeders powerless.

"Breeders are supportive of our attempt to develop a diagnostic test which will help to prevent carrier-carrier matings, one in four of which results in an affected foal."

The Horse Trust's Chief Executive and resident veterinary surgeon Paul Jepson said: "This is an exciting and achievable project with significant benefits for equine health and welfare, as it will lead to the prevention and elimination of a fatal disease."

Dechra Veterinary Products has launched a campaign supporting veterinary professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa at BSAVA World Congress.

The campaign includes a range of guidance, information and case studies from key opinion leaders.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage the identification of the organism causing infection through cytology, support the selection of the correct treatment and assist with educating clients on how to apply and use products correctly. The cytology guidance has been produced in association with veterinary dermatologists Peter Forsythe and Ariane Neuber, who is also a speaker at this year's Congress in Birmingham.

A new website www.dechra.com/timetochange is being launched to coincide with the campaign which provides online CPD focusing on skin and ear cytology.

Dechra Veterinary Products' Managing Director Bob Parmenter said: "We are delighted to launch It's Time to Change at the largest international veterinary event ever held in the UK. BSAVA World Congress has a reputation for promoting best practice, as does Dechra in its support of veterinary professionals.

"Amid a growing concern surrounding the issues of antimicrobial resistance, the new dermatology drive will aim to support vets through a holistic best practice approach to managing ear disease."

"Without the appropriate treatment combined with correct owner compliance, antimicrobial resistance could be a major issue for the companion animal veterinary profession. That's why we have launched this campaign and we're looking forward to speaking to delegates about why it's time to change."

Referral Dermatologist Sue Paterson MA, VetMB, DVD, DipECVD, MRCVS, RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology is available to speak with delegates at the Dechra Veterinary Products stand on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14.

Seven veterinary surgeons who took their final assessments at the University of Liverpool on 6 September have become the first to receive the postgraduate RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice with equine designations.

Dr Mark Holmes, a member of the RCVS sub-committee for the CertAVP who observed the assessments at Liverpool said: "I was very impressed by the quality of all the candidates and the diligence of the examination process.

"It is clear that candidates putting themselves forward for 'named' certificates have demonstrated particular interest in their chosen fields and place considerable value on passing their synoptic examination."

The modular certificates were introduced in 2007 to be a more flexible replacement for the old-style postgraduate certificates. Vets can now choose from 79 subject modules, with RCVS-accredited assessments offered by a range of universities. These institutions may also offer associated courses which vets can take to support their studies, although candidates are free to choose where and how they wish to study.

To build their credits into the full CertAVP qualification candidates must first enrol with the RCVS, which keeps a record of modules achieved.  Candidates need to take two compulsory modules, and several of a range of optional modules, within ten years in order to receive the award. Candidates aiming for a designated award must choose specific modules from amongst the options, and additionally pass an overarching 'synoptic' assessment.

For more information about the individual modules and the qualification as a whole, prospective candidates can visit www.rcvs.org.uk/modcerts.

The RCVS is seeking applicants for an Appointment Group which will be responsible for deciding the membership for the governing body of the new RCVS Fellowship.

In June, RCVS Council approved proposals to develop a new style Fellowship to move it away from being an examination-based award to a formal learned society with routes to entry for those veterinary surgeons who can demonstrate meritorious contributions to clinical practice, to the profession or to learning. The Fellowship by thesis route has been discontinued as of 1 August 2015, although all applications received by this route prior to that date are being processed.

The new Fellowship will be governed and administered by a Fellowship Board with an additional Credentials Panel of up to 30 members to review new applications.

The College says it is now in the process of putting together an Appointment Group which will decide the membership of the Fellowship Board and the Credentials Panel. It is currently seeking to appoint a veterinary surgeon in the earlier stage of their career to the Group. The full details of the role, including details of the person specification, how to apply and information on expenses and remuneration can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/workforus

The Group will be chaired by former RCVS President Lord Trees with other members being RCVS President Dr Bradley Viner and BVA President Sean Wensley as well as a lay observer. The first meeting of the Appointment Group is likely to take place before the end of the year and, once the Fellowship Board and Credentials Panel are established, the Group will be dissolved.

For an informal chat about the role before applying, contact Dr Simon Wallace, RCVS Education and Scientific Officer, on s.wallace@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0702.

Hill's has made the Dietary Key, it's detailed guide to the ingredients, nutritional analysis and feeding recommendations for every Hill's product, available online at www.hillsproducts.com.

Hill's says the UK is the first country to be able to access the Dietary Key on-line. The new site is free with open access to all, giving vets and nurses up to the minute information about Science Plan, Nature's Best and Prescription Diet ranges.

Adrian Pratt, Veterinary Affairs Manager said: "It's taken a long time to develop the site to contain the depth of information we feel vets and nurses need to make judgements on how to feed individual patients. There are no hidden passwords and no registration is required. We wanted to be completely open about our ingredients and the nutritional analysis of our product ranges. It should make life much easier for practices to have this level of detail, transparency and open access."

The Disciplinary Committee of the RCVS has refused an application for restoration to the RCVS Register by Dr Janos Nemeth, who had previously been found to have fraudulently registered with the RCVS and struck off.

At the original hearing, in February 2009, Dr Nemeth - the holder of a veterinary science degree from the Szent István University in Budapest, who had practised in the Wokingham area of Berkshire - was found to have dishonestly entered his name in the RCVS Register using a forged document (a Certificate of Membership and Good Professional Behaviour from the Hungarian Veterinary Chamber). The Disciplinary Committee at that time found the evidence that the document was a forgery to be "overwhelming" and concluded that Dr Nemeth had been lying to them about his knowledge of the forgery. It directed that his name should be removed from the Register.

Dr Nemeth lodged an appeal against this decision with the Privy Council, but then took no further steps. Accordingly, the Privy Council dismissed Dr Nemeth's appeal and he was struck off in October 2009.

On lodging his application for restoration, Dr Nemeth had asserted he was not guilty of the original charge. The Committee was disappointed with this aspect of Dr Nemeth's application saying that he would be "well-advised to demonstrate some insight into the seriousness of the original findings."

The Committee emphasised that a finding of dishonesty against a member of the College is "one of great seriousness and never made lightly" and accepted that it may be considered "fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon."

Questioning Dr Nemeth, the Committee was further disappointed to learn that he had not made himself more familiar with the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct, or made a greater effort to keep up to date with veterinary practice in the UK, or provided documentary evidence of attendance at continuing professional development (CPD) meetings.

After considering all the facts presented to it, including the severe personal and financial impact on Dr Nemeth of his removal from the Register, the Committee was not satisfied that he was fit to be restored and did not consider it in the public interest to grant his application.

Acknowledging she could not bind a future Committee as to any further application for restoration by Dr Nemeth, Committee Chairman Mrs Caroline Freedman advised: "Dr Nemeth should provide supporting evidence where possible, including records of CPD, testimonials from other veterinary surgeons or employers, or a more incisive knowledge of the Guide to Professional Conduct. We would remind Dr Nemeth that the onus is on him to establish his fitness to be restored to the Register."

A new study from the University of Surrey, published today in the journal PLOS One, has identified the specific effects of a malformation which affects affects toy breeds.

According to researchers, Chiari malformation has become prevalent as a result of selective breeding and affects many toy dog breeds which have been bred to look more doll-like, including Griffon Bruxellois, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas and their crosses. 

Researchers took brain, skull and vertebrae measurements of 155 Griffon Bruxellois and compared dogs affected by the condition with normal Griffons. They discovered that Griffons with the disease had taller foreheads and that it had also caused the shape of the brain to change, with severely affected animals having their cerebellum pushed underneath the main part of the brain. 

The researchers say that although it can be asymptomatic, in many dogs Chiari malformation can cause headaches, problems with walking or even paralysis.

The condition can also affect humans and the University is working with human geneticists at the University of Montreal, in the hope that better understanding of the condition will lead to improved treatment for both dogs and humans. 

Lead author, Dr Clare Rusbridge from the new School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said: "Chiari malformation can be described as trying to fit a big foot into a small shoe. It can be very painful, causing headaches and pressure on the brain and can result in fluid filled cavities in the spinal cord. Our latest discoveries will be significant in driving this research forward and hopefully allow us to identify which genes may be associated with the condition.

"Our next steps will be to apply our technique to other breeds with Chiari malformation and investigate more sophisticated ways of screening, so that risk of disease can be detected more easily, at an earlier age and with a single MRI scan. 

"We want to engage breeders and give them practical advice about the condition, but it is also important that the public recognises that breeding dogs in a certain way to influence how they look might not be in the animal's best interest. There are responsible breeders out there, who have invested in screening and who are breeding for health as well as producing attractive puppies, and it is vital that people only look to buy from them." 

As the House of Lords begins its debate on the religious slaughter of farm animals, the RSPCA is calling for all to be pre-stunned.

More than 900 million farm animals are slaughtered for meat in the UK every year. The vast majority are stunned pre-slaughter. However, the law permits the Jewish and Muslim communities to kill animals by religious methods without any form of pre-stunning.

The RSPCA says that while it recognises that religious beliefs and practices should be respected, it also believes that animals should only be slaughtered under the most humane conditions.

RSPCA Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA's farm animal science department said: "Farm animals deserve to be treated with care and respect throughout their lives, from the time they are born right up to their final moments in the abattoir.

"We want to see all animals rendered unconscious before slaughter. Until that time we are calling for clear labelling so shoppers are armed with information that can enable them to make an informed choice about whether they buy meat from animals which have not been stunned before slaughter.

"Until there is better, universal labelling, shoppers should look for the blue and white Freedom Food label. Meat produced under this RSPCA assurance scheme comes from animals inspected to the RSPCA's farm animal welfare standards which do not permit slaughter without pre-stunning."

According to the charity, scientific research shows that slaughtering animals without pre-stunning (to render them insensible to pain and distress) can cause unnecessary suffering.

David Bowles, head of public affairs for the RSPCA, who has written a report for the House of Lords debate, added: "We know this is a subject that our supporters feel passionately about. We share their welfare concerns and that is why we have continued to campaign for religious slaughter to be discussed at the highest possible levels."

The RSPCA works with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to publish the results of the FSA's Animal Welfare Survey undertaken in abattoirs across Great Britain.

The latest survey* results shows:

• Over 40 million cattle, sheep, pigs and calves and around 900 million poultry are slaughtered each year in the UK.

• 3% of cattle, 10% of sheep and goats, and 4% of poultry in Great Britain are not stunned before slaughter.

• Most animals slaughtered for the Halal market were stunned before slaughter. None of the animals slaughtered for the Kosher market were stunned before slaughter.

The RSPCA believes mandatory labelling should be introduced so that all meat that has not been stunned is labelled and says it will press for European rules on this in 2014.

MSD Animal Health has launched Expertis Udder Health, a farm management tool for veterinary surgeons to better enable them to monitor and improve udder health in dairy cattle.

Expertis was presented to vets at the International Conference on Udder Health and Communication which took place in Utrecht this week.

Expertis Udder Health consists of a software programme together with educational and communication tools to help veterinary surgeons and farmers find the causes of mastitis more easily.

The Expertis Udder Health program consists of four steps: 1. A farm intake questionnaire about setting goals puts the farmer in a central position, and allows for careful listening in order to align with his/her objectives. 2. The data is analyzed, leading to the identification of the right focus points that are needed to identify areas for improvement. 3. These focus points are presented as fact sheets, i.e. a check list of risk factors for mastitis within the focus point. 4. The information is synthesized into an automatic summary of the actual situation, the udder health objectives and an open space to fill in the tailor-made advice to the farmer for improvement of the udder health status on his farm.

Jantijn Swinkels, DVM, Global Technical Director Pharmaceuticals within the Ruminants Business Unit at Merck Animal Health said: "The structured approach offered by Expertis Udder Health takes into account that mastitis is a multifactorial disease and covers all aspects that influence udder health. To save time, the analysis ensures that the focus is on the most important issues, which can differ greatly from farm to farm. The existing services provided within this tool can be used to optimize udder health on the farm".

Rinse Jan Boersma, MSc, Global Director Dairy Cattle at Merck Animal Health added: "We have developed Expertis to support veterinarians and farmers by improving our service level as well as to contribute to good veterinary practices by implementing preventive measures and prudent use of antibiotics."

MSD says that as a consequence of the reduced milk production, discarded milk, veterinary and treatment costs and extra labor costs, mastitis is considered the most important cause of economic loss for dairy operations. Recent data from Sweden indicates an average economic loss of €278 per case of clinical mastitis and of €60 per case of sub-clinical mastitis.*

The Expertis Udder Health program is being rolled out country to country, and will be distributed to veterinary surgeons via local MSD Animal Health representatives.

Reference

* Nielsen C, Østergaard S, Emanuelson U, Andersson H, Berglund B, Strandberg. Economic consequences of mastitis and withdrawal of milk with high somatic cell count in Swedish dairy herds. Animal 2010;4:1758-70

The National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP) is calling for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to establish an independent register of veterinary physiotherapy practitioners. According to the Association, such a register would eliminate individuals practicing without proper training and qualifications and raise the standard of veterinary physiotherapy by providing a disciplinary role.

NAVP President and leading veterinary anatomist Dr Sue Kempson is heading the NAVP campaign for the establishment of an independent register. In a letter to the President of the RCVS, Dr Kempson said: "Recognition by the veterinary profession of the role of physiotherapy in post-operative rehabilitation and in supporting both companion and performance animals is growing. However, we do believe that referring veterinary surgeons are increasingly faced with a dilemma caused by the wide differential between qualifications offered by the various organisations representing practitioners in areas such as physiotherapy. There is an urgent need for a distinction to be made between these different types of qualification. To this end, there should be a clearly defined independent register of practitioners with appropriately validated qualifications which are clearly understood by the veterinary profession."

In partnership with Harper Adams University College, the NAVP has introduced a fully-validated post-graduate course in veterinary physiotherapy which offers a choice of Post-Graduate Diploma or Masters Degree. Only one other professional body, the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) currently offers a similar qualification at this level.

Dr Kempson said: "The establishment of a register of physiotherapists would greatly assist vets and their clients to make informed decisions on their choice of therapist. It would eliminate those individuals without proper training and qualifications and help raise the standard of veterinary physiotherapy by providing a disciplinary role. At present there are no sanctions on those people practicing without the necessary qualifications or those whose work is sub-standard or who are guilty of professional misconduct.

"We do not believe that such a register should rest with any individual professional body or be affiliated to specific educational courses. To have authority, it requires independence and a register held under the auspices of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons would carry the credibility that the veterinary profession requires."

A bad day for Egyptian veterinary surgeon Dr. Ibrahim Samaha from the University of Alexandria, who not only had the misfortune to board an aircraft that was later hijacked, but was also wrongly identified in the media as the hijacker.

Professor Samaha, who, according to Reuters, heads the department of food health at the University, later appeared on BBC Arabic to protest his innocence.

The Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs later identified the real hijacker as Seif Eldin Mustafa (pictured right), about whom an official from Egypt's foreign ministry was reported to have said: "He’s not a terrorist, he’s an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren’t stupid. This guy is." - though this was later denied.