Harvey Locke has been elected President of the British Veterinary Association, and Carl Padgett its President-Elect for 2010/2011. The ceremony took place during the Annual General Meeting of the BVA at the close of its Annual Congress, held in Glasgow.

A small animal practitioner in Stockport, Harvey has veterinary science in his blood: when he qualified from Liverpool University in 1969 he became the fourth consecutive generation of vets in his family.  His great grandfather was President of the RCVS one hundred years ago in 1910/11 and his grandfather was President of the RCVS in 1934/35.  His daughter and his niece have both recently graduated from Liverpool to join the profession as the fifth consecutive generation.

Harvey has been actively and continuously involved in veterinary politics for 24 years and is a former President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and Vice President of the Union of European Veterinary Practitioners.

In his inaugural speech, he said: "We live in rapidly changing times and as a traditional profession we must strive to keep up. As the professional body I believe the BVA should always be one step ahead and that is why I have chosen 'Vets in a changing world' as the theme for my presidential year.

"From the internal changes to BVA Council to the new Coalition Government; from the prospect of a new Veterinary Surgeons Act to the impact of global climate change and the increasingly free movement of people and animals; we sit in the midst of enormous fluctuation. Each element brings its own challenges and opportunities."

Carl Padgett is a former president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) and currently chairman of Trustees of the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation. He has been involved in veterinary politics for the last 15 years.

Carl said: "My representative roles for BCVA and subsequently BVA have enabled me to understand and realise my true interest in the veterinary profession: ensuring the profession has a voice and our place in society is valued. 

"Our multi-disciplinary education and training places the profession in a unique position; representing the welfare and health of animals committed to our care, protecting the consumer in terms of food safety and ensuring food security at national and international levels by working within the agricultural world.  Vets are not just part of the leisure industry making animals better; we fill a much wider role in underpinning society and its contact with animals at all levels. 

"I am proud and honoured to become part of the BVA Officer team."

The RCVS is reminding veterinary surgeons that you need to complete your annual renewal for 2016-7 by the end of April.

About 75% of veterinary surgeons have renewed their registrations so far.

Renewals paid after 30th April will incur an additional charge of £35.

Any veterinary surgeon who fails to pay by 31st May will have their name removed from the Register, making it illegal for them to practise veterinary surgery in the UK.

The annual renewal can be completed via the online ‘My Account’ area of the RCVS website, where it is possible to pay by credit or debit card. Payment is also accepted by cheque, bank transfer or draft.

If you've lost the security details needed to access the RCVS website, you should contact the RCVS Registration Department on 020 7202 0707.

The College also says that anyone who has received an annual renewal reminder letter but has set up a Direct Debit, or believes that they have already paid, should contact the RCVS Finance Department on 020 7202 0723.

Ceva Animal Health has donated £3,000 to the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies (Edinburgh University) to help fund a student-led project on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Allison Henry, product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "We have a very good relationship with the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies and it was an easy decision for us to support its students with this donation. Antimicrobial resistance is a very hot topic for human and animal health and as a manufacturer we have a duty to contribute as much as we can. Students are the next generation of veterinary surgeons and if we can educate them about antimicrobial resistance early on it will have a long term positive effect ensuring these products are used as rationally as possible and only when necessary."

Dr Tim Nuttall, head of dermatology at the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, added: "We are very grateful to Ceva Animal Health for its generous support of our student research projects into antimicrobial resistance. These give our veterinary students an immensely valuable insight into the problems of antimicrobial resistance and helps them find novel approaches to counter this threat. This will not only benefit their careers but will also be of great value to vets, animals and owners throughout the world."

Ceva's efforts to support practices in their efforts to use antibiotics responsibly have continued in 2017 with the launch of GRAM (Guidance for the Rational use of AntiMicrobials), a guide on the rational use of antimicrobials in dogs and cats.

For more information on GRAM and sustainable antibiotic use, contact your local Ceva Animal Health territory manager.

As of today, VetSurgeon.org Jobs costs £25 +VAT for advertising a job vacancy ... reduced from £99 + VAT before the coronavirus pandemic to support the veterinary profession in these economically challenging times. 

The service has been free of charge since March 15th 2020, when it first became clear how difficult things would become. However, as life has become less restricted, now seemed an appropriate time to introduce a very modest charge to help with the site's ongoing development and maintenance. 

Over the last four and a half months, there has been a significant increase in the number of jobs advertised on VetSurgeon (to the extent that VetSurgeon and VetNurse Jobs now have more jobs advertised than either the Veterinary Times or the Veterinary Record). What's more, feedback from advertisers is that they've received more enquiries both on VetSurgeon.org and over on VetNurse Jobs.

On VetSurgeon, this may be due in part to a number of locum vets seeking permanent positions. However, it also seems likely to be a consequence of a 'virtuous circle' whereby more jobs advertised = more visibility on Google and other social networks = more enquiries = more jobs advertised = more visibility and so on.

For this reason, the plan for the future is to optimise the price of advertising on VetSurgeon.org at the lowest level needed to encourage the largest number of vacancies, the greatest number of enquiries and the revenue needed to pay for the ongoing running of the sites.

For more information about recruitment advertising on VetSurgeon.org.

Dechra Veterinary Products has published a range of case studies to support its new campaign focused on the diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa.

The studies have been written by Referral Dermatologist Sue Paterson MA, VetMB, DVD, DipECVD, MRCVS, RCVS European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology and Peter Forsythe BVM&S, DVD, MRCVS, RVCS Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology.

Developed as part of the Time to Change campaign, the real-life examples feature a series of problems and solutions associated with otitis, supported by clear images and photomicrographs.

Larry King, Senior Brand Manager, Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "We have created a range of in-depth case study materials for use by vets and vet nurses which will support identification and management of otitis externa, one of the more frequent conditions seen in general practice.

"As veterinary professionals are aware, otitis is common and can be challenging to diagnose and treat. These studies address individual cases and demonstrate how the Dechra dermatology range can be used effectively.

"Topics covered in the case studies include the types of otitis presented by each animal, how individual organisms were identified using cytology and how long treatment was continued."

The case studies, which feature Malassezia, staphylococcal and Proteus infections, also discuss the underlying causes and steps taken after treatment with Canaural and various ear cleaners.

The Time to Change campaign has been launched to support a best practice approach to otitis which includes the identification of the organisms causing infection through cytology, support the selection of the correct treatment and assist with educating clients on how to apply and use products correctly.

For further information visit www.dechra.com/timetochange. The website also highlights the benefits of Dechra Veterinary Products' range of topical treatments and ear flushes, including Canaural, CleanAural, CerumAurual, TrizAural and MalAceticAural.

The RCVS has announced that its third Mind Matters Mental Health Research Symposium will take place live online from 10am on Wednesday 24 November, and is now open for registration.

Professor Susan Dawson (pictured right), Chair of the Mind Matters Taskforce, will introduce the event and will be followed by the symposium’s plenary speaker, Rory O’Connor, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow and President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Rory's talk: ‘When It is Darkest: Understanding Suicide Risk’ will draw upon his research and work on the psychological processes which precipitate suicidal behaviour and self-harm, an area of expertise that has seen him advise the Scottish Government, as well as other national and international organisations, on suicide prevention strategies.

The next presentation will be from Dr Victoria Crossley from the Royal Veterinary College and Navaratnam Partheeban, co-founder of the British Veterinary Ethnicity & Diversity Society (BVEDS), on their research into the mental health impact of racism and discrimination on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) veterinary surgeons.

They'll be followed by Professor Neil Greenberg and Dr Victoria Williamson from King’s College London, who will talk about their research into the impact of ‘moral injury’ on the mental health and wellbeing of vets. 

The day will then split into different research streams with presentations on a variety of topics including: the impact of cyberbullying and harassment; the wellbeing of veterinary interns and residents; stigma and stress in veterinary nursing; mental health awareness training in the undergraduate veterinary curriculum; and the relationship between ‘patient safety culture’ and staff burnout.

Lisa Quigley, Mind Matters Manager, said: “As with previous years the Mind Matters Mental Health Research Symposium promises to be a very informative and important day in terms of international researchers coming together to share their research, their conclusions, areas for further work and study, and best practice.

"Some of the topics we will be discussing, such as suicide, will be difficult, but research into issues affecting the international veterinary community is a vital first step to putting in place strategies and support mechanisms to help those in need. This is why research will be one of the key strategic priorities for the Mind Matters Initiative and our forthcoming actions in this area will be published later this year in our Mind Matters Initiative Strategic Plan.

“I would like to thank Dr Rosie Allister, a veterinary mental health researcher from the University of Edinburgh and manager of Vetlife Helpline, for putting together an excellent programme.

"As with previous years we are also offering free attendance of the symposium to those who have lived experience of mental ill-health, those who are currently not working, and veterinary and veterinary nursing students. If you have any queries about the event, please don’t hesitate to contact me on l.quigley@rcvs.org.uk to discuss further.”

Registration for those not entitled to a free ticket is £10.

To register for the event visit: www.vetmindmatters.org/events. 

The BSAVA has launched a new collection on One Health, including chapters from relevant BSAVA Manuals and resources such as Companion articles and Congress podcasts.

One Health – the symbiotic relationship between human, animal and environmental health – is becoming increasingly important, encompassing things like sustainability, the increase in antimicrobial resistance and the link between human and animal obesity. 

Krista Arnold, Honorary Secretary of BSAVA said: "The complicated relationship between human and animal health has been the subject of scientific investigation since the 19th century.

"Important discoveries and the recognition of disease connections have helped to develop strategies for disease prevention in humans and animals alike.

"This collection in the BSAVA Library will contribute to further understanding and knowledge of this important topic."

The collection can be accessed via the BSAVA Library here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/one-health

It is freely available until the end of December 2022; after this time access is £16.25 for BSAVA members and £25 for non-members.

Pfizer Animal Health is advising vets and horse owners to be on guard against the threat of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the UK, following a spate of outbreaks of the disease in several European countries this year.

West Nile Virus has recently made headline news because of a human outbreak in Greece which resulted in a number of deaths. Outbreaks have also occurred in Russia, Romania and Italy during 2010. West Nile Fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which carry the virus after biting infected birds. Primarily occurring between July and October, in line with typical peak activity of mosquitoes, it can have serious consequences on human and equine health, with severe cases resulting in fatal neurological disease.

There is no cure, though supportive treatment can aid recovery. However if the disease progresses to a state where the animal is not able to stand up, their chance of survival is considered low. Prevention of infection is difficult, but any steps that reduce mosquito numbers or the likelihood of horses and people being bitten may help to reduce the risk in areas where the disease is present. However, the only way to reduce the risk of an individual horse developing disease due to WNV is through vaccination.

Ben Gaskell, Pfizer's equine veterinary advisor said: "West Nile Virus may well become a very real threat to both horses and humans in Northern Europe. It is important for vets, horse owners and infectious disease experts to work together to mitigate its impact in the event of the virus becoming endemic across Europe. The rapid spread of the disease across North America is an illustration of what could potentially happen in Europe and it is important to remember there is no curative treatment - the only way to prevent clinical disease in horses is by vaccination." 

Pfizer Animal Health supports the PrEquID (Prevention of Equine Infectious Disease) group, which consists of internationally recognised equine and infectious disease experts. The group was formed to develop guidelines on the prevention and control of a number of equine infectious diseases, on a global basis. 

Klaus Osterrieder, Professor and Chair in the Institut für Virologie in the Veterinärfakultät at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany and a member of the PrEquID group advises: "Horse owners should ask their veterinarian for advice on appropriate prevention measures.  Experience has shown that adopting a prudent prevention strategy can be a very effective way of managing this devastating disease."

Further information on WNV is available at www.westnile.eu.

A new long acting sheep injection has been launched by Fort Dodge Animal Health which the company says will offer significant benefits to sheep farmers for both internal and external parasite control.  

Cydectin 2% LA for sheep is the latest product to join the Cydectin range and follows the long acting injection for cattle.

Based on Moxidectin, the product delivers a long action against worms, up to 111 days and scab, 60 days from a single injection.

Andrew Wylie from Fort Dodge said: "To put this into context, apart from the existing Cydectin range which lasts up to 35 days, no other product is licensed with persistent activity against worms and scab. Cydectin 2% LA for sheep offers three times the worm cover and double the scab cover from a single injection.

"Therefore farmers will benefit from Cydectin 2% LA through the combination of a single injection with extended persistency leading to a reduction in the number of treatments needed for worms and scab and the potential increase in lamb weight gain due to a lower worm and scab challenge."

Fort Dodge recommends the following three key uses for Cydectin 2% LA given the persistent effect and single shot:

• Worm control for ewes in the spring. This will reduce the spring rise of worm eggs from ewes, protecting the lambs and may well lead to a reduction in the number of lamb treatments needed.
• One shot scab prevention or treatment. The persistency will provide a lengthy protection against re-infestation from scab mites and will provide a massive boost in the fight against scab within a single shot.
• Quarantine treatment of incoming sheep against potentially resistant worms and scab mites. Moxidectin has the lowest resistance status of all wormers and with high potency it provides the best option for quarantine treating.

 Administration is by a single sub-cutaneous injection high up the neck at the base of the ear which is designed to limit the withhold period to 104 days. The technique is not difficult and, if used with the multidose applicator supplied, farmers will find it a straightforward procedure.

 Cydectin 2% LA is available in 50ml, 200ml and 500ml bottles and with a dose rate of 1ml per 20kg, a 500ml pack will treat 200 sheep at 50kg. For further, call Fort Dodge on 01489 781711.

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched its complimentary blood testing service that allows practitioners to investigate one of the main infectious causes of early embryo loss in sheep flocks.

The annual subsidised Barren EweCheck diagnostic scheme is available from 1^st December 2009 until 31^st March 2010 for breeding ewe flocks. The service establishes whether Toxoplasma gondii is potentially implicated in any empty or aborting ewes.

ISPAH says that data from the 2009 scheme showed that 69% of flocks had been exposed to the toxoplasma parasite at some point before blood sampling. As a result, practitioners were able to give clients receiving a positive diagnosis timely advice on disease control and the benefits of a Toxovax vaccination regime.

Further information and the 2010 Barren EweCheck pads are available directly from the company's Veterinary Support Group by calling 01908 685685.

Pfizer Animal Health has launched a dedicated Equine Business Unit to provide a higher level of service and a comprehensive range of products to equine vets across the UK.

Created following the merger with Fort Dodge, the Pfizer Equine Business Unit is headed by Ben Lacey MA Vet MB MRCVS, who has previously held both technical and sales roles at Pfizer. Ben and his team have a brief to offer a breadth of product, support and flexibility not previously available to equine vets.

The product range offered by the Pfizer Equine Business Unit includes the Equest range of parasiticides; the Duvaxyn vaccines for Equine Herpes Virus, West Nile Virus and Rotavirus and products such as Equimidine and Torbugesic.  Also offered are existing Pfizer brands such as the Equip vaccine range, the antibiotic Excenel Sterile Powder, the NSAID Rimadyl for Horses and Depo-MedroneV.

Five experienced account managers with a strong track record in the equine sector have been appointed by Pfizer to build relationships with equine vet practices on a regional basis.  They are:

South East England                            Mark Baker
West Midlands, Cheshire, Wales        Laurie May
East Anglia, East Midlands                 Penny McCann
South West, South Wales                   Anna Cunningham
The North, Scotland                            Alexandra Cox

Ben Lacey said:  "Building our new team and combining the highly regarded products offered previously by both Fort Dodge and Pfizer has proved a stimulating process.  We've also worked closely with many of our existing practice customers to look at how we can develop the service we provide to them. 

"We're now able to offer a product range which I believe is unrivalled in the market and a highly committed team of equine professionals, who share a vision and passion for equine health.  We're looking forward to building our business with both existing and new customers in the months ahead."

Amy Bergs MRCVS, owner of The Cat Doctor in Surrey and co-founder of the new British Mobile Veterinary Association, has won a week's worth of free advertising for her practice on national TV.

The competition was run by the mobile payments company iZettle, which invited entrants to submit a 15 minute video about their business.

Amy's husband and business partner Robert put the video entry together. It was one of seven winners picked out of hundreds that iZettle said it received.

The resulting advert (below) is being shown on a number of TV channels, including Sky News, Sky Sports and Comedy Central, from today.

Amy said: "We are so excited to have won the competition. We love what we do and would like to help more cats, it’s such an amazing opportunity to share what we can offer on national television!"

watch?v=Vi8SCWcPJoo