The RCVS has launched a mobile version of the Code of Professional Conduct for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses: an app for Android devices and a web app for Apple users.
Once installed, the app provides smartphone and tablet users with a mobile-friendly version of the Code and all 27 chapters of supporting guidance in their pockets, even when there is no network connection. Whenever the Code is updated, the latest version will be available to download the next time the device is online.
Head of Communications, Lizzie Lockett, said: "Our new app provides easy access to the Code, so busy veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can now keep our guidance to hand, even when out and about. It's never been easier to ensure that you're always working to the Code's principles of veterinary practice and professional responsibilities."
The app also offers a keyword search of the whole Code and supporting guidance, links to other sources of information and contact details for further advice over the phone or email.
To install the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct app on your android device, visit Google Play and search for 'RCVS code'. To install it on an Apple device, visit the RCVS Code web pages in the device's internet browser, click on the app link in the Code tool box on the right hand side, and follow the instructions.
Alternatively, a copy of the full Code and all supporting guidance can now be downloaded in PDF format from the RCVS website, date-stamped so that you know when it was last amended.
Visit www.rcvs.org.uk/code or www.rcvs.org.uk/vncode and see the 'Code tools' box for both the PDF and the web app.
The College says it would very much like feedback about the app, or suggestions for future apps - email Christine James in the Communications Department, on christinej@rcvs.org.uk.
Despite being one of the most common endocrine diseases in dogs, affecting approximately 1-2 dogs per 1,0001, Cushing’s syndrome can often be difficult to diagnose due to non-specific clinical signs and the lack of a single, highly accurate test.
The webinar is being presented by Professor Carmel Mooney FRCVS, an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine (Endocrinology), who will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to confidently diagnose and treat Cushing’s syndrome and learn the essentials of monitoring trilostane therapy.
Carmel is currently Clinical Director of the University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital, Director of the ECVIM-CA residency programme and Director of the DVMS Professional Doctorate Programme within the School of Veterinary Medicine.
She has published widely in the field of small animal endocrinology with over 80 original articles, reviews and case reports published in peer-reviewed journals, four books as joint editor and 30 book chapters.
https://membership.elearning.vet/cushings-webinarcarmel-mooney
Reference
Farmers within the Protection Zone (PZ) are being urged by the Joint Action against Bluetongue (JAB) to vaccinate their animals if they have not already done so.
In a joint statement JAB said: "The vaccination campaign is going exceptionally well with more than 9 million does of vaccine made available to farmers in the PZ. However, we must not be complacent, as there are still more animals to vaccinate and we must not delay in protecting them from bluetongue.
"As the weather conditions improve, the risk of new cases of bluetongue increases and the objective of the JAB campaign has been to try and protect the UK from the devastation this disease caused in much of the rest of Europe last year. We do not want to see in the UK the heavy losses of sheep seen by some other member states or the fertility problems seen in many cattle herds. The message is simple - if you want to protect your livestock, ‘don't hesitate, vaccinate'."
Commenting on the recent delays in vaccine delivery, JAB said: "It is unfortunate that we have seen a problem with the latest batch of vaccine, which for quality control reasons is undergoing further testing. JAB understands the frustration that this delay has caused. However, this is just one batch and Intervet has so far exceeded delivery expectations and we are hopeful that we will be back on track very soon."
The company says Locox TT has been developed to have high levels of EPA and DHA Omega-3, with independent lab analysis showing it contains over four times more Omega-3s than the market leading supplement.
The new product also chondroprotective ingredients and antioxidants.
Locox TT comes in tablet form: 1-2 tabs per day, with no loading phase required.
Will Peel, TVM UK’s product manager said: "Locox TT has undergone extensive independent testing so vets can be assured that the information they give to pet owners is verified and can be trusted.
"With an abundance of joint supplements on the market, we believe it is important that vets are able to make informed decisions when selecting their chosen brand, by providing clear, trustworthy information, alongside a high-quality product.’
TVM says it will be making client leaflets and waiting room questionnaires to help pet owners identify the symptoms of osteoarthritis in dogs.
For more information, visit www.tvm-uk.com/locoxtt or contact your local TVM territory manager.
A new diagnostic blood test has been developed to combat the virulent horse disease Strangles.
The breakthrough has come after four years of research by scientists at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.
The blood test identifies horses that have recently been exposed to Strangles, enabling it to be nipped in the bud.
Oliver Wilson, campaign director at The British Horse Society, said: "It is fantastic news. This big breakthrough is a real boon to horse owners and I believe will lead to a significant drop in Strangles outbreaks. But there is still much to be done.
"The AHT's work to develop and test a fully effective vaccine against Strangles is ongoing. To support it we need to raise another £120,000 by the end of this year to reach the campaign target of £250,000."
For more information about the Strangles campaign, visit http://www.strangles.org/
Almost 90% of the British public think that microchipping dogs should be compulsory, according to a new survey carried out by Petlog, the lost and found pet database.
A public consultation into compulsory microchipping, which proposes that microchips are used to help tackle the issue of dangerous dogs, closes today. Interestingly however, the survey showed that the main reason for compulsory microchipping should be to help speed up the return of a lost pet, although 38% of those who are in favour of compulsory microchipping also thought it would help to tackle dangerous dogs.
Celia Walsom, Petlog Executive said: "The results from this survey were very promising and showed that there is huge support out there for compulsory microchipping. I hope that the public consultation demonstrates the true extent of public support and that Defra will seriously take this on board.
"Unfortunately, press coverage surrounding compulsory microchipping has been focusing on the issue of dangerous dogs and has ignored the main objective of a microchip which is reunification.
The Microchipping Alliance which comprises animal welfare charities, veterinary organisations, assistance dog charities, dog membership organisations and others who are impacted by dog issues, released a briefing at the end of last year that looked into the economic consequences of compulsory microchipping. The briefing states that if compulsory microchipping was to be introduced to all dogs there is a potential saving of over £20 million from reduced kennelling and other costs associated with stray dogs.
Celia continued: "The reasons for compulsory microchipping are strong. We at Petlog along with the Microchip Alliance and a number of other organisations want to see microchipping made compulsory to help dog welfare and reduce the number of dogs needlessly rehomed or put to sleep because they couldn't be reunited with their owner."
Petlog conducted the survey using visitors to the London Pet Show to find out public feeling regarding compulsory microchipping.
This month is National Microchipping Month, an initiative run by Petlog to promote the benefits of microchipping to pet owners and also encourage people to make sure that their contact details are up to date.
If you would like to take part in Petlog's microchipping survey, you can still do so, here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Petlogmicrochipping.
For more information, visit www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk.
Invicta Animal Health has been appointed exclusive UK distributor of EquiChek, a rapid screening test which uses whole blood to assess the level of Serum Amyloid A (SAA), a major acute phase protein of inflammation in horses.
According to the company, EquiChek is the first test which is able to provide a visual semi-quantitative result within 15 minutes. The test will display 4 lines for a normal level of SAA and sequentially fewer lines depending on the severity of the inflammation.
Rob Watkins, Managing Director of Invicta, said: "Monitoring SAA levels in horses is a well-documented method of indicating a variety of conditions and for assessing health/inflammatory status prior to performance. However, the needs for equipment and time to perform the tests have always limited the situations in which it can be used.
"EquiChek changes all that. A stableside test for SAA means that monitoring real-time becomes a reality. Whether for tailoring antibiotic therapy, to check pre-breeding health status through to pre-competition health assessment, the applications are literally endless".
For further information see www.invictavet.com or phone 01403 791313
As part of its Pet Factor campaign, the National Office of Animal Health has launched a competition via its consumer website Pet Health Information www.pethealthinfo.org.uk to find a pet with "the Pet Factor".
NOAH is inviting owners, vets, and vet nurses to go on to the website and put forward nominations, in no more than 200 words, of animals that have staged an amazing recovery, shown exceptional bravery or set themselves apart in some other way.
The Pet Factor campaign was launched with a set of three viral videos, focussing on Pet Factor auditions for a dog, cat, and hamster that reminded owners of the importance of basic pet care.
The PHI site encourages owners to go to talk to pet care professionals to seek advice about how to keep their pets healthy and happy.
Phil Sketchley chief executive of NOAH said: "The video campaign was very successful, with over 25,000 people having watched them so far. Now we want to take the campaign further and find pets that have done something special in a way that really embodies the spirit of 'the Pet Factor'."
The winning pet and their owner will receive a full photo shoot worth over £1,000 with renowned animal photographer Sam Lunt. The final photographs will be presented to them in a beautiful bound book, to remember their special day.
If you think one of your clients deserves to win, submit your 200 word entry at www.pethealthinfo.org.uk, with a photograph if you have one. The closing date is 28 February 2010.
Greater collaboration between disciplines to promote the 'One Health' approach for people and pets could save the NHS 2.5 billion a year, according to Danny Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln.
Professor Mills, an authority on companion animal behaviour, cognition and welfare, made the claim at Purina’s 'Better with Pets' European Forum in Brussels, where experts in the animal and human relationship gathered recently to discuss the benefits that pets can have to public health.
Professor Mills highlighted how animal assisted activities and therapy (AAT), where animals are used to improve social, emotional and cognitive functioning, supporting recovery and rehabilitation, can play an important role in the cost saving. He also noted how pets have been shown to reduce anxiety in those with autism, while also easing the stress levels of parents and carers.
Attendees at the event heard an example of AAT in practice at the Sant Joan de Déu-Barcelona hospital in Spain where a functional unit has been in operation for the past six years. Here, sick children receive AAT on the advice of a doctor, both in the emergency room and on an inpatient basis. The hospital reports that the dogs help the children to have a better life and cope more effectively with their illnesses. Purina called on the public health community to recognise the advantages of AAT and to play an active part in supporting this vital element of public health care.
The panel – which also included Andrea Meisser, Vice-President of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on the Human-Animal Relationship, Ruud Tombrock, Director for the Europe Region of World Animal Protection, and Andrea Gavinelli, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Health and food safety Directorate General – noted that while the benefits of the bond between people and pets are widely felt, they are sometimes hard to quantify empirically.
Professor Mills noted that it can be challenging for researchers to have papers accepted by journals or funding bodies, making it difficult for policymakers to promote the benefits of pets for public health. The panel agreed that greater partnership between all disciplines – from researchers to veterinarians and policymakers – was crucial to advancing the understanding of the public health benefits of pets and people.
Discussing how policymakers could play a part in promoting the One Health approach, Mr Gavanelli called on the pet care community to work together to provide scientific examples and data highlighting economic and social benefits. He also noted that policymakers in Europe had an important part to play by taking a holistic approach to the issue.
Professor Mills said: "The benefits of responsible pet ownership are clear. I’ve seen pets have dramatic effects on autistic children. Understanding the subtleties and nuances of how people and pets work together is vitally important for the well-being of both, and has the potential to make a massive difference to public health. But it is crucial that the industry is given an opportunity to analyse this further. Ignoring the evidence is a far greater problem than dismissing the research as being at an early stage."
The report was put together by Hill’s new Cat Advisory Team (C.A.T.), a group of leaders from across the feline veterinary world, including private practice, academia and industry.
The report looks at cat demographics, population statistics, most common medical conditions, pet food advances, and the effect of cost on veterinary care and nutrition.
It also considers the fact that apparently, 60% of cats don't receive annual veterinary care, often due to clinic visit stress, noting that practices designated as 'Cat Friendly' report improved client satisfaction and an 81% increase in revenue.
It's a really interesting report, only slightly let down by the way it refers to cat owners by that awful finger-down-the-throat term: 'pet parents'.
https://na.hillsvna.com/en_US/resources-2/view/244
The extension, which does not collect any data, interrupts searches related to a broad range of mental health and life challenges, including substance misuse, financial struggles, eating disorders, domestic abuse and more, with a positive message of hope and signposts to a variety of different mental health services.
According to R;ipple, its extension has now interrupted over 100,000 harmful online searches and 32 people so far say they are still alive today because the software intervened at a moment of crisis.
Nick Berryman from Agilio said: “Our commitment aligns with R;pple's mission to combat the stigma surrounding mental health and provide essential resources for those at risk.
"As part of this, we have implemented the tool across our own organisation to safeguard the wellbeing of our staff.
"In parallel, by supporting R;pple’s wider initiatives, we are helping to raise awareness and empower healthcare communities to take proactive steps in supporting those in need.”
R;ipple will be holding a live webinar on Tuesday 7th May at 1pm: Supporting workplace mental health and suicide prevention: my brother’s legacy.
In the webinar, R;ipple founder Alice Hendy MBE will draw on her experience of having lost her brother, Josh, to suicide in 2020 at the age of 21, and explain how healthcare organisations can create safer, more supportive environments through practical steps and awareness.
To register to attend, visit https://tinyurl.com/my-brother-s-legacy.
https://www.ripplesuicideprevention.com
https://agiliosoftware.com/
BCF has launched a series of instructional videos demonstrating how to perform an ultrasound examination of the bovine reproductive tract, now available online.
The videos were developed by BCF's in-house vet, Kimberly Palgrave, in collaboration with the University of Bristol Veterinary School. They show everything from machine set up and controls, to scanning techniques and features identified in pregnant and non-pregnant cows.
One hour of CPD can be earned by completing a self-assessment quiz after watching the videos.
Kimberly said: "Following the success of the small animal series of instructional videos, we were keen to bring something similar to the bovine market. Our aim for these videos is to give vets a resource to help them either transition from manual palpation to ultrasound or improve their existing ultrasound skills and gain confidence in their technique, as well as being a useful teaching resource for veterinary students. As always, we welcome feedback and suggestions for the future."
To see the videos, visit the farm animal learning section of the BCF website www.bcftechnology.com.
The updated standards document applies to the awarding organisations and higher education institutions that set the veterinary nursing curricula, the centres (such as further education colleges) that deliver the courses, and the affiliated RCVS-approved training practices where SVNs undertake their placements.
The updated standards were approved by RCVS Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council in February 2021 after feedback from stakeholders.
There are six overarching standards within the framework, which also provide guidance on how the individual standards can be evidenced. The overarching standards are: learning culture; governance and quality; student empowerment; educators and assessors; curricula and assessment; and effective clinical learning.
The College says the new Standards Framework, which draws together all the previous separate guidance for awarding organisations, centres and training practices, allows greater flexibility for how training can be delivered.
Julie Dugmore, RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing, said: “During 2020, accreditations and quality monitoring audits were conducted against the RCVS Standards Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training. Feedback from all involved was positive but reflected a need for clarification in some areas and further examples to assist with evidencing compliance.
“Since February 2021, four accreditations have been conducted against the updated standards, the results of which demonstrate a positive move towards the outcomes based approach to accreditation and quality monitoring.”
The full set of standards can be read online at www.rcvs.org.uk/standards-framework-vn.
Pfizer has announced the results of research carried out as part of its Vet Support+ initiative, which shows that the three most important factors in engaging a veterinary team are: leadership, employee performance management and team effectiveness. Of the three, performance management is the most important.
The employee engagement survey was carried out to provide an insight to the veterinary market specifically. According to Pfizer more than 4,000 responses were received, providing insights from 749 practice owners, partners and practice managers and almost 3,500 individual veterinary practice employees. Analysis and modelling from an independent expert and the Vet Support+ team led to the identification of three drivers for an actively engaged team within a veterinary practice, and the creation of a national benchmark for employee engagement. Pfizer says Vet Support+ is committing to running the research on a regular basis so that employee engagement amongst all veterinary staff can be monitored on an ongoing basis.
Pfizer says that although recognised as the most important factor in generating good employee engagement, performance management was identified as an area of weakness in many practices. There were contradictory responses from management and staff regarding both formal appraisals and informal feedback taking place. In both cases, management tended to believe this was happening while staff disagreed. Of further frustration for staff was the management of poor performers, with 52% of staff stating that poor performers were not managed effectively.
Leadership is critical for any successful business, however the survey showed that while personal relationships between management and staff are good (79% of vets and 76% of staff agreed that the relationship between management and teams are generally good), there is a lack of trust between leadership and staff (80% of vets said they believe there is trust in the team, while only 62% of staff agreed).
Practice owners were more upbeat about team effectiveness: 76% said they believe the team was willing to put in more effort, while only 63% of staff agreed. There was another inconsistency regarding communication within the team, with only 49% of staff thinking that communication in practice is good versus 65% of practice owners.
Ned Flaxman, Director Business Innovation at Pfizer Animal Health said: "At face value this data makes for very interesting reading and the identification of the key drivers of engagement in practice is the practical benefit for practices to prioritise their focus of activity on staff management."
He added: "This research will enable us to work with practices to do their own employee engagement survey to be benchmarked against the national study. This will provide an evidence-based approach to identify the biggest gaps for improvement, and our Vet Support+ team can work with practices to deliver solutions for those challenges whether leadership, team effectiveness or performance management."
Practice owners and managers wishing to understand the data in more detail and measure levels of engagement within their own team against the evidence-based benchmarks the study provides should contact the Vet Support+ team at http://www.vetsupportplus.co.uk/
Key findings from the Employee Engagement Survey:
Specifically, the review is of The Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011 as amended by the Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals (Amendment) Order 2014.
The consultation is seeking opinions on whether:
The consultation is not about potential changes to the legalisation following Brexit although evidence collected as part of this review may be relevant to future discussions.
The BSAVA says it is aware that the changes to the Pet Travel Scheme, introduced in January 2012 and December 2014, have significantly increased the number of animals, particularly puppies, entering the UK including those for sale which should not be coming in under the Pet Travel Scheme.
It says it also knows that a significant number of veterinary practices have been presented with animals that do not fully comply with the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme and that contacting the appropriate department in the Local Authority is not always easy.
The Association is therefore encouraging members of the profession to feed into this consultation and encourage any clients who have experience of travelling to and from Europe with their pets to do so as well.
The BSAVA says it will be submitting a response itself, and if anyone would rather send their comments via the BSAVA, you should email Sally Everitt (Head of Scientific Policy) s.everitt@bsava.com by 20th October.
The competition will run throughout National Microchipping Month in June, to highlight the importance of microchipping (not to mention the fact that it becomes compulsory on 10th June).
Identi also has a range of support materials to help practices answer clients' questions about chipping, including a social media toolkit and a Practice Pet Protection Pack with client leaflets (available in digital or hard copy form).
To enter the competition: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qmJJiJadeGNJ-PelBU_Jrh43i5htqGl7mQ1hVlW3hSY/edit
For info about the support materials: contact@identichip.co.uk
Amongst the research being presented is 'Stress Reduction in Children', a Mars-funded study in which 75 male children were monitored to see how their levels of the stress-hormone cortisol varied when they were exposed to mild social stresses. The study found that children with a dog present showed significantly lower levels of the stress-hormone than those with a friendly adult present. In addition, the more the children stroked and interacted with the dog, the further their levels of cortisol decreased.
Sandra McCune, Research Manager for the Human-Companion Animal Bond Research Programme at Mars Petcare's Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (there's a job title-and-a-half) said: "Pet owners will tell you just how much their pet means to them but it is research such as this that proves just how fundamental and important the bond is between people and pets. These studies provide us with valuable insight into this special bond and the health benefits of owning a pet."
New faces on the RCVS Council include Richard Stephenson, Charles Gruchy and Catherine Goldie. Dr Barry Johnson (first elected to Council in 1985) and Dr Christopher Chesney (first elected in 1996) have been voted on for further terms. Dr Robert Ellis, who has had three previous periods on Council, has been re-elected.
Vets are being asked to help pig producers assess their health status and biosecurity measures, as part of BPEX's new National Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP).
The national programme is currently running alongside existing programmes in East Anglia, Yorkshire and the East Midlands and will cover all the remaining regions. BPEX will now start to combine all programmes into the National PHIP. So all English pig producers and vets can join the industry-wide drive to improve pig health and reduce costs.
BPEX says the national Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP) project will need the support of veterinary surgeons to:
BPEX regional health coordinator Helen Clarke said: "The surveys are filled in by vets during quarterly farm visits to gather information on prevalence of four key diseases - swine dysentery, PRRS, enzootic pneumonia and mange. This is then used to populate a confidential online mapping service, which PHIP members can use to keep informed of health challenges in their area.
"The biosecurity audit is a series of simple to answer questions about current biosecurity practice of a unit. This then forms the basis for biosecurity planning and discussions to help clients make improvements and review their impact."
A further benefit when producers sign up to the PHIP is free-of-charge post-mortem information from the BPEX Pig Health Scheme (BPHS). The BPHS provides producers with detailed post-mortem health reports when they submit pigs to participating abattoirs.
Clients who are:
Practices can claim £50 per unit for completing the survey and biosecurity audits. This still needs to be claimed through specific regional systems because of current funding contracts.
Contact Helen Clarke for details: helen.clarke@bpex.ahdb.org.uk or 07973 701369. Visit http://www.pighealth.org.uk/
The programme starts in January 2022 and places are on a first come, first served basis.
The BSAVA says the new programme is designed primarily for veterinary surgeons working in small animal practice who have a particular interest in diagnostic imaging. The aim is to provide participants with the knowledge and expertise they need to choose the most clinically relevant diagnostic imaging technique confidently and competently.
Participants will also learn how to interpret images obtained with radiography and ultrasonography accurately and enhance their understanding of more advanced imaging techniques.
The programme is designed to allow part time study and comprises 75% core teaching with a 25% elective component, allowing participants to personalise their study to meet their clinical needs. The in-person attendance part of the programme focuses on hands on practicals and workshops.
The online units for the programme will contain both pre-recorded webinars as well as interactive live sessions with the unit teachers. Students can also choose one of the two currently available electives to focus on at the end of the second year: either ‘Enhanced Ultrasonography’ or ‘Enhanced Cardiac Imaging’.
Lucie Goodwin, Head of Education said: “The certificate has been designed to take into account the caseload and facilities in primary care practice ensuring that it is relevant, and the skills students learn can be directly applied to practice. An increased amount of content delivered online means that the certificate is more accessible to vets around the UK and overseas, minimising travelling for attendance days, which are mainly for practical sessions. We are also pleased to be able to offer an elective component to this PGCert and following feedback from students, will look to develop further electives.”
The programme will be assessed by written exams, a case diary and a case book. Successful completion will lead to the award of BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging (BSAVA PGCertSADI).
To apply, visit the BSAVA website here. If you have any questions about the certificate, you can contact certificate@bsava.com.