Here's the latest horror to hit the shops in time for Halloween this year:
Form an orderly queue please, everyone.
The BSAVA is calling on veterinary surgeons to vote for colleagues that they feel are deserving of one of the Association's prestigious awards.
The awards are:
All members of BSAVA are eligible to vote - either in just one, or multiple categories. Visit www.bsava.com/awards or call 01452 726705 for details.
The deadline for votes is 14 September. The Awards Ceremony will take place at BSAVA Congress 4-7 April 2013.
In addition, the Association is inviting applications for the Frank Beattie Travel Scholarship. Established in 1988 in memory of Frank Beattie, a well respected veterinary surgeon and a long-standing member of the BSAVA, it is awarded annually from a generous gift given by Frank's widow, Annie. The scholarship, worth £2000, is to help a BSAVA member undertake a trip abroad to study a particular aspect of veterinary practice. To apply for this scholarship email h.field@bsava.com or call 01452 726705. The deadline for application is 28 September.
CPD Solutions has launched a new training CD to help vets refine their skills in the examination of neurological cases.
Authored by neurology expert Simon Platt of the University of Georgia, the multimedia CD gives information and advice on localising the site of a lesion, determining the severity of the disease process and assessing the prognosis for the patient. It includes video footage to show how to perform a full neurological examination and to test for specific spinal reflexes and postural reactions, as well as cranial nerve evaluation and gait evaluation. Examples of normal and abnormal responses are also given.
CPD Solutions’ Dr Susie Coughlan adds: “The video clips, together with the extensive illustration and images that are on the CD will help vets to develop their skills and enable an effective examination to be carried out and interpreted, every time a neurological patient enters the consulting room.”
The Neurology CD is the latest addition to the CPD Solutions range of Keysteps™ training CDs. Already available are CDs on head and neck surgery and joint surgery. More CDs and DVDs are to be launched later this year.
The Keysteps™ CDs, each cost £95 + VAT. For more information, contact CPD Solutions on tel: 0151 328 0444, visit the website http://www.cpd-solutions.com/, or visit the company at BSAVA on stand number 903.
The project, which launched in September 2022 and was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim, has given subsidised respiratory pathogen investigations to over 300 farms so far.
The investigations revealed a mixture of agents, including: mycoplasma (37%), IBR (6%), P13 (12%), coronavirus (38%), histophilus (48%), RSV (30%), mannheimia (64%), and pasteurella (94%).
Following each investigation, discussions were held between farmer and vet about taking a more preventative approach, considering things like biosecurity, immunity, housing, environmental management, vaccination and treatment protocols.
CVS says the investigations have also enabled its vets to target the right vaccine to the right farm to cover the main risk periods for those animals.
Vaccinations have been timed in relation to peaks in clinical cases and pre-stress periods - such as weaning, group movements or transport to ensure animals are protected against the correct pathogen effectively.
CVS says that taking this preventative herd health measure has resulted in significantly fewer antibiotics being required to treat respiratory infection and disease in the past year.
Steven Carragher, Quality Improvement Farm Lead for CVS and Senior Veterinary Surgeon at Alnorthumbria Vets, said: “Though only running for just over two years, our programme is already yielding significant data, and we’re using this evidence to help each farm successfully implement a range of measures to help prevent and vaccinate against pneumonia – and to reduce antibiotic use.
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
Initial laboratory tests on the samples taken this morning from the cattle on the holding in Surrey where disease was suspected have indicated the presence of Foot and Mouth Disease. On the basis of these initial laboratory results and clinical symptoms Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), has confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease. The farm comprises a number of separate parcels of land and a single Protection Zone will be put in place which extends a 3 kilometres radius from each of them, and a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres radius beyond that. Footpaths will be closed in the Protection Zone.
Abbey Veterinary Group in Chaddesden, Derby has won a dental x-ray system worth £2,500 in a prize draw held by Pedigree.
The competition aimed to encourage veterinary practices to sign up for the inaugural Oral Care Month which saw 1109 clinics educating dog owners on the importance of regular dental care.
Clive McPherson, veterinary partner at Abbey Veterinary Group, said: "We were extremely pleased to hear that we had won the dental x-ray system. We had been planning to upgrade our dental facilities and this was one item that was high on our wish list. The new machine will enable us to carry out our dental work to a higher standard and will be of use in other maxilla facial problems. We expect it to be used daily and we are very grateful to Pedigree for its very generous prize."
Howard Wilder has been elected chairman of the National Office of Animal Health for 2008-2009. He is the managing director of Genitrix Ltd. The election took place at NOAH's AGM in London on 23 April. Mr Wilder was elected to the NOAH Board of Management in 2005 and appointed Vice-Chairman in May 2006. He replaces Graham Dick who now becomes NOAH past-chairman. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Wilder said: "NOAH provides an important forum in which animal medicine manufacturers can come together on an equal footing to discuss the issues and opportunities they are facing and developments in the sector."
The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), which is comprised of representatives from the UK's leading animal welfare organisations, has launched a set of minimum standards for websites that advertise pets for sale.
PAAG says the new standards have been developed to improve the welfare of the pets and to protect members of the public from the risk of ending up with sick, dangerous or even illegal animals. The standards have also been endorsed by Defra and Lord de Mauley, the Minister for Animal Welfare, who has been discussing the need for improvement with the leading online pet classified websites.
The Group points to Kennel Club research which shows that one in five puppies bought online are dying before they reach six months, together with some of the worst adverts the organisation has seen online, as evidence for the urgent need for these new standards:
PAAG says it is working with the Government to remind consumers and websites that an animal is not a commodity like a washing machine or a car, and should not be advertised or bought in the same way. Websites in compliance with the standards will be identifiable to consumers on the PAAG website as the ethical and safer choice when deciding to find a pet online. The group is encouraging the public to stay vigilant to ensure that websites meet the standards consistently, and not to use sites that don't apply the Minimum Standards.Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the Kennel Club, said: "Whilst we recognise that puppies are commonly advertised online, it is still shocking to know that there are between 100,000 and 120,000 pet advertisements appearing on UK websites each day. The research undertaken by PAAG has revealed some truly terrible examples where animal welfare was clearly the last thought in the mind of the advertiser. Every day we hear from people who have bought a puppy online only for it to fall sick or die soon after, and the Kennel Club's research for its Puppy Awareness Week shows that one in five pups bought online die before they're six months old. "We hope that the Minimum Standards will be just that, a minimum standard that a website must reach before posting advertisements for pets. In an ideal world we would prefer people not to buy pets online but would advise that if you are doing so that you check the website adheres to PAAG's Minimum Standards. We urge people to go to a member of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme if they want the best chance of getting a healthy and well cared for puppy, as this is the only scheme in the country that sets standards for and monitors breeders."
Lord de Mauley, Minister for Animal Welfare at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: "It is vitally important that advertising websites do all they can to ensure the welfare of animals sold on their sites and to prevent the sale of banned breeds. I fully support PAAG's Minimum Standards and would encourage all advertising websites to sign up to these."
PAAG says that the Minimum Standards are just the first step to improving how pets are advertised online, and that it will work closely with websites including Gumtree, Loot and Preloved to provide support on the reporting of suspicious adverts and the moderating of such ads. A team of volunteer moderators will also be created to provide further support for the websites and ensure that if anyone is turning to the internet to buy an animal they can do so with more confidence that they are buying a healthily bred pet.PAAG has compiled a video of case studies showing the impact of inappropriate online advertising on members of the public, the veterinary profession and animal welfare authorities. See: http://www.paag.org.uk.
PAAG comprises: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Cats Protection, Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA), One Kind, PDSA, RWAF, Raystede, Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association (REPTA), Wood Green the Animals Charity, World Horse Welfare.
Merial Animal Health, manufacturer of Previcox, has launched a new campaign in small animal practices across the UK to continue to spread the message of 'total joint health'.
As part of the campaign, Merial has produced 'The A-Z of Canine Mobility' - a series of short articles and bite-sized information which can be disseminated to clients, helping to educate dog owners about canine osteoarthritis and the treatment options available.
Previcox Brand Manager Kathryn England said: "We are providing regularly updated articles and information to interested practices in a form that is easily pasted into a newsletter, eshot or fixed to a waiting room wall so that they can communicate with their clients quickly and easily. It's essentially free information to encourage owners to bring their dogs in for a joint check up."
Merial says the message about the importance of joint health and osteoarthritis is not well understood by pet owners, as demonstrated by a recent survey1 which found that only 53% of the owners of old dogs considered reduced willingness to exercise as serious enough to require veterinary attention.
Merial's Technical Manager, Kevin Whelan said: "The results highlight the fact that owners of older pets, even those who would be considered as responsible pet owners, do not consider signs such as unwillingness to exercise or hind leg stiffness to be particularly important. It's therefore important to educate and engage pet owners on this topic to encourage them to seek advice from their vet"
To sign up for regular free updates contact your Merial Territory Manager or call or call 0870 6000 123.
Reference
1. (Davies, 2011)
Vétoquinol has announced that Zylkène, a complementary feed used to help pets cope with unpredictable situations, is now available in a 20 capsule pack.
The new packs have been designed to have more 'stand out appeal' on the shelves. Veterinary practices will now be able to display the new packs in waiting rooms and reception areas in a custom-made display unit to generate interest from pet owners and increase revenue for the practice.
Krystyna Joyce, Product Manager at Vétoquinol, said: "This has a huge benefit for the vet practice. As well as increased revenue, pet owners are much more likely to initiate a discussion about behaviour if they can see that there is a product to help their pet adjust to unusual circumstances or environmental changes."
Krystyna added: "With a number of behaviour products on the market, it can be confusing for pet owners to know which ones can be used when. We want to make it easier for pet owners: now when they come to their vets, they can see Zylkène, know what it's for, understand which strength will be right for their pet and pick it up."
As well as increasing product awareness, the packs will work alongside Vétoquinol's ongoing series of pet owner guides which offer advice on how best to help an animal deal with an unusual situation or life change.
Zylkène retail packs are available now from any veterinary wholesaler.
Charlotte will share practical advice on achieving successful transfusions, in particular looking at how to overcome the challenges in sourcing blood products, especially for feline patients.
The presentation will cover:
There'll be a live Q&A session with Charlotte at the end, when Horiba's experts will also be available to answer veterinary diagnostics-related questions.
https://horiba.link/canine-and-feline-blood-transfusions.
Animus Surgical has launched Vetlog, a new temperature data logger designed to be used by the veterinary market. Vetlog will enable practices to prove their temperature compliance to the VMD and RCVS Practice Standards Scheme. Steve Beddall of Animus Surgical said: "data loggers can be easily placed in a fridge and then simply attached to a PC to download data in report or chart format". The company claims that the product is easy-to-use, cost-effective and will provide practices with a permanent record of temperature readings from the day practices start using them.For more information visit http://www.animussurgical.com/ or telephone 01449 775330.
The British Veterinary Association has reacted to the Comprehensive Spending Review announced by the Government.
BVA President, Harvey Locke said: "Clearly this is a substantial hit on Defra's overall budget but there are some elements to welcome.
"We are pleased with the commitment to protecting the science base and Defra's clear focus on tackling TB and we await with interest future announcements on how the Government plans to introduce responsibility and cost sharing.
"However, the Government has put a lot of emphasis on securing flood defences within Defra's budget and we remain concerned that other crucial animal health and welfare issues could be further squeezed in this massively reduced budget.
"The BVA will continue to champion these health and welfare issues to ensure they remain a priority for the Department."
The Kennel Club is hosting its second Puppy Awareness Week to help improve the health and lives of dogs around the UK, and is seeking assistance from the veterinary profession.
Puppy Awareness Week is taking place from 8th - 14th September and aims to help people find a healthy, happy puppy that is right for their lifestyle, whilst raising awareness about the plight of puppies and breeding bitches born into cruel puppy farms.
To help, veterinary surgeons and nurses are being asked to join in the week, putting up posters and literature in client waiting areas, and selling Puppy Awareness Week badges for £2, which will go to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: "It is vitally important that we spread the word about buying puppies responsibly. At veterinary surgeries there is a captive audience of animal lovers and we can't think of anyone better to communicate with. Not only are a vet's clients animal lovers and as such, potential new dog owners, but they may also make great champions of the cause, spreading the message about buying a puppy responsibly further afield.
"Sadly, we are seeing tens of thousands of puppies born each year suffer as puppy farms churn out litter after litter of undernourished and badly cared for puppies, and then selling them on to unsuspecting owners through pet shops, newspaper ads, online adverts and various other means. With help from veterinary practices we want to provide information throughout Puppy Awareness Week to help people understand how to buy a healthy, happy puppy, and to raise money for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which supports charities and organisations that are making dogs' lives better."
To get involved in Puppy Awareness Week and receive literature and Puppy Awareness badges, contact the Kennel Club press office at press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk.
Puppy Awareness Week will kick off at Pup Aid on September 8th in Primrose Hill, London and will run until 14th September. To find out more, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/paw.
Onemytis is an air plasma knife which enables veterinary surgeons to cut, dissect and vaporise tissue at temperatures below 50°C (122°F), which the maker says allows procedures to be performed with greater precision, efficiency and speed.
The manufacturer claims that operating at such a low temperature significantly reduces tissue thermal damage and surgical pain, leading to smoother anaesthesia, faster surgery and recovery times, and fewer potential complications.
Julian Hoad MRCVS was an early adopter of the technology and will lead the workshop.
He said: "I have been using the Onemytis AirPlasma for around five years and I’m still really enjoying it.
"It cuts very precisely, with minimal bleeding, and the healing is excellent.
"I also use it for tissue ablation or removal of small skin masses under sedation.
"I wouldn’t be without it.”
To book a place, contact Douglas McCallum via e-mail at dmccallum@mediproductions.com or call +44 (0)7393 440736.
https://www.onemytis.com
Vets and vet nurses are being asked to take part in a survey which aims to help the industry get a better understanding of canine reproduction health issues.
The survey is being conducted by Virbac Animal Health as part of its reproductive health awareness campaign.
Product manager Chris Geddes MRCVS said: "Following a series of CPD seminars on reproduction, it is evident that the views and experiences of vets vary considerably when it comes to companion animal sexual health.
"The aim of the survey is to obtain a clearer picture of the thoughts and experiences of vets and VNs on the neutering of dogs in the UK. The questionnaire will help us gain a better understanding of practice needs in this often sensitive area, and help provide improved support for vets and pet owners alike.
"Whilst attitudes on neutering vary from country to another, it is clear that within the UK, opinion among vets and pet owners is wider than perhaps we currently realise. The UK currently has the highest canine male and female neutering rate in Europe. What this means will depend on your viewpoint and experiences, however we know that some practices are beginning to offer clients a wider range of options."
He added: "As a veterinary-focused business our aim is to provide solutions which will help support and develop the relationship between practice and client. This survey is part of that continuing process."
All those completing the questionnaire will receive a Cadbury's chocolate bar for taking part, with one lucky person winning £250.00 of M&S vouchers.
If you would like to take part please visit http://www.virbacsurvey.animaloracle.com/
J.A.K. Marketing has launched an LED surgical light, the Rimsa Tris-led, in the UK.
The compact light head has 28 LEDs that are arranged in a radial pattern in order to provide a cold, shadowless white light, which is adjustable by rotating a sterilisable handle.
The company says the Rimsa Tris-Led offers exceptional performance and excellent versatility. The technical specs are: 100,000 lux at a distance of 1m, Colour temperature: 4300°K, Colour Rendering Index (CRI): 96 Ra, Powder coated finish, 28 LEDs, 50,000 hours LED lifetime, Autoclaveable handle, Power usage 70VA
The Rimsa Tris-led is available in ceiling, wall and mobile versions. Price starts at £2450 ex VAT.
The College says that the course is suitable for veterinary surgeons who:
The course does not offer clinical training, but the College says it will help vets identify areas for improvement and support them in building confidence and competence.
It also offers guidance on wellbeing and mentorship.
The snappily job titled Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager in the Advancement of the Professions Team, said: "As part of our commitment to supporting the workforce ambitions this is a course that can support not just the returning vets but also offers insight to those who will be supporting them.
"Vets who have taken career breaks have often gained a huge wealth of skills which, combined with their veterinary training, makes them assets to their new teams and the professions.
“The course covers key topics to bring vets up to date with many of the professional aspects of working as a vet and also includes a range of additional content to support their journey, such as practical tips for returning, important recent updates on prescribing, as well as reflective practice and lifelong learning.
"The course also contains video interviews with vets who have already returned, offering valuable insights into how they approached their journey.
The course takes around three hours to complete.
https://academy.rcvs.org.uk
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh has opened an emergency clinic for injured animals, to allow the public to bring in wildlife in need of treatment. The Wildlife Emergency Clinic is the first of its kind in the UK.
The new emergency clinic, based at the School's Hospital for Small Animals, will treat animals with the aim of releasing them back into their native habitat. The venture will also enable veterinary students to gain more hands-on training in treating wildlife.
The emergency clinic will treat animals, such as hedgehogs or injured birds, as well as larger animals such as deer. However, people are advised to contact the SSPCA to arrange for an inspector to be sent out for support if they have found a larger injured animal or if an animal seems in too much distress to be transported.
Emma Keeble, a wildlife veterinary expert at the Hospital for Small Animals, said: "At this time of year there may be orphaned hedgehogs found out during the day time, which are not able to fend for themselves or hedgehogs suffering from conditions such as fly-strike. As summer progresses there tend to be lawnmower and strimmer injuries. There are also other animals that may have been injured as a result of road accidents."
The School's Hospital for Small Animals already has an exotic and wildlife ward and works with the SSPCA to treat animals so that they can be released back into their native habitat.
What does a well-known flea & tick collar have in common with the World Cup?
It transpires that the same Bayer MaterialScience technology which is being used by Adidas to make the 'Brazuca' - the new official match ball - more stable, elastic and hardwearing, is also used to allow imidacloprid and flumethrin to diffuse consistently through Seresto flea and tick collars for up to 8 months.
There you go. Bet you didn't know that.
The RCVS reports that its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) trial is now nearing completion with over two-thirds of its target number of cases either resolved or in process.
The year-long trial, which began in November 2014, aims to gather the evidence needed to develop a permanent scheme which would provide a way of adjudicating on concerns raised about a veterinary surgeon that do not meet the RCVS threshold of serious professional misconduct.
The aim of the trial, which is administered by the independent, not-for-profit Ombudsman Services, is to make determinations on around 100 cases in order to gather information about types of concern, time taken to resolve disputes, recommendations and how likely each party is to accept recommendations. As of this week some 72 cases have been referred to the trial scheme, with final decisions made in relation to 54 of these cases.
RCVS CEO Nick Stace was responsible for pushing forward the trial believing that “what is good for the consumer is good for the profession”. The College also says it brings it into line with a European Union Directive on alternative dispute resolution which, while not legally binding, specifies that regulators and other ‘competent authorities’ should have consumer redress systems in place.
Nick said: “The majority of cases are either being determined in the veterinary surgeon’s favour or finding that they need take no further action in order to resolve the dispute. Where recommendations have been made in favour of the client, the suggested remedies have generally been for a small goodwill payment to be made.
“However, the trial has not been without some frustrations so far. The fact that participation in the trial is entirely voluntary has meant that, in many cases, members of the profession have chosen not to take part.
“With this in mind, it is very important to stress the benefits of the trial to the profession – chiefly that many of the vets who chose to take part have had their actions exonerated by Ombudsman Services in a way that a concern being closed by our Professional Conduct Department does not. For clients, where a vet does have a case to answer, it gives them the chance to seek recompense without having to resort to legal action.
“Regardless of which way the decision goes in any of these cases, participating in the trial can bring these often long-standing and burdensome disputes to a close.”
The trial will continue to run until the end of October and a full report and recommendations will be presented to RCVS Council at its meeting on Thursday 5 November 2015. Full details of the trial and its parameters can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/adr
The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) has inaugurated its new President Iain Richards BVSc CertVA Cert SHP MRCVS, who has outlined the key issues he would like to address during his presidency:
"The reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act will be a big part of the SPVS year. Any changes of the VSA are likely to hit practitioners hardest of all. It was to ensure public confidence that the RCVS was formed, and it is with the public that we have our daily interactions. It is satisfying to note, despite what some of the EFRACOM committee felt, that the proportion of actual complaints in comparison to public interactions is very small indeed. This point must not be lost on the RCVS or government. The profession is already held in high esteem by the public and any new act has to reinforce that.
Alongside the VSA are the closely related aspects of 24hr cover and the Working Time Regulations. Indeed, it is no coincidence that our high public esteem is in part due to the willingness of the practicing arm of the profession to make itself available at all times. The WTR has a long way to go, but has the potential to make this aspect of our work untenable.
Farm practice continues to have its own challenges. Despite opinion suggesting that farms do well in a recession, the challenges are still out there. It is a rapidly changing field with issues of medicines supply still causing problems. TB will spread and more practices will have to look hard at the return LVI work provides. By adopting SPVS advice on fee construction and cost centre analysis, practices can accurately assess the true impact of this and any other revenue stream.
Small animal and many equine practices will potentially feel the recession the most, as both operate in a luxury market. The 2009 Congress theme, and that of the SPVS stream at the BVA Congress in Cardiff, is "Surviving the Recession".
The Society will be at the forefront in providing solid advice to practices to enable them to thrive in such circumstances. Recessions have come and gone and we have a wealth of experience from previous SPVS members to draw upon. One thing is clear, providing a quality service is vital. To the client, this has to be a value for money service as well. Marrying these two is key to business success and SPVS council will be working towards these objectives. It is likely that those practices that adapt and survive a recession will be in a strong position in the future.
Quality and value apply to practices, regardless of their species grouping. At home in Kendal, my practice is pushing standards forwards in equine, farm and small animal work. Because of this I am lucky to be able to indulge in being a mixed practitioner who has a keen interest in all aspects of veterinary work. This places me in a good position to represent the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons at all levels and to all bodies. SPVS is a great society; it is a pleasure to be picked for the team.
My vision goes beyond the year, however, and would encapsulate a desire that SPVS works with the other divisions of BVA to ensure that the veterinary profession provides the foremost view of all aspects of animal welfare and disease."