The Royal Veterinary College has established the Nestlé Purina RVC Intensive Respiratory Centre to provide advanced critical care for patients with severe respiratory diseases. The Centre will offer small animals the UK’s most advanced level of respiratory care with equipment that is more frequently found in human intensive care units, such as a state-of-the-art mechanical ventilator, a critical care monitor and specially made oxygen units (kennels).

Advances in veterinary care mean that animals are able to undergo more invasive procedures, such as extensive thoracic surgeries including cardiopulmonary bypass operations. These patients require more intensive post-operative care, including mechanical ventilation in some cases. The acquisition of this state-of-the-art equipment, to enable such an advanced level of care, has been made possible through sponsorship from Nestlé Purina.

Respiratory diseases are fairly common in companion animals – however there are limited options for treatment for animals that are severely affected with life-threatening respiratory failure. To date new techniques and treatments that have been developed for human patients with severe respiratory diseases have not been applied to animals. Some of the activities of the centre will involve evaluating the effectiveness and appropriateness of using some of these newly developed techniques on small animals.

“The RVC is perfectly placed to pioneer innovative treatment to improve the lives of animals with severe respiratory problems,” said Daniel Chan, Lecturer in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at the Royal Veterinary College.

“We’ve got the expertise of specialists in internal medicine, emergency and critical care, surgery, anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging and clinical nutrition – by combining these skills and with the support of Nestlé Purina, we will be able to deliver a comprehensive programme of care. This co-ordinated approach is unique.”

Specialised training modules and lectures for veterinary students, nurses and practitioners, will also be delivered as part of the Centre’s remit and the Centre is also creating a forum for clinicians and researchers from across the world to share information about advances in this field.

Acoording to news reports, a government minister has said that a package of measures to encourage responsible pet ownership is on the way, and that may include compulsory microchipping.

Replying to a question in the House of Lords, Lord Taylor of Holbeach said the government would put forward its arguments for and against microchipping when it announces its new strategy on dog ownership.

However, according to the BBC report, Conservative peer Lord Renton said ministers must think "carefully before" taking such a step: "There are many dogs that take very badly to having a chip in them," he said. "They get very sore."

Who ever said the Lords were out of touch, eh?

Carus Animal Health is asking UK veterinary teams to contribute anonymised clinical case studies to help build a broader evidence base around the use of faecal calprotectin testing in dogs and cats with inflammatory gastrointestinal disease.

The company makes GIQuest, a patient-side lateral flow faecal calprotectin test, which it says can be used to guide next steps in dogs and cats with chronic GI conditions, including chronic enteropathy (CE; previously IBD), food responsive enteropathy (FRE) and GI side-effects associated with NSAID use.

Carus says that a validation study conducted at the University of Bristol has shown that its GIQuest can reliably distinguish dogs and cats with inflammatory enteropathy from healthy controls, with high sensitivity and specificity.

The company says faecal calprotectin is already well established in human medicine as a non-invasive marker of intestinal inflammation and is increasingly being adopted in veterinary practice to support diagnostic decision-making and treatment monitoring.

Lucy Williams MRCVS, from Carus Animal Health, said: “Individual case experiences often highlight nuances that don’t always come through in formal studies.

"Bringing these together can help illustrate how faecal calprotectin testing is being applied in different clinical scenarios, from refining diagnostic pathways to supporting monitoring and owner communication.

"By sharing practical insights from everyday cases, the profession can collectively build confidence around when and how this tool is most useful in practice.”

Case studies can be submitted by both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses and may include, but are not limited to: dogs or cats with chronic or recurrent GI signs, suspected inflammatory enteropathies, monitoring response to dietary or treatment trials or identification of GI inflammation in patients receiving long term oral NSAIDs.

As a thank you for taking part, the five strongest submissions will each receive a £100 gift card, and the first 20 eligible entries will receive free access to a GI-focused CPD course with The Webinar Vet.

In addition, entries submitted before 31st January will be entered into a draw to win a delegate ticket to SPVS Congress (Birmingham, 26–27th February), worth £675.

Entries close on 1st March.

Further information and case study form/guidelines available here: https://carusanimalhealth.com/giquest/prizes

https://carusanimalhealth.com/giquest 

A rural social scientist has argued in this week's Veterinary Record that the dwindling influence of vets in the public health arena threatens food safety in the UK.

Philip Lowe, from the Centre for Rural Economy at the University of Newcastle, argues that a shift in practice from treating animals used for food on farms to looking after pets in urban communities, is largely to blame.

The proportion of time vets in private practice spent treating animals used for food halved between 1998 and 2006. Most vets run their own businesses, and pet owners have proved a more sustainable and lucrative source of income than farmers.

Professor Lowe sympathises with the need to make money, but laments this drift towards the profession turning into "another private sector service industry."

He says this fails to make use of vets' considerable and wide ranging expertise, adding: "I would argue that it also diminishes the public standing of the whole profession. I certainly couldn't imagine the medical establishment in this country accepting a role that marginalised public health, even if the NHS did not exist. More seriously for all of us, I believe that not involving vets in this important area also puts food safety in the UK at risk.

"At the same time we live in an age when there is real and widespread public concern about welfare standards for farm animals, threats from animal diseases old and new (such as blue tongue, bird flu and swine flu), and food safety."

Professor Lowe says that in the past, the veterinary arm of government traditionally provided leadership for the profession that was embodied by the Chief Veterinary Officer and was underpinned by the proportion of vets' income derived from public funding. But this is no longer the case, and is further undermined by the percentage of vets employed by government having shrunk from 11% to 4% over the past 40 years.

Professor Lowe argues that the profession needs to rethink its role and the direction in which it is travelling. He says there needs to be more specialist support and training for student vets and novice practitioners so that they are not put off from farm practice before they have had a chance to develop their skills and confidence in this area. 

However, he cautions against returning to the stereotype popularised by the fictional James Herriot vet, who was depicted as a mainstay of the rural community: "The farm vet's position and respect for their expertise needs to be restored, but not in the old Herriot mould. He or she has to take on the much greater challenge of risk and welfare regulation and management across the whole food system".

Animalcare - organisers of Pet Dental Health Month - is encouraging practices to get involved in the initiative, which is designed to raise awareness of the importance of routine dental care for pets.

To help practices engage with pet owners on the topic, Animalcare has developed a collection of educational waiting room display materials, social posts and a national competition for the best practice-to-client dental communication.

For the competition, practices are invited to submit photos of their waiting room display and/or social media videos which show how Plaqtiv+ dental care products are used as part of a home oral hygiene routine. 

Each element counts as an entry, so submitting a video and a photo of a practice waiting room display counts as two entries for the prize draw to win a Nespresso coffee machine and pods worth £180. 

Submit your entries to animalcare@animalcare.co.uk, including your name, practice name, practice postcode and photos of your waiting room display or a link to your social media video.

animalcare.co.uk/dentalhealthmonth

Royal Canin has announced a new Approved Weight Management Centre programme for vet practices across the UK.

As part of the programme, a number of practices across the UK will receive ‘Centre of Excellence’ status for managing overweight or obese cats and dogs educating clients on prevention.

To gain approved centre status, practices are required to establish a formal Weight Management Clinic and work as a team to refer clients with overweight pets through the clinic. The chosen practices will receive bespoke training from a member of the Weight Management Team, to provide them with the skills and protocols to discuss obesity with clients and encouraging vets, nurses and receptionists to work together to raise awareness of obesity.

Shelley Holden from the Weight Management Team said: "This is a unique platform for practices across the UK to take advantage of and really excel in addressing weight management issues in practice and tackling prevention. We are excited to currently work with an elite group of practices, all committed to raising awareness of obesity in cats and dogs."

Royal Canin has so far given nine clinics 'Centre of Excellence' status. They all now discuss body condition scoring with patients to identify whether the pet is in ideal condition. If overweight or obese, they are then referred for further advice and support to their weight clinic. The weight clinic is a complimentary 30 minute appointment with a weight management nurse, followed by ongoing monitoring, personalised advice and telephone support. Approved clinics also educate owners about prevention during puppy parties, puppy and kitten vaccinations, and at neutering to ensure owners are aware of the health risks of weight gain from the outset.

Jo Hammett BVSc MRCVS, Owner of The Stocks Vets (pictured right), said: "We have received bespoke training from Royal Canin to achieve centre status, giving our team the confidence to discuss the sensitive issues surrounding weight with clients, in addition to tackling education. This has really helped break down barriers in approaching the topic with clients about their pets’ weight and we are finding they are now much more open with the team during consultations, which is a major achievement in itself."

For more information about the Approved Weight Management Centre programme, contact your veterinary business manager or visit www.royalcanin.co.uk.

Clark Dental has launched the new Nomad Handheld X-Ray machine from Aribex™.

According to the company, Nomad already has a superb track record as a practical, effective and recognised state-of-the-art device. It boasts a multitude of benefits and features and is suitable for many different environments. Two rechargeable batteries provide 150 exposures each, and it’s compatible with both digital sensors and traditional X-ray film.

The operator is protected by a patented internal radiation shield as well as an external backscatter shield, which the company says provides excellent protection: one operator would have to expose over 10,000 E-speed films per year in order to approach the lowest measurable dose on a monitoring badge. With a direct digital sensor, the scatter dose is even less.

For further information, please contact the exclusive UK supplier, Clark Dental, on Tel: 01270 613750 or email maria@clarkdental.co.uk

The SPVS has published new resources to help members deal with some of the consequences of the Competition and Markets Authority investigation.

They include a webinar from In Communication, a company which specialises in veterinary client communications, which covers things like how to broach costs with clients, communicating treatment options succinctly and time-blind shared decision-making.

The Society has also published eight questions which the public may ask about the investigation, with model responses.

The resources also include a summary of the five concerns raised by the CMA, and advice about how to discuss them with practice staff.

Finally, you can download SPVS' presentation to the CMA which talks about the drivers for fee increases.

https://spvs.org.uk/cma-spvs-response

Two equine journals have joined forces to create a free online collection of their recent articles on endocrinology to raise awareness of these common disorders and to provide veterinary surgeons with what they say is a definitive source of references all in one place.

The collection of references published by Equine Veterinary Education (EVE) and Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) covers a range of topics within the field of endocrinology and includes authoritative review articles on insulin dysregulation², glucocorticoids and laminitis³ and paraneoplastic syndromes⁴.

The initiative has been made possible with the support of British Equine Veterinary Association Trust and has been compiled by leading international authorities on equine endocrinology, Professor Philip Johnson, of University of Missouri and Professor Nicholas Frank of Tufts University, Boston and the University of Nottingham.

They say that equine endocrine disorders, such as Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), are becoming more promptly identified and treated, thanks to ongoing research and advances in diagnosis, pharmacokinetics and management protocols.

PPID, or Cushing's, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is more easily recognised in its advanced form in older horses. Surveys show a PPID prevalence rate of up to 22% in horses over the age of 15⁵, with the odds of developing clinical signs associated with PPID increasing by approximately 20% per year after this age.

Insulin dysregulation (ID), characterised by increased insulin response to oral sugars, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, is identified in both PPID and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)². Both PPID and EMS have been linked to the development of recurrent laminitis with subsequent high risk of mortality⁶. The exact mechanisms which link insulin to laminitis remain to be clarified¹ but this online collection highlights several studies, which partially address this important jigsaw^7-12.

Best practice for the management of EMS is outlined by Professors Nick Frank and Ray Geor in the December issue of EVE¹³. The first goal is to induce weight loss, and guidelines for designing diets for obese equids are provided. Exercise and dietary management¹⁴ have been shown to reduce the clinical signs and indices of inflammation in equine metabolic syndrome^{13 - 15}, however, further studies are needed to quantify the efficacy of these management changes on long-term outcomes.

The online collection also includes several studies addressing the diagnosis of PPID. The value of plasma adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), when interpreted with seasonally adjusted reference ranges, is discussed by several authors^18-20. Professors Frank and Geor advocate it as the most readily accessible test for monitoring PPID cases in a field setting, although they maintain that the thyrotropin- releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test is more sensitive and therefore has advantages when diagnosing PPID in its early stages¹³.

Pergolide has emerged as the drug of first choice for treatment of PPID¹³. While many vets recommend the early introduction of medication in the hope that it may avert the specter of laminitis, at present, there are no trials comparing pergolide with alternatives. Furthermore, there have been no long-term studies to show that horses treated with pergolide before the onset of clinical signs of PPID have better outcomes, including a reduced incidence of developing laminitis, than horses in which treatment is delayed until clinical signs become apparent.

Professor Celia Marr, Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal said: "Better control of PPID and insulin dysregulation should lower the risk of laminitis to help improve the health and longevity of many predisposed horses and ponies.

"Raising awareness of the benefits of early diagnosis and sharing the latest research on these and other associated conditions are imperative to provide horse owners with the best diagnostic and treatment programmes for their horses. However, it is easy to under-estimate obesity: horse owners need to think about improving management of their horses' feeding and exercise in order to avert problems before they become a veterinary issue."

References

1. Kritchevsky, S.E. and Johnson, P.J.  (2014) Current Status and Future Directions: Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.
2. Frank, N. and Tadros, E.M. (2014) Insulin Dysregulation. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.
3. Cornelisse, C.J. and Robinson, N.E. (2013) Glucocortioid therapy and the risk of equine laminitis. Equine Veterinary Education 25, 39-46.
4. Axiak, S. and Johnson, P.J. (2012) Paraneoplastic manifestations of cancer in horses. Equine Veterinary Education 24, 367-376.
5. McGowan, T.W., Pinchbeck, G.P. and McGowan, C.M. (2013) Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 74-79.
6. Tadros, E.M. and Frank, N. (2011) Endocrine disorders and laminitis. Equine Veterinary Education 25, 152-162.
7. TÓth, F., Frank, N., Martin-JimÉNez, T., Elliott, S.B., Geor, R.J. and Boston, R.C. (2010) Measurement of C-peptide concentrations and responses to somatostatin, glucose infusion, and insulin resistance in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 42, 149- 155.
8. Venugopal, C.S., Eades, S., Holmes, E.P. and Beadle, R.E. (2011) Insulin resistance in equine digital vessel rings: An in vitro model to study vascular dysfunction in equine laminitis. Equine Veterinary Journal 43, 744-749.
9. Borer-Weir, K.E., Menzies-Gow, N.J., Bailey, S.R., Harris, P.A. and Elliott, J. (2013) Seasonal and annual influence on insulin and cortisol results from overnight dexamethasone suppression tests in normal ponies and ponies predisposed to laminitis. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 688-693.
10. Burns, T.A., Watts, M.R., Weber, P.S., McCutcheon, L.J., Geor, R.J. and Belknap, J.K. (2013) Distribution of insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor in the digital laminae of mixed-breed ponies: An immunohistochemical study. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 326-332.
11. Gauff, F., Patan-Zugaj, B. and Licka, T.F. (2013) Hyperinsulinaemia increases vascular resistance and endothelin-1 expression in the equine digit. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 613-618.
12. Dunkel, B., Wilford, S.A., Parkinson, N.J., Ward, C., Smith, P., Grahame, L., Brazil, T. and Schott II, H.C. (2014) Severe hypertriglyceridaemia in horses and ponies with endocrine disorders. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.
13. Frank, N. and Geor, R. (2014) Current best practice in clinical management of equine endocrine patients. Equine Veterinary Education to add.
14. Hudson, A.B., McGowan, C.M. and Morgan, R. (2012) The clinical management of EMS at the Philip Leverhulme equine hospital. Equine Veterinary Journal 44, 6.
15. Menzies-Gow, N.J., Wray, H., Bailey, S.R., Harris, P.A. and Elliott, J. (2014) The effect of exercise on plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in normal and previously laminitic ponies. Equine Veterinary Journal 46.
16. Rendle, D.I., Rutledge, F., Hughes, K.J., Heller, J. and Durham, A.E. (2013) Effects of metformin hydrochloride on blood glucose and insulin responses to oral dextrose in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 751-754.
17. Owers, R. and Chubbock, S. (2013) Fight the fat! Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 5-5.
18. Copas, V.E.N. and Durham, A.E. (2012) Circannual variation in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in the UK in normal horses and ponies, and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Equine Veterinary Journal 44, 440-443.
19. McGowan, T.W., Pinchbeck, G.P. and Mc Gowan, C.M. (2013) Evaluation of basal plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction from a population of aged horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 45, 66-73.
20. Rendle, D.I., Litchfield, E., Heller, J. and Hughes, K.J. (2014) Investigation of rhythms of secretion and repeatability of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in healthy horses and horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Equine Veterinary Journal 46, to add.

The RCVS has announced that nominations are now open for the RCVS Elections and launched a new video which explains why you should consider putting your name forward.

Six seats are available on RCVS Council, each for a four-year tenure. Existing RCVS Council Members David Catlow, Jacqui Molyneux, Bob Partridge, Christine Shield, Neil Smith and Clare Tapsfield-Wright are due to retire from Council next year, but are all eligible for re-election.

Last year, for the first time in over a decade, no women candidates stood for election, and the College says it is determined to widen participation in Council amongst the whole profession.

To help veterinary surgeons learn more about what's involved in being a Council Member, the benefits it can bring and the amount of time it requires, the College has produced a short video featuring the experiences of some existing members of Council and their reasons for standing.

Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, said: "We have chosen the theme 'People like you' for these videos because people on the Councils really are no different to their colleagues across all aspects of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions. The thoughts and experiences they describe on camera will sound very familiar to many of their colleagues and peers! We need people of all ages and of varying experiences and professional backgrounds to ensure there is a healthy and diverse range of views available."

The College will also be hosting a special 'Meet the RCVS' day on Tuesday, 10 December for anyone considering standing for election but wanting to find out more first. Further information and bookings are available from Fiona Harcourt, Communications Officer (020 7202 0773 / f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk).

Nominations are open until 5pm on Friday, 31 January 2014, allowing plenty of time to find out more about what's involved and to find two proposers.

Details about how to stand in the elections are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil14.

Dr Sarah Caney, RCVS specialist in feline medicine has launched http://www.catprofessional.com/, a new website for vets and nurses that want to become more feline friendly, and those in the animal health industry who want to be cleverer in their approach to cats.

The new site, which has been developed by Dr Caney’s own company Cat Professional Ltd, offers articles for vets and owners on various aspects of cat care, as well as detailing upcoming events and publications.

In addition, companies can access a range of consultancy services, including assistance with clinical trials and product design.

There is a facility to book training sessions and lecture slots at home and abroad with Dr Caney, who is a renowned speaker, able to combine her expertise in feline medicine with a gift for communicating difficult concepts in a way that makes learning an enjoyable experience.

Dr Caney’s latest book, ‘Caring for a Cat with Kidney Failure’ is available as an environmentally friendly download or to purchase as a hard copy from the site. Aimed at vets and cat owners, the book includes step-by-step instructions on how to give medication and better cater for a cat’s needs, providing another tool that will help owner compliance and therefore quality of life in renal failure cats.

For vets, nurses and other cat professionals, perhaps the biggest bonus is that the site provides a direct line of communication to Dr Caney and access to her vast knowledge of all things feline: from effective handling techniques to the best therapeutic protocols.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice, written to help vets give advice about nutrition for animals under their care, is available now. 

The guide covers the importance of nutrition and nutritional assessment, diet types, feeding for different life stages, feeding for specific situations and feeding for specific diseases.

There are a number of online resources to accompany the guide, including client handouts and videos, available in the BSAVA Library.

Julian Hoad, BSAVA President, said: “The guide has been put together by a panel who are very competent in their field and wish for the reader to become confident and competent as well.

"What really stands out to me is the level of detail included in the guide.

"There is ample explanation of the underlying principles of nutrition, as well as formulae for specific nutritional plans.

"Where there may be confusion, or potential errors in calculating nutritional requirements, there are practical hints and tips for avoiding those pitfalls.”

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice costs £32.50 for BSAVA members and £50 for everyone else.

www.bsava.com/store