Tim took over the role from Renate Weller at the end of BEVA Congress last week. Lucy Grieve, of Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons became President Elect.
After leaving Bristol in 1989, Tim worked in mixed practice before joining Bell Equine in 1993, becoming a partner in 1995. He led the hospital services at Bell Equine, as well as supervising the practice’s residency, intern and extern programmes, until it was bought by CVS in 2016. He continues to work as a clinician at Bell Equine whilst also working as the Equine Veterinary Director of CVS.
Tim is an RCVS Specialist in both equine internal medicine and equine soft tissue surgery and is a founding diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine; he became an Associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2011. He is an honorary Professor of the Royal Veterinary College and became a Fellow of the RCVS in 2016.
Editor of Equine Veterinary Education, the official journal of the British Equine Veterinary Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners for the past 23 years, Tim has particular interests in clinical research, clinical standards and evidence based medicine, and has published widely in the professional veterinary literature, as well as authoring and editing several textbooks. He has been a member of the RCVS Practice Standards Group since 2012.
Tim has been chair of BEVA’s Education Committee since 2014, and says that during his presidential year he is keen to continue to develop BEVA’s educational activities for members at all stages of their careers.
In particular, he says he is particularly looking forward to supporting recent graduates in equine practice with relevant CPD and mentoring. He also hopes to advance the use of evidence-based veterinary medicine, and promote quality improvement in equine practice.
Tim said: "Equine practice is continuing to change and evolve with some rapidity. An important part of my focus will be on our Equine Veterinary Horizons Project, looking at anticipated advances over the next 10-15 years, what they will mean to individual practitioners and to practices and how we can adapt to and accommodate them to best advantage."
For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.
Novartis Animal Health UK Ltd has announced the launch of CLiKZiN Pour On for sheep, a short meat withhold period (MWP) product that can be used throughout Spring and Summer for the prevention of blowfly strike in sheep and lambs.
CLiKZiN is a ready-to-use water-based product that protects sheep for eight weeks, and has a meat withhold period of seven days. The product is a line extension of CLiK which offers a longer period of protection at 16 weeks and has a longer withhold period of 40 days. Novartis says that used in conjunction with CLiK, CLiKZiN offers versatile protection throughout the year.
The launch of CLiKZiN comes at the same time that Vetrazin has been reformulated, resulting in a longer meat withhold period for sheep treated with the product.
Thomas Tiley MRCVS from Novartis Animal Health said: "Farmers need reliable protection from the repugnant threat of blowfly strike. CLiKZiN provides eight weeks blowfly prevention together with the trusted performance and safety record associated with CLiK. It also offers the greater flexibility of a seven day meat withhold.
"This makes CLiKZiN ideally suited for a variety of production schedules and stock including lambs for slaughter and pre-shearing ewes."
Blowfly strike can be devastating to sheep, causing severe impact on the welfare of the animal. Within days of a blowfly laying its eggs, clinically normal sheep can be afflicted with flesh eating maggots. This makes prompt and effective treatment critical.
National Sheep Association Chief Executive Peter Morris said: "Fly strike is a terrible burden to the sheep industry both in terms of the welfare of the sheep and economically.
"Having a product available that gives effective prevention against fly strike whilst at the same time having a withdrawal period which does not impinge on the ability of the sheep farmer to market lambs is very welcome. The sheep farmers' armoury against the every day afflictions which affect sheep has been significantly enhanced."
The College says the speed and accuracy of scans produced by the new scanner will revolutionise the treatment of animals at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (QMHA). It also reduces the need for animals to be anaesthetised before being scanned, with most patients now only requiring partial sedation.
The new scanner has been named the 'Otter Scanner' after a patient of the RVC whose owner was made a significant donation towards the RVC's charity, the Animal Care Trust, which funded the new machine.
Professor Dan Chan, Professor of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine and Medical Director of the QMHA at the RVC, said: "It is very uncommon that such an incredible leap in the care of animals can be achieved with a single innovation.
"Because of the vast improvement in speed and quality of the images produced by the ‘Otter Scanner’ our specialists are now able to obtain much more detailed images of various diseases affecting our patients so that the best possible treatment can be planned.
"At the RVC, one of our most important missions is to always improve the welfare and care of animals and this latest innovation is just another example of that commitment. We are forever grateful to all our supporters who have made this possible."
The charges related to the unexpected death of a cat called Hope during an operation to explore a growth in her mouth, and Dr Dantas-Holmes' subsequent communication with the animal's owners.
Dr Dantas-Holmes accepted that Hope’s death was most likely due to her failing to flush fluid through the giving set attached to an intravenous drip, leaving air in the tubing and causing some air to enter Hope’s bloodstream when the cannula was placed and the giving set’s control opened.
The first set of charges related to Dr Dantas-Holmes’ initial phone call to Hope’s owners ten minutes after Hope’s death, in which she said that Hope had died because of a reaction to anaesthetic drugs. Dr Dantas-Holmes failed to mention that the cause of death was still to be determined and failed to mention that a likely cause was in fact an air embolism and/or a complication relating to the intravenous drip.
Following her initial phone call to the owners Dr Dantas-Holmes viewed CCTV of her actions.
The owners then came into the practice later in the day, and the communications during that time constitute the second set of charges: that, during this meeting, Dr Dantas-Holmes didn’t correct her earlier statements about the cause of Hope’s death, and that she didn’t mention that there was an ongoing investigation or that a likely cause of death was an air embolism and/or complication.
The third set of charges related to Dr Dantas-Holmes’ subsequent clinical records, in which it was alleged that she failed to include references to the findings on review of the CCTV footage of Hope’s death, and the possibility of an air embolism and/or complication relating to the intravenous drip.
The fourth and final set of charges were that her conduct was misleading, and/or dishonest.
With regard to the first set of charges, the Committee found that Dr Dantas-Holmes did tell the owners that Hope died because of a reaction to the drugs, but that given the short nature of the phone call to the owners and the distressing circumstances there was no duty to discuss the investigation, or to mention the likely cause being an air embolism.
Concerning the communications with the owners when they came to the practice, the Committee found that Dr Dantas-Holmes did fail to mention that anaesthetic drugs might not have been the cause, and that she also failed to mention the investigation. Dr Dantas-Holmes had agreed with the Practice Manager, however, that she would not discuss the possibility of an air embolism or complication, and so that charge was not found proved.
On consideration of whether Dr Dantas-Holmes had failed to include relevant findings in the clinical reports, the Committee found both charges proved, and, in relation to the final set of charges, the Committee found that while Dr Dantas-Holmes had misled Hope’s owners, it was unintentional, and she had not been dishonest.
Ultimately, the Committee found Dr Dantas Holmes not guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
Stuart Drummond, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The findings of this Committee demonstrate that there were errors and omissions in communications with the owners. When communicating with a client it is the professional’s responsibility to ensure that the client has heard and understood what has been said. The importance of good and effective communication is particularly important when an unforeseen and shocking event occurs such as it did in this case.
"The particular circumstances of this case demonstrate how important it is to communicate effectively and the need for the veterinary surgeon to ensure that their clinical records for which they are wholly responsible, are complete.
"The Committee concluded that its findings demonstrated a departure from professional standards but that the falling short was not so grave as to amount to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect."
It's the second of five new practices that White Cross says it plans to open in a 12-month period.
The Hyde team will be headed up by clinic director Mike Robinson MRCVS, pictured with veterinary nurses Anneliese O'Toole & Aimee Lee.
Located on the site of a former pub, the new Hyde practice opened this month following an investment of £250,000. It is equipped with digital dental x-ray and ultrasound machines, an on-site laboratory, pheromone diffusers to relax pets, ultra-soft bedding and warm, cosy LED lighting in the pet wards.
There are separate, sound-proofed wards for dogs and a specialist cat ward featuring kennels positioned so the cats can’t see each other, to minimise stress-levels. Music specifically composed to reduce anxiety in both dogs and cats is also played in the wards.
Tim Harrison, managing director at White Cross Vets, said: "Hyde is a busy suburb of Manchester with a large number of pets in the surrounding area, which made it the ideal location to continue our expansion into the North West.
"Mike and the team are all highly experienced professionals and bring lots of enthusiasm to their new roles. When this is combined with the practice’s state of the art design, there’s no doubt it will prove to be hugely popular.
"It also offers the potential to expand the team to approximately 20 people in the next five years, which is an exciting prospect."
The BSAVA has announced the launch of a free new online publication: BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines
Edited by Fred Nind and Pam Mosedale, with contributions from experts in the field, has been developed to provide a comprehensive guide to a wide variety of veterinary medicines issues that affect small animal practice. It looks like a very polished production, and should prove a valuable tool for all members of the practice team.
Many infringements of the law relating to the possession, use and disposal of veterinary medicines are criminal offences, and it was the aim of the Editors to produce an authoritative guide to help practitioners stay on the correct side of the law in an area where this can sometimes be problematic.
LegislationAs Fred and Pam noted in the March 2009 issue of Companion: 'Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) change every year, whilst waste disposal provisions and dangerous drugs regulations seem to be updated even more often. This means that what you learned at a course attended last year or from a booklet published two years ago may no longer be accurate.' The format of the BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines, means that it is capable of being updated as the rules and regulations change, helping veterinary surgeons, nurses, practice managers, receptionists, students and kennel staff to get it right - first time and every time.
StorageEfficient stock control, ambient storage conditions, stock rotation based on expiry dates and correct labelling are just some of the areas that need to be addressed when considering management of the practice dispensary. The section of the guide on Correct storage and dispensary management provides recommendations on how this can be achieved.
DispensingPrescribing and labelling veterinary medicines are activities that every practitioner performs many times a day, and it is important that the detailed legal provisions governing these actions are adhered to. Covering such areas as: who may write a prescription; breaking packaging; and the additional regulations that apply for the supply of Controlled Drugs, the Prescribing and labelling section helps guide the practitioner through this complicated area.
The BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines is available to all, not just BSAVA members, and the Editors hope will 'provide balm for all those worrying about the practical and legal constraints on the use of veterinary medicines.'
Click here to download the BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines (pdf 5mb)
As of today, veterinary surgeons in the UK can call themselves 'Doctor', following a decision made by the RCVS Council.
The decision to allow the use of the courtesy title followed a consultation which received 11,202 responses, of which 81% were in favour of the change, 13% against, and 6% did not mind either way.
The College says the idea is to align the UK with international practice, provide greater clarity for the profession and offer reassurance to clients and the animal-owning public that all veterinary surgeons registered with the RCVS, regardless of where they qualified, have veterinary degrees of an appropriate standard. Most international veterinary surgeons use the title and, in Australia and New Zealand, this is frequently tied to registration and professional standing, rather than necessarily academic attainment.
RCVS President Professor Stuart Reid said: "I am very pleased that the response from the consultation gave Council such clear direction and has allowed us to bring UK vets in line with the majority of veterinarians worldwide. It was my privilege to pose the question, which has been well and truly answered by the profession and the public.
"Whether one regards the decision as correcting a historical anomaly or simply providing greater clarity at home and abroad, there is no doubt that the issue has generated huge interest. Yet regardless of whether individual vets choose to use the title, it will not change the profession's ongoing commitment to the very highest of standards."
Nearly 50% of respondents to the consultation were veterinary surgeons, 22% veterinary students, 21% animal-owning members of the public, and the rest were veterinary nurses, veterinary nurse students, practice managers and non-animal-owning members of the public.
RCVS CEO, Nick Stace said: "I am delighted that such a strong message came from both the public and the profession on this issue. We have a responsibility to maintain confidence in the veterinary profession and this move will help underline to the public in particular that veterinary surgeons work to very high standards, regardless of where they qualified."
Use of the title is optional, and guidance has been produced to support the change. It stresses that veterinary surgeons using the title should be careful not to mislead the public, and that it is important that the use of 'Doctor' or 'Dr' by a veterinary surgeon does not suggest or imply that they hold a medical qualification or a PhD. If the title is used, the veterinary surgeon should use it in conjunction with their name and either the descriptor 'veterinary surgeon' or the postnominal letters 'MRCVS'.
The guidance is available as part of supporting guidance chapter 23 to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, and can be read online at www.rcvs.org.uk/advertising (see paragraphs 23.6-23.8).
Veterinary surgeons may start using the title straight away; details about how their RCVS Register entry can be updated will be issued over the coming months.
Equibactin vet contains sulfadiazine and trimethoprim, and is indicated for use in the treatment of infections, particularly respiratory tract infections associated with Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus; gastrointestinal infections associated with E. coli; urogenital infections associated with beta-hemolytic streptococci; and wound infections and open or drained abscesses associated with Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus.
The new product has been designed to provide accurate administration to all sizes of horses or ponies. One syringe provides a complete dose for 600kg bodyweight and is subdivided into 12 markings, to help keep track of dosages.
Dechra Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: "Equibactin vet has a proven antibiotic combination with a synergistic effect2 making it an excellent first line broad spectrum antimicrobial treatment for most Gram positive and negative aerobes.
It can be administered without food which improves the oral bioavailability, offering equine veterinary surgeons a quick and efficient treatment when it comes to targeting these infections that are often experienced in day-to-day practice.
"With its ease of use and three-year shelf life, we anticipate that Equibactin vet will quickly become a popular product when it comes to maintaining equine health."
For more information, visit www.dechra.co.uk/products/equine.
References
Animal Friends is launching a pilot programme through which its customers will be able to check their pets' symptoms, get advice on treatment or find out if they need to visit a vet clinic on Joii.
Paul Hallett, co-founder of Vet-AI said: "Animal Friends is a perfect partner for Vet-AI, not only do we share common goals around animal welfare and the profession as a whole, but strategically we are both laser focused on the customer. In the coming few years we will support their customers by providing them with 24 hour expert-led care, at the click of a button. This will drive our business forward, helping us reach more pet owners and improve the care their pets receive."
Wes Pearson, Managing Director of Animal Friends said: "This partnership demonstrates our commitment to provide our pet parents with innovative options to ensure their pet receives the best care. Being able to access professional advice from the comfort of their own home and at a time that suits them can dramatically reduce stress for both the pet and the pet parent. We are excited to be working with Vet-AI and believe that the Joii app will bring expert knowledge and extra peace of mind to our customers."
Oh no, not another company talking about 'pet parents'. Is it just me, or is it not rather patronising?
Running throughout October, the campaign is designed to raise awareness among dog owners of how Adaptil Calm can help dogs cope during the fireworks and Christmas party season.
The advertising campaign will target 3.3 million pet owners and it will air on over 60 channels including C4 channels (Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4, Drama, Good Food, Really, W and Home), Sky channels, ITV2 and ITVBe.
Abigail King, behaviour product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "The fireworks and party season can be an extremely upsetting time of the year for the nation’s pets.
"By highlighting the benefits of Adaptil at this key time of the year we hope to ensure that dogs are better prepared for the challenges of fireworks and loud noises."
Ceva says the TV advertising campaign will be supported by a digital campaign for both Adaptil and Feliway.
To watch the Adaptil TV advertisement visit https://www.adaptil.com/uk/Success-Stories/Finley.
Tracey, who started working in practice as a trainee in 1986 and qualified in 1989, spent her nursing career in both mixed and small animal practice in her home town of Hinckley, Leicestershire before retiring in 2018.
She says the book is mainly aimed at people thinking of embarking on a career as a veterinary nurse, but she also hopes colleagues in the profession will enjoy it, particularly those who are newer to the profession and have an interest in how things have progressed over the last three decades.
Tracey said: "Having enjoyed a very long career as a veterinary nurse, I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of my experiences, the happy, the sad and the sometimes downright crazy!
"The role of the veterinary nurse has changed so much over the last thirty years and continues to evolve with each passing year. My story is a light-hearted journey from my early years as a fresh-faced trainee to a fully qualified head nurse, will all the highs and lows along the way.
"The book will hopefully appeal to all members of the veterinary profession, past, present and future as well as to animal lovers everywhere. It was written from the heart to celebrate the work that veterinary nurses do, the diversity of their role and the steep learning curves that many of us had to climb."
You can read a sample of the book here.
Confessions of a veterinary nurse is available from all good bookstores, and Amazon, priced at £10.99.
Miss Herdman faced three charges.
The first was that she indicated to a friend that she would supply diazepam and/or tramadol for use by their husband.
The second was that she supplied diazepam and/or tramadol and/or gabapentin.
The third was that she gave advice on the dosages of diazepam and/or tramadol and/or gabapentin.
Miss Herdman was not present at the hearing and was unrepresented, but the Committee determined that it was appropriate to proceed in her absence as she had been notified, was aware that the hearing was taking place and her absence was voluntary.
However, Miss Herdman had been in contact to indicate her pleas to the charges.
She admitted the intention to supply diazepam and/or tramadol and that she had provided advice on the dosages.
She also admitted that she had supplied diazepam but strongly denied that she had supplied tramadol and/or gabapentin.
Taking all the evidence into account (including messages sent by Miss Herdman and her admissions), the Committee found proven the charges in relation to the intent to supply and the advice on dosages.
The Committee also found proven the charge in relation to the supply of diazepam, but found not proved the charge relating to the supply of tramadol and gabapentin for several reasons, including the fact that the messages sent by Miss Herdman did not point unequivocally to her actually suppling each of the drugs to which she referred.
There was no suggestion that the diazepam was stolen from her place of work.
The Committee found that Miss Herdman’s actions had breached paragraphs 1.5 and 6.5 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses.
The committee judged that there were a number of aggravating features of Miss Herdman’s conduct, including that she was not qualified or authorised to prescribe medication to animals, let alone to human beings and that providing a controlled drug to a person who was already taking various painkilling medications was reckless.
The Committee also felt that a reasonable and informed member of the public would be very concerned to learn that a veterinary nurse had supplied a controlled drug to a friend for their personal use.
Regarding the sanction for Miss Herdman, Paul Morris, chairing the Veterinary Nursing Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “Drawing all the material together, and considering the matter as a whole, the Committee had to impose a proportionate sanction for an isolated incident of serious professional misconduct which arose out of a misguided attempt to help a friend.
"The conduct in question was entirely out of keeping with Miss Herdman’s usual practice and there is no real risk that it will be repeated.
"However, this case was much too serious to take no further action and no useful purpose would be served by postponing a sanction.
“The Committee considered that a warning or reprimand would not be sufficient to satisfy the public interest as veterinary nurses are trusted by the public to deal with medication responsibly and failure to do constitutes a severe breach of trust.
“The Committee therefore considered a period of suspension sufficient to meet the public interest in maintaining the reputation of the profession and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct for members of the profession.
“The Committee also considered whether a removal order would be appropriate but concluded it would be disproportionate and that such a step would remove from the profession an experienced, competent and valuable veterinary nurse for no discernible benefit.
“It was decided that Miss Herdman’s registration be suspended for a period of three months – a period which is sufficient to mark the gravity of the misconduct while taking into account the circumstances in which it arose.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/
Ceva Animal Health has launched Hepatosyl Plus, a development of the liver support supplement for cats and dogs.
Hepatosyl Plus contains the same ingredients as the original product but now also includes Silybin. According to the company, Silybin is the most active isomer of Silybum marianum (milk thistle) which acts as an antioxidant by increasing cellular superoxide dismutase. It joins S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Vitamin E to create a triple antioxidant approach to liver support, helping to neutralise free radicals within the liver. Ceva also says Hepatosyl Plus is the only liver supplement to contain Vitamin K, which is needed by the liver for the production of clotting factors II, VII, IX and X, making it ideally suited for pre- and post-anaesthetic liver support.
Hepatosyl Plus is available in 50mg, 100mg and 200mg sprinkle capsules. For anaesthetic support, Hepatosyl Plus should be administered for one week prior to and following anaesthesia. For long-term use, the capsules should be given once daily for 2-3 months and then reduced to every other day for ongoing maintenance.
For further information, please contact your local CEVA Animal Health territory manager or call 01494 781510.
Budding veterinary impresario Noel Fitzpatrick has announced the dates for the inaugural VET Festival, an outdoor summer event for the profession which will combine world-class CPD with family entertainment and an evening rock concert headlined by Mike Rutherford of Genesis fame.
The VET Festival, sponsored by NVSL and Natural Instinct, will take place in the grounds of the University of Surrey on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September 2015.
In a complete departure from the way CPD is usually delivered, lectures will take place in a 1000-seat main theatre marquee in the middle of the university campus, surrounded by smaller breakout tents, exhibitors, family entertainment and 'street food'.
Noel said: "The simple goal of The VET Festival is to provide education which is both cutting-edge and relevant to the day-to-day clinical work of vets, vet nurses and veterinary professionals in companion animal practice. But we also seek to make education fun - like going to a movie - something you can treasure, enjoy and then readily employ in clinical practice.
"There are four lecture strands: orthopaedics, oncology and soft tissue surgery, neurology, and veterinary nursing. Ten education themes will be delivered by world-class lecturers with significant experience in clinical veterinary practice. We will present this education on an innovative platform combining a fun festival atmosphere with dynamic delivery. We aim to provide real value for money, with tickets priced very affordably for a packed educational program which can also form part of the 35 CPD points needed throughout the year."
In addition to Noel himself, speakers at the event (pictured below), include: Will Eward (Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Duke University), Nick Bacon (Head of Surgical Oncology, Fitzpatrick Referrals), Julia Tomlinson (Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Twin Cities Animal Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Clinic), Duncan Lascelles (Professor of Surgery and Pain Management at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine), Ian G Holsworth (Director VetSurg Small Animal Hospital, Ventura, California), Nick Jeffrey (Professor, Neurology and Neurosurgery College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University), Laurent Findji (Senior Surgeon Soft Tissue and Oncology, Fitzpatrick Referrals) and Jolle Kirpensteijn (Chief Professional Relation Officer, Hill's Pet Nutrition).
And if that wasn't enough, there'll be an evening concert on the Saturday headlined by Mike and the Mechanics. The ONE LIVE concert is being held to promote "One Life One Medicine": the belief that we all only have one life and that there should be a symbiosis of effort to move animal and human medicine forward together. It's in support of The Humanimal Trust, the UK's first charity to further the principles of One Medicine and with the aim of progressing clinically relevant healthcare initiatives for both animals and humans at the same time.
Mike Rutherford said: "I am a huge supporter of 'One Life - One Medicine' - combining animal and human health is an important way forward and I'm looking forward to playing at the Festival, as are the rest of the Mechanics! It will be a fantastic week end - not to be missed!"
As a media partner for the event, VetSurgeon.org will be offering members a special discount, more details to be announced in due course. Publishing Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "Sounds like it should be a lot of fun, and could be a great opportunity for some of our members to meet up and have a pint or two."
All VetSurgeon members can have a 10% discount on the ticket price, by visiting the following link and entering the code VFVSURGEON10
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-vet-festival-2015-tickets-16256763417?aff=VFVSURGEON10
For more information about the VET Festival visit: www.vetfestival.co.uk
When you post a job advert, or a shout for assistance on VetSurgeon Jobs, it is emailed to subscribers immediately and fed out onto other social networks. You can further extend the reach of your post by sharing it yourself and (with "Share and reward") encouraging other members of your team to do likewise.
I have taken the decision to drop the charge for advertising because it seems very clear now that we all face a very grim few months ahead, and it has never been more important that we all pull together and support each other, both personally and in business.
Of course, removing the charge for advertising for help on VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk is not, in and of itself, going to save anyone from going under, but I hope perhaps other veterinary suppliers might follow my lead and consider dropping their prices until such time as everyone is back on their feet.
I have a number of other ideas in the pipeline, all designed to help bring the profession together and support each other, which I will announce shortly.
In the meantime, there's a forum discussion for sharing ideas to make the next few months more bearable, here: Getting through coronavirus. Do come and share your thoughts, and I will email the best ideas to all members.
And take care, everyone.
The pads contain ophytrium and chlorhexidine at 3%. Ophytrium is a purified natural ingredient from Ophiopogon japonicus which, Ceva says, strengthens the mechanical skin barrier1, restores the balance of protective microbial flora2 and reduces irritation, while soothing the skin1. Chlorhexidine is both antibacterial and antifungal.
Ceva says that Douxo S3 Pyo pads, which come in packs of 30, provide antibacterial and antifungal efficacy within one minute and are free from soap, parabens, sulphates, phthalates, colourants and nanoparticles.
They are available in a new, hypoallergenic ‘summertime’ fragrance which pet owners liken to coconut and vanilla.
The pads add to the Douxo S3 Pyo range, which also consists of shampoo and a mousse.
Andrew Fullerton BVSc (Hons) MRCVS, product manager for Douxo S3 at Ceva said: "The new Douxo S3 range has been well received by both veterinary professionals and their clients since its launch, who find that the products are not only effective and well tolerated, but also easy-to-use. The Douxo S3 Pyo pads will enhance this range by offering an easy-to-administer antiseptic action while hydrating and maintaining the skin’s ecosystem.”
For further information, contact cevauk@ceva.com, your local territory manager or visit https://www.douxo.com/uk/Pet-Skin-Care/douxo-s3.
Somerset-based veterinary wholesaler, Centaur Services has been bought by US veterinary distributor MWI Veterinary Supply Inc.
According to MWI (the letters stand for Millard Wallace Ickes, the name of the company's founder), the transaction is valued at approximately $47 million, consisting of $45 million in cash and $2 million in a note payable in one year.
Jim Cleary, President and Chief Executive Officer of MWI, said: "MWI has positioned itself to continue its growth within the United States and now internationally. Centaur is a high-quality company that will allow us to serve veterinarians in the United Kingdom. We believe that it will be a great partnership and one that will bring further growth opportunities. We welcome the Centaur team to MWI."Paul Gerring, Managing Director of Centaur, commented: "We are looking forward to working with a strong company that has a great reputation in the animal health industry. Our team is excited to develop this relationship and be part of a company with proven success. Both Centaur and MWI are focused on providing high levels of customer service to veterinarians."
Mr Smith was convicted of conspiracy to commit a fraud in which potentially dangerous horses were drugged and then sold to unsuspecting owners, at Maidstone Crown Court in June 2016. He was given 30 months' imprisonment, which formed one of the charges heard by the Disciplinary Committee.
There were also a number of charges related to his treatment of five different animals while in practice at the Lakeview Veterinary Centre in Folkestone, Kent. The charges were:
In relation to a Clydesdale mare named Grace on 14 August 2014 he failed to perform an adequate examination and/or undertake sufficient investigation and/or take a history of her; that after his initial visit to Grace on that day he failed to respond adequately to the owner’s telephone reports that Grace had deteriorated and/or failed to improve; and, that he failed to make adequate clinical records for Grace.
Between 29 September 2014 and 31 January 2015, in relation to a Labradoodle named Holly, he failed to keep adequate clinical records.
In relation to a cat named Maisey the allegations were that he failed to examine and investigate the cat adequately, he made a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and gave insulin to administer to the cat without first undertaking the minimum investigation required, failed to keep adequate clinical records and sent an incorrect, misleading and dishonest statement to the RCVS regarding his treatment of Maisey. All charges date between 30 October and 19 December 2014.
In relation to a cat called Comet the allegation was that between 1 April and 17 April 2015 he failed to keep adequate clinical records and failed to respond adequately and appropriately to concerns raised by the owner.
Regarding a Yorkshire Terrier with diabetes named Poppy the allegation was that in two emergency out-of-hours calls made by Poppy’s owner to Mr Smith in April 2015 regarding the dog’s condition, he failed to recommend veterinary treatment or keep adequate clinical records. Furthermore, when the owner attended the practice following the two calls and the death of Poppy, he attributed the care to another member of the practice and failed to communicate effectively with the owner.
Having heard from a number of witnesses, including Mr Smith, and having received representations from Mr Smith in relation to the above charges, the Committee found almost all of the charges proven, with the exception of those relating to Mr Smith’s alleged conversation with Poppy’s owner at the practice following her death.
The Committee then went on to consider whether the various proven charges amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect and whether the conviction rendered Mr Smith unfit to practise veterinary surgery.
In relation to the clinical charges the Committee found that, both individually and cumulatively, they amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee also determined that the conviction rendered Mr Smith unfit to practise veterinary surgery and noted that it involved prolonged dishonesty, breach of trust, disregard for animal health and welfare and a "total abrogation of Mr Smith’s professional responsibilities."
Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee was particularly concerned because the dishonesty went to the heart of Mr Smith’s responsibilities as a veterinary surgeon. His registration as a veterinary surgeon enabled him to take part in the conspiracy, and that role involved him conducting certified examinations on animals and supplying drugs for administration to animals. Reliable and honest certification is a vital element of the veterinary surgeon’s public role."
In considering the sanction against Mr Smith the Committee looked at the clinical charges and the conviction separately.
In relation to the clinical charges the Committee found that his treatment of the animals in these cases was fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon. The Committee therefore directed that Mr Smith’s name should be removed from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.
The Committee said that the case demonstrated that Mr Smith’s lack of treatment or his inappropriate treatment of these animals caused harm and that in some regards, for example the writing of accurate and contemporaneous clinical notes, Mr Smith demonstrated a total disrespect for the Code of Professional Conduct.
The Committee went on to say: "Further, he deliberately lied to his regulator. He demonstrated deep-seated attitudinal issues including a misplaced belief in his own abilities and had no insight or commitment to do anything different in the future. In those circumstances the likelihood of repetition was significant in the Committee’s view."
In considering the sanction for his conviction of conspiracy to commit fraud the Committee took into account a number of aggravating factors including the premeditated nature of the conduct, the fact it was repeated over four years and the fact that harm was caused to both animals and people as a result of his actions.
Cerys Jones said: "As the decision notes, some of the riders were novices or children and as a result of their experience they lost confidence in riding a horse. As the independent veterinary surgeon Mr Smith was in a position of responsibility because he was certifying the horses as to their suitability. A particularly aggravating feature in this case is that Mr Smith had previously been removed from the Register for falsely certifying horses for export."
In relation to the conviction the Committee also directed that the Registrar remove Mr Smith from the Register.
Mr Smith has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to make an appeal against it.
The full findings can be found here.
The main changes announced today are:
In the future, the revalidation interval, which currently ranges from two to five years depending on the course, will be standardised at 4 years.
Currently, there is a two-month window in which Official Veterinarians (OV) can submit their final declarations, on completion of the course, if they want to set their next revalidation interval from the end of the window.
The revalidation window will be extended to a six-month period prior to the completion deadline date. If completed in this window, the date of the next revalidation would be taken from the deadline date and not the date of completion.
APHA is discussing ways of making invigilation more flexible, to help those working in sole-charge or remote practices. One option being investigated with course accreditation providers is remote invigilation, though this would come at extra cost.
All the multiple choice questions in the online exams are being reviewed to make sure they test the ability to perform the role, and in the future, candidates will be given more feedback at the end of the test (ie which questions they answered incorrectly).
In terms of CPD requirements, there will be clarification on what can be considered relevant CPD towards the 10 hours that need to be completed over the four-year timeframe.
Lastly, APHA has announced a raft of changes concerning course content, and that it will itself review all the courses to consider how the number of courses and topics can be rationalised, how to reduce the number of qualifications any OV might need and/or the time spent revalidating, and how to reduce the content without losing quality.
The BVA, which spearheaded the campaign for reform, has welcomed the announcement. Simon Doherty, BVA President, said: "We’re delighted that APHA has taken on board our members’ concerns with the current system and proposed improvements that should make the process much more fair and consistent while continuing to maintain high standards. This is a really crucial time for ensuring that the workforce retains skilled professionals and is at full strength to keep animal welfare standards high, protect public health and meet demand for export certification after Brexit.
"This piece of work is a shining example of what can be achieved when vets pull together to air concerns and make the case for change. We will continue to work closely with APHA to explore and put in place ways of making the revalidation process as fit for purpose as possible for this critical section of the workforce."
Full review: http://apha.defra.gov.uk/documents/ov/Briefing-Note-0519.pdf
Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.
Hill's Pet Nutrition has announced that it will not be exhibiting at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress this year, and instead will be found in a restaurant round the corner called The Strada.
The press release containing this news fluttered in at almost exactly same time as one from the BSAVA, in which President Grant Petrie revealed that Congress already has a record-breaking exhibition.
Hill's' spin on the story is that it's all part of a new way of thinking about how the company does business. Blake Hawley, DVM and Managing Director at Hill's Pet Nutrition said: "It's easy to fall into the same old habits and routines. In fact, it can be enormously comforting to predict that in the year ahead, one will deliver, and probably receive, expected results. We don't think that's really quite good enough. So, we made the difficult and very conscious decision to question what we do and challenge how we think about the way we do business."
Hill's goes on to say that it will continue to support BSAVA and help provide a great experience for people attending the Congress, by offering free Italian food, coffee or a glass of beer or wine from its new restaurant location.
Some might call that supportive of BSAVA. Others, less generous, might call it a way of benefitting from all the work that the BSAVA does to bring everyone together at Congress without contributing towards the costs.
Thankfully, though, it doesn't look like BSAVA has been hit that hard by the news. Grant Petrie said: "BSAVA is a not-for-profit registered charity, and Congress is run by vets and nurses. So all of us - organisers, delegates and exhibitors - are supporting the veterinary profession simply by being involved. Together, we are officially part of a record breaking year - with 241 exhibitors in the NIA, along with our fellow associations in the ICC.
"That's more than we've ever had before, and there is a waiting list of companies wanting to join us at this flagship event. So every company who is seriously committed to vets and being involved in supporting the small animal veterinary profession will be with us in the NIA. BSAVA really appreciates the involvement of exhibitors in making Congress such a vital event in the veterinary calendar. It means that not only can we offer remarkably cost-effective CPD, but also provide a showcase of new advances in the industry and the opportunity to get the most from your practice budget. It is where budget holders get the best value, and where exhibitors can meet key decision makers.
"Plus, of course, there's a lot of fun and plenty of free gifts to be found in the NIA too!"
The survey, which received 2445 responses from BVA members, found that 16% of vets and vet students have personally experienced discrimination within a veterinary workplace or learning environment in the past twelve months, while 20% had witnessed discrimination.
Senior colleagues were most commonly responsible for the discrimination (47% of incidents), with discrimination from clients accounting for 35% of incidents.
Sex discrimination was the most common type reported (44% of incidents) and was particularly prevalent in academic settings and in production animal, equine, and mixed practices.
Race discrimination was the next most commonly reported (27% of incidents).
Respondents also gave details of discrimination in relation to other protected characteristics, including age, sexuality, disability and gender reassignment.
Younger vets were more likely than older vets to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year (27% of those under 35 had experienced discrimination).
Female vets were more than twice as likely to have experienced discrimination than their male colleagues (19% and 8% respectively).
The incidence of discrimination was higher amongst vets from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds. Those who described their sexual orientation as bi, gay or lesbian were twice as likely to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year.
Despite the high incidence of discrimination reported, responses to the same survey showed that only 56% of the profession feel concerned about discrimination.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Daniella Dos Santos (pictured right) said: "This is the first time anyone has collected such a significant body of evidence on this issue and the results are truly shocking. It is completely unacceptable that so many members of the veterinary team are subject to discrimination not just from clients but from members of our own profession.
"Worryingly, it seems that the scale of the issue will come as a surprise to many members of our profession and so it is vital that we all join the conversation and reflect on what role we can play to improve equality and inclusion. The veterinary team must become a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We cannot accept anything less for ourselves, for our colleagues and for our profession."
Only 12% of respondents were satisfied with how their incident had been dealt, rising to 23% among those who felt able to report. Daniella said: "Many of the experiences documented in our report are shocking and distressing and this distress is often compounded by what comes next. It was very saddening to hear that so many people have felt unable to report their experiences or that their reports were handled badly by those who received them.
"Experiencing discrimination can be very traumatic, without the ‘double-whammy’ of having your complaint dismissed or mishandled by managers or senior staff. We need to make sure everyone who experiences discrimination is able to get the outcome they deserve.
"Through the discrimination questionnaire we heard many distressing stories from vets, students, vet nurses and other colleagues. We are incredibly grateful to them for sharing these with us so that we can raise awareness of what’s happening in our veterinary workplaces."
To raise awareness of the scale of the issue, the BVA is inviting all members of the veterinary team to join a "Big Conversation on equality and inclusion in the veterinary professions", starting with the release of its report on the current situation on discrimination, which can be downloaded here, then inviting everyone to join online engagement sessions through social media and BVA members to feed in views via their regional representatives ahead of Council on 24 July.
Elanco has launched a new poultry tonic designed to support birds during the most demanding periods of productivity: during growth and peak laying.
The launch follows Elanco's acquisition of Janssen Animal Health and its existing poultry poultry tonic, which Elanco has improved.
Elanco Poultry Tonic HD Plus contains two new ingredients: a vitamin D3 metabolite and a natural antioxidant blend.
Elanco says the new product could prove just the tonic for the poultry industry in the face of rising fuel and feed costs. One study has apparently demonstrated as much as a 5:1 return on investment can be made as a result of supplementing the D3 metabolite alone.1According to the company, the vitamin D3 metabolite has been shown to increase egg weights (by around 2 per cent) and improve feed conversion and feed intake. It is more available to the body than vitamin D3, which plays a role in calcium metabolism (and therefore egg production). The benefits are significant for commercial egg producers but also for hatcheries, as egg size correlates with chick weight. Elanco says the metabolite can also improve bone strength, potentially resulting in healthier, more robust poults.The new antioxidant blend contains natural preparations of vitamins as well as more complex antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, such as flavanoids, polyphenols and carotenoids. It also contains nucleotides and sulphur containing amino acids, methionine and lysine. Elanco's new Poultry Tonic HD Plus is suitable for layers, broilers, breeders and turkeys and is available from veterinary wholesalers and animal health distributors. The company is also launching Game Bird Tonic HD Plus at the same time.
Reference
1. SOTO-SALANOVA MF MOLINERO A, Efficacy of the use of Hy-D® in laying hens, XI th European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products 191 Doorwerth, The Netherlands, 23-26 May 2005
According to the survey, 64% of veterinary surgeons now see Brexit as more of a threat than an opportunity for the UK veterinary profession, compared to just half in autumn 2016. Conversely, the number that see Brexit as being more of an opportunity has dropped from 18% to 14% over the same period.
Vets working in academia and industry were the most gloomy: 69% of vets in academia and 58% of vets in industry see Brexit as more of a threat to their own area of work than an opportunity.
The biggest impact appears to have been on veterinary recruitment, with 53% saying Brexit has made it harder to recruit veterinary surgeons, compared to only 18% in 2016. By comparison, only 11% said it has become harder to recruit veterinary nurses.
51% also now consider Brexit as a threat to animal welfare, compared to 43% in 2016.
BVA President Simon Doherty (pictured right, looking decidedly chipper despite it all) said: "As the UK Government ramps up its planning for a no-deal scenario, it’s clear that the veterinary profession is becoming increasingly concerned about the potential impact of Brexit.
"Top of vets’ list of concerns is significant veterinary workforce shortages across critical areas of animal welfare and public health. Veterinary concerns around animal welfare have also increased as the Government continues to stall on introducing new legislation to enshrine animal sentience in UK law before March.
"From pet passports and food safety, to disease surveillance and trade certification, there is no area of veterinary work that is not touched by Brexit. So, we can fully understand why our members are worried about the future. BVA will continue to raise these important veterinary issues with policymakers to ensure the profession is considered as Brexit discussions continue."
The BVA briefings on “Brexit and the veterinary profession” and “No deal Brexit and the veterinary profession” set out all of the issues of interest in more detail.
Ceva Animal Health has announced the launch of Cardalis for the treatment of canine heart failure caused by degenerative valvular heart disease.
Cardalis contains what the company says is a unique combination of benazepril and spironolactone in one tablet which provides "dual blockade" of the RAAS system.
Benazepril reduces the production of angiotensin II, which causes narrowing of the blood vessels, while spironolactone blocks the harmful effects of aldosterone, which include cardiovascular remodelling and fibrosis.
Cardalis tablets are small, beef flavoured and designed to be administered once a day with food. Each pot contains 30 tablets and there are three sizes available. Ceva says it should be given as part of standard heart failure therapy as soon as clinical signs, such as exercise intolerance, coughing or dyspnoea, appear.
Fraser Broadfoot, small animal product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Through our clinical studies, it has been found that dogs receiving benazepril and spironolactone (compared with benazepril alone) have a better quality of life and, at any one time, are three times less likely to die from heart failure.
"We have also assessed 101 dogs in a field study that were prescribed Cardalis for three months, followed by separate benazepril and spironolactone tablets for two weeks. In the study, 97 per cent of dog owners found Cardalis easier to administer than the two separate tablets and 89 per cent of vets found Cardalis easier to prescribe."
For further information about Cardalis, or to receive marketing materials for the product (which include a waiting room poster and client information booklets), visit www.ceva.com.uk, or contact the practice support team on 01494 781510.
A group of brave veterinary nurses and a student nurse leapt out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft last weekend, both to raise money for children with epilepsy, and to highlight the need to protect the title 'Veterinary Nurse' in law.
Vicky Couzens, Jenny Cook, Kim Blowing, Michelle Dickens, Gillian James and Leigh Martin, none of whom had parachuted before (in fact, Gillian hadn't even been in a plane before), were raising money for the Muir Maxwell Trust, a charity which funds research into childhood epilepsy, and supports the families of some of the 70,000 children affected by it in the UK.
The daredevil nurses also wanted to highlight the fact that anyone can call themselves a veterinary nurse, regardless of whether they've ever even set foot inside a veterinary practice, let alone passed the demanding examinations. They argue that the title 'Veterinary Nurse' should be protected in law, in exactly the same way as 'Veterinary Surgeon', so that the pet-owning public can have the reassurance of knowing when their animal is being cared for by a qualified professional.
To support these nurses' efforts, and help them reach their fundraising targets, click the links below:
http://www.justgiving.com/Victoria-Couzens http://www.justgiving.com/Jenny-Cook23 http://www.justgiving.com/KimBlowing http://www.justgiving.com/Michelle-Dickens
Meanwhile, one of the children that has benefitted from the work done by the Muir Maxwell Trust is Emily Guthrie, daughter of the editor of VetNurse.co.uk and VetSurgeon.org. She sent the jumpers her own message of thanks: