The charity says it joins mounting evidence that brachycephalic cats, including most modern Persians or Exotic Shorthairs, are suffering from a number of health problems, including breathing problems, eye inflammation, skin infections and difficulty eating.
In the study, published open access in the journal PLOS ONE, cat owners were asked to complete a detailed health questionnaire and submit photographs of their cats so that researchers could measure the muzzle ratio and nose position ratio. 1000 valid questionnaires and 373 valid photographs were received.
The research confirmed that flatter-faced cats (of breeds such as the Persian or Exotic Shorthair), were more likely to have breathing problems and that the breathing difficulties were also associated with increased tear staining and a more sedentary lifestyle.
A previous paper, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS)2 showed how the skulls of brachycephalic cats are actually deformed, especially the nose and jaw.
The charity says that unfortunately, breeds of cat and dog with flat faces are becoming more and more popular, and extremes (of an already abnormal anatomy) can become instant internet celebrities. These breeds and individuals often have large or prominent eyes which are considered by some to be 'cute' because they are baby-like, and the flattened face often has an up-turned or down-turned mouth, which gives it a human or cartoon characteristic of smiling or scowling, such as Grumpy Cat.
Claire Bessant, Chief Executive of International Cat Care said: "It is very depressing to see the life which has been deliberately dealt to some breeds of cats because of a human desire to develop a certain look. I urge cat lovers to speak out and help others to understand that this is not something we should be doing to cats, and not something we should be tolerating.
"One of the best and most beautifully naturally designed animals – the cat – would not normally have any of these problems; we have created them through selective breeding.
"We should not be encouraging people to breed these cats by calling them 'cute', by being amused at their facial characteristics, or by the fact that they snore – rather we need to understand that this is human intervention that is wholly detrimental to the welfare of the cats and is simply cruel.
"International Cat Care takes an ethical view of all cat breeds and our website (http://icatcare.org/advice/cat-breeds) outlines the problems that exist for some breeds, including very flat-faced cats in the Persians and Exotic breeds. Our stance is that we should never deliberately breed cats for any feature or characteristic that impairs their welfare."
References
Redonyl Ultra contains essential fatty acids, Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and Biotin.
PEA is a naturally-occurring bio modulator which Dechra says has scientifically proven activity against the mechanisms that contribute to inflammation and pain, while Biotin is important for synthesis of fatty acids and support of optimal skin condition.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "Redonyl Ultra is a great addition to Dechra’s extensive Dermatology range that allows an holistic approach to treatment, control and maintenance of dermatological conditions.
"Allergic skin conditions are among the most common causes of skin and ear disease in cats and dogs, and it is estimated that up to 15 per cent of dogs are affected by atopy. In situations where an allergen cannot be avoided, multi-modal therapy is useful to control the clinical signs."
Redonyl Ultra comes in a convenient bottle size of 60 skittle capsules, in two strengths for different sized animals. The capsules can be opened and given with food or ingested directly, or swallowed whole for flexible administration.
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2iNa2Ik
Lecture topics will include interesting cases, the importance of systematic abdominal technique, the challenge of becoming ultrasound competent within a primary referral setting, basic anaesthetic nerve blocks, using ultrasound for appropriate medical management, how CASE can support competency based veterinary ultrasound training and more.
The session will end with a debate on whether it is time for a formal / stand alone Veterinary Ultrasound training programme and who should accredit such courses.
Speakers include Natasha Dickinson from Cave Veterinary Specialists, Niamh Casey from Village Vets, Miguel Martinez from Northwest Veterinary Specialists, Will Humphreys from the University of Liverpool and Nuala Summerfield from Virtual Veterinary Specialists.
The day costs £75 (sounds like a steal, if you ask me), and you can register here: https://www.bmus.org/meeting-booking/ultrasound-2019/
Ceva Animal Health is launching Fiprospot, a new spot-on for dogs and cats.
Fiprospot contains fipronil, with its proven efficacy against fleas in dogs and cats and against ticks in dogs. The product is packaged in a novel dosing pipette which can be placed on its stand before gathering the dog or cat for their treatment. There are five pack sizes available for Fiprospot: one for cats and four for dogs, with either three or six pipettes per pack.
To find out more about Fiprospot and other products in Ceva's antiparasite range, telephone the customer support team on (01494) 781510 or contact your local Ceva territory manager.
According to a report in last weekend's Mail on Sunday, documents leaked from Defra have revealed proposals for a range of measures designed to reduce the risk from dangerous dogs.
The proposals reportedly include:
The first of these looks like being a bit of a non-runner. Aside from the subjective nature of deciding what makes a competent owner, the cost is disproportionate to the size of the problem: 703 convictions for dangerously out of control dogs in 2007. The other two seem long overdue.
Omniotic combines three ingredients to remove ear wax and debris: a detergent, a solvent and an emulsifier. It also contains Octoxynol-9, lactic acid, salicylic acid and parabens, which Vita says have anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
The product is sold in 120ml bottles with a transparent flexible tip designed to be comfortable even in stenosed, tender ear canals.
Omniotic can be used for regular daily cleaning, especially in predisposed breeds such as spaniels and lop-eared rabbits where ear conformation increases the risk of ear disease.
The product can also be used alongside other antibiotics or anti-fungal medications, something which Vita highlights as being especially important in rabbits, the ear canals of which are less prone to inflammation and stenosis, and for which topical treatment can be very effective.
Tara Evans, RVN and sales manager said: "Omniotic is an ear cleaner for dogs, cats and rabbits which combines features to meet the needs of owners and vets at the same time. The feedback from our customers is very positive; they are finding the soft, flexible applicator tip is easy to use and well tolerated. The unique combination of ingredients and the multi-species use means Omniotic can be used to support ear health across a wide variety of indications."
For more information and for the latest promotional offers, contact Tara Evans, via email: info@vitaanimalhealth.com, or telephone: 01256 591032.
Norbrook has announced the re-launch of its range of intramammary tubes for lactating and dry cows, to promote holistic herd health and responsible use of antimicrobials.
The company’s range, which includes products across a number of antibiotic classes, primarily targets clinical cases of mastitis in lactating cows, and removal or prevention of infection around the dry period.
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Marketing Manager at Norbrook, says the re-launch is focused on modernising the range and making it clearer for practice staff and farmers to avoid confusion between lactating cow and dry cow products: “We have a wide range of 11 products containing a variety of antimicrobials: for example Duofast is the only lactating cow product to contain trimethoprim and sulfadiazine. We are working with vets to promote responsible use by farmers, for example through the use of our teat sealant Noroseal for Selective Dry Cow Therapy."
The full range includes Duofast, Lactaclox, Cefimam LC, Combiclav, Noroclav and Multiject for the lactating cow; Cefimam DC, Noroclox, Bovaclox and Bovaclox DC Xtra for the dry cow; and teat sealant Noroseal.
Norbrook has also produced a best practice guide to mastitis control, available for vets in English and Polish, which can be shared with farmers.
Chris added: "We recognise the need to reduce overall use of antimicrobials, especially for disease prevention – as well as using non-antimicrobial products such as teat sealants. These practices, together with the recent focus on using older classes of antimicrobials, mean that as an industry we need to adopt a holistic and targeted approach to herd health management.
"We believe that by providing additional information to aid with prevention of disease, and re-launching our intramammary range to make it clearer when products should be used, we can help to achieve that."
Norbrook says the full range of products is in stock, but some wholesalers may hold components of the old range as the new range is phased in.
The company points to research which showed that 42% of cats and 28% of dogs have lesions which are only detectable on x-ray1.
Failing to identify teeth with root lesions can have a significant impact on patient welfare, causing ongoing pain and eventual tooth loss.
The first priority for the CVS clinical improvement project was to review how effective its first opinion small animal practices were at using radiography in dental examinations.
In July 2021, only 16.2% of dental cases had radiography performed and clinicians were mostly using visual examination to guide decision making.
The project then identified the barriers to using dental radiography as: a lack of dental radiography equipment in a practice, a lack of clinician confidence in taking and interpreting the radiographs and a belief that pet owners would not want to pay for it.
To address the first issue, CVS installed new dental radiography machines at over 104 sites, at a cost of £615,000 over the course of the year.
The company then upskilled its vets and nurses in dental radiography - looking specifically at getting good quality radiographs and interpretation.
Finally, the company conducted an audit of each participating practice’s dental radiology data, updating it each month and sharing the results with the practices..
One year on, CVS says the data shows that 43% of dental cases in project practices are now using dental radiography as part of their consultation.
In the best cases, some practices have been using radiography in 100% of cases.
Hub Clinical Lead Deborah Komianos said: “When you open a patient’s mouth and look inside, seemingly normal teeth are oftentimes not normal.
"So vets and nurses can risk missing periodontal disease.
“Dental radiology has historically been underutilised but we believe it adds valuable information to dental consultations and is an important decision-making tool.
“We’re thrilled with the early results in our practices.
"It shows there’s been a real change of mind-set and behaviour towards using X-rays in dentistry – as well as increased confidence in execution."
Reference
Elanco Animal Health has announced the launch of Kexxtone this month, a new treatment which it claims can reduce the incidence of ketosis in dairy cows by 74%* following a single treatment.1
Kexxtone is a targeted solution for any dairy cow or heifer that is expected to develop ketosis around the period of calving. It is administered as a bolus,and provides coverage during the main risk period for the condition.
Ketosis often goes undetected because the signs are not immediately apparent. However, it is a common condition, affecting around 30% of cows2 and has a negative impact upon cow health, fertility and milk production. Ketosis can result, on average, in milk losses of around 350-500 litres per cow4 per lactation. The cost of production losses and disease related consequential losses due to subclinical ketosis has been estimated at around 250-600 EUR per cow.5
Elanco says this new approach is likely to significantly expand the array of options open to vets actively involved in dairy herd health management. Kexxtone comes with the benefit of a zero day milk and meat withdrawal3 and the formulation is based on monensin - a molecule with a long history of beneficial use.
According to the company, Kexxtone uses novel technology to allow a continuous and regular release of the active ingredient into the rumen which forms a gel when exposed to rumen fluid. This gel is progressively released into the rumen by a pressure sensitive spring in the Kexxtone device. The active ingredient shifts the microbial balance in the rumen to produce more of the glucose precursor propionic acid, therefore increasing glucose delivery and ultimately increasing the energy available to the cow. This improvement in energy utilisation buffers dairy cows against the tendency to drop into negative energy balance during the transition period around calving and early lactation - the major cause of ketosis.
Mike Steele, Technical Consultant at Elanco said: "Kexxtone offers an exciting opportunity in which everyone wins - vets who can offer positive interventions able to make a big impact on the bottom line, are going to be increasingly integral to their farm clients' herd health planning framework. It's no longer just about nutritional intervention and emergency salvage; it's about being able to proactively easily measure the true herd prevalence of ketosis and where appropriate, take preventative targeted action to really make a difference."
Kexxtone is available to order now from veterinary wholesalers - for further information contact the Elanco Territory Manager or call Elanco Animal Health on 01256 353131.
The exhibition comprises 22 photographs showing a range of subjects from across the UK and overseas, including cattle during a TB testing day on the island of Arran, a surprising find during surgery, a look down the microscope at feline myofiber disarray and a practical session of bee veterinary medicine.
The photographs were selected from around 1,000 that were submitted to the association's photo competitions by its members in 2016 and 2017.
The exhibition was officially opened today by Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EfraCom) and BVA Honorary Member, at an opening ceremony attended by parliamentarians as well as many of the veterinary surgeons whose photographs feature in the exhibition.
Neil said: "These photos show the diverse range of things that vets are involved in. What we respect from BVA is that we get good clear, evidence-based advice when we need it."
BVA member and Director of Cambridge Veterinary Group Lucy Crosby was commended for her snake intubation picture last year. She said: "The exhibition is a really exciting opportunity for vets to show that their skills extend beyond the operating room to the arts.
"I personally feel privileged to have my photo shown here. The veterinary profession and what we do is diverse and it's important to broadcast to the general public just how important the profession’s contribution is to the country."
BVA President, John Fishwick said: "It's an honour to have the opportunity to exhibit our members’ photographs in the Palace of Westminster. Vets work in practices across the UK, in government policy, public health and food safety, industry and technology, the armed forces, and beyond.
"As a profession, we play a significant role in many areas of personal and political life; an issue that EU exit has brought into sharp relief. With the political landscape shifting so rapidly, it’s apt that we’re showcasing vets’ work to parliamentarians to make sure it’s at the forefront of their minds as they return for the New Year."
The exhibition will be open daily until Thursday 11 January in the Upper Waiting Room of the House of Commons, an area open to Members of Parliament, Peers and visiting members of the public.
To view the photographs exhibited, and many others from BVA’s photo competitions, visit BVA’s Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/britishvets/albums/
Unite and the British Veterinary Union (BVU) have written to the government asking for the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), which regulates such governing bodies as the General Medical Council, General Dental Council, and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), to have 'scrutiny' of the RCVS.
In a letter to junior minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, the BVU chair Dr Shams Mir cited the case of Munhuwepasi Chikosi struck off the register of veterinary surgeons by the RCVS in June 2013.
Dr Mir said that this case was "widely seen by the veterinary profession as blatant miscarriage of justice and many expressions of 'outrage' were published in the veterinary press and online.
"One popular online veterinary forum recorded over a thousand posts criticising and challenging various aspects of the decision."
The current statutory duties of the RCVS, established by Royal Charter in 1844, are determined by the Veterinary Surgeons Act (VSA) of 1966, which Unite says is now 'outdated.
Dr Mir said: "BVU petitions the government to extend the remit of the PSA to incorporate the RCVS to ensure appropriate overview and scrutiny.
"The RCVS proposed new Royal Charter could be exploited by the RCVS to give itself proxy powers to introduce incontestable new regulatory measures."
Unite has asked for an urgent meeting with Mr. Eustice.
Unite professional officer Jane Beach said: "Our initiative is designed to safeguard the interests of both the public, and practicing vets and veterinary nurses in the UK.
"Basically, the way that the RCVS is presently constituted means that it is both judge and jury in disciplinary matters. It sets the rules and hands down the judgements - and we believe that an extra layer of scrutiny needs to be introduced which we would like to be the PSA."
FirstVet says the funding will enable it to expand its service globally, including the United States, Germany, and France. It will also allow it to continue developing its product and introduce new features to improve the experience for pet owners and vets, such as new automation tools and integration with clinics' existing systems.
The latest round of financing takes FirstVet’s total funding to-date to €24.5M.
Founded in 2016 in Sweden, FirstVet currently has a presence in five markets: the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and its native Sweden. The company says it has over 200,000 registered users and has provided consultations for over 150,000 pets since launch.
Currently, FirstVet consultations are offered free to millions of owners through partnerships with 20 insurance companies across all markets, including Bought By Many in the UK.
Co-founder David Prien said: "FirstVet is the first truly neutral stakeholder in the world to coordinate pet care. In what is a highly privatised industry, our reliable service provides value to the entire sector, and we are growing at an incredible rate."
BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “Judging this competition has been genuinely both extremely enjoyable and really difficult.
"The entries this year have absolutely surpassed expectations and the level of talent on display is amazing.
"However, the photographs we have chosen are all well worthy of being finalists.
"From photos that made us laugh out loud, to others that made some of us feel close to tears, they evoked a range of emotions, but we were also impressed by the quality of the images, the creativity of the photographers and the composition of the photos, as well as the stories behind the lens.
The finalists are:
Vets at work
All creatures great and small
Happy pets that make us smile
The winners will be announced at BVA Live at Birmingham’s NEC in May, where this year there is also an opportunity for BVA Live delegates to vote for their favourite image from the shortlist, with a new ‘People’s Choice’ winner being announced in the weeks following the event.
A short film about Ami Sawran MRCVS, who simultaneously works as a vet, an actress and the editor of a lesbian magazine called Reprobait, is being released in Vue West End and Vue Piccadilly cinemas from today.
The film, being shown ahead of big screen blockbusters, is part of a series which make up 1000 Londoners, a project to create a digital portrait of the city.
Each film dips into the life of a Londoner for three minutes. The first ten films being shown over the next two months include one about an entrepreneurial hula-hooper from Hoxton, another featuring the last cloth trader in Shoreditch, one about a cage-fighter on the day of his first professional fight and another about a Big Issue seller who works on the Strand.
Rachel Wang, director of 1000 Londoners, said: “This release gives the people of London an opportunity to see these fascinating documentaries in the greatest way to watch any film in London – on the big screen in the West End. By making this possible Vue Entertainment have been extremely open and forward-thinking in their programming.”
The 1000 Londoners films are currently being released weekly on 1000londoners.com The latest film "Danny" looks below the city into Bazalgette's Victorian sewers, where professional 'flusher' Danny Brackley works. Forthcoming Londoners include an ex-SAS author, a third generation blacksmith from Stepney and a woman who has withdrawn from mainstream society to live on a canal boat.
Hertfordshire-based, multi-specialist veterinary referral centre Davies Veterinary Specialists' new pro bono scheme has saved the life of a young German shepherd dog twice in fortnight.
'Apollo' first impaled himself on some broken fence panels whilst playing. A splinter of wood, which was around 5cm long and 1.5cm wide, became lodged between his heart and lungs. However, because he initially had no symptoms and there was no obvious puncture wound, his owner Sam Russell from Leighton Buzzard wasn't aware that anything was wrong. It was a week later when the dog suddenly became very anxious, uncomfortable and was struggling to breathe, that Sam rushed him to her local vet practice, Heath and Reach in Bedfordshire.
Hannah Johnston's initial diagnosis was that the dog had some foreign material lodged internally that was causing an infection. Without an urgent CT scan and surgery his chances of survival were minimal, but his owner was uninsured and had no means of affording the treatment. Hannah had recently read about a pro bono scheme introduced by Davies Veterinary Specialists and believed that Apollo's case fitted the criteria.
She said: "It was heart wrenching to think that a young dog, with such a caring owner, was very likely to lose his life and I was determined to do anything I could to help. I couldn't help shedding a tear when DVS agreed to treat him, as I knew Apollo now had a chance. His owner had recently had an awful spate of bad luck and was so deserving of DVS's help."
Manuel Jiménez Peláez, European Veterinary Specialist in Surgery at DVS, who operated on Apollo, said: "A CT scan showed a large, fluid-filled cavity, a partially collapsed lung and a sharp, thin, elongated structure, lodged between Apollo's lungs and his heart. We drained the cavity and successfully removed the foreign body. We also had to remove most of the irreparably damaged left lung."
Apollo was in hospital for two weeks, five days of which were spent in intensive care in a critical condition. Sam was thrilled when she was eventually able to take him home, but two days later disaster struck again. Apollo was diagnosed with gastric dilation volvulus. He needed surgery within six hours to survive the condition and DVS once again stepped in to operate as an emergency, free of charge.
Apollo has made a full recovery is now back at home with the Russell family. Sam Russell said: "Apollo has always been so determined and full of life. Even when he was dangerously ill and in intensive care he wouldn't give up and tried to rouse himself to come home with me. For Davies Vet Specialists to save my dog once is nothing short of amazing but for them to save him twice makes me speechless with gratitude. To be shown such kindness after a dreadful run of bad luck would leave anyone stuck for words."
All first opinion practices are eligible to apply for the DVS pro bono scheme, which will allow an average of one patient per month to receive free treatment. Requests will be based on advocacy from the clinical head of the referring practice and on genuine need. To find out more visit http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/ or call Dr Clive Elwood, Managing Director, on 01582 883950.
The CPD event is in two parts. The first is a webinar on Tuesday 30th April at 7:30pm by Dr Jo Murrell DipECVAA (pictured right) entitled: Analgesia for ovariohysterectomy in dogs and cats and the role of Comfortan.
Jo will present the results of studies she has conducted to investigate which opioid provides optimum analgesia for the procedure in both dogs and cats. In one study, she compared the analgesic effect of peri-operative methadone with peri-operative buprenorphine in dogs. In the other, she compared the analgesic effects of methadone with buprenorphine in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy using the QUAD anaesthetic protocol.
You can register now for Dechra’s webinar, here.
The webinar will be followed by the opportunity to put follow-up questions to Jo in a special forum in the new Anaesthesia group on VetSurgeon.org, where she has become a VetSurgeon Contributing Expert.
The webinar entitles you to one hour of CPD, which you can supplement with any additional time spent discussing the issue with Jo in the forum, using the ‘Claim CPD’ button.
The event also marks the official launch of the new Small Animal Anaesthesia Group on VetSurgeon.org, and I would like to invite all members of VetSurgeon.org with an interest in anaesthesia to come and join the group here (press the ‘Join’ button on the left hand side; you may need to rotate your mobile phone to see it).
In addition, you may wish to subscribe to the digest which will alert you to any new anaesthesia discussions on a daily or weekly basis, as you prefer.
Historically, diagnosis has been achieved with multiple blood tests. However, this process can be time-consuming, expensive and in some cases does not provide accurate results.
In an attempt to address these diagnostic challenges, the researchers, with funding from Dechra, assessed anonymised data from 939 dogs which had been tested for Cushing’s syndrome from the VetCompass population of 905,554 dogs and 886 veterinary practices across the UK1.
Using structured clinical data to look at the dogs’ demographics, clinical signs at presentation and laboratory results, machine-learning algorithms were applied to predict a future diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome. Dogs suspected of having Cushing’s syndrome were included in the analysis and classified based on their final reported diagnosis within their clinical records.
The researchers say that the findings indicate that machine-learning aided diagnosis could predict the diagnosis of a practising veterinary surgeon and that using machine-learning methods in clinical practice could contribute to improved diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome in dogs.
Additionally, further development of these algorithms could lead to earlier, more reliable and cost-effective diagnoses and therefore, better clinical care for dogs with Cushing’s syndrome. This could also create opportunities for this technology to be applied to other clinical problems.
Imogen Schofield, lead author and PhD student at the RVC, said: “Machine-learning algorithms, like those used in this study, are already widely integrated in our day-to-day lives to help make certain decisions, such as Google or Netflix recommendations. Now this technology can be harnessed to help improve diagnostics in veterinary practice.
"By embracing the use of machine-learning methods, we are a step closer to providing vets in primary-care practice with an easy to use, low cost and accurate test that can support the often frustrating process of diagnosing Cushing’s syndrome in dogs."
Greg Williams, Senior Business Manager at Dechra Ltd. and Industrial Supervisor of the PhD studentship, said: “By funding Imogen's PhD and working with the RVC we have been able to develop validated clinical scoring and quality-of-life assessments to help vets deliver effective control and management of Cushing's syndrome in dogs.
The programme, which was developed in collaboration with the NHS Leadership Academy, is designed to teach a number of skills that underpin good leadership, including decision-making, resilience, implementing an inclusive culture and encouraging reflective learning approaches. It comprises two free-to-access courses and an optional paid for assessment.
The College says that one of the programme's most popular aspects is its audio drama, which follows the lives of veterinary professionals living in the fictional county of Glenvern. The stories that depict the characters’ working lives seek to reveal the diverse leadership challenges that veterinary professionals face on a day-to-day basis. This in turn prompts the listener to reflect, consider how they would respond, and learn from their own experiences as well as those of other people.
The first course was piloted this summer, with over 550 veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, students and practice managers helping the College to develop and refine the material, whilst a group of learners are currently piloting the second course in the series.
Simon Patchett MRCVS, who works at Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital, Glasgow, said: "This course really highlighted leadership qualities that are often taken for granted. The course demonstrates that you do not need a status position in order to demonstrate effective leadership even though status positions are often where we look for leadership. I would recommend this course to both vets and nurses in clinical practice - it's a real eye opener, and as a result of doing the course perhaps we can see less age-restricted approach to leadership within the veterinary profession?"
Given the overwhelmingly positive feedback received on the first course the RCVS has now opened the programme to all veterinary professionals.
The programme is now accepting registrations for a new cohort of learners to begin the first of three courses on 26th November. A ‘sign-up’ email will be sent out to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses ahead of the course starting.
Director of Leadership and Innovation at the RCVS, Anthony Roberts, said: "I am very pleased to be able to announce the launch of this programme. I would urge anyone with an interest in developing their leadership skills, as well as those looking to refine their longstanding leadership skills, to take part. The feedback we have received on the first course in this programme [please see Notes to Editors] has shown us that this MOOC has a far-reaching application, and is both educational and enjoyable. Whether you are a vet, veterinary nurse, practice manager or student, this programme will be relevant and useful in your professional career."
For more information, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/leadershipmooc or email: leadership@rcvs.org.uk
The survey, which takes about 5 minutes (I timed it), is designed to canvas opinion about the priorities for learning and development.
Rich Casey, Junior Vice President of the VMG (pictured right), said: "From marketing to HR to financial planning and all points in between, today’s veterinary leaders require expertise in every aspect of running a successful business.
"We want to create a truly valuable, constructive and evidence-based CPD calendar for next year. Views from those working in the profession will help us to fully understand what good leadership and management look like in the veterinary world and we will then make sure that the programme promotes best practice in these important areas. We thank everyone who takes the time to complete the survey."
The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VETCPDPR
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Cyclo Spray, an antibiotic spray for veterinary professionals treating hard to reach sites when handling cattle, sheep and pigs.
Dechra says the new product has been developed for use at any angle, even upside down.
Cyclo Spray (chlortetracycline hydrochloride 2.45%) is indicated for the treatment of superficial claw and hoof infections and the prevention of infections of superficial traumatic or surgical wounds.
Dechra Veterinary Products Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: "Vets dealing with livestock can often find that they are twisting themselves into awkward positions to get to hard to reach sites with traditional spray can treatments. Not only are they having to find the right angle to ensure the can works, but also potentially the treatment can drip or take time to dry.
"We've introduced Cyclo Spray to our portfolio to help combat some of those difficulties - it is a new 360 degree spray can allowing users to mark the site of application with confidence from whatever angle. It is non-drip, fast-drying with excellent adhesive characteristics and contains a non-toxic colouring agent."
Cyclo Spray is available in 211ml and 422ml can sizes. No withdrawal days are required for meat and milk.
To promote the launch of the new product, Dechra has also launched a competition giving entrants the chance to win a two day trip to London for two people to ride the London Eye and experience the capital from a 360 degree vantage point.
To enter the competition, with the prize including return rail travel, and dinner, bed and breakfast in a 4* hotel, visit www.dechra.co.uk to download an entry form.
Ceva Animal Health has extended its Meloxidyl dogs and cats’ range with the launch of a new 5ml Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats.
The company says the new bottle size will provide more prescription options for veterinary practices currently stocking 15ml bottles and is a perfect post-surgery size to send patients home with. The bottles are also clear brown in colour; designed to make it easier for cat owners to see how much liquid is left in each bottle.
Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats contains meloxicam for the alleviation of pain and inflammation. It is licensed for the treatment of musculo-skeletal disorders and the alleviation of post-operative pain.
Rob McLintock, business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "The new 5ml Meloxidyl oral suspension for cats’ bottle will provide veterinary practices with more prescription options for the management and alleviation of pain and inflammation in cats."
To support the launch of the new 5ml Meloxidyl presentation, Ceva is running a competition to win one of five BSAVA Manuals of Anaesthesia and Analgesia by answering one question: ‘How many millilitres are in the new Meloxidyl cat bottle’?
To enter the competition, email analgesics-group@ceva.com. Include ‘Meloxidyl competition’ in the subject line and contact details and the answer to the question in the main body of the email.
For further information on Ceva’s analgesic product range, contact your local Ceva territory manager, email analgesics-group@ceva.com or call 01494 781510.
The research found that 93% of practices have a washing machine on site, but two thirds of those use a domestic machine rather than a commercial one. 69% of staff also take their uniform home to wash in a domestic machine.
Only commercial machines conform to the WRAS regulations, with thermal disinfection capabilities to minimise the risk of cross infection.
The survey also provided an argument for using a robust commercial machine able to cope with high levels of usage and the variety of materials needing to be cleaned: 83% of practices said they use their machines more than once a day and listed bedding, drapes and gowns as the most common materials that need to be cleaned regularly.
Les Marshall, Sales & Marketing Director at Miele Professional, said: "Our research shows that veterinary staff realise the importance of hygiene when cleaning their laundry. At Miele Professional we understand that preventing infection is key. When caring for animals who need medical care, reliable and effective equipment that can wash items ranging from bedding to gowns to reusable bandages is essential.
"As a leading supplier to the care and hospital sectors, all our machines are tested and approved to Water Regulatory Advisory Scheme (WRAS) category 5 for mains connection in any high-risk establishment."
The company says that in addition to meeting WRAS category 5 requirements, it's machines:
Miele Professional is exhibiting at the London Vet Show and will be holding a seminar on 'Controlling the risk of infection with a commercial laundry system' in the Business Theatre on 18 November, 12-12.50pm.
The seminar will explore the benefits of using a commercial laundry over a domestic machine, best practice around thermal disinfection and why it’s vital for veterinary practices to meet WRAS category 5 requirements.
For more information visit www.miele.co.uk.
95 respondents were surveyed online in June 2016
Vets for Ukrainian Pets will cover the treatment costs of up to five dogs, cats, horses or other pet animals, up to 250 Euros per animal, for acute care and medication, rabies and other vaccinations as well as microchipping and medical examination required for safe passage through the EU.
The initiative is being funded by HSI, with support from Mars.
It is being run collaboration with Federation of Veterinarians in Europe and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations.
Reimbursements for participating veterinary surgeons will be available wherever the FECAVA has members, including in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Romania and Poland, as well as Ukraine.
Ruud Tombrock, executive director of HSI/Europe, said: “In Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since WWII, millions of Ukrainians have had to take the decision to leave their country and flee the war.
"Along with a few possessions, many are also taking their pet animals, who they cherish as family members.
"The trauma of war as well as the stress of the evacuation journey, can make animals vulnerable to a variety of illnesses and so HSI’s Vets for Ukrainian Pets program aims to eliminate barriers to accessing veterinary care for the pets of refugees.
"It will provide a much-needed safety net for those families fleeing with their beloved pets so that at no point they feel compelled to leave their pets behind due to concerns about being able to care for them.”
Vets for Ukrainian Pets will run until 21st May 2022 and is open for all licensed veterinary clinics to apply throughout Europe, whether owned privately or as part of a corporate group.
Veterinary surgeons who want to join the program should visit apply.vetsforukraine.com.
In 2014 ioLight co-founders, Oxford physicists Andrew Monk and Richard Williams, filed a patent application for a pocket-sized digital microscope with a performance that compares with expensive laboratory microscopes. They asked Cambridge Industrial Design to realise the product, briefing them that the device would need to deliver images with one micron resolution (required to view human or animal cells) onto a smartphone or tablet, be pocket-sized, easy to use, and economical to build in medium to high volumes.
One of the biggest challenges was in making the unit pocket-sized, which meant it had to be foldable, something which could have led to a loss in the rigidity needed to achieve high resolution images. This challenge was overcome with the use of a single hinge which the company says makes the ioLight both portable and robust.
Alex Jones, Managing director of Cambridge Industrial Design said: "We recognised immediately this was a great idea but the design brief was certainly a challenge. Fortunately, challenges can sometimes bring out the best in designers. The final design is a real success both aesthetically and ergonomically, and this award is a fantastic acknowledgement for the design process and the final product that we have created together with ioLight."
ioLight is also celebrating another success: closing its second round of equity funding after raising £320k from 335 investors on the Crowdcube platform (128% of the initial target).
The company says the new funding will allow it to promote the microscope to a wide range of target markets including veterinary surgeons, education, laboratory and field research, museums and public engagement as well as to international markets.
Andrew Monk, ioLight’s co-founder said: "The product is so simple to use that it is the ideal communication tool for explaining science to the public, students and customers. The microscope lets everyone see the same image so the discussion is about the picture not the tools. It’s a perfect fit for government public engagement campaigns, which are well funded at the moment. We are absolutely delighted that this funding provides us with the opportunity for both product development and to reach out and make microscopy available to so many more people."
1,300 veterinary surgeons responded to the BVA survey, which was carried out in July. They were asked what Official Controls Qualification (OCQ) they hold or have held in the past, and give reasons for dropping a previously held qualification or choosing not to revalidate.
According to the BVA, many respondents criticised the current training and revalidation process, which is administered by Improve International on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Factors including time, the cumulative cost of renewing each module at regular intervals, a lack of relevance and duplication of learning across different modules were all cited as reasons for choosing to drop qualifications.
25% of vets who currently hold the Essential Skills OCQ say they are planning not to renew the qualification, with 67% saying it is because of the expiry of grandfather rights and 66% saying it is because they find the requirements too onerous.
18% of those who currently hold the Tuberculin Testing OCQ are not planning on renewing, either because they are finding the revalidation requirements too onerous (58%), too expensive (42%) or because the work is not sufficiently rewarding (42%).
35% of those who hold the Statutory Surveillance OCQ are not planning on renewing, primarily because of overly onerous revalidation requirements.
The largest drop off is predicted amongst holders of the Exports OCQ, 38.4% of whom said they plan not to revalidate.
Amongst the species bolt-ons, 45.5% of the holders of the Small Animal Exports OCQ, 51% of the Ungulate Exports OCQ, 66% of the Equine Exports OCQ, 72.5% of the Avian Exports OCQ, 47% of the Product Exports OCQ, 68% of the Germinal Products Exports OCQ and 32% of the Companion Animals OCQ said they plan not to renew, either because of the expiry of grandfather rights, or the expense or, in the case of Ungulate Exports, because revalidation is too onerous.
In the current system equine exports are included in the ungulate export OCQ, which the BVA says was a concern for those vets who only work with farm animals. APHA and Improve International have helpfully introduced an equine-only OCQ for exports that better meets the needs of equine-only vets.
BVA reports that it has had a positive meeting with APHA to discuss the survey results and explore practical solutions to iron out issues with the current system and make it easier to use. As a next step, BVA has agreed to review the modules and make recommendations for improving the structure of training and the revalidation process.
BVA President John Fishwick said: "The unprecedented response rate to this survey really hits home the strength of feeling on this issue. There is an urgent need to review and improve the revalidation process to safeguard against capacity and capability issues in this critical section of the workforce.
"It’s really positive that APHA recognises that there are issues with the current system and is keen to work with us to make it more proportionate and fit for purpose while continuing to maintain high standards. It’s more important than ever to retain skilled professionals so that the workforce is at full strength to respond robustly to disease outbreaks and meet demand for export certification after Brexit."
Andrew Soldan, APHA Veterinary Director said: "The integrity of our official controls and export certification is vitally important. The Official Controls Qualifications are a key part of this as they provide standardised OV training as well as assurance of high standards. I’m grateful to BVA for their assistance as we look to make further improvements to the system in the future."