The company says Cevaprost can help improve breeding success in reproduction protocols in cattle and has the following indications:
Ceva says these indications are equivalent to those of the leading racemic and single isomer cloprostenols available in the UK.
Cevaprost is available in a 20ml colourless glass vial and in a multi-pack of 10 x 20ml vials. It can be administered in single or repeated 2ml doses (equivalent to 0.5mg of cloprostenol) by intramuscular injection. It has a withdrawal period of one day for meat and no withdrawal period for milk.
Peter Keyte, ruminant business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: “We are delighted to add Cevaprost to our extensive range of reprodAction products to provide vet and farmers with comprehensive cattle reproduction solutions and improve breeding success in reproduction protocols.”
For further information, contact your local Ceva territory manager or email cevauk@ceva.com.
Dr Kalisz faced a total of nine charges (including 41 sub-charges).
The first was that in July 2020, she failed to carry out a clinical examination of the dog, failed to adequately interpret test results, failed to ask for help interpreting the results, and undertook an emergency Caesarean section without sufficient need to do so.
The other charges related to undertaking a colotomy without sufficient justification and without exercising sufficient clinical judgment throughout the procedure.
For both the Caesarean section and the colotomy, Dr Kalisz faced charges that she failed to obtain informed consent from the owners and failed to inform them that the colotomy had been carried out, or of the potential risks of the procedure, and also failed to provide enough information about aftercare.
It was also alleged that Dr Kalisz had demonstrated continual lapses in professional judgement, including failing to appropriately manage the spaniel’s worsening condition when it was presented to the practice again later, and that the clinical records in relation to the surgery were dishonest and/or misleading.
Dr Kalisz admitted serious professional misconduct, admitting to 29 of the sub-charges, while the remaining 12 sub-charges were denied.
The Committee found 30 of the sub-charges proven, with the remaining 11 not proven.
The Committee the considered aggravating factors, including the fact that Dr Kalisz's conduct led to the spaniel’s death, the colotomy was reckless and Dr Kalisz did not take steps to inform anybody or make a clinical record for the colotomy.
In mitigation, the Committee considered the fact that it was single and isolated incident (albeit one that spanned a number of days), that no other members of the clinical team involved raised concerns during the procedure, and the effect Covid had upon the veterinary profession.
The Committee found that of those charges proven, the ones relating to performing the colotomy, failing to manage the spaniel’s subsequent care and failing to mention the colotomy amounted to serious professional misconduct.
On deciding the sanction, the Committee took into account the mitigation submitted on behalf of Dr Kalisz and the written testimonials produced including the fact that she was young and inexperienced, had admitted her failings at an early stage, had made subsequent efforts to avoid a repetition of such behaviour and that a significant amount of time had passed since the incident.
The Committee also considered that Dr Kalisz had shown an exemplary level of insight, showing remorse for her actions, undertaking substantial continuing professional development, and finding appropriate ongoing professional mentorship.
The Committee was impressed by the character testimonials from veterinary co-workers, both current and at the time of these events, as well as from clients.
It was, the Committee said, apparent from those testimonials that Dr Kalisz had been open and honest with them about the charges and was considered to be an excellent, committed veterinary surgeon.
Paul Morris, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf said: “The Committee found that this was a single isolated incident, which involved serious lapses of clinical judgement.
"It was therefore concluded that, despite Dr Kalisz’s actions being reckless, the extensive mitigation and the high level of insight, coupled with steps taken to avoid repetition, meant that there was negligible future risk to animal welfare.
“The Committee did not consider it necessary to issue a warning to Dr Kalisz about her future conduct, on the basis that the Committee has concluded that there is little risk of repetition, so considered that a reprimand would be an appropriate sanction in this case.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings
The newly refurbished and extended HQ at Woodrow House in Gloucestershire includes a practical wetlab equipped to share learning with a remote audience, hi-tech lecture rooms and a second teaching room where equipment such as microscopes or X-ray screens can be used.
Meeting rooms include video conferencing technology and giant presentation screens, and there are modern working environments, energy-saving innovations and pleasant break-out areas, all designed to make the building more inspiring, welcoming and comfortable.
Outside there are electric car charge points, bicycle racks and a landscaped area for wildlife with five bird boxes, a small pond and a log pile.
The two-year transformation was unveiled today with an opening address by Lord Trees (pictured right, on the right with Phil Lhermette), who said: "The BSAVA has always been a very dynamic and innovative organisation and this development is the latest example.
"Following their mission to pursue excellence in small animal practice through education and science, the wonderful facilities of this new building will provide a great resource for veterinary education and CPD which of course not only benefits vets and vet nurses but more importantly will ultimately benefit the health and welfare of our pet population.
"The building offers the very latest facilities to deliver high quality teaching and learning and has the capacity to be expanded as necessity dictates. I’m delighted to see the BSAVA investing in the future of the profession and this building, and the online technology it houses including the new digital library, will enable the organisation to continue to deliver its mission well into the future."
BSAVA President Phil Lhermette said: "Over the past 60 years BSAVA has put science and education at the heart of our organisation, and our successful growth includes delivering high quality CPD in an exciting new environment, which will be perfect for everyone to learn in the most conducive way.
"It has been 20 years since we moved into Woodrow House, so it was time for a one-off, ethical transition to create a modern, fit-for-purpose facility for all our members to enjoy."
BSAVA Head of Education Lucie Goodwin said: "These state-of-the-art, scientific-based education facilities will support highly valued, practical CPD for all veterinary professionals, and disseminate learning to a remote audience through video technologies in the classroom - a model that is poised to accelerate because of the proliferation of portable devices and the explosion of mobile phone capabilities."
Mr Samuel had been removed from the Register in 2018 for causing unnecessary harm to numerous animals.
After being tried and convicted of several animal welfare offences alongside his former partner at Leeds Magistrates Court, Mr Samuel was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12-months on the condition that he did 150 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay a £100 fine and subjected to a disqualification order under the Animal Welfare Act for three years.
Mr Samuel’s application for restoration was based on the facts that he accepted the seriousness of his actions and that he did not challenge the DC’s 2018 decision.
The Committee also heard evidence that since his removal from the Register, Mr Samuel - who had run a first opinion veterinary practice for nine years prior to being struck off - has undertaken 340 hours of work experience with other veterinary surgeons and 20 hours of CPD.
Dr Samuel was represented by Counsel who outlined in his submissions to the Committee how Dr Samuel’s former partner had sole responsibility for the animals and that she was involved in rehoming dogs and cats and that their relationship was ‘stressful’, that this made Dr Samuel neglect his professional obligations, and that Dr Samuel was now in a different relationship and his life had been ‘transformed’ since his conviction.
The College opposed Dr Samuel being restored to the Register.
Ms Curtis, Counsel on behalf of the College, submitted to the Committee that Dr Samuel continued to represent a risk to the welfare of animals and that to allow him to be restored to the Register would undermine public confidence in the profession.
She explained that even though his sentence and Animal Welfare Act Disqualification Order had come to an end, and he was now legally able to own animals, this should not be equated with him now being fit to return to the Register.
Dr Austin Kirwan MRCVS, chairing the Committee, and speaking on its behalf, said: “Where a veterinary surgeon has shown himself to be capable of such indifference to the welfare of multiple animals, there remained, in the Committee’s view, a real risk of that indifference manifesting itself again.
"A registered veterinary surgeon is entrusted with the care of animals, often when they are at their most vulnerable, and sometimes for prolonged periods of time.
"Given the nature of the animal welfare offences committed by Dr Samuel, the Committee considered there would be a real and significant risk to animals if the high level of responsibility and trust that comes with registration were returned to him.
“For a veterinary surgeon, conduct involving neglect of animals is at the highest end of the spectrum of serious professional misconduct.
"For the reasons outlined above, the Committee considered Dr Samuel continued to represent a risk to animal welfare and thus allowing him to be restored to the Register would seriously undermine public confidence in the profession.
"For all these reasons the application to restore Dr Samuel to the Register is refused.”
The Committee’s full findings can be viewed at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The expansion has increased the hospital's footprint by 30%, adding three new operating theatres, six new consult rooms and new feline facilities, including a cat-only waiting room, consult room and treatment area.
Hospital owner, IVC Evidensia said the expansion has been driven in part by the pet ownership boom of the last few years and increased demand for the hospital’s services.
To meet the demand, Vale has expanded its office space, adding desk space for a further 25 vets.
There are also new ultrasound and cardiology rooms, a new dental suite and enlarged prep and recovery areas.
The existing kennel area has doubled in size with the addition of nine new walk-in kennels, a bespoke isolation ward and secure outdoor runs.
Richard Artingstall, clinical director at Vale Referrals, said: “We’ve been working on this expansion for a long time and it’s incredible to see it complete.
"Our new and improved facilities mean we can give even more pets across the Southwest the gold standard treatment that they deserve and support our colleagues from neighbouring vet practices with extensive referral services.
"The feedback from pets and owners so far has been very rewarding to hear.”
The feedback from pets?
Really?
VetSurgeon.org contacted recent patient Dougal McDoggins for comment.
He said: "Woof."
www.valereferrals.co.uk.
The researchers say that research thus far has focused on developing treatments to manage idiopathic epilepsy and little attention has been given to the emotional and logistical challenges for owners managing their dog’s condition.
This study used semi-structured interviews to explore how owners’ lives were changed following their dogs’ diagnosis and glean in-depth insights into their lives.
The research discovered that following their dog’s initial seizure, all interviewees recalled feeling negative emotions such as being distraught, fearful or uncertain regarding their dog’s future and disease progression. Prior experience with canine epilepsy was rare, and owners were shocked and distressed by the appearance of their dog’s seizures.
Whilst many owners discussed a very emotionally close dog-owner bond, owning a dog with epilepsy had a significant impact on their lifestyle. Impacts affected many aspects of daily routines, and in some cases, owners’ jobs. The unpredictable and sometimes inconvenient timing of seizures negatively impacted owners’ sleep and wellbeing. This unpredictability also made some owners feel that they were living with “a ticking time bomb”.
Other limitations included strict daily medication schedules and difficulty finding assistance in caring for their dog. This, combined with a fear of leaving their dog unsupervised, had social implications in some instances and led to increased use of the Internet and online groups for peer support. Owners also reported that friends, family and colleagues did not always understand the magnitude of commitment required.
Amy Pergande, Small Animal Intern at the RVC and primary author of the study, said: "We are sincerely grateful to the owners who participated in this study for providing us with such detailed and often emotive accounts of their experiences. Many of the participants had willingly altered many aspects of their daily routine for their dogs, both socially and professionally, and sometimes at the expense of their own quality of life."
This research highlights that further consideration of these factors by veterinary professionals and the friends and families of owners of these dogs could improve owner quality of life and facilitate the provision of additional, much needed support.
Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science and research lead in canine epilepsy at the RVC, said: "Epilepsy can be an extremely tough condition for owners to manage, where the love, time and money owners dedicate to their dogs is not necessarily matched by a significant improvement in their condition, with seizures often continuing unabated. Our study has revealed previously unrecognised or under-appreciated impacts that epilepsy introduced to these owners’ lives. Improved awareness and understanding of these challenges by veterinary professionals have the potential to improve communication with clients, to avoid owners feeling that social media is the only place they can go to feel supported and understood”.
These findings increase the understanding of the sometimes negative and often profound emotional effects and lifestyle changes experienced by owners managing a dog with idiopathic epilepsy. With better support and resources, the reported impacts could potentially be minimised to protect owner quality of life.
Zoe Belshaw, independent research collaborator, said: “The welfare of pets and their owners can be closely intertwined. This research exploring how owners’ lives change when their dogs develop epilepsy is another important piece in the jigsaw of understanding both what the veterinary profession can do to best support our clients, but also in starting to appreciate the substantial wider societal impacts of chronic ill health in our nations’ pets”.
The full paper is open access and available at: https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-020-02669-w
Reference
Photo: The Melias Studio
The company says the new range performs as well as the leading brands and delivers consistently reliable sterilisation, but at a much lower price point than the market has seen before. The entry level 8 Litre machine retails at £1,100.
The Yeson machines range in size from an 8 litre to a 22 litre capacity and offer quiet Class B operation, 7 pre-set sterilisation programs, B&D Helix testing and a choice of printer or USB reporting.
Yeson UK MD Will Thomas said: "The autoclave market has been dominated by a few major players for many years and until now they’ve been largely unchallenged. Many people are now asking “why should I pay thousands more for a utility machine such as an autoclave? We’re just hoping that we can meet the demand."
For more information, visit www.yeson-uk.com
The Disciplinary Committee (DC) of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has suspended a veterinary surgeon for a period of six months for issuing two false horse passports, having found him to have been “consciously dishonest”.
At a hearing which concluded on 15 July, Andrew Dominic Illing, Director of the Chapelfield Veterinary Partnership, Norwich, admitted charges of backdating the passports of two different horses on 1 May 2008, to indicate that they had been vaccinated on 24 April 2008 against equine influenza and equine influenza and tetanus, when he knew that the vaccinations had not been carried out on that date.
The Committee heard that, whilst on a routine visit to a local livery yard on 30 April 2008, a junior veterinary surgeon at the practice, Ms Charlotte Alice Mayers, had been pressured to backdate the equine passports of two horses, owned by Mrs Scriven and Mrs Kippen respectively, because their booster vaccinations had been carried out beyond the 12-month window prescribed by the Horse Racing Authority. Ms Mayers had declined to do so and had brought the passports back to the practice to seek the advice of its Director, Mr Illing.
Ms Mayers explained to Mr Illing, both in a note and in discussion with him, that the boosters had been administered outwith the prescribed period and that she had told the owners that she was not willing to backdate the passports, one of which she had already signed. The DC heard that Mr Illing had told Ms Mayers “not to worry about it” and that he would deal with the situation. It did not surface until the livery yard manager later made a complaint, that Mr Illing had in fact signed the second passport and backdated both to 24 April.
In mitigation, Mr Illing said that he had been under considerable stress at the time, as he had been dealing with a protracted and difficult disciplinary meeting concerning a senior veterinary colleague. As a consequence of this, the Committee heard from Mr Illing’s practice partner that Mr Illing was required to take on more work than he was already performing, which was already 10-15% more than the other three vets in the practice. In addition, Mr Illing had been in a degree of pain at the time, following a knee injury. The Committee also heard evidence from a veterinary surgeon who testified to Mr Illing’s good character; and received many written testimonials.
In reaching its decision, the Committee held the view that: “the public must be able to trust certificates which are signed by members of this profession. If the public cannot trust the authenticity of such certificates, the Committee considers that public confidence in the profession would be undermined, and undermined in a very significant way.” It also cited the obligations of the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct in terms of the integrity of veterinary certification, and the ‘12 Principles of Certification’, as agreed by the RCVS, the British Veterinary Association and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Committee considered many factors when making its final decision. It did not accept that stress overbore Mr Illing’s normal way of dealing with certification, particularly where he had had a period of overnight reflection before taking the action that he did. However, it felt that the most troubling feature in his decision to backdate the certificates was that, in advising Ms Mayers on a difficult ethical issue, Mr Illing had “set a disgraceful example and wholly failed to provide her with the support to which she was entitled”. Furthermore, in backdating a certificate that Ms Mayers had already signed, he was putting her integrity at risk.
Alison Bruce, chairing the Committee, commented: “It is only by upholding the importance of each and every certificate issued by a member of the veterinary profession that public confidence in such certificates can be maintained.” She went on to say: “Without significant mitigating circumstances, false certification will result in removal from the Register. In Mr Illing’s case, having regard to all the evidence, both the oral and written testimonials, and taking into account all the aggravating and mitigating circumstances detailed above, the Committee has decided to suspend Mr Illing’s name from the Register for a period of six months.”
Vet Futures, the joint initiative by the RCVS and BVA to stimulate debate about the future of the profession, has opened a new discussion hospice care, and whether it it will become mainstream in veterinary medicine.
This month's Vet Futures guest blogger, Kath Dyson, a former veterinary surgeon who qualified from Glasgow in 1989, writes that veterinary palliative care, while a relatively recent phenomenon, has been growing in stature, particularly in the United States, with symposia and conferences on the subject as well as webinars and chapters in text books.
She notes the increasing number of UK vets offering hospice care, highlighting the differences between palliative services offered in human and veterinary medicine as well as debates within the profession over the advantages and disadvantages of palliative care versus euthanasia.
She said: "In animal hospice it is the pet's owner who takes on all the financial, practical and emotional costs involved, whereas human patients have a lot more support available. Euthanasia is always an option in veterinary medicine, and indeed euthanasia of an animal can legally be carried out by anyone, so long as it is done humanely."
On the euthanasia debate she adds: "Some regard euthanasia as more of a last resort, with hospice assisted natural death being seen as more preferable and only a minority of patients requiring euthanasia. Others feel that euthanasia is more often likely to be the preferable outcome of a period of hospice care in the animal patient, even though they do not rule out a natural death."
Overall she argues that additional expertise from veterinary surgeons in end of life care will help the profession be "even better able to provide truly lifelong care to all their animal patients".
To accompany Kath Dyson's article, this month's poll asks if hospice care will become a standard part of practice.
Last month's poll asked if vets are given adequate information, guidance and support on ethnic and cultural diversity in relation to a blog written by a British Asian vet about prejudice he encountered from a client. The vast majority (90%) of the 118 people who responded to the poll thought that the profession was lacking in support when it came to diversity. Diversity in the profession and how to increase it has been a key topic identified by the project and it will be one of the issues addressed in the final Vet Futures Report published later this year.
To take part in this month's poll and to read and comment on Kathy Dyson's blog visit www.vetfutures.org.uk/discuss
Vet-AI's automated triage app offers instant advice to pet owners 24/7, early detection of health issues and advice as to whether they need to speak to a vet.
For the blinded test, which was conducted in April 2025, three UK veterinary surgeons reviewed the responses from Vet-AI, Gemini 2.0 and ChatGPT 4.0 to 48 simulated enquiries from owners.
The vets evaluated each on clinical accuracy, triage effectiveness and the subjective criteria of factuality, integrity, safety, empathy and readability.
Vet-AI’s Large Language Model (LLM) achieved an accuracy score of 81%, surpassing Gemini (69%) and ChatGPT (50%).
Vet-AI’s model also stopped triage at the correct point in 81% of cases according to the vets, compared with Gemini’s 75% and ChatGPT’s 56%.
Vet-AI’s tool also outperformed the leading LLMs on subjective measures, delivering more empathetic, thorough and factual responses to pet owners.
Samantha Webster, Chief Veterinary Officer at Vet-AI said: “These latest results are a significant milestone in the development of automated triage.
"We’re proving we can provide trustworthy online pet care by combining clinical and technical expertise.
"This tool can support the wider industry too, engaging more pet owners in the first step of vet care, ensuring their pets get the care they need - whether in practice or remotely.
"We know that an increasing percentage of the UK pet population is struggling to access veterinary care.
"Whilst AI will never replace a vet, the use of innovative technology can break down the barrier to access, leading to more pets getting the care they need, when they need it."
“With this level of clinical accuracy and technical innovation, we're helping to bring great pet care to more people. As well as helping to create more demand for vet services by making the triage of pets as accurate as possible,” said Paul Hallett, Vet-AI founder and exec chair.
https://www.vet-ai.com/automated-triage
Micro-nutrition specialist Agrimin has launched All-Trace Biotin Gold, the seventh bolus in the company's All-Trace range.
The new bolus is the result of extensive in-house research and development which aimed to formulate a cost-effective, micro-nutrition bolus suitable for dry cows and heifers at risk from lameness, which affects up to 20 per cent of the UK national herd. According to Agrimin, the relationship between Biotin and its benefits on ruminant hoof health is receiving increasing attention. The company says it is the first micro-nutrition specialist to directly address this livestock health issue by using a bolus.
The Biotin Gold bolus for dairy cows and heifers delivers the target level of 20 mg per head, per day of Biotin over 120 days. In addition, the bolus also delivers the full, daily requirement of copper, cobalt, selenium and iodine as well as levels of zinc, manganese and vitamins A, D3 and E.
Administration is simple and convenient during the drying off period as many livestock are already going through a crush to have their feet trimmed and undergo other healthcare routines such as intramammary treatments.
For dry cows, two boluses are given to each cow at the point of drying off. They lie in the rumen/reticulum and slowly dissolve from a constant surface area providing a continuous and regular supply of trace elements and vitamins to the animal. The boluses dissolve completely and leave no residue in the rumen.
Agrimin says heifers respond very well to Biotin supplementation and studies have shown that supplying Biotin in the later stages of pregnancy produces the most effective results. This late stage of pregnancy is also the critical period for the transfer of vital nutrients from mother to calf and so the trace element content of All-Trace Biotin Gold will benefit both animals. Two boluses are given to each heifer at around three months pre-calving.
All-Trace Biotin Gold is available in packs of 20 boluses, which will supplement 10 cows or heifers at a cost of around £9.50 per animal for two boluses. For more information about bolus technologies and micro-nutrition, please visit www.agrimin.com or call 01652 688046.
The guide has been written by Simon Tappin, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Internal Medicine at Dick White Referrals, and is designed to offer practical advice on the appropriate use of antibiotics in general practice. It covers a range of topics including how to create an antibiotic practice policy, ways to optimise therapy and how to limit the development of antimicrobial resistance.
Simon said: "Making rational and informed antimicrobial choices is vitally important in veterinary medicine, both for the welfare of our patients and in reducing the risk of developing antimicrobial resistance.
"Highlighting this issue to vets, providing education and supporting them in making these decisions is crucial to ensure a responsible approach to antimicrobial prescribing."
Recent surveys have highlighted the need for education on this topic, with 63 per cent of vets1 stating that they would like to improve their knowledge on antimicrobials, and 90 per cent of vets2 admitting that they are concerned about antimicrobial resistance.
In addition, there's a quiz where you can test and your knowledge on antimicrobials, and enter a competition to win an iPad Pro. The quiz can be accessed at https://veraflox.typeform.com/to/KY8lxX.
The guide is available from the Bayer Vet Centre, www.vetcentre.bayer.co.uk. Alternatively, you can download it here www.bit.ly/Veraflox2016 or contact your local Bayer Territory Manager.
References
It's a subject that will be front of many people's minds following the recent cases of equine flu.
As part of the campaign, MSD has produced a range of veterinary practice support materials to help you engage with owners and yards on the subject of preventative healthcare best practice and compliance.
The range includes shareable social media content, videos, a 'What's Your Risk' practice poster, an online risk assessment tool and a number of downloadable information leaflets. Practices will also be supported through the Keep Britain's Horses Health (KBHH) web page, Facebook page and Twitter.
MSD says there are also planning and evaluation resources to help practices manage an effective campaign.
Vicki Farr, Equine Veterinary Advisor at MSD Animal Health said: "The recent outbreaks of equine flu have rocked the horse-racing world, costing the industry millions and raising important animal welfare issues. Furthermore, they have highlighted the need for good preventative healthcare and, in particular, vaccination.
"HHW will therefore come at a relevant time for horse owners and yards when the impact of equine flu is still at the front of their minds.
"This year HHW will provide vital tools for practices; building on the knowledge and resources we’ve acquired throughout the KBHH campaign and from previous HHWs.
"Our focus is on engaging owners and yards on understanding the risk of disease for their horse, while rewarding them for best practice. We are again providing a wide range of resources for practices to help them create an engaging and successful campaign that helps build knowledge amongst the equine community."
For further information, talk to your MSD Animal Health Equine Account Manager, call 01908 685685 or refer to KBHH social media feeds on Facebook page and Twitter (@keepinghorseshealthy).
Velactis (cabergoline) is a POM marketed by Ceva Animal Health, used in the herd management programme of dairy cows as an aid in abrupt drying-off, by reducing milk production.
The product was authorised through the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2015 and was first sold in the UK in April 2016.
The VMD says it has been made aware of reports of serious adverse events, predominantly occurring in Denmark, involving recumbency (lying down and unable to rise) and some deaths. Most adverse events occurred within 8 to 24 hours following product administration. Anecdotal evidence suggests that hypocalcaemia treatments may be successful in reversing clinical signs.
Ceva has decided to stop further distribution of the product in Europe voluntarily, pending the outcome of further investigations to assess a possible causal link between the product and the adverse events reported.
The VMD, EMA, other agencies throughout Europe and the MAH are working closely to monitor the situation.
The VMD highlights that due to the nature and use of the product there is no risk to human health or consumer safety.
Vets and dairy farmers are strongly encouraged to report any adverse events associated with use of Velactis to the VMD using its online reporting form or directly to Ceva for further investigation by the MAH as necessary.
The research also found that awareness of feline hypertension amongst cat owners is very low, with 80% of those questioned unaware that cats could have high blood pressure and nearly 20% believing that it was only an issue in humans.
Amongst those cat owners who are aware of feline hypertension, only 25% said they would consider asking their vet for a blood pressure check for their pet.
However, once made aware of the risks of high blood pressure, including blindness, seizures and kidney disease, 83% of owners said they would ask their vet for a blood pressure test for their cat.
Dr Natalie Borrill MRCVS, veterinary technical manager for cardionephrology at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Feline hypertension is a common condition in older cats; it is estimated that one in five cats from nine years of age are at risk of suffering from the condition3, but there is a low level of awareness amongst cat owners about this condition.
"By increasing awareness of the disease amongst owners, they will be more inclined to visit the vet with their older cat for regular blood pressure checks. It can also be very helpful for an owner to be present when blood pressure is measured because this can help reduce stress and anxiety in their cat. For more information cat owners can visit amadeus.vet."
The research results were released as part of Feline Hypertension Month, which is running until the end of May to raise awareness of hypertension and improve the detection and management of high blood pressure in cats. As part of the campaign, veterinary practices are being urged to measure their feline patients' blood pressure in cats over the age of seven.
Ceva says it will continue its Mercury Challenge throughout 2019 to increase veterinary professionals' confidence in measuring blood pressure and identifying feline hypertension. Participating practices are given the opportunity to win diagnostic tools to help them identify feline hypertension.
For information, contact cevauk@ceva.com or visit mercurychallenge.ceva.com.
Research commissioned by Bayer Animal Health has revealed that dogs really do look like their owners.
The research, which is being used to promote Drontal Bone, the company's new bone-shaped wormer, was conducted amongst 3,000 British dog-lovers. It found that the overwhelming majority of owners share at least one common physical attribute with their pet, whilst one in ten owners could be described as the spitting image of their dog, sharing six or more physical attributes:
As part of the campaign, Bayer has launched the Give Your Dog a Bone competition, a nationwide search to find the UK's "Top Dog". The competition is split into four video and photographic categories, with one open exclusively to dogs that have formed a special bond with their owner. Top dogs can enter via the competition website - www.giveyourdogabone.co.uk - where owners can upload photos, videos, and explain in under 100 words why they think their pet should win a Drontal 'Bonies' award.
Give Your Dog a Bone Judge Emma Milne MRCVS, said: "When dogs seem to have the same characteristics as their owners, it could be because people subconsciously choose a pet that resembles themselves. It is often found that more energetic breeds, such as s Red Setter have an owner who is sporty and most happy when taking their pet on long country walks, while a glamorous owner who enjoys grooming themselves might choose a dog which also requires lots preening, such as a Maltese Terrier. The Give Your Dog a Bone awards give us the chance to recognise the unique traits and talents that make dogs such an important part of our lives. With four very different categories, this competition will be wide open to dogs of all shapes, sizes and personalities!"
Entries for the awards, which were presented at a ceremony held at Wembley Stadium, came from a wide range of SMEs employing less than 250 employees, operating across all industries.
This latest achievement comes at the end of a successful year for the company, which saw it celebrate 80 years in business and recruit its 200th team member after creating 50 new jobs in the last 12 months alone. Earlier this year, White Cross Vets was also included in The Sunday Times ‘Best 100 Small Companies To Work For’ league table for the fifth year running.
Tim Harrison, Managing Director of White Cross Vets, said: "To be named as the UK’s best SME is an amazing achievement and we’re extremely proud of it. We take immense pride in making White Cross Vets a superb place to work and always strive to foster a close-knit and highly motivated team.
"As part of this we’ve further enhanced the wide range of employee benefits that our people enjoy this year, which ultimately translates into the level of care and standard of service that our clients receive. Winning the ‘Employer of the Year’ award reinforces this and cements our position at the forefront of the veterinary industry."
Damian Cummins, Awards Director, said: "White Cross Vets is a very worthy winner from the best of businesses across the UK, a great achievement and ambassador for SME’s."
Employment initiatives that White Cross Vets offers include days off and cakes for birthdays, five donation days a year to volunteer with chosen charities and a health care scheme as well as subsidised Fitbits and gym memberships.
In August 2017, Georgina Bretman was found guilty of causing unnecessary pain and suffering to her two-year-old dog Florence by injecting the animal with insulin, causing the dog to suffer from hypoglycaemia, collapse, convulsions and seizures, for which it needed immediate veterinary treatment to avoid coma and death.
Following her conviction, Miss Bretman was sentenced to a Community Payback Order, with a requirement to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work. An order was also made to take Florence away from her and to ban her from owning a dog for two years.
At the VN Disciplinary Committee hearing, Miss Bretman admitted the facts as contained within the charge against her and the Committee found the charge proved.
The Committee went on to consider whether the charge rendered Miss Bretman unfit to practise.
The Committee heard from Miss Bretman’s counsel, Mr O’Rourke QC who indicated that Miss Bretman accepted that her conviction rendered her unfit to practise as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. The Committee found Miss Bretman’s actions in deliberately administering a poisonous substance to Florence thereby risking Florence’s death to be “very serious and deplorable conduct on the part of a veterinary nurse, a member of a profession specifically entrusted to look after and care for animals.” It also took into account the fact that Florence needed urgent veterinary treatment to avoid death and that Miss Bretman was in a position of trust over Florence as her owner.
Stuart Drummond, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "Miss Bretman’s conduct was also liable to have a seriously detrimental effect on the reputation of the profession and to undermine public confidence in the profession. The fact that she was a veterinary nurse was made clear at the trial and reported in the press. The Committee considered that members of the public would be rightly appalled that a Registered Veterinary Nurse had committed an offence of this kind.
The Committee was satisfied that this conduct fell far below the standard expected of a Registered Veterinary Nurse and that Miss Bretman’s conviction was of a nature and seriousness that rendered her unfit to practise."
The Committee then heard oral evidence from Miss Bretman in which she explained that she had always been passionate about working with animals and working in the veterinary profession and how she enjoyed her work as a veterinary nurse with a particular interest in hydrotherapy and rehabilitation.
She spoke about the devastating effect of the incident and the shame that was ‘brought down on her head’. She told the Committee that she had been suspended from her job and, since her conviction, had not worked as a veterinary nurse.
However, Miss Bretman said that, while she accepted and respected the verdict of the court, her stance remained that she had not done what was alleged and now hoped to rebuild her career as a veterinary nurse. She accepted that the offence of which she had been convicted was very serious, particularly for a veterinary nurse.
In considering Miss Bretman’s sanction the Committee took into account the aggravating and mitigating factors. Aggravating factors included the fact there was actual injury to an animal, that it was a pre-meditated and deliberate act against an animal for whom she was responsible, the fact that a medicinal product was misused, a lack of insight and a lack of remorse.
In mitigation the Committee took into account the fact she had no previous disciplinary history, had received positive references and testimonials and that, following the conviction, she demonstrated a willingness to be removed from the Register and to not work with animals to avoid causing embarrassment to the RCVS.
Stuart Drummond said: "The Committee was of the view that the nature and seriousness of Miss Bretman’s behaviour, which led to the conviction, was fundamentally incompatible with being registered as a veterinary nurse. The conduct represented a serious departure from professional standards; serious harm was deliberately caused to an animal; the continued denial of the offence demonstrated a complete lack of insight, especially in regard to the impact of her behaviour on public confidence and trust in the profession. In light of these conclusions, the Committee decided that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction was removal from the Register.
"In reaching this decision the Committee recognised the impact this was likely to have on Miss Bretman, which was unfortunate given her young age and her obvious passion for a career as a veterinary nurse. The Committee had considered with care all the positive statements made about her in the references and testimonials provided. However, the need to protect animal welfare, the reputation of the profession and thus the wider public interest, outweighed Miss Bretman’s interests and the Committee concluded that removal was the only appropriate and proportionate sanction. The Committee determined that it was important that a clear message be sent that this sort of behaviour is wholly inappropriate and not to be tolerated. It brought discredit upon Miss Bretman and discredit upon the profession".
The Committee then directed the RCVS Registrar to remove Miss Bretman’s name from the Register. Miss Bretman has 28 days from being notified of the Committee’s decision to submit an appeal.
The new line, which is available from veterinary wholesalers, is described as a complete feeding solution with everyday wet and dry food and treats. It is made with a minimum of 95% fresh, organic ingredients from controlled and certified origins, presented in an eco-friendly packaging. This, says Dechra, means it is tasty, nutritious and better for the environment.
The wet diets for cats contains organic chicken or fish whilst the dog food contains organic beef or fish.
The Specific treats are made with more than 80% fresh chicken, beef and pork. Dechra says that in taste tests, nine out of ten cats, and 100% of dogs accepted the treats1.
Dechra highlights that unlike competitor products, which use layers of different plastic in their packaging which cannot be recycled, Specific uses single layers of the same plastic with a gas barrier in between. This makes its dry pet food bags fully recyclable, as well as lighter and stronger than PET/PE laminates of the same thickness2.
Once Specific dry pet food bags have been used and recycled, they can be processed into granules and made into a film which can be used to make new things – including dry pet food bags.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: “The exciting new range of organic food that’s as kind to the environment as it is to pets.
"The Specific organic range provides a new option for owners who are committed to providing their animals with the optimum chance of good health. The tried and trusted Specific brand is already available for vets to stock so this is a useful addition for practices looking to add value to the service they provide to pet owners.
"We have committed to making all of our packaging fully recyclable by 2023, starting with the Specific organic range. As well as providing a more ethical and environmentally sound choice for eco-conscious pet owners, it’s part of Dechra’s ‘Circle of Good’ commitment to reduce our business’ impact on the world.”
For more information visit: www.specific-diets.co.uk.
The Royal College has announced the winners of the 2009 RCVS Council and VN Council elections.
This year, a special elections section was set up here on VetSurgeon.org and on VetNurse.co.uk for members to engage directly with candidates in a members forum, or directly using the social networking features on both sites. In the interests of promoting democracy, the sites offered a case of champagne to the voter who started the forum discussion which generated the greatest number of responses. Over the course of the voting period, these sections received over 23,000 page views, 53 questions for candidates, and 650 responses.
Arlo Guthrie, Editor of VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk said: "I think it's great that the candidates agreed to try this. They could have said no, and stuck with the traditional methods of communication (which are more of a known quantity). Instead, they really got stuck in to some interesting and at times lively debate. My sincere thanks to all candidates and congratulations to the winners. And I raise my glass to Phil Elkins, who wins the case of champagne for starting the most active discussion thread, even allowing for the number of times he responded to his own post!"
Voting in the RCVS Council election increased from 17% to 18.2% this year, with 4,041 veterinary surgeons out of a possible 22,201 casting a vote. The results are as follows:
NUTE, Patricia Jill. 2,467 votes. Elected JINMAN, Peter. 2,346 votes. Elected GRAY, Christopher John. 2,230 votes. Elected DAVIES, Jeremy Vincent. 2,229 votes. Elected VINER, Bradley. 2,123 votes. Elected TUFNELL, Christopher Wynne. 2,088 votes. Elected SWAYNE, Nigel. 1,673 votes. McDOWELL, David Michael. 1,394 votes.LONSDALE, Thomas. 389 votes.
The new Council members are Christopher Gray and Christopher Tufnell, who will officially join Council at RCVS Day on 3 July 2009.
The VN Council elections saw a larger increase in voters, with 912 out of a possible 8,108 VNs casting a vote. This was an 11.2% turnout, up by nearly 25% up on last year. The results were as follows:
JEFFERY, Andrea Karen. 604 votes. Elected GLYSEN, Louise. 332 votes. Elected WILLIAMS, Caroline Mary. 312 votes.IVES, Cheryl Diana. 236 votes.
Louse Glysen is the new VN Council Member (again, officially joining at RCVS Day) and Andrea Jeffery will begin her eighth year, having been the Council's chairman for the past four years.
Described as a first-of-its-kind, mobile-enabled digital whitepaper, the publication offers veterinary surgeons and farmers a resource on ketosis, scientific insights on the impact of the disease, and tools to help optimize dairy herd management.
According to the company, the whitepaper reveals that ketone bodies play a more significant role in metabolic diseases than was previously realized, and that beta-hydroxybutyrate is a good indicator of the presence of subclinical ketosis in dairy cattle.
Rinse Boersma, Dairy Species Manager, Animal Health, Bayer said: "Recognizing the significance of ketone bodies is a positive step towards further enhancing dairy cattle health and welfare. Veterinarians can now reliably detect the presence of subclinical ketosis in dairy herds with a simple blood test, and act quickly with the appropriate corrective measures to arrest disease progression."
Also at Congress, Bayer revealed its enhanced BCS Cowdition smartphone application, designed to support ease and accuracy of body condition scoring (BCS) of dairy cows. Bayer says the upgrade helps farmers to improve herd health management by enabling assessment of individual cows’ BCS scores based on its lactation cycle, alerts for cows that need to be attended to, and a dashboard that offers farmers an overview of their entire herd’s health.
BCS Cowdition is available in 10 languages and is free for download from the AppStore and GooglePlay.
The new methods, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, use a simple swabbing technique to gather samples from the environment which FMD-susceptible animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs commonly make contact with, such as water troughs.
Researchers say the technique requires very little expertise, which makes the sampling method far more accessible, allowing a higher frequency of samples to be collected and processed during an outbreak.
FMD virus is able to survive long periods of time in the environment in the right conditions (up to three months depending on environmental factors such as pH, temperature and relative humidity), so sampling areas where infected animals may have shed virus allows scientists to detect the presence of FMD even if the animals on the farm are no longer showing clinical signs.
The researchers say that novel surveillance techniques such as this can help support a robust response to outbreaks in FMD-free countries, and can also be implemented in endemic areas, such as parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as part of surveillance programs to supplement current information about the spread of FMD.
Dr Claire Colenutt, who led the research at Pirbright said: "Current surveillance methods rely on the recognition of FMD infection in susceptible animals in addition to the collection of samples from the animals which requires veterinary expertise. In keeping the approach simple, samples can be taken by individuals without prior expertise, increasing the number of potential samples, and relieving pressure on veterinary services."
Photo: FMD. Dr. D. Denev
At the hearing, Dr Crawford made no admissions to the charges against him which involved allegations of: failing to provide adequate and appropriate care; failing to provide adequate clinical histories to another practice in respect of several animals; failing to treat fellow veterinary professionals and other members of staff from another practice with courtesy and respect; failing to maintain adequate clinical records; failing to have in place Professional Indemnity Insurance or equivalent arrangements; and, failing to respond to reasonable requests from the RCVS.
Dr Crawford’s representative drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that Mr Crawford was 71 years old, had no previous disciplinary findings against him and had now ceased practising, including closing his practice premises and notifying his previous clients of the closure.
His representative confirmed that Mr Crawford was fully aware that if his application was accepted, he would no longer be able to practise as a veterinary surgeon or identify as a veterinary surgeon. The Committee also noted that the RCVS had consulted with the complainants who were satisfied with the case being disposed of in this way.
Dr Martin Whiting, chairing the Committee, and speaking on its behalf, said: “Having weighed the public interest in a hearing with the registrant’s interests, the Committee determined that this is not a case in which the public interest required there to be a full hearing. Protection of the welfare of animals would also not be further served by a full hearing. The Committee decided to accede to the respondent’s application.
"The Committee considered that the adjournment on undertakings served to protect the public interest, confidence in the profession and the welfare of animals.
"The Committee carefully considered the detail of the undertakings. It decided, after due consideration that it would accept the respondent’s undertakings in the terms offered and signed."
The Committee also heard that if Dr Crawford were to apply to re-join the Register at a future point, then the adjourned case would be re-opened and a full, public Disciplinary Committee hearing would be held.
The full documentation for the case can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The service, which has been set up by ex-Olympian Lisbet Stuer-Lauridsen (badminton for Denmark, since you ask), is designed to complement the end-of-life care already offered by practices.
Lisbet says that veterinary surgeons already working with Cloud 9 told her they found it difficult to offer the compassionate care pet owners need during a 15 minute consult in a busy practice.
The new service is structured so they have time to spend with the grieving owner to help support them at this sensitive time.
Pet owners make their booking with a dedicated Care Coordinator trained to handle the situation with dignity and respect.
Because the care is then provided at home, the pet doesn’t have to experience the potential anxiety involved in transport to the practice and the owner doesn’t have to worry about trying to hide their grief from other clients in the waiting room, or driving home in a distressed state.
Veterinary surgeons who apply to join the service are given specific training in euthanasia and counselling for all members of the family. The average visit time is expected to be around 1.5 hours to allow the procedure to be carried out with sensitivity and care.
Cloud 9 says the new service offers vets, locum vets and practices a flexible additional revenue stream. Vets can select the days or hours they want to work, to fit around family or other work commitments, and Cloud 9 says it will handle all the paperwork, including payments.
Cloud 9 Vets also offers additional services such as a memory wall and pet cremation.
Lisbet is now inviting vets throughout the country to sign up with Cloud 9’s mobile service. She said: "We want to offer the service in as many locations as possible and welcome the opportunity to work with locums, mobile vets and practices."
For more information, visit: https://cloud9vets.co.uk/join-the-team/
The award was due to be presented at the association's annual shindig in March, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
VMA Awards chair, Claire Edmunds, said: “This years’ winners will still get their moment of glory on stage next March at the rescheduled event. We can also announce that the event is likely to include some additional categories to recognise campaigns and initiatives undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Carlos Michelsen, managing director of award sponsor, CM Research, added: "Thanks to the continued success of Cytopoint, Zoetis achieved highly commended status. But it was Elanco that came in as award winners, with their novel veterinary pharmaceutical product Galliprant taking the crown. Congratulations to Elanco!"
Rebecca Bryant, Elanco’s marketing manager for Pet Health Therapeutics (pictured right), said “Elanco is delighted to be recognised by the veterinary community with this prestigious award for Galliprant. The UK team is proud to be part of the launch of this innovative, first-in-class product which has already enriched the lives of thousands of pet owners and their dogs living with osteoarthritis. It’s fantastic to hear from vets that managing OA with Galliprant has already made a positive impact on their practices.”
Zoetis product manager, Allison Henry said: “We are very proud to come such close second in this award category as it is a true testament to the lasting innovation Cytopoint has brought to our industry, customers and pets. At Zoetis, we always strive to develop innovative new medicines for the veterinary industry and we are thrilled to see how Cytopoint has done just that.”