A new company, PetMedix, has been set up to develop new monoclonal antibody therapies for cats and dogs which could, it says, transform a wide range of veterinary treatment options, offering more effective treatment with fewer side-effects.

The company, which was founded by scientists from the human field, managed to raise £8 million of Series A funding by February this year. It is now seeking further investment for an extension to that Series A funding by the autumn.

The company's Chief Scientific Officer is Professor Allan Bradley, Emeritus Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and a Fellow of the Royal Society (pictured right). He spearheaded the development of mouse transgenics and their translational use, which provided the basis for developing canine monoclonal antibody therapies.

Allan said: "We are growing a world-class scientific team that will enable PetMedix to become a global leader in the development of novel monoclonal antibody therapies for the expanding animal health market. In the short lifetime of the company we have attracted huge talent in both our scientists and executives, and moved into the heart of the Cambridge biotech sphere with its excellent facilities and networking opportunities. The recent appointment of Dr. Fabian Kausche to the board marks our intent to become a global leader in animal health."

CEO, Dr. Tom Weaver added: "We have the people and the technology in place, and are champing at the bit to progress these therapies to reach the pets that could benefit. We know this technology has transformed the treatment and survival of human patients with a variety of conditions and we want to create the same paradigm shift in veterinary treatment options to improve welfare, quality of life and longevity for our dogs and cats."

PetMedix says it is interested in hearing from potential investment partners, and mergers and acquisitions. Contact Jolyon Martin via email: jolyon.martin@PetMedix.co.uk or telephone: +44 (0) 1223 734140,

IVC Evidensia has been certified as a UK Top Employer 2025 by the Top Employers Institute. 

IVC is one of 115 companies certified in the UK, including Vodafone, Bentley, Amazon and Pfizer, and the first veterinary organisation. 

The certification benchmarks organisations globally on their people practices, including strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, diversity, equity & inclusion, and wellbeing. 

IVC says the certification reflects a series of initiatives introduced to enhance the colleague experience, including private healthcare options for all staff, a family-friendly policy, a growing network of wellbeing champions and mental health first aiders, and the launch of two new training centres.

Duncan Phillips, IVC Evidensia CEO UK & Ireland, said: “This certification is a welcome acknowledgement of the progress we’ve made, and a motivator to keep improving the experience for every colleague across the UK.”

Androna Benade, Regional Manager for UK and Ireland, Top Employers Institute said: “With veterinary professionals playing a vital role in animal health, food safety, and public wellbeing, this recognition sends a powerful message about the importance of valuing and investing in the people behind the profession.

"As the UK faces ongoing workforce challenges in the veterinary sector, IVC Evidensia’s achievement sets a benchmark for how the profession can be supported, retained, and celebrated as a critical part of the UK economy and society.”

www.top-employers.com

CarefreeCredit, which provides loans to uninsured owners of pets in need of medical attention, is now offering a free public relations service to member practices to help them promote their work in their local media.

Stewart Halperin (pictured right), the vet who founded CarefreeCredit, said: "We originally started out by helping vets provide loans to treat pets needing medical attention which wasn’t covered by insurance, allowing them to provide the care needed, while also being paid immediately, improving cash flow and reducing bad debts.

"With this new service, vets can make their services better known in their local communities, which will also boost their turnover and allow them to care for even more animals."

Practices that use CarefreeCredit are given access to an online application process that takes around five minutes, providing loans from £250 upwards for use against any veterinary bills.

A range of credit terms are available from 0% APR upwards. They are also the only company to offer loan rates based on risk, which they say means more clients are likely to be accepted for finance.

CarefreeCredit practices that want to use the PR service need to contact the company, whereupon they'll arrange for an award-winning public relations consultant to provide the support they need - free of charge.

For further information, visit: www.carefreecredit.co.uk or call 0345 313 0177.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has added a cardiology CPD section to its Vetmedin website. The section also includes a number of owner education resources to be used in practice.

The site, which is billed as a one-stop-shop on canine heart disease, includes an interactive radiology viewer, the Vetmedin atlas of cardiac radiology, radiology interpretation and diagnosis, an interactive MVD seminar and online downloadable Vetmedin dosage calculator to assist veterinary surgeons in prescribing the optimum dose.

Owner education materials include an animation explaining how to monitor a dog's resting respiratory rate, a video about heart failure and downloadable charts to help owners monitor their dog's condition.

For further information, visit www.vetmedin.co.uk, contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has decided to postpone its decision on the sanction for a Dyfed-based veterinary surgeon convicted of drink-driving for a second time, this time for a further twelve months.

Lynn Jo Ann Davies MRCVS first appeared before the Committee in January 2018 to face a number of charges related to two drink-driving offences, breaching the terms of her undertakings to the College as part of its Health Protocol, and being under the influence of alcohol on three occasions while she was on duty as a veterinary surgeon in December 2016. 

Dr Davies admitted all five charges against her and admitted that this meant she was unfit to practise veterinary surgery and that she was guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect. The Committee accepted her admissions and found, with the exception of one allegation, that her conduct was disgraceful in a professional respect.

At its first hearing the Committee having considered both aggravating and mitigating circumstances decided to postpone the hearing for six months on the basis of Dr Davies’ entering into a new set of undertakings, including one not to practise veterinary surgery and to remain abstinent from alcohol during the period of postponement.

At the second hearing, in July 2018, the Disciplinary Committee resumed its sanction inquiry decision. Dr Davies’ Counsel submitted on her behalf that Dr Davies wished to return to practise and the Committee reviewed her witness statements, documentary proof and medical records that she provided to demonstrate she had complied with the her undertakings given at the last hearing. 

Stuart Drummond, Chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "Having had the opportunity to see and hear from the respondent when she gave evidence and when she answered the questions put to her, the view formed of her current state of health was favourable. All members of the Committee considered that the account she gave of herself in the witness box was confident and they were reassured by her evidence as to how she now sets about managing her levels of stress and how she reacted to stressful incidents.

"Such concerns as the Committee had about her return to practice concerned her ability to receive support from a third party who would act as a mentor…the Committee therefore requires the Respondent to identify, within a period of one month of today’s date, a veterinary surgeon who would agree to act as her mentor. That mentor would have to be a veterinary surgeon acceptable to the College as someone suitable to act in that capacity and that mentor would have to be approved before the Respondent could resume practice.

"A further requirement of the Committee would be that the Respondent should make a disclosure to any new employer of the fact of her appearances before this Committee in January 2018 and in July 2018 and of the decisions of the Committee in relation to both such hearings. The final requirement of the Committee in this respect is that the respondent should not accept a 'sole charge position' at any time during her employment during this next period of postponement of sanction."

The Committee directed that the hearing be postponed for a further 12 months.

Cloud 9 Vets, a new mobile veterinary service offering quality of life assessments, euthanasia and palliative care for pets at home has been launched in the UK and is now recruiting veterinary surgeons and practices to join the team delivering the service.

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 RCVS Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee has directed the Registrar to suspend Surrey-based Lois Hodgkinson RVN for ten months, for ordering prescription drugs for her own use through the practice's veterinary wholesaler ordering system.

Specifically, Ms Hodgkinson was alleged to have placed five orders between 1 September 2013 and 1 April 2015:

• 28 x 30mg Codeine Phosphate tablets, ordered on or about 9 September 2013;
• 56 x 250mg Naproxen (Naprosyn) tablets, ordered on or about 24 February 2014;
• 28 x 50mg Amitriptyline tablets, ordered on or about 7 August 2014;
• 28 x 25mg Amitriptyline tablets, ordered on or about 10 November 2014;
• 28 x 60mg Codeine Phosphate tablets, ordered on or about 31 March 2015.

The medications for charges (i) to (iii) above, were intended for her own personal use, as she had previously at various times been prescribed Codeine, Naproxen and Amitriptyline after being involved in a serious car accident in November 2012, as a result of which she suffered from chronic back pain and other problems.

Charges (iv) and (v) above, were intended for her dog, ‘Minnie’, but the dosages ordered were incorrect. The medications were never removed from the practice or given to Minnie, but were instead returned to the wholesaler.

From the outset Ms Hodgkinson admitted the charges against her, although she believed that other staff at the practice had placed similar personal orders and that she had been given permission to do so as well. Ms Hodgkinson also accepted that the facts amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.

The Committee accepted Ms Hodgkinson’s admission of the charges and, accordingly, found the charges proved. The question of whether the facts amounted to serious professional misconduct was, however, a matter for the Committee’s judgement, notwithstanding Ms Hodgkinson’s admission.

In reaching its decision, the Committee took into account Ms Hodgkinson’s assertion that she believed she had been given permission to order medication through the practice. She did admit however that she must have been mistaken in that belief. The Committee also took note of the College’s submission that a number of aggravating features were present which amounted to serious professional misconduct, namely: the potential risk posed to animal welfare; Ms Hodgkinson’s ignorance of fundamental legislative provisions; a breach of trust placed in her by virtue of her RVN status; the fact that the misconduct was repeated over a period of time; and a lack of awareness of professional responsibilities at the time of the conduct. The Committee therefore had no hesitation that the conduct did amount to serious professional misconduct.

The Committee then turned to the question of sanction. A number of mitigating factors were put forward in Ms Hodgkinson’s defence including the fact that a period of lengthy suspension or removal from the register would result in her losing an offer of employment, the fact that up to the relevant conduct she had had an unblemished career and the fact that she had made early admissions of guilt and shown insight into her misconduct.

The Committee decided that a period of 10 months’ suspension would be appropriate and proportionate in this case.

Chitra Karve, who chaired the Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The length of the period of suspension…is intended to reflect this Committee’s view, assisted as it has been by the experience and knowledge of a practising RVN and a veterinary surgeon, of the seriousness of the respondent’s conduct in its totality and of the need for the message to go out to all veterinary professionals that the ordering of POMs without the authority of a valid prescription is a most serious instance of misconduct. In such circumstances the personal mitigations that a practitioner might place before a Disciplinary Committee, whilst not immaterial, is inevitably of limited persuasion. And that is what this Committee has concluded in this particular case, having reflected carefully on the mitigation factors placed before it.

"Having weighed the matters of personal mitigation against the fact that a rudimentary knowledge of the governing legislation was effectively all that was required of the Respondent to ensure that the misconduct complained of did not occur, it is the clear view of the Committee that it would be failing in its public duty were it to do anything less than to impose a period of suspension from practice and the least period of suspension that is appropriate in this case is one of ten months. The Committee therefore instructs the Registrar to act accordingly."

The RCVS has published its Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2018, in which it highlights what it considers to be its major achievements over the year.

They include the successful completion of its governance review, the launch of the Graduate Outcomes consultation (the biggest in 20 years) and the Edward Jenner Leadership Programme (a massive open online course to develop leadership skills at all levels of the profession).

The College also highlights the continuation of its Mind Matters Initiative and how the initiative's aim - to encourage a compassionate and empathetic profession - is becoming a central part of the College's core strategy.

The report also covers the work done by the College to explore an outcomes-based approach to continuing professional development (CPD), review Schedule 3 and the Veterinary Surgeons Act, plan for the UK’s exit from the European Union and promote (jointly with the BVA) the benefit of registering with a vet to the public via a social media campaign.

The report includes the College’s independently-audited finances with details of income and expenditure. Whilst the College is not a charity, the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice – a framework for charity accounting and reporting, which allows easier comparison with the finances of similar bodies.

The report will be presented for adoption by members of the College at this year’s RCVS Day on Friday 12 July 2019 at the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The report can be downloaded from the RCVS publications webpage, or contact publications@rcvs.org.uk to request a hard copy.

Forte Healthcare has launched Hydrafast - an oral rehydration solution for calves.

Forte developed the new solution alongside Professor Gayle Hallowell, Professor of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Critical Care at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham.

The company says Hydrafast delivers ideal levels of sodium and glucose. It also contains glycine, an amino acid, acetate, propionate and citrate. 

Professor Hallowell said: “This new ORS formula for calves is both practical and research-based, and should address what we know calves need when they have diarrhoea. It provides nutrition as well as an optimal electrolyte balance.”

Hydrafast comes in sachets of 133g. Each box of Hydrafast contains 24 sachets.

Hydrafast is available now from all major veterinary wholesalers, or direct from Forte Healthcare Ltd.

For more information contact your Forte Territory Manager, email enquiries@fortehealthcare.com  or visit: www.fortehealthcare.com/product/hydrafast/

Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched of Dexdomitor 0.1 mg/ml, adding to its range of alpha-2 agonists and antagonists. 

Produced and manufactured in partnership with Orion Corporation, Elanco says Dexdomitor 0.1 mg/ml contains all the properties of dexmedetomidine in a formulation that allows accurate and convenient dosing for the smallest patients. It can be used as a sedative for non-invasive, mild to moderately painful procedures and examinations which require restraint, sedation and analgesia in dogs and cats.  It can also be used for deep sedation and analgesia in dogs in concomitant use with butorphanol for medical and minor surgical procedures and as a pre-medication in dogs and cats before induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia.

Dexdomitor 0.1 mg/ml has been designed to provide accurate dosing in very small dogs (up to 5kg) for sedation and pre-medication, small to mid-size dogs (up to 20kg) for pre-medication, and small cats (up to 3kg) for sedation and pre-medication.

Ed Whittle MRCVS, technical consultant at Elanco Companion Animal Health said: "With nearly a quarter of dogs weighing less than 6kg and nearly three-quarters weighing less than 23.1kg¹, Dexdomitor 0.1mg/ml is ideal for small animals that require low concentration doses of dexmedetomidine for convenient and accurate dosing".

Elanco has has also produced a sedation and pre-medication dosing guide to educate veterinary professionals on the recommended doses for its range of alpha-2 agonists and alpha-2 antagonists.

For further information contact your Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or email elancoCAH.uk@elanco.com.

The Pig Veterinary Society's revised 2009 edition of Casualty Pig, funded by the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) is now available.

This booklet is intended for the use of stock keepers on farms, staff in abattoirs, veterinary surgeons, and by transporters, to give guidance and knowledge in care, treatment, and euthanasia of the casualty pig. It also indicates the responsibilities and decisions related to the "Casualty Pig", as well as the legal requirements.

Speaking on behalf of the charity, BVA AWF Chairman and veterinary surgeon, Carl Padgett, said "This updated version has more emphasis on the care of and welfare of the casualty pig than earlier editions. This is a useful and easy to use guide that gives details of 'decision options' with a series of examples related to care, treatment and euthanasia."

Individuals can obtain copies of The Casualty Pig by contacting BVA AWF trustee David Chennells, via email at acornhousevets@btconnect.com.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has refused an application from Leeds-based Gary Cassius Samuel for restoration to the Register on the grounds that his history of causing harm to animals means that he poses a continued risk to animal welfare.

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

Dechra has relaunched Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml solution for the sedation and premedication prior to general anaesthesia of dogs, cats, horses and cattle.

Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml contains the short acting alpha-2 agonist xylazine and is licensed for I/V administration. 

It is also licensed for I/M administration in cattle; it has zero milk withdrawal and short one day meat withdrawal and sedation occurs in cattle within two minutes I/V and five to 10 minutes I/M.

Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml joins  Dechra’s Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml solution in the company’s anaesthesia and sedation range.  Nerfasin vet also contains xylazine and is licensed for I/V administration for sedation and premedication prior to general anaesthesia in horses and cattle.

Alana McGlade, national sales manager at Dechra, said: “Dechra offers a comprehensive range of anaesthesia and sedation products allowing vets to customise protocols to the individual animal. 

"Sedaxylan 20mg/ml and Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml solution provide vets with flexible and convenient dosing options.”

Both Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml and Nerfasin vet 100 mg/ml are available in 25ml vials.

For more information, talk to your Dechra territory sales manager.

www.dechra.co.uk.