The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA) has announced the online publication of the Winter edition of its journal, EJCAP, which leads on responsible use of antibiotics and is now available free to all members of the veterinary profession.
The latest edition also features articles about indoor ferrets and hyperadrenocorticism, elderly cats and osteoarthritis, and correcting a malocclusion.
As a result of a unanimous decision by the FECAVA Council in October, the journal is now freely available to all veterinary practitioners, students and nurses throughout Europe.
To access the journal, visit: http://ejcap.fecava.org
A bogus vet who pleaded guilty to a number animal cruelty and fraud offences is being sought by Humberside Police after he failed to appear at court for sentencing.
Jayson Paul Wells (pictured right), 30, of Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is wanted by detectives in Grimsby after he failed to appear at Grimsby Crown Court.
The RCVS assisted Humberside Police with its original investigation and is publicising its appeal to help locate Mr Wells. Police believe that he may be trading as a herdsman in Nottingham or Cornwall and are keen to establish whether he is currently in either location.
Mr Wells was arrested on 2 October 2013 and charged with the following offences:
Mr Wells pleaded guilty to all offences.
Anyone who is aware of his whereabouts is asked to call Humberside Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The practice says that because thiamine deficiency in cats is generally rare, the number of recent cases seen in the UK has been a cause for concern amongst veterinary surgeons.
Symptoms may include severe weight loss or anorexia, vomiting, impaired vision, dilated pupils, tremors and seizures. Prompt treatment is needed, usually in the form of thiamine injections, an oral supplement and an immediate change of food as a precaution.
Laurent Garosi RCVS & European Veterinary Specialist in Neurology at Davies Veterinary Specialists said: "In 20 years I have only seen a handful of cases. My concern is that there may be many more cats out there in need of a diagnosis which is why we are building awareness and supporting our referring vets in the diagnosis of this condition."
To that end, Laurent posted on the subject on Facebook, which immediately went viral, with more than 1.1 million people reached and 9000+ shares.
Davies Veterinary Specialists has followed Laurent's post with support and advice for pet owners, explaining the symptoms to look out for and the emergency measures to take. The practice has also sent more detailed information direct to its referring practices:
What are the signs of thiamine deficiency in cats? Initially most cats will show anorexia and some degree of vomiting preceding neurological signs which include fairly rapid onset of impaired vision, dilated pupils, ataxia, vestibular signs, tremors and seizures.
How do you diagnose thiamine deficiency? It is based on a combination of factors: clinical presentation, MRI findings, which are fairly typical (although not pathognomonic) and response to thiamine supplementation. Absolute confirmation is technically difficult and not widely available: direct measurement of thiamine in the blood may not reflect deficiency, as this is not a good reflection of tissue concentration of Thiamine. Indirect methods are functional tests looking at effects of thiamine or lack of it: demonstration of reduced transketolase activity in red blood cells which is not readily available for most veterinary practices, or other indirect methods such measuring abnormal metabolites such as organic acids in the urine.
What are the causes of thiamine deficiency in dogs and cats? There are three main causes: 1) inability to absorb thiamine due to gastro-intestinal disease, 2) inability to process thiamine due to liver disease and 3) decreased level of thiamine in food. The latter can be caused by the heating process used for food preparation (thiamine is destroyed by heat), addition of sulphur dioxide or sulphite preservatives to meat which inactivate thiamine and feeding food rich in thiaminase activity such as some raw fish. Therefore all-raw fish diet in cats can be a cause of thiamine deficiency.
What to do if you suspect you have a cat with thiamine deficiency and whose diet consists of a product being recalled? Unless the cat is showing neurological signs, the first step is to stop the diet and switch to another diet not listed in the recall. Thiamine supplementation (intramuscular injection) is advised in the first instance in a case with compatible neurological signs. Other causes for the neurological signs must be considered in the case of failing to respond to Thiamine injections within 24-48 hours.
DVS says it is working closely with their referring vets to raise awareness and diagnose any affected animals.
For more information, visit: www.vetspecialists.co.uk and www.facebook.com/DVSvets/
The group, which opened in 2021, is also securing sites in Newcastle and Halesowen for a further two practices which are due to open in 2026.
Harrison Family Vets says at least £350,000 will be invested in each of the new practices which will be staffed by a team of six initially.
Operations director, Kristie Faulkner said: “In less than four years we’ve opened seven extremely successful practices and quickly established a reputation for being a great place to work.
"We’ve built a team where everyone’s individual strengths and personality traits contribute to what we do, in a family-orientated environment.
“We take pride in creating very modern and well-equipped surgeries that are designed around the pets we treat, and we push the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to pet care.
"In addition, all our team members are also trained, or currently in training for, the Fear Free Accreditation, to significantly reduce fear, stress and anxiety for both pets and their owners, which means every pet’s visit to Harrison Family Vets is as positive as possible.
“Crucially, we also offer pet owners far more affordable pet care than the large corporate chains and our total wellness plan is one of the best value offerings on the market.
"When this is combined with our exceptional team and pioneering practices, it’s not unusual for us to have hundreds of pet owners registering with us in new locations before we even open.
“We’re now looking forward to embarking on our next phase of growth and making our unique offering available to even more veterinary professionals and pet owners throughout the country.
"We would urge anyone interested in joining us in Stoke, Sheffield or Darlington, as well as Newcastle or Halesowen, which will launch in the next phase of openings, to contact us now.”
https://www.harrisonfamilyvets.co.uk/
The new facility will have 9 consultation rooms and 4 theatres, and is expected to open in early 2022.
It will be Animal Trust’s 10th veterinary hospital – with existing locations in Wrexham, Yorkshire and North England.
Animal Trust now employs more than 300 vets and veterinary care staff.
A further 15 jobs will be created in Rhyl when the new hospital opens.
Owen said: “Our ethos has always been that every animal deserves access to experienced and professional veterinary care as soon as they become ill.
"That’s why we offer free consultations for sick and injured animals brought to our surgeries.
"Our clients are from all walks of life and they come to us because of what we stand for and in some cases, for the prices we offer.
“As a CIC, we try and make sure that a comprehensive veterinary service is within reach of as many pet owners as possible.
"We build large veterinary hospitals that will serve the needs of the local pet-owning community and make a positive impact on their lives.
"Our new surgery will allow us to extend our services to the residents of the North Wales coastline, many of whom currently have to travel to one of our other existing surgeries.”
Funding for Animal Trust was provided by the £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund.
Developed by Italian tech company, Otech Industry srl, the Onemytis 2 uniquely uses gas ionisation to vaporise tissue at lower temperatures and, claims Excel, with greater precision than is possible with conventional electrosurgery.
The knife works by a strong electromagnetic field through air. This releases plasma which vaporises tissue at a maximum operating temperature of 50°C (compared to more than 118°C in conventional electrosurgery).
During surgery, the electrode does not touch the patient. Plasma is formed when it is between 1 and 2 mm away from the patient, depending on the power setting. This means the surgeon does not apply any pressure when creating an incision, allowing greater precision.
The Onemytis range starts from £4500 +VAT.
West Sussex first opinion vet, Julian Hoad, Head of Crossways Veterinary Group, started using Onemytis last year for a range or procedures including laparoscopic surgery and the removal of masses, often without the need for a general anaesthetic.
Julian said: "I’ve used electrosurgery for 20 years and this is an order of magnitude better. It is more precise, more reliable and results in a much better healing surface."
"I recently removed an enlarged lymph node. The mass was around the mesenteric root. Because Onemytis is so precise I was able to dissect around the blood vessels, removing tissue that was attached to them with no blood loss. Onemytis is also excellent for removing epulides. It cuts though gingival tissue with very limited burning and produces very good, pain-free healing."
"I now routinely use it for performing nostril widening surgery in brachycephalic dogs; it reduces surgery time dramatically and completely abolishes bleeding in most cases."
"I have also used it to remove a large mass from a dog’s spleen and, by using a combination of Onemytis and Ligasure, managed to do so with a total blood loss of less than 2 ml."
Steve Hayden, Director at Excel Lasers, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Onemytis 2 to the UK. An important part of our role is to identify the technological innovations we think are most likely to help vets and their patients and Onemytis really stands out. The feedback we have had from our clients has been extremely positive and we think it has a fantastic future in veterinary surgery.”
To find out more about Onemytis 2 and watch videos of it in action, visit: https://www.excellasers.com/airplasma/
The new pack includes a 60 minute video presented by leading veterinary behaviourist Jon Bowen BVetMed DipAS(CABC) MRCVS. The film covers hints and tips on the preventative measures that owners can put in place to help manage noise sensitivity and firework fears and also includes information on counter conditioning.
The packs, which are available from your CEVA territory manager, also include a range of waiting room materials including leaflets, leaflet holders, posters and wall displays, a PR toolkit to support individual veterinary practice PR campaigns, copy for websites, veterinary practice newsletters and suggested social media posts for Twitter and Facebook.
Claire Russell, Adaptil and Feliway product manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "The fireworks season can be a scary time for pets. Our new marketing pack will help veterinary practices remind their clients of the preventative measures they can put in place to reduce firework fears, including the use of Adaptil, proven to reduce the intensity of fear suffered as a result of loud noises."
For further information, contact your local Ceva territory manager or telephone 01494 781510.
Virbac has launched Prinovox, a new prescription-only spot-on ectoparasiticide for dogs and cats.
The company says the new product contains the same combination of Moxidectin and Imidacloprid as the market leader, but is offered with a unique and innovative pet owner engagement programme to help practices build loyalty, increase compliance and to encourage repeat purchase.
In dogs Prinovox is licensed for the treatment and prevention of lungworm; for the treatment and prevention of fleas and also for lice, mites, heartworm and roundworms. In cats, the licence covers fleas, mites, roundworm and heart worm. It can also be used for fleas and heartworm in ferrets.
Prinovox is available in six presentations to suit all weight ranges and in packs of four pipettes. The packaging uses the Blippar platform which owners can use to 'blip' interactive icons on the product's packaging with their smartphone to get more information on Prinovox, including a video on how to use it, a reminder system and a game.
In addition, the Prinovox support package includes:
Virbac's Head of Marketing Companion Animal, Simon Boulton MRCVS said: "We see the launch of Prinovox as a gamechanger. The ectoparasiticide market is one of the largest and most competitive in our industry and we are the first company to offer a product with the same efficacy as the market leader for all indications.
"We've gone one step further by increasing the value of the product to practices by developing a comprehensive parasite protection support package which harnesses the latest technology and consumer preferences for receiving information. We believe the efficacy of Prinovox, combined with the innovative support package we're offering, will make it a highly attractive product for practices and owners and we've been delighted at the feedback we've received so far."
Next year, in collaboration with the International Veterinary Students’ Association (IVSA), there will be a new category to recognise a veterinary student for his or her contribution towards animal welfare.
The WVA Animal Welfare Award 2019 will be presented to six veterinary surgeons from the WVA 6 geographical regions and to one veterinary student from around the world.
The Award Ceremony will take place during the 35th World Veterinary Association Congress on 28th April 2019 in San Jose, Costa Rica where the selected winners will be invited to collect their WVA Animal Welfare Award and a prize of €5,000.
Ceva and the WVA say they are now actively studying a plan to expand the awards to include veterinary schools, rewarding them for Animal Welfare Excellence in Veterinary Education.
For more information, visit http://www.worldvet.org/news.php?item=356
The hour-long webinar will be held on Tuesday 18th May from 7.30pm.
Chris is a European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Dentistry and the founding Director of the Equine Dental Clinic Ltd. Nicole is a European, American and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Dentistry and is a co-director of the Equine Dental Clinic.
Chris and Nicole (pictured right) will discuss key points for examination, diagnostics and treatment, including:
Zoetis Equine Product Manager, Penny McCann said: "Chris Pearce and Nicole du Toit are known worldwide for their consulting, training, educating and CPD, as well as for running the longest established and largest equine veterinary dental specialist practice in Europe.
"We are delighted that they have agreed to share their knowledge with our client practices on 18th May and look forward to welcoming you."
To book your place for the webinar, visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/173596806534344203
For more information contact your Zoetis Account Manager or the Zoetis Technical Team on customersupportUK@zoetis.com or 0845 300 8034.
The Oncology Working Group, winningly styled as 'WOW', says it hopes that the glossary will give owners a clearer understanding of the diagnosis and management choices they have, and help them discuss care with their veterinary surgeon from a more informed perspective.
The glossary is the first output from the WOW Group which was formed in 2021 to raise awareness of the latest thinking in cancer therapy and promote best practice globally.
The glossary is available to download free from the WSAVA website at: https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Glossary-WOW-13.11.2021.pdf
WOW Group Member Professor Nick Bacon, a RCVS-Recognized Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Oncology) and a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, said: “Cancer has a language all of its own and, during our early WOW Group discussions, it became obvious that, in order to improve communication between veterinary professionals and owners, there was an urgent need for a globally accessible resource to help owners better understand cancer terminology.
“Our Oncology Glossary is the result.
"We hope it will enable owners to feel on a more equal footing when they are discussing their pet’s condition with veterinary professionals.
"We hope it will also increase the consistency and effectiveness of communication about veterinary oncology globally.”
He added: “We will update the Oncology Glossary regularly and are now working on the development of further practical and easy-to-use tools to support veterinarians working in this rapidly evolving area of veterinary medicine.
"In the meantime, more resources are available on our web page at https://wsava.org/committees/oncology-working-group/”
The report, which was developed in consultation with BVA members, devolved branches, BVA specialist divisions and other stakeholders, outlines the essential role that the UK veterinary workforce plays in not only caring for animals, but in enabling trade, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and undertaking cutting-edge research.
Non-British EU veterinary surgeons are critical to the UK veterinary workforce. Around 50% of veterinary surgeons registering to practise in the UK each year come from overseas, with the vast majority of these coming from the rest of the EU. Yet one-fifth of vets are already reporting that it has become harder to recruit since the EU Referendum.
To secure the best possible outcomes for animal health and welfare, public health, and the veterinary profession, Brexit and the veterinary profession sets out 52 recommendations for the short, medium and long term, including calling on the next Government to:
BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "Vets provide the foundation for the UK’s work on animal health and welfare. Veterinary teams up and down the country support the UK’s 11 million pet-owning households; not a penny of the UK’s £13 billion agri-food industry could be realised without vets; and we are an integral part of the international scientific community, annually bringing in over £50 million for research and development projects.
"The veterinary profession is in a unique position from which to offer the next Government evidence-based policy recommendations to ensure animal health and welfare, public health and other standards are at the very least maintained as we exit the EU.
"We believe Brexit also presents us with opportunities, for example, to develop a strong, competitive food industry with full consumer confidence at home and abroad as well as to position the UK as a world leader in high animal welfare - and a strong veterinary workforce is vital in achieving this."
Brexit and the veterinary profession was developed and written by the BVA Brexit Working Group, under the chairmanship of Alick Simmons, former UK deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, and was agreed by BVA Council in April.
The report builds on BVA’s Brexit Principles, agreed by Council in September 2016, and covers seven areas of public policy: veterinary workforce, animal health, animal welfare, food hygiene and safety, veterinary medicines, research and development, and trade.
Two further sections of the report consider issues relating to devolution and to Northern Ireland’s unique position as the only part of the UK to share a land border with an EU member state.
With a snap General Election due in five weeks’ time, BVA has produced a 20-point manifesto of key recommendations covering both Brexit and wider policy issues, which has been sent to the main political parties’ manifesto-writing teams and to BVA’s Honorary Associates.
Brexit and the veterinary profession and the manifesto for the 2017 General Election are available at: www.bva.co.uk/brexit.
With at least 65% of dogs and 39% of cats reported as overweight (1&2), the competition is designed to promote a healthy body shape for cats and dogs, and reward the hard work of pet owners and veterinary nurses for achieving and maintaining a pet’s healthy weight. It is open to patients that are starting out on a weight loss programme, those maintaining a healthy body shape following weight loss and even those who have always been a healthy weight and shape.
Six finalists will be selected from all the entries and invited to attend an awards lunch where the overall winner will be announced. All finalists will receive a £100 shopping voucher and the overall winner will receive a £1000 holiday voucher.
Caroline Burke, Weight Management Specialist at Royal Canin said: "The Healthy Weight Competition is the perfect opportunity for veterinary nurses and owners to tackle this serious disease and prevent it occurring.
"There are many health issues associated with an animal being overweight as well as affecting quality of life, longevity and the welfare of the pet. The Healthy Weight Competition is an ideal opportunity for practices to identify the overweight patients, enrol them on a weight loss programme and enter the competition. It also enables them to reward those cats and dogs who have maintained an ideal body shape and weight over a period of time."
The competition is open until 31st of August 2018.
For more information, visit: www.royalcaninhealthyweight.co.uk or contact your Veterinary Business Manager.
Reference
The new Order will come into force on the 18th February 2020, from when students who graduate with the University of Surrey’s veterinary degree will automatically be able to join the Register of Veterinary Surgeons and to practise veterinary medicine in the UK.
The university’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Science (BVMSci Hons) degree will enter the College’s cyclical accreditation process and be subject to annual monitoring for quality assurance.
Accreditation of the degree was a five-year process during which the RCVS worked with the University of Surrey to ensure that its curriculum and programme met the College’s quality standards, including two interim accreditation visitations in 2017 and 2018 and a final accreditation visit in 2019.
Dr Niall Connell, RCVS President, said: “We are very glad that the University of Surrey’s veterinary degree has now cleared the last hurdle and that, as of next month, it will join the roster as the UK’s eighth recognised veterinary degree. I commend the hard work that the faculty, students and the university’s clinical partners have put in to develop the course over the past five years and we look forward to continue to work with them to ensure that the high standards are maintained."
Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said: "I am delighted that the University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine has become the UK’s eighth provider of veterinary education. The support and enthusiasm of our partner practice network has been essential in delivering our vision of competent, confident and compassionate veterinary graduates."
The full RCVS accreditation standards for veterinary degrees can be found here: www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/accrediting-primary-qualifications/accrediting-veterinary-degrees/accreditation-standards/
Photo: (from l-r) Susan Paterson, Chair of the RCVS Education Committee, Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, and Niall Connell, RCVS President.
Elanco Animal Health has highlighted the results of a new study1 which concludes that Duvaxyn IE-T Plus stimulates a highter protective antibody response than four other equine influenza vaccines commercially available in Ireland.
The trial compared the antibody responses of unvaccinated Thoroughbred weanlings following primary vaccination with Duvaxyn IE-T Plus, Equilis Resequin, Equip FT, Equilis Prequenza Te and ProteqFlu Te.
In addition, following the first vaccination, 43% of the weanlings failed to seroconvert. However, amongst those vaccinated with Duvaxyn IE-T Plus a 100% response rate was observed. The failure rate amongst vaccines other than Duvaxyn IE-T Plus ranged between 7.7% and 78.6%. By the time of the third vaccination (31 weeks after the first) all horses had responded to vaccination.
The study, conducted by the Irish Equine Centre in Johnstone, the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Limerick and the Department of Statistics at Trinity College in Dublin, involved 66 unvaccinated Thoroughbred weanlings on four different stud farms. Following primary vaccination (V1, V2 and V3) with the five vaccines antibody responses were monitored for six months post V3 by single radial haemolysis. Elanco says that the correlation between SRH antibody levels and protection has been well-established and accepted2.
Elanco also highlights a recent study3 which it says demonstrated the ability of Duvaxyn IE-T Plus equine influenza vaccine to cross protect against A/equi-2/Richmond/1/07 (H3N8) two weeks after a two dose primary course. The company says that this is believed to be the first demonstration of cross protection by a current UK equine influenza vaccine against a Florida sub-lineage clade 2 reference strain.
Anna Jackson, national veterinary manager for Elanco Companion Animal Health said: "Most studies carried out by vaccine companies take place under controlled conditions that are optimal for effective vaccination. This latest study shows how well Duvaxyn IET plus stimulates immunity under field conditions against both vaccinal and non-vaccinal strains. Importantly, all the weanlings vaccinated with Duvaxyn seroconverted after the first vaccination, conferring earliest and most reliable protection for these vulnerable animals."
For further information please contact your local Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or phone 01256 779881.
References:
The Veterinary Record has published what the British Homeopathy Association is calling the first ever systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in veterinary homeopathy.
The review was conducted by Dr Robert Mathie, research development adviser to the association, and Dr Jürgen Clausen from the Carstens Foundation, Germany.
They found 18 placebo-controlled RCTs of veterinary homeopathy, published in the peer-reviewed literature, that were eligible for detailed assessment. Of these, only two were judged to provide reliable evidence. The remainder were unclear or had a high risk of bias.
The two studies which were judged reliable were:
HEKTOEN, L., LARSEN, S., ØDEGAARD, S. A. & LOKEN, T. (2004) Comparison of homeopathy, placebo and antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis in dairy cows - methodological issues and results from a randomized-clinical trial. Journal of Veterinary Medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine 51, 439-446. In this study, homeopathy was shown to be ineffective.
Dr Mathie said: "Up to now, debates about the efficacy or effectiveness of veterinary homeopathy have been polarised by the absence of any systematic review of the subject. Our work clarifies the nature of the current RCT evidence."
Mr Mark Elliott, immediate past president of the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons, said: "This important study affirms that reliable evidence does exist and that more research should be done, particularly in light of current concerns about antibiotic resistance in production animals."
It seems a remarkable admission, that the entire veterinary homeopathy edifice rests upon one study in piglets. However, if that study did prove the efficacy of homeopathy, it would of course be an order of magnitude more remarkable than today's admission.
So, no pressure then, Camerlink et al!
Cryptisel is for use in reducing oocyst shedding in calves where diarrhoea caused by Cryptosporidium is a problem. After the presence of the causal organism has been established, Forte says Cryptisel can be used in all new-born calves to break the cycle of transmission and multiplication on-farm.
Dr John Henderson, Large Animal Product Manager with Forte Healthcare Ltd said: "Cryptisel will be a very useful medicine in the control of the most commonly-identified scour pathogen in the UK and Ireland. Used alongside the calf-rearing cornerstones of good colostrum management, hygiene, and biosecurity, Cryptisel will reduce production of Cryptosporidium oocysts and help limit spread of the disease among susceptible calves."
Cryptisel is a POM, available in 490ml and 980ml bottles. Both sizes come with a metered dosing pump for convenient administration.
For further information, contact your local Forte Territory Manager or email enquiries@fortehealthcare.com.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has refused an application for restoration to the Register by Mr Joseph Holmes, who was struck off in 2011 for serious professional misconduct associated with surgery he had carried out on a dog and two cats.
At a two-week Disciplinary Committee hearing that concluded on 14 January 2011, two separate complaints had been considered against Mr Holmes, formerly of Waltham Veterinary Clinic, Grimsby. These involved a total of 31 charges, of which 28 were found to amount to serious professional misconduct. Mr Holmes was found to have advised on and undertaken surgical procedures without sufficient clinical grounds or consideration of alternative treatment options; failed to obtain the informed consent of his clients; undertaken procedures outside his area of competence; failed to refer or discuss the option of referral to a specialist; and, failed to provide his patients with adequate pain relief.
The then-Committee directed Mr Holmes' name be removed from the Register, whereupon he appealed to the Privy Council, who dismissed his appeal on 22 December 2011, concluding that removal from the Register "was the only disposal which could properly reflect the primary need to serve both the interests of animal welfare and the reputation of the veterinary profession".
At the hearing last week the Committee considered several factors in relation to Mr Holmes' application for restoration. Although Mr Holmes gave assurances that he accepted the findings of the original hearing, this contrasted completely to the robust way in which he had challenged all of these at that hearing and the majority in his appeal. Mr Holmes had been off the Register for only 12 months - just over the minimum period before an application for restoral was permitted. The Committee took the view that the application was premature and was not satisfied that Mr Holmes truly appreciated the seriousness of the findings made against him.
In response to questions from the Committee, Mr Holmes showed deficiencies in his knowledge, such as not knowing all of the constituents of the human drug, Anadin Extra, in spite of having produced a record of continuing professional development (CPD) on analgesia and having prescribed it to a dog in the original complaint. He did not provide records of CPD for 2010, 2011 and 2012, and although recognising that working in isolation from the majority of his fellow practitioners had contributed to his failures, he had made very limited efforts to observe first-opinion veterinary practice.
The Committee accepted at face value Mr Holmes' statement that he had not worked as a veterinary surgeon whilst de-registered, and accepted that removal from the Register had had a profound effect on Mr Holmes and his family, including the sale of his practice. It noted that Mr Holmes produced only the testimonials previously submitted to the Privy Council, which were of limited scope.
Professor Peter Lees, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee said: "Having regard to all the factors set out above, the Committee regrets that it is not satisfied that the applicant is fit to be restored to the Register. Accordingly, the application is refused."
The new products are:
Leon Wright, Managing Director, said: "At Vet Direct, we’re always looking for ways to improve our service – making small changes which will have a big impact on the levels of care our clients can provide.
"We know that vets, veterinary nurses and practice managers don’t always have the time to try out new products before purchasing, and that’s why our dedicated team of sales staff test every item before adding them to our catalogue - ensuring that we only stock the highest quality products."
For more information on any of the new products, visit www.vet-direct.com or call 0800 068 3300.
A shift towards a more outcomes-based model of CPD for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses has been under discussion for a number of years and one of its main proponents has been the current RCVS Senior Vice-President Professor Stephen May (pictured right), who chaired the CPD Policy Working Party.
Stephen said: "There has been increasing recognition over a range of different professions that CPD records based on ‘inputs’ alone, for example, measuring the number of hours attending a lecture, do not necessarily prove that any significant learning has taken place or that this learning will be used to improve professional practice.
"By contrast, research has demonstrated that CPD activities focused on outcomes encourage professionals to reflect on what they have learned, how they will apply their learning and how it will improve their practice, which has a positive impact on professionalism and patient health outcomes. Numerous other professions, including human medicine and dentistry, have moved to this model and the veterinary world has been somewhat ‘behind the curve’ as a result.
"However, as with any significant shift in policy, there has been a recognition that we needed to take the profession with us and not force through change. This is why, in March 2017, we launched a pilot scheme for the outcomes-based model with veterinary and veterinary nurse volunteers, including people who, during the initial consultation stage, had voiced some skepticism towards the concept.
"The overall feedback from volunteers was very positive and supportive towards the changes and I look forward, over the coming years, to talking to the professions at large about the benefits of the approach and how to best engage with the model."
In all, around 120 volunteers took part in the pilot, of whom 70% were veterinary surgeons and 30% veterinary nurses. When the pilot finished in October 2018, volunteers provided feedback as part of the evaluation process. Of the 57% of volunteers (n=70) who responded to the survey:
77% said they would be willing to use an outcomes-based CPD model in the future;
41% found it ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to implement outcomes-based CPD while only 11% thought it was either ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’;
61% thought that the outcomes-based model made CPD more meaningful for them and 25% said it encouraged them to undertake a wider range of CPD activities than previously;
Other feedback included the need for a better CPD recording system and more information and guidance ahead of any future changes.
Following the feedback, particularly around the need for a new approach to CPD recording, it was also recommended to Council that a new online CPD recording system should be introduced. This system will integrate the current disparate systems, such as the Student Experience Log (for vet students), Nursing Progress Log (for student VNs) and the Professional Development Phase (for recent vet graduates), making it a ‘one-stop shop’ professional development recording platform.
Richard Burley, RCVS Chief Technology Officer, said: "We will be building a new platform, consolidating all professional development-related capability for all members, into a single, integrated solution, seamlessly accessible via our ‘My Account’ online portal, and forthcoming mobile app. We have assembled a new, dedicated, software development team to drive this work and more details about this system will be published in coming months."
Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS Director of Education, added:"Following the approval of the CPD proposals by RCVS Council, a phased roll-out of the new model and the accompanying IT system will take place. This includes recruiting a group of volunteers from the profession later this year to get some initial feedback around the guidance resources and online CPD platform, with members of the profession being voluntarily able to sign up to the new model and IT system from January 2020 onwards.
"Implementation of the new CPD requirement for all members is expected to start in January 2022 but, prior to that, we will be working hard to talk to the profession about why an outcomes-based model is a more effective and meaningful way of undertaking CPD and this will include workshops, webinars and roadshows. Look out for more news on our plans over the coming months."
For more information about the College’s current CPD policy requirement and policy, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd
The Forestry Commission, together with other agencies and landowners, is stepping up efforts to find out why some dogs have fallen ill while on countryside walks.
Over 50 cases of so called Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) occurred during the autumn of 2009 and 2010 in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, East Anglia and Warwickshire, although there have been reports from further afield.
Symptoms include severe vomiting, diarrhoea, shaking / trembling and high temperature, and have generally been displayed by animals within 24 hours of walking in the countryside, especially in woodlands. A small number of dogs have died. The cause of Seasonal Canine Illness remains unknown.
Jo Atkinson, from the Forestry Commission, said: "Although no cases have yet been reported this year, we are working with our many partners to get a clearer picture of the distribution and reasons behind this upsetting sickness. Both dog owners and vets can play their part too in helping protect cherished pets."
Moves to tackle the illness include:
Veterinary surgeons are asked to:
Norbrook Laboratories has launched Norfenicol Solution for Injection (florfenicol), a broad spectrum antibiotic licensed for the treatment of pneumonia in cattle and pigs.
Dr Barry McInerney, Norbrook's GB Veterinary Advisor said: "With many farmers preparing for winter housing, the launch of Norfenicol is timely as pneumonia represents the most common disease of housed cattle in the UK costing the agricultural industry an estimated £80m per year. Norfenicol is an easy to inject, cost effective treatment of pneumonia which kills bacteria quickly, and is available in a durable plastic bottle. Studies have shown florfenicol, the active ingredient in Norfenicol, to have a high bacteriological and clinical efficacy (100% and 96% respectively) against susceptible bacteria in the treatment of calf respiratory tract diseases."
Norfenicol is indicated for the treatment of bacterial respiratory disease in cattle associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somniand for the treatment of acute outbreaks of respiratory disease caused by strains of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, and Pasteurella multocida in swine.
Dr McInerney added: "NSAIDs have also been shown to be a beneficial ancillary therapy in treating bacterial pneumonia, to alleviate pain as well as to reduce inflammation and pyrexia. Norbrook has a range of NSAID products which are available as an adjunctive treatment for pneumonia in cattle, including Loxicom 20 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle, pigs and horses."
For further product information, visit www.norbrook.com
Zoetis says Lokivetmab targets and neutralizes canine interleukin-31 (IL-31), a cytokine associated with atopic dermatitis which sends the itch signal to the brain.
The company has submitted an application for marketing authorisation of the product, which is conditionally licensed in the US and Canada under the name Canine Atopic Dermatitis Immunotherapeutic, in the European Union.
The new data was presented at the 8th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology (WCVD).
Supporting the efficacy of Lokivetmab in canine AD, Zoetis presented the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose determination trial to evaluate efficacy of three doses of lokivetmab (0.125, 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg) in providing relief from the clinical signs of pruritus (itching) and other clinical signs associated with atopic dermatitis in dogs.
Veterinary investigators at 15 clinics enrolled 245 client-owned, live-at-home dogs with chronic atopic dermatitis. Lokivetmab or a placebo was administered by subcutaneous injection on day 0, and efficacy was evaluated periodically over 56 days. Dog owners assessed their dog’s pruritus using a visual analog scale (VAS), and investigators assessed the associated skin lesions using Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index-03 (CADESI-03) scores.
Lokivetmab, injected once subcutaneously, provided dose-dependent improvement in owner-assessed pruritus and clinician-assessed CADESI-03 scores for four to six weeks in dogs with atopic dermatitis.
Zoetis also presented results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the safety of lokivetmab at the nominal dose tested of 1 mg/kg (range, 1-3.3 mg/kg) in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Veterinary surgeons evaluated 245 client-owned, live-at-home dogs with chronic, naturally-occurring atopic dermatitis. These dogs were randomized at a 2:1 ratio to receive two monthly injections of lokivetmab (162 dogs) or placebo on days 0 and 28.
No immediate hypersensitivity reactions were observed and there were no clinically important differences in clinical pathology results. No apparent adverse drug interactions were reported. Dogs studied were taking a wide variety of medications, which is important because multimodal therapy is commonly prescribed for dogs with atopic dermatitis. Adverse events were reported at a similar frequency between the groups.
whatstherisk.co.uk has been created for all practice staff and contains advice from parasitologists Ian Wright and Eric Morgan.
Topics include advice on practical risk assessments, how risk-based prescribing can work with health plans as well as how to get owners involved to make risk assessment and personalised prescribing quicker and simpler.
Boehringer says that all the materials and advice have been developed in line with RCVS Practice Standards and the BVA's guidance on the responsible use of parasiticides.1,2
Sharron Woods, NexGard brands Franchise Manager said: “With knowledge about parasitic risk low among dog owners, alongside increasing scrutiny on the potential overuse of parasiticides, we’re delighted to be at the forefront of supporting vets, pet owners and the wider industry in driving best-practice risk assessment and responsible parasite control."
References
Pets at Home has announced the acquisition of the joint venture practice business, Vets4Pets, adding 93 stand-alone veterinary practices to the 116 in-store practices it already operates under the Companion Care brand.
Providing veterinary and grooming services to consumers is seen as the way for the retailer to overcome competition from the Internet.
Nick Wood, CEO of Pets at Home said: "The expansion of our veterinary business is a key element of our growth strategy for Pets at Home, providing additional services to our customers within our stores or close to our customers' homes. The acquisition of Vets4Pets is an important step in the delivery of this strategy. Vets4Pets is highly complementary to Companion Care, sharing fundamental beliefs and values, and is an excellent strategic fit for Pets at Home. I am delighted that Peter Watson has agreed to stay with the business. His knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we continue to build our veterinary business with both stand-alone and in-store practices. He will work closely with Jane Balmain, the Managing Director of our Companion Care business as we integrate the two businesses."
Peter Watson, Founder and CEO of Vets4Pets said: "Pets at Home holds a unique place in the retail landscape, built on a strong identity and a real passion for people and pets. It is clear to me that Nick and his team have a similar vision for their veterinary business. I'm delighted to be working with Nick to continue to expand the veterinary business by offering attractive joint venture opportunities for vets in stand alone locations to complement the offering in Pets at Home stores."
Companion Care MD, Jane Balmain added: "Companion Care and Vets4Pets each enjoy a strong reputation among both vets and customers. Both businesses have a common business model, offering joint venture partnerships with vets. I am looking forward to working alongside Peter as we bring the businesses together, continue to expand our joint venture partnerships and accelerate our growth."
Vets4Pets' UK operational centre will remain in the East Midlands, with its support functions being split between Companion Care's operation in Oxfordshire and Vets4Pets' Guernsey office.