What is 'quality improvement', you ask? Good question. Sure, it's an improvement in, er, quality. But of what?
'Quality improvement' is a term adopted from the human healthcare sector, variously defined as anything which makes: "healthcare safer, effective, patient-centred, timely, efficient and equitable (NHS)", or "the combined and unceasing efforts of everyone—healthcare professionals, patients and their families, researchers, payers, planners and educators—to make the changes that will lead to better patient outcomes (health), better system performance (care) and better professional development (BMJ)."
The RCVS research project, which is being conducted by RAND EUROPE, will assess current perceptions and adoption of quality improvement in the veterinary profession.
Specifically, it'll look at the drivers, barriers and expectations associated with QI, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the support provided to the profession.
Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, said: "We are delighted to be launching this research project with RAND Europe.
"We know that many of our colleagues across the profession have embedded quality improvement into their practice to great benefit, while we are also aware that it can be a challenge to do so all of the time.
"This research will provide an unprecedented body of evidence on the experiences and perceptions of QI, which will be critical to how we work to support the sector in this area going forward."
Integral to the research is a survey which all members of the profession are invited to take part in, here: bit.ly/QIvetsurvey.
The survey will be live for six weeks, closing early April. It takes around ten minutes to complete, with a prize of one £150 Amazon voucher on offer. Responses will be anonymised.
You can read more about Quality Improvement on the RCVS Knowledge website, here: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/
The study1 suggests that dogs with uncomplicated diarrhoea do not need antibiotics as part of their veterinary care plans.
The study included a random sample of 894 dogs aged between three months and 10 years old diagnosed with uncomplicated diarrhoea in 2019.
Of these, 355 (39.7%) dogs were prescribed antibiotics, and 539 (60.3%) dogs were not prescribed antibiotics (with or without additional supportive treatment) at first presentation for diarrhoea.
For the analysis, the dogs were balanced for a range of other differences between the groups including age, breed, bodyweight, insurance status, the presence of two or more medical conditions, vomiting, reduced appetite, blood in faeces, raised temperature, duration of diarrhoea, additional treatment prescription and veterinary group.
The researchers say this effectively meant that the only difference between the two groups was that one group received antibiotic treatment while the other did not.
The likelihood of clinical resolution of diarrhoea in the dogs prescribed antibiotics was 88.3%, compared with 87.9% in dogs not prescribed antibiotics.
This tiny difference of 0.4% between the groups was not statistically significant, leading to the conclusion that antibiotic treatment did not cause any beneficial effects in the treatment of uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs.
Almost nine in 10 dogs with uncomplicated diarrhoea recovered after a single veterinary visit regardless of antibiotic treatment.
As an additional analysis, the study also explored gastrointestinal nutraceuticals (products derived from food sources that aim to restore digestive health such as probiotics and prebiotics) for treatment of uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs.
Gastrointestinal nutraceutical prescription (with or without other supportive treatment) at first presentation of uncomplicated diarrhoea caused no statistically significant difference in clinical resolution compared to dogs not prescribed gastrointestinal nutraceuticals.
Camilla Pegram, VetCompass PhD student at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “This study used an exciting new approach that allowed us to determine ‘cause’ rather than being limited to ‘association’.
"Diarrhoea is a common condition in dogs and is often treated with antibiotics.
"However, this study highlighted that antibiotic prescription at first presentation of diarrhoea caused no difference in clinical resolution.
"Therefore, this arms veterinarians with the evidence-base for restricting antibiotics for uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs, and owners should be prepared to only have an antibiotic prescription if absolutely necessary.”
Fergus Allerton, project lead for the PROTECT ME guidelines and co-author of the paper said: “Rational antimicrobial use is critical to defend ourselves and our pets against the growing threat from antimicrobial resistance.
"This study provides vital evidence to strengthen recommendations to withhold antibiotics when treating dogs with acute diarrhoea. Knowing that the outcome will be the same without antibiotics should reassure veterinarians to adopt this approach consistently.”
Reference
Genitrix has extended its Dentagen dental care range with the addition of Dentagen Aqua, a water additive treatment to control plaque and prevent bad breath in cats and dogs.
Genitrix says the product offers a completely new approach to dental care for companion animals and is expected to prove particularly effective in treating cats which do not respond well to existing treatments, such as dental chews and tooth-brushing.
Dentagen Aqua is a palatable liquid which is added to a pet's drinking water on a daily basis. Its active principal is RF2, a plant extract. According to the company, RF2's ability to enable natural and healthy mouth bacteria to flourish while inhibiting the formation of plaque even at low concentrations has been demonstrated in extensive clinical trials. It operates as an 'anti-biofilm' treatment, modifying the growth of the membrane of oral bacteria to prevent them from producing plaque.
Dentagen Aqua is supplied in a 250 ml bottle costing £6.80. At the recommended dose of 5 ml per day, the bottle will provide 50 days' treatment for a cat or small dog.
In 2008, Genitrix launched the original Dentagen plaque protection system which consists of a unique RF2-impregnated wax provided to practices in a syringe to be applied to the gingival layer and the buccal area of teeth of dogs or cats at end of dental procedures. Dog owners can then maintain the protective coating by giving their pet Dentagen plaque prevention chews. The launch of Dentagen Aqua means that an equivalent solution is now available for cat owners or for dogs which don't eat chews.
With over 85% of dogs and cats over three years old suffering from some form of dental or gum disease, it's the most common health problem in these animals. The market for preventative dental healthcare supplements is estimated to be close to £1 million per annum.
Rob Watkins, Marketing Director at Genitrix, said: "Dentagen exceeded our expectations during its first year and has proved popular with both vets and dog owners. Given the vital importance of good dental health for dogs and cats, it seemed the logical next step to produce a water additive version to make the treatment easier for cat owners in particular."
The charity says that it had already been suffering a period of 'dire financial constraints' and the economic effects of coronavirus are now having a direct effect on funding.
The charity's Trustees and Executive Committee is still trying to find emergency funding to try and save the organisation, failing which it will close on the 31st March.
Burgess Pet Care, which organises the event, is encouraging vets and nurses to watch the webinars to ensure they’re aware of the key information concerning this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week, Protect and Prevent campaign, taking place from the 1st to the 9th June.
The webinars are hosted by Dr Richard Saunders BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM(ZHM) MRCVS, veterinary adviser to the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF).
Richard said: "These webinars provide information across all of the key areas relating to preventative healthcare in rabbits. There is a large number of health issues facing rabbits but thankfully many of these can be prevented. Vets play an incredibly important role in ensuring rabbit owners have all the information they need to correctly care for their pets but unfortunately there is still a lack of awareness and understanding around many basic needs such as diet, husbandry and the importance of vaccinations to protect against dangerous diseases.
"The webinars have been designed to be accessible and engaging to all vets and nurses, regardless of their experience level. We’re urging vets and nurses to watch all three seminars so they’re able to provide the best possible advice to rabbit owners seeking advice on their pets in advance of Rabbit Awareness Week."
To watch the webinars and learn more about this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week campaign, visit: www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk, where you can also request a free vet pack to help promote any activity you're planning for RAW.
The focus groups are part of a study which will form part of Kerrie's MBA dissertation.
Kerrie says her research topic was triggered by an analysis of leadership statistics in the veterinary profession: "There is a dearth of information about the number of leadership roles occupied by women in the veterinary profession.
"We knew that in the XLVets community, our joint efforts to run leadership programmes and help aspiring owners have meant that one in five of our practice owners are women but we don't know how that compares with other veterinary sectors and business models.
"We'd like to see many, many more women in strategic positions within our community and in the wider profession. This research will look at the barriers to leadership that women might experience and will help us develop enabling and support strategies."
Kerrie says there is some interesting data coming from her own company: "When we look at the numbers, our entry level leadership programmes are almost completely female in terms of uptake and our recent aspiring owner meeting had an equal male-female split, which was great to see. So, our feeling is that we are starting to see the impact of more female graduates coming through. Whether that's happening as quickly as it should do throughout the profession is another matter and we hope the research will throw some light on this."
Female veterinary surgeons both within and outside the XLVet community, in leadership positions, aspiring to leadership, or leadership-averse and from any sphere of veterinary practice are invited to contact Kerrie to take part and contribute. She hopes to share the results of her work with the profession towards the end of the year.
Anyone wanting to take part should email Kerrie at kerrie.hedley@xlvets.co.uk.
The company says that the packs have been redesigned to make it easier for pet owners to identify the variety of products available.
The new packaging has stronger imagery, simplified and larger product names to improve readability, and kibble shapes displayed actual size to reassure owners of smaller breeds that it will be suitable for their pet. Flavour profiles and breed sizes are displayed on all packs.
Hill's says the new range is also presented in optimised bag sizes for more convenient feeding. Small and Miniature and Mini dog foods have been combined into a new Small & Mini product, designed to cover the needs of all small dogs under 10kg.
For more information, visit: https://www.hillspet.co.uk/science-plan/new-look.
The Royal Veterinary College has launched an appeal to the veterinary profession to raise a target of £10,000 to enable VetAid Kenya to help during what has become the worst drought in living memory in the Horn of Africa.
According to the RVC, the drought has already forced over one million cattle and small stock south into the Tana Delta district of Kenya in search of grazing. Crowded together, these weakened animals are at major risk of infectious and parasitic disease. In some cases 80-90% mortality can be expected in herds or flocks. Without veterinary intervention, breeding livestock for communities in the Horn of Africa drought area will be devastated.
Government veterinary services are stretched and they are assisted in a coordinated response involving Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (Belgium, Switzerland and Germany) and VetAid Kenya which has staff in the field protecting herds. The programme has been partly funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), but with funds running low this vital activity is at risk just as it is most needed. VetAid Kenya is now the only veterinary agency working in the area, implementing an emergency vaccination programme to protect the breeding stock.
Gabriel Turasha, Director of VetAid Kenya said: "We only have one team working in Tana River and desperately need funds to send out three more teams as soon as possible. £10,000 would cover the cost of three teams, transport and vaccinations to treat 20,000 animals per week. This will make a real difference as we are providing the only veterinary support in this vast area.
"Our vaccination teams are ready to go out into the field at a few days notice. We just need to mobilize them. This is where the UK veterinary profession can help - every pound donated will make a huge difference!"
RVC Principal Professor Stuart Reid said: "Veterinary services are seriously stretched in Kenya and the only organisations with the flexibility, initiative and expertise to respond this to emergency are the veterinary NGOs such as VetAid Kenya and its Vétérinaires Sans Frontières partners.
"FAO has limited budget to spend on disaster response and RVC has a longstanding relationship with VetAid Kenya and with the region in general. As a College, we strongly feel that we should do all we can to support pastoral farmers in the region, and mounting this appeal is one way in which we can respond to the ongoing disaster and support our veterinary colleagues in East Africa."
The RVC and all other agencies involved in this appeal are contributing their services pro-bono so that all funds raised will go to the programme to help the people and animals struggling with the drought.
To donate, visit: www.rvc.ac.uk/vetaidkenya
Kate’s election means that, come July and subject to ratification by RCVS Council, the offices of RCVS President, Senior-Vice President and Junior Vice-President will all be held by women for the first time in the College’s 177-year history.
A graduate of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Kate was a farm vet for 15 years, a partner in a 15 vet practice in Aberdeen. She then moved to the pharmaceutical industry as a veterinary advisor before joining the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). From there, she moved into non-veterinary Senior Civil Service (SCS) roles in several Whitehall departments including the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice. As a senior civil servant she was Principal Private Secretary to three Secretaries of State for Scotland, handling a diverse policy portfolio and working across Whitehall, including No.10 Downing Street and the Devolved Administrations.
First elected to RCVS Council in 2015 for a four year term and again in 2020, Kate has previously served as Chair of the RCVS Standards Committee and RCVS representative on the UK co-ordination group for the Federation of Vets of Europe (FVE). Currently Vice Chair of the Education Committee, member of the Registration Committee and the Environment & Sustainability Working Party, Kate is an appointed veterinary member of Veterinary Nurses’ Council.
Kate is a qualified Official Veterinarian (OV), a Non-Executive Director on the Moredun Foundation and Scottish Agriculture College (SAC) Commercial Boards, a veterinary advisor on a Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) mental health project and on the Council of the Association of Government Veterinarians. She’s a member of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Veterinary Public Health Association. A Council member of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (2004-10), Kate served as a Trustee of the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (2014-17).
Current RCVS President Dr Mandisa Greene will become Senior Vice-President, and joining Kate and Mandisa on the Officer team will be Dr Melissa Donald, who last month was elected Junior Vice-President for 2021-22. Current Senior Vice-President Dr Niall Connell was recently elected RCVS Treasurer.
The vacancy in the RCVS Officer team arose following Professor David Argyle’s decision to resign from Council in March, meaning that Council needed to hold two votes in quick succession: one at its scheduled meeting in March for the 2021-22 JVP position; and one today for the current JVP vacancy.
Kate said: “I am delighted to be elected JVP. It’s been an exceptionally challenging year for those in all walks of veterinary life, including students aspiring to join our profession. It will be an honour to lead the RCVS as its tenth female president, working with veterinary colleagues as well as reaching out to allied professionals acknowledging that there will be challenges to navigate as well as triumphs to celebrate.”
Over 90% of the 156 respondents (predominantly vets, but also managers) believed CT was important in first opinion practice, but nearly half did not have access to a scanner.
25% said they were interested in buying a CT scanner, mainly for the improved diagnostics and desire to keep more cases in-house.
The main reasons for not buying a CT scanner were: space, cost and lack of confidence.
Matt Winter, radiologist and CVMO at VetCT said: “Imaging in first opinion practice is evolving rapidly with innovations in veterinary-specific CT technology, modern machines are more available and affordable than ever.
"We need to build confidence through training and understanding of the technology, and the comprehensive support available to practices.”
While practices with a CT scanner felt they were using it optimally for the most part, specialist radiologist reporting emerged as the most significant factor towards optimising its use.
However, a third of respondents not currently using teleradiology (the remote reporting by specialist radiologists of diagnostic images acquired by a practice), said they did not know enough about it and/or hadn’t considered it.
Matt said: “Expert teleradiology to support with image interpretation is enabling more practices than ever to offer advanced imaging and provide state-of-the-art diagnostics for patients, meeting growing client expectations, elevating patient care and improving outcomes."
VetCT’s webinars on CT optimisation are available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Vetctspecialists
The RCVS has launched Mind Matters, a new initiative to help address mental health and wellbeing issues within the veterinary profession.
Neil Smith, RCVS Vice-President and Chair of the Mind Matters Initiative said: "Mental Health is a significant issue for the veterinary profession. Most of us have experience of colleagues or ourselves having problems. The Mind Matters Initiative is a pan-profession project, and I am very pleased that there is active engagement from across the various veterinary associations and stakeholders."
"The RCVS already contributes through our Health Protocol and support of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund. The Mind Matters Initiative seeks to work more proactively by increasing the accessibility and acceptance of support, encouraging a culture that is better equipped to talk and deal with stress and related mental health issues, and, ultimately, by helping to reduce such triggers within the profession."
The first Mind Matters Initiative action is providing funding to ensure that callers to Vet Helpline, a completely confidential support service which is part of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund and run by volunteers, are put directly through to a person, rather than having to leave a message.
Rosie Allister, Chair of Vet Helpline said: "We are able to offer confidential, non-judgemental support to many vets, VNs, vet students and members of their families who call us in distress, but we know there are more who are put off by the prospect of leaving a message.
"It takes real courage to reach out for help when you're struggling, and we know it can be especially tough for vets. Although we respond to calls quickly, callers need to speak to someone immediately, and not a message system, when they are in crisis. Through the Mind Matters Initiative funding we are able to put in place a service that connects a caller directly to a human being, which could make a real difference for people who call."
The new Vet Helpline system will be in place on 22 December, in time for Christmas, which can be a difficult time for many people. The Vet Helpline number is 07659 811 118 and there is also a confidential email service, accessible viawww.vetlife.org.uk.
The Mind Matters Initiative will be sustained over an initial three-year period, and will include five streams of activity:
The Mind Matters Initiative is supported by a group comprising the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the British Veterinary Association, the British Veterinary Nursing Association, the Veterinary Practice Management Association, the Veterinary Schools Council, the Veterinary Defence Society and the Association of Veterinary Students.
The guide reviews the definition and classification of pyoderma, history-taking and clinical examination, and diagnostic testing techniques. It also reviews current thinking on therapy options. Bayer says it hopes the practical and evidence-based guide will be an invaluable resource in veterinary practices.
Ross said: "With pyoderma cases appearing almost daily in veterinary consultations, it is vitally important that vets are well versed in treating cases appropriately and efficiently, particularly to ensure the responsible use of antimicrobials. Canine pyoderma commonly poses diagnostic challenges, due to its varied clinical presentation and tendency to be super-imposed on other skin diseases. We envisage that the article will provide readily accessible, clear and practical advice on diagnosing and treating the condition."
Bayer has also launched a new Veraflox website, where the first and second guides in the Education Now, Safeguarding Antimicrobials series (written by Simon Tappin, Head of Medicine at Dick White referrals, Matt Jones, Head of Microbiology at IDEXX, and Ross Bond), are also available for download in the Vet Training Centre section.
The website also offers a number of other resources in the Vet Training Centre, including webinars, case studies and videos.
Hannah Watts, Group Product Manager at Bayer, said: "The new Veraflox website has been built with the practical needs of vets in mind. We hope this will become a frequent resource for helping them overcome daily challenges in diagnosing and treating cases with an appropriate antimicrobial product."
In addition to being available for download at www.veraflox.co.uk, Focus on Pyoderma is also available in print by contacting your Bayer Territory Manager.
Pet Anxiety Month aims to educate pet owners about the signs of anxiety in cats and dogs, help them identify the causes, and encourage them to take steps to support anxious pets (presumably by putting multiple diffusers in every home and blanketing large swathes of suburbia in a pea soup fog of pheromones).
Joking aside, the initiative comes on the back of the PDSA Animal Wellbeing report1 which revealed that over half of veterinary professionals think they've seen an increase in dog behavioural issues in the last two years, with over three-quarters of dog owners saying that they would like to change at least one behaviour displayed by their dog and nearly 90% of owners reporting that their cat is afraid of at least one thing.
To support the initiative, Ceva will be running a TV advertising campaign from 7 March until 21 April, which directly targets dog lovers during More4’s Crufts’ programmes (from 7 to 10 March).
The advertisements will also air on Channel 4, Channel 4 partner channels, Sky and Sky partner channels. Both advertisements are 30 seconds long.
Ceva is producing a marketing pack to raise awareness of Pet Anxiety Month containing eye-catching display materials and a social media toolkit.
Abigail King, Ceva's senior behaviour product manager, said: "More and more people are identifying anxiety and behavioural issues in their pets. Pet Anxiety Month will highlight signs of anxiety in cats and dogs that perhaps an owner is unaware of, help identify the problem and encourage changes both in and out of the home to make the household a happier place."
For further information, visit www.petanxiety.co.uk or Pet Anxiety Month on Instagram or Facebook.
The project, which is funded by the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative, is designed to find out about current attitudes, beliefs, and alcohol use behaviours of those working in clinical settings within the UK veterinary sector.
Researchers Dr Jennifer Seddon, Olivia Cormier MRCVS, and Dr Emma Davies, from Oxford Brookes University are inviting people aged 18 and over who are working in the UK veterinary sector, including vets, veterinary nurses, practice managers, veterinary care assistants, receptionists, and those undertaking other in-practice roles, who currently drink or have drunk alcohol in the past three months to take part in an online survey which takes no more than 15 minutes.
Olivia said: “Evidence from research conducted in 2009 showed that veterinary professionals may be more likely to drink at risky levels compared to people in the general population.
"There is a vital need for new research in this area, not only so we can better understand what the current situation looks like, but so that we can learn how best to provide tailored support to this group.”
The survey is anonymous and confidential, and no personal data will be gathered or shared with MMI or the RCVS.
After completing the survey, participants can choose to enter a prize draw to win one of three £100 Amazon vouchers.
https://brookeshls.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0pHn8qy4ZIVTTgy
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
A new study of UK snail behaviour using LED and UV light tracking has found that the nocturnal creatures can explore the length of an average British garden in just one night, reaching a top speed of 1mph (metre per hour).
The 'Slime Watch' report was commissioned by Bayer Animal Health, makers of Advocate, as part of its 'Be Lungworm Aware' campaign and led by Dr Dave Hodgson, Associate Professor of Ecology at the University of Exeter, who studied the habits of 450 garden snails, recording their movements using LED lights and UV paint. This is the first time snails have been studied in this way.
The study found that snails will travel distances of up to 25 metres in a 24-hour period, and seek out areas of shelter, such as long grass, trees or objects, including dogs' toys, left in the garden overnight. The four researchers from Exeter University also discovered that snails move in convoys, piggy-backing on the slime of other snails to conserve energy. It is thought that a snail could use up to 30 per cent of its energy in slime production alone.
Dr Hodgson said: "Until now no one has fully understood the habits of these fascinating creatures that we encounter in our gardens every day. In this research we wanted to solve the mystery surrounding gastropod activity and provide a resource for gardeners and pet owners wanting to better safeguard the health of their plants and pets. By learning more about the behaviour of snails, we hope dog owners can better understand they ways in which dogs can encounter snails on a day-to-day basis and the lungworm risk they present, taking the appropriate precautions."
The webinar, titled 'Creating a positive relationship with cats and their owners in practice', will take place at 8pm on Wednesday 20 November. It will cover understanding of the cat’s natural behavioural patterns and their influence on feline behavioural responses, which are essential in order for veterinary professionals to effectively handle feline patients.
It will also feature advice on how to see things from a feline perspective and consider ways in which confrontational encounters can be prevented. This, says Ceva, is essential for creating a positive relationship with cats and their owners in the practice environment.
To register for the webinar, which accounts for one hour’s CPD, email: cevauk@ceva.com with your full name, practice name and postcode and the name of the webinar.
The link needed to watch the webinar will be sent back via email.
Ceva says that due to high demand, this webinar will be on a first come, first served basis. The company also recommends that delegates log in via the link in good time on the night to ensure a place.
Avacta has announced the launch of Natural VetCare Prescribed, a new range of veterinary exclusive nutraceutical skin and joint supplements.
The range is manufactured in the UK by Natural VetCare and includes four products in total.
Avacta’s commercial manager, Hayley Booth, said: "Cani Flex is designed to support the body’s anti-inflammatory response with a powerful antioxidant formula, which rebalances the system by addressing excess free-radical build up around the joint following injury or wear and tear. Cani Flex Senior also targets joint, heart and brain health and encourages increased activity.
"With allergies becoming more and more prolific, Cani Skin and Feli Skin target one of the most complex issues facing vets and pet owners in today’s environment. The formulations are designed to resolve the body's hypersensitivity by balancing the immune response.
Hayley added: "To ensure veterinary exclusivity, the unique dispensing method has been thoroughly researched and trialed. The easy-to-feed sprinkle capsules sold in individual gold foil pouches are not for sale individually, and boxes of pouches are available direct from veterinary wholesalers only."
For more information, visit avactaanimalhealth.com/NVCPrescribed, contact your Avacta territory manager or call customer services on 0800 8494 550.
The research is being carried out by Cats Protection, RSPCA, PDSA, Wood Green The Animal Charity, Blue Cross, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, Battersea, The Mayhew Animal Home, SSPCA and International Cat Care, with support from Bristol University.
The study involves four short (<15 minute) questionnaires spread over a 6-month period, for which you could also win a £50 voucher.
Click here to find out more and sign up www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/neutering
Eurovet Animal Health has announced that its levothyroxine tablet hypothyroidism treatments, Forthyron 200 and Forthyron 400, are now available in a scored snap-tab format that allows the tablet to be broken easily into four equal pieces.
Eurovet says this represents a significant benefit to practices, as individual patients often require varying doses due to differences in absorption and metabolism, requiring a wide variety of strengths of medication to be kept in stock. The new presentation means that veterinary surgeons can provide the accurate, customized, individualised approach that these patients require and since just two strengths need to be stocked, it is easier to manage the dispensary. This saves the practice time and money.
Forthyron contains levothyroxine, a synthetic product, chemically identical to naturally occurring T4 that, due to its long duration of action, is a commonly used treatment for hypothyroidism in dogs.
For further information telephone 01223 257933 or email office@eurovet-ah.co.uk www.eurovet-ah.co.uk
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Sporimune (ciclosporin), licensed for the treatment of chronic manifestations of atopic dermatitis in dogs.
Roger Brown, Senior Brand Manager at Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "Around 20% of all small animal consultations involve skin conditions and canine atopic dermatitis can be challenging to diagnose and manage effectively.
"Although incurable, atopic dermatitis can be managed using a multimodal approach which is likely to include treatments to decrease pruritus as well as allergen identification, avoidance where possible and improving skin and coat hygiene."
Sporimune is a 50 mg/ml oral solution administered by syringe, which is graduated to show both bodyweight and ml. Dechra says it is being introduced to veterinary professionals within the company's Partners in Practice programme which aims to support vets and vet nurses as they diagnose, control and maintain complex dermatological conditions.
Mr Brown added: "It is critical that owners are fully involved and educated about their pet's condition for dogs to be treated effectively. So we have also developed support materials around the use of Sporimune for practices, including client information leaflets and a video on how to use the dosing syringe."
Sporimune is now available from veterinary wholesalers. For further information visit www.dechra.co.uk/sporimune.
Medivet, the practice group which is to feature in the forthcoming Panorama documentary It shouldn't happen at a vets' (9pm, July 22nd), has issued a statement concerning the programme.
The statement, which can be read in full here, includes an interview with a Medivet client who was in turn interviewed for the documentary:
Over 25% of the 1001 veterinary professionals who responded felt that the use of technology for triage and or consultations had either improved efficiency or the service offered to clients.
More than 10% said the pandemic had led to practices taking actions which streamlined client processes such as taking payments and booking appointments online or by phone.
The survey results are included in a presentation at the BSAVA Virtual Congress: "Lessons from Lockdown:Telemedicine is here to stay", which forms part of the current topics stream on Saturday 27th March. Brian Faulkner will take a look at maintaining relationships and changing dynamics with remote consults, communication challenges and opportunities. Matt Flann will follow with: "A practical perspective – how we have used it, what have we learned?"
BSAVA President Professor Ian Ramsey said: “The survey results have given us an important insight on how technology is being deployed to help the profession continue to help pets and their owners safely and to the best of their ability in these difficult circumstances.
"Vets have embraced innovations in practice such as telephone triage, remote consultations and digital communications. These have shown us that, as within the human healthcare sector, we can continue to deliver our vital services, possibly to an even more efficient and effective standard, despite the restrictions.
"Our Congress session on lockdown learnings promises to make for compelling listening with important ramifications for veterinary practice even after the pandemic has receded to a bitter memory. As we return to degrees of normality these innovations should not be discarded, but equally must not be allowed to generate the inequalities that go hand in hand with them if some practices and owners are inadvertently left behind.”
To register for BSAVA Congress, visit https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2021/en/page/home
Compiled by global higher education analysts, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the rankings provide a comparative analysis on the performance of 14,435 individual university programs, taken by students at 1,452 universities in 86 locations around the world, across 51 academic disciplines and five broad Faculty Areas. The rankings are determined by a range of criteria, including academic reputation, research impact, number of citations, employer reputation and the h-index.
In addition to maintaining a perfect score for the Academic Reputation indicator (100) for a second year running, the RVC saw improvements across every category. Research impact was recognised with the RVC scoring 98.9 in Citations per Paper. This was supported by the 97.5 score for h-index, surpassing 2020’s 96.9.
Rankings for Employer Reputation also increased by 29% since 2020, with the RVC now scoring 83.3.
Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC, said: "Last year, we made a commitment to redouble our efforts in seeking to regain the top spot in the QS rankings, and I am delighted that we have achieved it. This would be remarkable in normal times but, in the context of COVID-19, it is all the more so and a real tribute to the whole RVC community.
"It is the result of enormous efforts made by all RVC staff and students, and I could not be prouder to be Principal of the RVC. The QS rankings are important for our reputation and international standings. With so many outstanding veterinary schools worldwide and with peer recognition one of the metrics, it is particularly pleasing to be first amongst equals."
The full set of rankings can be found at: https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings/2021
Claire was presented with the award at a black tie event in Manchester yesterday.
She said: Our local community is massively important to myself and my practice – we have been going 50 years this year so it’s a big year for us this year so to get this award on this anniversary means so much, especially for my husband’s father who started the practice and sadly passed away a number of years ago so I just wish he’d been here to see it.”
The other winners were:
Petplan’s Sales and Marketing Director, Bella von Mesterhazy said: “All of the night’s winners are so deserving of the accolade, thanks to their true commitment to their profession, and like all those who sent in nominations, Petplan is incredibly grateful for the outstanding services provided by not only our winners, but veterinary professionals around the country.”
A survey carried out by Rachel Crowe BSc PhD in association with Virbac Animal Health and VetSurgeon.org has revealed what veterinary surgeons in the UK expect from pharmaceutical companies and other suppliers.
The survey considers a number of different aspects of the relationship between vets and pharmaceutical companies, from the importance of quality products through to the question of what vets expect from company representatives.
Chris Liggett, Marketing Director at Virbac UK said: "The findings of this survey offer a fascinating insight into the relationship between veterinary practices and their suppliers. In some ways they confirm what we should all already know - that the quality of a company's product range is paramount and that representatives play a key role as ambassadors for our businesses - but the growing importance to vet practices of working with drug companies that provide a complete package of products and services is worthy of note."
The full report is available to download here.