The company points to a survey of 1000 dog owners it conducted in July which found that 77% would put many of the top ten signs of Cushing's down to ‘old age’.
According to research carried out by CM research in July 2018, for every 100 cases of Cushing’s syndrome treated, a further 57 are suspected but not diagnosed.
The ‘Prime Suspects’ campaign will encourage dog owners to become a ‘Cushing’s Detective’ and look out for signs in their dogs.
To help, the company has developed a series of characters to illustrate the signs of Cushings: Panting Patsy, Leaky Larry, Lazy Lynn, Greedy Gus and Little Patch.
A nationwide pet-focused multimedia campaign will support the ‘Prime Suspects’ initiative and will include TV and print advertising, online banners, pay per click advertising and social media to engage owners and encourage them to seek advice from their vet if they suspect Cushing’s in their dog.
Dechra has also launched Cushing’s Connect, a digital platform single resource hub to help vets keep up to date with current best practice in managing Cushing’s.
The hub has information and tools to enhance diagnostic protocols, advice and literature covering pathophysiology, diagnosis and ongoing case management including treatment protocols and monitoring schedules, and interactive guides and videos by top veterinary specialists.
There's also a client communication toolkit with owner-focused resources to encourage dog owners to spot the signs and seek help from their vet.
https://www.dechra.co.uk/cushings-connect
A new injectable antibiotic with nil-milk-withhold licensed to treat foul-in-the-foot in a single shot has been launched by Pfizer Animal Health.
Naxcel Cattle's active ingredient is ceftiofur in a patented sustained-release formulation. According to the company, one injection provides a full course of antibiotic therapy, giving seven days of therapeutic blood levels against the majority of inter-digital necrobacillosis ('foul-in-the-foot') pathogens.
Pfizer vet Dave Gilbert says the expectation is that Naxcel Cattle will make on-farm therapy easier and help improve treatment compliance and thereby first treatment success rates, compared to treatments which require repeat injections. "Having the full course in a single injection simplifies treatment protocols and eliminates a number of reasons for non-completion of treatment, such as forgetting a second or third dose, or not giving them because of apparent symptomatic recovery from the condition."
The site of injection for Naxcel Cattle is the subcutaneous area at the base of the ear (see Figures 1 & 2). Injection instructions are supplied in the product pack. Dave Gilbert suggests that provided cattle are adequately restrained during administration the injection technique is simple and straightforward. The dose rate is 1ml/30kg body weight and up to 30ml can safely be given into each site.
Figure 1. Subcutaneous administration of Naxcel Cattle at the posterior aspect of the ear where it attaches to the head (base of ear).Figure 2. Injection location for the subcutaneous administration of Naxcel Cattle at the posterior aspect of the ear where it attaches to the head (base of ear).
The Executors of the Will of the late Mary Brancker have notified the Veterinary Benevolent Fund that she left a share of her estate to the charity.
Mary Brancker was one of only a handful of women vets when she qualified in 1937. She went on to found the Society of Women Veterinary Surgeons; became one of the first women on BVA Council and was later awarded an OBE for her services as BVA President during the century's most serious outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and a CBE in 2000 for services to animal health and welfare.
Mary was a long-time member of the VBF - a charity that has been run by vets for the profession for over a hundred years.
The VBF currently provides the Vet Helpline, the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme and the Vetlife website. The charity says it plans to use Brancker's £40,000 bequest specifically for the redevelopment of the Vetlife website which is currently underway and for other essential support for veterinary colleagues in need. The new version of the website will be launched at the London Vet Show in November.
VBF's President Lydia Brown said: "Mary was a personal friend and her gift is so typical of her kindness and her appreciation of her career. I hope others will follow Mary's wonderful example and consider giving generously to VBF. A legacy is of enormous benefit to our charity and the veterinary profession as a whole. Although we are making every effort to adapt to the changing needs of the profession there is always more that can be done if we have sufficient funding."
Veterinary Benevolent Fund T: 020 7908 6385E: info@vetlife.org.uk
Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support ProgrammeT: 07946 634220E: VSHSP@vetlife.org.uk
Vet HelplineT: 07659 811118
See www.vetlife.org.uk for more information. Donations can be made to VBF on-line at www.virginmoneygiving.com
Royal Canin has launched a range of new renal diets to help support cats and dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
According to the company, CKD patients are twice as likely to show signs of anorexia, food intolerance and loss of appetite than non-CKD pets, so the focus with the new diets has been on different aromatic profiles, textures and tastes to provide choice and encourage feeding without compromising the nutritional management of the pets with CKD.
Royal Canin says each of the diets in the new Renal range has been developed with a unique aromatic profile, so that cats and dogs can be attracted to their food bowl even after an episode of food aversion.
The new range also provides two different textures of dry diet for both cats and dogs. In addition to the classic kibbles found in Renal and Renal Special, the new Renal Select diet for cats has a pillow kibble with a thin, crunchy shell and a soft centre for cats who used to love crunching but are beginning to struggle with harder kibbles. The new kibbles for dogs are designed to be easy to rehydrate, providing the taste of a dry diet in a softer, easier to chew format. A new Renal Wet range is also available with a 'loaf' or 'chunks-in-gravy' texture and these can be combined with any dry diet to allow even greater variety of textures.
With CKD causing frequent fluctuations in an animal's sense of taste, Royal Canin has made the feline range available in smaller 500g bags, making it easier for owners to swap between the differing options as their pet's tastes alter.
Royal Canin's Veterinary Marketing Manager, Marianne Lomberg, said: "The efficiency of a renal diet depends upon it being fed on a continuing basis and so our new range provides a complete range of aromatic profiles and textures to keep your CKD patients enjoying every meal without compromising on their nutritional management. Royal Canin has a proven track record of developing innovative diets to help pets, and the new Renal Diets are an exciting new move for us."
Royal Canin is also offering a 'patient compliance guarantee' where vets and their clients can claim their money back if a pet does not like any of the many diet combinations offered by the range.
Zoë, who joined Davies in October 2020, was formerly a Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Surgery and Head of Soft Tissue Surgery at the RVC. She holds RCVS Certificates in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and Small Animal Surgery and is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Zoë is also a champion of sustainability: she completed the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership course and was appointed chair of the Vet Sustain working group to coordinate sustainability collaborations amongst veterinary professionals and societies. As a member of Vet Sustain’s curriculum working group Zoë is actively involved with supporting sustainability initiatives at UK veterinary schools and she continues to work with the RVC in a number of capacities.
She said: “I am honoured to have been awarded a fellowship and proud to join numerous outstanding colleagues who have already achieved this status.”
Tim Richardson, Managing Director of Davies said: “We are all extremely proud that Zoë’s outstanding knowledge, experience and contributions to clinical practice have been recognised at the highest level with the award of a Fellowship and we feel very privileged to have her here on the team at Davies.”
This year, 13 veterinary surgeons stood for three available places on Council.
6,583 veterinary surgeons voted, a turnout of 18.6% which was significantly down on previous years (24.5% in 2021, 26.2% in 2020 and 25.5% in 2019).
Sue Paterson led the field with 2,358 votes, Olivia Cook came in second with 1,994 votes and Abbie Calow was close behind with 1,820 votes.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for both elections, said: “Many congratulations to all successful candidates, who we look forward to welcoming on to RCVS and VN Councils in July.
"Thank you once again this year to everyone who made the decision to stand in this year’s elections and to those who took the time to vote for their preferred candidates.
"We’re not exactly sure why both elections saw falling turnouts this year, but we do appreciate how extremely busy the professions are at the moment, and that everyone’s time is at a premium.
"As part of our ‘Council culture’ project we are looking at ways of improving all aspects of communicating the work around RCVS Council, VN Council and their committees, including around standing for and voting in elections.”
The full results for the RCVS Council election can be found on the 2022 election page.
As part of the redevelopment, kennel capacity will increase from 107 to 197, there'll be a new emergency and critical care hub, sixteen new consult rooms and a new imaging suite with MRI and CT scanners, two ultrasounds and two X-ray machines.
There will also be a 66-seat seminar room.
Work is expected to be completed early next year, and the practice will be recruiting for around 75 new team members to service the expanded centre.
Simon Tappin, clinical director at DWR, said: “This long-awaited expansion will transform our practice, offering even more space and capacity for referrals, brand-new equipment and a seamless experience for our clients.
“It will also bolster our reputation as a training practice, with the expansion of our intern and residency programmes adding to our already-impressive provision in this area."
The practice is also implementing case management changes, with a single point of contact for every client and individual case managers in every discipline.
The traditional reception area is being replaced with a concierge greeting service for clients, with staff on hand to book them in on iPads.
Client care team manager Deborah Bell said: “This is a USP for us and we think it’s an industry first. The idea came from how medical secretaries work in human health.
“When a referring vet calls us, our client care team takes the basic details and passes them on to the case manager for that discipline. They will contact the client, make appointments and meet the client in person on arrival.
“We have 12 case managers for our disciplines at the moment, with the potential to expand. As well as providing a personalised service for our clients, it provides great career progression opportunities for our client care team.”
www.dickwhitereferrals.com
MDC Exports had launched a new biodegradable poo bag dispenser, aimed at veterinary practices and pet owners.
The idea is that pet owners can fix the dispenser to a wall, somewhere they'll be able to grab a bag on their way out of the door. The dispenser also has two strong hooks for other essentials such as dog leads or keys.
MDC Exports says their poo bags are generously-sized and feature long handles for simple tying and carrying. For more information, contact MDC Exports Limited on 01582 655600, or e-mail: mdcexports@btconnect.com
Oh I wish I was a travel journalist sometimes.
Equipalazone is most commonly used to treat lameness in equines and can be prescribed as a treatment for osteoarthritic conditions, acute and chronic laminitis, bursitis and carpitis as well as to reduce post-surgical soft tissue reaction.
The new apple-flavoured version, which contains no added sugar, is presented in 1.5g sachets which are added to feed. The existing unflavoured product is still available as Equipalazone Original.
Dechra Brand Manager Emma Jennings said: “The new apple flavoured Equipalazone is the same tried and trusted popular product that vets have been using for many years but the enhanced apple flavour should improve compliance amongst even the fussiest of feeders.
"Equipalazone has been a best-selling treatment delivering powerful pain relief since we brought it to the market as the first microencapsulated phenylbutazone more than 45 years ago. The new apple flavoured presentation will give vets even more choice when it comes to providing pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatment for equine conditions."
For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk.
The reports summarise the results of two surveys that were conducted between July and August last year.
Of the 28,718 veterinary surgeons who were sent the survey, 22% fully completed and submitted the questionnaire.
Some of the main findings included:
Around 40% of veterinary surgeons and over 40% of veterinary nurses said they had experienced concerns for their personal safety aside from catching Covid.
These safety concerns mostly related to client interactions at the practice either during the day or out-of-hours.
Many respondents experienced conflict between their personal wellbeing and professional role, and found it difficult to juggle their work and caring responsibilities.
Many respondents also said their mental health was adversely affected by the experience of working during the pandemic.
A large majority of respondents said they had personally seen an increase in caseload due to new animal ownership.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: “While many of the results of the survey may not be especially surprising and confirm what we have already been told anecdotally, it is very important that we have this hard data to hand on the overall impact of the pandemic on individual members of the professions.
“These two reports complement the six surveys that we have conducted with veterinary practices on the economic impact of the pandemic to give us as clear and holistic a picture as possible about the challenges that the professions and the veterinary sector as a whole have faced since March 2020.
"This not only provides a useful historical snapshot, but builds an evidence base to inform future temporary changes should the pandemic continue into more waves, or should future such crises arise.
“The results of the two individual surveys make it clear it has been a tough time for the professions.
"A good proportion of respondents also acknowledged that positive developments have come from the past two years, including the way the profession has demonstrated remarkable resilience, flexibility and adaptability, as well as forging a stronger team spirit under such difficult circumstances.
“However, a large number of both vets and vet nurses who responded said that the experiences since March 2020 have left them feeling more pessimistic about veterinary work and their place within it.
"I would like to reassure members of the veterinary team that the RCVS is aware and understands.
"We tried throughout the pandemic to support the professions with relevant temporary guidance changes, and we are now working with a range of stakeholders on critical issues such as the workforce crisis, which has been in part caused by Covid.
"We are also developing tools, training and resources to support the professions, via our programmes such as RCVS Leadership and Mind Matters.”
The full coronavirus impact survey reports can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications.
The UK dog-owning public is being duped into buying dogs from puppy farms says Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, inadvertently fuelling the cruel trade and potentially landing themselves with huge vet bills.
In a recent survey the charity asked dog owners if they would consider buying a dog from a puppy farm. Although almost 95% said no, when asked where they had got their dog from 15.1% - potentially 900,000 dog owners - admitted they had got them from an advert in the newspaper, the internet, a pet shop or a pet superstore, all outlets often supplied by puppy farms.
In the past six months Dogs Trust has seen a marked increase in calls from concerned members of the public on the subject of puppy farming, many from dog owners whose pets have suffered illness and in some cases died as a result of having been bred at puppy farms.
Dogs Trust is calling for immediate measures to help to stop the puppy farming trade:
1. General publicDogs Trust is introducing the term 'battery farming of dogs' to associate the practice in the minds of the public with that of battery farming of chickens, and wants to educate the public as to where they can safely go to buy a 'cruelty free dog'.
Dogs Trust's message to the public is:
2. Government & Local AuthoritiesDogs Trust is calling for the review of existing breeding licensing legislation.
Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust, said: "Battery farming of dogs is an appalling practice, abhorrent to all decent members of society. Breeding bitches are kept in unthinkably cruel conditions and bred from continuously until they are too old, then discarded. Puppies often suffer from medical problems and behavioural issues as a result of being inadequately socialised. While most people would never consider buying a dog from such a place, it seems that a large number are inadvertently doing so.
"Most reputable breeders would never sell their dogs through newspaper adverts, pet shops or superstores, garden centres or internet websites. Anyone who sees an animal for sale in any of these places should be suspicious. Newspaper adverts and online websites are of particular concern since unscrupulous breeders or middle men (dealers) are difficult to identify, often posing as members of the public selling 'puppies from unplanned litters'."
What's wrong with battery farms?Breeding bitches at battery farms:
A battery farmed puppy could have genetic or other health problems relating to its poor breeding conditions. It could also have behavioural problems as a result of being taken from its mother at too young an age.
Common problems for a puppy farmed dog are:
Dogs Trust has published a guide for anyone looking to buy a puppy. It can be downloaded from http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/b/buyingadog/default.aspx
The Kennel Club is calling on the profession to support Get Fit With Fido, its new campaign to help tackle the growing dog obesity crisis by educating owners about the range of different ways to get fit with their dogs..
In addition to the education campaign, Get Fit With Fido also includes a challenge that rewards the dog and dog owner who jointly lose the most weight, and the dog owner and dog who individually lose the most weight, as a result of exercising together. Prizes include a one night stay at the dog friendly, 4* boutique townhouse hotel Flemings Mayfair; a luxury dog bed from Charley Chau and Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at the Milestone Hotel.
All dog owners who enter Get Fit With Fido, will receive a 20% discount on Crufts and Discover Dogs tickets; as well as advice, tips and tools for owners.
Veterinary practices are being asked to support the campaign by requesting free flyers and posters from the Kennel Club and then displaying them at reception, or in the waiting room.Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "Reports indicate that between 30 and 60% of all dogs are overweight so it is more important than ever we keep our dogs happy and healthy. One of the most serious findings in obesity studies that have proven to be related to being overweight in both humans and dogs is a reduced lifespan. An overweight dog is more likely to die younger than a dog of normal weight.
"The findings are shocking and we are trying to educate as many dog owners as possible and call on vets to spread the message of keeping your dog fit and healthy."
To get involved in Get Fit With Fido and receive free flyers and posters, contact the Kennel Club press office at gfwf@thekennelclub.org.uk
For more information, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getfitwithfido
The Legislation Working Party was set up on the recommendation of the College’s Brexit Taskforce, which considered that in light of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union and the deficiencies in the existing legislation, now would be a good time to review the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
The Working Party, which is expected to have its first meeting in May, will be chaired by RCVS Junior Vice-President Professor Stephen May and will include the British Veterinary Association’s President, Gudrun Ravetz, RCVS CEO Nick Stace, RCVS Registrar Eleanor Ferguson, Chair of VN Council Liz Cox, RCVS Treasurer and Junior Vice-President elect Amanda Boag, and RCVS Council members Kate Richards and lay member Richard Davis.
The Working Party’s remit will be to ensure that the College’s vision for the future of veterinary legislation is given proper consideration so that it can respond to future opportunities to support a new Act; to propose a list of principles on which new legislation should be based; and to make recommendations as to whether the new legislation should be a ‘Veterinary Services Act’ providing an umbrella for allied professionals and exploring compulsory practice inspection.
Professor Stephen May said: "The UK leaving the EU will necessitate some changes to the Veterinary Surgeons Act as it currently exists so this feels like an opportune moment to carry out a wholesale review of the legislative basis for regulation of the veterinary profession in the UK.
"Clearly using 50-year-old legislation has its limitations, and while we have been able to make use of legislative reform orders and changes to the Royal Charter to make significant changes to the College – for example, in terms of our disciplinary and governance arrangements – the fact is that this somewhat antiquated legislation is the basis for all we do.
"For example under the current Act veterinary nurses still lack statutory regulation and protection of title, there is no underpinning for our continuing professional development (CPD) requirements and specialist/ advanced practitioner status and the College lacks the power of entry or similar power needed for compulsory practice inspection.
"We hope that, by giving the legislation a fresh look, we can consider how it could better cover the veterinary industry as a whole and not just the rather narrow definition given in the original Act."
The Legislation Working Party is to meet at least four times and will report to RCVS Council in due course.
The Cheshire-based specialist referral centre provides advanced surgical procedures and specialist veterinary support to practices in north west England and north and mid-Wales.
Its specialist disciplines include orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, a specialist diabetes clinic, spinal surgery, anaesthesia and intensive care, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, pain management, neurology (medical and surgical), oncology and internal medicine.
Liz Cousins, Northwest's Hospital Manager said: "Following our recent brand transition from Northwest Surgeons to Northwest Veterinary Specialists we are delighted to receive this accreditation.
"The scheme examines every part of what we do, from customer experience, equipment and facilities right through to clinical governance. In a hospital with more than 85 colleagues, that’s a lot of work to do to meet the high standards.
"Our new brand name reflects the range of specialist services we offer and this accreditation gives confidence to fellow veterinary surgeons and pet owners that we really do offer the very best specialist care for pets.
"We continually strive for excellence across the business, and this is another way of demonstrating just how good the specialists are at Northwest Veterinary Specialists."
Picture shows: Matt Gurney, European Veterinary Specialist in Anaesthesia and Analgesia (centre) with Kathryn Humphreys, Head of Nursing, (right), Jenny Pearson, support Services Manager, (left) with the RCVS Hospital Accreditation.
The threshold values for diagnosis of the disease currently vary dependent on the season, but Waltham says these new findings suggest that diet should also be considered.1
PPID, formerly termed Equine Cushing’s Disease, results from a change in hormone regulation in the pituitary gland, which is situated just below the brain. In healthy equids, the release of some hormones from this gland is controlled through another; dopamine. However, in those with PPID, there is a reduction in the amount of dopamine released. This, in turn, removes the restriction of the hormones from the pituitary gland. One such hormone under this control is adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH.
A simple baseline ACTH test is often used to diagnose PPID, with a result above a certain level deemed as positive. However diagnosis is not clear cut as there is a grey area between the threshold for normal and positive results.
Diagnosis can also be challenging because the circulating concentration of ACTH is seasonal, peaking in the Autumn. It is also known to vary with stress, exercise and nutritional state (fasted or fed). When the results lie in the grey zone (between the maximum normal and the minimum disease level), a modified test can be used. This involves measuring the ACTH level before and after administering thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH stimulates the release of hormones from the pituitary gland for all horses. However, the subsequent increase in the circulating ACTH is much greater for those with PPID, even in the early stages of the disease, than healthy animals.
The research investigated the impact of different factors on ACTH levels. Eight senior horses and eight adult horses were all fed grass hay and a rotation of four complementary feed options over seven weeks. The base diet was a low starch and sugar pellet fortified with vitamins and minerals. Horses were fed either the base feed alone or in reduced amounts with one of three options; feeds rich in sugar, starch or fibre. All diets provided the same amount of total energy. The effect of each of these on the ACTH concentrations at specific time points was measured.
As expected, the ACTH in the blood from the senior horses was higher than for the adults. As with previous studies, the level of ACTH was raised in October (Autumn) compared to March, May and August, regardless of age. However, the results revealed that diet can also influence the ACTH levels in horses. The senior horses had much higher levels of circulating ACTH when fed the starch rich diet compared to the adult group at the same time of the year.
Reference
Each SoundTalks device has a microphone which covers up to a 10-metre radius.
Noises are transmitted to the cloud where sounds are analysed using algorithms which Boehringer says use many years of data, and with the use of AI are constantly evolving.
The company says the device, which monitors coughing 24/7, has already been shown to detect respiratory disease in pigs up to five days sooner than conventional methods, allowing vets and farmers to respond quicker, improving health outcomes, and minimising the risk of infection across the herd. 1,2
Paul Thompson BA VetMB MRCVS from Garth Pig Practice said: “The earlier we can detect the onset of disease the quicker we can intervene.
"By taking action earlier we can aim to reduce morbidity and mortality, and potentially lessen treatments including antibiotic use.
"This will help improve the wellbeing of the pigs and reduce the time commitments and costs for the farmer.
"Having heard how SoundTalks is already transforming the practices of producers and vets in other parts of Europe, I am excited to use it in my own day-to-day role.
"This innovation has the potential to provide robust data as to when respiratory disease starts, allowing us to refine our prevention plans and improve the overall health of the pigs.”
www.soundtalks.com
In the BVA/AVS Survey 2012, sponsored by Vets4Pets, 82% of students reported suffering from stress currently or while at university, with this figure falling to 63% of students in 2016. Those who reported suffering from depression also fell from 33% to 27%.
By far the biggest contributor to, or trigger of, mental health problems was veterinary students’ studies, with 83% citing this as the main reason. Other contributions to, or triggers of, mental health issues cited by students included:
Researchers say that the fall in students reporting stress could be attributed to improved university support for students, with almost three quarters (72%) of survey respondents saying they felt supported in terms of welfare.
In recent years, a number of initiatives have been developed to help and support students. They range from the counselling and peer mentoring services available through individual universities to the confidential support offered by the independent charity Vetlife through its helpline, health support programme and fund for financial support.
While the significant fall in veterinary students reporting stress is positive, the BVA/AVS survey also shows that there are a range of factors that affect students, including financial pressures. A third of veterinary students work part-time to supplement their income and around half of students say they usually have less funds than they need, with the average shortfall per term estimated at £1,231.
Hannah Mason, President of the Association of Veterinary Students, said: "There is no escaping that veterinary medicine is a challenging degree. On top of strenuous exams, holidays are filled with compulsory EMS making it hard to sustain part-time work which is often needed to supplement the expense of a five or six year degree. It is therefore no surprise that stress is a problem in the vet student population. Whilst it is pleasing to see that the numbers reporting stress have declined, the majority of vet students still report having suffered at some point during their degree. We now have various counselling services and peer support systems across the universities to help students to cope better. However, while it is important to have reactive strategies in place, we also need to examine the fundamental reasons why vet students are stressed and how we can prevent it from occurring."
Gudrun Ravetz, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "A significant drop in those students reporting stress is very much to be welcomed. But any veterinary student feeling stressed, under pressure and unable to cope is one too many. The truth is that there will be pressure in the work we do and there will be times that we feel stressed. Veterinary medicine university courses are tough and that is reflected in studies being the number one contributor to mental health and wellbeing concerns in the survey. But as a veterinary family, we need to help our colleagues to cope from the earliest stages of their career and make the right resources available to them, along with creating the right kind of supportive culture. We also need to recognise and work on solutions for what can be a toxic mixture of a highly demanding course, little leisure time and huge financial pressure. It is the responsibility of everyone in the profession to nurture a robust, skilled, compassionate and happy new generation of vets."
22% (6,785) of veterinary surgeons eligible to vote did so, compared to the previous record of 18.8%.
The votes were as follows:
For the two places available on VN Council one new member was elected and one existing member re-elected for four year terms. Andrea Jeffery was re-elected with 1,293 votes, while Susan Howarth was elected with 1,064 votes.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said: "Congratulations to all those elected to RCVS Council and VN Council and thank you to all those who stood as candidates in both elections.
"We would especially like to thank Jerry Davies, Peter Jinman and Bradley Viner who are standing down from RCVS Council this year after deciding not to seek re-election, in addition to Chris Gray and Tom Witte for their contributions to RCVS Council and Marie Rippingale for her contribution to VN Council.
"Thank you also to all those who took the time to ask questions of our candidates and cast a vote. This year we made a concerted attempt to make it even easier for the electorate to vote, with secure links to the voting websites sent by email and regular email reminders to those who hadn’t yet voted. The fact that both record numbers and proportions of the professions voted this year is testament to our efforts to further increase engagement with veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.
"However, while we welcome these significant increases, we recognise that it is still a relatively small proportion of the profession voting in these elections and so will continue to think of new ways to engage with the professions not just at election time, but across our many activities."
All the successful candidates will take up their positions at RCVS Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day – on Friday 7 July 2017 at the Royal Institute of British Architects where the formal declaration of both election results will also take place.
The RCVS has announced that the Codes of Professional Conduct for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses have been updated to state that you should not refer to yourselves or others as 'veterinary nurses' unless registered.
In fact, the change occurred back in June last year, but was only announced via RCVS News and as a one-liner within the 'Overview of decisions made at RCVS Council'.
The announcement raises the pretty fundamental question of what ARE veterinary surgeons and RVNs to call their unqualified colleagues, if not veterinary nurses? How indeed are those unqualified staff working in veterinary practice to describe their job title to their friends, down at the pub?
VetSurgeon.org sought to clarify the situation with the College, and the first point to make is that the new part of the CoPCs refers only to the use of the words 'veterinary nurse' when used in conjunction. The words 'nurse' or 'nursing' are not protected at all.
The College says that it is not within its remit to instruct veterinary surgeons or registered nurses as to how they should address unqualified staff, but suggested: 'Care Assistant' or 'Auxilliary'.
However, Ben Myring, RCVS Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer said: "There is nothing to stop someone calling themselves a 'nursing assistant' or a 'head nurse'".
The Codes of Professional Conduct obviously apply only to those who are regulated by it. The title 'veterinary nurse' in unprotected in law and can therefore be used by anyone else.
So, the immediate implications seem to be as follows:
Do you have any other suggestions as to how unqualified nursing staff should be styled? Post them below.
The new machine is a modular system using low-flow anaesthesia for animals from 2-80kg.
The company says that compared to anaesthetic techniques which use high fresh gas flow rates, it functions without posing a risk to team members from the huge amounts of oxygen and inhalational anaesthetic agents that would otherwise be released.
In turn, this results in cost savings from unwasted agents, and a typical 5 to 10 times reduction in environmental damage.
Darvall founder, Dr Colin Dunlop, said: “For optimal outcome from anaesthesia, veterinary anaesthesiologists and veterinarians routinely make decisions about the physiological well-being of the patient, the environmental impact of their actions, the operational efficiency of their practice and cost-effectiveness.
"Having suitable equipment that uses low-flow anaesthesia will reduce the risk of hypothermia, improve team safety, reduce environmental emissions and reduce costs.”
“Low-flow anaesthesia not only reduces oxygen flows and inhalant agent consumption to less than 10% of high-flow, non-rebreathing systems, it can help reduce anaesthetic hypothermia because it uses warm gas when using the Darvall heated breathing circuits.
"Using our specifically designed modern system for veterinary patients addresses the traditional challenges associated with low-flow anaesthesia and hypothermia.
Darvall says the use of just one system will also simplify staff training and ensure familiarity.
https://darvallvet.com
Virbac has launched an iPhone app designed to support veterinary surgeons in the diagnosis of canine dermatological conditions.
Called Virbac-Derm-Diag it enables clinicians to create a clinical history (including photographs) of a patient then recommends a clinical chronological approach for the diagnosis of many of the canine skin diseases seen most commonly in practice. It also contains a library of downloadable monographs, videos and images of skin diseases which can be used to support discussions with owners about diagnosis and potential treatment regimes.
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Product Manager, said: "Dog skin disorders are among the most common health problems seen in practice and have a wide range of causative factors. We are really excited about the launch of the app, which should prove really useful as vets work through the various steps of history-taking and examination required to reach an accurate diagnosis.
It also provides a wealth of materials to help them explain the implications of diagnosis to owners and recommended treatment options."
Veterinary dermatologist Anthony Chadwick said: "This is an ideal app for those vets who have an interest in dermatology and want readily accessible information at their fingertips. The images of lesions are likely to be particularly helpful."
Virbac Derm-Diag, it is available by searching for 'Virbac' in the app store (or click here). The content is restricted to veterinary surgeons, who must register at www.virbacderm.com to gain an access code.
Virbac says an iPad version will be available within weeks and there are plans to launch the app on other platforms shortly.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has suspended a Cardigan veterinary surgeon from the RCVS Register for five months, for failure to perform accurate bovine tuberculin testing and for falsely certifying the test results.
During the two-day hearing, Dewi Wyn Lewis, of Priory Veterinary Ltd, Cardigan, answered charges about inaccurate skin fold measurements and false certification relating to two visits he made as an Official Veterinarian to a farm in April 2009 to undertake tuberculin testing.
Mr Lewis accepted that he had not carried out the tuberculin tests in the way required by Animal Health (AH) - an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - and had taken short cuts to save time. However, he denied the charges, arguing that, although instructions to Official Veterinarians clearly required the use of callipers to measure the skin folds of cattle necks on Day One of testing, not using callipers and using his finger and thumb did not amount to failing to measure.
He also argued (and it was accepted by the Committee) that, regarding Day Two of testing, there was inconsistency in AH's instructions on calliper use, which in written form required using callipers for measuring every animal but in practice accepted use of callipers when a reaction could be detected by manually palpating the skin. On Day Two, Mr Lewis said, he had done what AH required: he had used callipers on the cattle he identified for closer examination.
The Committee, however, found that by failing to use callipers on the first day, as required by AH, Mr Lewis had failed to measure the skin folds of almost all of the 104 cattle. The Committee was also satisfied that, on the second day, 10-20% of the herd were not even touched by Mr Lewis and the Committee accepted the evidence of the three other witnesses present during the testing, which indicated that Mr Lewis had failed to carry out careful assessment and manual palpation of every animal.
The Committee then considered whether Mr Lewis had dishonestly signed the certificate, or had signed a false certificate which he ought to have known was inaccurate. The Committee noted that there were no previous Disciplinary findings against Mr Lewis, and was prepared to believe his assertion that, although he knew he had not carried out the tests in strict compliance with AH's instructions, he genuinely believed his methods to be at least as accurate as measuring with callipers and did not think he was doing anything wrong or dishonest. The Committee could not then be sure that Mr Lewis had realised what he was doing was dishonest. However, the Committee noted that 'false' also means 'inaccurate' and, as Mr Lewis ought to have known that as his testing methods were not adequate, he also should have known that a considerable number of measurements on the certificate were inaccurate and that the certificate itself was inaccurate.
After considering the facts of the case, the Committee concluded that Mr Lewis's actions amounted to serious professional misconduct and directed that he should be suspended from the Register for five months, after which he may return to practice. In relation to the sanction, the Committee said: "In reaching this decision it is relevant that the false certification was not dishonest and that there was professional and personal mitigation put forward on behalf of Mr Lewis. The Committee has paid regard to the fact that Mr Lewis is an experienced veterinary surgeon who is highly thought of in his local area. It does not believe that there is any likelihood that he will repeat his previous conduct."
The Committee also said it gave considerable weight to the fact that Mr Lewis had had to wait an additional three-month period for the hearing because of an earlier adjournment.
532 veterinary practices responded to the survey, which was sent to 3,096 veterinary practices for which the RCVS had a unique email address, on 3rd April.
The survey found that:
Three-quarters of those who responded to the survey answered a question on how the RCVS could better support veterinary practices through the crisis. The most frequent response (27%) was that the RCVS needed to provide clearer guidance, in particular as to what services it was permissible for veterinary practices to provide [the College published its updated guidance and flowchart on 9 April].
Of those who responded to the question, 15% felt that the RCVS was doing a good job or that there was nothing more it should do, while just 2% of responses expressed negative sentiment towards the RCVS.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive, said: “I would like to thank all those practices who took the time in what is already a very fraught situation to respond to our survey and provide the evidence we need to gain a holistic picture of coronavirus’ impact on the business and economics of veterinary practices. We plan to continue running these surveys on a regular basis in order to gauge impact over time and the findings will feed into our policy and decision-making.
"This ongoing research will also be a vital tool when we are talking to Government and other bodies about the impact of policy on the veterinary sector. On this note, we are aware of the challenges of a minimum furlough period of three weeks given the need for practices to take steps to offer 24/7 emergency and critical care, and have written to government on this with some case studies around the impact this is having.
"To those on the ground it won’t come as too much of a surprise that the impact of the coronavirus has been profound in areas such as practice turnover and staffing, with many vets, veterinary nurses and other support staff being furloughed with the aim of signing them up to the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
"There are some bright spots in the data we’ve gathered – very few practices reported that they had made or were planning to make staff redundant, and many practices reported mitigating the challenge of social distancing by carrying out consultations with new and existing clients remotely.
"Since the survey took place we have also taken steps to meet some of the requests for greater clarity and guidance from the RCVS with the publication of our flowchart helping practices to decide what treatments it is appropriate to carry out safely amidst the COVID-19 pandemic."
The survey results can be read in full at www.rcvs.org.uk/publications.
The next practice impact survey is planned for early May.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched a new cattle and sheep vaccine which it says gives vets an additional opportunity to prescribe the broadest possible protection against clostridial diseases.
Bravoxin 10 is a low dose clostridial vaccine containing antigens for protection against C. perfringens type A, C.perfringens type B, C.perfringens type C, C.perfringens type D, C.novyi type B, C.septicum, C.tetani, C.sordellii, C.haemolyticum and C.chauvoei.
Dosage volumes are 2ml for cattle and 1ml for sheep and the new vaccine can be used in animals from as young as two weeks old if the dam has not been previously vaccinated. A booster dose pre-calving or lambing will also deliver 8-12 weeks passive immunity in calves and lambs (apart from against C.haemolyticum).
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health ruminant veterinary adviser Rosemary Booth MRCVS said: "Clostridial bacteria take the lives of cattle and sheep on a regular basis and are the cause of a significant proportion of the sudden livestock deaths in this country. In 2007, an independent survey of over 500 UK dairy and beef farmers revealed that half the interviewees had experienced calves or adult cattle dying for no apparent reason. The reality is that many of these losses could have been due to clostridial diseases. Farmer respondents valued the livestock loss at anywhere between £505 and £1243 per animal. Even at the lowest stock valuation, preventing the loss through broad-spectrum vaccination would pay for nearly five years of Bravoxin 10 use in a 100 cow herd.
"Now that additional clostridial pathogens such as C. sordellii and C. perfringens A have been recognised by the VLA and SAC as significant causes of deaths on both cattle and sheep farms, it makes sense to widen pathogen cover on some ruminant livestock units. Bravoxin 10 allows practitioners to prescribe the broadest possible disease protection."
The sheep industry already understands the importance of broad-spectrum vaccination against clostridial diseases, but Iain Carrington from Intake Veterinary Services based in Northumberland believes cattle producers should also upgrade their protection.
"There was a time that clostridial disease control in cattle meant vaccinating your youngstock against blackleg at turnout, or discovering dead animals and then reacting with blackleg vaccine," he said. "But over the last few years, I have seen an increased incidence of different clostridial diseases in far from typical circumstances.
"There are also a large number of cattle deaths going undiagnosed and it is likely that many are caused by clostridial species. As a result, we are now advising many of our clients to take a broader-spectrum vaccination approach to ensure adequate protection - not only of the cows themselves - but also their calves through good colostral transfer," he said.
Bravoxin 10 is a prescription-only medicine (POM-V). For further information, contact the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has directed that the name of a veterinary surgeon who had been practising in Essex be removed from the RCVS Register, having found him guilty of attempting to obtain medicines dishonestly.
James Alexander Lockyear, a graduate from Pretoria University in South Africa, was charged with two offences. The case was heard in his absence, although the Committee did not draw any adverse inference from this. One charge concerned his attempted purchase of steroids from a pharmacy in Colchester by dishonestly representing that the medicine was for legitimate veterinary use. The second charge related to several instances of what the Committee referred to as "inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour", including showing an offensive image to another staff member on a mobile phone, placing the testicle of a castrated dog in his mouth and the misuse of an endotracheal tube.
All of the incidents had taken place between April 2008 and September 2009, while Mr Lockyear was practising as a locum veterinary surgeon at St Runwald's Veterinary Surgery, Colchester, Essex.
The Disciplinary Committee heard evidence from a pharmacist, Mr Noble, to whom Mr Lockyear had presented an incomplete veterinary prescription for 12 ampoules of Sustanon, a prescription-only anabolic steroid for humans, and a further pharmacist, Mr Foskett MRPharmS, who outlined his suspicions that the steroids were in fact for Mr Lockyear's personal use (Sustanon is a substance which can potentially be misused in relation to body-building). Mr Lockyear had originally claimed the drugs were for general stock at the practice; he later returned with a second prescription, for double the amount of Sustanon, claiming it was for his own dog; later again, he said the prescription was for a friend's dog.
The Committee also heard evidence from the veterinary owner of the practice, a veterinary nurse and a student veterinary nurse working in the practice team, and from Dr Maddison MRCVS, an expert on small animal clinical pharmacology. Dr Maddison informed the Committee that there was a veterinary alternative to Sustanon, so it was not necessary for that drug to have been sought by Mr Lockyear. She was also of the view that Sustanon would not have been suitable to treat the ailments for which Mr Lockyear claimed it was to be used.
The Committee found Mr Lockyear guilty of the first charge - that is attempting to obtain medicines dishonestly. Chairing the Disciplinary Committee, Mrs Alison Bruce, said: "Whilst it was a one-off incident, it is conduct which falls far short of that which is expected of a member of the profession. It involves serious dishonesty; it represents an abuse of a veterinary surgeon's authority to prescribe drugs; it is conduct which tends to undermine public trust in the profession, and the honesty of its members; it is conduct which compromised other professionals, the pharmacists involved, and undermined the trust which ought to exist between pharmacists and veterinary surgeons generally, in the important area of drug prescription." The Committee therefore directed that Mr Lockyear's name be removed from the Register.
Regarding the second charge, the Committee was most concerned about the incident relating to the dog's testicles, which it felt offended against Mr Lockyear's duty to treat with respect all animals which were his patients. Taking the three incidents as a whole, the Committee felt that Mr Lockyear should be seriously criticised for behaviour that was "unprofessional... juvenile, inappropriate, disgusting and offensive". However, they felt that the conduct was not malicious, and did not occur in the presence of a member of the public, so concluded that this did not amount to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.