The lecture, which will take place at 4:30pm on Friday 6th April in the Premier Lounge, Arena Birmingham, is presented by Dr Ivan Crotaz BVetMed MRCVS and human anaesthesiologist Dr Muhammed Nasir MBBS BSc FFARCSI MRCA (pictured right).
Chris Geddes MRCVS, Marketing Manager for Docsinnovent, says the lecture is not to be missed for two reasons: "Firstly, the topic is very current – a lot of new information is emerging about regurgitation and reflux in our veterinary patients. We are learning that the starving times we have all been recommending for years may not be ideal after all.
"Secondly, the lecture will be presented by both a vet with an interest in airway management (Dr Crotaz) and a renowned human anaesthesiologist (Dr Nasir) – so we as a profession can learn from what is happening in the field of human medicine."
The session will include a review of the situation in human anaesthesia. The anatomy of the upper airway and oesophagus of the major small animal veterinary species will be examined as well as the pathogenesis, occurrence and disease associated with reflux.
Pre-, intra- and post-operative management will be discussed, as well as current recommendations for starving veterinary patients.
The lecture is free for BSAVA attendees to attend and will be followed by drinks and nibbles supplied by Docsinnovent, who are also exhibiting at BSAVA congress on stand 1006.
The package includes pre-built templates, dedicated support during implementation, comprehensive training and 6 months’ free access from go-live to the cloud-based platform.
The company says it is launching this service after seeing the number of start-up practices reaching almost pre-pandemic levels according to Companies House data.
Scott Goodsir-Smyth, General Manager for the UK and Ireland at Provet Cloud said: "A progressive practice management system is essential for the smooth running of a modern veterinary practice, however selection and implementation can be stressful, particularly for start-ups when there are so many other important decisions to make.
"We have streamlined our implementation process and incorporated a number of out-of-the-box templates, pre-built wholesaler price lists and laboratory panels to speed up configuration and take the strain off our customers.
"We also understand that cash-flow is a major concern during ramp-up, so we are delighted to be able to offer start-ups in our region 6 months’ free access to the system, whilst they open and establish their practice’.
Training and support is provided by the UK Provet Cloud team, made up of qualified vets, nurses and practice managers.
Danny McClelland, implementation lead at Provet Cloud UK and Ireland, said: "We made a conscious decision to employ people with clinical or hands-on experience in practice for our implementation, training and support roles."
https://www.provet.cloud/veterinary-start-up-software
There will be 20 presentations from some of the world's leading experts, covering topics such as detection and diagnosis, advances in veterinary oncology, supportive care for the cancer patients, how to build a partnership with pet owners and, of course, feeding the cancer patient.
The presentations will be streamed live and available on demand afterwards, at https://learn.hillsvet.com/en_GB/hills-global-symposium-2023
Dr. Iveta Becvarova, Senior Director of Global Academic & Professional Affairs at Hill's Pet Nutrition said: "This year’s Hill’s Global Symposium will offer the latest advancements and innovations to help veterinary professionals support and counsel their clients, and provide the best care possible to the pets in their care."
The College is seeking nominations this year for all six of its awards, all of which will be presented to the successful nominees at Royal College Day 2020, which will take place at 1 Great George Street in July 2020. These awards are:
The Queen’s Medal: the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a veterinary surgeon for a highly distinguished career with sustained and outstanding achievements throughout.
The Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award: for veterinary nurses who have had a sustained and distinguished career, who can demonstrate a leadership role within the profession and who can act as an ambassador for the value of veterinary nurses and their work.
RCVS International Award: for vets, vet nurses or laypeople who work internationally in making an outstanding contribution to, for example, raising veterinary standards, veterinary education and improving animal health and welfare.
RCVS Impact Award: for vets or vet nurses who have undertaken a project or initiative that has a significant impact on the profession at large, animal health or welfare, or public health. Such impact could have been made through any field of veterinary endeavour, including clinical practice, research, education or veterinary politics.
RCVS Inspiration Award: for vets or vet nurses at any stage of their career who have demonstrated the ability to inspire and enthuse others consistently throughout. It is open to those who have inspired and motivated individuals anywhere within the profession and recognises those who have gone ‘above and beyond’ what may normally be expected from a professional colleague.
Honorary Associateship: conferred on a small number of laypeople each year, in recognition of their special contribution to the veterinary sphere. It recognises the full range of individuals who contribute to the veterinary and animal health sector including scientists, lecturers, journalists, charity-workers, farriers, farmers and those involved in the commercial field.
Niall Connell, RCVS President for 2019-20, said: "2019 was particularly fruitful in terms of the number of nominations that we received for some of these awards, including the Queen’s Medal and the Impact and Inspiration Awards. In fact, those of us who had to compile the shortlist really struggled because of the sheer quality of the nominations we received and the people who were nominated.
"We hope that this will be repeated this year, and I would ask the profession to give some extra thought to making a nomination for Honorary Associateship, an award which is conferred on laypeople who are going above-and-beyond for animal welfare and the veterinary professions.
"In my veterinary career I have met many of these people: the biochemistry lecturers at vet school who gave me a passion for the science behind clinical veterinary medicine; the receptionists who were experts at talking to clients with empathy and kindness, often during distressing situations; and the volunteers who give up their precious free time to help with the smooth running of our PDSA hospital.
"I would urge everyone to have a think about who might be suitable for any of these awards, to find out more about making a nomination on the RCVS website."
To make a nomination, visit www.rcvs.org.uk/honours and click on the link for the specific award.
Applications can be made either through an online application form or by downloading a PDF application form and emailing or posting it to the RCVS.
The deadline for nominations is Friday 10 January 2020.
For an informal talk about the awards and how to make a nomination you can contact Susie Tomlin, Executive Secretary, on s.tomlin@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0761.
Photo: Dr Abdul-Jalil Mohammadzai, one of the recipients of the 2019 RCVS International Award, with the then RCVS President Amanda Boag
They say that the free system offers an easy way for veterinary practices to improve client service, streamline workflows, and enhance animal welfare.
Boop uses AI and computer vision to auto-populate vaccination details and capture things like microchip numbers, to ensure certificates are positively identifiable and compliant with the RCVS 10 principles of certification and electronic signing guidance.
Pet owners can then store and access digital vaccination certificates on their mobile phone through the Boop app, where they can also look-up chip details, up to 30% of which are not properly registered.
The app also lets owners share vaccination certificates easily with boarding and day care establishments via email or whatsapp.
Charlie said: “Boop brings a vaccination record service fit for 2025, enabling vets to add more value to their vaccination service and owners to care better for their pet.
"By linking to the microchip, vets can be confident that every record belongs to the right pet—making care safer, more accurate, and more convenient.”
Once signed up, practices can start issuing digital vaccination certificates immediately, without changing their existing PMS or workflows.
www.booppet.app/vets
VetSurgeon.org is once again playing host to the RCVS Elections Section, where veterinary surgeons can now come and question the candidates lining up to regulate them.
This year, there are 10 candidates fighting to win one of 6 places on council. You can 'meet the candidates' here, read their manifestos, and then ask them questions either privately - via the 'Start Conversation' link in their profile - or publicly in the RCVS Forum.
There is a new incentive to vote this year: the RCVS will donate 20p to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Haiti Earthquake Appeal on behalf of every voter that takes part.
The RCVS has also made it easier to vote, with the addition of SMS text voting to the online and postal options.
However, I hope more than anything else that the opportunity to challenge the candidates and find out what makes them tick in the RCVS Elections Forum will be fun and really help inspire you, the electorate, to get involved.
Their study, which was published in the research journal PeerJ at the end of last year1, investigated the effects of insulin on equine hoof lamellar cells in the laboratory.
The researchers say that high levels of insulin have been known for some time to cause acute endocrine laminitis, seen when ponies and certain types of horses graze lush pasture or consume a starch- or sugar-rich diet, or when they develop Cushing’s syndrome.
Many ponies and horses at risk of the condition produce large spikes of insulin in their blood stream after consuming meals high in non-structural carbohydrates (in particular starch and simple sugars) which indicates that this could be the way in which they succumb to acute endocrine laminitis.
The mechanism by which insulin can cause effects in the foot leading to laminitis has been the subject of much debate in recent years.
Hormones like insulin must interact with a specific receptor on the surface of cells in order to produce their effects. What has confused researchers in the past is that there appear to be no insulin receptors on the hoof lamellar cells (these cells give the lamellar tissues their strength and changes to their growth or structure weaken the bonds and cause laminitis).
The researchers considered the close similarities between insulin and a growth factor hormone called insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1). There are receptors for IGF-1 on the lamellar cells, and the researchers speculated that high concentrations of insulin might be able to cross-stimulate these cells by activating the IGF-1 receptors. To investigate this possibility PhD student Courtnay Baskerville, together with her supervisor Professor Simon Bailey, developed a method for culturing lamellar epithelial cells in the laboratory, and incubated them with increasing concentrations of insulin.
They found that high concentrations of insulin stimulated the cells to proliferate. Furthermore, this effect could be prevented using an antibody that specifically blocks only the IGF-1 receptor. Further downstream effects within the cells were also shown. The changes seemed to occur mainly at very high concentrations of insulin. Similar concentration levels can be seen in ponies and horses with insulin dysregulation linked to Equine Metabolic Syndrome, but are not commonly seen in normal horses that are considered to be at lower risk of laminitis.
Further work is now ongoing to determine exactly how these cellular changes induced by sustained high insulin concentrations might cause laminitis. However, it seems that targeting the IGF-1 receptor may be an option for developing new drugs to prevent and treat laminitis.
Professor Simon Bailey said: "The information gathered in this study provides the equine industry worldwide with valuable insights into the causes of the common and serious condition of laminitis. The research group would like to acknowledge the support of the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, in particular the involvement of Professor Pat Harris.”
Reference
The oral corticosteroid powder formulation was previously only available in 180g tubs.
Severe equine asthma, which was previously known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Heaves, can lead to airway neutrophil influx and excessive mucus production. Although it is generally managed by environmental measures to suppose triggering factors, it can be combined with corticosteroid therapy to control airway inflammation in more severe cases.
Alana McGlade BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS, Equine Business Manager, said: "Severe equine asthma is the most common cause of chronic coughing in mature horses. Attributed to a hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens and dust, clinical signs - such as inflammation of the airways - can be alleviated by Equisolon’s active ingredient prednisolone.
"Prednisolone has been shown to have positive effects on clinical signs, endoscopic evaluation, arterial blood gases and pulmonary function when used in conjunction with environmental changes to reduce a horse’s exposure to potential triggers.
"Previously, vets would have had to measure out the powder but the sachets make dosing more convenient. The sachets come in a box of 10, so each pack will treat one 300 kg horse for 10 days or one 600 kg horse for 5 days. As the sachets are pre-measured, horses get exactly the dose they need.”
Equisolon oral powder contains 33.3 mg/g of prednisolone and should be administered at 1 mg prednisolone per kg of body weight per day. Treatment can be repeated at 24 hour intervals during 10 consecutive days.
For more information visit www.dechra.co.uk
The RCVS has announced that registrations for the new RCVS Register of Veterinary Practice Premises will be accepted from 1 November 2008, allowing all those who wish to supply medicines from veterinary practice premises from 1 April 2009 onwards a full five months to comply with the latest medicines legislation.
In order to fulfil its obligations under European law to maintain and improve traceability of, and accountability for, veterinary medicines, the UK Government decided that any veterinary surgeon may only supply veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) from premises registered with the Secretary of State, with effect from 1 April 2009.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for the inspection and registration of practices under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations. Steve Dean, VMD's Chief Executive, says the new veterinary practice premises register will complete the UK information base by bringing veterinary practices in line with other suppliers of veterinary medicines who already have to operate from registered premises.
The Register will enable the supply of veterinary medicines by veterinary surgeons, including controlled drugs, to be subjected to inspection and verification. As a result, DEFRA Ministers and the European Commission can be re-assured that veterinary medicines are being supplied in the UK in accordance with EC legislation.
In discussion with the VMD, it was agreed that the most appropriate body to maintain this register would be the RCVS, not least because the College already manages the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme and publishes the (voluntary) Directory of Veterinary Practices, so has the necessary systems already in place. The register will be published on RCVSonline and updated quarterly.
Whilst there will now be a statutory fee levied for each practice premises registered on the new Register, the College's existing database framework has kept this to a relatively low £40 compared to what other bodies might have had to charge after starting from scratch.
Practices could appear in the Directory for free because the cost of producing it was partially covered by subsequent data sales. However, the new Register will need to be self-funding, as the data it contains will be freely available online.
Not all practices will have to pay the statutory fee. RCVS President Jill Nute said: "For those practice premises already accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS), the fee will be taken from their existing PSS annual fee.
"What's more, accredited practices will not face additional four-yearly inspections by VMD inspectors (unless there is an investigation for enforcement purposes) as their PSS inspections already ensure that they keep up to date with current medicines legislation."
Practice premises that have applied to join the Scheme, but have not yet been accredited, will not face additional VMD inspections either, but will still need to pay the statutory fee.
To help practices understand the new requirements and what they need to do before next April, the RCVS has produced a range of guidance, including a series of Frequently Asked Questions (www.rcvs.org.uk).
"In particular, we hope this guidance will help to explain which premises are likely to be considered ‘veterinary practice premises' and the difference between those premises and places where medicines might simply be stored or kept," said Mrs Nute.
"It is important to realise that there is a legal requirement to register veterinary practice premises for the supply of medicines, and a professional obligation, set out in the Guide to Professional Conduct, to keep a record of where all medicines are stored or kept. This record should avoid the need for additional registration of car boots, farms and homes."
Over the coming weeks, application forms will be posted to all practices currently listed in the Directory and accredited under the PSS, containing all the practice information currently held. These forms must be checked, signed and returned, even if no fee is due. Separate application forms will be available for any non-accredited practice premises not published in the Directory, and a letter will be sent to all RCVS members to ensure the whole profession is aware of the new requirements.
The RSPB has reported the results of two studies which revealed that a greater diversity of birds of prey, including some eagles, are killed eating carrion contaminated with diclofenac.
The RSPB says that these findings strengthen the case of banning the use of veterinary diclofenac in livestock across Europe, including Spain and Italy where the drug has already been approved.
In the first paper1, published in the journal Bird Conservation International, scientists present results of tests carried out on two steppe eagles found dead at a cattle carcass dump in Rajasthan, India. Both birds had diclofenac residue in their tissues and exhibited the same clinical signs of kidney failure as seen in Gyps vultures experimentally given diclofenac.
Steppe eagles are closely related to the golden eagles found in the UK, the vulnerable Spanish imperial eagle and other globally vulnerable or declining Eurasian eagles. Scientists now fear that all species in this genus, known as Aquila, are susceptible to diclofenac. With fourteen species of Aquila eagle distributed across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North America, this means that diclofenac poisoning should now be considered largely a global problem.
Dr Toby Galligan, RSPB conservation scientist and one of the authors of the paper, said: "We have known for some time that diclofenac is toxic to Gyps vultures, including the Eurasian griffon vulture, but we now know it is toxic to an Aquila eagle too. This suggests that the drug is fatal to a greater number of birds of prey in Asia, Europe and around the world. We had suspected as much from observed declines in non-Gyps vultures in Asia, but this study confirms our worst fears."
In another paper2, published in Bird Conservation International, Dr Galligan led an examination of recent population trends in Egyptian and red-headed vultures in India. That study shows population declines of similar timing and scale as the declines observed in Gyps vultures, providing indirect evidence that these species have been impacted by diclofenac as well.
After years of campaigning by conservationists, the governments of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan banned veterinary formulations of diclofenac between 2006 and 2010. Recently, experts have recorded a slowing of Gyps vulture declines as a result of the bans. However, formulations of diclofenac intended for use in humans are still widely available and illegally used to treat livestock, the carcasses of which are the main food source for vultures in South Asia. It was announced in March that veterinary diclofenac had been authorised for manufacture and use in Italy and Spain and had been distributed to other European countries. Since then, a coalition of organisations including the Vulture Conservation Foundation, the RSPB and BirdLife International have been campaigning for this decision to be reversed.
Dr Galligan continued: "In light of recent developments in Europe, our findings take on an even more worrying meaning. All of Europe's charismatic Aquila eagles, like the Spanish imperial eagle and, closer to home, the golden eagle, are opportunistic scavengers and therefore could be at risk of diclofenac poisoning. As we have seen in South Asia, wherever free-ranging livestock are treated with diclofenac, population declines in vultures and eagles can occur. The European Commission needs to recognise this problem and impose a continent-wide ban on veterinary diclofenac before it can impact on our birds."
Last week, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) announced measures against the drug.
In a statement the VMD said: "The UK's Veterinary Medicines Directorate is taking the issue of diclofenac's risks to vulture populations seriously. As a precautionary measure the VMD will not approve any requests from vets to import products containing diclofenac. Furthermore, the VMD has agreed not to issue any export certificates which name diclofenac-containing products in the list of products to be exported."
Sacha Cleminson, Head of International Biodiversity Policy at the RSPB, said: "The announcement from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is a welcome signal to Europe that the UK is taking the issue seriously. This new evidence underlines the need for a ban across Europe, and ultimately beyond."
References
Have population declines in Egyptian Vulture and Red-headed Vulture in India slowed since the 2006 ban on veterinary diclofenac? Toby H. Galligan et al. Bird Conservation International Online. 1st April 2014.
RSA has announced the rollout of its UK-wide network of preferred referral practices.
The scheme caused widespread concern within the profession when it was trialed in the Midlands earlier this year, primarily because of fears that it would reduce general practitioners' freedom to refer an animal to a centre that they felt could provide the most appropriate care for both the animal and the owner. In addition, RSA's claim that it was aiming to provide like-for-like care at a lower cost was undermined by the fact that the network could hardly field a single RCVS Recognised Specialist amongst its numbers. There were also concerns being voiced about the terms under which referral practices could join the network.
However, the underlying challenge of keeping pet insurance affordable remains. RSA says that according to its research, and based on Association of British Insurers averages, 27% of its customers pay more for their pet insurance than the average cost of home insurance; 17% pay more than the average cost of car insurance and 3% pay more than the average cost for private medical insurance.
It does seem as though RSA has been making a concerted effort to adopt a more collaborative approach before the nationwide rollout, having meetings with both the BVA and BSAVA which the respective organisations described as 'constructive'.
The current state of play is that RSA is inviting referral practices to join its network in advance of a launch some time after the end of the year. Thereafter, VetSurgeon.org understands that clients who decide to opt for a non-emergency referral outside its network will be subject to an additional flat fee which has yet to be announced.
Bill Paton, Claims Director for UK and Western Europe said: “The introduction of this new preferred referral network ensures that our customers will receive the most appropriate available treatment as diagnosed by their vet.
"For us, being able to control costs with our vet partners in the network will help us manage our claims cost more effectively and ensure that policy limits last as long as possible.
"Ultimately, this will have a positive effect on premium rates for our customers ensuring that pet insurance remains affordable.”
For more information about joining RSA's referral network, email: rsa.pet@uk.rsagroup.com.
Richard Malik from the Centre for Veterinary Education at the University of Sydney and Mike Lappin from Colorado State University, known for their amusing and questioning presentations, will be joined by experts including Jayne Sykes, Séverine Tasker, Donato Traversa and Francesca Mancianti to present the latest information about the diagnosis and treatment of a veritable smorgasbord of feline infectious diseases, including heartworm, leishmaniasis, toxocara, aspergillus, bartonella, coronavirus, erlichia, anaplasma, rickettsia, lungworm, mycobacteria, FeLV, FIV, haemoplasmas, cryptococcosis, GI disease and emerging feline pathogens.
Together with a mini-symposia organised by the congress sponsors – Idexx, Hill’s, Ceva, Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim – the five-day event is worth 25 hours of feline CPD.
If you need more in-depth knowledge of feline infectious diseases, there are also three masterclasses planned.
The venue looks drop-dead gorgeous too. Set on a small wooded peninsula embraced by two harbours, Cavtat has a pretty waterfront peppered with restaurants, pebbly beaches and an interesting assortment of artsy attractions, making it one of the most desirable tourist destinations in the region. ISFM says it's a great base from which to explore Dubrovnik and the surrounding area.
The welcome party will take place at the congress hotel’s waterfront restaurant on Thursday evening.
Tickets cost £475 for ISFM members and £605 for non-members. Masterclasses are an additional £50 each.
That seems like an absolute steal to me, and I'm not even a vet. Where do I sign?
Ah, here it is: https://icatcare.org/isfm-congress
The book is described as giving comprehensive information to support the diagnosis and treatment of commonly seen pathologies of dogs and cats, such as haematology, immunology, diagnostic imaging, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular medicine, reproductive system disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as hepatobiliary and exocrine pancreas disorders.
Each chapter has been authored by an internationally recognised expert in their field.
Improve says its books support delegates studying for its Postgraduate Certificate, but are also a useful reference source for other veterinary surgeons.
John Douglass, General Manager of Improve International, said: "Following the positive response to our first textbook, the Improve International Manual of Small Animal Surgery, we felt it was important to follow up with a small animal medicine equivalent. We’re therefore very happy to unveil volume one of the Improve International Manual of Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine and look forward to the launch of the second volume later this year."
He added: "Our textbooks focus on the practical application of current veterinary knowledge, offering top tips and key advice throughout expressed in an engaging and highly visual format to ensure that they are perfect for those in need of a quick ‘look up’ in practice.”
The new books can be bought from www.improveinternational.com/uk/books, www.5mbooks.com or from booksellers worldwide. They are also available in Spanish with translations into additional languages planned.
Agrimin has announced the launch of a new range of boluses for sheep and cattle that use 'eroding technology' to deliver a sustained supply of three trace elements for up to 180 days:
According to Agrimin, each bolus is designed to provide the full daily requirement of cobalt and selenium and the largest available daily supply of iodine to both cattle and sheep. The boluses do not contain any copper, an element known to cause issues in certain parts of the country, in closely managed dairy cows or in continental sheep breeds.
Each bolus is made up of two parts, held together by a soluble wrapper. After administration, the wrapper dissolves and the two halves remain in the reticulum where they erode and dissolve. This process delivers a continuous and regular supply of nutrients to the animal.
Agrimin's Dr Jamie Bennison said that the new range has been extensively trialled in New Zealand and at Glasgow Veterinary School: "Trials have confirmed a sustained release profile which ensures that iodine, selenium and cobalt levels are maintained throughout the active life of the bolus. In farm trials this has translated into higher levels of the elements in blood samples and improved animal productivity."
Treatment is one bolus per animal (48g for sheep; 160g for cattle) administered with an Agrimin bolus gun. One bolus is sufficient to meet the animal's full daily requirement for 180 days.
For more information about the 24•7 Iodine•Selenium•Cobalt range of cattle and sheep boluses, please visit http://www.agrimin.com/ or call 01652 688046.
The RCVS is holding a session at the London Vet Show on Saturday 23rd October from 8:30am-9:30am to provide guidance and advice concerning the work your nursing team does in practice.
As the RCVS says, the recent Panorama programme "It shouldn't happen at a vets'" was a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring that all practice staff are working within the appropriate legal framework.
The session will answer such questions as:
Because of the early start, the RCVS is providing breakfast from 8:15am, though I wouldn't get your hopes up for eggs benedict and freshly smoked Loch Fyne kippers.
The RCVS says the session will be relevant for all members of the practice team, but that if you can't make the session, they will be on hand to discuss VN legislation on stand M26.
Pfizer Animal Health's Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) vaccine (Duvaxyn EHV 1,4) has been rebranded Equip EHV 1,4).
Pfizer says that EHV is carried by most horses in the UK1 and can cause respiratory disease, abortion and more rarely neurological disease. However, it is the more common sub-clinical infections that pose the most apparent issue for the competition client, with the associated loss of performance and the potential effect on the health of the whole yard.
Once infected with EHV, a horse can harbour the virus throughout its life and potentially shed the disease to other animals without showing any outward signs. According to the company, vaccinating helps to minimise the severity of the disease itself and importantly, can also help to reduce the amount of infective virus that is shed to other in-contact horses.
Equip EHV 1,4 is given as a primary course of two vaccinations, 4-6 weeks apart followed by a single dose every six months. It can also be used as an aid in the control of EHV-1 abortion - pregnant mares should be vaccinated with a single dose during each of the 5th, 7th and 9th months of pregnancy.
For further information on Pfizer's EHV campaign, to obtain literature for your practice or to book a talk for your clients contact your Pfizer Account Manager or Pfizer Animal Health, Walton Oaks, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS.
1. Eddington et al. Equine Vet. J. 1994; 26 (2): 140-142.
Consultations are delivered online using video conferencing software, with the aim being to provide an immediate diagnosis and treatment plan. However, if a diagnosis cannot be made remotely, or the situation requires intensive medical or surgical intervention, Optivet offers non-contact clinical facilities in Hampshire, London and the Isle of Wight, or will recommend other, closer ophthalmology facilities if necessary.
Optivet says it has the medical and surgical expertise to deal with any ongoing issues and follow-up is provided remotely wherever possible.
Rob Lowe, RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology and founder of Optivet, said: “We have come up with an innovative, non-contact ophthalmology solution for both the present and the future. Optivet’s response time and immediate availability of an ophthalmology specialist is unmatched in the UK.
"Once you become a client, you become part of the Optivet family. Our amazing team will work with you throughout the patient journey to provide the highest level of care.”
For more information, visit: remote.optivet.com
The event offers over 30 hours of CPD, covering topics which have been chosen to represent the current areas of practical interest for veterinary professionals, from ethics and behaviour to critical care and pain assessment.
The online event was developed after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of ISFM's annual European Congress.
There will be two separate lecture streams, one for vets and one for veterinary nurses and technicians, alongside several sponsor-led symposiums, live question and answer sessions, and a virtual exhibition hall.
In recognition of attendance, CPD certificates will be available to download from the platform.
In the vet stream, topics include the assessment and management of pain in cats, ethics, analgesia and anaesthesia, point of care ultrasound, nutrition and critical care. International expert speakers will give the latest research in their respective fields, whilst ensuring that their talks and lectures remain practical, with ‘take-home’ information applicable in clinics.
The ISFM is at pains to recognise the generosity of Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ceva, Hill’s, Purina, Idexx and Royal Canin, which has made it possible to provide the congress free of charge.
Registration opens today. For more information and to register, visit: https://icatcare.org/isfm-international-congress/
The researchers say the effectiveness of cheaper devices could result in wider use amongst farmers, vets and hoof trimmers helping to identify lameness earlier.
The study, led by RVC undergraduate veterinary student, Aidan Coe, alongside Dr Nicola Blackie, a senior lecturer in Production Animal Science at the RVC, compared the thermal images of 83 cows’ hind feet, captured with both high and low cost thermal imaging devices.
Very little difference was identified in the performance and quality of the devices despite the low-cost device being 2% the cost of the high cost device.
Images captured suggested that low-cost thermal imaging devices would be the most cost-effective choice to aid in the identification of lameness.
This study highlights the effectiveness of cheaper infrared thermal imaging devices in identifying the condition which has the potential to lead to the wider use of the devices by farmers, vets and hoof trimmers, in turn allowing the condition to be identified earlier.
Whilst high-cost devices have sometimes been used to detect lameness in cattle, the price point of up to £20,000 and fragility has previously limited their usefulness in a farm setting.
Aidan Coe, Undergraduate Veterinary Student at the RVC, and lead researcher on this paper, said: “There is a possibility that low-cost infrared thermal imaging devices could be used as an objective, cost-effective method of assessing the lameness of the national herd, which may prove a useful adjunct to the current lameness detection methods.”
The full paper can be accessed at: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/414
The proposal is for the new school to provide five-year degrees leading to a Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences (BVSc) qualification, with training being delivered on both university campuses, in partnership with local clinical providers and industry.
Carwyn Ellis, Head of the Animal Production, Welfare and Veterinary Sciences at Harper Adams, said: "This is an exciting development which will add further to our provision for the veterinary sector, complementing our current postgraduate veterinary medicine programmes, and our undergraduate programmes in Bioveterinary Science, Clinical Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Veterinary Nursing, Veterinary Physiotherapy and Agriculture all of which will contribute to enhanced animal health and wellbeing."
The universities say further discussions and detailed business planning will be taking place over the coming months, with a view to a further announcement later in the year outlining when the new school would expect to receive its first cohort of students.
Commenting on the news, BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "This is a very interesting development at a time when there are many questions around the sustainability of the UK veterinary workforce as the UK prepares to leave the EU and at a time when many practices and businesses are reporting significant problems in recruiting.
"Striking the right balance between producing ‘home grown’ graduates from UK veterinary schools and bringing in appropriately qualified and skilled foreign graduates will be key to maintaining a flexible, skilled and sustainable workforce.
"However, there are a number of very important factors that will need to be considered, including whether we have enough capacity in the UK to deliver quality EMS placements, and how it might impact on the availability of veterinary teaching staff, particularly given that 25% of current veterinary academics are from non-UK EU countries.
"An increase in UK vet school places also needs to be considered in the context of the Vet Futures project and the Vet Futures actions currently underway, including the RCVS-led Graduate Outcomes project and the BVA-led workforce study. We must ensure that we can provide fulfilling career opportunities for our graduates in a wide range of veterinary roles – both clinical and non-clinical – as well as meeting the needs of society now and in the future."
Photo: Harper Adams
The BVA has challenged the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to take further investigative action to enable Defra to consider prosecutions against the Essex abattoir where appalling animal welfare abuses were highlighted in footage obtained by Animal Aid.
The footage shows pigs being abused and manhandled in breach of animal welfare legislation.
BVA President Harvey Locke said: "There must be confidence in the systems that regulate and license slaughter and the people responsible for carrying it out. I have written to the Chief Executive of the FSA outlining our concerns at the lack of any action towards prosecution.
"The method by which the issue was highlighted should not, in our opinion, preclude further investigation by the FSA and Defra into these incidents with a view to lawfully obtaining evidence to either support or refute the accusations arising from the Animal Aid footage."
Mr Locke added: "The UK food industry prides itself on high welfare standards. Animal cruelty is not acceptable and action must be taken. These are serious welfare issues and investigations into this sort of blatant abuse and appalling treatment of animals must be pursued vigorously."
In his letter to the FSA Mr Locke reiterated the BVA's views on the specific issue of CCTV in abattoirs at the stunning/slaughter point, stressing that Food Business Operators (FBOs) must have effective procedures in place either to constantly monitor stunning and slaughter operations, or to enable the FBO or their Animal Welfare Officer to inconspicuously observe stunning and slaughter operations at any time: such arrangements may include an aperture or window into the stunning area or the use of CCTV by the FBO for welfare monitoring and management purposes.
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Companion Care Vets has launched a Graduate Development Programme to develop veterinary graduates into future partners in the business.
According to the company, seven graduates have so far joined the scheme. Five are from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, one is from The Royal Veterinary College in London and one studied at the Univesitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Each has gone through a rigorous recruitment process devised by the Companion Care Vets HR team, and will be placed in one of the groups established surgeries, where the company will give them an understanding of the entire business from clinical to personal, commercial to management.
Jane Balmain, Managing Director of Companion Care Vets said: "One of my ambitions for Companion Care Vets is to ensure we play a significant role in developing standards in the veterinary profession and I believe that supporting talented veterinary graduates is key to this.
"Our rapidly expanding business is passionate about providing the highest level of pet healthcare and client service and we are proud to be able to help veterinary professionals realise their ambitions and full potential."
Placements last three years, during which Companion Care says each of the graduates will be closely mentored and their clinical learning will follow the framework developed by the RCVS as part of their Professional Development phase. Business support will be given via secondment to Companion Care's support services departments and theory based learning. All graduates are placed in practice from day one, building on their clinical experience.
One of the graduates, Katie Denholm said: "This graduate programme is a brilliant opportunity for me to put what I have learnt at University into practice. What really excited me was the modern surgeries, opportunity to be really hands-on and the added business-advice that will help me to realise my dream of one day, and I hope in the not too distant future, becoming a partner in my own practice."
Katie has been placed at Companion Care Vet's Chelmsford surgery, where veterinary surgeon and Joint Venture Partner Simone Dent said: "This scheme is a fantastic opportunity for graduates to gain all important clinical experience alongside the commercial aspects of a veterinary career. Being a vet these days affords enormous opportunities to build a successful business that provides satisfaction, financial reward and work-life balance. Katie will be given every opportunity to blossom as an integral part of our team learning, and having fun, every step of the way."
To find out more about the Graduate Development Programme please visit www.ccvets.co.uk or email graduates@companioncare.co.uk
Elanco has announced that it has finalised its acquisition of Novartis Animal Health.
The acquisition, announced in April last year, follows Elanco's purchase of Lohmann Animal Health earlier in 2014. It swells Elanco's portfolio to nearly 300 brands encompassing therapeutics, vaccines, parasiticides, antimicrobials, surgical, enzymes, food safety and more.
Gaynor Hillier, Elanco's General Manager UK and Ireland said: "Elanco's acquisition of Novartis Animal Health brings together two strong companies with a passion for serving the customer. We will continue to offer the products our customers trust, while significantly investing in the development of new solutions to meet our customers' greatest unmet needs."
The company says it will now increase investment in research and development significantly, with a combined portfolio of more than 100 product development projects focused on:
Gaynor added: "We'll continually seek innovative ways we can support our customers' business. With increased technical services, that combine our analytic and benchmarking tools with on-the-ground support, we'll be able to spend more time with individual customers seeking innovative solutions that can make a difference in their business."
Elanco says that the complete integration of the businesses will take some time, but it is trying to make the transition seamless. For the foreseeable future, business will continue in much the same way, including product ordering and customer support. Availability and access to products will continue uninterrupted.
For more information about the acquisition, visit www.elanco.com.
London Vet Specialists (LVS), billed as the capital's first complete-service referral centre, has announced its official opening in Belsize Park.
The centre is headed up by senior surgeon and soft tissue specialist, Dr Janet Kovak McClaran DVM DACVS DECVS MRCVS, former head of the department of surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York.
Janet leads a team of consultants specialising in internal medicine and surgery, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, anaesthesia and analgesia, and minimally-invasive surgery.
Janet says the new centre was set up to enable London-based vets to access close-by expert help across key areas: "When I was first approached about setting up a referral centre servicing central and greater London, I was surprised that a dedicated facility didn’t already exist. Previously, referring clinicians have had to send clients on long journeys outside of the capital, leading to patient stress and hassle and extra expense for the owners. Now, they have the reassurance of access to a highly-experienced secondary and tertiary level referral team on their doorstep."
The LVS facility boasts a state-of-the-art surgical theatre, complete with a Karl Storz operating tower enabling cutting-edge laparoscopic, thoracoscopic and cystoscopic procedures. The minimally-invasive surgery suite is one of only three such facilities in the UK. An onsite CT scanner, the GE Brivio CT 385, forms part of an array of imaging equipment, operated by European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, Dr Livia Benigni. The immediate interpretation of even the most-complex of images is designed to allow seamless patient investigation and negate the need for repeated patient anaesthetics.
Internal Medicine consultant Dr Kaye Gugich, formerly of Vets Now Referrals in Swindon, together with board-certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist Dr Adam Mugford, and Dr Karla Borland, a previous resident in anaesthesia and analgesia at Edinburgh University, complete the consultant team.
London Vet Specialists says it is the only facility in central London to offer a full time specialist surgery service alongside a specialist service in emergency and critical care. Emergency stabilisation and intensive care is available around the clock, with experienced clinicians and a nursing team ensuring continuous supervision, day or night. The LVS specialist surgical team is also on call to the hospital overnight should specialist emergency surgery be required out of hours.
Patient and customer care at LVS is based on the model used by Sydney’s SASH Vets (Small Animal Specialist Hospital). LVS Client Relations Manager Claire Newton helped to develop the SASH system during her time at the advanced referral hospital, which concentrates on delivering the highest standards of patient care, alongside a dedicated support system for the client and referring vet.
Claire said: "From the very start of the referral process, customer care is prioritised. In this we consider that we have two customers; the first, the referring vet, who needs to feel that he or she has an integral role in the ongoing management of the case, and that his or her client is well-looked after. Our second customer, the pet owner or client, needs to be looked after with compassion and respect, and have the ability to speak directly to the clinician in charge of their pet, at any point. Excellent two-way communication is key. We ensure that we listen and respond to the needs of both parties through every step of the customer journey."
For more information on London Vet Specialists, or to speak to Claire Newton about referring a patient, visit www.londonvetspecialists.vet, email Claire.newton@londonvetspecialists.vet, or telephone 0207 4330155.
Under the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct veterinary surgeons are expected to demonstrate that they are keeping their skills and knowledge up-to-date by engaging in at least 105 hours of CPD over a rolling three-year period.
As part of the auditing process the 1,071 vets will be asked to share their CPD records for 2014 to 2016, either by allowing the College to access their online Professional Development Record or by sending the College a copy of their CPD record card.
The audit will focus on six groups:
The College says that if any of the veterinary surgeons who have been audited are found to be non-compliant they will be asked to explain why and send a plan stating how they will make up the hours in order to become compliant.
The deadline for sharing records is Tuesday 31 October 2017.
As part of the auditing process the College is reminding veterinary surgeons that CPD encompasses a wide range of recorded activities, which can be clinical or non-clinical, including private reading/study, webinars, mentoring, clinical audit and discussion groups as well as attending seminars and workshops.
Don't forget that reading content and participating in forum discussions on VetSurgeon.org can count towards your annual requirement, using the 'Claim CPD' feature at the top of each page.
Those with any questions about the auditing process or what constitutes CPD can contact Jenny Soreskog-Turp, RCVS Education Officer, on cpd@rcvs.org.uk.