The programme offers a structured and heavily supported first year in practice, including hands-on surgical training and seminars from Advanced Veterinary Practitioners, at the Pets'n'Vets' Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital in Glasgow.
Totally Grad! also includes a mentor plan and additional monthly benchmarking and seminars and support.
Oliver Jackson, partner at Pets'n'Vets said: "We are well aware that many larger veterinary entities run new graduate programmes and we are proud to say that Totally Grad! offers great advantages that come with our independent structure.
"Independent practice can offer a rewarding working environment for new graduates – particularly progressive practices such as ours. We can offer new graduates not only the close-knit, friendly, helpful, stable, first-opinion experience, but also provide opportunities for career growth and development.
"We have the facility for graduates to explore their particular areas of interest. Indeed, in our practice it is possible for a new graduate to change our way of working – the decision-makers are available and listening. We now have many vets working with us who have come through the practice from our graduate system and who have gone on to help shape our practice.
"The success of our Laparoscopic and Cardiology clinics can be attributed to those vets, as can various other client service initiatives and ways of working. New blood brings new ideas and we welcome that."
Totally Grad! will also be open to fellow independent practices.
Oliver added: "By opening up our Totally Grad! programme, we are offering a simple, accessible facility to those fellow independent practices able and willing to provide a mentor and allow their graduate vets to be out of their practice for one or two days per month over a 12 month period. It fits perfectly with our Roundhouse Referrals offering which offers advice, CPD and support to local practices."
Any independent practices interested in participating in the programme can contact oliver.jackson@petsnvets.org while final year students interested in learning more about the programme can visit the website at www.totallygrad.co.uk and/or email Karen W at hello@totallygrad.co.uk
Researchers say that whilst widely discussed, many in the profession may not be aware that prevalence of the disease has been steadily increasing across all regions of the UK.
Since November 2012, 177 cases have been reported, with more than 90% between November and May. However, the cause of CRGV, which often presents as ulcerations to the dog’s skin and can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) and potentially death, remains unknown.
Practices are being now asked to report suspect cases in a bid to gain vital insight into the disease and what may be causing it.
David Walker BVetMed (Hons) DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA from Anderson Moores (pictured right) is helping lead the research: "CRGV is a disease that impacts lots of breeds across the UK. Reports show there is seasonality to the disease and therefore an environmental cause is a possible component in its development.
"This research is part of the puzzle and will hopefully help to guide further work on this disease. By collecting more information on confirmed cases, such as walking habits and diet, we hope to build more understanding in order to better protect pets and inform treatment decisions."
To gather this information, Anderson Moores is asking practices to share a 10-minute online survey with the owners of dogs in which CRGV has been confirmed, as well as some control dogs following criteria provided with the survey link.
David said: "Many pet owners are aware of this disease and are concerned for their pets; if they are asked to help they are usually happy to do so. By offering a direct link to the survey, very little of the veterinarian’s time is needed to collate the information."
If you have a suspected case of CRGV, contact Anderson Moores on 01962 767920 or email medicine@andersonmoores.com
If the pet does not survive, then histopathologic assessment of tissue will be performed free of charge to confirm the diagnosis.
In confirmed cases the veterinary surgeon will be sent a link to a 10-minute survey to be completed by the owner.
Along with encouraging the owner of the confirmed case to take part, four unaffected control cases from the same clinic, on the same day, will also need to be recruited.
When a set of five qualifying surveys (one confirmed case and 4 control cases) are provided, practices can claim an Amazon Echo Dot, provided by Bayer, as a thank you for helping with the research.
According to the charity, FIP, which is one of a number of chronic viral infections of cats that resemble those in people, is estimated to kill up to 1.4% of cats around the world.
The infectious agent is a mutant coronavirus (FIPV) that is notoriously difficult to control: the parent enteric coronavirus is present in virtually all catteries and shelters and is shed by 60% or more of pet cats from multi-cat households,1 and vaccines are ineffective.
Among the most promising treatments against emerging viruses in humans is 'GS-5734', one of the small-molecule antivirals targeting specific proteins involved in RNA virus replication.
In studies, it has proven effective in preventing Ebola in rhesus monkeys and inhibiting coronaviruses both in tissue culture and in mouse infection models.
It was these findings that brought it to the attention of a team of veterinary researchers in the USA, led by Professor Niels Pedersen of the University of California, Davis.
Their own initial studies involving experimental FIP showed that the less chemically complex 'GS-441524', the parent nucleoside of GS-5734, was highly effective, opening the way for a field trial in cats with naturally occurring FIP, the results of which are published in this week's JFMS2.
Thirty-one cats, ranging in age from 3–73 months, were enrolled in the study, and 26 completed the planned 12 weeks or more of treatment; the remainder died or were euthanised due to their severe disease.
For these 26 cats, the clinical response was dramatic: fever usually resolved within 12–36 h, concurrent with a marked improvement in appetite, activity levels and weight gain.
In cats with the more common effusive or ‘wet’ form of FIP, abdominal effusions rapidly disappeared, starting at around 10–14 days after commencing treatment.
Encouragingly, and somewhat unexpectedly, cats with non-effusive (‘dry’) FIP and older cats responded as well to GS-441524 treatment as did cats with effusive FIP and young cats. The safety profile of GS-441524 was likewise impressive.
Currently, 24 of the 26 cats remain healthy, with one having succumbed to FIP disease and one to unrelated heart disease. Eighteen of these cats underwent just one round of treatment; the remaining eight suffered disease relapses, but these were successfully treated with a further (in two cases, a third) round of treatment at a higher dose.
Previously the prospects for cats with FIP were bleak. In a review paper on FIP published in JFMS a decade ago, Professor Pedersen stated: "no treatment has proven effective in curing cats of FIP, in spite of the claims. Cats that develop FIP inevitably die of their disease in days, weeks or months."1
Now, as he approaches the end of his professional career, Professor Pedersen is considerably more optimistic: "FIP has been my fascination for the past 50 years and I am fortunate to have reached a final stage in my career having identified safe and effective antiviral drugs. We now know that small molecules targeting specific steps in RNA virus replication are capable of safely curing various forms of FIP."
However, he cautioned: "It must be emphasised that the field trial we report was for proof-of-concept and the results cannot be immediately translated into commercially available products.
"Unfortunately, the real hope provided by these initial trials has increased, and not decreased, the desperation of owners to seek out these new drugs on the black market. As eventful as these discoveries may be, there is still much more about FIP to discover.
"I would like to thank all of the people, organizations and owners who have assisted in my research over this half century and leave remaining questions and associated discoveries for my fellow FIP researchers."
Reference
Photo: Bubba, one of the study cats, in recovery. Courtesy Adel Gastle
According to the authors, Miniature Schnauzers positively shone in their averageness in this study, because they were not commonly affected by any specific breed-related health problems.
In other words, the illnesses suffered by Miniature Schnauzers are just the common or garden things like dental disease, obesity, anal sac impaction, vomiting and ear infection, which can affect all dogs.
The study, which the authors say was the largest ever study of the breed, analysed 3,857 Miniature Schnauzers from a population of over 450,000 dogs across the UK. Its findings were that:
The average lifespan of Miniature Schnauzers was 11.7 years, which is similar to the average of 12.0 years for dogs overall.
The average adult bodyweight of Miniature Schnauzers was 10kg. Males on average were heavier than female breeds (11kg vs 9kg).
The most common disorder affecting the breed was dental disease (affecting 17.4% Miniature Schnauzers). This is similar to that of other similarly-sized breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (15.2%) and Border Terrier (17.6%).
Female Miniature Schnauzers are more likely to have dental disease, obesity/overweight and heart murmur. However, males are more prone to diarrhoea and claw injury.
The most common causes of death were neoplasia (14.7%), collapse (13.3%), mass-associated disorder (10.7%) and brain disorder (10.7%).
Dr Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC and Vet Compass researcher, said: "To do their best for their dogs, owners need to know what aspects of their dog’s health are the most important to protect. Thankfully, we now have the data to identify these: owners of Miniature Schnauzers and also dogs overall should pay special attention to dental care, weight management, anal sac issues and making sure their dogs eat a healthy diet."
"Based on VetCompass Programme data, the Miniature Schnauzer is currently Britain’s most average dog from the breeds that we have studied to date. Extreme breeds such as flat-faced, long-backed or teacup-sized dogs may currently be in vogue but we need to move away from extremes and towards the healthier middle-ground."
Dr Alex Gough of Independent Vet Care and co-author added: "Although a number of diseases were identified in the current study that affect Miniature Schnauzers, the commons ones did not occur more frequently in this breed than in others studied. Many popular breeds are prone to life-threatening and distressing conditions related to their breeding. Our study suggests that the Miniature Schnauzer should be considered as a relatively healthy breed, which can help owners make a decision when acquiring a new dog."
Bill Lambert, Senior Health and Welfare Manager at the Kennel Club, said: "The Kennel Club currently recognises 221 different breeds and registering these breeds with the Kennel Club provides opportunities for data to be collected so that it can contribute to high quality and large scale research, such as this study by the Royal Veterinary College.
'It is vitally important that this type of research is carried out so that breed specific information is gathered and can be made available to owners to help ensure their dogs are kept as fit and healthy as possible.
'The Miniature Schnauzer is a popular breed in the UK so being the ‘most average dog’ in terms of health, and having no breed specific health problems, is actually a good quality and is very welcome news.”
According to the company, stock is now at normal levels in all the major wholesalers. Laura Jenkins, Companion Animal Marketing Manager at the company added: "IsoFlo is now with veterinary customers and we have a full schedule of deliveries for 2019.
"With restocking underway and ample stock awaiting dispatch, plus enough to re-establish safety stock levels shortly, it is good to know practices will be returning to IsoFlo.
"As our teams work to get IsoFlo to you if you have any questions please do get in touch with your local Account Managers.
"We appreciate other suppliers might be sharing information on their stock and we want to reassure our customers of the immediate availability of IsoFlo and once again I would like to extend thanks to the extended team of associations, veterinary surgeons and regulatory bodies who have helped to find other solutions over the two months."
The practice makes ecobricks by packing all sorts of plastic waste tightly into plastic bottles which can then be joined together using tyres, silicone, cob or cement and used for a wide range of purposes in gardens, play parks and for making all types of structures with.
The ecobrick initiative was launched by the Global Ecobrick Alliance, which describes itself as an Earth Enterprise focused on solving plastic pollution through the dissemination of the low-tech, educational, open source ecobrick technology. It also operates a website which lists a wide range of organisations throughout the world where newly-made ecobricks can be delivered to.
White Cross Vets operates 19 practices, with four in the local area in Gateacre, West Derby, St Helens and Widnes, and is now exploring how it can roll out the scheme across the group. Other green initiatives White Cross Vets is pioneering include rolling out energy efficient LED lighting across its practices and heavily promoting the Cycle to Work scheme.
Helen Morris, from White Cross Vets, said: "In our industry almost everything comes packed in unrecyclable plastics, from small syringe packets through to large delivery bags and the plastic on the backs of patient labels, which we print hundreds of every day.
"As a result, we decided to look at how we might be able to put it to good use, rather than simply putting it in the bin and came across ecobricks. By taking the time to fill the bottles with plastic, we can significantly reduce the waste we send to landfill, and cut the amount of plastic that ends up littering the planet and ultimately finds its way into the sea. We are now making them every week and the whole team gets involved, which is rewarding for everyone involved."
The clinic is led by Sebastien Behr MRCVS, an RCVS Specialist in Neurology. Patients will benefit from access to the referral centre's MRI scanner and its specialist imaging, anaesthesia and neurology teams.
Dr Behr said: "We are very excited to have launched this specialist clinic. Following detailed consultations with pet owners, the animals will be treated to the very highest level and bespoke care designed for each patient."
The practice is offering a fixed price package for routine diagnostic procedures.
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net or contact the neurology team on 0121 721 7070.
In a statement, the company explained that elevated vitamin D can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. At high levels, it can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction.
The company is inviting 'pet parents' (dear god, spare me) whose dogs are suffering symptoms after eating the products to contact their veterinary surgeon.
Hill's also says it will cover the cost of testing total calcium, albumin and 25OH-Vitamin D3 metabolites in animals which have consumed affected products, at the VitDAL Lab at the Edinburgh Veterinary School.
The affected products are:
The show follows veterinary surgeons and nurses going about their day-to-day work, consulting and operating on a variety of cases from the routine to the extraordinary.
The ten-episode series stars Cat Henstridge, who many will be familiar with for her social media posts as 'Cat the Vet', and her husband Dave Hough who is the Clinic Director at the practice.
Cat said: "I know from the reactions I get on my website and social media channels that there is a huge level of interest in what we do, and the TV programme will help to bring those real-life stories directly to a younger audience, as well as offering exclusive behind the scenes access to everything that happens in our busy veterinary practice."
Dave added: "We are thrilled to be showcasing the fantastic work of our dedicated and talented team. What we see every day is so varied, and we are driven by our love of pets and the ability to help heal them. It’s a real delight to think that our work will be seen on television, and hopefully inspire the next generation of vets, nurses and support staff to work in this really rewarding profession."
It is believed to be the first time the Royal Society of Medicine Pain Section Council, which comprises medical practitioners and consultants, has appointed a veterinary surgeon as President.
The Royal Society of Medicine is one of the country's major providers of postgraduate medical education and presents a neutral platform for informed debate about important, often controversial, healthcare topics.
The RSM has 56 Sections, encompassing all medical specialties. Membership of the RSM is diverse and whilst primarily catering for the needs of Medical Doctors its membership includes nurses, dentists, veterinary surgeons and other health professionals such as physiotherapists.
Louise took over the two-year Presidency on 1st October. Her immediate predecessor was Dr Anthony Ordman, Consultant in Pain Medicine and founder of the Pain Medicine Clinic at the Royal Free Hospital, London.
Louise said: "I am delighted to have the honour of serving as Section President and together as a Section Council we hope to build the profile of the RSM as a source of education for veterinary as well as medical specialists."
Surrey-based Sarah Taylor and Zoe Daley launched the website earlier this year with a range which includes the Medicat wrap to make it easier to medicate and examine cats, and the Slumberpet Recovery Coat for dogs and for cats, for maintaining temperature during anaesthetics.
In addition, they've got a range of funky scrub caps, plus ID tags for your scissors and stethoscopes, fob watches, scrub hats and pens.
Paracetamol is one of the most commonly-used drugs worldwide, available to buy over the counter for humans, and for dogs (as Pardale-V tablets, which contain paracetamol together with codeine).
Andrea Tarr, Veterinary Prescriber’s founder and director said: "Pardale-V was licensed as an over-the counter medicine for dogs in 1993, and while it might have seemed appropriate then, it doesn’t really make sense now. The prescribing information doesn’t concur with the evidence and this creates a dilemma for vets who want to prescribe paracetamol for pain relief in dogs."
She added: "There is a lot of confusion about the efficacy and safety of paracetamol in dogs. For example, is it a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug? Is it safe to use with NSAIDs in dogs as it is in people?"
Veterinary Prescriber's paracetamol review was conducted in collaboration with Gwen Covey-Crump, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia, EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, President, Comparative Medicine Network, Royal Society of Medicine.
The draft, produced after a thorough search of the published literature, was circulated unsigned to a wide range of commentators, including topic specialists and practising first-opinion vets who raise points about the interpretation of evidence, ask questions that are important to clinical practice, and present alternative viewpoints.
Veterinary Prescriber says there is a rigorous editing and checking process and the result is a module that is evidence-based, impartial and relevant to clinical practice.
Just the sort of information you need, in fact, to become a fully qualified paracetomologist.
Veterinary Prescriber modules are available by subscription: £9.95 per month for individuals (cancel anytime); £25 per month for practice subscriptions (for a 12-month contract). Practice subscribers also get 12 month's free access to https://cpd.veterinaryprescriber.org for their vet nurses, vet receptionists and SQPs.
The students are being given the chance to treat cats, dogs and rabbits coming into the RSPCA centre under the supervision of its resident veterinary surgeon, Joanne Henstock.
The placement offers them valuable skills in dealing with animals which have received little or no veterinary care in the past and often arrive at the shelter in an extremely poor condition.
Ella Carpenter, RSPCA Animal Centre Manager, said: "The students are familiar with seeing pets which have been well cared for by their owners and it can be shocking for them to witness the state in which some of the animals arrive at our shelter.
"In particular, they see the, often life-threatening, impact it can have on an animal when it hasn’t received care considered to be fundamental veterinary medicine, such as flea or worming treatments.
"We commonly see animals that arrive with little or no medical history, so they can practice a back to basics, 'treat what we see', approach. And they learn about the challenges we face in providing the best possible care for large numbers of animals, many with complex medical needs, while working within the finite resources of a charity which relies entirely on public donations."
Malcolm Cobb, Professor of Comparative Veterinary Medicine and Deputy Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, said: "We are really excited to be working with the RSPCA at Radcliffe. There is a very large and varied case load for our students to assist with, learn from and help to manage, including some cases of neglect which they might not see elsewhere, and which can represent a significant clinical challenge."
Photo: Jo Henstock (Associate Vet RSPCA), Bramble the Beagle, Sophie Isaacs (Final Year Vet Student), © The University of Nottingham
There are nine candidates standing in this year’s RCVS Council election, including five existing Council members eligible for re-election and four candidates not currently on Council. They are:
Dr Linda Belton MRCVS
Dr Niall Connell MRCVS
Mr John C Davies MRCVS
Dr Joanna (Jo) Dyer MRCVS
Professor Timothy (Tim) Greet FRCVS
Professor John Innes FRCVS
Dr Thomas (Tom) Lonsdale MRCVS
Dr Katherine (Kate) Richards MRCVS
Mr Peter Robinson MRCVS
Following the changes made to the College’s governance arrangements last year, after a Legislative Reform Order changing the size and composition of Council was passed by Parliament, there will be only three elected places available for the candidates, as opposed to six in the years prior to the governance changes.
Ballot papers and candidates' details are due to be posted and emailed to all veterinary surgeons eligible to vote during the week commencing 25 March, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 26 April 2019.
In order to give the electorate a better idea of why each candidate is standing and ask them for their views on particular issues, this year the College is again inviting members of the profession to 'Quiz the candidates' by putting their questions directly to the candidates. Each candidate will be invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received, and produce a video recording of their answers.
Recordings will be published on the RCVS website and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos) on the week the election commences.
The biographies and statements for each candidate in the RCVS Council election can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote19.
Vets should email their question (NB only one per person) to vetvote19@rcvs.org.uk or send it to the College’s Twitter account @theRCVS using the hashtag #vetvote19 by midday on Monday 4 March 2019.
The awards, which recognise the achievements of remarkable people from the veterinary, farming and charity industries, were hosted by TV presenter and animal lover, Matt Baker, and Chris Laurence MBE FRCVS, who was also chair of the judging panel.
Chris said: "Once again the breadth of nominations for the Welfare Awards has amazed and enthused the judging panel. The new categories this year have been well supported and widened the field of nominees as well as increasing the number of nominations. There have been some outstanding finalists and those who have won should be justifiably proud to have done so against some stiff competition. Of course, the real winners in all this are the animals whose welfare has been improved and the message that has given about the importance of animal welfare to those who have come into contact with all the nominees."
The other award winners were:
Vet Nurse of the Year Award in association with Agria Pet InsuranceRachel Wright, TOLFA
Charity Team of the Year Award in association with PDSAEbony Horse Club, Brixton
Charitable Contribution of the Year Award in association with Blue Cross Fiona Gammell, Wicklow Animal Welfare
Farmer of the Year Award in association with R.A.B.I.David Finlay, Rainton Farm, Castle Douglas
Farm Educator of the Year in association with NADISJames Griffiths from Taynton Court Farm, Gloucester
International Cat Care Welfare of the Year AwardIan MacFarlaine, chief inspector of SPCA in Bermuda
Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare Award in association with Your Dog and Your Cat Professor Jacky Reid, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow and CEO of the research company, NewMetrica.
Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health UK and Ireland said: "The vision, dedication and hard work demonstrated by each and every award winner is truly outstanding. We had a brilliant evening celebrating our remarkable winners and would like to congratulate each and every one of them on their fantastic achievement."
Photo: Chris Laurence, Adele Waters (Vet Record), Hannah Capon and Matt Baker.
Leishmaniosis is caused by the parasite Leishmania infantum, which is endemic in some areas of Europe, but not in the UK. The patient in this case had not travelled outside the UK.
In endemic areas, the infection is carried by female sand-flies and spread through sand-fly bites. Transmission has also been reported via dog bites from an infected dog and infected blood transfusions, although the RVC says these routes have not been reported in the UK before.
Dogs with Leishmaniosis display a range of signs that can take months to years to develop after initial infection. Typical signs include:
Weight loss
Lack of energy or enthusiasm
Increased thirst and increased urination
Changes to the skin (particularly around the eyes, ears and feet)
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Lameness due to joint pain
Sudden nose bleeds
Soreness around the eyes
Treatment is available for dogs with leishmaniosis, but infection is difficult to clear and long-term medication is therefore frequently needed. Leishmaniosis can be zoonotic - meaning it can be passed to people in rare situations.
Apparently there is another leishmaniosis case reported in the Veterinary Record this week, this time where the dog was suspected of contracting the disease via sand-flies unintentionally brought back in its owners' luggage following a trip to Spain.
Myles McKenna said: "It is important to take note of this first reported case of likely dog-to-dog transmission of Leishmania infantum in the UK. Historically we had considered this to be a condition affecting dogs with a travel history to areas where Leishmania infantum is endemic. Dog-to-dog transmission in non-endemic areas has previously been reported, for example in the USA, but this case serves as a reminder to UK veterinary surgeons that we must be vigilant for conditions such as Leishmania in non-travelled dogs and that alternative transmission mechanisms do exist."
The Vet Record has published four recommendations to protect dogs and humans in the UK from leishmaniosis.
Photo: Bone marrow cytology showing macrophages with numerous intracellular organisms consistent with Leishmania species amastigotes. Credit Charalampos Attipa
Sue qualified from Cambridge in 1984 and then spent time in mixed practice in Devon before taking her Certificate and then British and European Diplomas in Veterinary Dermatology.
Sue has been an RCVS and European Specialist for more than 20 years. She has recently been elected as a Fellow of the RCVS for meritorious contributions to clinical practice, is an elected member of the RCVS Council and is the Senior Vice President of the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology.
Sue is the Veterinary Director of two companies: Veterinary Dermatological Ltd, a manufacturer of a range of veterinary dermatology supplements, and Virtual Vet Derms, a veterinary telemedicine company. She has published seven text books as well as writing numerous peer reviewed articles and contributing chapters to both small animal and equine text books. She lectures extensively in Europe and America.
During her Presidency, Sue intends to consolidate everything she believes to be great about the Association. She said: "BSAVA has just completed a three-year strategic plan and my Presidency is going to be all about driving this forward. There are so many new initiatives in the pipeline I can’t wait to get started. I am looking forward to working with my dynamic teams of BSAVA officers and our amazing Woodrow House staff to show just how great BSAVA really is."
Professor Ian Ramsey becomes Vice President.
The urinary products, which are made to provide tailored nutritional solutions for cats and dogs with urinary issues, are available in both wet pouches and dry kibble.
The company simultaneously introduced a new urinary diagnostic tool: the Royal Canin Hematura Detection by Blücare.
The tool is made up of granules which are put in a cat’s litter tray and which turn blue if they detect blood in the urine. Royal Canin says it is a revolutionary diagnostic aid that will be able to prevent feline lower urinary tract disease developing any further.
John O’Connor, Corporate Affairs Director at Royal Canin, said: "We are constantly looking to evolve our offer and provide the very best in nutrition. We have simplified our ranges making it easier to navigate and choose the right product for each cat and dog, created a new premium pack design and developed our best veterinary nutritional solutions.
"It was imperative that we worked very closely with the veterinary community in making this bold transformation so we consulted with vets and vet nurses, in addition to pet owners from across the world."
At the same time as paying the fee, all veterinary surgeons must annually confirm their Register and correspondence details, declare any convictions, cautions or adverse findings and confirm they are compliant with RCVS continuing professional development (CPD) policy.
The deadline for completing the annual renewal, 1 April 2019, has now passed and all veterinary surgeons who are yet to pay their fees must do so before the end of May 2019. As of 1 June 2019, any non-payers will be removed from the Register.
If paid by 30 April 2019, the annual fee is £340 for UK-practising veterinary surgeons, £170 for veterinary surgeons practising outside the UK, and £56 for non-practising veterinary surgeons. Following this date, the fee goes up by £35 across all these groups and veterinary surgeons will have until 31 May 2019 to pay.
If the renewal fee is not received in full by 31 May 2019, then non-paying veterinary surgeons will be removed from the Register. In order to restore their name to the Register, a restoration fee of £340 will need to be paid, in addition to the appropriate retention fee. During this time they will not be able to use the postnominals MRCVS and UK-practising vets will need to cease practising.
Annual renewals can be completed online on the RCVS website and all the information needed to complete the annual renewal is in the renewal notice that has been sent to veterinary surgeons. Those who need any help or have any questions about completing their renewal and paying fees should contact the RCVS Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or registration@rcvs.org.uk.
The course starts in October 2019 and lasts 12 months.
The programme is based around nine days of expert-led small group hands-on practical sessions at CPD Solutions' Training Centre near Birmingham, where participants will develop their existing dentistry skills and learn new techniques.
The company says decision-making is a key focus, as is reflective application of new skills in practice.
CPD Solutions says its PgCerts have unique benefits and differences from other options available, specifically that:
its courses have a stronger emphasis on practical training with all attendance sessions of a practical nature, and no lecture days.
its attendance days are grouped into three sessions rather than the more common monthly attendance.
its programme runs for 12 months, as opposed to many of the alternatives which run for 2-5 years.
Susie Coughlan, Managing Director at CPD Solutions, said: "Our experience is that vets get the most out of hands-on practical training in a structured and supportive environment, combined with reflective application of their new skills in practice.
"We set out to replicate this with the new PgCert in Small Animal Dentistry – all attendance sessions are practical, and the course provides support for developing reflective work-based learning that vets can then use throughout their careers. The format is in keeping with the RCVS CPD focus on outcomes based learning and critical reflective practice."
For more information, ring 0151 328 0444 or visit www.pgcertdent.com
The Puppy Contract was launched in 2012 to help prospective buyers navigate the steps leading up to the purchase of a new puppy. It includes a ten-step guide which considers things like which type of dog is most suited to a buyer’s situation and specific needs, and the questions to ask a breeder about socialisation, vaccination, microchipping and health tests.
The latest BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that while awareness of The Puppy Contract among companion animal vets has almost doubled since 2015 (from 29% to 56%), it is thought that no more than 2.5% of clients are actually using it.
Nevertheless, 85% of vets said using The Puppy Contract benefits and informs owners, and 20% recommend it to clients at least sometimes.
Half of the vets who were aware of The Puppy Contract said that pet owners did not come to them for advice on buying a puppy. That's a missed opportunity, both to start building a relationship with the prospective client at the earliest opportunity and to recommend the contract and thereby have a positive impact on animal welfare.
As regards the latter, it is worth noting some other BVA stats, notably that 10% of vets said they commonly saw dogs last year with health issues linked to where they were bought from, nearly a third noted brachycephalic issues or other congenital and conformation problems stemming from poor purchasing decisions and 22% saw dogs not suited to their environment.
BVA Junior Vice President and AWF Trustee Daniella Dos Santos said: "As vets, we see first-hand the tragic consequences resulting from puppies bought without proper research into breed suitability and welfare needs, the conditions they have been bred in, or vaccination and microchipping records. As a result, many of these puppies often present with disease, welfare issues and behavioural problems, leading to heartache and financial costs for the new owners.
"It’s extremely encouraging to see that more than half of companion animal vets are now aware of The Puppy Contract and recognise its immense benefits. But with many pet owners still not aware that their vet can be an invaluable first stop for advice on the right pet for them, it’s important that we promote pre-purchase consultations to ensure prospective owners make an informed choice and get a healthy, happy and well-socialised pet from a responsible breeder."
AWF Chair of Trustees Chris Laurence said: "We believe that every dog should be born with the best possible chance of living a healthy and happy life, which is why we created The Puppy Contract as a free tool to empower puppy buyers to make an informed decision when buying a puppy. As trusted experts, vets are in a unique position to use their influence to encourage clients to use The Puppy Contract, whether they are breeding dogs or looking for a new best friend to join the family."
For more information and to download the Puppy Contract, see: https://puppycontract.org.uk/
You can download and display AWF’s Puppy Contract poster in your practice: www.animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk/puppy-contract.
Davies says the new treatment is appropriate for dogs with severe diffuse elbow dysplasia, where cartilage wear results in bone rubbing against bone, called medial compartment disease (MCD). In these cases, Davies says that the prognosis is typically poor but now CUE is providing a promising alternative surgical option when arthroscopic and non-surgical options have failed.
The surgery involves partial resurfacing of the elbow joint. By focusing on the specific area of disease in the medial compartment, the CUE implant provides a less invasive bone-sparing option for resurfacing the bone-on-bone medial compartment while preserving the dog’s own good cartilage in the lateral compartment. Davies says that in most dogs, the technique significantly improves the pain and lameness that was caused by bone-on-bone grinding.
Unlike total elbow replacements, CUE does not require major bone cutting. On average, recovery tends to be significantly faster with progressive improvement peaking six months after surgery.
Mike Farrell, EBVS European and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics) at Davies recently performed a successful CUE procedure on Rubee, an 11-year-old Labradoodle diagnosed with severe MCD. At the recheck, six weeks after surgery Mike said: "Rubee’s early response to CUE has been nothing short of astonishing. I would have been pleased if she had made the improvement seen today after six months rather than six weeks."
Louise Clark Head of Anaesthesia and the Pain Clinic at Davies Veterinary Specialists continued: "CUE potentially provides a surgical alternative for what is currently an incredibly frustrating condition to manage and one that causes animals a lot of pain, and owners a great deal of angst.
"Arguably it is an ethically robust procedure because it can dramatically reduce patient pain with a relatively well defined risk of complications in a patient cohort that is otherwise at risk of euthanasia because of elbow disease."
For more information, visit: https://vetspecialists.co.uk/services/orthopaedics/
Amongst other things, the plans offer 24/7 telephone counselling from GPs and trained counsellors.
Simplyhealth Professional’s Head Veterinary Officer, Gudrun Ravetz (pictured right), said: "Veterinary practice is a 24/7 job and it can be difficult for the veterinary team to access GP and counselling appointments during the day and of course, a mental or physical health crisis can hit at any time of the day or night. Access to the telephone care line ensures staff can freely access potentially life-saving advice and support at their time of greatest need, no matter when or where."
Optimise health plans also include access to the online myWellbeing portal which offers advice on a range of subjects, including childcare and eldercare responsibilities, finance and legal issues.
The plans also provide employees with free health evaluation tools and cashback on services including sight tests, dental treatment, diagnostics, physiotherapy and even prescription costs.
Lastly, Optimise health plans encourage leisure activities by offering discounts on sports equipment, gym membership and healthy family days out.
Gudrun added: "By providing access to talking therapies and removing some of the barriers to self-care, the Simplyhealth Optimise plans aim to support practices who want to ensure their staff can easily access the tools they need to maintain a healthy mind and body. Knowing that your practice cares enough about your wellbeing to put a care plan in place is very attractive to new recruits and existing staff alike."
Practice owners and managers can find out more by talking to their Simplyhealth Professionals Business Consultant, visit www.simplyhealthprofessionals.co.uk or call 0800 328 3233.
Having listened to the recording, it strikes me that the Veterinary Record has misinterpreted Mr Innes, and the danger is that his perfectly valid point will now get drowned in a sea of outrage.
What Mr Innes actually said was: "I think it is time to start creating a more fulfilling, more rewarding career for our nurses, and I think that the Americans are showing us the way. They have vet techs and I think that we can do that; I think that isn't the, necessarily the answer, but one it will create a much more rewarding career for veterinary nurses and also some of the reason that vets leave is because they don't like the mundane stuff, so let's give the mundane stuff to nurses.
Considering the overall context of what he said, it is glaringly obvious Mr Innes champions the idea of giving nurses a more rewarding role. So the idea that he was saying: 'Let's give the shit jobs to nurses' is frankly ludicrous.
It is obvious that what he actually meant was 'Let's give some of the stuff that vets find mundane to nurses.' He just didn't express it as well as he might have done.
Mundanity is subjective. What is mundane for a vet is not necessarily mundane for a veterinary nurse, particularly one who has been relegated to sweeping floors for any length of time.
Mr Innes has come in for quite a lot of flack for some of his comments recently. I'm not sure about the other stuff, but on this, he is clearly not guilty.
You can agree or disagree with his view that nurses could be given greater responsibility and vets could delegate some of the tasks they find mundane.
But it would be a great shame if his point got drowned in a sea of outrage over semantics.
The range comprises of a detangling pre-wash, a cleansing shampoo and a fragrant conditioner, all of which are pH balanced and formulated using natural ingredients and a blend of essential oils designed to make bathtime a calmer experience.
The products all come in 300ml bottles with a list price of £6; RRP £12.
The Pet Remedy range can be ordered direct from Animalcare on 01904 487687 (orders@animalcare.co.uk) or from your veterinary wholesaler.