From early 2025, all vets, nurses and technicians will be required to wear a hard hat in the vicinity of a horse, pony or donkey – whether in practice, on a yard, or at a client’s premises.
It follows a three-year research project collaborating with the University of Liverpool which revealed that 90% of veterinary clinicians have experienced an injury during their career.
It is hoped that the move will reduce injuries to the head – one of the most common traumas to be suffered by equine vets identified by the research, usually sustained when examining distal limbs. CVS says that in the US, equine vets sustain on average eight serious injuries during their career, making it the second highest profession for non-fatal injuries.
The University of Liverpool research found that over 25% of equine vet injuries have led to hospital attendance. Dr. John Tulloch, Lecturer and European Specialist in Veterinary Public Health at the University of Liverpool, who led the research, said: “Vet visits are not an ‘everyday activity’ for a horse.
"As a result, many horses will be on heightened alert, and some may be more prone to unpredictable behaviour. “Vets are often in a vulnerable situation when examining a horse.
"And it’s difficult to pick up on a horses’ signals, especially when examining areas such as distal limbs. “Our research found that many injuries happen when a horse kicks or pushes a person over and the person’s head makes impact with the ground.
"So, wearing a hard hat will be a big step towards preventing traumatic head injuries if this were to happen.” Sophie Ignarski, Equine Director at CVS said: “All of our clinicians are at risk in their day-to-day work – whether they are newly qualified or very experienced.
"Other colleagues including nurses, vet techs and patient care assistants are similarly vulnerable. “We decided to make wearing of hard hats mandatory in order to protect all of our colleagues and minimise the potential risk of head injury, understanding it can never be fully eliminated.
"We recognise that this policy shift represents a degree of change but hope that it serves to further support and progress the equine veterinary industry more widely. “Our policy is evidence-based, utilising three years of rigorous research, and we will continue our efforts in the future to grow our knowledge and understanding of this important area.
"By doing so, we join other industries – such as construction – who have already adopted similar changes to the extent they are now established in their culture.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587725001266
Underlying the strategic plan are what the College says are its four updated values of compassion, collaboration, clarity and courage.
The plan lays out four strategic ambitions, each focused on one of its stakeholder groups, each one under the banner of 'Stronger Together'.
Veterinary professionals: "The RCVS will help veterinary professionals meet high standards and champion accessible, team-based veterinary care, delivered in settings that support professional autonomy and leadership."
This includes reviewing the Code of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, achieving new veterinary legislation and ensuring that educational standards and career pathways meet the diverse needs of society.
Animal owners and keepers: "The RCVS will support animal health and welfare and public health by enabling access to veterinary care informed by the needs of consumers and service users."
This includes supporting and informing the public in how to get the best from veterinary professionals, with increased transparency, agency and choice.
Society at large: "The RCVS will champion the role that veterinary professionals play in One Health and public health, take a leadership role on environmental sustainability and biodiversity, and continue to look at how it can play a role in the global veterinary professions."
This includes leading the conversation on issues such as the cost of veterinary care, building enthusiasm for veterinary work in the minds of the next generation of potential professionals and ensuring veterinary professionals responsible for public health are well supported with robust standards and safeguards.
Staff team and governance: "The RCVS will attract and retain the diversity of talent and skills to deliver what’s needed now and anticipate what might be next and build a culture that allows people to thrive."
This includes developing an infrastructure for success, including the new RCVS headquarters, and underpinning structures for finance, communications and digital, creating a working culture with sound values and supportive management.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, said: “The overall theme of the plan recognises that there are many other individuals and organisations that have a stake in our mission to inspire confidence in veterinary care and protect the public interest by ensuring animal health and welfare, and public health, are advanced through thriving world-class veterinary professions.
“This is where the ‘stronger together’ comes in, recognising that, in our role as a royal college that regulates, we are very well placed to bring people and organisations together to meet our common purpose of improved animal health and welfare and public health in a collaborative, proactive way.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/strategy25
Mr Wood faced three charges, all relating to allegations of misconduct over a laboratory test for an alpaca while he was working at a practice in South Oxfordshire.
The charges alleged that in September 2023, Mr Wood told the alpaca’s owner that it had tested positive for Johne’s disease when in fact, the animal had not been tested.
He then allegedly sent a letter confirming a positive test result for the test that had not taken place, and then created a false test result report in the name of a veterinary surgeon colleague and sent it to another colleague by email.
He later told the alpaca's owner that he had given her the wrong result by mistake and that the test result was actually negative.
Then in October 2023, he emailed the laboratory saying that a member of his practice’s administrative staff had written the false report.
In November he told the managing partner of his then employer on three occasions that he was investigating the false report in order to find out who sent it.
Finally, he sent a misleading and dishonest email to a veterinary surgeon colleague falsely indicating that a member of the practice’s staff had manufactured the false report, when that was not the case.
At the outset of the hearing Mr Wood admitted the facts of all the allegations against him.
Having found the facts proven, the Committee found that the charges amounted to serious professional misconduct, something which Mr Wood himself also admitted.
The Committee identified a number of aggravating factors in Mr Woods' conduct, including his lack of honesty, probity and integrity, the fact the conduct was premeditated, that it involved a breach of the client’s trust, the abuse of his professional position, the fact the conduct was sustained and repeated over a period of time, and that his conduct contravened advice given by the RCVS.
The mitigating factors included positive testimonials from professional former colleagues and client farmers, the fact that he had engaged in some remediation in order to avoid repeating the dishonest behaviour, and that he showed significant insight into his misconduct.
Dr Neil Slater MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee recognised that the serious repeated dishonesty, which was to conceal wrongdoing, made the respondent’s misconduct particularly serious.
“It therefore gave consideration as to whether his conduct was fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon and whether removal was the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case.
“The Committee considered that this was a particularly difficult case to reconcile, as, on the one hand the misconduct was so serious whereas on the other hand, the respondent had demonstrated significant insight; the risk of repetition was low; the evidence of his professional achievements was strong and the testimonials from client farmers and professional colleagues were impressive.”
He added: “The Committee considers that suspension is sufficient in the circumstances of this case to satisfy public confidence in the profession and to uphold proper professional standards of conduct and behaviour.
"The Committee therefore imposes a suspension of 18 months on the respondent.
"In determining this length, the Committee considered that this was the least period necessary in order to meet the significant public interest considerations in this case.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings
The webinars cover a range of clinical topics, including evaluating Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), cognitive decline in senior dogs, cannabinoid therapy, feline weight loss, corneal ulcers and seizure management.
Vet and Tech says the 10-session series features speakers from top veterinary institutions.
The webinars are available both both live and on-demand.
https://www.vetandtech.com/webinars
The six-floor building, which the College bought for £22.3m in 2022, was originally a warehouse.
Over the years it has been home to a range of businesses from leather manufacturers and papers makers to lithographic plate makers and shoe upping manufacturers, before becoming an office space.
The building remained tenanted until 2024, when £5.8m worth of renovation work to convert the building into a space suitable for a royal college began.
In addition to the working areas for RCVS and RCVS Knowledge staff, the building also has:
RCVS CEO, Lizzie Lockett, said: “After a few years in a rented co-working office space, we’re delighted to have moved into our new home, designed not only to meet the needs of College staff, but to support the broader ambitions of the RCVS as a whole.
“Our new strategic plan has collaboration at its heart – the idea of being stronger through working together – and our new building will help us to achieve that.
“Whether attending events, exploring RCVS Knowledge’s archives, using the members' area and meeting rooms, or benefitting from the outputs that the new space enables, the building has been developed with members and associates as a central focus.”
RCVS President, Linda Belton, added: "It’s great to see what’s been achieved through this project and my thanks go to the team who have managed the refurbishment and move.
“The new premises are equipped to ensure that the voice of the veterinary professions remains integral in assuring animal health, welfare, and public health in the UK, allowing for those all-important stakeholder conversations essential to setting, upholding and advancing veterinary standards.
“We look forward to welcoming members, associates, students and stakeholders alike in the coming months and years.”
Apparently the commonly reported use of AI technology was for radiography diagnostics and reporting (44%), followed by laboratory diagnostics and reporting (27%), communications with clients (11%) or to assist with administrative work (7%).
Vets were asked about the benefits and risks of using AI technology in their work.
The most common reported benefit was data interpretation (55%), followed by diagnostic testing (49%), saving time more generally (40%) and for routine admin tasks or note taking (38%).
The most commonly reported risks of AI were the possibility that results are interpreted without context (83%) or that AI is used incorrectly, without follow up checks (82%).
The other reported risks were an overreliance on AI undermining human skills (68%) and a lack of data protection (25%).
BVA Junior Vice President Rob Williams said: “It’s fascinating to see how many vet teams are already using AI technology in their daily work.
"The massive boom in the use of these tools represents an exciting opportunity for the profession, particularly around diagnostics and interpreting large data sets.
"But as well as benefits there are clear challenges and risks, so this timely session is a great opportunity to address some of the ethical questions around the use of technology when it comes to treating animals and ensuring their welfare.
"It’s set to be an interesting debate, with the chance for delegates to pose questions to our incredibly knowledgeable panel, and I hope many of you will join us to add your voice to the discussion.”
On the AI discussion panel at BVA Live will be: Nick Jackson, Director, Veterinary Surgeon, Council Member - NGJ Locum Ltd, Ben O'Halloran, Policy Officer - BVA and Nicolò Frisiani, Co-founder and CEO - Lupa Pets.
https://bvalive.vetshow.com/conference-programme
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
The theme for the symposium this year is ‘Advancing veterinary mental health research: learning from the past, considering the present, and looking to the future’.
The day will consist of a variety of oral presentations and poster presentations, and there will be a number of exhibitors, including charitable organisations and wider animal health and welfare organisations.
The College is inviting all those interested in the field of veterinary mental health to attend the day.
RCVS Council member and Chair of the Mind Matters Initiative, Dr Louise Allum, said: “Our symposium presents a fantastic opportunity for knowledge exchange in the veterinary mental health sphere so that, together, we can continue to foster a compassionate environment and build a solid evidence-base for veterinary mental health research to grow and evolve.
“This is an inclusive event open to all with an interest in veterinary mental health including vets, nurses, students, practice managers, academics, healthcare professionals, policy makers, mental health advocates and everyone in between.”
MMI Lead Rapinder Newton added: “We have come a long way in developing our understanding of mental health in veterinary professionals over the past ten years but still have a way to go.
“Only through continued collaboration with mental health researchers, and learning from other allied professions, can we efficiently work towards our shared goal of enhancing mental health and support within the veterinary professions.
“This is why events such as our symposium are so important.
"Veterinary mental health is a small but growing field. Creating environments for open discussion and networking are key to advancing our understanding of where the challenges lie.
"By extension, this also plays an invaluable role in learning how research can be applied in a practical manner to help improve the lives of veterinary professionals which, ultimately, aids in upholding animal health and welfare too.”
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-matters-initiative-research-symposium-2025-tickets-1247144485729
Topics include applying the principles of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), making confident diagnostic and prescribing decisions, and managing client expectations around antibiotic use within practice.
In the first episode, Tim explores how to apply the principles of AMS in the consulting room, starting with recognising when antibiotics are genuinely needed.
He explores the role of clinical signs and cytology in guiding diagnosis and treatment decisions, while also emphasising the risks of unnecessary prescribing.
The discussion also covers when empirical antibiotic use may be appropriate and how to ensure these decisions are justified.
Each episode offers practical, evidence-based insights which Krka says can be easily implemented in general practice.
The series is accompanied by downloadable Vet2Vet Insights information sheets that summarise the main take-home messages from each episode.
https://open.spotify.com/show/0uphORU03q29WncwmN2EIa
The information sheets are available here: https://www.krka.co.uk/veterinary-knowledge-hub/articles/responsible-use-of-companion-animal-antibiotics
For the research, Which? conducted an online poll of 1,009 pet owners who had had an issue with their vet in the past two years.
It also conducted qualitative interviews with 14 owners who had complained.
The most common reasons for complaint were:
Of the 1009 pet owners who had experienced some kind of problem with their vet, 57% did NOT make a complaint, 33% because they did not want to fall out with their vet.
Pet owners who wish to complain about veterinary services have three options: to complain directly to their practice, to use the voluntary Vet Client Mediation Service (VCMS), or to raise a 'concern' with the RCVS.
The Which? report found that of those who did complain to their practice, 35% were not happy with the outcome and 31% with the way it was handled.
Which? found that although the VCMS reported a high resolution rate of 84% in 2022-23, its interviewees had found it a bit hit or miss.
Finally, Which? found the process of complaining to the regulator flawed by the fact that the threshold for the College to progress a 'concern' is set so high, because College has no jurisdiction at a practice level, and because it has no sanctions to use in enforcing consumer law.
The report recommends that:
Full report: https://www.which.co.uk/policy-and-insight/article/complaints-and-redress-in-veterinary-services-a5z611X9tZzf
CommentI loved the regal response from the RCVS to The Guardian about the case studies in the Which? report: “the facts presented in the case studies do not completely align with those reported to us”.
That aside, surely the big issue here is not so much that consumers have little way to complain effectively.
That is important, of course, but isn't it more important to consider what they are complaining about, which in the main is MONEY.
Driven by the advances in veterinary medicine, the innate desire of vets to provide the best possible care, anthropomorphising pet owners saying they want 'the best' for their fur baby (without necessarily having the wherewithal), corporatisation and society's changing expectations about working conditions, prices have been going up at a rate far outstripping inflation.
Increasing prices have of course been accompanied by an increase the standards of care and the range of clinical equipment.
But the question everyone must ask is at what point the cost of veterinary care for a dog outstrips the benefits of owning one?
These complaints are the canary in the coalmine.
Biomérieux says the new test, which is used on the Biofire Spotfire System, detects seven infectious respiratory pathogens (six viruses and/or a strain of bacteria*), from a nasopharyngeal swab, in under 20 minutes.
The company says the new test’s ability to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections is important for ensuring antibiotics are used appropriately to reduce the risk of resistance.
Biomérieux says VetFire can be used to make informed decisions about when to isolate and treat animals when respiratory infections are suspected, to mitigate the impact of an outbreak in a contained area, such as a yard, by allowing rapid quarantine measures, and perhaps in time as a standard test ahead of animals travelling for competition, to ensure they are fit and healthy.
VetFire is commercially available in United Kingdom, Ireland and France, with possible expansion plans to other countries in the near future.
https://www.biomerieux.com/corp/en/our-offer/clinical-products/vetfire.html
*Equine Herpesvirus type 1, Equine Herpesvirus type 4, Influenza A, Equine Rhinovirus A, Equine Rhinovirus B, Equine Adenovirus 1, Streptococcus equi equi
The maps provide vets with a visual representation of targeted diagnostic tests conducted in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the UK, using data sourced from Idexx.
They show the percentage of positive test results for a range of parasites and parasite-associated infections in dogs and cats, including Giardia, roundworm, and whipworm, and Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi), Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Leishmania in dogs.
Data can be filtered by country, region, animal species, parasite type, and time period.
ESCCAP highlights that the data reflects the percentage of positive tests in screened animals, not the overall prevalence of infection.
https://www.esccap.org/parasite-infection-map/
BSAVA Congress was first held in London in 1958, when 245 vets attended.
In 1991, it became the first organisation to host its annual congress at the newly-built ICC Birmingham, where it remained for nearly three decades, growing from an initial 1,800 delegates to welcoming 10,000 delegates and exhibitors in 2012.
Somehow, though, it never lost that sense of community that came with it being the annual event of a membership association.
The editor of this website has many fond memories, including delivering bottles of 'Bugwiser', 'Kronenbug', 'Carlsbug', 'Catfleas' (Caffreys) and 'Bug Iced' to delegates' hotel bedrooms to promote Program flea treatment and organising a spoof protest march against fleas with the charity Dogs for the Disabled, which proved immune to the ICC security team (one of whom was heard radioing: "But we can't move them on, they're in wheelchairs".
However, in 2009, competition arrived in the form of the London Vet Show.
In 2018, the decision was made to move Congress North to Manchester, but then of course COVID hit, forcing the cancellation of the last Birmingham Congress and the first Manchester one in 2021.
Sadly, there was probably never going to be room for two major congresses for the veterinary profession - especially with the rise of online learning - and the one in the capital city was always likely to win that particular battle.
BSAVA says it is now focussing its resources on new initiatives that it believes will better serve its members.
President Julian Hoad said: “The BSAVA needs to adapt as the landscape changes and as the profession continues to innovate and grow.
"We’ve conducted extensive research with our members on their education and development needs and the future requirements of the wider profession.
"It’s clear that we need to adapt to offer more agile solutions which will bring huge benefits to vets and veterinary nurses.
"With that in mind, the BSAVA has decided that it’s time to retire Congress.
"We believe we will deliver better value to our members by pursuing new opportunities and developing more versatile product innovations.
"As an organisation we’re extremely proud of the legacy Congress leaves behind.
"It's been a cherished and valuable event for the profession over the last 68 years, and we want to thank all who’ve been part of that legacy.”
The College says that the course is suitable for veterinary surgeons who:
The course does not offer clinical training, but the College says it will help vets identify areas for improvement and support them in building confidence and competence.
It also offers guidance on wellbeing and mentorship.
The snappily job titled Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager in the Advancement of the Professions Team, said: "As part of our commitment to supporting the workforce ambitions this is a course that can support not just the returning vets but also offers insight to those who will be supporting them.
"Vets who have taken career breaks have often gained a huge wealth of skills which, combined with their veterinary training, makes them assets to their new teams and the professions.
“The course covers key topics to bring vets up to date with many of the professional aspects of working as a vet and also includes a range of additional content to support their journey, such as practical tips for returning, important recent updates on prescribing, as well as reflective practice and lifelong learning.
"The course also contains video interviews with vets who have already returned, offering valuable insights into how they approached their journey.
The course takes around three hours to complete.
https://academy.rcvs.org.uk
The updated content includes instructions on interpreting blood test results and dosing with Felimazole (thiamazole), which is now available as both a tablet and a honey-flavoured oral solution.
The new Felimazole Oral Solution formulation is presented in a syringe graduated in 0.25 mg increments to ensure accurate dosing.
Thomas Johnson, Dechra companion animal brand manager said: “Consistent management and accurate treatment is key to enabling cats with feline hyperthyroidism to lead long and healthy lives.”
Dechra’s Endocrine app already covers Addison’s disease and canine Cushing’s syndrome. The inclusion of feline hyperthyroidism content aims to provide a single resource for veterinarians managing endocrine disorders in companion animals.
Dechra’s Endocrine app is available at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
https://www.dechra.co.uk/products#/search=Felimazole
Mr Kane was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months in September 2024.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years until he had passed an extended driving test, and was ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, and to pay a victim surcharge of £187.
It was alleged that the conviction rendered Mr Kane unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse.
From the outset, Mr Kane admitted the facts contained in the charge, but did not accept that this rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse.
After the criminal proceedings, Mr Kane wrote to express his deepest regret for his actions and the pain and guilt they had caused, stating that there was not a single day that had passed that he had not thought about the family that was affected by his actions, and the lifelong consequences that they now face.
He went on to express that he understood that as a member of a trusted profession, his conduct must reflect not only his clinical competence, but also his integrity and accountability.
He also noted that he had sought to recognise and address the consequences of his actions and that he is determined to make a positive contribution to society and to the profession.
The Committee found the charge proved on the basis of Mr Kane’s admission and the Certificate of Conviction.
The Committee found a number of factors relevant to the case:
The question for the Committee was whether Mr Kane’s conviction of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, when put into proper context, rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse.
This was not a conviction in any way linked to his practise and there was no suggestion that he represented any sort of a risk to animals in his care.
The Committee was not, therefore, concerned with any issues arising out of the need to protect animals, but rather with whether a finding of unfitness to practise was needed to uphold standards of conduct and behaviour in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.
Kathryn Peaty, Chair of the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee took into account the public interest which includes maintaining public confidence in the profession and the regulator and upholding proper standards in the profession.
"The public interest also includes allowing an otherwise competent veterinary nurse to continue in practice, where appropriate.
“Agreeing with the judge that this was indeed an exceptional case, the Committee did not consider that Mr Kane’s conduct was liable to have a seriously detrimental effect on the reputation of the profession and concluded that the public, in full knowledge of the circumstances of this particular case, would not expect a finding that the conviction renders him unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse.
"Rather, the public would recognise that whilst the consequences were appalling and tragic for the family involved, in terms of Mr Kane’s culpability this was a momentary piece of dangerous driving, categorised by the judge as a ‘mistake’ rather than anything more blameworthy.
“The Committee therefore concluded that Mr Kane’s conviction does not render him unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse.
"This is not to in any way detract from the catastrophic consequences for the family, but rather is to reflect the context, exceptional circumstances and level of culpability in this case.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/
Zoetis says that the problem appears not to be an endemic wellbeing issue for which the answer might be to develop greater individual resilience, but rather it is a symptom of the working environment itself, fuelled by structural, cultural and economic factors.
This, the company argues, means that concentrating on individual resilience may be misguided, and a new approach is needed, one that addresses the environmental factors at play.
The white paper identifies three areas for change:
Firstly, a complete reimagining of the veterinary workplace with more flexible and sustainable working models.
This includes considering more flexible work rotas, using technology to ease workloads, and enhancing the supporting role of veterinary nurses.
Indeed the most important factor in improving workplace wellbeing and professional satisfaction, cited by 27% of vets, was to better train veterinary nurses to take on more responsibility.
Secondly, finding ways to adapt to meet growing and varied client needs.
The white paper recommends enhancing communication training, adopting technology for better client management, and offering more support for vets when managing emotionally challenging conversations with clients.
Finally, the paper calls for a rethink over how vets are selected for in the first place.
Currently, the profession draws from a pool of 96% white, 29% fee-paying, largely female people who are not representative of the market they serve.
Greater diversity in the profession, Zoetis says, delivers social benefits, strategic advantages and workplaces with broader perspectives and greater psychological safety.
Stephanie Armstrong, Regional President at Zoetis, said: “Addressing retention in the veterinary field requires looking beyond individual well-being to systemic factors.
"By fostering better work environments and providing support, we can help ensure that veterinarians continue to provide vital services to our communities.”
Zoetis is urging stakeholders across the veterinary and animal health sector to review the white paper’s insights and join a collective effort to implement solutions.
https://www2.zoetis.co.uk/about-zoetis/news-media/knowledge-hub/transforming-veterinary-practice-for-the-21st-century
Unlike traditional PCR tests, Rhea molecular diagnostic tests need no lab equipment, allowing them to be used directly in the field.
The first panel test in the new range is Rhéa Vector-Borne Diseases, which simultaneously detects four major pathogens in under 40 minutes: Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma spp. (including A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum), and Borrelia spp.
Enalees says the Rhéa range addresses a growing need in the sector, enabling vets to act quickly and accurately.
https://www.enalees.com
Do you have an interesting or unusual small animal medicine case that would be suitable to present as an oral abstract? The Small Animal Medicine Society (SAMSoc) is currently inviting submissions for the case report session during the pre BSAVA satellite meeting on April 1st 2009.
This Competition is open to anyone with an interest in canine or feline medicine. Suitable cases should have interesting discussion points but need not necessarily be so unusual that they would be considered publishable.
Three case reports will be selected by the SAMSOC committee for presentation during the meeting (12 minutes plus 3 minute for questions).
Successful selection entitles the author to free registration for the meeting.
At the end of the session the audience will vote by ballot for their favourite case report. Each presenter will then be awarded a prize which has been kindly donated by Vetoquinol: 1st place £300, 2nd place £150, 3rd place £50.
If you are interested in submitting a case report for consideration please contact Alison Ridyard (Alison.Ridyard@ed.ac.uk.) for details.
The deadline for submission is February 1st 2009
We're delighted to announce details of the SAMSoc Pre-BSAVA Satellite Meeting:
Date: Wednesday April 1st 2009Venue: Hall 8a, ICC, Birmingham
Timetable:
8.30 - 9am
Registration
9 - 10
Thoracic CT
Charlotte Whatmough (UK)
10 - 11
Thoracoscopy for medics
Eric Monnet (USA)
11 - 11.30
Break
11.30-12.15
Case Reports - sponsored by Vetoquinol
12.15 - 1.15
Current management of Diabetes Mellitus in people
Dr Aldibbiat (UK)
1.15 -2.30
Lunch
2.30-3.30
A logical approach to changed mental status
Natasha Olby (USA)
3.30-4.30
Interpretation of bone marrow cytology
Reinhard Mischke (Germany)
4.30-5pm
AGM
Satellite meeting fees (lunch is included) - members £65, Non members £95. SAMSOC annual membership - £25
We would like to invite submission of interesting case reports. There will be three presentations each lasting 12 minutes (plus 3 minutes for questions). If you have a case that you would like to present please e-mail an outline (up to 500 words) to Alison.Ridyard@ed.ac.uk by the 1st February 2009. The programme co-ordinators will review the submissions and inform people of the selected cases by the 1st March 2009. This is a chance for sharing your interesting and unusual cases with the group and we look forward to some interesting submissions. This year in addition to free registration, there will be prizes for the best case reports (first prize £300, second £150 , third £50).
If you are interested in joining the society or attending the meeting contact medicinereferrals@hotmail.com or iab@vetspecialists.co.uk. You may also click here for more details.
We would like to announce a new facility in the SAMSoc website. We are inviting members to list details of any clinical trials that they are currently undertaking, within the SAMSoc Wiki.
Our hope is that by distributing this information to our members, case recruitment for your study will increase. It may also lead to collaboration with other groups.
In time, it will also build into a valuable, searchable database of research work carried out by our members.
After completion and successful publication of any trails you have posted, we would appreciate it if you could post an abstract of the work (within the Wiki with an appropriate journal citation) for our members to view.
Details of how to upload your trail data and the information required in the post can be found in the Wiki section of the SAMSoc page (you will find Wiki in the quick links menu on the right of the page). If you have any problems please contact us.
A "News" feature will be distributed intermittently to all members to summaries deatils of recently posted trails
Our first research post is from Stijn Niessen of the RVC. He is inviting vets, nurses and owners to complete a short questionnaire on patients undergoing therapy for diabetes mellitus. Further details on how to source the questionnaires can be found in his post in the SAMSoc Wiki.
Brain Catchpole and Lucy Davidson are collaborating with a number of centres to investigate the genetic basis of several canine endocrine disorders.They are keen to recruit samples (serum and EDTA blood) from dogs suffering from the following disorders:
· neonatal diabetes mellitus (i.e. diabetes onset < 1 yr of age)
· diabetes in high risk breeds (Samoyed, Cairn terrier, Tibetan terrier, Polish Lowland Sheepdog)
· dioestrus diabetes
· lymphocytic thyroiditis / hypothyroidism
· hypoadrenocorticism
Further details can be found in the WIKI of the SAMSOC website
Other projects posted on the SAMSOC website
Stijn Nelson’s Diabetes Treatment Survey for vets, nurses and owners – further details for case recruitment can be found in the WIKI
If you would like to announce recruitment details for a clinical trial, please logo onto to the SAMSoc Wiki or contact a member of the SAMSOC committee.
If you wish to register for the SAMSoc pre-BSAVA meeting on April 2009 then please print the attached form and send the completed form and payment to the address shown.
Please note that the deadline for catering arrangements is March 13th. Lunch will only be provided to those who have registered and paid before this date!
After a record number of submissions we are please to announce that the 3 finalists have been selected. In no particular order they are
The cases will be presented during the SAMSOC day and audience voting will select the winner.
Registration forms and the speaker schedule for the SAMSOC meeting 1st April 2009 can be found on the website ( alternatively contact medicinereferrals@hotmail.com or iab@vetspecialists.co.uk ).
Note - we are unable to provide a lunch for registrations received after March 12th
Hi everyone,
We hope that everyone who was able to attend this years SAMSOC meeting enjoyed the day.
We are already starting to consider lecture subjects for next year so if you have any ideas please contact us.
Stijn is currently processing the feedback questionaires, but would like to hear from any members who did not come, particularly if it was because you didn't find the program appealing. We hope there are not many of the latter, but if you didn't like the look of the programme we would find your comments invaluable.
Alison Ridyard has stepped down from the programme commitee and we would like to thank her again for her hard work during the last five years. During the AGM Sheena Warmen was voted in as her replacement .
I am sure you will agree the case report session (sponsored by Vetoquinol) was a success. The winners based on audience voting were
Thanks again to all of the members who submitted a report and we hope we can look forward to another quality case report session next year. We are currently working on securing prize sponsership for next years submission
Picture shows: Prize winners, from left to right - Russell Roan (Vetoquinol), Flo Juvet (3rd place), Alistair Stewart (2nd place) and Lucy Goodwin (1st place), Ian Battersby
Membership renewal information attached.