CVS reports that its nationwide project to increase the use of ultrasound has led to an additional 3,675 scans being performed by both vets and nurses across its small animal division within 12 months.

The project was 'highly commended' at the RCVS Knowledge 2024 awards.

The CVS clinical improvement project found that a major barrier to conducting ultrasound scans was a lack of confidence - both in using equipment and interpreting images.

A recent Canadian industry study has also reviewed barriers, citing a lack of equipment, training and skills as root causes¹.

The ultrasound project aimed to review practice equipment, improve clinician case identification, increase clinical skills and confidence, and recommend ultrasound in all appropriate cases.

The company put together resources for vets and nurses designed to help improve ultrasound scan rates, including clinical guidelines, webinars for how to approach cases, and machine guides.

CVS then held training sessions which for vets focussed on case identification and improving diagnostic skills, and for vet nurses looked at how to use ultrasound equipment and conduct scans. 

An audit of each participating practices’ ultrasound scan rates was conducted at the start of the project. Results were then shared with each practice every month.

Twelve months after launch, data shows that the number of ultrasound scans has increased by 3,675.

Anecdotal evidence has also shown that colleague confidence and practice team culture has improved as a result of the project.

Dr Victoria Woods, Regional Clinical Lead at CVS responsible for the ultrasound clinical improvement project, said: “It’s fantastic to see the benefits increased ultrasonography is already bringing to our practices on this project – especially as a result of upskilling our nurses.

"I am certain that this will help contribute towards them providing some of the best clinical diagnosis and care in our profession.”

Following the success of the project in its first year, the project is now being developed to focus on echocardiograph and is being undertaken in 52 CVS primary care practices in year two.

Reference

1. Pelchat J, Chalhoub S, Boysen SR. The use of veterinary point-of-care ultrasound by veterinarians: A nationwide Canadian survey. Can Vet J. 2020 Dec;61(12):1278-1282. PMID: 33299243; PMCID: PMC7659883. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7659883/ 

BCF Technology has announced that it now has the 9020HF ultralight and the 10040HF ultra orange x-ray generators available in blue. 

Jason Rogers of BCF said: "Our range of generators aims to meet the needs of any size of veterinary practice. The new blue generators will compliment our existing range. The bright blue colour means they will be eye-catching in the field, meaning you wont leave them behind!"

What next? The BCF Spring Collection - a range of ultrasound scanners in pale, neutral shades guaranteed not to clash with your overalls? 

To find out more about BCF Technology's range of x-ray equipment and generators visit http://www.bcftechnology.com/

The BSAVA has put together a collection of resources on anaesthesia to support the veterinary profession during the coronavirus pandemic.

The BSAVA Library Collection, which is freely available until the end of June 2020, includes resources relating to total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and anaesthetic monitoring in addition to a new guidance document on the administration of anaesthetics during the pandemic, which has been endorsed by the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA).

Kerry Woodhouse, author of the guidance document, said: “In line with RCVS recommendations to promote safe practice and social distancing, anaesthesia for routine procedures should be stopped during the current restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will however remain a need for anaesthetics for emergency and urgent procedures on welfare grounds. This guidance document provides practical information on administering anaesthesia while conserving oxygen supplies."

BSAVA President, Sue Paterson added: “The potential prioritisation of oxygen cylinders into human medicines means that we must be ready and able to revert back to using some more basic anaesthetic techniques. BSAVA is pleased to be able to support the profession during these challenging times through the provision of up-to-date guidance and resources to address these concerns.”

The new  Anaesthesia Resources collection can be found here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/update 

The Association is also reassuring the profession that there is no indication of a shortage of medical gases.

In preparation for an escalation of coronavirus cases, BOC has been building stocks of medical gases to ensure its supply chain is in the best position to respond to customer requirements.

BOC has also implemented a ‘Full for Empty’ supply of all medical cylinder gases and customers with medical oxygen are being encouraged to manage their cylinders in an effective manner and ensure that empty cylinders are available promptly for collection. The company has also increased the frequency of deliveries and collections to help with cylinder turnover.

Customers are being asked to be vigilant and ensure that medical gas cylinders are kept as secure as possible to deter potential misuse or theft.

BSAVA understands that if a practice is closed for the foreseeable future, BOC will collect cylinders free of charge.  

For further information, call BOC’s Customer Information Centre on 0800 111 333 or visit https://www.boconline.co.uk/shop/en/uk/customer-information 

For more BSAVA resources relating to coronavirus, visit https://www.bsava.com/adviceforCOVID19 

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has dismissed an application to be restored to the Register of Veterinary Surgeons from former Wirral-based vet Ian Beveridge.

In May 2013 the Committee had asked the Registrar to remove Mr Beveridge from the Register following a four-day hearing in which he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct after finding that he had treated clients badly, kept inadequate clinical records, was dishonest in his dealings with the RCVS and that animals in his care were placed at risk.

In June 2013 Mr Beveridge, who was not present or represented at the original hearing, then appealed the decision. The appeal was withdrawn in May 2014 which was when Mr Beveridge was formally removed from the Register.

Then, in April 2015, Mr Beveridge applied to be restored to the Register. The Disciplinary Committee met to consider his application in June 2015, however, this hearing was adjourned after new evidence was served to the Committee concerning allegations that Mr Beveridge had ordered prescription-only veterinary medicines when he was not authorised to do so. He was subsequently interviewed by police who took no further action.

In deciding whether Mr Beveridge was fit to be restored to the Register, the Committee heard evidence in regards to the circumstances in which the prescription-only drugs were ordered using his account and delivered to his former practice address which had been taken over by Medivet after he sold the premises to the company.

During the course of the hearing, Mr Beveridge admitted that his account had been used to buy the drugs, but that a part-time member of his staff, who was neither a veterinary surgeon nor a veterinary nurse, had done so without his prior knowledge or approval.

In relation to this evidence Ian Green, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee, said: "The Committee takes the view that the unauthorised use of a veterinary surgeon’s drugs account for which he carries the ultimate responsibility is a very serious matter and, of itself, demonstrates that the applicant has at best a cavalier attitude to his work which of itself means that he remains unfit to be on the Register.

"This attitude is further demonstrated by the fact that, even after the first orders were placed in late April and early May 2014, the applicant did not seek clarification from the College of his status following the withdrawal of his appeal against the original Committee’s findings."

In addition to this, the Committee also considered the seriousness of his original failings, the fact that Mr Beveridge’s acceptance of these failings was ‘qualified’, that he had been off the Register for 20 months and the fact that his efforts in terms of continuing professional development had been inadequate and not focused on those areas in need of improvement, among other factors. In mitigation it did consider that Mr Beveridge had demonstrated genuine remorse about previous actions and noted a petition and a large number of letters in support of him from former clients of his practice.

However, the Committee felt that this did not detract from the seriousness of the original failings and, in conjunction with the subsequent unauthorised ordering of veterinary drugs, that the application for restoration must be dismissed.

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists has confirmed two more cases of the usually fatal cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), otherwise known as Alabama Rot. 

The two cases came from Bristol and Kingsbridge, Devon, taking the total number this year to five countrywide.

David Walker, American, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, who leads the team at Anderson Moores, said: “We’re very sad to confirm two further cases of CRGV.

"Unfortunately, we find ourselves at the time of year when cases are most commonly identified."

There were 47 confirmed cases in 2020 and 28 in 2021.

The two new cases bring the total to 284 since the disease was first detected in the UK in 2012.   

Anderson Moores has launched a website dedicated to Alabama Rot, which offers advice and information for owners and veterinary professionals, including a live map of confirmed cases across the UK: www.alabama-rot.co.uk. 

Two recently published studies have demonstrated that the canine anti-emetic Cerenia® (maropitant - Pfizer) which was launched last year also relieves car sickness in dogs.

In a pilot study, 17 dogs were given either Cerenia or placebo one hour before being taken on a car journey. After a washout period of 10-14 days, each dog was crossed over to the other treatment and once again taken on a journey to assess travel sickness. The results showed that likelihood of vomiting was reduced by 70% when the dogs were given Cerenia compared to placebo – but due to the small number of dogs enrolled the results did not reach statistical significance.

The same research group also carried out a large, multicentre, blinded and placebo controlled study of Cerenia in preventing vomiting in 213 dogs known to be prone to travel sickness. They were given a single oral dose of Cerenia or placebo one hour before a car journey. The results showed that Cerenia was associated with a reduction in vomiting of 79% compared to placebo (p<0.0001).

The dosage of Cerenia used in both studies was 8mg/kg dose for the prevention of motion sickness–higher than the 2mg/kg dose that is routinely used to treat general emesis, administered at least one hour before the journey. According to the researchers’ report in the Veterinary Record, the need for a higher dose is linked to the specific neural (central) pathway of emetic stimulation that is involved in motion sickness. Cerenia acts primarily at NK1 receptors in the emetic centre and thus has the ability to block vomiting due to vestibular stimuli.

According to Pfizer, a single oral dose lasts for at least 12 hours, so pets can be dosed the night before an early start. For motion sickness prevention, Cerenia is licensed for up to 2 days’ consecutive use, so owners can use it for a return journey the next day if need be.

Pfizer also says that market research suggests almost one in five dogs suffers from travel sickness, which is not only inconvenient but does also stop some owners from travelling with their pet. In the past, owners have had to rely on OTC (over the counter) remedies or medicines developed for use in humans to prevent travel sickness. Many of these are ineffective or have unwanted effects such as sedation or extrapyramidial effects in dogs. Cerenia is the first anti-emetic to be developed specifically for use in dogs and was launched in April 2007– higher dose tablets aimed specifically for the prevention of travel sickness are expected to be made available early this year.

Willows Veterinary Centre has announced that work has started on a 2,400 sq ft extension project at its Solihull site as part of an investment of more than £1 million to enhance its wide range of specialist services.

The extension, which is due for completion before the end of the year, will allow the centre to offer a range of new services, including a new radioactive iodine unit for treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats, a larger echocardiography suite for cardiac patients, an endoscopy suite, an ophthalmology procedure room, a dedicated operating theatre for minimally invasive procedures and 41 new kennels. 

Toby Gemmill, clinical director at Willows, said: "The expansion represents a really exciting time for Willows and has been carefully planned to maximise the space we have available to us. 

"We are already extremely well placed to offer a wide variety of specialist treatments and this extension will provide us with the space to build on our gold level cat-friendly clinic status with a radioactive iodine unit for treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats, along with dozens of new kennels and range of specialist treatment rooms."

The extension is part of a major investment drive by the Linnaeus Group, of which Willows is a part, which will see it plough around £9 million into its sites across the UK. 

Lynne Hill, chief executive of the Linnaeus Group, said: "We are extremely proud of the practices within the group and are fully prepared to support them financially, and in any other way, to ensure they continue to offer the very best facilities and treatment for our clients and patients."

CVS has run a clinical improvement project to increase the treatment of lameness within 35 of its first opinion small animal practices throughout the UK.

The group says it has led to 6,086 more clinical metrology questionnaires being conducted at participating practices with their patients, a 1,014% increase.  

Developed by John Innes at the University of Liverpool, the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire is a 13-item clinical metrology instrument (CMI) used to assess canine articular disorders like osteoarthritis.

It includes questions on the pets’ medical background, lifestyle and mobility.

Individual question scores are summed to provide an overall “LOAD score” suggestive of the animal’s disease presence and severity.

The questionnaire should be conducted every time the pet is presented to the veterinary clinic, with results tracked over time.

Treatment options - including the benefits and risks of all available modalities – can then be considered and discussed with owners to determine the best course of action, including weight management, diet, supplements, exercise and environmental modification, in addition to medication.

As part of the project, CVS provided a range of supporting resources for its practices, together with training.

Training focussed on diagnosing and managing conditions causing lameness in dogs and cats, using the clinical metrology questionnaire to engage clients in their pets’ treatment plan, offering best practice treatment options and running nurse mobility clinics.

It comprised of a vet CPD day run with Zoetis and the VOA on approach to and management of lame patients, two nurse CPD days on mobility clinics, a feline and canine orthopaedic examination video, First Opinion Clinical Club webinars on canine and feline osteoarthritis and an approach to radiographic interpretation course.

Resources included: new clinical guidelines, IMV resources (radiographic positioning, optimising the image and optimal chemical restraint) and a Mobility Clinic Booklet for clients.  

Each site was then provided with its own data, so that they could monitor what they were doing individually. 

One year after its nation-wide launch, results reveal that the number of clinical metrology questionnaires being conducted in the 35 participating practices has increased from 6 to 6,092 over a 12 month time period.

CVS says there was also evidence of an increasing incidence of the osteoarthritis drugs Librela and Solensia being prescribed.

Kathryn Patel, Hub Clinical Lead at CVS (pictured), who was responsible for the lameness clinical improvement project, said: “This project uses owner questionnaires to screen for and monitor the impact of lameness on patient quality of life and emphasises the importance of the whole clinical team in patient management.

"Vets and nurses will be supported to improve their ability to reach a diagnosis in every lame case, improve engagement with and compliance of owners with lame pets, and improve the quality of care of lame patients through appropriate medication, surgical intervention, and nurse and physiotherapy support.” 

The BSAVA is calling on veterinary surgeons who want to develop their research skills or answer clinical questions alongside their practice work to sign up for its Masters in Clinical Veterinary Research.

The association says the qualification will help vets conduct clinical research relating to their work - in particular vets working in practice. It is aimed at people who already have any accredited postgraduate certificate (60 credits at Level 7) relevant to some aspect of veterinary medicine or surgery and are keen to develop a deeper understanding of their research topic.

The Masters starts with online study into the principles of clinical research, which students then apply to their own research project, based on a further 1,200 study hours that could be flexibly achieved in two years of part-time study or up to five years, depending on the project type and an individual’s availability.

Lucie Goodwin, BSAVA Head of Education (pictured right), said: "For those vets who have already completed a postgraduate certificate it is an opportunity to develop their skills further, partake in research and collect valuable data from the field. So much of the published data in veterinary journals is based upon a referral population and this may not necessarily reflect what truly happens in clinical practice."

She added: "The BSAVA Masters is designed to appeal to vets who want to undertake research alongside their job role, without having to commit to a full-time programme of study."

Students will be allocated a ‘matched’ supervisor to provide project advice and guidance, plus the BSAVA team will be on hand to ensure ongoing support and encouragement.

Johanna Forsyth, senior veterinary technical manager with the diagnostic laboratory Avacta Animal Health, joined the Masters programme when it launched in 2016. She said: "The thing that has given me the most satisfaction from taking part in this programme is the way my views have changed. I look at things I wrote a little while back and think: 'Did I really say that?'. You become so absorbed in the project that you don’t notice how your understanding of the topic has grown. It’s so subtle, we haven’t been force-fed anything - it’s just like osmosis."

For more information, please contact masters@bsava.com or visit the website https://www.bsava.com/Education/Masters

Vetsonic has taken over the marketing of Cavalesse, the oral nutritional supplement for horses that are prone to skin allergies, such as sweet itch.

Cavalesse contains a formulation of water-soluble vitamins and minerals, administered daily via a special pipette, either by sprinkling over a small handful of feed or adding to a treat. Vetsonic claims the supplement helps horses maintain a healthy skin and promotes normal immune function.

Ray Rochester, Managing Director of Vetsonic said: "It's an exciting phase in the development of Vetsonic which will see us rapidly expanding in the increasingly competitive small animal and equine market. Cavalesse is a welcome addition to our portfolio."

For further information, contact Vetsonic customer services on 01653 695333.

The BSAVA has published the full programme for this year's Congress, which will be held online from the 25th to the 27th March.

The programme includes more than 130 hours of CPD delivered by over 100 speakers from home and abroad, with talks for all members of the practice team. 

The UK speakers include Rebecca Geddes on kidney medicine and nursing; Amy Newfield on IV access techniques; Rob White on brachycephalic surgery and acute abdomen surgical techniques; Penny Watson on liver disease; Dick White on the surgical team; Butty Villiers on cytology for vets and nurses; John Chitty on several rabbits, small furries and exotics topics.

BSAVA President, Professor Ian Ramsey, said: “Following months of meticulous planning we are thrilled that the programme is now live

"The sheer range and high quality of our speakers and content, together with our new, more dynamic format takes webinar learning to a new level."

“Delegates will be able to develop their skills and knowledge on topics they see regularly in practice. To make things even easier we will be providing practical resources such as client handouts for delegates to take back to their clinics. This, coupled with many speakers sharing their own notes and practical resources means less note-taking and a quicker and easier way for delegates to share what they have learnt with their colleagues.”

There will be three keynote speakers; Jenny Campbell, a former Dragon on BBC’s Dragon’s Den, will be sharing her experiences as an entrepreneur and business leader. Two other keynote names will be announced shortly.

On the social side the focus is on bringing people together online to share light-hearted entertainment and laughter. Delegates can exercise their taste buds with some wine and whisky appreciation, throw some shapes with a virtual disco, exercise their bodies as well as their minds with yoga and unwind with some restorative meditation practices.

Ian added: “This year’s BSAVA Congress is going to be the most innovative ever and deliver like never before. There is plenty of relevant and engaging CPD for every practice professional, with all the convenience of a virtual event. If you haven’t already taken a look at the programme and registered, I urge you to do so now. With prices starting at just £99 +VAT for members it represents really great value.”

To register now visit https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2021/en/page/home 

Defra has been roundly criticised in the media today for reportedly spending £181,000 on redesigning its website.

Here's the old website. Apparently deemed 'too agricultural' for its use of brown.

And here's the new one:

A vast improvement, and depending on what the £181,000 bill included, it may not have been as overpriced as it sounds.

Either way, it prompted a great quip from Tory environment spokesman Nick Herbert: 'At least it's now clear that, like the rest of the country, Defra has gone off Brown.'

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has launched the first set of global guidelines for veterinary dentistry, to support veterinary surgeons around the world in improving recognition of dental disease and in providing a higher standard of dental care to patients.

In addition to enhancing current standards of veterinary dentistry, the WSAVA says it hopes that the guidelines will help to bridge what it perceives as a significant gap in veterinary education globally and to encourage a greater emphasis on dentistry in the veterinary curriculum.

The WSAVA’s Global Dental Guidelines include information and images of oral anatomy and common pathology, as well as best practice recommendations for oral examinations and an easily implementable dental health scoring system.

Evidence-based guidance on periodontal therapy, radiology and dental extractions is also included, together with details of minimum equipment recommendations. 

A key theme is the WSAVA’s rejection of anesthesia-free dentistry (AFD), which it describes as ineffective and a cause of unnecessary stress and suffering to patients.

The guidelines have been developed by the WSAVA’s Global Dental Guidelines Committee (DGC) whose members include veterinary dentists from five continents, together with representatives from the WSAVA’s Global Pain Council, Global Nutrition and Animal Wellness and Welfare Committees.  They are based on the WSAVA’s three-tier continuing education system to ensure that they are relevant for all veterinary surgeons, whether they are working in an advanced hospital setting or in a clinic in a country in which companion animal practice is still developing.

Dr Brook Niemiec, a Board-Certified Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry of the American and European Veterinary Dental Colleges and a Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, is Co-chair of the WSAVA DGC.

He said: "Dental, oral and maxillofacial diseases are, by far, the most common medical conditions in small animal veterinary medicine. They cause significant pain, as well as localized and potentially systemic infection but, because pets rarely show outward signs of disease, treatment is often delayed or not performed with a corresponding impact on the welfare of the patient. In developing the Global Dental Guidelines, we felt that the lack of perception of patient pain was a key issue.

"Our Committee members were also unanimous in their opposition to AFD.  We believe that anesthesia is essential for the execution of any useful dental procedure and this is a central recommendation of the Guidelines.  To support it, we have provided a detailed analysis of anesthesia and pain management approaches."

He added: "Our patients are not well served by the current variation in standards of care, level of equipment and procedural knowledge of dentistry. Misinformation which clouds the sector is a further hindrance.  As clinicians, we cannot allow a fear of the unknown, the discomfort of client pushback or ignorance of current techniques to keep us from doing our best to relieve pain and suffering in our patients.

“We are delighted to launch the WSAVA’s Global Dental Guidelines, which are free to download at http://www.wsava.org/guidelines/global-dental-guidelines. We are equally delighted to announce that 22 of our member associations have already endorsed them.  It is our firm intent that they will be the first step in changing the way that dental disease is perceived in the veterinary profession and in improving dental treatment in companion animals worldwide. We are grateful to our sponsors, Addison Biological Laboratory, Boehringer Ingelheim, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, KRUUSE and Virbac for supporting this important project."