The academy will consist of three modules which will be launched in 2021. Those who complete all three modules will receive certification from Bimeda, and some exclusive branded goodies.
The first module is titled Bimeda Trace Elements in Dairy Cow Fertility & Pregnancy and is available now on Bimeda’s e-learning portal: https://bimeda-learning.co.uk. This module also accounts for 1 hour 15 minutes of CPD and vets can download a certificate when they complete the module. The module has also been accredited with 9 AMTRA points.
In the coming months Bimeda says it'll add a second module focused on the role of trace element nutrition in lamb and calf growth, and a final module focused on the role of trace elements in sheep fertility and pregnancy.
Bimeda UK General Manager Mark Cokayne said: "Trace elements play a critical role in the health and fertility of ruminants, yet historically this area has been somewhat overlooked in formal animal health education.
"Our customers tell us that they would like a deeper understanding of areas such as trace element deficiencies, toxicities and interactions, and the impact of these on ruminant health and fertility. We are pleased to respond to this market demand with our new academy, which will provide veterinarians and SQPs with additional knowledge to help inform their conversations with farmers."
To sign up to either Bimeda’s online Nutrition Academy or the Sheep Scab Academy, visit https://bimeda-learning.co.uk
For more information, speak to your Bimeda territory manager or call Bimeda on 01248 725 400.
The College says it has become increasingly recognisant of how a blame culture can lead to a fear of making mistakes, something which can have a negative impact on both the mental health and wellbeing of members of the profession and, ultimately, animal health and welfare.
The anonymous online survey, which is being conducted by the Open Minds Alliance, is described by the College as a major step towards moving to a learning culture which has a greater focus on openness, reflective practice, learning and personal development.
Nick Stace, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, said: "Moving towards a learning culture is one of the key aims of our Strategic Plan 2017-19 and we have already started to make some progress in this area with our Mind Matters Initiative, for example. This survey will help establish a baseline against which we can measure any improvements over the course of the next three years.
"As a regulator this is part of our attempt to be much clearer about the kind of culture we would like to see in the professions; one that encourages members of the veterinary team to learn from each other, and from their mistakes, and to be more open about when things do go wrong in order to better manage public and professional expectations.
"By moving towards a learning culture we can also hopefully reduce levels of stress and mental ill-health within the profession, as practitioners will feel they can be more open about their mistakes and take steps to improve their practice – rather than feeling like they cannot talk about what goes wrong, which can lead to fear and anxiety.
"This is no easy task – particularly when public expectations of what veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can and should do is increasing – but we hope that by being brave and open about this new ambition we can galvanise veterinary associations, educators, practices and individual veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses and make a real difference."
The survey will also be asking to what extent members of the profession feel that the College, as the regulator, contributes to any blame culture and where improvements could be made to the concerns investigation and disciplinary process to help combat it.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Director of Legal Services, added: "It is a common misconception that if you make a mistake then this will be investigated by the College and you will end up in front of a Disciplinary Committee.
"However, we recognise that mistakes can and will happen and that expecting 100% perfection is unrealistic. The real professional conduct issues arise when members of the profession try to cover up their mistakes, whether that is to professional colleagues or clients, which often does far more damage than if the person was open and honest about what had gone wrong.
"We do also accept that there is always room for improvement in our own processes and if there are positive steps we can take to make the investigation and disciplinary process less onerous for members of the professions then we would like to hear your suggestions."
Click here to take part in the survey.
The existing MSD Animal Health Connect Bursary and Ruminant Research Bursary have been combined into the new MSD Animal Health Research Bursary which is designed to support the future of the veterinary profession through research.
The student arm of the new Research Bursary will award £1,000 to the five best research project applications received from veterinary students across all UK veterinary schools, with an opportunity for an additional £1,000 top prize and £500 runner-up prize.
The veterinary surgeon arm of the Research Bursary will offer three awards, consisting of two ruminant awards and one companion animal award, of up to £4,000 each. The veterinary practitioner proposals will be judged by University academics to ensure independent assessment.
Michelle Townley, Veterinary Advisor at MSD Animal Health said: "Our existing Research Bursaries are well known amongst students and practitioners, having run for over 25 years for the student bursary and 6 years for the ruminant bursary. To increase our support for the veterinary profession through research we have decided to combine our Research Bursaries and add some new categories to help appeal to as wide an audience as possible. This way we can offer a broader level of support for both existing companion animal and ruminant practitioners and our veterinary surgeons of the future. We aim to engage as many people as possible so the MSD Animal Health Research Bursary will be supported by a new website page and social media package to encourage as much interest from students and practitioners as possible."
Student bursary applications are now invited, with a deadline for entries of Friday 26th May 2017. Veterinary practitioners will be invited to apply in September 2017.
For further details go to the MSD Animal Health Research Bursary website at www.msd-animal-health.co.uk/researchbursary.aspx.
Idexx Laboratories has announced the addition of pradofloxacin (Veraflox, Bayer Animal Health) to the list of antibiotics that it tests samples sent for culture and sensitivity testing against.
The company says that in the past, only a small percentage of the 350-400 samples it processes every day included a specific request from veterinary surgeons to include sensitivity testing to pradofloxacin. The now-routine testing for pradofloxacin is a positive move toward better clinical outcomes in difficult cases, including specific indications such as wound infections, superficial and deep pyoderma, and in cases with infections resistant to other antibiotics.
Idexx says that as the only next generation fluoroquinolone, pradofloxacin has been shown to be the least likely veterinary fluoroquinolone to select for resistance1, giving vets a lower risk option, when they decide to use an antibiotic from this class.
Matt Jones, Microbiology Manager at Idexx Laboratories said: 'Removing the need to specifically request samples to be tested for sensitivity to pradofloxacin has streamlined the culture and sensitivity testing process for vets and will make it easier for them to adhere to good practice in antibiotic prescription.
"This is important, as antimicrobial resistance is an area of deep international concern. Idexx are pleased to be helping vets identify those cases for which pradofloxacin may be effective and believe that, where indicated, it will lead to improved compliance and excellent clinical outcomes with the added benefit of reducing the likelihood of selecting for resistance, when compared to older generation fluoroquinolones."
The company says this move is in line with BSAVA's PROTECT initiative, which stresses the importance of culture and sensitivity, especially when prescribing antibiotics of the fluoroquinlone class.
Reference
The webinar will be presented by veterinary behaviourist, Sarah Heath BVSc PgCertVE DipECAWBM(BM) CCAB FHEA FRCVS, RCVS and EBVS European Specialist in Behavioural Medicine.
It will cover how to take a cat friendly approach to the microchipping appointment to reduce feline stress and make the process easier for both pet owners and veterinary staff.
A consent-based care approach will be discussed, together with the importance of educating cat owners and veterinary professionals on how to handle cats to minimise feline stress.
The webinar will also advise on the use of adjunctive therapies, such as pheromones and nutraceuticals, as well as the strategic use of pre vet visit medication, and will be followed by a Q&A session.
Tammie O’Leary, commercial lead at identi, said: “The introduction of the new cat microchipping legislation will lead to an increased number of feline patients being seen by veterinary practices.
"Our cat microchipping legislation webinar will help provide cat friendly advice for veterinary professionals and will include hints and tips to make cat microchipping appointments as stress free as possible.”
To register for the webinar, email contact@identichip.co.uk or call 0330 9128077.
Roy Geary, regional director for Northern Europe (including the UK) at Ceva Animal Health, said: “The manufacturing of vaccines is a complex process that involves stringent quality control measures and adherence to regulatory guidelines.
"There have been unforeseen manufacturing issues at our production facilities, which have temporarily affected the ability to meet the demands of the UK sheep market within the main seasonal vaccination period for EAE.
"As a responsible provider, we are actively addressing these issues to minimise the impact on customers.
“In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, we have implemented comprehensive contingency plans to optimise the manufacturing and distribution process.
"Our dedicated team is working closely with our partners to resolve the challenges and restore normal supply levels as soon as possible.
"The vaccine challenge is being treated with the utmost urgency, and we are actively exploring alternative sourcing options to supplement the existing supply chain.
“We anticipate that the delay in supply will be resolved in the near future, however we recognise that for some farmers the supply will arrive too late for them to use. "
Ceva is encouraging these farmers to consult their vet and explore alternatives.
Roy added: “We will provide vet practices and the wider industry with regular updates as we progress toward a resolution and return to normal supply levels.”
Henry Schein Inc., parent company of Henry Schein Animal Health has been named as one of Ethisphere's 2012 World's Most Ethical Companies.
The Ethisphere Institute is an international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. This is the sixth year that Ethisphere Institute has published the World's Most Ethical Companies list.
Out of more than 5,000 nominations for the World's Most Ethical Companies award this year, Henry Schein was named to the list of 145 companies for raising the bar for ethical standards within the health care industry through exemplary ethical leadership, worldwide business standards and commitment to corporate social responsibility.
Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. said: A deep commitment to the highest ethical standards and business practices has been a hallmark of Henry Schein since our founding in 1932, and continues to be at the very core of our business model as we have grown to become a Fortune 500 company with operations around the globe and nearly 15,000 Team Schein Members."
A survey carried out by CEVA Animal Health, manufacturer of the pheromonatherapy products D.A.P.® and Feliway®, has revealed that 94 per cent of veterinary professionals believe that owners' lifestyles are the major cause of behavioural problems in pets1.
Over three-quarters of those questioned believed that owners should spend more time with their pets to prevent these issues, while 89 per cent thought that owners were too busy to deal with their pets if they developed behavioural problems.
According to CEVA, the fast pace of owners' lifestyles is significantly affecting the stress felt by both dogs and cats and this is further exacerbated in cats by the social demands that pet owners put on them. Cats are solitary survivors that cope better with short, frequent interactions and like their own company. While they are popular for their independence, owners often like to have their pets' full attention when they return from work which is at odds with their cats' preferred behaviour patterns.
Behavioural issues can also result from changes in a pet's environment and new experiences such as moving house, building work, the introduction of a new pet to the household, going to a kennel or cattery, travelling in a car, visiting the vets and stressful events such as Bonfire Night and Christmas. To help combat stress, nearly 65 per cent of dog owners avoid putting their pets in stressful situations, while 19 per cent choose to ignore their stressed dog2.
Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health said: "Our modern lifestyles are leading to stressed pets which, in the long-term, will exacerbate behavioural and medical problems. It's important that veterinary professionals educate their clients on the implications of canine and feline stress to help prevent these issues from developing."
For further information about D.A.P.® and Feliway®, please contact your CEVA Animal Health representative or call CEVA Animal Health on 01494 781510.
The company says its service has been designed to help practices take a proactive approach to managing their workforce, keeping them out of the employment tribunal and providing continued support to help them achieve their goals.
Melanie Davies, Head of Employment at MS Rubric (pictured right) said: "Whether a business employs 5 people or 500, is a start-up, or has been successfully trading for years, it is critical that it has a reliable legal advisory system in place to manage the range of challenges that arise.
"All businesses need to be able to access a professional source of advice and guidance to meet their objectives for best practice, compliance or to meet commercial goals and targets.
"With legislation changing so frequently, this legal expertise is sometimes missing from some businesses. As business owners realise its importance, they are relying more on external HR and legal experts like ourselves to provide this service. We think it’s so important, we are making this available to all sectors of business.”
MS Rubric adds that all its advice is covered by legal professional privilege. This means that unlike when businesses use HR or other consultancies, conversations between MS Rubric and its clients remain confidential and disclosure is not required.
For more information, contact Melanie Davies on 01454 800008 or mel.davies@msrubric.co.uk.
At the roundtable, Liz Barton MRCVS, Head of Communications at Vet.CT, spoke about the application of AI in clinical practice, including in preventative medicine, diagnostics, treatment and prognostics.
Liz highlighted how the use of AI tools in clinical practice for tasks such as pattern recognition had led to many unforeseen and unexpected benefits, for example by picking up things that humans may not.
Dr P-J Noble, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Science at the University of Liverpool, explained how AI tools had proven useful in processing, assessing and annotating qualitative data gathered through the university's Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) once they were programmed to recognise certain patterns, saving lots of research time and costs.
Dr Chris Trace MRCVS, Head of Digital Learning at the University of Surrey, spoke about AI use in higher education and how it has already started to be used beneficially both as a teaching and learning aid, as well as for assessment and feedback.
In the afternoon session, groups of delegates were asked to discuss practical questions over AI use in the veterinary professions and how it might be regulated.
There were discussions on how to help vet and VN students make the most of AI in learning and assessment, responsible use of AI in clinical settings, the risks of not using AI, how veterinary professionals can work with animal owners and keepers to ensure the safe and productive use of AI, and whether AI-led devices should be regulated.
Lizzie said: “This was a really positive and exciting event that involved a heady mix of trepidation over the risks and implications of AI now and into the future, and optimism over the beneficial impact it could have for education, diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes.
"The discussions have certainly given us at the College a lot of food for thought on how we can put in place guardrails and guidelines on the appropriate use of AI in the veterinary sector.
“This is an area of technology that is evolving so rapidly that it would not be effective for us to put in place specific guidance for the use of AI tools, but instead we will be looking at how we can regulate the use of AI in the round and ensure our principles are sufficiently future-proofed to keep up with the pace of change.
“Any regulation will start with first principles, such as transparency and honesty around the use of AI in veterinary practice, the minimisation of potential risks, and the continuing importance of professional accountability for decision-making, even where such decisions may have been heavily influenced by the use of AI tools and AI-generated data.”
The input gathered from the roundtable will now be considered by a range of RCVS committees over the coming months.
A full report of the event will be published this summer.
However, the attainment of clinical remission did reduce the likelihood of subsequent death due to gastrointestinal disease.
In the study titled “Outcome of chronic inflammatory enteropathy in cats: 65 cases (2011-2021)”1, cats diagnosed with chronic inflammatory enteropathy were retrospectively identified from three medical records databases, and follow-up information obtained from the referring veterinary surgeon.
This information was used to determine if clinicopathological variables were associated with death due to gastrointestinal disease in diagnosed cats.
Sixty-five cats with chronic inflammatory enteropathy were included in the study, with follow-up information available for 54 cats (83%).
Of these, 37% (n=20) were euthanised due to gastrointestinal disease and 46% (n=25) were alive and in clinical remission, with 64% (n=16) of these diagnosed with food-responsive enteropathy.
The study did not find a correlation between the tested clinicopathological variables, measured at the time of histopathological diagnosis, and death due to gastrointestinal disease, or length of survival in these cats before death due to gastrointestinal disease.
This, the authors say, suggests that alternative diagnostic measures should be identified to definitively investigate outcome and survival in cats with chronic inflammatory enteropathy.
The study also adds weight to previous research which recommends the use of therapeutic diets in cats with chronic inflammatory enteropathy, although further research is needed to clarify a favourable treatment protocol.
First author, Dr Yuvani Bandara, said: “Knowledge that the attainment of clinical remission reduces the likelihood of subsequent death due to feline chronic inflammatory enteropathy is important for veterinary surgeons and owners.
"We hope that our findings can act as a foundation for further research to investigate factors that support the attainment of clinical remission in affected cats.
"Thank you to BSAVA PetSavers for funding this study.”
For the study “Comparative accuracy of two veterinary-calibrated point-of-care glucometres for measurement of blood glucose concentration in dogs” blood was sampled from client and staff-owned dogs above 6 months of age, of various breeds and health status.
The samples were then used to compare the accuracy of both PGBMs against a reference method - the hexokinase reaction method.
The authors say this was the first study to investigate AccuTell and the first published evidence comparing AlphaTrak2 with a reference method.
The study also sought to determine how useful the monitors are in clinical decision making and to assess the effect that packed cell volume (PCV) (known to affect the reliability of blood glucose concentration measurement in dogs) has on blood glucose concentration using the two PBGMs.
AccuTell was found to be more accurate and useful in a clinical setting than AlphaTrak2.
Both PBGMs were inaccurate in comparison with the hexokinase reaction method, and although they have potential for standard clinical use, unexpected blood glucose concentrations need to be checked by the hexokinase reaction method.
In addition, measurement of blood glucose concentration by the AlphaTrak2 was affected by PCV whereas measurement by the AccuTell was not.
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP said: “We oftentimes think that an instrument that is developed specifically for our patients will provide satisfactorily results on most occasions.
"Instead, studies such as the one presented here, are critical to understand whether the ‘numbers’ provided by an instrument are reliable for clinical use.
"The authors provided 95% limits of agreements to their results.
"This value is of great help for clinicians, since it shows the difference expected between the instrument and the reference standard in the majority of occasions.”
The study can be read online here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jsap.13491
The webinars will provide practical information to help manage renal cases, focusing on the importance of early diagnosis.
Led by feline medicine experts, Dr Tommaso Furlanello PhD ECVCP Dip and Dr Sarah Caney BVSc PhD DSAM(Feline) MRCVS, the webinars will provide practical information to help manage renal cases.
On 7th June, Tommaso's talk will address early diagnosis of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) and recognition and management of its complications.
On the 28th, Sarah's talk will focus on supporting and communicating with cat owners around early diagnosis and achieving optimal long-term management.
The webinars will be available to watch live or as a recording after the event.
To register for the event, visit: https://purinaproplan-webinarseries.vfairs.com/
If you attend the live event, you'll have the chance to put questions to Sarah and Tommaso, but if you can't make it on the night, there'll be a recording afterwards.
The company says ligation clips, used to clamp vessels, have been used in complex surgeries on humans (including heart surgeries) since the 1980’s, but have only been introduced in veterinary practice in recent years.
Vet Direct has been showcasing the clips at the recent BSAVA and AVA shows, and says it has been surprised at the level of interest in the product.
Leon Wright, managing director at Vet Direct, said: "The ligation clips caused a big noise at our recent events, which is probably down to the benefits they offer. Not only are they quicker and easier, you get immediate vessel closure which reduces the amount of time a patient has to endure under general anesthetic. I’m confident that they’ll be a great help to all veterinary surgeons."
The company says it has already seen several clients make use of the clips, most frequently in common surgeries such as splenectomies and cholecystectomies.
For more information, visit www.vet-direct.com or call 0800 068 3300.
Ceva Animal Health has launched a new initiative to help young vets attend a variety of educational opportunities to further their knowledge of cattle reproduction.
The reprodAction Young Vet Initiative was introduced this month and three young vets have already taken part in the scheme.
The new initiative is open to recently qualified vets who are keen to improve their knowledge of cattle reproduction and who work for practices that are interested in growing their business by improving cattle reproduction on farms. The scheme includes Ceva-sponsored cattle fertility courses and dissertation programmes.
Emily Denton from Shropshire Farm Vets (pictured right), Annelyse Desbois From Meadows Farm Vets and Alun Beckett from Larkmead Veterinary Group were chosen to attend a CPD day 'A Practical Approach to the Non-Pregnant Cow', organised by Nottingham University.
Carol Atkinson, Ceva's reprodAction range marketing manager, said: "The purpose of this project is to give new graduates working in practice the opportunity to participate in quality CPD. The aim is to help them build their expertise and enthusiasm for cattle reproduction work via practical sponsorship."
Emily Denton has been an intern at Shropshire Farm Vets for the past year. She was chosen for the initiative having recently completed the XL vets farm new graduate programme. She said: "It was an exciting opportunity to build on the skills I have developed in practice and to discuss cases with my peers and with other, more experienced clinicians. The course was excellent - my take home message was that as cow genetics change it affects their cycle. Our ability to manipulate this is dependent on having a good, accurate knowledge of the physiological changes taking place."
For more information about taking part in the reprodAction Young Vet Initiative, contact your Ceva Territory Manager.
Sean Wensley, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "The research released today reflects the seriousness of the health problems associated with English bulldogs that our members are seeing in practice. Revision of breed standards, to include evidence-based limits on physical features such as muzzle shortness, and full consideration of other approaches such as outcrossing, are now needed to ensure high risk breeds, such as the English bulldog, do not continue to suffer unnecessarily.
"Vets are reporting concerning trends in dog health and welfare linked to the rise in ownership of brachycephalic breeds, such as bulldogs, and we are unequivocal in the need for all those with roles to play – including vets, breeders, breed societies, the pet-buying public as well as others – to take action to combat the health problems that brachycephalic breeds experience due to extreme conformation. These issues include severe lifelong breathing difficulties, corneal ulcers, skin disease, a screw-shaped tail which is linked to painful spine abnormalities, and the inability to give birth naturally.
"As part of their pre-purchase research, prospective dog owners should consider the health harms perpetuated in dogs by purchasing brachycephalic breeds and choose a healthier alternative breed, or crossbreed, instead, and local veterinary practices are ideally placed to give this advice. Brachycephalic dogs should not be seen as cute or desirable, rather as dogs predisposed to a lifetime of poor health, and English bulldogs should not be hailed as a national symbol for the UK where animal welfare is strongly valued.
"Vets have a duty to always prioritise the best interests of their pet patients, which, for affected animals, can involve performing surgical procedures to correct conformational disorders. They have a concurrent duty to be part of initiatives that aim to address the health and welfare of a breed beyond the individual affected animal.
"This is why BVA promotes the importance of vets submitting data on caesarean sections and conformation-altering surgery to the Kennel Club, to improve the future of dog health and welfare."
Shor-Line has announced the launch of YesWeCanSee, a webcam system which allows veterinary surgeons to monitor inpatients from anywhere, over the internet.
The system allows you to watch, listen to and record or photograph the patient remotely. In addition, there is a built-in light which can be used to illuminate or stimulate the patient.
Steffan Veterinary Services, a seven-vet mixed practice based in Lampeter, Ceredigion, recently bought the system and used it to monitor a RTA patient. Jim Hopkins, a director at the practice said: "Boio was unfortunately run over by his owner. He was brought to the practice and hospitalised for monitoring and treatment. Due to his status on arrival he was given pain relief and intravenous fluids. He was kennelled and kept quiet with minimal disturbance. The camera was used to avoid unnecessary contact. The camera could also be turned to check that the IV fluids were running. Once stable and pain relief was working he was radiographed and fully examined. There was a slight increase in respiratory rate but he was otherwise OK. He was kept overnight and monitored. During the evening when checked in person, Boio was settled and not showing any pain, however when remotely monitored he was pacing the kennel and appeared anxious. Further pain relief, Vetergesic, was administered and then Boio settled for the night. Without the camera it is unlikely he would have had further Vetergesic. The following morning Boio was sore but well enough to return home. He has since made a full recovery”.
For more information about YesWeCanSee, visit: www.yeswecansee.com, contact Dan Puddick on 01446 772041 or email ywcs@shor-line.co.uk
The research, led by the Royal Veterinary College in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Nottingham Trent University, also revealed that 66% of owners would recommend their flat-faced breed to others.
Although previous RVC studies found that owners are initially attracted to brachycephalic breeds due to their distinctive appearance, this latest study has revealed that behaviour traits are a core component of why owners ‘love’ their breed and would recommend them to others; essentially, owners come for the looks, but stay for the personality.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of these views, the study, which included over 2,000 owners of Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs, asked owners to describe which aspects of their current breed they would or would not recommend in their own words.
The main reasons for owners recommending their breed included:
Conversely, aspects of their breed that owners would not recommend included:
Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the Royal Veterinary College and leader of the study, said: "With a multitude of stakeholders trying to tackle the current brachycephalic boom in the UK, our results are of real concern to these efforts. Understanding how breed loyalty develops towards brachycephalic breeds, and whether it can be changed once established, is key to reducing the popularity of short-muzzled breeds. If first time owners of flat-faced dogs choose these breeds for the rest of their lives, then the current crisis could continue for decades.
"Although strong focus has been placed upon dissuading new puppy buyers from purchasing brachycephalic breeds, as they are now some of the most popular breeds in the UK, attention should also be turned to current owners. Priority should be given to developing evidence-based strategies to help these owners consider lower risk, healthier breeds when acquiring future dogs. Our novel findings start this process by highlighting the key behavioural characteristics that this owner group value."
Whilst you're there, the company will doubtless use the opportunity to bend your ear about how its technology can save time, drive revenue, and strengthen patient care.
Still, all in a good cause, and the company says it expects to be making a significant donation towards supporting members of the veterinary community who are experiencing financial and mental health challenges.
ezyVet Chief Growth Officer Pete Brown said: ““As innovators in the veterinary software space, we’re passionate about bettering the lives of veterinary professionals and we recognise the critical work Vetlife is doing to support the hard-working veterinary community.
"We’re going to be donating £1 to Vetlife for every person that visits the ezyVet booth at the London Vet Show, so we encourage everyone to come down and help us support this very worthwhile cause.”
Horiba says subclinical hypocalcaemia (SCH) is a significant and under-diagnosed metabolic problem in dairy cattle affecting up to 50% cows annually.
After lactation, total calcium levels in the cows’ blood drop which can lead to sub-optimal health and yield.
The webinar will be presented by James Husband BA, VetMB, DipECBHM, DCHP, MRCVS, who will offer the benefit of his research and experience on the subject.
At the end, there'll be a Q&A session.
During the webinar, Horiba will also introduce its patient-sideLAQUAtwin Ca-11C pocket meter, which measures blood ionised calcium levels fast and is currently on special offer until 30th June 2022.
To register, visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6274625209458361872
Turning Over a New Leaf – How to Make Sustainable Change in the Veterinary Profession includes contributions from a range of organisations including the RCVS, Mars Veterinary Health and Investors in the Environment (iiE).
The report covers upcoming changes to the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, the value of external accreditation to support sustainability, and how to approach behaviour change within your team.
Two further articles highlight how changes in clinical practice can combat antimicrobial resistance and reduce levels of surgical waste.
The report also features the personal experiences of practice sustainability leads, who discuss how they have worked with others to improve their sites.
Ellie West, Environmental Sustainability Lead at Linnaeus said: “Changing how we work day-to-day, when we are all so busy as a profession, can be a lot to juggle but sustainability brings a huge range of benefits.
"As well as helping the environment, it can promote the wellbeing of our patients and colleagues while also improving our performance as a business.
“It is important, however, to avoid dictating what sustainable change should be made because it will vary greatly between different teams and locations.
"This report shares ideas from contributors with a variety of roles and responsibilities, who have taken different approaches to supporting the environment but are all united in their commitment to delivering excellent clinical care.”
Sue Paterson, RCVS Junior Vice-President and RCVS Council lead for Environment & Sustainability, said: “Contributing to this report highlights the importance of working together as a profession to understand the environmental challenges we face and adopt solutions that will benefit our planet and the animals we care for.
"Upcoming changes to the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme will cover sustainability across a range of areas and we are committed to ensuring the veterinary profession can fully realise the benefits of this new guidance.”
April Sotomayor, Principal Consultant at iiE, added: “This report offers a range of perspectives that highlight how the veterinary profession can become a leader in sustainability and a shining example to other sectors.”
Download Turning Over a New Leaf – How to Make Sustainable Change in the Veterinary Profession here.
76 vets, 34 nurses and 7 other practice staff took part in the survey, which was conducted at the VetsNow ECC Virtual Congress. Participants were asked a number of questions on antibiotic resistance and UTI management.
47% of vets said they currently feel confident prescribing antibiotics for suspected UTIs in the absence of culture and sensitivity results. However, 84% would be confident if they were able to use a rapid in-house sensitivity test.
77% of the participants said they were concerned about the increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
Rachel Kirkby MRCVS, Business Development Director, said: "Antibiotic resistance is a huge threat to both human and animal healthcare across the world. We all need to work together to address it, and at Test and Treat we want to make it easier for vets in practice to do their bit by prescribing antibiotics according to best practice."
Test and Treat says the problem is that while many vets are keen to tackle resistance, it is not always easy to avoid empirical prescribing in practice. Of the vets surveyed, 65% reported that they are typically not able to obtain an accurate clinical diagnosis prior to prescribing antimicrobial therapy.
Rachel said: “It can be frustrating for vets to have to prescribe empirically when they don’t have any information on antibiotic sensitivity. But logistical constraints often mean that it’s not practical to send samples off to the lab.”
Test and Treat's U-Treat system consists of two rapid tests: a 5-minute assay that can confirm the presence of infection and a 30-minute assay that evaluates antibiotic sensitivity. With this diagnostic tool, vets can therefore select and prescribe the most appropriate antibiotic within an hour.
Rachel said: "Since you get results so quickly, you can use the test while the owner waits – or, in the current situation, more likely goes for a walk and comes back. This means that vets can get their patients started on the most appropriate treatment right away.”
U-Treat is currently validated for use in dogs and cats, but company says it is also looking to license it in rabbits and human healthcare.
To find out more about U-Treat, contact Test and Treat’s National Sales Manager Jo Nickerson on Jo.Nickerson@tandtreat.com or visit http://www.tandtreat.com.
Merial - maker of the canine NSAID Previcox - has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the prevalence of canine osteoarthritis amongst dog owners in the UK.
Previcox Product Manager Claire Edmunds said: "We know that approximately 20% of adult dogs suffer from OA, but less than 25% of these dogs are treated with NSAIDs in the UK. That's one in five dogs that may be enduring the pain and discomfort of a condition that can be improved. Most owners will put their dog's loss of mobility down to old age, however, our aim with this campaign is to raise awareness of this condition with pet owners to encourage them to seek help from their vet for their pets, and assist vets in promoting treatments for this condition."
Merial says veterinary surgeries can take part in the campaign in five easy steps:
The following campaign materials are available:
For more information about the Missing Dog Campaign, please contact your Merial Territory Manager on 0870 6000 123.
The anaesthesia team has produced a fact sheet, infographic and CPD webinar to help practices minimise the oxygen and volatile anaesthetic agent used in animals safely.
The resources can all be found at: https://vetspecialists.co.uk/oxygen-conservation
Anaesthetist Sarah Gibson will be following up the webinar with a live online Q&A on Low Flow Anaesthesia on Tuesday 7th April at 2pm; to book your place please email CPD@vetspecialists.co.uk.
Managing Director Tim Richardson said: "By sharing our practical information on oxygen conservation, we hope we can help our colleagues safely use less oxygen during general anaesthesia and sedation, thus ensuring more of this valuable resource remains available."
Davies Veterinary Specialists' premises remain open for urgent and emergency cases. For all other cases, assistance is being provided via remote consultation, be that either telephone or video.
The first part of the charge was that, between 3 November 2014 and 10 December 2016 he did not provide CPD records to the RCVS requested in four separate letters dated November 2014, September 2015, November 2015 and November 2016. The second part of the charge was that, between 11 December 2016 and 26 July 2017, he did not provide the RCVS with his CPD records despite requests.
Dr Zukauskas admitted to the charge against him at the outset of the hearing.
The Committee considered whether Mr Zukauskas’ failure to respond to requests for his CPD records constituted serious professional misconduct.
The Committee found that he had breached the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons by not responding to the repeated requests for information from the College, although the Committee noted that there had not been total silence. Mr Zukauskas had made email contact on at least two occasions in response to RCVS letters and gave evidence that he had attempted to phone the authors of the letters. The Committee also noted that in early February 2017 Mr Zukauskas had made repeated attempts to give the RCVS access to his online CPD account, which he had been updating to reflect CPD work that he had undertaken.
Mr Zukauskas’ explanation for his failure was that he had not fully appreciated the importance of the letters, that his English was poor, and that he failed to obtain appropriate advice about the content of the letters until recently. It was only in a witness statement dated 27 July 2017 that he finally disclosed his full CPD records.
The Committee noted Mr Zukauskas' admission in his evidence that his English was not good, particularly in light of the obligation, brought into the Code in February 2016, for veterinary surgeons to be able to communicate effectively in written and spoken English.
Chitra Karve, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "From that date, if not earlier, the respondent should have been concerned to understand English sufficiently well to address the correspondence from the College. Whilst the Committee did not consider that his conduct in this respect amounted to disrespect, it did consider that he had shown a disregard of his obligations.
"At all times he could and should have made appropriate efforts to respond to the correspondence from the College and obtain appropriate advice. In effect he put off dealing with these matters and put his head in the sand."
Regarding his failure to respond to requests between December 2016 and July 2017, Ms Karve added: "This caused the College a considerable amount of concern and extra work. Had he done so much earlier, much of this matter would have been avoided. The respondent was once again in breach of his obligations."
Having found Mr Zukauskas guilty of serious professional misconduct in relation to both parts of the charge the Committee then considered its sanction against Mr Zukauskas, taking into account the fact that the Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee had recently suspended a veterinary nurse from the Register for a period of two months having found her guilty of similar charges.
In mitigation the Committee considered a number of testimonials from colleagues and clients, his hitherto long and unblemished career in the United Kingdom, and his open and frank admissions and subsequent efforts to avoid repetition of his behaviour. Language problems were also considered as an explanation for why the situation had occurred. However, it also considered the aggravating factor that the misconduct was sustained over a period of time and that there was unacceptable disregard for the obligations he had to the College as a veterinary surgeon.
In summing up Ms Karve said: "The Committee has determined to impose a reprimand. In doing so it acknowledged that the respondent has shown considerable insight into his behaviour. He had acknowledged that he has needed help in communicating with the College. It noted that he is a good and proficient veterinary surgeon in the work which he undertakes. He expressed remorse for his behaviour. He has carried out sufficient CPD and since December 2016 has been communicating with the College. The Committee considers it unlikely that he will transgress again.
"The Committee has decided that it is appropriate in this case to add a warning to the decision to impose a reprimand. It is mindful of the fact that other veterinary surgeons registered with the College have a duty to discharge their CPD obligations and they honour those obligations. Moreover, the conduct of the respondent has involved a considerable amount of work and expense for the College."
The warning was that in future Mr Zukauskas must respond in a timely and appropriate manner to any communications from the RCVS.