His Majesty King Charles III has been confirmed as the Royal Patron for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association, roles previously held by his mother.

The roles were confirmed by Buckingham Palace this month as part of a recent review of royal patronages. 

RCVS President Dr Sue Paterson FRCVS said: “We are delighted that His Majesty the King is our new Royal Patron, continuing his mother’s support for the veterinary professions. 

“We know that His Majesty is a keen advocate for animal health and welfare, the environment and biodiversity, and so his interests align very much with ours in areas such as sustainability, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and in supporting veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to best meet their professional standards.

British Veterinary Association President Dr. Anna Judson said: “We’re honoured to welcome His Majesty King Charles as our Patron.

"This ongoing royal commitment recognises the vital contribution vets make to animal welfare and their critical role in society, from taking care of the nation’s pets through to ensuring animal welfare in food production, public health and international trade.

"On behalf of our members, we’d like to thank His Majesty for his commitment to BVA, our profession and the work we do.”

YourVets, the network of privately owned small animal veterinary practices has opened a new clinic in Dagenham, Essex and is re-opening an expanded and improved practice in Wythall, Birmingham later this month.

YourVets already has five clinics operating throughout the West Midlands and Essex, with the philosophy of providing a friendly, caring and high-quality service at an affordable price.

YourVets says its Dagenham clinic is a new, purpose-built facility while the Wythall premises has been enlarged and improved to supersede the old Pet Vaccination Clinic. The Wythall clinic has also been re-branded under the YourVets name, to reflect that fact that its veterinary care has grown to encompass the full range of veterinary procedures, rather than just vaccinations.

The clinics are equipped with high-tech equipment and top-class facilities. They offer a walk in appointment service to provide clients with maximum convenience and flexibility and have easy access to YourVets' own affordable 24-hour emergency service. Owners can also register their pets and order prescriptions online, for added speed and efficiency.

Jonathan Stirling, Managing Director of the PVC/YourVets group, said: "At Dagenham and Wythall, as with all our clinics, visitors and staff will be able to benefit from outstanding facilities, including air conditioned buildings, easy parking and the very latest medical equipment in a relaxed, fun and welcoming atmosphere."

Faye Fraser, Practice Manager at the YourVets Coventry clinic, says: "I love my role at YourVets. It gives me immense satisfaction to know that so many pets and owners have access to our truly affordable prices and professional veterinary service. We all care deeply about the animals we treat, and my love for animals extends into my home life, too. I have two rescue cats Tarot and Sorrell, who both need lifelong medical care."

YourVets currently has clinics at Coventry and Nuneaton in the West Midlands and Rayleigh in Essex. YourVets Dagenham opened on 4^th February 2012 and the new-look YourVets Wythall will launch on 12^th February 2012, with a special open day.

For more information about YourVetsvisit http://www.yourvets.co.uk/.

Novartis Animal Health's year long campaign to drive pet-owner awareness of the importance of worming pets regularly got off to a rather damp start in London today, with 63 people in doggy suits - mostly company employees I gather - running around the capital accompanied by two 'pooch vans'.

The 'Worm Patrol' team will be visiting veterinary practices over the summer to help promote, set up and run Pet Worming Awareness Days and attend practice open days. Veterinary practitioners will have access to the Worm Patrol support kit including the branded pooch van, Chewy the dog mascot and a worm patrol ambassador. Additional support will include educational leaflets for owners, giveaways and waiting room materials.

Maggie Fisher, Chairperson of the European Scientific Counsel for Companion Animal Parasites is backing the campaign. She said: "Raising awareness of worm control throughout the life of cats and dogs is important, particularly when it is reported that 80 percent of children kiss their pet and 21 percent let them lick their fingers after sharing food. While the risk may be relatively low, the consequences can be serious, especially in children.

"It's important that pet owners take responsibility for their animals and we are pleased that initiatives such as the Worm Patrol and 'Pet Worming Awareness Days' will help practices highlight the risk that endoparasites pose to humans and companion animals in a novel and light-hearted way."

To arrange for the Worm Patrol to visit to your practice, or for further information about setting up a Pet Awareness Worming Day, please contact your Novartis Animal Health Territory Manager or Novartis Animal Health UK Ltd on +44 (0)1276 694402.

The RCVS has announced that those veterinary surgeons who wish to gain the middle tier RCVS Advanced Practitioner status will have extra time to do so this year.

The status, which was launched last August, recognises those veterinary surgeons who can demonstrate knowledge and skills beyond their initial degree in a designated field of veterinary practice. This year the application process, which opens today, will end on Friday 30 October, meaning that veterinary surgeons will have over four months to submit their application, compared to less than three months last year.

Christine Warman, Head of Education at the College, said: "Following on from the great success of our first ever application process last year, in which some 640 vets applied of whom 575 were successful, we have decided to lengthen this year's application window. We hope that this will allow prospective applicants extra time to consider and make an application."

Applications received in June and July will be considered by the Advanced Practitioner Panel and, where successful, ratified by the RCVS Education Committee in October this year, which may result in an earlier listing for successful applicants. Successful applications received in August, September and October will be ratified at the Education Committee's February 2016 meeting.

This year veterinary surgeons will be able to make an application for Advanced Practitioner status through the online 'My Account' area on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/login). The fee payable on application is £80 and the RCVS can also now take payment online.

Details of the application process, eligibility criteria, eligible qualifications and fee information, as well as a list of designations, can be found in the Advanced Practitioner Applicant Guidance Notes document which is available to download from www.rcvs.org.uk/advanced

Those who are interested in applying can also contact Duncan Ash, RCVS Education Officer, for an initial discussion on 020 7202 0703 or d.ash@rcvs.org.uk

In the week that VetNurse Jobs released the results of a survey which found that the most important thing to nurses about a job in practice is to feel valued and appreciated as part of a team, White Cross Vets, the 15-practice, family-run group headquartered in Guiseley, has shown that it's leading the way in this area, taking it's entire nursing team for a 3-day training and team-building event in the South of France

The 29 strong team jetted into Nice for a series of training sessions by Kristie Faulkner focussed around nurse consulting skills. Topics covered included dealing with challenging clients, efficient ways to manage consultations and prescribing health care plans.  

The team also attended a presentation hosted by senior managers from Virbac, followed by a tour of the company’s vaccine manufacturing facility in Carros. In the evening, the team went for a guided tour of Monaco and dinner at the Café de Paris in Monte Carlo.

Tim Harrison, Managing Director of White Cross Vets, said: "Every year we run a training event in Nice and each years it’s been an amazing few days, which prove to be hugely beneficial and enjoyable for everyone involved. We have committed to give every White Cross team member across every level the opportunity to enjoy the trip to Nice, and we’re already planning future events for our vets and leadership team."

Bekkii Bridges, a student Veterinary Nurse from White Cross Vets in Northampton, said: "To have a training session in such a fabulous place was out of this world! Everyone involved had an incredible weekend and came away with lots of fresh ideas that will enable us to continue building on the high standards of nursing and client care that we are renowned for."

Dechra will be hosting two CPD sessions at the London Vet Show, the first about why senior cat health checks are worthwhile and the second covering the Nordic approach to antibiotic usage in otitis external.

‘Feline enthusiasts assemble! How to help senior cats retain their superpowers' will be led by Geoff Duncan, veterinary technical advisor at Dechra, alongside panellists Natalie Dowgray, Head of ISFM, Sam Taylor, Head of Veterinary Specialists at ISFM (pictured), Vicky Halls, Head of Unowned Cats at ISFM and Marge Chandler, Clinical Nutritionist at Vets Now Referrals. 

They will discuss the type of behavioural indications that a senior cat may present with, support for a stress-free visit and how practices can get the most out of these visits including the ‘how and why’ of BCS (body condition score), MCS (muscle condition score), the frailty scale and best practice nutritional guidance. 

This hour-long session will be held twice: at 9.10am in Gallery Suite 22 on Thursday 16th November and 1.45pm in Gallery Room 17 on Friday 17th November.

‘Nordic voices on antibiotics in otitis externa; a call for responsibility’ will address the challenges associated with antibiotic usage in the management of otitis externa and discuss the importance of embracing the Nordic model to help significantly cut down on antibiotic usage in the UK. 

It takes place at 10.10am on Friday 17th November in Gallery Room 17.

The CPD sessions are first come, first served.

The company is also offering Happy Hour cocktails on its stand from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Thursday.

Pet food company tails.com has launched Data Labs, through which it will share its animal health data with veterinary surgeons to help improve the lives of dogs and their owners.

The company has been gathering information on the health, wellbeing and life expectancy of hundreds of thousands of dogs since 2014.

Sean McCormack (pictured right), Head Vet at tails.com, said: “As a vet in practice, you gain an understanding of general animal issues and trends. But what this data can do is look over hundreds of thousands of dogs, unpick all of the nutritional, breed and age-related data we’ve collected over time, and then provide an insight-rich window into the best possible way to care for our dogs.

“We’re really just scratching the surface in terms of what we have at our disposal. There’s real potential for Data Labs to fundamentally change the way that we view dog nutrition and dog health going forwards.”

According to the company, the database has already revealed that:

• in certain breeds, a significant proportion of owners are unaware that their dog is overweight;
• being overweight or obese can take months, or in some cases, years off the lives of dogs;
• there is evidence to suggest that there are improvements in life expectancy when overweight dogs return to an ideal body weight;
• neutering dogs is associated with a longer life expectancy across 15 of the studied dog breeds.

Lorna Brightmore, Lead Data Scientist at tails.com, said: "Even at this early stage, we are finding strong associations between a number of health factors and longevity and our conclusions will only become stronger over time.”

The first major milestone of Data Labs will be the publication of tails.com’s first peer-reviewed scientific paper.

The paper will detail the effects of body weight, body condition, gender and neutering on the longevity and health of dogs, with further scientific papers planned for publication in the coming months and years.

For more information, visit www.tails.com/gb/data-labs/.

A survey of more than 4,000 members of the public by the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) has revealed that 90% of people think that separation from a pet is traumatic for older people entering residential care or sheltered accommodation.

The TNS research carried out in March 2010 also found 83% agree pets make their owners happier and 54% think pet owners should be able to make the choice about entering care facilities after seeing the accommodation policy. 

According to the PFMA, the benefits of pet ownership for elderly people include a lower risk of heart attack and stroke, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol, improved recovery from heart attacks and strokes, better social interactions in people with dementia, and fewer GP visits. In addition, those who keep pets when entering care homes enjoy a smoother transition into residential care,

The PFMA says this survey has helped shape its goal to ensure all leading UK housing providers implement responsible pet policies that enable older people to make an informed choice about their future.  This commitment is part of the organisation's 2020 vision to 'make a better world with pets', launched to mark its 40^th anniversary.

The PFMA also says it is working closely with SCAS (Society for Companion Animal Studies) and MPs - including Ian Cawsey, Nick Palmer and Nigel Waterson - all striving for fairer treatment of the older pet-owning public.

Ian Cawsey, MP for Brigg and Goole, said: 'Today we have more than 11 million elderly adults living in Britain, of whom approximately 25% are pet-owners. This figure is estimated to rise to 14 million by 2026 and the majority of these people will eventually require some form of residential care. Unfortunately growing older often involves inevitable heartache and loss but being separated from a pet when entering care facilities should not be part of it. This is why I welcome the PFMA's 2020 goal to ensure care facilities implement responsible pet policies over the next decade."

PFMA, Chief Executive, Michael Bellingham, explains: "Having analysed the research and consulted SCAS we are delighted to announce our 2020 ambition to ensure fairer treatment of the older pet-owning public.  The importance of pets to people in care facilities cannot be under-estimated. Over the next ten years we want to make a big difference to the lives of older pet owners."

This latest call to action follows the successful passing of shadow minister for older people, Nigel Waterson's bill - Care Homes and Sheltered Accommodation (Domestic Pets) Bill - which aims for a more "enlightened and responsible" policy for allowing pet owners in residences to keep their beloved animals.

The BVA has responded to Prime Minister Theresa May's speech in which she outlined her plans for the UK’s exit from the European Union.

With Brexit negotiations set to begin after notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is served, the Prime Minister’s speech outlined the Government’s negotiating priorities that included some key BVA issues, such as: rights for EU nationals in Britain, and British nationals in the EU; the intention to continue playing a leading role in science and innovation; and maintaining the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland.

The BVA’s President Gudrun Ravetz said: "It’s encouraging to see some of the key priorities that BVA has identified and is lobbying on, on behalf of the profession, make it into the Prime Minister’s list of negotiating priorities although it still leaves a lot of uncertainty.

"We particularly welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to guaranteeing the rights of EU colleagues already living, working and studying in the UK, alongside reciprocal rights for UK colleagues working within the EU, which has been a BVA priority since day one. Each year around 50% of veterinary surgeons registering to practise in the UK are from overseas, with the vast majority coming from the EU. Consequently, Brexit and accompanying changes to the mutual recognition system or immigration restrictions could have a profound impact upon the veterinary workforce.

"As a science and evidence-based profession, we also welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition of the breadth and depth of our academic and scientific communities, our cutting-edge research and innovation, and we will continue to call for a regulatory and legislative framework to ensure the UK remains a globally attractive place for research and development.

"Knowing the express concern of colleagues in Northern Ireland, which shares a border with the EU via the Republic of Ireland, we were reassured by the UK government’s recognition of this as an important priority – backed up by Mrs May’s commitment to work with the devolved nations and secure the Common Travel Area as soon as she can.

"We hope Mrs May’s promise of ‘certainty wherever possible’ will help reassure our EU and UK veterinary colleagues – as well as those outside of the profession – who have had anything but certainty since the result of the UK referendum on the EU last June. We will continue to lobby the Government on this key issue until it is resolved."

BVA’s Brexit Working Group is continuing to work closely with RCVS’s Brexit Presidential Taskforce, consult with stakeholders and gather evidence with the aim of publishing a full report setting out our detailed lobbying position and policy recommendations in April.

RCVS Council members have unanimously agreed the establishment of an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service to help resolve lower-level complaints about veterinary services through mediation.

Since 2014 the RCVS has trialled two different ADR services with the aim of helping resolve complaints between animal owners and veterinary practices that do not meet its threshold for serious professional misconduct. 

Since October 2016, this has been in the form of the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS), administered by Nockolds Solicitors. The VCMS is free for both animal owners and veterinary professionals and cases will only be taken with the consent of both parties.

Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said: "We are very pleased that ADR in the form of mediation has received the unanimous support of RCVS Council members as part of the process for handling veterinary complaints.

"Throughout its trial period the VCMS has very much been complementary to our concerns investigation and disciplinary process. While we are bound by statute to investigate concerns, it has allowed our Professional Conduct Team to 'triage' cases, and to signpost complainants either to the College or the VCMS as appropriate. This has allowed greater time and resources to investigate concerns that could constitute serious professional misconduct.

"We also believe that the VCMS is good for both the public and the profession because it encourages both parties to communicate, find areas of agreement and come to constructive solutions, rather than being an adversarial process that assigns blame and adjudicates remedies."

Jennie Jones, a partner at Nockolds Solicitors which administers the VCMS, said: "The service is here to help veterinary clients and practices find a resolution for complaints that cannot be resolved within the practice. Complaints are referred to the VCMS by clients and practices where the relationship has become strained or communication may be difficult.  Importantly the service does not look at who is right or wrong, but focuses on finding an outcome that both parties can live with and bringing an end to the complaint.

"In our experience this has ranged from reassuring clients and helping them to come to terms with what has happened, refunding fees, further explanations, apologies, small goodwill payments, securing procedural changes at the practice and agreement by the client to settle outstanding fees which have been withheld because of the complaint.

"We understand complaints are highly emotional and stressful for both parties, so the VCMS team will not ask parties to speak to one another directly. It is also not about assigning blame but is about moving forward to allow both parties to bring the complaint to a conclusion. When we hear from practices and clients alike that they can now sleep at night, or their relief that a complaint is resolved, I know ADR and the VCMS does help and make a difference."

The College says that during the trial period, 165 of the 870 enquiries received by the VCMS went to mediation. Of these, 129 were successfully mediated with the other 36 remaining unresolved. Of the other enquiries 297 resulted in the animal owner being referred back to the practice so that internal complaints processes could be exhausted first, 93 did not progress because the animal owner did not pursue the complaint, 73 were dealt with through advice, 66 did not progress as the practice declined to engage, 76 were outside the service’s remit and 100 are currently ongoing.

Taking into account the overall feedback received from both animal owners and veterinary professionals and the positive responses on the independence and fairness of the VCMS, Council agreed that Nockolds continue administering the scheme, with a review starting in 18 months’ time to take into account experience and learning as the scheme continues to evolve. During the Council meeting statements of support for the VCMS were also heard from a representative of the Veterinary Defence Society (VDS) and an independent consultant on consumer affairs.

A spokesperson for the VDS said: "The VDS assisted over 150 practices that agreed to participate in the ADR trial and developed a constructive working relationship with the VCMS staff. In the vast majority of cases mediation has resulted in a satisfactory outcome with little or no financial consequences.

"The Society considers this voluntary scheme particularly suited to the many client care complaints that are directed at the RCVS due to public misunderstanding of the College’s role, but the investigation of which creates disproportionate concern to the professionals involved. The independent nature of the VCMS has been a key feature of the trial, although access to experienced, non-judgemental, veterinary advice has provided the necessary professional expertise when necessary."

More information about the VCMS and its processes can be found on the service’s dedicated website: https://www.vetmediation.co.uk/

To contact the service directly call 0345 040 5834 or enquiries@vetmediation.co.uk

RCVS Council member Professor the Lord Trees has today submitted a Private Members’ Bill to the ballot of the House of Lords which would legally protect the title ‘Veterinary Nurse’.

If the Bill is drawn sufficiently highly in the ballot, it will be debated in the Lords and the Commons. If approved by both Houses, it'll become law.

As it is drawn up, the Bill would prohibit use of the title ‘Veterinary Nurse’ for any person whose name is not on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. Any non-registered person who used the title Veterinary Nurse or a name, title or description that implied they were on the Register would be guilty of an offence and may be fined or convicted under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Lord Trees said: “It is very exciting, and a privilege, to be entering a Private Members’ Bill to protect the title veterinary nurse into the ballot for Private Members’ Bills in Parliament. If we are drawn high enough in the ballot and if we can get Parliamentary time – two important ‘ifs’ – I am confident that the Bill will receive total cross-party support.

“It would mark the final brick in the wall of creating a fully-fledged, recognised and protected veterinary nursing profession. This is what the veterinary nursing profession merits and the public deserve.”

The House of Lords ballot will be drawn before the summer recess. In the meantime, the RCVS is encouraging registered veterinary nurses to back its campaign to protect the title and raise awareness of the issue with their clients.

Further details about the campaign, including a short animated film, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vntitle

The latest solution to the perennial problem of cat mess has arrived in the UK; CatGenie is the world's first self-flushing, self-washing cat loo.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here it is...

According to CatGenie UK, the loo eliminates the need for pet owners to touch, smell or change dirty cat litter again, or carry heavy bags of cat litter home from the supermarket.

Once hooked up to a water connection and plugged into an electrical socket, CatGenie is ready to use.  Instead of litter, it uses washable granules that look and feel like litter. Liquid waste drains and solids get scooped. All get liquefied for disposal down the drain, out of the home. The washable granules and cat box interior are then washed with water and SaniSolution. A built in dryer blows hot air through the granules to dry them completely for the cat's comfort. Sensors monitor when a cat visits the box and the CatGenie can be set to clean automatically at intervals throughout the day, or manually whenever required. 

CatGenie costs £289.99 including VAT and shipping. The company says that annual running costs are lower than traditional cat litter methods which cost approximately £155/year, with more than 30 hours a year spent on buying and carrying litter, changing and disposing of dirty litter. CatGenie's on-going costs are less than £100.

CatGenie is offering vets the opportunity to take advantage of this product launch in the UK.  By displaying CatGenie leaflets in your practice, you can earn £10 for every unit sold.  There's no financial outlay and no need to store bulky items.  Your leaflets will include a promotional code, unique to your practice.  If one of your clients buys a CatGenie online and types in the code from one of your leaflets, you automatically receive £10 and they receive a £10 discount off the purchase price. 

For further information on how to sign up to the promotional offer and for leaflets to display in your practice, please email courtney.morgan@catgenie.co.uk