The RCVS is calling on veterinary surgeons and students, and listed or registered veterinary nurses to complete its Survey of the Professions 2014.
The four-yearly, confidential survey provides the College with data that helps it develop policy, plan its activities and respond to questions from stakeholders such as government and the media.
The survey aims to find out more about individuals' employment type and experiences, working patterns and professional development. It also asks about aspirations for the short- and long-term and current views on the veterinary profession.
Questions are also asked about mental health and well-being, using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. The data will be used to track the mental well-being of the profession at a population level over successive years - a process that started with the 2010 survey - which will feed into other work being carried out across the profession.
Finally, the survey includes a set of questions about 24/7 emergency cover, the answers to which will feed into the RCVS Standards Committee's current evidence-gathering exercise.
This year the survey, which is being carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies, will only be available online. All those for whom the RCVS has a personal email address (ie not 'info@' or similar) have been sent a participation request. Others will be sent a letter, including the survey URL. Those who do not receive this letter by Monday 14 April should contact Lizzie Lockett, on l.lockett@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0725.
The deadline for completion of the survey is 30 April.
Novartis Animal Health has announced the launch of Strenzen, an oral water medication for pigs, indicated for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections caused by Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella Typhimurium, and for respiratory tract infections caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus suis.
Strenzen contains contains a combination of amoxicillin trihydrate (500 mg/g) and potassium clavulanate (125 mg/g) in ratio of 4:1. Novartis says it is ideally suited for the treatment of post-weaning infections in pigs.
According to the company, the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid broadens the performance of amoxicillin1,2, especially against resistant strains of bacteria capable of producing ß-lactamase enzymes. Certain bacteria are able to produce ß-lactamase enzymes as a protection mechanism, making the amoxicillin molecule ineffective against them. The clavulanic acid in Strenzen binds to the molecules of the ß-lactamase enzyme, ensuring the amoxicillin remains unaffected and free to attack bacteria. Prof. Dominiek Maes, DVM, MSc, MS, PhD, Dipl. ECVPH, Dipl. ECPHM, from the Porcine Health Management Unit of the Ghent University, Belgium said: "Weaning is a stressful event for piglets and there are several opportunistic diseases that can impact them during this period. The challenge with E. coli and S. suis infections is that in many countries there are currently no commercial vaccines available with proper efficacy. I believe Strenzen can indeed be very helpful in managing those infections which are so prevalent after weaning."
Novartis says Strenzen is rapidly excreted, leading to a withdrawal period of one day, which in turn maximizes production flexibility for pig producers. In addition, the water-soluble formulation of Strenzen ensures that treated pigs get a therapeutic dose even when they stop eating, making it an ideal treatment for sick pigs with compromised appetites.
Recent field trials on infected farms in Spain and the Czech Republic demonstrated that Strenzen-treated pigs give better production performance, better economic returns and require less medical intervention3,4,5. The reduction of the overall amount of antibiotics needed to treat severe post-weaning infections not only saves producers the costs of the labour and the medication, but is also important in regard to the development of resistance in bacteria.
Dr. Ulrich Klein, Global Technical Services Manager, Novartis Animal Health said: "With the launch of Strenzen, Novartis Animal Health demonstrates its commitment to continually broadening our product portfolio to address the specific needs of farmers and food producers. Strenzen has the ideal spectrum for the treatment of post-weaning infections, delivering better productivity results than current therapies for those infections."
References
The 2014 Vet Charity Challenge is now open and teams can register via the website at www.vetcharitychallenge.co.uk.
The event takes place on Saturday 27th September at St Francis School, Pewsey, near Marlborough in Wiltshire. The day consists of teams of four taking part in walking/running, cycling and kayaking, some orienteering as well as some mental and physical tasks. All the time trying to gain as many points as possible. Last year the event raised over £50,000 for the three selected animal based charities. In 2014 the charities being supported are Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, SPANA and Cats Protection.
Gavin Mitchell from BCF Technology said: "Interest in the Vet Charity Challenge was so great last year that we had teams on a waiting list. To ensure your team gets a place we highly recommend that you register your team on the website early. We will be entering five teams from BCF this year, such is the demand from our own staff."
Andrew Groom from Kruuse added: "The Vet Charity Challenge is a great event. Helping you build your team within your veterinary practice, acting as a goal for those that want to become a bit fitter, encouraging training together over the summer months. It is great fun and also raises considerable sums of money for some really deserving charities. Don't delay, get your teams together and register now on the website. The event is designed for all levels of fitness. It is not the fittest team that wins, but the team that works the best together."
The Dogs Trust has officially launched the Free Microchipping Through Vets Campaign through which all owners can get their dog microchipped free of charge through participating veterinary practices.
Microchipping becomes compulsory for all dogs in England in April 2016 and Wales in March 2015, and with 20% of dogs in the UK still unchipped, the charity says it thinks demand for the procedure is likely to be significant over the coming year.
1500 practices have already joined the year-long campaign, as part of which they will be given free microchips in exchange for implanting them at no cost to the owner. The charity says it hopes that up to 75% of the UK's 3075 practices will have joined the campaign within the next few weeks.
Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said: "We are delighted about the proposed new legislation and see it as the start of a very positive movement. From April 2016 in England and March 2015 in Wales it will be compulsory for each and every dog to be microchipped on first change of hands which represents a significant step forward for dog welfare and responsible dog ownership. To show its support for the implementation of this legislation, Dogs Trust is teaming up with vets to make sure that all dog owners can have the procedure done for free. We'd like to say a huge thank you to the vet practices already supporting the campaign and urge others to come on board. An essential element to the success of microchipping is for dog owners to take responsibility for updating their details with the database should their circumstances change.
"Last year 111,986 stray and abandoned dogs were picked up by Local Authorities across the UK, with only 40% reunited with their owners. This initiative will help to reduce that number dramatically."
To join the campaign vet practices should contact Dogs Trust at campaigns@dogstrust.org.uk
Ceva Animal Health has launched a series of puppy training films to educate dog owners on new puppy ownership, from buying through to training.
The three films, which are available to view in the puppy section of www.adaptil.co.uk are presented by the leading dog trainer and behaviourist Carolyn Menteith and senior veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health, Sarah Endersby. The films, which range in length from 5 to 25 minutes, are entitled 'How to pick the right puppy', 'General healthcare of your puppy' and a 'Practical guide to basic training with your puppy'.
The first film - 'How to pick the right puppy' - features information on how to look for a puppy using adoption centres and Kennel Club registered breeders and the considerations to take into account when choosing a dog. These include how much exercise different breeds require, grooming (for example would an owner like a long or short haired dog) and whether a particular breed of dog is good with children. The first film also advises new dog owners on preparing a home for a new puppy and the equipment that they may wish to buy.
The second film - 'General healthcare of your puppy' - consists of information on how to settle a puppy when it is brought home and how to choose puppy classes. It also features details on vaccinations, keeping control of fleas and worms and diet, together with educating dog owners about toilet training their new pet and the importance of socialisation and habituation.
The third film - a 'Practical guide to basic training with your puppy' - features practical demonstrations on how to start training a puppy including teaching a dog to sit, go down, recall and walk on a lead. It also advises owners on what to look for in a puppy class and the importance of training a puppy in a variety of locations, not just at home.Emma Jackson, Adaptil product manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "The puppy training films are ideal tools for animal health professionals to utilise to help educate puppy owners on every aspect of new puppy ownership. They can even be embedded into your own website via YouTube."
MSD Animal Health UK has announced the launch of Bravecto, which it says is the first and only treatment available for fleas and ticks in dogs that is rapidly effective and offers 12-weeks duration of efficacy.
Bravecto (fluralaner) is the first of a new generation of systemically active ectoparasiticides, the isoxazolines, and will only be available on prescription through veterinary practices. The new product will be available in five strengths of pork liver flavoured palatable chew for different size dogs - one chew per weight band - which MSD says are readily accepted from the hand. Jolian Howell, marketing and technical lead at MSD Animal Health UK said: "Bravecto is a truly unique and exciting innovation which will transform the effective treatment of fleas and ticks - providing protection like never before from a single dose. It is the first in a new generation of products that offer a full 12-week protection and will help keep the treatment of fleas and ticks within veterinary practices."
He continued: "Estimates suggest that flea and tick treatments are applied for just 2.8 months per year so just one dose of Bravecto will immediately deliver much improved levels of treatment for dogs in veterinary care, which is good for the animal and good for the vet." MSD Animal Health says it is investing in the launch of Bravecto with a major marketing and practice support package which aims to raise awareness of fleas and ticks and drive pet owner footfall into practices for flea and tick control.
The new product will be available after BSAVA Congress, where MSD will be giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about it.
Horiba UK is to launch Gluco Calea, a new handheld blood glucose meter developed and calibrated for monitoring sugar levels in the whole blood of cats, dogs and horses, at BSAVA Congress this year.
Horiba says the new product is highly accurate and easy-to-use for the assessment of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in animals. It is also designed to be used both in veterinary practice and at home for regular monitoring and subsequent treatment optimisation.
The Gluco Calea uses disposable test strips that can measure glucose from 0.5 µL of capillary whole blood. In addition, its memory will store 300 test results and display blood glucose averages for 7, 14 and 30 days.
Paul Lymer, Veterinary Market Specialist at Horiba said: "Using a meter calibrated for humans when measuring animal blood glucose may result in inaccurate readings and an underestimation of blood glucose. This is because animals and humans have very different blood compositions, notably the concentration of glucose in blood plasma is significantly higher in animals. Therefore, it is essential to use a blood glucose meter specifically developed for animals such as the Gluco Calea."
Horiba is also highlighting 'Gold energy plus liquid sugar', its new vanilla-flavoured gel for hypoglycemia in small animals. The company says it is easy to give, rapid acting and highly effective over a long period.
For more information and a special offer whereby you can claim a free Gluco Calea meter with every purchase of 50 test strips, visit stand 505 at the BSAVA Congress, or www.horiba.com/uk/medical/products/animal-healthcare.
Vétoquinol has announced the return of Navilox powder (isoxsuprine hydrochloride), the only medication specifically licensed in the UK for use in cases of navicular disease in horses.
Navicular disease is a chronic degenerative condition of the navicular bone and associated structures. It is a syndrome with a complex pathogenesis which combines various underlying causes. Vétoquinol says it is a common cause of lameness in the middle aged riding horse.
Robert Simpson, Navilox Product Manager said: "Navilox has been sorely missed by equine vets in the UK which is why I am thrilled to be able to announce that it is available again."
To order Navilox powder, call Vétoquinol on 01280 825424 or contact your wholesaler directly.
White Cross Vets, a group with 11 surgeries in the Midlands and the North of England, has picked up two Veterinary Marketing Association awards at an event usually dominated entirely by big pharma.
The group was joint winner of Public Relations Award, alongside Bayer Animal Health.
White Cross Marketing Manager Justin Phillips also walked off with the Young Marketeer of the Year award, fighting off competition from Elizabeth Rawlings from Dechra and Beverly Hammond from Animalcare Ltd.
The practice group won the PR Award for a campaign in which it managed to generate a massive amount of media coverage for the business primarily by spotting a good opportunity, and acting quickly to make the most of it.
The story began last July, when a man spotted an exotic-looking bird walking around Guisely, near Leeds. When he tried to capture the bird, it told him to 'bugger off'. Undeterred, he picked it up and took it to White Cross Vets. Once the vets had examined the bird to make sure it was in good health, White Cross instructed its PR agency to begin a media campaign to reunite the animal with its owner. The resultant story generated over £145,000 worth of branded coverage in local and national media, including the Daily Mirror, Metro, the Yorkshire Post and ITV.
By contrast, Bayer Animal Health's winning campaign, which ingeniously used LED lights strapped to snails to bring the lungworm story to life, was nevertheless the product of month's of planning and what would have been a considerable budget.
The judges felt both entries were impressive in completely different ways, so a draw was the only option.
Picture shows, left to right: Heidi Bruckland (Pegasus), Emma Swain (Pegasus), Helen Moore (Markettiers4DC), Marcus Edingloh (Bayer), Luke Hopkins (Pegasus), Caroline Braidwood (Bayer); Jane Manning (Splash); Tim Harrison (White Cross Vets); Justin Phillips (White Cross Vets)
Mike Brampton, inventor of the CAT Doppler blood pressure system and Managing Director of Thames Medical, is to start the 'Tour de Vet', a 1,300 mile tour of the UK during which he'll be stopping to give BP CPD and coaching to veterinary surgeons and nurses in return for a donation to the charity Canine Partners.
Mike says the CAT Doppler system is the most widely used in the UK. He also lectures at Nottingham Vet School and normally charges something in the order of £600 for talks and training sessions.
During the 'Tour de Vet', however, he'll be giving his talks free, in exchange for a donation to the charity of £250-£300.
Mike said: "At a recent BVNA Congress, 85% of nurses said they would like more skills and information in BP techniques. This is your chance to book some quality, certified, hands-on CPD at a massively reduced price, which will benefit not only your staff and practice but also help train a puppy for Canine Partners".
Mike's target is to raise £10,000.
The tour starts in Worthing on May 19th 2014. It ends three weeks and 1300 miles later at the Vettrust Conference in Stirling.
To book your blood pressure monitoring CPD or nurses' coaching, call Mike on 01903 522911 or email mike@thamesmedical.com.
Alternatively, if you just want to support his efforts, text 70070 with the code TDEV55 and your donation or visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tour-De-Vet
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has restored Joseph Lennox Holmes to the Register of Veterinary Surgeons, two years after he was originally struck off.
Mr Holmes was removed from the Register in February 2012 after the Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of multiple charges of serious professional conduct. Mr Holmes lodged an appeal against the decision, which was heard and dismissed by the Privy Council.
The original charges related to two separate complaints; the first involved numerous charges in respect of Mr Holmes' treatment of a King Charles Spaniel between October 2007 and March 2008; the second, several charges in relation to his treatment of three cats in 2008.
The Committee found that the majority of the charges amounted to serious professional misconduct. In removing Mr Holmes from the Register, the Committee found that "aggravating factors in both... cases included actual injuries to the animals... and a serious breach of the trust which Mr Holmes' clients had placed in him to make the welfare of the animals his primary consideration according to the standards to be expected of the profession". In addition, the Committee cited 10 further aggravating factors including lack of reference to continuing professional development (CPD) in clinical policies and practices; lack of reference to accepted practice; lack of appreciation of the importance of adequate pain relief when performing painful surgical procedures; reluctance to consider referral as an option; and lack of understanding about what information is required by a client to enable fully informed consent to be given.
Following the dismissal of Mr Holmes' appeal by the Privy Council, his first application for restoration was heard by the Disciplinary Committee in February 2013. The Committee was not satisfied that he was fit to be restored to the Register, citing the fact that his application was "premature" and that he had failed to truly appreciate the seriousness of the findings against him. The Committee was also unimpressed with the efforts he had made to keep up-to-date with skills and developments in practice and with his CPD, noting in particular that he had made very limited attempts to observe the function and experience the culture of a modern first opinion practice.
However, in this week's two-day hearing, the Committee was satisfied that Mr Holmes was now fit to be restored to the Register. It heard that Mr Holmes had made a concerted effort to engage in CPD and bring his skills and knowledge up-to-date. During a period of observation at a veterinary practice, he had gained insight into modern practice and the need for veterinary general practitioners to be aware of the advantages in referring patients to specialists.
Professor Noreen Burrows, who chaired and spoke on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, said: "The Committee has concluded that, in the course of genuine efforts to do what was necessary to address the deficiencies identified during the original Inquiry and at the last restoration hearing, the Applicant has at last understood the seriousness of his previous misconduct and has learned new skills and, most importantly, to recognise his limitations from the extensive course of study, reflection, and other training that he has undertaken."
Furthermore, the Committee was satisfied that Mr Holmes had gained a proper understanding of the importance of securing the informed consent of his clients and building a relationship of trust with them and, in addition, recognising the importance of maintaining close relations with fellow professionals and engaging with CPD opportunities.
Additional factors considered when making the decision included: that he had been off the Register for two years; that, through self-improvement, he had equipped himself to treat animals appropriately; the impact that being removed from the Register had in both personal and financial terms; his conduct since being removed from the Register; and, a number of positive testimonials from previous clients and professional colleagues.
The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
The Kennel Club has announced the results of a survey of 329 Breed Kennel Rescue organisations which has revealed that over 50% of dogs given up for rehoming are given up by women, compared to 17% by men and 27% by couples who made the decision jointly.
The Kennel Club said the survey also revealed lifestyle changes, a lack of training and time to look after the family pet adequately are the main reasons why dogs are rehomed.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "People really need to explore their reasons for wanting a dog in the first place, do the research properly and invest time into training their dog. We are seeing an increasing number of owners being driven by celebrity trends in choice of dog breed, such as the French Bulldog, owned by Millie Mackintosh, Jessie J and Jonathan Ross.
"Every year dogs are abandoned or given up when the novelty wears off. Dogs are a lifelong commitment and anyone considering getting a pet needs to be sure that they will be able to properly care for the animal for the rest of its life."
Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations last year rehomed over 20,000 dogs, more than Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home combined. January was revealed to be the busiest month, highlighting the impact of many families being unprepared for getting a dog and potentially still buying them as a Christmas gift, despite advice to the contrary. More than one in three breed rescue organisations reported an increase of dogs needing to be rehomed compared with 2012.
Caroline continued: "Although not as well-known as other organisations, Kennel Club Breed Rescues work incredibly hard to support their breed. They are set up and run by people passionate about dogs and their particular breed in particular. There is a breed rescue organisation for almost every one of the 212 breeds of pedigree dog in the UK, and more than one in three of the breed rescue organisations also accept crossbreeds as well as pedigrees.
"Breed rescue is a fantastic place to consider when looking for a dog. The expert staff and volunteers will often know the full history of the dogs in their care and provide you with invaluable knowledge on the breed and tips for caring for individual dogs to make sure the dogs find a family for life."
An animal heath company is conducting a survey into veterinary surgeons' thoughts on digestive health conditions, including diarrhoea.
Everyone who participates in the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win £100 worth of John Lewis vouchers.
To take part, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/digestive-health-survey.
The survey will remain live till 28th March 2014, and the results will be shared with participants in due course.
Axiom Veterinary Laboratories is launching MiLab, a new range of in-practice analysers at the BSAVA Congress.
Axiom says the range will be supported with a comprehensive range of additional services, from installation and training through to technical support and maintenance.
Martyn Carpenter, Managing Director of Axiom Veterinary Laboratories said: "An increasing number of UK veterinary practices are opting to carry out a higher proportion of laboratory testing in-house but, in order to do this successfully, they need equipment which is reliable, cost-effective and easy-to-use. Two products in the MiLab range will be showcased at BSAVA, both of which have been selected following extensive validation and correlation testing in Axiom's veterinary laboratories."
The two new products are:
Martyn said: "Investing in significant new equipment is always challenging for practices and we have spoken to many over the last 18 months to understand their experience of and current requirements for in-house analysis and, in particular, the level of support they receive. Practices working with us can be confident that we are offering the very latest in analyser technology, which has been tested rigorously for reliability, economy and ease of use. They can also feel secure in the knowledge that we provide a high level of service and support, delivered by our own highly skilled laboratory technicians."
For more information, contact Steve Clarke at Axiom on 01626 357756.
Elanco Animal Health has announced that there have been extensions to the withdrawal periods for Dectomax (doramectin) 10 mg/ml Solution for Injection and Micotil (tilmicosin) 300 mg/ml Solution for Injection.
For Dectomax injectable, meat withdrawal for cattle and sheep will be extended to 70 days and pigs to 77 days. For Micotil, sheep milk withdrawal will be extended to 18 days and milk from cows during the dry period or from pregnant heifers should not be used for human consumption until 36 days after calving.
Elanco is reminding veterinary surgeons and SQPs that they may continue to prescribe according to the current label but it is good practice to implement revised withdrawal periods. The company is also taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of getting into the habit of double-checking withdrawal periods when administering drugs, because they do change from time to time in the light of new knowledge.
Merial has announced the launch of V LINE, a new range of parasiticides sold exclusively through veterinary practices.
The first two products, called Broadline for cats and NexGard for dogs, will be unveiled at the BSAVA Congress at the start of next month.
Broadline is a broad-acting POM spot-on for cats containing eprinomectin, praziquantel, s-methoprene and fipronil, indicated for use against tapeworms, ticks, roundworms and fleas.
NexGard is a POM flea and tick control product for dogs given monthly as a palatable soft chew. It contains a novel active ingredient called afoxolaner which, according to Merial, has a new and distinct mode of action that provides a fast speed of flea kill.
Roddy Webster, Head of Pets at Merial said: "We are pleased to announce the launch of Broadline and NexGard. Merial is a market leader with a strong heritage in anti-parasitics and we have leveraged that expertise as well as our understanding of what pet owners want, to deliver these truly consumer-focused solutions. Such prescription-only innovations also demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the veterinary profession."
The BVA has paid tribute to Lord Ballyedmond, founder of the veterinary pharmaceutical company Norbrook Laboratories, after he was killed in a helicopter crash in Norfolk last Thursday.
The life peer (pictured second from left collecting a business award in 2011) founded Norbrook over 40 years ago. It became one of the biggest manufacturers of animal health products globally, and now employs more than 1000 people. Dr. Edward Haughey, as he was previously known, was ennobled in 2004.
Following his death, Norbrook issued the following statement:
"It is with sincere sadness and deep regret that the Company confirms our founding Chairman and CEO, Lord Ballyedmond, was one of four people who tragically lost their lives in an aviation accident at Gillingham, Norfolk at approximately 7.30pm on Thursday 13 March 2014.
Norbrook management and staff also mourn the loss of their friends and colleagues Declan Small (Site Foreman), Captain Carl Dickerson (Pilot) and Captain Lee Hoyle (Pilot).
Our thoughts are with the immediate families and friends of the deceased who have requested privacy at this difficult time.
We take enormous pride in our Chairman's extraordinary legacy in establishing Norbrook as a global veterinary and pharmaceutical industry leader. Management will continue to advance his pioneering vision with a renewed vigor and determination befitting his memory."
BVA President Robin Hargreaves said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Lord Ballyedmond. He has been a great supporter of the veterinary profession and of BVA, and made an enormous contribution to veterinary medicine. He built opportunity for thousands of people in Northern Ireland and around the world and had a huge commercial and industrial presence throughout my whole career. Above all Lord Ballyedmond was a family man and all our thoughts are with his wife and children at this time."
The Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) has published the results of research which found that veterinary surgeons believe 45% of all pets are overweight.
In addition, 77% of the 180 vets surveyed at the London Vet Show 2013 believe that the pet obesity problem is on the rise.
Meanwhile, 93% of pet owners said they would be concerned to discover their pet is overweight, revealing a sharp divide between vets' and owners' perceptions.
To help spread the word about ideal pet weight, the PFMA will launch a new campaign called #GetPetsFit on 7th May.
Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive of PFMA said: "We need to engage pet owners emotionally, helping them realise that feeding and exercising their pet to the optimum level can result in an extra two years of active life. The #GetPetsFit campaign will provide the perfect opportunity to do this and we hope that with the help of vets, we can work to resolve this important issue."
The PFMA is urging practices to promote good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Zara Boland BVSc BE MRCVS, Founder of Vet Voice Ltd says: "It is encouraging that success rates are high for the 78% of UK vets already running companion animal obesity clinics. However, we must continue pushing the health message until overweight pets are no longer seen as the 'norm'. We need widespread recognition of pet obesity to pave the way for positive action."
One way that the PFMA is encouraging practices to get involved is by running Weigh in Wednesdays from 7th May. To help, the organisation has prepared a free kit that contains campaign posters, website banners and client hand-out materials, including Pet Size-O-Meters (for cats, dogs, rabbits and birds), a pet food diary and weight and body condition log. You can either download the kit here: www.pfma.org.uk/weighinwednesday or visit PFMA's homepage and ask for a free pack to be sent to your practice.
The RCVS has announced that its current Treasurer, Dr Bradley Viner, will be the College's next Vice-President after he was elected to the post at RCVS Council last Thursday.
Dr Viner has been an elected member of Council since 2005 and Treasurer since 2010 and will take up his latest position at RCVS Day - the College's Annual General Meeting - on 11 July. He replaces Professor Stuart Reid, who Council confirmed as President for 2014-15, and will take up his new role in July.
During his time on Council Dr Viner has served on all of the major committees with the exception of the Disciplinary Committee. Outside of Council he runs a group of practices in North West London and is Vice-Chairman of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
In his manifesto he set out the nature of his Vice-Presidency, stating: "My personal ethos is very much based upon continual improvement. It is only by having the confidence to discuss openly how things could have been done better that an organisation can learn how to improve.
"I also recognise the vital importance of good communications: with Council; the profession at large; Government; and with other interested organisations. I intend to do my utmost to communicate with them as effectively as possible."
At the same meeting of RCVS Council, Colonel Neil Smith, the current President, was confirmed as Vice-President from July, subject to his re-election in this year's RCVS Council elections.
In addition, Chris Tufnell was re-elected as Chairman of the Education Committee, while David Catlow was elected Chairman of Standards Committee, also subject to his re-election in this year's RCVS Council elections.
Kruuse UK has announced the launch of its new Mud Fever Kits for horses.
Kruuse says the launch follows independent studies last year by Aimi Duff BVM&S, MRCVS (Scott, Mitchell & Associates, Hexham) on the use of Manuka ND dressings for the treatment of Mud Fever.
The kit contains one complete treatment for two legs (or two complete treatments for one leg) including all dressings. There is also a step-by-step guide from the "Ask the Vet" series which explains best treatment protocol, designed to help veterinary surgeons dispense the kit directly to clients with confidence.
According to the company, the benefits of using medical grade Manuka Honey in the treatment of Mud Fever include:
Andrew Groom, Managing Director of Kruuse UK Ltd said: "We are delighted with the initial response to our unique Mud Fever Kits; such additions to our range continue to enhance the Kruuse commitment to equine wound care."
Novartis Animal Health UK has announced a strategic partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G) Pet Care, maker of the Eukanuba and Iams brands.
As part of the arrangement, the Novartis sales team will start detailing P&G's pet nutrition products to veterinary practices from April 1, 2014 in the UK and at a later stage in Ireland.
Novartis says the partnership brings together two highly complementary portfolios: Novartis is a leader in pet health areas in which P&G's Eukanuba Veterinary Diets have acknowledged strong clinical formulations, specifically dermatology, nephrology, and orthopaedic conditions. The partnership is designed to offer veterinary surgeons a holistic and flexible portfolio in key canine and feline health areas, as well as increased commercial and technical support and partnership from the Novartis sales team.
Simon Harris, sales & marketing manager at Novartis said: "Novartis Animal Health already offers expertise in key companion animal diseases together with innovative veterinary medicines. Based on research done with veterinary customers, we believe nutrition also plays an important role in disease management in pets, making our strategic cooperation with P&G Pet Care a natural fit that offers real benefits to veterinarians and their patients."
Dr. Penny Watson, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: "Clinical nutrition plays a key role in patient management and is an important complement to medicine in order to achieve a successful outcome. This combination of Eukanuba Veterinary Diets and Novartis Animal Health products helps highlight the importance of dispensing clinical diets as part of a multi-modal approach to effective patient management. Additionally, high quality nutrition is also recommended by vets as part of a normal day-to-day healthy lifestyle."
The partnership will be launched at the BSAVA Congress. The two companies say they'll have a joint presence at the event to showcase the strength and versatility of the combined Novartis and P&G Pet Care portfolio to the veterinary community.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Buprenodale, an opioid analgesic for cats, dogs and horses presented in a 10ml multi-dose vial.
Carol Morgan, Brand Manager said: "Following on from the introduction of Comfortan and Anesketin, our Buprenodale Multidose, 0.3 mg/ml solution for injection for dogs, cats and horses, is the latest addition to the portfolio.
"The active substance in Buprenodale is buprenorphine, the most commonly used opioid analgesic in small animal practice in the UK.
"Buprenodale Multidose joins a portfolio of Dechra products covering a wide range of species, different levels of analgesic efficacy and duration of action.
"The product is now available in a 10 ml multidose vial. It is suitable for post-operative analgesia in dogs and cats; post operative analgesia, in combination with sedation, in horses and potentiation of the sedative effects of centrally acting agents in the dog and horse."
For more information www.dechra.co.uk .
The Bella Moss Foundation and the Royal Society of Medicine have announced 'One Health', a conference which will bring together experts from the veterinary and medical sectors to collaborate on infectious disease.
Subjects under discussion will include infection control, antimicrobial resistance and the threats posed by emerging zoonotic diseases. Amongst the speakers will be Professor Peter Borriello, Chief Executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and Professor Anthony Kessel, Director of Public Health England. The audience will include policy makers and clinicians together with researchers and academics from both human and veterinary medicine.
Jill Moss, President of the Bella Moss Foundation, said: "With antimicrobial resistance and updated protocols hitting the headlines regularly, our speakers will discuss the key issues. For instance, what exactly is the current status of antimicrobial resistance? How is it affecting our lives? What are the veterinary, medical and research professions doing to resolve the challenges we face - and how can they persuade policy makers to take a united stand on the issue?"
Tom Keith - Welsh president of comparative medicine network, Royal Society of Medicine, said: "Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue requiring education, information and action. The conference programme will provide anyone with an interest in antimicrobial resistance a current and rounded perspective on this important and pressing issue."
For more information, visit: www.onehealthbmf.com.
The RCVS is reminding veterinary surgeons that their renewal fees to remain on the Register for 2014/15 are now due.
Registration renewal forms have been sent to all vets reminding them that payment to remain on the Register is due by 31 March 2014. If the College does not receive payment before 1 April, £35 will be added to the renewal fee and any vets who have still not paid before 1 June will be removed from the Register.
This year the RCVS has updated its online 'My Account' area (www.rcvs.org.uk/login) to allow vets to manage their details and pay their renewal fees more quickly and easily. Login details have been sent to all vets and the system is now operational. The changes to the area are the first phase of a project to make it more accessible and user-friendly and to allow vets to better manage their details online.
As part of the renewal process, vets are asked to confirm that their details on the Register are correct, including membership category and correspondence details. Those who are in the 'UK Practising' or 'Practising outside the UK' membership categories should also confirm - via the registration renewal form or the online 'My Account' area - that they are compliant with the requirements for continuing professional development (CPD) of 105 hours over three years. Vets with any cautions, convictions or adverse findings against them dating from 1 January 2006 onwards, should also declare them. For further details on these declarations vets should visit www.rcvs.org.uk/convictions.
Fees can be paid by credit card through the 'My Account' area or by cheque, bank draft or credit card via the registration renewal form sent in the post. Details of how to pay by bank transfer are also on the form.
Vets who have any concerns or questions about renewing their registration, logging in to 'My Account' or who need to request a registration renewal form, can contact the Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or email membership@rcvs.org.uk.
Bayer Animal Health has launched a new initiative designed primarily to help veterinary students and bridge gaps in their knowledge about the use of veterinary antibiotics.
The initiative kicks off with two surveys, one for qualified veterinary surgeons here, and one for veterinary students here. The objective of the surveys is to gain an insight into the use and understanding of antibiotics both in practice and in training. They also aim to discover the influences and concerns involved when veterinary surgeons select a course of antibiotics.
The results of the survey will be shared with the profession and used to develop a new educational resource which will be shaped by the results of the survey and available to students in their clinical years. Bayer says it hopes the new resource may also be beneficial for vets in practice who have concerns about the use of antibiotics.
If that isn't reason enough to take part in the survey, all participants will be entered into a draw for an iPad mini.
Vicky McAlister, Group Product Manager at Bayer said: "The importance of understanding the concerns of vets and vet students in responsibly prescribing antibiotics is essential when looking at the issue of antibiotic resistance and the implications for the future of animal health. The large number of antibiotics available can present a challenge and lead to confusion when prescribing. The surveys provide a unique opportunity for vets and students to shape learning and reference resources that address the specific challenges they face when choosing and using antibiotics".
The surveys close on 24th March 2014.