Julian Earl's Groups Activities

Who likes gadgets?

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 10:57:57 GMT

I've been sitting here with a bit of time on my hands recently, as I wait for the developers to finish work on the site upgrade. So I decided to have a shot at a little editorial sideline which combines my love of gadgets with my (limited) journalistic experience ... a new youtube channel reviewing consumer gadgets.

I'm just encoding the first review (of a pair of bluetooth headphones), which should be ready in a couple of hours ... perhaps you would be good enough to tell me whether I look like a twit (you can do so anonymously!). Bear in mind it's my first effort and I've found someone who could help make the video a lot slicker.

Also, I've got a cupboard full of gadgets to review, but it would also be helpful to know if there are any bits of consumer technology/gadgetry you would like explained/reviewed.

Level of insurance cover

Julian Earl — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 21:09:10 GMT

Lunchtime pondering...

What level of cover do people generally have for indemnity for their practice. I've historically just renewed at the same level again and again and, rightly or wrongly, not given it too much detailed thought. But as mine is due up for review and the options are the VDS which everyone recommends, but are several times higher than a non-specialist company for the same level of cover. Several being three and a half times as much. I could maintain the current level of cover via the VDS and pay seven grand or so, or use a cheaper company for the same, or reduce the level of cover.

So, what is the general level felt to be required for small animal work - £100,000? £200,000? For farm work (not horses) - £250,000? More? Less? Any other suggestions? And of course, it's all a waste of money until you need it...

The biggest advance in what we do?

Julian Earl — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:27:52 GMT

I was talking with one of our nurses the other day about changes in what we do and what we use. It made me think about the question of what is the biggest, or most important advance in what we do with animals nowadays? It might be the availability of technology, like MRI or bionic artificial limbs; it might be widespread vaccination or new medications such a long-acting antibiotics or heart medications; alternatively, it might be surgical advances, awareness of dental disease, parasite control or something else. Maybe something on the farm side (but I can't think what!).

For me though, there is one thing that stood out, and I was confessing to the nurse that I was actually embarrassed by the lack of this consideration prior to maybe fifteen, certainly twenty years ago. My view is that it is the vastly increased understanding and implementation of pain relief. It horrifies me that when I qualified, surgeries like mammary strips, orthopaedic work, dental procedures, never mind simple spays and castrations received no analegesia. Only after seeing massively swollen wounds (post-operatively) that were given antibiotics - "obviously" they were infected - then respond dramatically to phenylbutazone did I give a thought to routine use. Even worse in a way, it took me having a minor knee operation to realise that all surgery HURTS. We went through Zenecarp once, buprenorphine, morphine if they were lucky, then to the more prolonged and multi-modal methods we use now. To me nothing, absolutely nothing, has done more for animal welfare in vet practices than giving every surgical case and a heck of a lot of medical cases analgesia.

So what is it for you? What has made the biggest improvement in your work during your career?

[I realise that the advantage is with the old fogeys here who have more things to reflect on, but as a fairly recent graduate of 1981, I am not directing the the question solely at the older members...]

Would you recognise rabies?

Elizabeth — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 11:17:28 GMT

Just realised that I wouldn’t necessarily recognise rabies if I had a case of it and having watched this video, I don’t even know if I would have rabies on my differential list in a Uk bred dog for several of the presenting signs. Obviously with an imported one I would hope that I would be suspicious. Anyone who has seen a lot of rabies, is this video typical?

www.google.co.uk/url

www.youtube.com/watch

Perineal Hernia Repair Tips

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 11:00:28 GMT

I am contemplating doing my first perineal hernia repair. I am 17 years qualified and like to think that I'm a reasonably competent soft tissue surgeon, I have successfully done things like anal sac removals, rotational skin flaps and bowel resections. I have seen perineal hernias operated on in the past, but no-one at my current practice has ever done one and the client can't afford referral. The patient is a 9 year old male chihuahua with a unilateral perineal hernia. I have been learning as much as I can from textbooks, but would like to know if anyone has any tips or preferred techniques that they would be happy to share. I have discussed my lack or experience of this procedure with the owner and have advised them that if at any point during the procedure I'm not happy to continue I will stop and close the incisions I have made.

Russia and the Ukraine...??

Julian Earl — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 00:46:09 GMT

Okay, non-veterinary at all but I wanted to open this discussion somewhere, thanks!!

Is it just me or am I the only one seriously alarmed byThe USSR and @Ukraine almost coming to blows , but especially with Joe Biden stepping in and telling Putin to leave it out, mate!!? Does it not remind anyone else of a certain Herr Hitler being warned by us to get out of Poland in 1939? Look where that ended up as well!! No current concerns about WW3 anyone? A scary thought IMO!1 FORGET COVID, that could easily be the least of our problems if we are not careful?!!

Good manners, debate and the direction of this community ...

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 08:45:00 GMT

Over the last few days, I've been doing a lot of thinking about the direction I'm trying to take things here, and I wondered if anyone has any thoughts about it all.

As most probably know, there's been a drift to Facebook over the years, which I have tried to fight without huge amounts of success. I do think Facebook will die out in due course (ask my daughter if she uses Facebook and she just looks in horror, and most of my friends/age group have long since abandoned it).

Still, I don't want to wait. I need to do something which offers something more to the members of this community, something which makes it worthy of people coming and spending more time over here. I need to differentiate between what we offer, and the general veterinary chit chat in places like Vet Voices.

That is one of the reasons I partnered with Improve, because whatever your thoughts about OV training, pricing etc., it brings lots to the table in terms of high quality learning content.

When I think of the strengths of VetSurgeon, these are what I think are most important;

a) Good provenance for information on this site (in other words, you can see the qualifications of the contributor, which is unusual on other social media sites). In a scientific profession, this is important.

b) Information is displayed in chronological order, NOT according to how many people like or dislike or laugh or whatever. Again, important for a balanced view in a scientific profession.

c) There's more room to post longer answers, which is sometimes very important when discussing clinical matters (although of course brevity is good in some situations).

These things are all conducive to a better standard of discussion than elsewhere, in particular to LEARNING.

And of course, joining forces with Improve gives us access to lots more high quality, authoritative learning content and opinion.

So that is where I'd like to go ... to steer this community away from just being 'another community', and making it THE Veterinary Learning Community.

I'm not sure if that's a particularly sexy form of words, but essentially a community you join and visit to learn something, knowing that you will find authoritative info with the best provenance.

There are a number of wise heads in this forum, either in the game for a long time, or recently retired, and that's something I'd like to make use of, to encourage you to share your wisdom with younger members of the profession, and to have fun doing so.

Although the zero tolerance of bad manners rule was brought in simultaneously, that was just serendipitous rather than being part of some grand master plan. As I have said, I just reached a point where I thought: 'enough'

But with hindsight, that is completely in line with a learning community. Being sarcastic, obnoxious etc etc would be a huge barrier to creating a collaborative learning community. Actually it would make it impossible. So I am even more sure it was the right thing to do.

Will it compromise the quality of discussion in some way. Some have argued it will, that me deciding what is good manners is a form of censorship.

Interestingly I was chatting with someone over on Facebook yesterday, who made that very point, pointing towards the spread of the #bekind movement, which is sometimes used to shut down debate: "You're opinion is unkind/offensive, therefore unacceptable". What I propose, which is #begoodmannered is different. You can't shut down or cancel an opinion with 'be good mannered' - because being good mannered is not about the opinion, just how it is framed.

So I think being good mannered is a much better standard to ask, one that doesn't 'cancel' people with contrary views.

So, in summary, I see the future being to make this community all about learning, all about good quality clinical content, all about a good mannered, collaborative vibe, and the place for authoritative information and opinion.

Do you like the sound of that? Do you dislike the sound of that? Will you help me steer the ship in that direction, and make a big point of being welcoming and supportive to new posters, to create the environment conducive to learning?

Or, er, not?!

Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Jill Butterworth — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 19:04:54 GMT

I'm doing some research on the best and worst bits of practice. What do you love and what do you really hate, and better yet, how do you solve it? Even better, can you help others out with suggestions for mitigating their pet hates?

HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 09:18:29 GMT

AS many of you will be aware,way back in August 2012I crashed in a cycle-race sustaining a fractured basal skull, multiple brain haemorrhages, subdural haematoma, 5 broken ibs/punctured lung, needing surgery and the induced coma of 11/12 days. The super-consultant Gerry O'Reilly has exclaimed, "People just do not Survive your injuries!!" So I guess thatI count asone of his successes. However the last 18 months I have been battling with severe depression and anxiety! Gerry says not to be ashamed, it i not a sign of weakness = my original thought on diagnosis, but is very, very common after such severe head-trauma! I knew immediately that my brain did not work the same way anymore and cannot shrug things off easily now as before the trauma. I was initially diagnosed with PTSD , and this morning my self-diagnosis is that it has returned very badly! I am posting this to try and get itn off my chest a bit but really to ask for suggestions for hat to do next please? I have been through the therapy sessions given by VETLIFE, ages ago plus contacted Samaritans because yes, I really do feel that bad!! I hope that my resilience which largely comes from the love and support from my family and friends as well be good enough to pull me through? I am more concerned than ever before T.B.H. And have to ask all you good people as well please? |Thanks in anticipation. Even trying to focus on positives in life is quite difficult at this minute I am afraid!! Just to complicate matters Gerry thinks the shunt implanted within my skull to drain the excess fruid after the trauma is; to use his medical term, KAPUT!! So I am on the list for surgical replacement soon. Having seen his yesterday I am now on thewaiting listfor suery. Although Gerry says he cannot guarantee anything he is confident that fixing the shunt will improve everything; my left-sided paresis and indirectly my depression s el! Who am I to disagree about that?? I trust his skills and judgement implicitly. In fact I now have to class him as a very good friend of mine! Fingers crossed I'll begoing in soon. Annika my wife is now a retired ursebut said that the fact they took pre-operative bloods yesterday suggests I will not have long to wait!!I hope so... Then I'll behomeafter just 2-3 days says Gerry not the 3.5 months after my initial trauma and can start training out on my bike as a build-up towards the 2023 Para-cycling Race-season! Of course I do now have a National Title to defend and have to start gettiing ready for that sooner or later!!?

Thank you everyone for your Wishes!!

xx just for the ladies !!

Thank you everybody for your consideration!

Julian Earl, Lincs.

ASKING FOR HELP please...

Julian Earl — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 14:28:47 GMT

Hello everyone, Many of you, even all, by now know my history of life-threatening head-trauma on 8th August 2012: Multiple brain haemorrhages/ subdural haematoma/ basal skull fracture, 5 d broken ribs/punctured lung, and broken collar bone. My Super consultant operated and saved my life but told my wife Annika hat I was not expected to survive. However here I am and currently suffering from depression and anxiety these being very common after such a severe head injury I am told! I am asking for more help here again, because h depression comes in waves a and right now it particularly bad. I have said that although not quite suicidal,I think. I do now understand why people might feel that way without the loving support that I have received from family and friends!\Hence today is very bad, hence this plea for suggestions as to help lift myself? I am awaiting further brain surgery to replace a programmed Cerebro-Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt that my consultant says is KAPUT! and he does believe his will likely improve both my depression as well as my left-sided paresis since the head-trauma! He has always been correct so far and laughs when I describe him as my hero!! I fact I do now class him as a good and close personal -friend! Sadly for me but good for him he is now semi-retired and part-time so has few operating slots in his time-table. And will fit me in ASAP, he says! I fold him about 2 weeks ago I am keen to have t he op done as I have i unfinished business on my bike at which he smiled politely and said, Oh \Yes, I bet you do! The whole of the 2023 racing season needs preparing for !! Too late now for any racing in 2022 but next year is my real target!

So thankyou all for your support and advice so far How can I stave off further anxiety do you think whilst I wait? Cheers to every one of you!!

Wizard veterinary wheezes in non veterinary life

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 08:30:37 GMT

I recently saw a brilliant piece of practical thinking by another vet. She was going on holiday and set up a drip bag and line to keep some drought sensitive plants hydrated. Lateral thinking at its best.
Every Christmas I use a big bore cow needle and syringe to inject juice into the turkey breast. Any other transferable techniques to offer ?

Advise re alternatives or re-kindling the flame.

Luciano Nebiante PGCertSAS — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 14:34:12 GMT

Hi all,

I am sure this question has been posed before, either here or in real life.

I have been struggling for few months now. My enthusiasm for the job is not there anymore. I work in a privately owned small animal practice, this has its pros and cons.

The practice is very busy but most of the members of the staff are slow pace, which makes it nice enough however the workload becomes unfair and unsustainable for the people that work faster.

Also I find that the clients have changed a lot over the past few years, a lot of complaining, demanding and over all unpleasant.

At time I have considered leaving the profession all together and train in something else but I am finding that difficult because I have a 7 year old child of whom I have 50% custody and I don't have family around here to support me.

So I am trying to find alternatives.

Has any of you found a different route in life? What else is available or possible out there for us to do that will still mean using veterinary skills but in a more forwarding, progressive and people friendly environment?

I am probably looking for the unicorn but I feel quite frustrated and demoralised.

If you have been in a similar situation, what did you do to come out of these feelings and how did you re-kindle that passion?

At the end of the day someone might say it's just a job, but there is no point in doing something that does not feel rewarding yet causing unnecessary stress.

Thank you for "listening".

Luciano

Manners in this forum

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:29:53 GMT

Today I lost a member of this forum who felt that there is a small cohort of vetsurgeon members who seem unable to make an argument without being snide.

Thing is, I agree with her.

David Mills wrote a very ungentlemanly post this morning.

There was no need for it. It didn't advance the discussion one bit (on the contrary) and we've lost a member as a result.

Those of you who like to write obnoxious or terse or sarcastic replies to people ... you know who you are; I know who you are ... I'm cracking down on it again.

But this time, I'm going to be ruthless. Life's too short. If you cant find a way of expressing your argument politely, respectfully, and in a way appropriate for a public forum, well, you can express it somewhere else.

With a heavy heart, I have started by suspending David Mills. I''m sad to do that, because I think we would all agree he has a very incisive mind and interesting viewpoints,

But when I start losing members, it's too big a price.

Cytopoint injection

Cool — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 09:11:00 GMT

Hi all,

I have a client who is requesting to inject his dog's cytopoint injection at home himself. Insulin gets injected at home and I have heard some specialists advocate the administration of zycortal at home too. What are your thoughts on this please? Can one decline this request based on the user warnings on the data sheet?

Thanks all

Treatment for Trombicula autumnalis (Harvest mite)

Martin McDowell — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:49:13 GMT

I have a confirmed case of a cat with a Trombicula infestation. However when it comes to the treatment I am a bit lost. It seems that the new products aren't licensed to treat it but please correct me if I am wrong.

All I can still find is that good (not) old (definitely) fipronil still kind of works on it. - And I mean the spray, not the spot on. Preferably directly applied to the affected skin.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

The cat has already had Bravecto that didn't help so much.

Martin