VetSurgeon Help

Advertise Jobs

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:29:51 GMT

Current Revision posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 1/6/2026 4:29:51 PM

Advertising On VetSurgeon.org is dead simple. Just complete the form, pay the fee by credit or debit card, press submit and your advert goes live on the site for 30 days. It is also emailed to subscribers whose search criteria your job meets, highlighted throughout VetSurgeon.org, and fed out to external social networks (Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter) and Google for Jobs.

At any time, you can return and edit your advertisement, by clicking the link in the job section to 'Manage Your Adverts'.

Your invoice is available after you have paid by navigating to: Veterinary Jobs>Your Invoices.

Our full terms and conditions are here.

The following will help you get the most from advertising on VetSurgeon.org:

Advertise the salary

Research has shown that job adverts which include an indication of the salary perform better than those which don't. You can advertise a salary range or a minimum offer, the latter of which is described to the reader as a starting point for a discussion (which you might or might not be prepared to better).

IMPORTANT Add Photograph/Logo

We STRONGLY recommend that you upload a photograph of the premises or the team, or something interesting.

A photograph or logo will help your advert stand out in the listings and on Facebook. We recommend a photo of a smiling team is usually the best option. If you upload both a photo and a logo, both are displayed on the advert itself, but it is the photo which is displayed on listings and shared on Facebook, because photos are usually more interesting.

Add your proposition

This is the stand out reason why someone would want to come and work for you. You are allowed roughly 14 words, in which you could highlight that it is a learning opportunity, or that you have a friendly team, or that it is a development opportunity, or something else. Again, your proposition helps your advert stand out in the listings.

Share, Share and Share again!

You will see sharing buttons under each job advert on VetSurgeon.org. We share your job on Facebook ourselves, but it's a numbers game. The more people who share, the more chances of getting a result. So head over to your new advert and share it yourself. For example, on your practice Facebook page.

Lastly...

If you are unsure about how any aspect of the system works, ring 0207 183 2511 or email support@vetsurgeon.org. We're here to help.

Forum Discussion Topics

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:51:04 GMT

Current Revision posted to VetSurgeon Help by Anthony Dennison on 10/13/2020 11:51:04 PM

This is a list of scheduled forum discussions which will be held over the coming months. This page is a collaborative one, which means anyone can contribute a suggestion for a discussion. Please do add any ideas you have to the paragraph at the foot titled suggestions.

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?
What’s the best approach to dentals? Aka how can a general practice try and keep them to less than 4hr+ each! Is it an equipment issue? Skills issue? Other?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

Thoracic radiograph and lung patterns - what can you tell from radiographs?
Should you always perform a BAL after radiographs when investigating a chronic cough?

ECC

How to treat a patient with sepsis/SIRS
Use of xenotransfusion in feline blood transfusions
Steps to stabilise an animal in respiratory distress.

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about
How to manage patients with spinal cord disease without referral for surgery

Oncology

"Looks like a lipoma" - should the client be told it IS a lipoma, or that it's highly likely to be? Should they be offered an FNA every time? What odds can they be given that it's something other than a lipoma.
Should you always type a lymphoma prior to starting chemotherapy?
Should post operative adjunctive chemotherapy always be used in high grade MCTs if there is no sign of metastatic spread after staging?

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treatment options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).
Is optimmune worth the cost?

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.
If you've advised a client that KC vac is not necessary if their dog isn't going to kennels (rather than explaining the pros/cons and letting them decide), should you charge them for treating KC in their dog that has never been in kennels?

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

How to treat canine dry eye if the client can't afford the licensed cyclosporine.
Bandaging limbs - can be associated with very severe morbidity. How to avoid - how often to change bandages - whether bandages are best avoided in most cases.
Dispensing errors - surprisingly common. How to avoid.
Euthanasia - a 'bad' euthanasia can be very distressing for the animal, the client and not least the vet. e.g 'Difficult/aggressive' animal/over-emotional client, presence of children, poor lighting on home visits, agonal gasping, voiding faeces/urine etc. How to avoid. More and more vets are routinely sedating prior to euthanasia - should this be considered best practice - but itself can be problematic with emesis with some agents/collapsed veins etc. Should EMLA creme be more commonly used prior to i.v. injections - esp. small dogs and cats who are needle phobic and will cry out as soon as the needle touches the skin. Is intra-renal injection for cats acceptable? etc etc.

Bob L.

Forum Discussion Topics

Emily Rainbow — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:53:17 GMT

Revision 10 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Emily Rainbow on 10/9/2020 6:53:17 PM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?
What’s the best approach to dentals? Aka how can a general practice try and keep them to less than 4hr+ each! Is it an equipment issue? Skills issue? Other?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

"Looks like a lipoma" - should the client be told it IS a lipoma, or that it's highly likely to be? Should they be offered an FNA every time? What odds can they be given that it's something other than a lipoma.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treatment options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.
If you've advised a client that KC vac is not necessary if their dog isn't going to kennels (rather than explaining the pros/cons and letting them decide), should you charge them for treating KC in their dog that has never been in kennels?

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

How to treat canine dry eye if the client can't afford the licensed cyclosporine.
Bandaging limbs - can be associated with very severe morbidity. How to avoid - how often to change bandages - whether bandages are best avoided in most cases.
Dispensing errors - surprisingly common. How to avoid.
Euthanasia - a 'bad' euthanasia can be very distressing for the animal, the client and not least the vet. e.g 'Difficult/aggressive' animal/over-emotional client, presence of children, poor lighting on home visits, agonal gasping, voiding faeces/urine etc. How to avoid. More and more vets are routinely sedating prior to euthanasia - should this be considered best practice - but itself can be problematic with emesis with some agents/collapsed veins etc. Should EMLA creme be more commonly used prior to i.v. injections - esp. small dogs and cats who are needle phobic and will cry out as soon as the needle touches the skin. Is intra-renal injection for cats acceptable? etc etc.

Bob L.

Forum Discussion Topics

bob lehner — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:26:18 GMT

Revision 9 posted to VetSurgeon Help by bob lehner on 10/9/2020 12:26:18 PM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

"Looks like a lipoma" - should the client be told it IS a lipoma, or that it's highly likely to be? Should they be offered an FNA every time? What odds can they be given that it's something other than a lipoma.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treatment options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.
If you've advised a client that KC vac is not necessary if their dog isn't going to kennels (rather than explaining the pros/cons and letting them decide), should you charge them for treating KC in their dog that has never been in kennels?

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

How to treat canine dry eye if the client can't afford the licensed cyclosporine.
Bandaging limbs - can be associated with very severe morbidity. How to avoid - how often to change bandages - whether bandages are best avoided in most cases.
Dispensing errors - surprisingly common. How to avoid.
Euthanasia - a 'bad' euthanasia can be very distressing for the animal, the client and not least the vet. e.g 'Difficult/aggressive' animal/over-emotional client, presence of children, poor lighting on home visits, agonal gasping, voiding faeces/urine etc. How to avoid. More and more vets are routinely sedating prior to euthanasia - should this be considered best practice - but itself can be problematic with emesis with some agents/collapsed veins etc. Should EMLA creme be more commonly used prior to i.v. injections - esp. small dogs and cats who are needle phobic and will cry out as soon as the needle touches the skin. Is intra-renal injection for cats acceptable? etc etc.

Bob L.

Forum Discussion Topics

bob lehner — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:25:18 GMT

Revision 8 posted to VetSurgeon Help by bob lehner on 10/9/2020 12:25:18 PM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

"Looks like a lipoma" - should the client be told it IS a lipoma, or that it's highly likely to be? Should they be offered an FNA every time? What odds can they be given that it's something other than a lipoma.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treatment options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.
If you've advised a client that KC vac is not necessary if their dog isn't going to kennels (rather than explaining the pros/cons and letting them decide), should you charge them for treating KC in their dog that has never been in kennels?

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

How to treat canine dry eye if the client can't afford the licensed cyclosporine.
Bandaging limbs - can be associated with very severe morbidity. How to avoid - how often to change bandages - whether bandages are best avoided in most cases.
Dispensing errors - surprisingly common. How to avoid.
Euthanasia - a 'bad' euthanasia can be very distressing for the animal, the client and not least the vet. e.g 'Difficult/aggressive' animal/over-emotional client, presence of children, poor lighting on home visits, agonal gasping, voiding faeces/urine etc. How to avoid. More and more vets are routinely sedating prior to euthanasia - should this be considered best practice - but itself can be problematic with emesis with some agents/collapsed veins etc. Should EMLA creme be more commonly used prior to i.v. injections - esp. small dogs and cats who are needle phobic and will cry out as soon as the needle touches the skin. Is intra-renal injection for cats acceptable? etc etc.

Forum Discussion Topics

Chris Geddes — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:07:15 GMT

Revision 7 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Chris Geddes on 10/9/2020 11:07:15 AM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

"Looks like a lipoma" - should the client be told it IS a lipoma, or that it's highly likely to be? Should they be offered an FNA every time? What odds can they be given that it's something other than a lipoma.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treatment options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.
If you've advised a client that KC vac is not necessary if their dog isn't going to kennels (rather than explaining the pros/cons and letting them decide), should you charge them for treating KC in their dog that has never been in kennels?

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

Forum Discussion Topics

Chris Geddes — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:05:36 GMT

Revision 6 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Chris Geddes on 10/9/2020 11:05:36 AM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

"Looks like a lipoma" - should the client be told it IS a lipoma, or that it's highly likely to be? Should they be offered an FNA every time? What odds can they be given that it's something other than a lipoma.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treatment options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

Forum Discussion Topics

Chris Geddes — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:04:51 GMT

Revision 5 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Chris Geddes on 10/9/2020 11:04:51 AM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

"Looks like a lipoma" - should the client be told it IS a lipoma, or that it's highly likely to be? Should they be offered an FNA every time? What odds can they be given that it's something other than a lipoma.

Ophthalmology

Opthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treament options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

Forum Discussion Topics

Chris Geddes — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:03:24 GMT

Revision 4 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Chris Geddes on 10/9/2020 11:03:24 AM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Reproduction problems in backyard hens (egg peritonitis / salpingitis complex) - is treatment futile?

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Opthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treament options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

Forum Discussion Topics

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:45:42 GMT

Revision 3 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/8/2020 2:45:42 PM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Opthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treament options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

Forum Discussion Topics

Rob Davis — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:38:58 GMT

Revision 2 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Rob Davis on 10/8/2020 2:38:58 PM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Is it acceptable to perform dentistry without the facilities for taking intra-oral radiographs?
When is it appropriate to use antibiotics in dental cases?

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Opthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treament options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

Record and Claim CPD

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:54:04 GMT

Current Revision posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/8/2020 1:54:04 PM

Taking part in forum discussions and reading or viewing content on VetSurgeon.org can count towards the average 35 hours of documented Continuing Professional Development you have to do each year.

Recording CPD

At the top of each page on VetSurgeon.org you'll see a red 'Claim CPD Button'

Press this and complete the drop down form. The details you enter are added to your VetSurgeon PDR Record. You can return to the page and edit the details at any time.

Your Personal Development / CPD Record

The CPD time you record on VetSurgeon.org is displayed in a part of your VetSurgeon Profile which is visible ONLY to you, under My Account > View My Profile> CPD tab.

By default, the system displays details of your activities for the year to date.

Generate Certificate

Press 'Generate Certificate' and the system will generate a CPD certificate for the default period, which includes an appendix detailing your activities over the period. This can be uploaded to your RCVS PDR.

You can use the date selector to provide details / a certificate for a different period of time.

Forums

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:54:02 GMT

Current Revision posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/8/2020 1:54:02 PM

There are two types of forum on VetSurgeon.org:

Expert Help Forums

The Expert Help Forums offer a way in which members can post a question which is sent to veterinary experts for their opinion.

Any member can post a question in the Expert Help Forums, but only members who are registered as referral practitioners or representatives of industry can reply. Other experts who'd like to reply must email support@vetsurgeon.org to have their account approved.

There are a number of benefits to this format:

You can ask a question in the knowledge that answers will come from people who know what they're talking about!
Because the discussion is between someone looking for help, and someone who is normally representing a referral service, you can be assured of a polite, helpful reply.
You won't have to scroll through a sea of similar answers to a question from large numbers of people, as you would on Facebook.
Both you and the expert can claim time spent on your question towards CPD
When you get a helpful answer and press 'Thank Expert', the expert's logo and contact details are displayed as part of their answer
Your discussion thread is easy to find and refer back to, unlike on Facebook.
Your question and the answer is easy for others to find in the future, so it adds to a growing knowledgebase

There is only one rule in the VetSurgeon.org Expert Help Forums, which is that experts who choose to reply MUST display a reasonably complete VetSurgeon Profile. This is important so that readers can put your reply into context. It is also good marketing practice if you offer a referral service.

Discussion Forums

Any member can post a discussion thread and any member can reply. There is only one rule in the forum, which is to be extra polite to each other. Devoid of facial expression, the written word can appear stark and uncompromising. Compensate for this limitation by using additional words, phrases and 'smilies' to soften what you're saying. It's fine being concise, but be aware that it can sound terse.

Standard blurb also applies, scroll down for details.

Who can read my posts?

The registration process for VetSurgeon is designed to deter people from outside - or not closely associated with - the profession from joining the community and we do carry out spot checks. However, this system is not infallible and you should always presume that what you write in any forum (not just this one) might be read by anyone. You should keep it in mind and not post things which might get you into trouble, or bring the profession into disrepute.

Forum Features: Posting Anonyously

If you want to seek advice about a sensitive issue, you can log into the website anonymously using the details below. Because it is impossible for anyone to know who has logged into the site using these details, it can only be used for seeking advice about sensitive issues. Other posts will be deleted.

Username: anon@vetsurgeon.org
Password: vetsurge0n (that's a zero)

Remember to log back out again after you have made your anonymous post.

Forum Features: Mentioning Members

You can let another member know you've mentioned them in a post. As you write your post, type the @ symbol followed by a space and a drop down menu will appear, listing names of members. Type the first letters of their name to narrow the list, and then select the member you wish to be notified.

They will then be notified on site (the bell at the top of all pages) or by email, depending on their settings.

Forum Features: Post Signatures

You can add text to appear under all of your posts in the general discussion forums, typically a website address for your business or your job title, configured in your account settings. Best to use small font.

Forum Features: Quoting

When you reply to a post, you should normally quote part or all of the post you are replying to, in order to make it clear who you are replying to, or which specific point you are replying to. To do this, highlight the text you are replying to with your mouse and you will see the word 'quote' appear. Click it and the selected text is transposed into your reply, for you then to continue beneath. You can select multiple bits of text from multiple posts on the page.

Forum Features: Tangent Discussion

If, whilst reading a forum thread, you want to discuss a related but tangential point to the one under discussion, press the link marked 'Tangent' under the relevant post.

In the Discussion Forums, this will start a new linked thread about the topic you wish to go off on a tangent about.
In the Expert Help Forums, pressing the tangent link starts a new thread in the associated general discussion forum, which anyone can contribute to. In other words, it allows you to take a discussion point from the Expert Forum where only the expert and the original poster can participate, and broadens it to a new discussion in which anyone can participate.

Forum Features: Private Messages

To send a private message to someone who has posted in the forum, click their name and press 'Send Private Message' in their profile.

Forum Features: Smilies

Smileys or 'emoticons' are used to express the emotion behind your words, and can help remove ambiguity in situations where, for example, your post could otherwise be read as sarcastic. We strongly recommend you use smileys to clarify your meaning or soften your words as necessary.

To add an emoticon, click 'Insert' under the forum post editor, then 'Insert Emoticon'.

Forum: Standard Blurb

Working Communities does monitor this forum regularly. However, due to its real-time nature, it is impossible for us to guarantee to review any or all messages or confirm the validity of any information posted. Please remember that Working Communities is not responsible for any messages posted by other users of this forum, and nor can the company vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any such messages. All messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this forum or any entity associated with this forum. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact the editor immediately. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. This is a manual process, however, so please realize that we may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.
You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this forum to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or which otherwise violates any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this forum.
Although Working Communities cannot guarantee to review any messages posted, and is not responsible for their content, we reserve the right to delete any message for any or no reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Working Communities, and their agents with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Working Communities reserves the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.

Find A Locum Vet

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:53:55 GMT

Current Revision posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/8/2020 1:53:55 PM

For Practices

The VetSurgeon Locum Map is a free resource designed to help practices connect directly with locums.

Click on the pins in your area to reveal the locum's details, including the distance they are prepared to travel.

Some locums are prepared to travel further than others, of course, so if you don't find a local locum, it may be worth browsing further afield and check the displayed 'Work Radius'.

For Locums

To add yourself to the VetSurgeon Locum Map:

Click 'My Account', then 'Edit My Profile' from the main navigation.
Make sure the first line of your address and your postcode are entered (if you do not wish to display a home address, you can specify a nearby location instead).
Tick the box marked 'Locum' to enable your card to display on the map.
Under 'Locum Distance' select the distance you are prepared to travel.
Under 'Profile Summary' enter a short summary about yourself / your services. This will be displayed on your card on the map, and in your main profile.

Please remember to come and remove your flag if you stop working as a locum.

Advertise Jobs

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:53:48 GMT

Revision 48 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/8/2020 1:53:48 PM

At any time, you can return and edit your advertisement, by clicking the link in the job section to 'Manage Your Adverts'.

Your invoice is available after you have paid by navigating to: Veterinary Jobs>Your Invoices.

Our full terms and conditions are here.

The following will help you get the most from advertising on VetSurgeon.org:

Advertise the salary

Add Photograph/Logo

A photograph or logo will help your advert stand out in the listings and when it is shared on social media like Facebook. We recommend a photo of a smiling team is usually the best option. If you upload both, both are displayed on the advert itself, but it is the photo which is displayed on listings and shared on Facebook, because photos are usually more interesting.

Add your proposition

Share and Reward

At the foot of the job advertising form you can enter the email addresses of other staff and colleagues at your practice and they will be sent one email from us on your behalf, asking them to share the advert you are posting with their friends. You can also offer a financial incentive

Share, Share and Share again!

Lastly...

If you are unsure about how any aspect of the system works, ring 0207 183 2511 or email support@vetsurgeon.org. We're here to help.

Account Settings & Profile

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:53:45 GMT

Current Revision posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/8/2020 1:53:45 PM

'My Account' is where can edit your registration details and site settings. Mostly, it should be self-intuitive, but the following things may not be!

Post Options Tab > Displayed Name

When you join the site, your real name (as entered on registration), is displayed by default. We strongly recommend that in most cases, you keep it that way.

If you would rather display an anonymous username:

Click 'My Account' at the top of the page
Select the 'Post Options' tab
UNTICK the box marked 'DISPLAY REAL NAME'
The username you selected on registration will then be displayed instead.
If you want to change your username, email: support@vetsurgeon.org

We also recommend that in all cases, the display name is the name of a person, not a commercial entity. People do business with people, so better to display the details of a representative of the company and put the company details in the 'Biography' box under the 'About You' tab.

Post Options Tab > Signature

Text you enter here will be appended to the foot of your posts in the normal discussion forums. It is typically used to add the url of the company of referral practice you work at. Normally, you should use the 'Small' font size (from the drop down menu) for text in this box.

Post Options Tab > Attribution

Referral practitioners and experts have the exclusive right to reply to questions posted in the VetSurgeon Expert Forums. When someone (usually the person who asked the question) thanks you for your answer, the information you upload to this section is displayed within your answer, effectively turning your post into an advertisement for your services.

View/Edit My Profile

Anyone participating in the forums is encouraged to complete their VetSurgeon Profile because it gives your posts context. When you're expressing a clinical opinion, it is vitally important that people know how experienced and qualified you are.

Job seekers are also encouraged to complete their profiles, which you can send in response to job adverts on the site.

Profiles should include, at a minimum, the place and time of qualification as a veterinary surgeon, your most recent employer (experience), and your additional post graduate qualifications from the list below. If yours is not listed, contact support@vetsurgeon.org

Appendix: Post Grad Qualifications

United Kingdom
General
MRCVS	Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
BVSc	Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Bristol/Liverpool)
BA VetMB	Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Cambridge)
BVM&S	Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Edinburgh)
BVMS	Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Glasgow)
BVM BVS BVMedSci	Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery with integrated Bachelor of Veterinary Medical Sciences (Nottingham)
BVetMed	Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (RVC)
CertAVP	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice
DipAH	Diploma in Animal Health
CertAVP(VetGP)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Veterinary General Practice)
HonAssocRCVS	Honorary Associate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
FRCVS	Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
HonFRCVS	Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
PGCertVPS	Postgraduate Certificate Veterinary Professional Studies
BSV	Bog Standard Vet

Small Animal
GPCert(AnBeh)	General Practitioner Certificate in Animal Behaviour
GPCert(Cardio)	General Practitioner Certificate in Cardiology
GPCert(Derm)	General Practitioner Certificate in Dermatology
GPCert(DI)	General Practitioner Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging
GPCert(EM&S)	General Practitioner Certificate in Emergency Medicine and Surgery
GPCert (Endo)	General Practitioner Certificate in Endoscopy and Endosurgery
GPCert (FelP)	General Practitioner Certificate in Feline Practice
GPCert (Ophthal)	General Practitioner Certificate in Ophthalmology
GPCert (SAM)	General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Medicine
GPCert (SAS)	General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Surgery
GPCert (WVA&CPM)	General Practitioner Certificate in Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management
CertSAC	Certificate in Small Animal Cardiology
CertSAD	Certificate in Small Animal Dermatology
CertSAM	Certificate in Small Animal Medicine
CertSAO	Certificate in Small Animal Orthopaedics
CertSAS	Certificate in Small Animal Surgery
CertAVP(SAM)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Small Animal Medicine)
CertAVP(SAMC)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Small Animal Medicine - Canine)
CertAVP(SAMF)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Small Animal Medicine - Feline)
CertAVP(SAP)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Small Animal Practice)
CertAVP(GSAS)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (General Small Animal Surgery)
BSAVA PGCertSAECC	BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
BSAVA PGCertSAM	BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Medicine
BSAVA PGCertSAOphthal	BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Ophthalmology
BSAVA PGCertSAS	BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery
PgC(SAM)	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Medicine
PgC(SAS)	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery
PgC(FVS)	Postgraduate Certificate in Feline Veterinary Studies
PgC(SACS)	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Cardiology Studies
PgC(SADI)	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging
PgC(SAEM&S)	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Emergency Medicine & Surgery
PgC(SAO)	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Ophthalmology
PgC(SAD)	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Dermatology
PgCertSART	Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Rehabilitation
PgDipCABC	Postgraduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling
DSAM	Diploma in Small Animal Medicine
DSAM	Diploma in Small Animal Medicine (Feline)
DSAO	Diploma in Small Animal Orthopaedics
DSAS(Orth)	Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics)
DSAS(Soft Tissue)	Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue)
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Companion Animal Behaviour
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, General Small Animal Surgery
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Small Animal Cardiology
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Small Animal Dermatology
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Small Animal Medicine
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Small Animal Medicine - Feline
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Small Animal Orthopaedics
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Small Animal Practice
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Small Animal Surgery
	RCVS Specialist Feline Medicine
	RCVS Specialist Small Animal Medicine
	RCVS Specialist Small Animal Surgery

Exotics
GPCert(ExAP)	General Practitioner Certificate in Exotic Animal Practice
PgC(EAS)	Postgraduate Certificate in Exotic Animal Studies
CertFHP	Certificate in Fish Health and Production
CertZooMed	Certificate in Zoological Medicine
CertAVP(Fish)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Fish)
CertAVP(ZM)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Zoological Medicine)
DZooMed(Avian)	Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Avian)
DZooMed(Mammalian)	Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Mammalian)
DZooMed(Reptilian)	Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Reptilian)
MSc Wild Animal Health	Masters in Wild Animal Health, RVC
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Fish Health and Production
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Zoological Medicine
	RCVS Specialist, Exotic Animal Medicine
	RCVS Specialist, Fish Health and Production
	RCVS Specialist Rabbit Medicine and Surgery
	RCVS Specialist, Wildlife Medicine
	RCVS Specialist, Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

Farm Animal
CertBR	Certificate in Bovine Reproduction
CertCHP	Certificate in Cattle Health and Production
CertPM	Certificate in Pig Medicine
CertPMP	Certificate in Poultry Medicine and Production
CertSHP	Certificate in Sheep Health and Production
CertAVP(CP)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Camelid Practice)
CertAVP(Cattle)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Cattle)
CertAVP(Sheep)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Sheep)
CertAVP(Poultry)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Poultry)
CertAVP(PAP)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Production Animal Practice)
DBR	Diploma in Bovine Reproduction
DipVetMed	Diploma in Large Animal Medicine
DipLHP	Diploma in Livestock Health and Production
MSc Livestock Health and Production	Masters in Livestock Health and Production, RVC
DCHP	Diploma in Cattle Health and Production
DPM	Diploma in Pig Medicine
DPMP	Diploma in Poultry Medicine and Production
DSHP	Diploma in Sheep Health and Production
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Bovine Reproduction
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Cattle Health and Production
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Pig Medicine
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Poultry Medicine and Production
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Sheep Health and Production
	RCVS Specialist, Cattle Health and Production
	RCVS Specialist Camelid Health and Production
	RCVS Specialist Pig Medicine
	RCVS Specialist Poultry Medicine and Production
	RCVS Specialist, Sheep Health and Production
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging

Equine
GPCert(EM)	General Practitioner Certificate in Equine Medicine
CertEM(IntMed)	Certificate in Equine Medicine (Internal Medicine)
CertEM(StudMed)	Certificate in Equine Medicine (Stud Medicine)
CertES(Orth)	Certificate in Equine Surgery (Orthopaedics)
CertEP	Certificate in Equine Practice
CertES(Soft Tissue)	Certificate in Equine Surgery (Soft Tissue)
CertESM	Certificate in Equine Stud Medicine
CertAVP(EP)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Practice)
CertAVP(ESO)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Surgery - Orthopaedics)
CertAVP(ESST)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Surgery - Soft Tissue)
CertAVP(EM)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Medicine)
CertAVP(ESM)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Stud Medicine)
CertAVP(ED)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Dentistry)
DER	Diploma in Equine Reproduction
DEIM	Diploma in Equine Internal Medicine
DEO	Diploma in Equine Orthopaedics
DESM	Diploma in Equine Stud Medicine
DESTS	Diploma in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Equine Dentistry
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Equine Medicine
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Equine Practice
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Equine Stud Medicine
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Equine Surgery Orthopaedics
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Equine Surgery Soft Tissue
	RCVS Specialist Equine Gastroenterology
	RCVS Specialist Equine Medicine
	RCVS Specialist Equine Surgery

Discipline-specific
CertVA	Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia
CertVC	Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology
CertVD	Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology
CertVDI	Certificate in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
CertVOphthal	Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology
CertVPH(FH)	Certificate in Veterinary Public Health (Food Hygiene)
CertVPH(MH)	Certificate in Veterinary Public Health (Meat Hygiene)
CertVR	Certificate in Veterinary Radiology
CertVRep	Certificate in Veterinary Reproduction
CertLAS	Certificate in Laboratory Animal Science
CertWEL	Certificate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law
CertSVM	Certificate in State Veterinary Medicine
CertAVP(ECC)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Emergency and Critical Care)
CertAVP(VA)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Veterinary Anaesthesia)
CertAVP(VC)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Veterinary Cardiology)
CertAVP(VD)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Veterinary Dermatology)
CertAVP(VDI)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging)
CertAVP(AWSEL)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law)
CertAVP(LAS)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Laboratory Animal Science)
CertAVP(VPH)	Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Veterinary Public Health)
MPVM	Master of Preventative Veterinary Medicine
DWEL	Diploma in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law
DSVM	Diploma in State Veterinary Medicine
DVA	Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia
DVC	Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology
DVD	Diploma in Veterinary Dermatology
DVDI	Diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
DVOphthal	Diploma in Veterinary Ophthalmology
DVPH(MH)	Diploma in Veterinary Public Health (Meat Hygiene)
DVR	Diploma in Veterinary Radiology
DVRep	Diploma in Veterinary Reproduction
DLAS	Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science
MSc CAB	Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour
MSc Vet Epi & Public Health	Master of Science in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health
PgDip Vet Epi & Public Health	Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health
DipVetPath	Diploma in Veterinary Pathology
DPVM	Diploma in Preventive Veterinary Medicine
PgDip Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare	Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare
PGCert Vet Ed	Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Education
PG Dip (Pain Mgt)	Postgraduate Diploma in the Clinical Management of Pain
MSc IAWEL	Master of Science in International Animal Welfare Ethics and Law
Pg Dip IAWEL	Postgraduate Diploma in International Animal Welfare Ethics and Law
PgDip IAH	Postgraduate Diploma in International Animal Health
PgDip (Conservation Medicine)	Postgraduate Diploma in Conservaton Medicine
MSc DIC	Master of Science in Epidemiology and Diploma of Imperial College
MVetSci	Master of Veterinary Science
MVPH	Master of Veterinary Public Health
MVetMed	Master of Veterinary Medicine
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Emergency and Critical Care
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Anaesthesia
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Cardiology
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Dentistry
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Dermatology
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Ophthalmology
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Pain Management
	RCVS Advanced Practitioner, Veterinary Public Health
	RCVS Specialist, Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law
	RCVS Specialist, Emergency and Critical Care
	RCVS Specialist, Laboratory Animal Science
	RCVS Specialist, State Veterinary Medicine
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Anaesthesia
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Behavioural Medicine
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Cardiology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Clinical Nutrition
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Dentistry
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Dermatology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Epidemiology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Neurology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Oncology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Ophthalmology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Parasitology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Pathology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Public Health
	RCVS Specialist, Veterinary Reproduction

Other
BSc	Batchelor of Science
BA	Batchelor of Arts
MA	Master of Arts
PhD	Doctor of Philosophy
MBA	Master of Business Administration
MSc	Master of Science

Forum Discussion Topics

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:10:27 GMT

Revision 1 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/8/2020 1:10:27 PM

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The best approach to a crashed patient (dog) under anaesthetic
What is anaesthetic and analgesia protocol, with reasons, for routine neutering in health animals?
Is routine blood testing necessary to prescribe long term NSAID's?
Is routine pre anaesthetic/surgery screening for lungworm a good idea?
Practical local anaesthesia techniques for common surgeries - tips, tricks, learning curves etc?
Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests in young healthy animals justifiable or a rip-off?
How many clients follow advice you give to brush their pet's teeth, and does it actually make any difference with regard to recurrence of dental disease?

Cardiology

Echocardiography for GPs - how to get the views you need?
What is your approach to the coughing dog, if constrained by costs?
How do you diagnose and manage congestive cardiac failure on a limited budget?
Owner brings in new pup for 1st vac and you note a heart murmur. What do you do - tell them to take it back to the breeder asap - wait and see - refer to specialist?
At what point do you start a dog with an asymptomatic but progressive heart murmur on medications?

Dentistry and oral surgery

Dermatology

Are we grossly overdoing parasite control in cats and dogs?
Best approach to the itchy dog at various ages, eg under 1 year old, and mature adult.
Is it worth doing potentially unreliable skin scrapes if you suspect sarcops or demodex - or is it easier to just give a dose of Nexgard/Bravecto etc. as a clinical trial.
Do corticosteroids still have a place in Dermatology?

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Farm Animal

Medicine

Are we vaccinating too often?
Should we recommend monthly lungworm treatment if you are not in an area of prevalence (Do you know if you are actually in an area of prevalence?)
Do 'Healthy Pet Clubs' encourage over-use of parasiticides.
Does the average pet dog need roundworm/tapeworm treatment every month? Even into old-age?
Cats with 'cystitis', dogs with KC/diar/otitis/ hot spots etc. - should systemic antibiotics ever be used?
How effective are owners at treating ears with topical products - in particular if you have not given them a practical step-by-step guide - and are the new 'one shot' topical ear products going to become the norm?
Should non-antibiotic anti-bacterial products be used in preference to abs for most cases of otitis?
Controlled Drugs - storage/recording and disposal - are you doing it right? (this is the single most prevalent problem identified on PSS visits - even in otherwise highly compliant practices).
Should vets be dishing out highly dangerous and addictive (to humans) opiods for long term use in pet animals.
Monitoring temperatures where medicines are stored and avoiding exposing meds to temperatures outwith the data sheet recommendations. - another big problem area - even more so for ambulatory FA/Eq vets in their vehicles. Does it actually matter?
Are 'life-style'/'breed specific' pet foods for dogs and cats just a marketing rip-off?
Should all diabetic animals be monitored to the nth degree - or just allowed to pootle along if they seem to be doing well clinically?
Booster vaccs for dogs and cats - do you follow the data sheet/ advice from WSAVA etc. or do you do what seems appropriate to your own area.
Will the new oral KC vacc make intra-nasal vaccs obsolete? If a dog is seriously phobic about intra-nasal vac is it likely to be more tolerant to the oral vacc?
Will you push KC vaccs more with the avalablility of the new oral vac?
Pup has had 1st vac with breeder - comes to you for 2nd vac - your practice uses an unrelated brand of vaccs. What do you advise?
what is your approach to an otherwise health young dog that has vomited multiple times over the last 24 hours?

Neurology

Are routine blood tests for monitoring phenobarb level necessary - if all seems well clinically?
When to start a dog having seizures on anti-eplieptic meds? What investigations should you do prior to starting treatment.
If a dog has been on phenobarb for years without any seizures should you stop treatment at some point - or just carry on for ever and not risk causing more problems, which the owner will not be happy about.

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Opthalmology - should antibiotics be given during enucleations?
Corneal ulcers - a multitude of treament options exist. What is the most sensible/practical course of action in first opinion practice. Ditto aural haematomas (tho' that's been done to death on here).

Orthopaedics

Is fracture surgery sometimes over-complex - where a more basic technique might do the job OK. Or indeed amputation.
how do you approach a young (under 1 year old) Labrador with a fore limb lameness and elbow pain?

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

How do you manage lipomatous masses in older dogs?
There are still practices where long-acting abs are routinely given to all 'clean' surgeries. Any justification in the 21st C?
Tail-docking pups (!) and dew-claw removal in pups/adults.
Is stapling a relatively minor skin wound without use of any anaesthetic OK and an acceptable alternative to full GA/suture.
Does a cat with a 'ripe' c.b. abscess always need a GA for drainage?
Should operations that correct a genetic abnormality (e.g. BOAS) only be performed with mandatory neutering? This includes referral centres.
Should neutering be compulsory for all bitches requiring a c-section, in particular where it is due to poor anatomical conformation?

Ethics

Have advances in veterinary medicines, techniques and knowledge improved the welfare and wellbeing of our patients; and are they living longer and better, or just taking longer to die?
Lumping together many of the suggestions put forward already, is it right that the large corporates are, or seem to be to me, setting the scene in terms of peddling and upselling things like anti-parasitics, pre GA blood tests and peri-op IVFT, where there is no or little justification for them.
Is it right that staff subjected to the above work to targets or receive commission?
There seems to be an exponential rise in veterinary fees in some practices, and often phrases such as "gold standard" are used to support it. I have recently witnessed estimates for 1) routine elderly but healthy cat dental without any radiographs £1000 - £1200. and 2) 6 year old healthy Golden Retriever removal of a simple 1cm skin mass with histology, £900.

General

Do first-opinion vets refer too many cases these days? Are first-opinion vets becoming de-skilled?
Are some referral fees verging on the ridiculous?
Is pet insurance becoming too expensive for the average citizen.
Should the antimicrobials vets are allowed to prescribe be restricted?
Have small-animal veterinary surgeons really grasped the new concept of antimicrobial stewardship, or are they merely giving it lip service?

Suggestions

Add your suggestions below.

Forums

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 11:55:26 GMT

Revision 14 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/7/2020 11:55:26 AM

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Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 11:53:51 GMT

Revision 13 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/7/2020 11:53:51 AM

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You can ask a question in the knowledge that answers will come from people who know what they're talking about!
Because the discussion is between someone looking for help, and someone who is normally representing a referral service, you can be assured of a polite, helpful reply.
You won't have to scroll through a sea of similar answers to a question from large numbers of people, as you would on Facebook.
Both you and the expert can claim time spent on your question towards CPD
When you get a helpful answer and press 'Thank Expert', the expert's logo and contact details are displayed as part of their answer
Your discussion thread is easy to find and refer back to, unlike on Facebook.
Your question and the answer is easy for others to find in the future, so it adds to a growing knowledgebase

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Although Working Communities cannot guarantee to review any messages posted, and is not responsible for their content, we reserve the right to delete any message for any or no reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Working Communities, and their agents with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Working Communities reserves the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.

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Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 11:46:06 GMT

Revision 12 posted to VetSurgeon Help by Arlo Guthrie on 10/7/2020 11:46:06 AM

There are two types of forum on VetSurgeon.org:

Expert Help Forums

The Expert Help Forums offer a way in which members can post a question which is sent to veterinary experts for their opinion.

There are a number of benefits to this format:

You can ask a question in the knowledge that answers will come from people who know what they're talking about!
Because the discussion is between someone looking for help, and someone who is normally representing a referral service, you can be assured of a polite, helpful reply.
You won't have to scroll through a sea of similar answers to a question from large numbers of people, as you would on Facebook.
Both you and the expert can claim time spent on your question towards CPD
When you get a helpful answer and press 'Thank Expert', the expert's logo and contact details are displayed as part of their answer
Your discussion thread is easy to find and refer back to, unlike on Facebook.
Your question and the answer is easy for others to find in the future, so it adds to a growing knowledgebase

Discussion Forums

Standard blurb also applies, scroll down for details.

Who can read my posts?

Forum features: Posting anonyously

Username: anon@vetsurgeon.org
Password: vetsurge0n (that's a zero)

Remember to log back out again after you have made your anonymous post.

Forum Features: Mentioning Members

They will then be notified on site (the bell at the top of all pages) or by email, depending on their settings.

Forum Features: Post Signatures

Forum Features: Quoting

Forum Features: Tangent Discussion

If, whilst reading a forum thread, you want to discuss a related but tangential point to the one under discussion, press the link marked 'Tangent' under the relevant post.

In the Discussion Forums, this will start a new linked thread about the topic you wish to go off on a tangent about.
In the Expert Help Forums, pressing the tangent link starts a new thread in the associated general discussion forum, which anyone can contribute to. In other words, it allows you to take a discussion point from the Expert Forum where only the expert and the original poster can participate, and broadens it to a new discussion in which anyone can participate.

Forum: Standard Blurb

Working Communities does monitor this forum regularly. However, due to its real-time nature, it is impossible for us to guarantee to review any or all messages or confirm the validity of any information posted. Please remember that Working Communities is not responsible for any messages posted by other users of this forum, and nor can the company vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any such messages. All messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this forum or any entity associated with this forum. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact the editor immediately. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. This is a manual process, however, so please realize that we may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.
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Although Working Communities cannot guarantee to review any messages posted, and is not responsible for their content, we reserve the right to delete any message for any or no reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Working Communities, and their agents with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Working Communities reserves the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.

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Forum Discussion Topics

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Cardiology

Dentistry and oral surgery

Dermatology

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Farm Animal

Medicine

Neurology

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopaedics

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

General

Suggestions

Forum Discussion Topics

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Cardiology

Dentistry and oral surgery

Dermatology

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Farm Animal

Medicine

Neurology

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopaedics

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

General

Suggestions

Forum Discussion Topics

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Cardiology

Dentistry and oral surgery

Dermatology

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Farm Animal

Medicine

Neurology

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopaedics

Pathology/Cytology

Surgery

General

Suggestions

Forum Discussion Topics

Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Cardiology

Dentistry and oral surgery

Dermatology

Diagnostic Imaging

ECC

Equine

Exotics

Farm Animal

Medicine

Neurology

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopaedics

Pathology/Cytology

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