Myerscough College held their presentation of awards ceremonies over two days on Thursday 10th July and Friday 11th July.
The ceremonies see many students presented with outstanding achievement awards, rewarding their efforts over the duration of the course. This year saw eleven veterinary nursing students given awards as the top students on their courses:
Kylie Jones, from Dukinfield, Stockport, won the Myerscough Animal Academy Award for the ABC Animal Nursing Assistant Certificate.
Emily Buchanan, from Palace Green, London, won the Myerscough College Award for the RCVS Level 2 Veterinary Nursing Block Release.
Heather Crewdson, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, won the Vet Net LLLN Top Student Award for the RCVS Level 2 Veterinary Nursing Day Release September intake.
Nicola Severs, from Bury, won the Myerscough Animal Academy Award for the RCVS Level 2 Veterinary Nursing Day Release January Intake.
Michael Treagust, from Solihull, Birmingham, won the Hutton Award for the RCVS Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Block Release.
Clare Redmond, from Chorley, Preston, won the Vet Net LLLN Top Student Award for the RCVS Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Day Release September Intake.
Kate Abel, from Scarisbrick, Ormskirk won the Hills Pet Nutrition Award for the RCVS Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Day Release January Intake.
Sarah Forster, from Winsford, Cheshire, won the Little Fencefoot Farm Top Student Award for the RCVS Level 2 Equine Veterinary Nursing Course.
Heather Hope, from Penrith, Cumbria, won the Little Fencefoot Farm Top Student Award for the RCVS Level 3 Equine Veterinary Nursing Course.
Danielle Penrose, from Hartlepool, won the Robert Allan Memorial Top Student Award for BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing.
Nicola Casement, from Leigh, Lancashire, won both the Lynwood School of Veterinary Nursing Award and JAK Marketing Top Student Award for BSc (Hons) Clinical Veterinary Nursing. The awards recognise the exceptional dedication and commitment that they have put into their studies.
Heather Crewdson and Sarah Forster will now both progress on to RCVS Level 3 courses at Myerscough. Kylie Jones, Clare Redmond, Kate Abel and Danielle Penrose will look for employment in the Veterinary Nursing Industry. Nicola Casement will remain as Head Veterinary Nurse at Bridgewater Court Veterinary Clinic in Walkden near Manchester.
Veterinary Nurse Nick Shackleton has started a campaign to protect the title Veterinary Nurse
The campaign has a section on Facebook where Nick explains: "The title veterinary nurse at present is not a protected title. A lot of people who work in practice call them selves veterinary nurse, when they have no theoretical training in such a position. As qualified nurses we feel that this issue should be addressed so that the general public are no longer confused as to the qualification and hopefully make them more aware of the hard work it is to gain the qualification. As we are heading for autonomy within the profession I think it is right and fitting that the title should be protected."
The group has already gained an impressive 781 members.
In addition, Nick has started a petition on the Prime Minister's website: Number10.gov.uk, which has gained 139 signatories so far.
If you'd like to sign the petition on Number10.gov.uk, I recommend you add the letters after your name (MRCVS / RVN).
60 veterinary surgeons, nurses and other team members from White Cross practices in Tividale, Guiseley, West Derby and Alvaston have formed 20 teams of three people, logging a total of 30,000 miles since the initiative was launched in February, or an average of 11,000 steps per team member per day.
James Harris MRCVS from White Cross Vets said: "We spend a lot of the day on our feet but really had no idea about the distance that we clock up. There are about 2,000 steps in a mile so we are walking more than five miles every day! We are always encouraging our clients to make sure their pets have a healthy lifestyle, so it’s great to practise what we preach.
"As well as the steps we take throughout the day many of us are also committed to sports and exercise regimes outside work and that has helped us to reach the top of the leaderboard for a few weeks. You might even find some of us marching on the spot to boost our step-counts and heart rates, so the Fitbit challenge is definitely keeping us active."
General manager Jo Jobling said: "We understand the vital importance of both physical and mental wellbeing, and our Fitbit challenge is a great way for our teams from across our 19 practices to work together to achieve a worthwhile healthy goal, as well as creating some healthy competition with colleagues in other practices. We also have an individual steppers league table which was recently topped by one of our veterinary nurses, Katie Rose from our Tividale practice. It might have helped that she completed a half marathon over that weekend though!"
The Royal Veterinary College has launched the Pet Diabetes App - designed to bring diabetes management in animals into the 21st century and help ongoing research into the condition.
The free app - which was designed by Dr Stijn Niessen, a Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine and pet diabetes expert at the RVC - allows owners to help control their pet's condition by recording the factors that indicate success or failure in diabetes management.
The veterinary care team can then fine-tune treatment according to the data recorded by the owner, thereby avoiding complications associated with low and high blood sugars, as well as the costs associated with such complications.
Stijn says he had two main objectives in designing the new app. Firstly to allow owners of diabetic pets to get actively involved in the medical management of their beloved pet. Secondly to gather strictly anonymous data about diabetic pets to enable further research and development into better treatment options.
The Diabetes Log feature of the app allows users to record and then share various essential parameters with their veterinary surgeon. They include clinical signs like weight, appetite, thirst and urination changes, as well as urine and blood sugar values (for those owners who perform home blood or urine glucose testing).
The app also features:
The Diabetes App is now available for free download onto smartphones and tablets, from Android (http://bit.ly/1q3jCV5) and iPhone App stores (http://apple.co/203OoK2).
The App was developed with the support of the Rumba Foundation which helps pioneer clinical care for companion animals. You can support the work of the Rumba Foundation here: www.justgiving.com/therumbafoundation”
The WSAVA is calling on veterinary surgeons around the world and anyone with an interest in veterinary – and human – medicine to sign the petition to ensure access to ketamine in the face of lobbying by some countries, principally China, to have it put under international scheduling.
According to the WSAVA, proposals for international control stem from the misconception that ketamine is merely a 'recreational drug.' The WSAVA says this is inaccurate and devalues its huge contribution to human and animal medicine.
Dr Walt Ingwersen, WSAVA President Elect and Member of the WSAVA’s Global Pain Council, said: "In 2015, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) stated that the abuse of ketamine does not cause a global public health threat and that control would limit access for those using it as an anaesthetic. This view was confirmed at a meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2016, helped by strong support view from the global medical and veterinary communities. However, China has repeated its view that ketamine should fall under international scheduling and we have no doubt that it will raise the issue again. This mean the risk to ketamine remains."
He added: "Ketamine is a safe anaesthetic which can be used without oxygen, ventilators, electricity and the support systems required for other products, making it the only anaesthetic suitable for both medical and veterinary use in lower and middle income countries. If developing countries were denied access to it, which would be the effect of international scheduling, the effects on veterinary medicine, human health and animal welfare would be devastating."
Dr Ganga de Silva, President of the Society of Companion Animal Practitioners of Sri Lanka, said: "Sri Lanka is a poor country with an underdeveloped veterinary profession. If ketamine was not available, in my opinion, all surgeries would have to cease as almost all of the veterinarians in the country rely on it for anaesthesia. The result would be suffering for animals and it would also seriously impact our ability to control rabies as we would not be able to carry out spay and neuter programs on stray dogs."
Dr Nancy Shaffran CVT, VTS(ECC), President of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (pictured above), said: “In addition to its use as an anaesthetic agent, ketamine is a critical medication used in the pain management in animals. The mechanism of action of ketamine (NMDA receptor antagonism) delivered as a Constant Rate Infusion has been well established to be effective in the prevention and correction of severe neuropathic pain and spinal cord wind-up. The loss of ketamine in veterinary practice would result in the needless suffering of many patients and we strongly oppose this action. We are very grateful for WSAVA’s efforts to keep ketamine available for our patients."
Dr Walt Ingwersen added: "Ketamine is also used in human medicine as it has a particular value for use 'in the field' - for instance, in treating trauma patients, those with traffic and sporting injuries or affected by natural disasters and conflict. Taking these factors together, it is clear that ketamine is an essential medicine and we are determined to ensure that it remains freely available. We are continuing to harness our global veterinary community to highlight the importance of ketamine because this is a battle our patients can’t afford us to lose. We ask all those agreeing with to sign our petition and help our collective voice grow."
The petition is here: http://chn.ge/1RFSou6.
The WSAVA’s Global Pain Council has produced a range of tools and resources, including an infographic, to support its ketamine campaign. They can be accessed here: http://www.wsava.org/educational/global-pain-council
Ceva Animal Health has launched Hepaticare, a new liver support supplement for cats and dogs.
The company says Hepaticare contains the same high quality ingredients as Hepatosyl, but is now enhanced with micro-encapsulated SAMe to enhance product stability and patient acceptance.
Hepaticare contains the antioxidants of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), vitamin E and silybin to help maintain liver function, and vitamin K to support the normal blood clotting process. Ceva says these ingredients help neutralise damaging free radicals produced by the liver during times of stress, while the SAMe has been micro-encapsulated to enhance stability, reduce any bitter aftertaste and increase patient acceptance.
Hepaticare capsules can be given whole or opened and sprinkled onto, or mixed with, food.
Rob McLintock, companion animal business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: “Following a change in supplier we have taken the opportunity to launch a new liver support supplement, ensuring that the new and improved product, Hepaticare, is as effective and as easy to administer as possible.”
Hepaticare pack sizes and pricing will remain the same as for Ceva’s Hepatosyl. Until the end of September, Hepaticare will be available on a buy one get one free offer.
For further information, contact your local Ceva territory manager or phone 01494 781510.
Norbrook Laboratories Ltd has launched Mycinor tablets (clindamycin), an antibiotic for treating soft tissue infections in dogs.
Rebekah Dudek, Norbrook Veterinary Advisor said: "Clindamycin is one of the leading prescription medicines used to treat soft tissue infections and offers very effective treatment particularly for dental and oral infections.
"Mycinor can be used to treat infected mouth cavities and oral infections and to provide antimicrobial cover prior to dental procedures such as tooth removal, scale & polish etc. Beyond dental expertise, Mycinor can also be used to treat soft tissue infections, skin infections in the form of superficial pyoderma and osteomyelitis bone infections. Mycinor is a fast acting antibiotic, rapidly absorbed into the body with effective levels within 30 minutes of administration."
Mycinor is available as 25mg, 75mg and 150mg in packs of 100tablets, and as a 300mg tablet in a pack of 150 tablets. Rebekah added: "Mycinor is a very effective and safe antibiotic and is ideal for long and short term treatments. It can be dosed once daily or at twice daily intervals if preferred."
For more information, visit www.norbrook.com
International Cat Care (formerly the Feline Advisory Bureau) is once again raising the issue of cats accidentally poisoned by dog flea products containing permethrin.
The charity is undertaking a campaign to warn owners of the dangers of using dog flea products on their cats because cats are still dying unnecessarily. While the incidents outlined here occurred in the UK, previous reports have shown that this is the most common cause of poisoning of cats in many countries because products are widely and easily available.
Gary Rutland RVN DipAVN(Surgical), Head Nurse and Cat Advocate at the Cat Friendly Millennium Veterinary Practice in Essex was moved to get in contact with International Cat Care after the death of a nine-week-old kitten treated with a permethrin-containing dog spot-on bought at a local pet store. Understandably, both the owners and the practice staff were greatly distressed. The owner used it on her dog and, because it was cheap, assumed it would 'not be strong' and would be fine to use on the kitten. A video of the kitten on the ICC website (www.icatcare.org/permethrin/cat-deaths) shows the resulting seizures.
The second incident concerned two 7-year-old cats treated accidentally after Donna, their owner, bought a dog spot-on containing permethrin from a local shop without wearing her glasses. Someone had placed a dog treatment among the cat treatments and she picked it up. No advice was given to Donna in the shop. She said that the flea treatments were on the shelves, 'just like selling smarties in a children's candy store'.
Although both products had a warning on the packaging, this was either not seen or not taken seriously enough because such products are so freely available and nobody thinks that a drop of a dog product could kill their cat.
International Cat Care is demanding that dog spot-on flea products containing permethrin should not be available without verbal advice at the point of sale. Currently these products are categorised by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in the UK as AVM-GSL, which means that they can be bought directly off the shop shelf without the need for advice. The charity says they should be recategorised as NFA-VPS so that they can only be purchased if there is someone in the shop who is suitably qualified to speak to and advise the buyer. The shop should advise that they are only for use on dogs, and ask if there are any cats in the home which could come into contact with a recently-treated dog. The owners can then be warned to keep the dog and cat apart, or advised to use a different product. Advice must be given with some other current non-permethrin containing spot-on products sold through pet shops under the NFA-VPS authorisation and many of these products have a much safer profile if used accidentally on cats, than those containing permethrin.
Dr Andy Sparkes, Veterinary Director for International Cat Care, said: 'Many practices see permethrin poisoning in cats several times a year but do not contact the VMD because the product is not a POM or they feel that the Directorate already knows about the problem. We feel strongly that the problem is greatly under-reported. Nothing will be done unless the full extent of the problem is realised by the VMD, so please report each one by going on the website at https://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/adversereactionreporting/. These cat deaths are totally preventable - you can sign our petition at www.icatcare.org/permethrin/petition to change the categorisation.'
The charity is also asking the pet trade to voluntarily class these dog spot-on products containing permethrin as NFA-VPS and to provide advice to their customers accordingly. Pets at Home is working with International Cat Care and the company will be adding a till prompt so that the product cannot be sold without customers being asked whether they have a cat and given appropriate advice.
Maeve Moorcroft, Head of Pets at Pets at Home which earlier this year launched its Flea Fight Force said: 'We take the risk of permethrin poisoning in cats very seriously. We are introducing prompts at our tills so that customers are asked during the checkout process if they are aware of the risk to cats in the home when purchasing a permethrin based spot-on dog flea treatment, and also advised to wait at least 72 hours after treating the dog before the dog and cat can come into close contact.'
International Cat Care is urging veterinary practices to ensure that if concentrated permethrin-containing spot-on products are prescribed and dispensed for use on dogs, adequate warnings are given, including when owners come in for repeat prescriptions. Asking if there is a cat in the house each time a product is dispensed is critical in case a cat has recently been added to the home.
Information on the veterinary treatment of permethrin poisoning cases can be found on the ICC website at www.icatcare.org/permethrin/vet-info
RCVS Council member Professor the Lord Trees has today submitted a Private Members’ Bill to the ballot of the House of Lords which would legally protect the title ‘Veterinary Nurse’.
If the Bill is drawn sufficiently highly in the ballot, it will be debated in the Lords and the Commons. If approved by both Houses, it'll become law.
As it is drawn up, the Bill would prohibit use of the title ‘Veterinary Nurse’ for any person whose name is not on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. Any non-registered person who used the title Veterinary Nurse or a name, title or description that implied they were on the Register would be guilty of an offence and may be fined or convicted under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.
Lord Trees said: “It is very exciting, and a privilege, to be entering a Private Members’ Bill to protect the title veterinary nurse into the ballot for Private Members’ Bills in Parliament. If we are drawn high enough in the ballot and if we can get Parliamentary time – two important ‘ifs’ – I am confident that the Bill will receive total cross-party support.
“It would mark the final brick in the wall of creating a fully-fledged, recognised and protected veterinary nursing profession. This is what the veterinary nursing profession merits and the public deserve.”
The House of Lords ballot will be drawn before the summer recess. In the meantime, the RCVS is encouraging registered veterinary nurses to back its campaign to protect the title and raise awareness of the issue with their clients.
Further details about the campaign, including a short animated film, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vntitle
The PDSA has announced that it is offering free workshops to help veterinary professionals deliver new welfare checks called 'PetWise MOTs'.
The PetWise MOT checks focus on the five welfare needs, and the workshops count for seven hours CPD. The charity says that while the workshops are suitable for all members of the practice team, they should be of particular interest to nursing teams and those with a keen interest in engaging clients with the needs of their pets.
The aim of the MOT Checks is to improve pet wellbeing in the UK, following reports of a reduced level of awareness amongst the public of the five welfare needs defined by the Animal Welfare Acts.
Richard Casey, PDSA Pet Wellbeing Project Manager, said: "We know there is more to a pet’s wellbeing than just providing for their basic health needs. This unique consultation structure was developed in response to falling awareness among owners of their pets’ welfare needs, with millions of pets suffering unnecessarily. The PetWise MOTs use a simple traffic light system and personalised action plans to reverse this trend by helping to inform and engage owners about what their pets need to be healthy and happy."
The consultations were first trialled on the charity’s mobile PetCheck vehicles, then expanded to PDSA’s 51 pet hospitals. According to the charity, over 100,000 PetWise MOTs and follow up checks have now been completed in the last few years, with outcomes including:
Alison Case, a Senior Vet at Bow PDSA Pet Hospital, said: "PetWise MOTs give a really practical approach to running clinics based on the pet’s welfare needs. We’ve seen a positive impact on patient care by looking at husbandry at home as well as the clinical concerns of the patient. The consultations help to strengthen the clinic-client bond through professional support and advice. We’ve had great feedback from our clients, who are now much more aware of the routine needs of their pets and often attend for further check-ups as well as regularly purchasing preventive treatments."
The workshops will focus on dogs, cats and rabbits, although the consultations are transferable to all species.
For more information or to book a place, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petwise or email petwise@pdsa.org.uk.
The competition is designed to promote a healthy body shape in cats and dogs and recognise the hard work pet owners and veterinary nurses put into maintaining a pet’s healthy weight.
There are a variety of categories to enter for a variety of different weight management stages, including a dog or cat that has just started out on a weight loss programme, is currently maintaining a healthy shape following weight loss, or has always been at a healthy weight.
The categories include:
There are a number of prizes on offer, including a £1,000 holiday voucher.
Sarah Collins, Veterinary Marketing Executive at Royal Canin, said: “At Royal Canin, we have supported vet nurses and practice staff across the UK and Ireland with weight management for years. This competition is a great opportunity to showcase the fantastic work these people put into keeping their pets healthy.
"With last year’s competition receiving 360 entries, we are excited to open the competition once again. Last year we had two Labradors lose over 6.5kg and a six year old pug reduce his bodyweight by 15% in six months, so we look forward to seeing more successful weight management results from this year."
The company says that pets that have entered in previous years are eligible to enter this year's competition, and for every pet entered into the 2017 competition, both pet owner and veterinary nurse, will receive a complimentary gift.
Pets can only be entered into the competition by their veterinary nurse. To enter, register at www.royalcaninhealthyweight.co.uk or ask your Veterinary Business Manager for a paper entry form.
Entries will close on Tuesday 31st January 2017.
Picture shows last year's winner: Andrew Doyle presenting an award to their vet nurse Victoria Robinson.
Norbrook has announced the launch of Marbodex Aural, the most recent addition to its Otitis Management System for dogs.
Norbrook says the ingredients in Marbodex Aural (marbofloxacin, clotrimazole, dexamethasone) are proven to relieve pain and inflammation quickly, deal with key bacterial and fungal infections effectively and thereby improve pet comfort.
The company says the inclusion of marbofloxacin makes Marbodex Aural an ideal first choice for cases of otitis externa that are:
Marbodex Aural also contains clotrimazole, a broad spectrum antifungal effective against otitis caused by Malassezia pachydermatis, and dexamethasone, a fast acting steroid whose absorption is not increased in inflamed ears.
Marbodex Aural is applied once a day and has two soft nozzles to reduce pain on application and prevent cross-contamination during treatment. It can be used for extended treatment periods of seven to fourteen days when treating persistent infections.
Marbodex Aural is available in all veterinary wholesalers now. For more information about Marbodex and to take advantage of the launch offers, contact your Norbrook Territory Manager or call 01536 741147 for more information.
Reference:
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Osphos, an intramuscular clodronic acid injection for the control of clinical signs associated with the bone resorptive processes of navicular syndrome in horses, the only such licensed product in the UK.
Dechra says it expects Osphos to change the way chronic lameness caused by navicular syndrome is tackled by equine vets.
According to the company, clinical trials of Osphos showed 74.7% of horses experienced improvement by at least one lameness grade at 56 days post treatment.
Dechra brand manager Emma Jennings said: "Osphos intramuscular injection contains the bisphosphonate clodronic acid which inhibits resorption in the navicular bone by binding to hydroxyapatite crystals and by direct cellular effects on osteoclasts.
"We are delighted with the results of the trials, which proved that Osphos is effective at 6 months post-treatment. We're looking forward to being able to support equine vets, vet nurses and practices by providing an intramuscular Clodronic acid injection for horses."
Dechra also says studies showed that mild transient colic was seen following just 1.6 per cent of treatments.
Osphos 60 mg/ml solution for injection for horses is available from September 2014.
Bob Martin, maker of the eponymous flea treatment for cats and dogs, has announced that it will be removing the last of its permethrin-containing on-animal flea treatments from sale in supermarkets.
The company says the decision was made following a passionate outpouring of emotion - particularly online - over the large number of unnecessary deaths of cats which have been wrongly treated with permethrin-based products for dogs.
Permethrin poisoning is one of the most commonly reported poisonings in cats worldwide. According to the company, a study carried out by the Feline Advisory Bureau and the Veterinary Poisons Information Service found that 97% of permethrin poisonings in cats have followed the application of a permethrin-containing dog-specific spot on product.
Bob Martin says it believes that most permethrin poisonings are down to mistakes at point of purchase with pet owners mixing up cat and dog products, or being unaware that you cannot use a dog treatment on a cat. For this reason, the company withdrew permethrin from its dog spot ons in 2012, replacing it with fipronil.
Nevertheless, the company continued to sell cat flea collars containing permethrin, which had become indelibly associated with the deaths seen as a result of misusing the dog spot-on.
Georgina Martin, Marketing Manager and great granddaughter of founder Bob Martin said: "Animal health is Bob Martin's top priority. We have decided to reclassify our permethrin-containing on-animal flea treatments to pharmacy-only and call for a change in licensing by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate so that they may only be purchased if advice is given about their correct use.
"This is the next step in our journey as a responsible business having already voluntarily withdrawn permethrin Dog Spot-ons a few years ago which we replaced with fipronil, the same active as used in leading spot on treatments from the vet. To ensure our customers are still able to buy a flea collar from their supermarket we will be launching a new pesticide free flea repellent collar."
Nigel Grimes, Pet Food Buyer at Morrisons PLC said: "It is important for us that our customers who own animals receive the verbal advice and reassurance on the use of permethrin-containing on-animal products. We feel that this advice is needed at the point of sale and should be provided by a suitably qualified person in a pharmacy setting. We will continue to provide pet owners with on-shelf access to a choice of affordable healthcare for their animals from the Bob Martin range."
Meanwhile, Bob Martin has launched the new 'Clear' range of animal collars, which contains margosa extract from neem oil. The company says this natural ingredient is frequently used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides, and is proven to be a highly effective flea repellent, ideal for indoor cats. The new range is now on sale, with the old product being phased out as existing stocks are sold.
The consultation invited members of the professions to explain how they currently understand and interpret Schedule 3 in practice, how it could be clarified and how it might be amended to bolster the veterinary nursing profession.
11,625 people responded to the consultation, the highest number that has ever responded to an RCVS consultation. 6,873 were veterinary nurses (around 35% of the profession and including 1,665 student veterinary nurses) and 4,752 were veterinary surgeons (around 21% of the profession).
The report on the consultation, which is published today by the Institute for Employment Studies, found that 92% of veterinary nurses and 71% of veterinary surgeons think veterinary nurses should be able to undertake additional areas of work.
However, neither vets nor nurses seem to have an especially good understanding of the current scope of Schedule 3 and how it applies in practice, rating their personal understanding at 5.6 and 6.7 out of 10 respectively.
When asked what prevented the full utilisation of veterinary nurses, the majority of both vet and vet nurse respondents highlighted a lack of understanding of what tasks can be delegated under Schedule 3, with around 60% of veterinary surgeons also admitting that they are not good at delegating.
61% of veterinary nurses and 50% of veterinary surgeons thought that the RCVS gives sufficient support and advice about Schedule 3, though the relatively poor level of understanding amongst veterinary surgeons in particular suggests more needs to be done.
In corresponding comments both veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons said they would like more clarity, especially around 'grey areas' such as the meaning of the term 'minor surgery', as well as further communication from the College about Schedule 3 and for more training for veterinary nurses to ensure they have the competence and the confidence to carry out delegated procedures.
Liz Cox, Chair of RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council, said: "Thank you to all those who responded to the consultation in such large numbers and who shared their views on this topic. The consultation grew out of the government’s suggestion that we review Schedule 3 as a means of bolstering the VN profession, and from the VN Futures project last year, when Schedule 3 was identified as an area where there could be some additional work to clarify the rules around delegation to veterinary nurses.
"There was a clear consensus that veterinary nurses could do more in their role and under Schedule 3 and so we will be feeding the findings back to the RCVS Legislation Working Party, which will be looking, in the round, at possible changes to the framework of veterinary legislation, including how it applies to veterinary nurses and other paraprofessionals.
"In terms of the understanding of Schedule 3 and how it applies in practice it is clear that we need to do some further work to clarify the rules and develop guidance to assist both veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons in exercising their professional judgement in respect to delegation, for example, through case studies and other examples."
Looking at the tasks currently performed by veterinary nurses, the survey found the five most commonly performed are: clinical cleaning (92%), administration of medicines by subcutaneous injection (91%), administration of medication (90%), monitoring of anaesthesia (86.5%) and administration of medicines by intramuscular injection (86%).
The consultation also found that the majority of veterinary nurses are involved in clinics aimed at educating animal owners on various different aspects of animal health and welfare. The most common include puppy/kitten care (66.5% of respondents), nutrition (65% of respondents), general check-ups (62.5% of respondents) and dental care clinics (57% of respondents).
Post-survey interviews with 10 veterinary nurses and 10 veterinary surgeons found a number of recurring themes, including: limited career paths for veterinary nurses; poor pay for VNs relative to their training and complexity of work; lack of recognition and appreciation for the VN role; enthusiasm for advanced practitioner and specialist status for VNs; and difficulty recruiting experienced VNs.
The College says the results of the consultation will now be considered by the RCVS Schedule 3 and Legislation Working Parties, which are reviewing the efficacy of the current Veterinary Surgeons Act and whether changes need to be made to bring the legislative framework for the profession up-to-date, including consideration of the part played by allied professions like veterinary nurses in the veterinary team.
The full report can be downloaded here.
The Prime Minister's website has received a petition for a new law making it compulsory to microchip pets in the UK.
If you wish to support this petition, please click here and add your name: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/MicrochipPets/
The full petition reads:
"I am a responsible pet owner and have both my parrots and dog microchipped. I genuinely believe that all pets (where possible) should be microchipped.
I feel that it should be mandatory and is part of being a responsible pet owner. This should act as a "licence". I strongly beleive that this course of action will protect many discarded, stolen and mistreated pets every year as there will be no escape for the owners as the pet can be traced back to them.
I appreciated that due to size and temperament some pets may not be able to be microchipped, but certainly dogs, cats, horses, valuable / larger birds, rabbits etc should be.
I hope you agree that £30 for a microchip is good value, if owners cannot afford this then they shouldnt be considering a pet in the first place.
Please can you give this idea serious consideration as I feel we must do something to protect the pets that do not have a voice in our society."
Davies Veterinary Specialists (DVS) has announced that it has completed development work on its premises in Higham Gobion, Hertfordshire, to improve capacity and workflow for diagnostic procedures including MRI, CT and endoscopy.
The new development includes the construction and outfitting of an anaesthesia induction room with two state-of-the art stations, a diagnostic imaging viewing room, a further ultrasound and procedures room and office space for the nurse supervisor team. The rooms were built inside the site’s central barn as the next phase of DVS’s ongoing expansion programme, which has recently seen the completion of a new staff room and upgraded kennels and cattery facilities.
Clive Elwood, Managing Director of DVS said: “We first acquired the barn space in 2004 and initial construction included MRI and CT rooms with the plan of completing further rooms as needs arose. This latest development has already had a big impact on workflow and allows us to optimise the use of our diagnostic equipment. It represents our continued commitment to growth and development so that we can serve our customers to the best of our ability. I am very grateful to all of those who contributed to the project and showed necessary patience during construction.”
DVS now employs more than 35 specialist clinicians, 60 nurses, many with an advanced nursing qualification, and 30 administrators and support staff.
For further information visit www.vetspecialists.co.uk. You can also follow DVS on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DVSvets.
There were two charges against Dr Mulvey. The first was that, between May and October 2018, she failed to provide the clinical history for an English Cocker Spaniel named Henry to the Tremain Veterinary Group, despite numerous requests. Also, that between August 2018 and October 2018, she failed to respond adequately or at all to Henry’s owner's requests for information, particularly his clinical records and details of insurance claims made for Henry by her practice.
The second charge was that in January/February 2019, she failed to respond to reasonable requests from the RCVS, particularly in relation to her treatment of Henry, her continuing professional development (CPD) and the status of her Professional Indemnity Insurance.
At the beginning of the hearing, Dr Mulvey admitted the facts and conduct alleged in the charges and also admitted that when her conduct was considered cumulatively, she was guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee, having considered the evidence provided by the College and Dr Mulvey’s admissions found all the facts and conduct to be proved.
The Committee also concluded that Dr Mulvey's failure to respond to Henry's owners and to the College amounted to disgraceful conduct both when considered individually and cumulatively.
In respect of the first charge, the Committee decided that Dr Mulvey had breached the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons by failing to provide clinical records or details of insurance claims.
This was an administrative part of the function of a veterinary surgeon’s role and that failure to provide clients with such information was unacceptable and fell far short of acceptable professional standards. The Committee noted that Dr Mulvey’s failure to provide details of insurance claims had occurred because she had not made those claims, despite offering to do so.
With regard to the second charge, the Committee concluded that Dr Mulvey’s failure to respond to five requests from the College for information about Henry was unacceptable.
The Committee also considered that the omissions took place in the context of Dr Mulvey’s previous Disciplinary Committee hearing in April 2018 during which she agreed to a number of undertakings including supervision on her professional practice by an appointed supervisor. It therefore decided that her failure to provide evidence of her CPD and Professional Indemnity Insurance to the College each individually amounted disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee then went on to consider the sanction for Dr Mulvey in relation to the both charges that it had found proved and also in respect of the charges it had found proved at its earlier hearing on 26 April 2018 for which sanction had been postponed for a period of 1 year to enable Dr Mulvey to comply with undertakings she gave to the Committee to ensure that her practice met RCVS Core Standards by May 2019.
The Committee heard from Mr Stuart King MRCVS who had been appointed to act as a Workplace Supervisor for Dr Mulvey during the period of her Undertakings. Mr King provided the Committee with a report upon the extent to which Dr Mulvey had complied with the terms of her undertakings including the extent which she had implemented Dr King’s numerous recommendations.
The Committee also heard from Dr Byrne MRCVS an inspector for the RCVS’s voluntary Practice Standards Scheme that Dr Mulvey’s practice, when inspected by him in early April 2019, had not met RCVS PSS Core standards in a number of areas.
The Committee heard from Dr Mulvey and her Counsel that she accepted that she had not met RCVS Core standards as she had undertaken to do.
In reaching its decision as to sanction for all the matters, the Committee took into account that Dr Mulvey’s misconduct overall was serious because it was repeated.
The Committee also considered aggravating and mitigating factors.
Aggravating factors included the fact that the misconduct was sustained or repeated over a period of time (in relation to charge 1 for a period of approximately 4 months and in relation to charge 2 for approximately 6 weeks).
Other aggravating factors include the fact that Dr Mulvey’s conduct contravened advice issued by the Professional Conduct Department in letters sent to her, and that she had wilfully disregarded the role of the RCVS and the systems that regulate the veterinary profession.
Mitigating factors included that: there was no harm to any animal; there was no financial gain for Dr Mulvey or any other party; there was no ulterior motive behind Dr Mulvey’s conduct; and that Dr Mulvey had in fact both completed her minimum CPD requirement and secured Professional Indemnity Insurance, demonstrating that she had not attempted to hide such information from the College.
It also took into account that Dr Mulvey, prior to the first Disciplinary Committee’s hearing in 2018, worked without any previous disciplinary findings against her from 1976 to 2018. The Committee also noted that she had made efforts to comply with some of the undertakings.
Mr Ian Green, Chair of the DC and speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, said: "The Committee considered that a warning or reprimand was not an appropriate sanction that would meet the public interest. Instead, the Committee decided that a suspension order for a period of six months would allow Dr Mulvey sufficient time to focus on ensuring her practice met the Core Standards set out in the Practice Standards Scheme, without the daily demands of practising as a veterinary surgeon, and was a proportionate and sufficient sanction to meet the public interest.
"The Committee was satisfied that a period of six months met the public interest as it was sanctioning Dr Mulvey for two sets of similar misconduct which we had determined overall as serious. The Committee also believed that during these six months Dr Mulvey could reflect and reorganise her practice, and there would be little risk to animals and the public in her returning to practice."
Dr Mulvey has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to lodge an appeal with the Privy Council.
The BVA and the RCVS are inviting applications from veterinary surgeons to join the new Vet Futures Action Group, set up to drive forward the ambitions identified in the Vet Futures report launched at BVA Congress at the London Vet Show on 20 November.
The Vet Futures report, Taking charge of our future: A vision for the veterinary profession for 2030, was the culmination of a year-long joint project by BVA and RCVS designed to help the veterinary profession prepare for, and shape, its own future. The Action Group is a vital next step in the Vet Futures project, ensuring the delivery of the report’s six ambitions and 34 recommendations.
BVA and RCVS are seeking seven veterinary surgeons and one veterinary nurse to join the Action Group to ensure there is buy-in from across the professions and to drive forward workstreams of activity. The group will be co-chaired by the BVA and RCVS Presidents, and both Junior Vice-Presidents will sit on the group. Action Group members will be independent and will not represent, or be required to report back to, any particular organisation.
Veterinary surgeons or nurses keen to apply for an Action Group role should have experience of working as an active member of a group or committee and the ability to deliver, engage and inspire others. The veterinary surgeon members should have specific expertise, knowledge and experience in relation to at least one of the Vet Futures ambitions or the cross-cutting issue of veterinary education. The ambitions cover:
Successful applicants must be able to attend three all-day meetings in London (9 February, 17 March and 12 May) and an all-day Vet Futures Summit (20 June), with a time commitment totalling approximately seven days between February and June 2016. The group will be supported by BVA and RCVS staff. For the full Vet Futures Action Group role profile and terms of reference, please visit: www.vetfutures.org.uk.
The deadline for applications is 12 noon, 31 December 2015.
Of the seven awards, two are dedicated to recognising veterinary surgeons and nurses who go beyond the call of duty to better the lives of animals: the Chris Laurence Vet of the Year and the Welfare Nurse of the Year.
The winners are decided by a panel of judges including Christopher Laurence MBE BVSc and James Yeates, chief veterinarian at RSPCA. This year’s winners and runners up will be honoured at a ceremony taking place on the eve of BSAVA Congress on 5th April 2017.
If there is a veterinary surgeon or nurse that you feel deserves to be recognised for their ongoing commitment to animal welfare, you can nominate them for an award at: www.cevawelfareawards.com. Entries must be in by January 13th 2017, and nominations are also accepted from members of the public.
Ceva managing director Cuneyt Seckin said: "We really have been awed and humbled by the nominations for Ceva’s Animal Welfare Awards over the past seven years and we expect this year to be no exception.
"The lengths to which some wonderful people go to ensure the health and happiness of animals across the world really knows no bounds. Not only do the awards champion people involved in animal welfare, but they also raise awareness of this important work to wider audiences."
Hot on the heels of Eurovet, Ceva Animal Health has launched Emeprid, containing the anti-emetic and pro-kinetic metoclopramide. Emeprid is licensed in cats and dogs for the symptomatic treatment of vomiting and reduced gastro-intestinal motility associated with gastritis, pyloric spasm, chronic nephritis and digestive intolerance to some drugs.
There are two formulations available; a 10ml multi-dose vial containing 5mg/ml metoclopramide for IV, SC or IM injection and a 125ml 'sweet orange and apricot flavoured' oral solution containing 1mg/ml metoclopramide. They are priced at £7.99 for the 10ml injectable bottle and £9.99 for the oral solution.
For further information, please contact your Ceva Animal Health representative or call the veterinary support team on 01494 781510.
Dunlops has changed its name to Henry Schein Animal Health.
David Hinton, Managing Director said: "As we change our name to Henry Schein Animal Health, we also reaffirm our company's strong commitment to offer a comprehensive array of products and services to help animal health practitioners in the United Kingdom operate more efficient and successful practices, and provide the best quality patient care.
"We have a new name, but we have the same strong team, the same values, and the same dedication to providing excellent service to our customers."
Henry Schein Animal Health’s expanded offerings include VetLink and Thrive. VetLink is a new e-commerce web site system that enables veterinary surgeons to access the growing internet sector, allowing you to sell anything from pet prescriptions to accessories online, to be delivered to your customers’ homes by Henry Schein Animal Health. Thrive is a new veterinary business analysis service that integrates with practice management software to use a Key Performance Indicator based approach that provides insight into a your practice and identifies areas where you can enhance your business.
Hill's Pet Nutrition is offering a series of free webinars about feline medicine, delivered by some of the best-known experts in the field.
The first presentation on feline liver disease will be delivered by Danièlle Gunn-Moore BVM&S BSc PhD MACVSc MRCVS, on the 26th January 2011. Martha Cannon BA VetMB DSAM(fel) MRCVS (pictured right) will present the next two webinars on Renal disease on 2nd March and Chronic Diarrhoea on 4th May. Both speakers are RCVS Specialists in feline medicine. Norman Johnston BVM&S, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. EVDC, MRCVS, will be discussing stomatitis in the cat - a particularly problematic disease - on the 18th May. Norman is an RCVS, American and European Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry. The series will end on 8th June with Duncan Lascelles BSc, BVSc, PhD, CertVA, DSAS (ST), DECVS, DACVS, Associate Professor in Small Animal Surgery at North Carolina State, talking about osteoarthritis in the cat.
The events kick off at 8.30 pm and are hosted by the Webinar Vet (www.thewebinarvet.com). One initial registration provides access to the complete series, with scheduled e-mail reminders sent out prior to the latest webinar. To register, go to www.thewebinarvet.com/hills and enter your details as well as the code hillsnl.
Webinars are ideal for time pressed individuals who may not always be able to travel to a distant venue, yet still offer a 'real- time' and interactive experience. No special equipment is required, other than a reasonable standard PC or MAC and a broadband connection. The events are open to both vets and nurses but early registration is advisable to take full advantage of the whole Hill's Feline webinar series.
Greater collaboration between disciplines to promote the 'One Health' approach for people and pets could save the NHS 2.5 billion a year, according to Danny Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln.
Professor Mills, an authority on companion animal behaviour, cognition and welfare, made the claim at Purina’s 'Better with Pets' European Forum in Brussels, where experts in the animal and human relationship gathered recently to discuss the benefits that pets can have to public health.
Professor Mills highlighted how animal assisted activities and therapy (AAT), where animals are used to improve social, emotional and cognitive functioning, supporting recovery and rehabilitation, can play an important role in the cost saving. He also noted how pets have been shown to reduce anxiety in those with autism, while also easing the stress levels of parents and carers.
Attendees at the event heard an example of AAT in practice at the Sant Joan de Déu-Barcelona hospital in Spain where a functional unit has been in operation for the past six years. Here, sick children receive AAT on the advice of a doctor, both in the emergency room and on an inpatient basis. The hospital reports that the dogs help the children to have a better life and cope more effectively with their illnesses. Purina called on the public health community to recognise the advantages of AAT and to play an active part in supporting this vital element of public health care.
The panel – which also included Andrea Meisser, Vice-President of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on the Human-Animal Relationship, Ruud Tombrock, Director for the Europe Region of World Animal Protection, and Andrea Gavinelli, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Health and food safety Directorate General – noted that while the benefits of the bond between people and pets are widely felt, they are sometimes hard to quantify empirically.
Professor Mills noted that it can be challenging for researchers to have papers accepted by journals or funding bodies, making it difficult for policymakers to promote the benefits of pets for public health. The panel agreed that greater partnership between all disciplines – from researchers to veterinarians and policymakers – was crucial to advancing the understanding of the public health benefits of pets and people.
Discussing how policymakers could play a part in promoting the One Health approach, Mr Gavanelli called on the pet care community to work together to provide scientific examples and data highlighting economic and social benefits. He also noted that policymakers in Europe had an important part to play by taking a holistic approach to the issue.
Professor Mills said: "The benefits of responsible pet ownership are clear. I’ve seen pets have dramatic effects on autistic children. Understanding the subtleties and nuances of how people and pets work together is vitally important for the well-being of both, and has the potential to make a massive difference to public health. But it is crucial that the industry is given an opportunity to analyse this further. Ignoring the evidence is a far greater problem than dismissing the research as being at an early stage."
Zoetis has announced a spring offer on Apoquel, its anti-pruritic for dogs.
The offer is timed to coincide with the expected increase in canine pruritis as the warmer weather leads to increased levels of common allergens such as pollen, dust mites and flea bites.
Each practice that buys five packs of Apoquel will get one free, subject to a minimum qualifying purchase.
Apoquel is a fast-acting oral therapy for the treatment of canine pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis.
Zoetis says its novel mechanism of action on the Janus Kinase (JAK) enzyme is specifically designed to target the pruritogenic and pro-inflammatory pathways involved in the itch cycle. This, says the company, allows effective reduction of allergic itch regardless of its cause as well as improvement of skin lesions associated with allergic skin diseases and atopic dermatitis.
For more information about the Apoquel Spring offer, contact your Zoetis account manager.