CVS has presented its 2017 charity of the year, Blue Cross, with a cheque for £50,886 raised through fundraising at its veterinary sites and businesses across the UK.

The company's charity of the year is chosen by employees at its annual conference in October. Fundraising then begins the following January. 

This year, fundraising activities included cake sales, 'wearing blue days' and dog shows. Others took a more energetic approach: a team from Tone Veterinary Centre in Taunton cycled the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats on exercise bikes over a fortnight, raising £525, while groomer Ceri James from Petherton Vets in Cardiff climbed Ben Nevis.

Simon Innes, CVS Chief Executive said: "Each year, thousands of cats, dogs, small animals and horses rely on the hospitals, clinics and rehoming services run by Blue Cross so it was a very natural charity for us to support and the overwhelming winner of last year’s vote.

"Yet again, our teams have surpassed themselves by really getting behind our fundraising efforts and showing great creativity and dedication to the task. Judging by some of the photos, they also seem to have had a great deal of fun. We held a group-wide charity day during July in which all parts of the business participated. It was a fantastic event and really showed the power of collective fundraising."

Matt Cull, Deputy Director of Fundraising at Blue Cross, said: "The dedication from CVS to fundraise for our pets through many different activities is so inspiring. We are very grateful to all the teams for helping Blue Cross as the money raised will assist us in helping thousands of pets in need and support our other charitable activities, such as our education programmes and bereavement support service. Pets change lives and with this generous help, we can change theirs."

Photo: Simon Innes CVS Group Chief Executive; Diane James, Blue Cross; Piers Gibbon, CVS Conference compere

Veterinary cardiologists at Surrey-based North Downs Specialist Referrals (NDSR) have performed what is believed to be the first cutting balloon angioplasty on a cat with double chambered right ventricle.

Sylvie, a four-month-old Maine Coon, was referred to NDSR with a loud heart murmur. Scans revealed she was suffering from a severe obstruction on the right side of her heart which was steadily becoming worse.  

Her condition, double chambered right ventricle, is very rare and, until now, could only be corrected by open heart surgery. However, NDSR specialist cardiologist João Loureiro believed this would be too much of a risk for frail Sylvie, so he opted for a cutting balloon angioplasty which had never been applied to cats before because their hearts are so small. 

He and fellow cardiology specialist Joel Silva carried out the procedure, which involved inserting two balloons on a wire into a vein in Sylvie’s neck and on to her heart. The first had four cutting blades, which were manipulated to score the obstruction before the second was gently inflated in order to relieve it. After the wire and balloons had been removed, the incision in Sylvie’s neck required just two stitches and within 48 hours she was well enough to return home. 

A subsequent scan showed the level of obstruction had been reduced from severe to mild and her owner, Dr Bob Baxter, described her as “much more lively”. 

João, who has a special interest in the treatment of congenital heart disease in small animals, said the decision to perform the interventional ballooning was made because of the risks of open heart surgery and the recent development of veterinary applications of the cutting balloon technique. 

João said: "As Sylvie’s condition was so rare, wider application of the technique is limited in terms of the number of cats which could benefit from it. However, it is extremely relevant to those individuals who are affected and could be of use in the treatment of other, more common, conditions."

Joel said: "Cutting balloon angioplasty is routinely used in human medicine for treating narrowed and stiffened blood vessels and has recently been adapted to treat a heart condition in dogs but we believe this may be the first time it has been used to treat this condition in a cat."

Photo: Sylvie recovering with NDSR cardiology nurse Francesca Adams

Dechra has launched Redonyl Ultra, a complementary feed for cats and dogs with allergic skin conditions.

Redonyl Ultra contains essential fatty acids, Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and Biotin.

PEA is a naturally-occurring bio modulator which Dechra says has scientifically proven activity against the mechanisms that contribute to inflammation and pain, while Biotin is important for synthesis of fatty acids and support of optimal skin condition.

Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "Redonyl Ultra is a great addition to Dechra’s extensive Dermatology range that allows an holistic approach to treatment, control and maintenance of dermatological conditions.

"Allergic skin conditions are among the most common causes of skin and ear disease in cats and dogs, and it is estimated that up to 15 per cent of dogs are affected by atopy. In situations where an allergen cannot be avoided, multi-modal therapy is useful to control the clinical signs."

Redonyl Ultra comes in a convenient bottle size of 60 skittle capsules, in two strengths for different sized animals. The capsules can be opened and given with food or ingested directly, or swallowed whole for flexible administration.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2iNa2Ik

Nottinghamshire-based veterinary surgeon Victor Daniel Pousada Garcia has been suspended from the Register for five months by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee following a conviction for harassment.

Mr Garcia had pleaded guilty of harassment at Nottingham Magistrates Court last September and was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. The magistrates also imposed a restraining order and ordered Mr Garcia to pay compensation and costs as well as a surcharge to fund victim services. 

The harassment conviction related to incidents between 30 September 2016 and 27 December 2016 in which Mr Garcia engaged in conduct that amounted to harassment towards a woman including sending offensive text messages, visiting her place of work, attempting to contact her through social media, going to her home address and driving past her home address.

At the outset of the disciplinary hearing Mr Garcia admitted the College's charge against him and that his conviction rendered him unfit to practise veterinary surgery.

Following cross-examination of Mr Garcia on the facts of the case and having  considered representation from his counsel, the Disciplinary Committee found that Mr Garcia’s conduct leading to conviction and the conviction itself rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.

Mehmuda Mian, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "It was a serious conviction as demonstrated by the sentence imposed and by the nature of the harassment. It brought distress on [the victim] and will have damaged the reputation of the veterinary profession. The respondent was right to accept that this was the case."

Turning to the sanction for Mr Garcia the Committee considered a number of aggravating factors in his case including the distress caused to the victim as some of the text messages could be interpreted as threats to harm; the fact that Mr Garcia had continued to contact the victim after receiving a warning from the police; the fact he visited her place of work; that there was a sexual element to some of the messages he sent to the victim; and that the pattern of behaviour was sustained over three months and only ended with his arrest. It also considered that his behaviour was contrary to the Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance’s advice on professional and appropriate use of social media.

The Committee also considered mitigating factors such as the fact that, during the period of his conduct, there was a family illness and bereavement; that he admitted the charges before the magistrates and the Committee; that ‘social ineptitude’ was a factor and that he did not recognise the rejection he received from the victim; testimonials as to his capabilities as a veterinary surgeon; and insight into his behaviour as well as taking steps to avoid its repetition. 

Ms Mian concluded: "The Committee has determined to suspend the respondent’s registration for a period of five months. This sanction reflects the seriousness of the conviction and the concerns expressed by the Committee in this determination. It will send a message to the respondent and to the profession that conduct such as this is unacceptable. It will afford an opportunity to the respondent to reflect further on his behaviour." 

Mr Garcia will have 28 days from the end of the hearing to appeal against the Committee’s decision.

The Committee’s full findings and decision  are available at: www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary

The British Veterinary Association is urging veterinary surgeons and nurses to get behind its new #breedtobreathe campaign, designed to stop the rising popularity of brachycephalic breeds with all their conformation-related health and welfare issues.

According to the BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, 9 out of 10 companion animal veterinary surgeons report that the number of brachycephalic dogs being brought into their practice has greatly increased over the past three years.

98% said they had treated brachycephalic dogs for conformation-related health problems in the past year, and that 56% of the brachycephalic dogs being brought into practice either had, or would have benefited from having treatment for conformation-related health and welfare problems.

49% of UK vets say that the high profile of brachycephalic breeds in social media and advertising is one of the main reasons that clients choose to get a brachycephalic pet. 

The #breedtobreathe campaign includes a number of things designed to tackle the problem. Firstly, practices are urged not to use images of brachycephalic dogs in their own marketing materials and communications. In addition the BVA has prepared a toolbox with a template letter for you to send to companies and brands that use brachycephalic breeds in their advertising, together with a range of images and a video you can share on social media, such as Facebook.

BVA President John Fishwick said: "Several well-known brands that use images of flat-faced dogs, such as Costa Coffee, Heinz and Comic Relief, have responded positively to letters from BVA and individual members of the profession recently, and pledged to avoid using them in future campaigns. These seemingly small victories offer hope for greater and long-lasting change.

"While the veterinary profession is relatively small, its reach is significant and its role is critical to the health and welfare of not only animals, but the rest of society too. That is why we believe that it is important for the veterinary team to utilise its spheres of influence both online and offline, which includes avoiding mixed messages between what clients and the wider public are being told by vets and VNs in practice and what they were seeing in practice communications.

"We’re urging vets to continue speaking out on behalf of the animals that we swear an oath to protect, since we know that hearing first-hand from individual members of the vet-led team has a real impact on the brands in question. BVA will continue to support members in challenging irresponsible promotions using these breeds."

The BVA has drawn up a position statement which lists ten actions that veterinary practices can undertake to improve brachycephalic breeds’ health and welfare and promote responsible ownership: 

1. Offer pre-purchase consultations with prospective dog owners. The potential health problems of brachycephalic conformation can be clearly outlined in these consultations.
2. Strongly advise against breeding if a dog is suffering from BOAS or requires conformation altering surgery to prevent further litters with extremes of conformation
3. Promote the Puppy Contract through practice communication channels www.puppycontract.co.uk
4. Promote and actively participate in available health schemes, including those for brachycephalic breeds that currently exist amongst breed clubs
5. Carry out exercise tolerance tests (ETT) and functional grading for brachycephalic breeds as part of their annual health assessment
6. Enrol the practice in clinical surveillance programmes such as VetCompass^TM and SAVSNET, to contribute to data gathering and evidence generation
7. Develop a practice communication strategy to clearly communicate the health problems experienced by dogs with brachycephalic conformation
8. Develop practice policy to ensure that practice communication channels do not portray dogs with brachycephalic conformation as cute, humorous or appealing
9. Ensure practice policy supports staff to appropriately convey evidence-based information and advice to owners of dogs with brachycephalic conformation
10. Support local breed clubs and representatives to develop and implement plans to improve the health of dogs with brachycephalic conformation

For more information, visit: www.bva.co.uk/brachys. 

Photo: ponpimonsa_bibi/Shutterstock

Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Prevomax (maropitant), a new formulation anti-emetic injection for dogs and cats.

Prevomax 10 mg/ml uses benzyl alcohol as a preservative, as opposed to the other injectable formulation of maropitant (Cerenia) which uses metacresol as the preservative.

Dechra says benzyl alcohol causes less injection site pain than metacresol.

Prevomax comes in a 20 ml bottle and has a 56-day broached shelf life.

Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "We are delighted to launch Prevomax to the UK and IE market.

"Human clinical studies have shown that an injection containing benzyl alcohol causes less pain than an injection preserved with metacresol.

"Prevomax is particularly useful for the treatment and prevention of nausea induced by chemotherapy and for treatment of vomiting, in combination with other supportive measures."

Dechra is inviting veterinary professionals to share their experience of using Prevomax for a chance to win a £100 Amazon gift card.

Entries must be received by February 28 2018 and should be submitted at www.dechra.co.uk/prevomax 

The British Veterinary Association has opened Through the eyes of vets, an exhibition in the House of Commons of the diverse work carried out by veterinary surgeons, depicted in a series of photographs by its members.

The exhibition comprises 22 photographs showing a range of subjects from across the UK and overseas, including cattle during a TB testing day on the island of Arran, a surprising find during surgery, a look down the microscope at feline myofiber disarray and a practical session of bee veterinary medicine.

The photographs were selected from around 1,000 that were submitted to the association's photo competitions by its members in 2016 and 2017.

The exhibition was officially opened today by Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EfraCom) and BVA Honorary Member, at an opening ceremony attended by parliamentarians as well as many of the veterinary surgeons whose photographs feature in the exhibition.

Neil said: "These photos show the diverse range of things that vets are involved in. What we respect from BVA is that we get good clear, evidence-based advice when we need it."

BVA member and Director of Cambridge Veterinary Group Lucy Crosby was commended for her snake intubation picture last year. She said: "The exhibition is a really exciting opportunity for vets to show that their skills extend beyond the operating room to the arts.

"I personally feel privileged to have my photo shown here. The veterinary profession and what we do is diverse and it's important to broadcast to the general public just how important the profession’s contribution is to the country."

BVA President, John Fishwick said: "It's an honour to have the opportunity to exhibit our members’ photographs in the Palace of Westminster. Vets work in practices across the UK, in government policy, public health and food safety, industry and technology, the armed forces, and beyond.

"As a profession, we play a significant role in many areas of personal and political life; an issue that EU exit has brought into sharp relief. With the political landscape shifting so rapidly, it’s apt that we’re showcasing vets’ work to parliamentarians to make sure it’s at the forefront of their minds as they return for the New Year."

The exhibition will be open daily until Thursday 11 January in the Upper Waiting Room of the House of Commons, an area open to Members of Parliament, Peers and visiting members of the public.

To view the photographs exhibited, and many others from BVA’s photo competitions, visit BVA’s Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/britishvets/albums/

Southfields Veterinary Specialists has opened a new orthopaedic department at its centre in Essex.

Headed by Esteban Gonzalez-Gasch, a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, the new department enables the practice to undertake a wide range of complex small animal procedures. 

Injuries and conditions treated include fracture fixation, including complex and simple fractures; cruciate disease, including tibial osteotomies and extracapsular repair; arthroscopy; arthrodesis of chronically painful joints; elbow dysplasia; lameness investigation in adults and juveniles; treatment of growth deformities including distraction osteogenesis; osteoarthritis and musculo-skeletal neoplasia. 

Esteban, who joined Southfields earlier this year from the leading Spanish veterinary hospital Ars Veterinaria, in Barcelona, said: "These new facilities really do put Southfields at the cutting edge of 21^st century veterinary science and practice in the UK."

Southfields is also carrying out a full refurbishment of its existing facilities and recruiting a number of additional specialist veterinary surgeons,  nurses and support staff. 

Southfields’ operations manager Daniel Hogan said: "This is a very exciting period for us. We are growing in every possible area and working more closely with referring practices to continue to develop our bespoke and exceptional service for patients and clients. 

"Our aim is aspiring and simple: to create the very best referral centre possible by bringing together the expertise of the very best of veterinary professionals supported by the very latest in technological innovation." 

As well as orthopaedics, the practice accepts referrals in soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, oncology, neurology, feline medicine and cardiology. For more information, go to www.southfields.co.uk.

Lintbells is launching Mobility Matters, a new guide to setting up nurse-led mobility clinics in practice, together with a pack containing a range of supporting marketing materials.

The support pack is available now for existing stockists; others can sign up for a pack (whilst stocks last) at the London Vet Show in November, where Lintbells will be at stand U50.

According to the company, an estimated 15% of canine cases presented at first opinion practices are musculoskeletal and cats are also commonly affected.¹ 

The Mobility Matters support materials are designed to help practices communicate the issues to clients, both in the waiting area and consulting room and online. There are also resources to help behind the scenes with setting up the clinics, including the new guide. 

Gemma Cunningham, Lintbells Product Marketing Executive said: "We’re keen to bring attention to nurse-led clinics, which are not just great for patients but great for business too. Measurable outcomes include client satisfaction, incremental sales and improved patient comfort or quality of life. We’ve taken into account existing barriers based on what veterinary teams have told us and created the pack to address those needs. Our Mobility Matters referral cards, which help vets signpost clients to the clinics are a brilliant example of how the pack can help teams work more effectively together."

For more information, contact Lintbells on 01462 790886.

Reference

1. Hardie EM1, Roe SC, Martin FR, J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002 Mar 1;220(5):628-32., Radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease in geriatric cats: 100 cases (1994-1997).

A consultation held earlier this year by the RCVS has found that both veterinary surgeons and nurses overwhelmingly think nurses should be able to perform additional tasks that are not currently permitted under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

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.

Ceva Animal Health has announced that nominations are now open for its Animal Welfare Awards 2018.

Outstanding veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, animal welfare professionals and animal welfare teams can now be nominated to receive an award by their peers and the general public. Nominees can come from all walks of life, all ages, and from anywhere in the world.

The award categories include:

The Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award supported by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines
This award is in recognition of a veterinary surgeon working in practice that follows the footsteps of head judge, Chris Laurence, by educating pet owners and consistently demonstrating their commitment to the continued improvement of animal welfare.

Vet Nurse of the Year supported by Agria Pet Insurance
This award is to give recognition to a veterinary nurse working in practice, who has shown real commitment to improving and championing excellent animal welfare within their surgery.

Charity Team of the Year supported by PDSA
This award is for an awe-inspiring team whose drive, passion and dedication has changed the lives of animals for the better, improving the standard of animal welfare where they can and working tirelessly to promote and champion their cause.

Charitable Contribution of the Year supported by Blue Cross 
This award is for an individual who works within a charity, either in a paid or voluntary role, who is consistently driven to the best of their ability, with a single-minded goal of helping save and improve the lives of animals in need.

Farm Animal Welfare Award supported by R.A.B.I. and NADIS
This award is for an individual or team which have dedicated their careers to the health and welfare of production animals.

International Cat Care Welfare Award supported by International Cat Care
This award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development of feline welfare. The recipient of the award is chosen by International Cat Care and therefore the category is not open to nominations.

Since the first Ceva Awards in 2010, hundreds of people and teams have been nominated, with the winners decided by a panel of judges including Christopher Laurence MBE BVSc and James Yeates, chief veterinarian at RSPCA.

The winners and runners up will be honoured at a ceremony taking place on the eve of BSAVA Congress on 4^th April 2018. 

Ceva Animal Health managing director, Cuneyt Seckin said: "Over the last eight years we have been consistently humbled by the inspirational nominations that we receive from all over the world and we envisage this year to be no exception.

"The Ceva Animal Welfare Awards champion people involved in animal welfare, but they also raise awareness of this important work to wider audiences."

If there is a veterinary surgeon, nurse, animal welfare professional or animal welfare team that you feel deserves to be recognised for their ongoing commitment to animal welfare, visit www.cevawelfareawards.com to nominate. 

Entries must be in by Friday 26 January 2018.

TVM UK has announced the launch of Carbodote, a ready-made activated charcoal for use in dogs, cats and exotic pets that have ingested undesirable substances.

Simon Boulton MRCVS, Marketing Manager at TVM said: "Traditional activated charcoal is slow, complex and often messy to prepare. Carbodote is different – a simple, ready-to-use preparation that can be quickly and easily administered to patients when they have eaten something that you want to help adsorb. Carbodote coats the gut wall where it adsorbs elements non-specifically - thus limiting the absorption of unwanted molecules, whether solid, liquid or gaseous. Studies have also shown that Carbodote also has greater adsorbancy that other products on the market¹."

Carbodote is stable and homogenous solution with no mixing required. TVM says it will even pass down nasogastric tubes. It comes pre-prepared in bottles of 100ml - enough for a 20kg dog. 

TVM says activated charcoal can be used as an aid to the management of multiple poisonings and the company has created a list of the adsorbancy potential of activated charcoal for a variety of poisons.

For more information about Carbodote, speak to your local Territory Manager, email help@tvm-uk.com, visit www.tvm-uk.com, or call TVM on 01737 781 416

Reference

1. TVM329CarbAd

Shropshire-based Jo Wright RVN from the Severn Edge Veterinary Group has fought off intense competition to win a new CombiSpin centrifuge for her practice from Vetlab Supplies.

The company held a draw for the centrifuge via VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk at the start of January. The draw attracted entries from 577 vets and nurses.

However, the rules of the draw stated that people could enter as many times as they liked, so in total there were 1699 entries.

In fact, one gentleman was so eager to win, he entered no less than 759 times.

By comparison, the 155 entries from a Northumberland practice and the 69 entries from staff at Severn Edge Vets looked comparatively modest.

Jo, pictured right with her prize, said: "It’s the first time I've won anything. Our centrifuge was over 10 years old, and ready to spin in its grave. Our new CombiSpin arrived today. I like it because it’s so quiet, takes up hardly any space and looks sleek and robust."

Fiona Sturgess from Vetlab Supplies said: "It’s great that the prize was won for a practice by a veterinary nurse. Perhaps she’ll get a raise! Also nice to hear that it’s replacing a machine that was obviously living on borrowed time. 

"All entrants to the draw are entitled to a 20% discount on a new CombiSpin, we’ll be emailing vouchers shortly."